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« David's Traveler Blog
"What Is the Fourth Branch?"
Matthew Bomer, Logan Marshall-Green and Aaron Stanford by Bob D'Amico/ABC
Hello, Porters! I figured there might be a few fans out there itching for a Traveler fix today. It's the first Wednesday in a while without an episode of the show, so I figured I would come online and say hello to everyone and give you an update.
First off, thank you for all of the reaction to last week's finale. There was a lot of food for thought in those 80-plus responses. And all of the feedback, positive and negative, has been processed by yours truly.
For those who were upset by the cliff-hanger ending, all I can tell you is that we certainly did not expect it to be a series finale. If you've read this blog, you know that we made that show at the end of last year under near-impossible time constraints, and we did our best to wrap five episodes of story line into a one-hour thrill ride.
The cliff-hanger finale was part of the construction of the series, which is meant to pose one large question for each season. The first season asked, "Who is Will Traveler?" And the second asks, "What is the Fourth Branch?" As promised, I will eventually answer this question and explain all other hanging chads, so that you get the sense of closure you deserve. But I am going to heed the advice of fans and friends who have asked that I hold off on doing this until I know the final result of the "save the show" efforts.
Currently, our status of "permanent hiatus" remains unchanged, but I also know that your devotion has been noticed at ABC. So, I will wait and see how this plays out. At the same time, I am in discussions with Warner Bros. about a DVD release. I will let you know the news on that front as soon as I get any official word.
In the meantime, how about a brief summary of what Episode 9 was going to be? The very day that our order got shortened, our staff writer Katie Wech turned in a very cool story treatment for the episode. In that alternate universe, Episode 8 was completely different and did not see the boys getting back together to stop Freed. Episode 9 was going to see Jay and Tyler contact Felicia Cruz (Jay's mom), who had stayed on the East Coast after the FBI questioned her earlier in the week. To get to Felicia, Jay had to delve into his working-class past — a past he had been trying to deny ever since he went to college. And Jay's efforts would be rewarded with the revelation that his father had served the Fourth Branch during the first Iraq war. Meanwhile, Will was going to form an uneasy alliance with the Porter to find Will's handler, Joseph (the man Marlow killed in the finale).
OK, hope that doesn't make your head spin too much. Just thought it would be fun to offer you some Traveler mystery on this, the first week of our official hiatus. I'm going to sign off from these blogs now. I will return when I get any official word on anything from Warner Bros. or ABC. I will also be checking in periodically on the IMDb message board with any news as well.
Thank you guys again for all of the support. Your devotion to the show is greatly appreciated by those who made it. And if by chance you are in San Diego for Comic-Con this week, stop by the Boom Comics booth so I can thank you in person. I'll be there this Friday from noon to 1 pm doing a signing for my first graphic novel North Wind. We're booth #2543, right near the Marvel folks.
See ya there or somewhere down the road,
Dave
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Jul 25, 2007 3:38 PM
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Thanks for the update Dave! I think a lot of us will definitely appreciate what was going to happen. I wondered why we saw Jay's mom only that once and never found out what actually happened between them. The "Porters" will keep working and we'll see what transpires. The story only seems to get better as it goes along. I think that is what really hooked people. It also seems to have spanned the globe, judging by the messages on the petition from South America, Italy, Australia and such. That must give you all a boost! I don't think Nielsen tracks those people.
Thanks again for staying in touch with the fans.
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Jul 25, 2007 4:42 PM
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Dave, it's so great you reach out to your public like this. Let me say my wife and I were riveted - RIVETED - to the Traveler for the last 8 weeks. Let's hope the execs at ABC get a clue and get behind you. Not only for the great show, but also your internet savvy style!
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Jul 25, 2007 5:46 PM
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If I had known there was a Save The Show
forum for Will Traveler I would have put my two cents in to give it a boost. It would have been awesome to see the female FBI agent save the boys and blow her boss to bits. Boo Hiss! to ABC for pulling the plug. I have enjoyed seeing
Will Traveler. Better than seeing the constant summer reruns from years past and the constant barage of reality crap.
That's why I watch PBS/BBC more often.
Well Cagney and Lacet made a dramatic comeback. Universe willing Traveler will
as well. Chin up dude!
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Jul 25, 2007 6:05 PM
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Interesting information about some of the little connecting scenes that you all just didn't have time to include. So the Porter would have been involved again in assisting the boys. I hope that it will be of some satisfaction and encouragement to you that in the Ausiello Report for today covering the ABC part of the press tour, a huge percentage of the comments made after his report are about Traveler and the poor treatment it received from ABC. This is sparked mainly by the one- sentence comment made by ABC about the cancellation of the show: "'We were disappointed with the way that show was creatively developed,' McPherson says of Traveler's cancellation." What in the world did they find objectionable about the way the show was creatively developed? Well, a lot of people took exception to that statement as is evidenced in the comments following Ausiello's Report. Whatever it means, I know that they have missed an opportunity to show a really excellent program and instead have chosen to invest themselves in some much less worthy places. What a shame. Looking forward to your final blog when it comes.
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Jul 25, 2007 6:07 PM
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I'm in Traveler mourning. How can my Wednesday night be complete without Jay, Will and Tyler running around on my screen? I do hope that you are able to put these out on DVD, until then my Tivo must store them for all eternity.
Thanks for a little insight on what was to be...
It was an amazing show, and I hope that permanent hiatus changes, and you are able to make my next summer not so dull.
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Jul 25, 2007 7:17 PM
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Dave,
all I can say is that I love this show. I will be truly saddened if they decide to not bring it back. This will be the second show in a year that they have done this to that I have really enjoyed. I have sent an e-mail through abc.com. Is there anything else I can do?
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Jul 25, 2007 8:11 PM
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I hate watching TV because nowadays find a good very well done script that you cannot wait to finish!!!that you forget totally about reality. well I found this very cooolio show on ABC through coincidence!!!!!!(just in time to watch all 8 epis)however why do I not usually watch or have a TV because most shows are so overrated, just boring, totally lame, but then this shows popped to my attention named - TRAVELER!!!!!!Great so you cannot wait until Thursday, when its finallllly here available on ABC.com and you are so happpy you can enjoy and appreciate something mind cripping intelligence done the show gets canceled!!!!!Thanks ABC nice work!!!!!!Lets just watch CAVEMAN instead or even better American Invention I love it!!!!!I hope so much TRAVELER will be saved all the power to you guys!!!!!!ROCK ON!!!otherwise sorry ABC no more shows for me because all the other blemish you play just doesnot bring fetiche charm LIKE TRAVELER does!!!!!!PLEASE SAVEEEEEE TRAVELER!!!!!!Regardless you have my SUPPORT FROM BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA!!!!!!!perhaps you can change networks or something but be back please!!!!!!!!!!ALL the best wishes
bluelilapurplechic
ps: do you guys have a myspace blog?????????????
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Jul 25, 2007 10:02 PM
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Unbelievable! I had no idea this was happening. I turned on ABC at 10 PM to watch my favorite summer show and what was on? Some stupid show about inventors. So I began to search the web to see why I was not watching "Traveler" tonight. If this show gets cancelled I will not be happy. It was one of the most exciting shows I have watched in ages and I looked forward to seeing it every week. I need more "Traveler"!
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Jul 25, 2007 10:38 PM
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I just want Dave and ABC to know that I absolutely love this show. I have not enjoyed a television series like this in a long, long time. The acting, directing, storyline, everything is awesome. But now, I feel like I am being teased. I came into this series thinking that it was only going to be a summer show and all of my questions would be answered by September. Please don't give up the fight to make this go into another season, but remember that there are loyal fans out here that want their questions answered...and sooner better than later!
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Jul 25, 2007 10:45 PM
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I was away on vacation last week, and I just watched last week's episode (hoping to have a back to back Traveler evening). Obviously, I was disappointed to find out that Traveler was not on tonight. As I was watching the episode, it did appear that things were getting a bit rushed to bring closure to this show (or season). I decided to check ABC.com to find out if the show was off the air, but didn't find any info. I hoped to find out any info from tv guide, and of course, I was unhappy to get confirmation that the show is off the air (although, it sounds like there is still hope for bringing it back). If there is anyone that I can write to in order to try to bring Traveler back, please let me know. My email is jillybeans16@yahoo.com.
I just want to say that I really loved watching Traveler. It was an action packed show that kept you guessing. The actors and characters are great. Actually, it was the type of show that could be a movie, and if ABC doesn't want it, maybe you can make a movie out of it to answer all of the unanswered questions we fans have.
Thanks for great entertainment. I just wished the networks would give good tv a chance before they cancel tv shows.
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Jul 25, 2007 10:49 PM
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Kudos to you and your crew and staff for making such an intelligent, well-written show. My wife and I have been addicted to it since its premiere.
Albeit a different show, I think ABC is a little snake-bit from the likes of spy dramas after the whole Alias debacle and, unfortunately, I think your show was a victim of this hard-line business attitude. Otherwise, Stephen McPherson wouldn't have to make up such obtuse comments such as, "We were disappointed with the way the show was creatively developed." That comment smacks of so much unbridled disregard for your show it makes me sick. I became so enthralled with your program that I have taken offense to this comment by proxy. That is like saying. 'we didn't like that David statue because of the stone that Michelangelo fella used.' McPherson has dismissed all that was good and is only going by summer rating numbers... I think all the summers of banal programming that just so happens to get good ratings (can anyone say "Millionaire?") have gone to their heads. IT'S SUMMER!
The one nice thing about ABC, I must say, is that they make good shows like yours available online for no cost, unlike other networks, with limited interruption. I wouldn't have been able to keep up without the online offering and it would be an interesting study, for those of us who loved the show AND for Mr. McPherson, to see how many unique plays the online feature wrought each week. It is summer after all (I think we established that)and people do other things than watch tv on a schedule.
Best of luck David... I hope to see more of Traveler in the future!
p.s. Please let us know where we might get involved in the "Save The Show" efforts!
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Jul 25, 2007 10:52 PM
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Dave,
Thank you for your blogs. I have really enjoyed watching Traveler and reading your blogs just made it even better!
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Jul 25, 2007 11:53 PM
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First off, thank you so much Dave for keeping us all updated on the show and all the behind the scenes scoop.
Episode 9 sounds great. Seeing more of the Porter is enough for me! He kicks all kind of ass. hee...
And getting to see more of Jay's (and Will & Tyler's) background just adds so much more.
I really hope ABC does take notice to all the efforts, despite McPherson's crazy comment earlier today.
And I can't wait for the DVD! I'll rush out to get it as soon as it is released.
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Jul 26, 2007 12:48 AM
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