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« David's Traveler Blog
Let's Hit the Rewind Button....
Welcome back to Dave's Traveler blog. After a break for the Fourth of July holiday, on July 11 we return for the final two episodes of the season... and perhaps of the show. Yes, in my efforts to keep you guys up to date, we have sadly reached the point where our show is most likely not coming back. ABC has officially let our cast contracts lapse. While this is not a formal cancellation, we are meant to fade away quietly, as this article from the L.A. Times suggests.
The Traveler fans are doing everything they can to pull a Jericho, and if you want to see updates on their ideas and progress, you can check out the various fan forums on the Web. Here's hoping that I do not need to provide you with series closure on this blog. But if that is the case, it will be one hell of an entry.
Now, I am not a guy who has many regrets in life. But I realized that because so much time has passed since we actually filmed the shows, I have probably been robbing you guys of some good "behind the scenes" experience in favor of my personal musings on the entertainment industry. So, I thought today I would step into my personal wormhole and take you back to the week we made Episode 7, "The Reunion." This wormhole comes courtesy of the new iPhone which, if you have not yet heard, offers every feature and function imaginable including personal time travel and wash-and-fold laundry service. Thank you, Steve Jobs.
So, it's late November '06. We are working hard at Traveler headquarters in downtown Los Angeles. The Writers Room is cracking Episode 9. Post-production is editing Episodes 2 through 5. And up in Vancouver, the cast and crew are shooting Episode 6, "The Trader," while simultaneously prepping Episode 7, "The Reunion."
As we put a polish on the script for Episode 8, we get a call. We're being summoned to the studio for an urgent meeting. And at this meeting comes the news that our order is being shortened from 13 episodes to eight.
Whoa. OK. Here's the point in the blog where you might expect me to lay into a diatribe about how the network has just screwed us and how the studio let it happen. Nope. Not the case. Because that crazy two weeks in the show's life becomes one of the most amazing experiences of my young professional career. And I am writing this entry as a testament to the work that was done by everyone on this show so that we could complete Traveler's first season in eight episodes instead of 13.
So, back to that studio meeting. Our first thought is, "We need to shut down and figure this out." A "shutdown" occurs when a show temporarily suspends production so that it can solve creative and logistical issues. (I would not be spilling the beans if I told you that several of the successful first year '06 shows experienced shutdowns last season.) It is a fairly common occurrence. But it is costly. And because it so costly, it is not possible for Traveler. We will have to toss out the Episode 8 script, retrofit the Season 1 arc from 13 episodes to eight, and write a new season finale — all in less than 10 days.
Fortunately, we have an ace up our sleeve. Our writer/producer Vanessa Reisen has given us a fantastic script for "The Reunion," and we have the talented Tim Matheson directing. This means we can multi-task. Vancouver production focuses on its rigorous eight-day shoot, while L.A. goes to work on the enormous creative endeavor of reshaping a television season mid-shoot. What were 100-hour weeks are now 110-hour weeks. And, amazingly, nearly all of our cast, crew, and writing staff rally around the goal of giving our show the best chance to survive by creating the best eight episodes possible.
Now, there is a saying that goes the "strongest bonds are those born out of conflict." It was always a theme for our show. But during the making of "The Reunion" and the writing of "The Exchange," this theme suddenly became even more important to Traveler off the screen. And the passion that people put into their work on the show, despite the hardships we faced at the time, really give the final two episodes of Traveler an urgency and an emotion that befits the climax of Season 1.
So, thank you for all the comments and for all of the interest you've expressed in saving the show. Your passion for Traveler means that the efforts we made last November and December were worth it.
Now, enjoy "The Reunion." We've got some long-awaited moments in this episode, including Jay's reunion with Kim, the first time our guys reach out to Agent Marlow, more vintage Will Traveler ass-kicking, and hands down the best cliffhanger of the season. Also, please send me any and all questions via the comments section on this blog. For the final episode blog, I will do another Q&A. And then after that, I'll do an end-of-season wrap-up.
Thanks, and see you down the road,
Dave
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Jul 6, 2007 8:31 AM
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This has been a terrific ride, Dave, and I haven't given up yet!
I'm on board for Season 2 and will do all I can to encourage the network to revisit the decision!
Looking forward to next week's episode!
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Jul 6, 2007 10:22 AM
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As am I, David! I've really been enjoying the show so far. I think at least part of that has been because of your blogs--they've really added to my experience of watching the show, so I hope you'll continue to blog for the next show you work on. I'm going to miss your blogs as much as the show itself!
One of my favorite things about the show is the flashback snapshots edited in just before the commercial break. What a great device! It really gets me thinking about everything that went on in the Act and helps me piece together all the little bits of information given. I think it's a great tool for fast-paced shows like Traveler. So, no question really, just kudos.
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Jul 6, 2007 11:08 AM
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well shoot... I hate when this happens. I will be on board to see this come to a conclusion... I want to know how it all ends up... I hope we get to find out why this all happened and who the guy in Homeland Security is..
Thanks for the great Ride!
Susu
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Jul 6, 2007 11:18 AM
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Disappointed again, I am. I guess this was just another summer shortie.
I love the show and hope the ending is satisfactory. Great show idea.
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Jul 6, 2007 11:33 AM
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Well, when I first heard that Traveler was going to be cancelled after eight episodes, I figured that "as complex as it was they were going to pull a Reunion or The Nine (or Gilmore Girls) and unceremoniously fail to have an ending to the story." And so I was planning to not tune into the remaining episodes. But now that you've blogged that you scrambled to give it a real ending -- sort of like what happened with Hidden Palms, which had a *great* series finale -- it looks to me like, as with Palms, we're all going to have a great miniseries to look forward to on DVD. Thanks for all the headaches you had making the effort to give us a real ending to the story. It was fall-season quality and never should have been burnt off in the first place.
Thanks,
Rob
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Jul 6, 2007 12:30 PM
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David,
Thank you so much for your blogs. I am loving this show and am quite disappointed that it probably won't be returning.
I am really looking forward to Jay's reunion with Kim, as well as more ass-kicking by Will. (I loved the choreo in his big fight scene in ep six!)
Thanks again!
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Jul 6, 2007 12:45 PM
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Are there really THAT many people who watch reality TV? I mean here we have really great entertaining line-ups like Traveler, The Nine, Six Degrees, Veronica Mars, Studio 60, etc. and the networks replace them with reality TV? Either I'm out of touch or the executives at all the major networks have their heads somewhere the sun don't shine. I'm starting to get paranoid, and am afraid to watch the really good series like Traveler as if maybe I'm jinxing them just by watching. And too, if I didn't watch then I wouldn't get disappointed over and over again when some suit decides to screw us all over again.
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Jul 6, 2007 2:24 PM
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Dave,
Thank you so much for this show. It always keeps me guessing and I can't wait to see each new episode. The "dumbing down" of television is really starting to bother me. Don't the networks realize that people like some intellectual stimulation, not just mindless reality and talent shows?
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Jul 6, 2007 2:38 PM
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When can I see the reunions finalle?????
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Jul 6, 2007 3:04 PM
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David,
Thank you for all of your and the cast's hard work. Your efforts have truly been appreciated even if not by enough people. Your blogs have also been a very positive addition to my enjoyment of the show. I supposed we should be grateful in some small way that ABC is at least showing the last two episodes. Could they not be convinced to at least do another 8 weeks for next summer? It has been wonderful summer entertainment and excitement and is really the only thing that we have been watching this summer. I will look forward to those final two episodes as well as your final two blogs. You all should be so proud of the work you have done.
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Jul 6, 2007 5:13 PM
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Thank you, David, for the blog. I am truly going to miss Traveler. I have loved the show. I really appreciate the effort you and the crew have done to give us closure (and we'll hope and pray ABC airs them).
I almost hate getting involved watching a new show because if I like it, it's the kiss of death. I don't have cable, don't watch sit coms (unless Ugly Betty counts), and I only watch some reality (NOT Last Comic Standing). So I'll be stuck with reruns of CSI. Don't get me wrong, I like CSI - but not the third or fourth time I've seen the episode.
I'll be watching the last two episodes and hoping ABC brings Traveler back for another season. If not, I wish you well, David, on your nest show. We hope you'll be blogging then, too.
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Jul 6, 2007 5:49 PM
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I was really getting into Traveler, and I'm very sad to see it go. I definitely want to hear what the conclusion was going to be.
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Jul 6, 2007 5:57 PM
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First off, I just want to congratulate the entire cast and crew of Traveler, for 6 amazing episodes already and I'm sure 2, even more amazing episode.
I think I probably waited a year since first seeing the awesome to finally see it premiere on ABC. And the wait was well worth it.
Sad to hear that the show probably won't make it to a 2nd season, but Traveler did more in 8 episodes than most series do an entire run.
So congrats Dave! To you and the rest of the cast and crew. I'm still holding out hope! But if all we get is 8 episodes, Traveler has been one helluva ride!
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Jul 6, 2007 6:38 PM
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I truly enjoy watching Traveler and am very disappointed that it might be cancelled.
I'm so frustrated with the networks lately. Most of the new shows that I like have been or are being cancelled - many after only a handful of episodes. How do the network big-wigs expect to attract viewers when they keep pulling the plug so early? It's coming to the point where I don't want to watch any new TV until the series has been established for a season or two.
For what it's worth, I'll really miss Traveler. I look forward to reading the wrap up. Thanks for giving us fans some closure.
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Jul 6, 2007 8:42 PM
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