The first part of David Tennant's final episode of Doctor Who as the lead role has been broadcast in both the U.K. and the U.S. Part 2 will be broadcast on January 1st and 2nd in each country respectively. It's nice to know that the BBC took my advice and had the two networks broadcast within 24 hours of each other to minimize piracy.

This is being reported by the British "newspaper" The Sun, so I urge you to consider the source before going mad with anticipation. The Sun first reported that Catherine Tate, Bernard Cribbins and John Simm would revisit their roles as Donna, Wilf and The Master respectively in one of the upcoming Doctor Who specials slated for 2009. Later, it reported that Paul McGann would return as the Doctor in a flashback capacity.

I would love for any of that to happen. Particularly McGann's return. But, it's The Sun. They're made it standard operating procedure to publish unsubstantiated rumors from unnamed sources. Much as I wish these were true, I'm not going to hold my breath unless I hear it from some sort of official source. Preferably the BBC.

Still, considering that I'm mentioning the articles here and including links back to the originals, we can conclude that this method of cheap publicity works. Bravo to The Sun! Thanks for eventually disappointing millions of Doctor Who fans worldwide.

I don't know if this is good news or bad... David E. Kelley may be checking out of Life on Mars, the ABC pilot based on the hit BBC crime/time travel drama. According to Variety, the prolific Mr. Kelley -- Boston Legal, L.A. Law, Picket Fences, Ally MacBeal, The Practice, Chicago Hope, etc. -- is unhappy with the financial arrangements and if things aren't worked out, he's going to move on.

Life on Mars was a terrific show. The UK version has played on BBC America, starring John Simm and Philip Glenister. Following the British model, the series lasted just two years -- 16 episodes total. In the ABC pilot, which Thomas Schlamme directed, Jason O'Mara (Men in Trees) is playing Simm's role, Sam; Colm Meaney (Star Trek: The Next Generation) is Gene. Kelley wrote the American variation on the story of Sam Tyler, a police detective in present day who awakens from a car crash to find he's living in 1973. Has he really gone back in time or is it all in his head?

Matthew Graham, co-writer and co-creator of Life On Mars, has confirmed that the upcoming second series of the hit show will be its last. According to Graham, "We decided Sam's journey should have a finite life span and a clear-cut ending and we feel we have now reached that point after two series." For more from Graham, there is a Q&A he did for BBC available on their site.

Life On Mars follows the story of a cop, Sam Tyler (John Simm). After a car crash in 2006, he wakes up in 1973. It's unclear whether he has actually traveled back in time. He could be in a coma from the accident and dreaming everything, or possibly be in either time and be losing his mind.

The first series has already run in the states on BBCAmerica, and now Bravo has signed a deal to run it as well. Series two is just finishing production and will air in the U.K. in early 2007.

[ via Digital Spy ]

Just a reminder that the acclaimed British series Life on Mars - which Martin has been reviewing here - is now being shown on BBC America. It airs Monday nights at 10pm, as well as other times during the week.

I caught the first episode last night, and I have to say it's a terrific show. The premsie: a Manchester detective chasing a serial killer in 2006. His co-worker/girlfriend Maya is kidnapped by the killer, and while he's investigating it, he gets hit by a car and wakes up...in 1973 Manchester! Is he dreaming this in a coma? Is he really back in 1973? Can going back in time help him solve the crime?

I didn't think the premise would hold up, but it does, and it's really intriguing. Catch it.

BBC ONE's new Monday night drama Life on Mars started tonight, starring John Simm as Detective Chief Inspector Sam Tyler of the Manchester Police Force, who finds himself on the trail of an elusive serial killer when his policewoman girlfriend is kidnapped.

Unfortunately, Sam is hit by a car and wakes up in 1973, and finds himself on a transfer to Manchester as a plain-old Detective Inspector -- clearly a long way from home.

The technology he normally relies on to solve crime won't be invented for another 20 years and the amoral methods of his fellow-officers are suspect, to say the least; sexism, racism and corruption are rife -- and to make matters worse, he starts picking up conversations through the television from the future, as he lies in a deep coma in his 2006 hospital bed. Or so he thinks.

Warning: Spoilers after the jump.

How's this for a fantastic premise: a driven and ambitious young British detective is determined to keep the streets of 21st Century Manchester safe. But after a near fatal car accident, he wakes up, dazed and confused, in 1973.

David Bowie's Life on Mars is playing on his iPod when he crashes, hence the title.

That's the background on a new series, Life on Mars, starting on BBC ONE in the U.K. on Monday 9 January, starring John Simm (24 Hour Party People) as Sam Tyler and Philip Glenister (Calendar Girls) as DCI Gene Hunt.

As you can imagine, poor Sam is like a fish out of water, with obscure moralities and strange views on the tough attitudes of tough-nut British detectives in the 1970s.

TV Squad will be watching the bizarre time-travelling cop drama, so expect some updates when the series kicks in.