It’s been a long a tortuous road, but Life On Mars USA finally got there last night. What I mean by ‘there’ is that it was finally broadcast and came out of the other end of the creative process. The first episode of the US remake of our beloved British original hit debuted on ABC last night, with people like Jason O’Mara, Harvey Keitel, Michael Imperioli and Gretchen Mol all in full effect. What I’ve seen and read, it seems the show has been very faithful to the original, with familiar lines and scenarios popping up all over the shop. I like it. I want to see it. Please somebody buy it and play it out over here. Please. In the meantime, let’s have a look at what the critics said…

For all our Life On Mars news, reviews and trailers, go here.

Right, there’s a lot to get through. So… in USA Today a man wrote this and it was printed:

“Tonight’s premiere of Life on Mars is one of the best new hours of TV this fall — as it should be, considering it’s a virtual scene-for-scene remake of a terrific British original. It’s a relief ABC didn’t bungle the transfer, but not exactly cause for critical celebration.

The supporting cast has less to do tonight, but except for a slightly vacant Lisa Bonet, they do what they have to well. It’s a strong ensemble, led by Michael Imperioli, Gretchen Mol and Harvey Keitel. And if Keitel does seem a bit old for his role, the gruff commander who becomes Sam’s de facto partner, he compensates by being Harvey Keitel, an actor you just want to watch.

The question is, for how long? The British series ran only 16 episodes, and even it had trouble maintaining interest in its central question. The longer you extend that question and the more complicated it becomes, the less likely it is that the answer will be satisfactory.”

After going through some big-name autumn premieres on other channels, Alessandra Stanley in the New York Times, said this:

“Aesthetically, Life On Mars is to the 1970s what Mad Men is to the early ’60s — a drama festooned with vintage artifacts like eight-track tapes, sideburns, wide-collar shirts and episodes of “Kojak,” and saturated with music by the Rolling Stones, the Who and David Bowie.”

She liked it. So did Tim Goodman in the San Francisco Chronicle.

“ABC’s remake of Life On Mars is surprisingly great, its pilot living up to the lofty expectations of the original. The American version is impressively loyal to the original as it switches out Manchester for New York City, but most important, it works on its own as an intriguing, exceptionally well-cast pilot. Irish actor Jason O’Mara (who has been in everything from “Men in Trees” to “The Closer” and “Grey’s Anatomy”) is the only cast member who survived ABC’s revamping. He brings real appeal to the role of Sam (as John Simm did in the original), convincingly being mystified, outraged and curious about his condition.”

Verne Gay on Newsday.com is equally effusive.

“Deep into the fall, that nattering question – will it ever come? – becomes more insistent. “It” is the new show with heart, passion and beauty, something the networks can be proud of. “It” is the show that can establish, much as “Lost” or “Mad Men” established, that commercial TV can do fine, intelligent work that brings in audiences, and holds them. Life On Mars appears to be it.”

Finally, Rick Porter on Zap2It.com said this:

“I’d wager that about 90 percent, maybe more, of the audience for ABC’s Life on Mars premiere Thursday will be people who’ve never seen the British show on which it’s based. For those people, I’d say this: Life On Mars is a promising new series, one that could turn out to be the best new show of the fall.”

So it’s pretty unanimous then – after all its troubles, Life On Mars USA is a winner. People seem to be surprised it not only made it the screen but also that it is good. There is some reservation about the concept being stretched a lot thinner than the British original, but let’s face it… it’s got Harvey Keitel in it! Hurrah!