Alcatraz

'Life on Mars' (2006-2007, BBC; 2008-2009, ABC)

Here's another American-vs.-British debate. Which of these two, brief-lived television fantasy/crime dramas was actually superior?

Both went by the same time, and both told similar stories. A modern-day man suffers an accident ... moreand is transported back to the 1970s. Time travel by way of head injury? Mark Twain and his "Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" would be so proud of that.

The Americanized remake certainly had some name actors in its cast -- co-star Michael Imperioli ("The Sopranos"), Gretchen Mol ("Boadwalk Empire") and Harvey Keitel ("Reservoir Dogs") all had integral roles in it. But it never quite seemed to get any storytelling traction. The BBC one, by comparison, seemed more fearless and daring.

(BBC America)