Maybe it was the poorly cast pilot, or the bad initial reviews of said pilot. But I have to say, going into "Life On Mars" on ABC, I had very low expectations.

Instead, I found what I feel is one of the most refreshing procedural dramas we've had in a long time, and already has become a must-watch for me after just a single week.

That's a lot coming from me, because those who know me well know that I am not a big fan of pilots. They are typically so full of exposition and are so rough that I would rather wait until a few more episodes air before I start watching, or many times read a recap instead. But "Life On Mars" was different. Obviously it learned a lot from its initial attempt at a pilot, and made the show grittier, more entertaining, and bringing in actors like Harvey Keitel and Michael Imperioli that really make this show shine.

I don't like turning SciFriday into a review column, and we have someone already writing a review on "Life On Mars," but not knowing what they're going to say, I just wanted to make it clear that if you missed "Life On Mars" this past week, don't do it again. A police officer played by Jason O'Mara is a cop in 2008 New York City when he gets hit by a car and finds himself instead a cop in 1973.

While anyone could spend a lot of time comparing life 35 years apart, this show doesn't do it. Sure, we get a little bit about how the two time periods were different, especially in terms of police investigation and forensics, but all of its done without so much as a wink. I know that if I were to be bonked on the head, I would want to end up on "Life On Mars."

So there you go, a rare endorsement from me for a show that is not "Battlestar Galactica." Take it like you would any other critical comment, but at least give this show a chance, because I think it deserves a permanent slot on ABC's Thursday lineup.

SyFy Radio

Next week we welcome Rae, our favorite TV Whore (hey, that's her name, not mine!). We'll also play a clip from SciFi Talk's Tony Tellado as he shares some great questions with Martin Wood, the executive producer of SciFi Channel's new series "Sanctuary."

Upcoming guests include Bodie Olmos from "Battlestar Galactica" on Oct. 22, and Feng Shui ghostbuster Anna Marie Prezio just in time for Halloween on Oct. 31.

You can listen to SyFy Radio live every Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT at www.SyFyRadio.com. You also can hear archived versions of past shows at the same place, or by visiting the iTunes store and typing in "SyFy" in the search window.

SyBits

Send your letters to mhinman@airlockalpha.com, and maybe you'll hear them on SyFy Radio, complete with my arcane responses.

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Michael Hinman, a cult leader twice awarded "Best Kool-Aid Drinker," is the founder and site coordinator for Airlock Alpha, writing out of Tampa, Fla. He can be reached at mhinman@airlockalpha.com