TV season has begun again. Well, i really mean New Show Season. It’s where I choose, against my better judgement, to watch a new show, having seen the previews all summer, and get utterly turned off of its absolute cheesiness and lament the failed opportunity of what might have been a good idea were it not in the hands of network tv producers. Last year it was Heroes, this year it is Journeyman.

The pilot aired last night, a show about an accidental-time-travelling-journalist, who (and I doubt the show’s producers meant this) is probably the least charismatic character ever invented. To be honest, it’s a good idea with some seriously bad writers, extremely bad execution, dire casting, and already no mysteries, due to its unbelievably predictable storyline. Perhaps they wanted it to be an updated Quantum Leap, but Journeyman has less heart than a group of tax-collectors and absolutely no humour whatsoever. It is set in San Francisco (i counted every major SF landmark except the pier 39 sealions cropping up somewhere in that first episode) though it is clear that the producers are not from san francisco, and know nothing about the place (my wife spotted historical discrepancies instantly), and don’t mind throwing in an insult, either. The first moment the protagonist steps goodnight-sweatheart back through time, we can tell it’s the past because the 49ers are celebrating some big victory or other; I’m sure all ‘9ers fans were gritting their teeth and thinking, yes thanks for reminding us we haven’t won anything for years). Worst of all, the soundtrack was absolutely dreadful. Bad reality show cheese.

I might watch it next week, to see if it improves. Or perhaps I too will be mysteriously sent back in time, maybe to when TV was good.

Originally posted at 20six.co.uk/petescully