Journeyman Looks to be Cancelled
The news I come to you all with today is not the news I have wanted to hear. Obviously we all knew that there was a good possibility of this happening but I think a lot of us still held hope. According to the Hollywood Reporter “NBC has let its option to pick up the show expire. The network had until Tuesday to make a decision on the show, which is produced by 20th Century Fox TV, but let the day pass without taking action.” Now it seems as though we should be getting the last two episodes of the season (Episode 12 and 13) which according to creator Kevin Falls should act as a great series finale as it answers a lot of questions. At the same time though I have to say that I personally am going to miss the show.
I should say one thing, this is not 100% official. In fact with the strike, anything is possible. But the chances of getting an episode 14 and beyond for the series doesn’t seem that likely.
December 12th, 2007 at 1:55 pm
You are right: we knew this was coming but before it felt like a punch in the stomach. Now it feels like a kick in the balls. Let’s hope that this will turn out to be a JAG-type scenario where NBC fails on a good show and another network picks it up and runs with it. Please, Mr Falls and 20th Century–Fox, shop this around! Other networks may see just where and how NBC goofed big time.
December 12th, 2007 at 3:32 pm
This is one of the best shows in thee last 5 years. It is up there with Lost, 24, etc. If NBC gives up on it, they are really stupid. The people I have turned on to it, have really enjoyed it, and are now fans. Please, other networks, pick this gem up fast!
December 13th, 2007 at 11:43 am
[…] Journeyman: Thumbs Down Update 12/13/07: NBC did not order more episodes beyond the original thirteen. I guess the creator now has much time to […]
December 13th, 2007 at 2:59 pm
What was interesting today was a friend posted a comment on my blog saying he had never even heard of Journeyman till he read about it in my posts. Me—a guy from New Zealand. It gives you an idea of how lousy the NBC promotions have been.
December 13th, 2007 at 11:31 pm
I guess I’ll have to pull out my horn and play taps. I actually had a glimmer of hope that this show could be pulled from the ruins. But I was apparently wrong.
This is (was) the best show I had seen in years. My wife can attest to the fact that I basically never get sucked in like I did with Journeyman. But it has all the ingredients of a great show and was thoroughly enjoyable.
Hopefully, this writers strike will end soon and Kevin Falls can perform some CPR on his own creation. That would be phenomenal. If not, I am anxiously looking forward to Kevin McKidd’s next gig. He is a tremendous actor. The others are awesome too. But McKidd has something special that I haven’t seen in a long time.
Kudos for an autumn series that truly rocked!!
December 14th, 2007 at 2:44 am
Writers… You want a bigger cut of the online market? Create a website show “alternate ‘write’alitys” for shows. Paths you thought about taking a show or character but didn’t. Or what about character back stories.
or Sign a flat per episode contract with renewal bonus. If you write good stuff and it runs another year on tv or online you get paid. Hit show? Really Big show? Ask for more next season. Something…other than strike.
December 15th, 2007 at 8:54 am
That does it for me, I am absolutely finished watching the first season run of any new series. If a show makes it to the second season, I’ll give a try and if I like it I’ll go back and get the DVD’s of the first season.
Last season, “Daybreak” looked very promising: cancelled after 6 or so episodes.
To the producers, writers and the entire crew, you guys and gals did an excellent job and you should be proud. This show was thought provoking and entertaining. Too bad the suits are so shackled by the shareholders they are too blind to see that a little finesse and a different time slot could produce a solid revenue generating series. Thats what its all about isn’t it?
December 18th, 2007 at 4:19 am
I know this is probably a very disappointing time for the showrunners as well as the fans, but is there ANY possible way to continue the story? Journeyman showed a lot of potential, and I think a lot of that was brought out in full force in episode 12. Your writing has just been so good, so insanely good, that it would be a shame to just let the show die. I know when ratings aren’t up to par you just have to accept it, but aren’t there other ways to save it?
The characters in this show are just so human. Seeing Katie almost break down over the mere sight of that apron was one of the most moving, tragic and realistic scenarios I’ve seen on television in quite a while. How many other characters just go back to their normal lives after they have a gun to their head the week before? Far, far too many. But the fact is, something like that would definitely cause some emotional scarring. I broke down in tears in high school after a kid pointed a fake gun at me. Imagine being held hostage? That would definitely mess somewhat up at least a bit, and the way that was dealt with on this show really impressed me. The way the writers deal with the characters and their emotions is just so refreshing to me I can’t really explain it. But network TV needs more intricately character-driven shows, and Journeyman is one of the few that has accomplished this in recent years. I can’t even begin to convey how saddened and disappointed I am by its cancellation.
But like I was saying before, does this really have to be the end? You can always try to shop it around to other networks, can’t you? Firefly was another great show that was canceled before its time, and I was sad that Joss Whedon didn’t try to bring it somewhere else. If there’s even a slight possibility that this could be a viable option for saving Journeyman, I implore the show’s creators on behalf of the fans to at least try it. I know SCI FI is owned by NBC Universal, and Journeyman airs on NBC, so perhaps you can talk to them about airing it over there? The show definitely has some sci-fi elements, so it could work.
Another option could be print. Since the show has such great writers, why not complete or at least try to expand the story in the form of a novel? I would buy it immediately, and I’m sure the rest of the show’s fanbase would as well.
Even comics would work. Joss Whedon continued Buffy and Firefly with a series of comics, the former actually getting a “season eight” in comic-form thanks to this decision. Journeyman may not be “over-the-top” enough to make people think of comics immediately, but some of the best comics aren’t. Stories with an emphasis on characters, like Journeyman, are generally considered the best nowadays. Hell, if you were interested in that, I could help you out.
Basically what I’m trying to say is this: Journeyman is a great show, and it would be a shame to see it go the typical route a show with low ratings usually goes. I can tell this show has so much more to offer, and I’m sure the writers have many more wonderful ideas. But I’ve seen too many great series get canceled, and it’s always very disappointing. Fans get so attached to the characters and stories the writers tell, and I’m sure the writers do as well. So why let it just die here? There are so many more options for telling a story than just television, and there’s no reason screenwriters can’t tell a satisfying story in any other medium. The things that truly matter — the characters, the plots, the ideas — can be told simply by putting pen to paper. And you know this show has a following, or else so many people wouldn’t be so saddened by its cancellation. So why not try something different? Let the characters live on; for yourselves, and your fans. If you write it, we will read it. I guarantee it.
December 18th, 2007 at 4:22 am
Mike, you are being generous. I’m no longer going to watch American serials that don’t have self-contained episodes as my “default” position, making exceptions for presently unforeseeable situations. I feel that strongly about Journeyman.
Journeyman was an exception, but I have managed to stay away from all the other so-called hits with “story arcs” anyway (Lost, Heroes, The Nine, Traveler, Prison Break, 24, etc.).
Like you, I was a Day Break fan and we managed to get, fortunately, all 13 episodes networked here (albeit at a really sucky time). I gave Journeyman a chance on the strength of a fabulous pilot but now, if I hear ‘Made in USA’ along with ‘story arc’, I just won’t bother.
December 18th, 2007 at 6:04 pm
If Journeyman really does get cancelled and no other network picks it up, it will be a shame. It is one of the few shows that my son and I enjoy together and we truly can’t wait for the next week’s show week after week. Thanks for letting his brother find out – we were really hoping that would happen.
In this day and age of reality TV, there are very few good and original shows left and this is a special one; right up there with Prison Break, 24, and Heros.
January 7th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
I am totaly hooked on this show I have watched it from day one. The actors and writers should be so proud of themselves. The creativity of the storyline and how the actors make it so believable is beyond words. This is the ONLY show all week that I made sure I never missed. Please NBC or some one else bring it back.
This is a testament to tell you how good this show is… my husband who is a football NUT and never misses Monday night football ever…I urged him to watch it with me but he wouldn’t give up football so I recorded an episode for him because I knew he would love it. One episode and he was hooked. He gave up watching Monday night football to watch it with me the rest of the season!
HELLO NBC IT IS THAT GOOD!!!
Please bring it back in full force . PLEASE don’t let this gem be lost at sea.
January 8th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Journeyman is a great show. The wife was annoying, but the writing was great and the premise of the show as well. Totally sucks. Guess they need room for more SH*T like America’s Got Hemorrhoids. Seriously, Journeyman is such a good show. NBC- Wake up!
January 17th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
It’s such a pity. Journeyman is a great show , with a climax in each episode. The main character is an excellent actor (i really admired him at Rome ) and the plot was fairly interesting. It’s really amazing how such quality shows like this ,is canceled . The bad thing is that i am from Greece and i cant influence the ratings . I hope NBC change its mind
February 11th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
Okay, I’m a little late here…my nephew just told me the news. I just want to say..you suck NBC! Journeyman was my favorite show this year. Maybe it wasn’t popular to the masses, but it has a strong fan base. I know my entire family enjoyed it and I talked about it with coworkers at work! It’s a shame such a great show will be cancelled. I really do hope that it finds its way on another network…maybe one that will give it the push it needs to be “popular” enough to matter. I hope the actors, writers, etc. know how entertained we were with the show. It will be missed!