Life On Mars: Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadows

(S01E04) "Just resign already, will ya?" - Sam, after seeing Nixon on TV

Well, it's probably not the main reason, but it looks like Sam finally figured out one the reasons he's in 1973 - keeping an eye on his mother. Last week, after Windy mentioned to Sam that maybe 2008 is the dream and 1973 is reality, it got me wondering if any of Sam's family would be around. Of course, that was quickly confirmed when Sam saw his father (Cobra!) and his young self heading off to a Knicks game at the end of the episode. Now, I'm no expert on the whole space-time continuum thingy... but isn't the world supposed to blow up or something when you see your past self?

I suppose if we're splitting hairs, Sam 2008 and Sam 1973 didn't really make eye contact, and I would imagine acknowledgment that "I'm you" and "you're me" is essential for any bad thing to happen. Then again, maybe not. I just can't wait for his first encounter with Sam 1973. Couldn't he tell him something accidentally that might get himself killed in the '80s? Would Sam 2008 immediately disappear ala Back to the Future the second he uttered the words? OK... moving on because I could keep going here. The procedural side to this show is fantastic but it's completely taken a back seat to the bogus sci-fi theorizing.

One of the great parts about this show is all the '70s slang and the characters Tyler and the 125th boys keep running into and this installment was no exception. Elliot (the club owner) and Nick (his muscle) were the epitome of sleazy, small-time 70s gangsters. Finding out that Elliot had Gene, Ray, and Chris in his pocket wasn't totally surprising, but I was glad to find out that even though Gene deemed it necessary, that it still ate him up inside. I couldn't believe he had saved all the bribes. I wonder how much money he burned at the end? Makes me wonder though - who else do you think Gene is on the take from? Seems like it's a pretty commonplace practice in the 125th and I just hope Gene doesn't follow in the footsteps of his own story and "eat his gun for Sunday brunch" in a fit of guilt. I doubt very much that'll happen though.

Moving on to No Nuts... I mean... Annie. She's become a bit of a mystery to me. Sometimes I don't get her actions. For instance, she was dead-set on Sam busting Elliot for those two dead "twirls" (she was convinced he was behind it), but she was willing to dance in the guy's club? I wouldn't go near that place if I knew about the murders. To me, she just doesn't seem like she's taking her job as seriously as she she said she was when she told Sam about her efforts to increase the female presence in the NYPD earlier in the season. I will admit that the sexual tension between her and Sam is funny, but what I don't get is why Sam cares so much what she thinks of him. If he's so convinced that he's in some alternate whatever-verse, then why care what the regulars think? I suppose a guy has needs though and you do need to account for that.

A few more thoughts...

• Jim Croce and Joe Namath. Hilarious.
• Stopping your mother from becoming a prostitute is a pretty good reason to time-travel I'd say.
• One thing I'm sick of? All the little Mars Rover robots. Once was enough. We get it.
• Harvey Keitel should dance in every episode.
• I've never seen the British series, so don't tell me if I'm right or wrong here, but if Sam does ever get back to 2008, will Annie, and Gene, and whoever (assuming they're still alive), remember Sam 35 years later?
• Did you catch what Sam 1973 said to his mother from the bedroom? "Mommy, I had a bad dream." Yikes.

All I can say is that Life on Mars had better stick around. It's by far one of the best new shows (if not the best) of the season. Maybe I'm crazy, but it could probably fare better in another time-slot other than following Grey's Anatomy. I watch them both, but I don't consider my viewing habits typical by any standard. ABC should definitely pair it with Lost when that returns. If Same Tyler can travel 35 years, his show can at least move to a different night.