Jack Yan on Vox

US Life on Mars reveals ﬁrst story, Annie Cartwright character

2008-07-17T23:37:05Z

Some more news on US Life on Mars has emerged from TCA (the Television Critics’ Association), as reported at After Ellen. Executive producer Josh Appelbaum was there—the last time I recall seeing Josh’s credit regularly was the first season of Ma...

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500th model on Autocade

2008-07-16T12:16:24Z

I reached the 500th model milestone today on Autocade. The 500th entry was a very unlikely one, but it goes to show how varied the models are, and how they are not necessarily cars I even like! Ford Fairlane (NL). 1996–9 (prod. unknown). 4-doo...

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US Life on Mars’ Chris Skelton announced

2008-07-16T10:26:38Z

More casting announcements are emerging from Hollywood about the American re-remake of Life on Mars. Jonathan Murphy (formerly Ronnie of October Road) has been cast as Det Chris Skelton, which means David E. Kelley’s successors on the program...

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For the automobiliacs: Car’s best from the ’60s and ’70s

2008-07-15T06:57:09Z

This was a great find at Take Note in Lower Hutt today. Take Note is a post office and gift shop run by my friend Mandeep but I have never bought a book from there before. I was surprised to find it displayed prominently and being an automobiliac ...

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’77 Granada for sale

2008-07-05T04:12:50Z

I was out at Nicole and Paul McKinnon’s today with my friend Cas, and I can now, with their permission, mention that the 1977 Ford Granada (left-hand drive) that was featured on this blog a few weeks ago is for sale, so that they can get a car for...

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Memorable ’70s New Zealand TVCs

2008-07-04T11:06:11Z

The youngsters at work hadn’t seen this 1979 TVC for Kentucky Fried Chicken before. However, the following TVC for Cadbury’s Crunchie is even older (1975) and they remembered it, due to its long run, even after the packaging changed. (There was...

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Chrysler’s street beasts

2008-06-29T09:07:46Z

For Pat, as requested … These were fun to research and a good reminder of what made Chrysler special in the 1990s: the desire to take risks, loving cars, compressed R&D times and having the pulse on what the consumer wanted next—before the consum...

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Herbie lives

2008-06-26T11:21:08Z

Someone in Wellington must really love Herbie and The Love Bug. This is a Volkswagen Käfer done up with the perfect Herbie livery, it’s a 1963 model year (which I believe is accurate), and the interior trim looks right to me, too. The steering whe...

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How to repair the American Gene Hunt

2008-06-21T03:40:25Z

I don’t expect Gene Hunt in the US to be identical to Philip Glenister’s portrayal. After all, Americans will not get how the original evoked DI Jack Regan from The Sweeney. When the pilot is rewritten and remade, may I suggest these two character...

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Life on Mars needs life

2008-06-21T03:06:29Z

I’ve rewatched the Life on Mars American pilot (the one which will not air) and it’s improved slightly on a second viewing, but not much. Some general comments: Colm Meaney as Capt Gene Hunt: Meaney is a terrific actor—he was brilliant in Layer ...

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