Official pic from Ashes to Ashes
Official details from the BBC on the Life on Mars spin-off, Ashes to Ashes, are emerging around the ’net. The Press Association has an article at Google along with the following image of Keeley Hawes and Philip Glenister:
 Will she say, ‘My name is Alex Drake. I had an accident and woke up in 1981. Am I mad, in a coma or back in time?’ |
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The Sweeney and The Professionals were dreadful, big boys' shows. In point of fact, though, the Professionals did run until 1983.
'80s cops - American and English - The Gentle Touch, Cagney and Lacey, Hill Street Blues, Juliet Bravo, The Bill, were, in the main,
... much better. But if ATA is going down the Moonlighting route, it doesn't stand a chance. Also, the Audi Quattro and some of the featured fashions are TOO EARLY for 1981!
While The Professionals did run till 1983, the last episodes were probably filmed around 1980–1 (i.e. the W reg cars were V reg ones with a false number plate), so to me it remains a series with 1970s’ sensibilities. I have no fond memories of any of the 1980s’ shows you cite—I remember them, but nowhere nearly as fondly as the 1970s’ ones. They were more melodramatic and I always felt the appeal of Life on Mars was its plot’s simplicity and (largely) self-contained elements (obviously apart from Sam’s predicament). I still believe that the UK cop show peaked in the 1970s, with brief glimpses since then.
If you examine shows like The Bill and The Gentle Touch there was more studio filming and less use of film, making for a less polished look.
I am not saying that is the only criterion but it is an important element.
Let’s both hope that the Moonlighting comparisons are cobblers. It was one of my less favourite shows.
I think the fashions aren’t far off but you are right, the Audi Quattro is all wrong for 1981. Wrong grille for the year, steering wheel on the wrong side—plenty of errors there alone. Bit like the Allegro 3 that appeared in the first Life on Mars.