Journeyman (TV series)
A reporter jumps through time with no control over his shifts.
Journeyman is a sci-fi romance series from NBC, created by Kevin Falls and produced by 20th Century Fox Television. It follows Kevin McKidd as Dan Vasser, a San Francisco reporter who time-travels against his will. The show debuted on September 24, 2007, but was canceled in April 2008 due to low viewership.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Romance; Science fiction
- Creator
- Kevin Falls
- Starring
- Kevin McKidd
- Brian Howe
- Gretchen Egolf
- Moon Bloodgood
- Reed Diamond
- Charles Henry Wyson
- Theme music
- Amanda Ghost
- James Dring
- Jody Street
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Seasons
- 1
- Episodes
- 13
Facts from the source article.
Fictional cosmology
Dan Vasser's temporal displacements, called shifts, occur without apparent pattern or predictability. Before each jump, he experiences a sensation in his head that varies from immediate to several seconds in advance; these initially manifested as headaches but diminished in intensity over time. Dan has no conscious control over the shifts. His first leap takes him decades into the past, with subsequent jumps bringing him closer to the present, typically spanning several years. In the series finale, Evan reveals himself as a fellow traveler with haphazard jumps, and Livia alludes to her own distinct jumps. Dan's jumps appear as a small blue flash and rippling effect, causing him to vanish from the present and appear in the past; the duration of his absence is unrelated to time spent in the past. He does not reemerge at his departure point but materializes near the person he is meant to help, mostly within the San Francisco region. Initially unconscious upon arrival, Dan later gains some control, sensing the onset and walking with the ripples. He seeks to understand the mechanics, consulting a physicist who knows of his father's past and speculates about tachyon particles. The scientist is aware of Dan's journeys and those of others with similar abilities. Individuals born around the time of the fictitious Joseph-Lee comet possess the capacity for time travel.
Cast and characters
Dan Vasser, played by Kevin McKidd, is a reporter for the fictional San Francisco Register and the main protagonist who jumps through time involuntarily. He has a son, Zack, with his wife Katie, who was previously his brother's girlfriend. Dan was engaged to Livia Beale before her disappearance and presumed death in a plane crash, and he is a recovered gambling addict. Katie Vasser, played by Gretchen Egolf, is Dan's wife and mother of Zack; she was the only person in the present who knew about his time traveling until recently. Katie was the long-time girlfriend of Dan's brother Jack, and after their breakup nine years ago, she became pregnant by Dan and married him. Before marriage, she was a television reporter, and she returns to television for stable income due to cutbacks at the Register and Dan's traveling. Stuck in Dan's present for an uncertain period, she adapted, became a lawyer, and fell in love with Dan before jumping back home on the plane before it crashed. In episodes Blowback and Perfidia, she and Dan speculated that Dan was the target of her extended jump and that her mission was to unite Dan and Katie. She now jumps to the same times Dan visits, offering advice. Jack Vasser, played by Reed Diamond, is Dan's brother, a police detective dating Dr. Theresa Sanchez but still having feelings for Katie. He forms misconceptions about Dan's disappearances, believing Dan may have returned to gambling, and uses police resources to investigate. Jack is convinced of Dan's time traveling when Livia enlists his help.
Production
The Vasser family home’s exterior was filmed at Foy House, located at 1337 Carroll Avenue in Los Angeles’s Angelino Heights neighborhood. In the tenth episode’s closing moments, the Innes House—recognizable as Halliwell Manor from Charmed—appears directly to the southeast. NBC made episodes viewable online and gave the pilot away on a fall-preview DVD at Blockbuster and other rental stores. Broadcast rights went to Sky One in the UK, Channel Ten in Australia, TV3 in New Zealand, and Canada’s Global network. After NBC declined to order a full season, fans mailed boxes of Rice-A-Roni to the network, mimicking the “Nuts” campaign that saved Jericho. Creator Kevin Falls acknowledged the effort on his blog, expressing gratitude but warning that a revival faced long odds. NBC officially canceled the show on April 2, 2008.
Reception
The premiere episode, "A Love of a Lifetime," drew 9.2 million viewers and earned a 3.5/9 rating among adults 18–49. Critic Mike Pearson of the Rocky Mountain News argued the series borrowed too heavily from Early Edition and Quantum Leap, though he noted the second episode was clearer. Tony Whitt of IfMagazine.com awarded the premiere an A−, highlighting its romance as superior to Quantum Leap's and praising star Kevin McKidd as highly watchable. Karla Peterson of The San Diego Union-Tribune called the episode a skillful blend of supernatural elements and mature storytelling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who stars in Journeyman (TV series)?
Journeyman stars Kevin McKidd, Brian Howe, Gretchen Egolf, Moon Bloodgood, Reed Diamond and Charles Henry Wyson.
How many episodes of Journeyman (TV series) are there?
Journeyman has 13 episodes across 1 season.
When did Journeyman (TV series) end?
Journeyman last aired on 19 December 2007.
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