Meet the Characters of ABC's 'Life on Mars'

A surge of fresh cop drama series toped with a witty comedy will premiere tonight, October 9 in the form of "Life on Mars". Picked up by ABC, the show is adapted from the British television series of the same name, and the stellar cast behind the U.S. versions has just been given an introduction.

Harvey Keitel stars as Lt. Gene Hunt, a man who likes to throw his weight around and acts first and thinks later. This results in several punch-ups between him and main character Sam Tyler (Jason O'Mara) who believes in by-the-book policing. Michael Imperioli takes on the role of "ladies' man" of the station, Ray Carling while Gretchen Mol portrays Annie Norris, a CID Woman Detective Constable who shares a degree of attraction with Sam in the 1970s era.

Det. Chris Skelton played by Jonathan Murphy, is the clown of the lots. His clumsiness has caused Sam to assign him in many of cases that don't involve much action. Maya Daniels (Lisa Bonet) meanwhile, is the one who sends Sam's heart beating fast. The Ugandan Asian is the girlfriend of the NYPD detective in 2006.

Centering its stories on Sam, the pilot aired at 10/9c, will see him hit by a moving car while chasing a criminal. He is then thrown back to the year of 1973 in the cultural hotbed of NYC when Vietnam War, Watergate, women's lib and the civil and gay rights movements are at their peaks. Without the technology gadget that he depends upon, Sam has to figure out what happens to him and how he can go home.

• Harvey Keitel as Lt. Gene Hunt

• Jason O'Mara as Sam Tyler

• Michael Imperioli as Ray Carling

• Gretchen Mol as Annie Norris

• Jonathan Murphy as Det. Chris Skelton

• Lisa Bonet as Maya Daniels

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