I really loved the premise of the series, it had many flaws regarding character development, but the outstanding cast (except the lead) kept me not missing a single episode....I ask what happened last night???....we were last left with a cliffhanger of Sam in a house being summoned to a basement, then flash the show won't return till Jan 28.....ok I thought...great cliffhanger......on january 28 it returns and there in no pick-up from the cliffhanger......HUH!!!!!!!

I don't know what happened to this show last night - it was doing pretty well after GA, not great, but also not terrible, but I thought it would be a great fit for Lost. It did worse than it was doing on Thursdays, though.

So maybe I thought - did ABC not promote it enough? I did hear that promotion was slim on this show and its Wednesday move. Maybe people just didn't know it was on - it was on about a 3 month hiatus, afterall.

i thought it was a pretty good episode - i honestly don't even remember what happened at the end of last year's episode :shrug:

i had no idea the show was going to be back on the air last night - the only reason I caught it was because my DVR had it programmed into there to record the series - I assume a lot of people are going to be tuning in tonight and it won't be on.

Julie, promos were not a problem. It was heavily promoted. The hiatus was only 2 full months, not 3. I agree with TeeVeeCloset it was a weak episode (and can understand why the big drop at 10:30, it was blah) but I've seen the second one already (the one they sent for review), and it is EXCELLENT! Not sure why they didn't air this one first. So don't give up yet...it just was a weaker episode. This episode I saw was originally scheduled for January 28 but was replaced by "Take a Look at the Lawmen" (the one that aired last night). The disfigured man in the next episode is GREAT!

Julie, promos were not a problem. It was heavily promoted. The hiatus was only 2 full months, not 3. I agree with TeeVeeCloset it was a weak episode (and can understand why the big drop at 10:30, it was blah) but I've seen the second one already (the one they sent for review), and it is EXCELLENT! Not sure why they didn't air this one first. So don't give up yet...it just was a weaker episode. This episode I saw was originally scheduled for January 28 but was replaced by "Take a Look at the Lawmen" (the one that aired last night). The disfigured man in the next episode is GREAT!

The only reason I knew it was on because I remembered it was coming back the week after Lost premiered - I don't watch ABC much, but I didn't catch any promos at all for it. Maybe some just forgot to follow it over to Wednesdays.

I liked the beginning of last night's episodes - I thought the rest of it was pretty weak, though. Hopefully things will be up next week.

I actually forgot how it left off too. I know I'm in the minority on this one, but I liked the episode last night. I liked the fight at the end with the cops and the Russians. I didn't get the whole dropping of the love story with the "boinking" of the boss's daughter though, but I liked the show as a compliment to Lost.

Thanks for all the replies....again I really loved this show even though I repeat I believe it needs more character development..(who even cares about the much hyped relationship between sam & lisa bonet)......but for those that don't remember how it ended before hiatus....I am going to refresh you all, mainly because I want someone to confirm this, so I wasn't dreaming...lol....and understand my disappointment that the major great cliffhanger wasn't even mentioned when it returned.........this is what I remember.....

The episode involved his father being involved with the mob and attempting to shoot the blonde cop during sams childhood birthday party....he solves the situation but remembers something his father said regarding its always in the last chapter of the book and something relating to numbers, Sam goes back to the police station and spends countless hours going through books and figuring out a number code which eventually he figures out an address to go to....he then drives madly to a house where he walks into an abandon house and the phone begins to earily ring, Sam answers and a voice says his name and says "Sam, come down to the basement"...the screen then cuts to black and says "Mars" will return Jan 28....Great cliffhanger....now that I reminded you guys...I again ask especially you my good buddy Pav......what happened? I think it was quite a mistake for ABC to choose another episode when it returned......

thanks to ABC, i gave up on the show 2 months ago

thanks to ABC, i gave up on the show 2 months ago

LOL - I don't think you're the only one. The hiatus probably hurt the show more than anything. People who were on the edge about staying with this show probably gave up on it.

LOL - I don't think you're the only one. The hiatus probably hurt the show more than anything. People who were on the edge about staying with this show probably gave up on it.


exactly it's no way i'm going to be interested in a show that was gone for 8 straight weeks

Networks today just don't let shows grow. If ratings aren't great immediately, they put them on hiatus and move them around and that only makes the people that are watching it give up on it too. I like the show but I already gave up on it and not because of the quality of the show but because I don't feel the network will give the show a fair chance.

Solomon, so you'd give up on a show when it goes on summer hiatus, too? That is more than 8 weeks, too. 8 weeks is not that long. Heroes on NBC airs in blocks of 13 weeks this season with big gaps in between.

Solomon, so you'd give up on a show when it goes on summer hiatus, too? That is more than 8 weeks, too. 8 weeks is not that long. Heroes on NBC airs in blocks of 13 weeks this season with big gaps in between.


the difference is it's expected in the summer, not the winter

It's still winter ;) It only took December off, which is normally repeat season anyway. But yes, it was off for most of January, when it should have came back early on this month. You won't be lost if you watch the next episode next week. Trust me, I've seen it. You'll love it...great '70s stuff and the scary disfigured face guy is creepy. It is the best one yet I think. Did you watch them all in the fall? If so, you just missed this past week's return episode?

Networks today just don't let shows grow. If ratings aren't great immediately, they put them on hiatus and move them around and that only makes the people that are watching it give up on it too. I like the show but I already gave up on it and not because of the quality of the show but because I don't feel the network will give the show a fair chance.
:yeahthat Sad but true.

It's still winter ;) It only took December off, which is normally repeat season anyway. But yes, it was off for most of January, when it should have came back early on this month. You won't be lost if you watch the next episode next week. Trust me, I've seen it. You'll love it...great '70s stuff and the scary disfigured face guy is creepy. It is the best one yet I think. Did you watch them all in the fall? If so, you just missed this past week's return episode?


the last ep i watched was in november

So you saw them all then except this week's.

Heroes on NBC airs in blocks of 13 weeks this season with big gaps in between.

...and what has happened to its ratings after each break?

Julie, promos were not a problem. It was heavily promoted. The hiatus was only 2 full months, not 3. I agree with TeeVeeCloset it was a weak episode (and can understand why the big drop at 10:30, it was blah) but I've seen the second one already (the one they sent for review), and it is EXCELLENT! Not sure why they didn't air this one first. So don't give up yet...it just was a weaker episode. This episode I saw was originally scheduled for January 28 but was replaced by "Take a Look at the Lawmen" (the one that aired last night). The disfigured man in the next episode is GREAT!

I'm a fan of the show, but even I tuned out after the first twenty minutes (will catch the rest on dvr). But do you think ABC did the series a disservice by airing a weaker episode? It seems fans of LOST that may have been new to LOM may not come back and actual fans of the show have been complaining and may start tuning out. I don't get why ABC would air such a weak episode of what till this point has been such a good series. This could turn out to be a turning point where thing could have gone good but instead went bad because the wrong episode aired for its winter relaunch.

Solomon, so you'd give up on a show when it goes on summer hiatus, too? That is more than 8 weeks, too. 8 weeks is not that long. Heroes on NBC airs in blocks of 13 weeks this season with big gaps in between.

Heroes only proves the point - each year, the show takes longer hiatus' inbetween fall and midseason, and that's why viewers have fleeing the show like crazy lately. People just don't care to wait, especially if their "on the edge" viewers.

Thanks for all the replies....again I really loved this show even though I repeat I believe it needs more character development..(who even cares about the much hyped relationship between sam & lisa bonet)......but for those that don't remember how it ended before hiatus....I am going to refresh you all, mainly because I want someone to confirm this, so I wasn't dreaming...lol....and understand my disappointment that the major great cliffhanger wasn't even mentioned when it returned.........this is what I remember.....

The episode involved his father being involved with the mob and attempting to shoot the blonde cop during sams childhood birthday party....he solves the situation but remembers something his father said regarding its always in the last chapter of the book and something relating to numbers, Sam goes back to the police station and spends countless hours going through books and figuring out a number code which eventually he figures out an address to go to....he then drives madly to a house where he walks into an abandon house and the phone begins to earily ring, Sam answers and a voice says his name and says "Sam, come down to the basement"...the screen then cuts to black and says "Mars" will return Jan 28....Great cliffhanger....now that I reminded you guys...I again ask especially you my good buddy Pav......what happened? I think it was quite a mistake for ABC to choose another episode when it returned......

You know I love all you guys, but this is what fustrates me so much sometimes about this site and some posts.....I started this thread and not one person responded (including you my pal Pav) to my original above question? Did the series go on Hiatus as I remember??? and my dear friend Pav....if you saw next wednesdays episode already as mentioned, does it pick up from the cliffhanger...I don't want details, I just want to know does it start in the house with Sam being summoned to the basement?...I just wanted to stay on topic and figure out why ABC would not air an episode of a episodic drama in proper order........

BTW.....as far as promotion....ABC is rerunning the episode tonight, Saturday, January 31, 2009 at 10:00PM eastern.

You know I love all you guys, but this is what fustrates me so much sometimes about this site and some posts.....I started this thread and not one person responded (including you my pal Pav) to my original above question? Did the series go on Hiatus as I remember??? and my dear friend Pav....if you saw next wednesdays episode already as mentioned, does it pick up from the cliffhanger...I don't want details, I just want to know does it start in the house with Sam being summoned to the basement?...I just wanted to stay on topic and figure out why ABC would not air an episode of a episodic drama in proper order........

BTW.....as far as promotion....ABC is rerunning the episode tonight, Saturday, January 31, 2009 at 10:00PM eastern.
i DO remember the cliffhanger ending as you described it (of course I only remembered it AFTER reading your description)

i dont think it bothered me as much because i had forgotten all about it.

i DO remember the cliffhanger ending as you described it (of course I only remembered it AFTER reading your description)

i dont think it bothered me as much because i had forgotten all about it.

Thank you so much for your reply my sitcoms friend.......

OK, I'll answer everything in this post. First off, Heroes did work in its first year in those blocks. It didn't work the second year because fans said the "quality" of the episode were not good, hence the ratings drop last year and it continued this year and was even worse, even though the quality probably went back up. Too little too late for a serialized show like that. Life on Mars is not that serialized, so people can get on board more better.

As for Life on Mars, yes TeeVeeCloset, you're right about the cliffhanger. That is what happened. And it was indeed excellent! This is what I found out from ABC: The producers of the show wanted a "stand-alone" episode as the return episode so new fans can join in, especially the Lost audience. Because if they had started with the original episode 8 (which is airing THIS coming week), they would be "lost," no pun intended there! So, I think that should answer the question about the "cliffhanger," so yes, the cliffhanger is addressed in the Feb. 4 episode! SO I URGE PEOPLE WHO ARE FANS TO WATCH IT, ESPECIALLY IF YOU SAW ALL 7 EPISODES THIS FALL AND MISSED THE RETURN EPISODE THIS PAST WEEK (SOLOMON, SONNY!)! If you missed this past week's episode, no big deal. It was a stand-alone episode and had nothing to do with the story so far. In fact that was actually the 11th episode shot, but 8th one aired. The 8th episode shot, but 9th one airing is the cliffhanger conclusion and you'll see that this coming week and it is indeed great. So fans get back on board this coming week! I hope this addressed everything!

If anyone posts elsewhere about Life on Mars, please pass the message along about the reasoning of the producers to air the 11th episode first, rather than the 8th one, and for fans to tune in this coming week for the actual conclusion.

^ Thanks for explaining it.

The producers of the show wanted a "stand-alone" episode as the return episode so new fans can join in, especially the Lost audience. Because if they had started with the original episode 8 (which is airing THIS coming week), they would be "lost," no pun intended there! So, I think that should answer the question about the "cliffhanger," so yes, the cliffhanger is addressed in the Feb. 4 episode! SO I URGE PEOPLE WHO ARE FANS TO WATCH IT, ESPECIALLY IF YOU SAW ALL 7 EPISODES THIS FALL AND MISSED THE RETURN EPISODE THIS PAST WEEK (SOLOMON, SONNY!)! If you missed this past week's episode, no big deal. It was a stand-alone episode and had nothing to do with the story so far. In fact that was actually the 11th episode shot, but 8th one aired. The 8th episode shot, but 9th one airing is the cliffhanger conclusion and you'll see that this coming week and it is indeed great. So fans get back on board this coming week! I hope this addressed everything!.

what i don't understand is why they won't air a repeat of the cliffhanger episode at some point to help get people back into the show?

...they seem to do it with Lost EVERY week - couldn't they repeat the cliffhanger ep on a Saturday or a weak Thursday to help get people back into it?

OK, I'll answer everything in this post. First off, Heroes did work in its first year in those blocks. It didn't work the second year because fans said the "quality" of the episode were not good, hence the ratings drop last year and it continued this year and was even worse, even though the quality probably went back up. Too little too late for a serialized show like that. Life on Mars is not that serialized, so people can get on board more better.

As for Life on Mars, yes TeeVeeCloset, you're right about the cliffhanger. That is what happened. And it was indeed excellent! This is what I found out from ABC: The producers of the show wanted a "stand-alone" episode as the return episode so new fans can join in, especially the Lost audience. Because if they had started with the original episode 8 (which is airing THIS coming week), they would be "lost," no pun intended there! So, I think that should answer the question about the "cliffhanger," so yes, the cliffhanger is addressed in the Feb. 4 episode! SO I URGE PEOPLE WHO ARE FANS TO WATCH IT, ESPECIALLY IF YOU SAW ALL 7 EPISODES THIS FALL AND MISSED THE RETURN EPISODE THIS PAST WEEK (SOLOMON, SONNY!)! If you missed this past week's episode, no big deal. It was a stand-alone episode and had nothing to do with the story so far. In fact that was actually the 11th episode shot, but 8th one aired. The 8th episode shot, but 9th one airing is the cliffhanger conclusion and you'll see that this coming week and it is indeed great. So fans get back on board this coming week! I hope this addressed everything!

If anyone posts elsewhere about Life on Mars, please pass the message along about the reasoning of the producers to air the 11th episode first, rather than the 8th one, and for fans to tune in this coming week for the actual conclusion.

Thanks my NJ buddy Pav.....now that I have some answers I will be tuning it again on Wednesday, for the record, I haven't missed any episodes, so you can understand my fustration after remembering and actually following the show and waiting for its return....I still think ABC and the producers made a mistake in judgement.....I believe a re-cap show, the first episode or the cliffhanger rerun should have been aired on january 28.....they took too much of a chance by running a weak stand alone episode and then they repeated it on saturday! also I noticed a graphic mistake during that days "The View" episode when the actor who plays Sam was being interviewed, the lower left bug flashed on the screen "watch the season premiere tonight at 10PM" and I thought since when is a hiatus turned into a next season.