ABC is giving fans of "Life on Mars" some closure.

The network has told producers that it won't be ordering any additional episodes beyond the 17 currently in the works for this season. But rather than play the usual "Let's-wait-until-May-before-we-make-a-decision" game regarding the fate of "Mars," ABC brass have admitted to producers that they won't be ordering another season of the show.

That means that, rather than letting "Mars" drift away with no resolution, producers will be able to write and film a definitive ending to the saga. Production is expected to continue for at least a few more weeks, with the finale expected to air no later than early April.

"We felt it was the right thing to do for the producers and the fans and creatively," ABC Entertainment Group President Steve McPherson told TelevisionWeek.

ABC took heat from critics and loyal fans for the abrupt endings to its well-regarded dramas "Eli Stone" and "Dirty Sexy Money" last year. By giving "Mars" a chance to complete its mission, the network is hoping to avoid any similar "controversy."

What's more, the U.S. "Mars" now will end up more closely resembling its British predecessor, which lasted for 16 episodes and also was a close-ended series. While the British series spawned a sequel of sorts, dubbed "Ashes to Ashes," no such plans are in the works Stateside.

Ensuring a definitive ending for "Mars" might also make it easier to promote the show's 17-episode run as a DVD release or, possibly, on a cable network should the series land an off-net run.

Mr. McPherson admitted the ratings for "Mars" were the main reason behind the decision to convert the show from a regular series into, in essence, a close-ended "event."

He has no regrets with how "Mars" is going out, however.

"I look at it creatively, and I couldn't be prouder," he said.

Jason O'Mara stars in "Mars." Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec and Scott Rosenberg are among the executive producers of the project, which is produced by 20th Century Fox TV and ABC Studios in association with Kudos

http://www.tvweek.com/news/2009/03/abc_gives_life_on_mars_a_final.php

i honestly have no idea how ABC expects viewers to even give their shows a chance if they are unwilling to keep shows on the air

they have canceled so many good shows recently it is just stunning.

No surprise here, I was a big fan, have not missed a single episode, but the show was a confused production mess......all my humble opinion......BUT.... a very weak lead actor, No character developement, What happened to the "Goldie Hawn" type blonde hippie neighbor shown in the first 3 episodes?, an incredible supporting cast that was not allowed to shine, Why was it first billed as "Lisa Bonet's" return to network TV, then she was barely in it, when they had Harvey K and Michael Imperioli fresh off "The Sopranos"!. Then they left the audience with a cliffhanger which wasn't resolved when it returned 2 months later until the second episode, the storylines needed to have more clarity and involvement with the 1973 premise....they could have taken so much advantage of the '73 premise, the consequences of tampering with the future, warnings of things to come, no mention of historical things in the future, Lennon's death, world trade center, watergate, Reagan, so much, instead they confused the show with a time travel cop show, why would Sam even care about solving routine cop cases instead of figuring out why was he in 1973, he worked everyday, like an "average joe" instead of spending his time in wonderment or warning and saving others.......I blame the producers and writers, not so much ABC.......cudos to ABC for giving the loyal audience closure with a final episode.....bravo!

Added on 3/5/09.....wow seems like no one even cares about the cancellation as the thread is dead.....about the 3/4/09 episode, as ususal enjoyable, but they only spent a few minutes of the '73 stuff, this is picky, but when they showed a news fan it said Channel 3 with some phony call letters, thought it would have been cute to have a "5" fan with WNEW written on it, since WNEW doesn't exsist anymore but did in 1973!

That was such a great show.

that's what happens when a show goes on a two month haitus

I will miss the show. I thought it was good as the original British series. I do hope the series finale for the US version is well done and ties up loose ends.