"Journeyman" Creator Deal Axed at 20th Century Fox

It's not looking too good for Dan Vassar right now.

On what the Hollywood Reporter has deemed Black Monday, the studios axed dozens of overall deals yesterday, utilizing the force majeure clause and blaming the writers strike for the cancellation of the pacts.

Among those with their deals terminated: Hugh Jackman (whose Seed Prods had signed a multi-year deal at CBS Paramount), Rene Echevarria (The 4400), Greg Yaitanes (Drive), Barbie Adler (My Name is Earl), Kristin Newman (How I Met Your Mother), Alex Herschlag (Will & Grace), among many, many others.

The news of these terminations, from NBC Universal, 20th Century Fox, CBS Paramount, and Warner Bros Television, came after ABC Studios gutted nearly 30 overall deals on Friday. In each of these cases, the studios mostly went after writers, producers, and directors (as well as multi-hypenates) with no active projects.

Bad news then for fans of Journeyman, whose creator Kevin Falls received word yesterday via a tersely worded letter than his deal with 20th Century Fox Television had been suspended.

"Because of the adverse effects of the ongoing WGA strike on our business, we have been forced to terminate overall deals with a number of talented writers and producers," said 20th TV in a leter. "We regret these circumstances and wish these creative individuals the best."

While there has still been no official statement from NBC or the studio about Journeyman's fate, even optimists have to admit that this news is not good and that Dan Vassar may have taken his final trip last month.