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Now and Again
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| Now and Again | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | |
| Created by | Glenn Gordon Caron |
| Starring | |
| Opening theme | "Gimme a Sign" performed by Ariel Ryder |
| Composer | Douglas J. Cuomo |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 22 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producer | Henry Bronchtein |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Production companies |
|
| Original release | |
| Network | CBS |
| Release | September 24, 1999 – May 5, 2000 |
Now and Again is an American science fiction comedy-drama television series created by Glenn Gordon Caron[1] that aired on CBS from September 24, 1999, until May 5, 2000. The story revolves around the United States government engineering the perfect human body for use in espionage, but not being able to perfect the brain. In an attempt to get the project up and running, they take the brain of overweight family man Michael Wiseman, who is killed in a train accident.
Given a new life, Michael is kept in an apartment where he is trained by government experts, led by Dr. Theodore Morris, in the art of espionage. Despite his new life and new abilities, Michael longs to return to his wife Lisa and daughter Heather, who are themselves discovering that not all is as it seems with Michael's death.
Plot
[edit]Michael Wiseman (John Goodman in the pilot and flashbacks, and subsequently Eric Close) lives in suburban New York with his wife Lisa (Margaret Colin) and daughter Heather (Heather Matarazzo) and works as an executive at an insurance company. When passed over for a promotion, Michael and his friend and co-worker Roger (Gerrit Graham) go out drinking after work. While standing on the subway platform heading home that night, Michael is accidentally knocked off the platform directly into the path of an oncoming train. When he awakes, he sees Dr. Theodore Morris (Dennis Haysbert), the head of a top secret government project to artificially engineer the perfect human body. Unable to create a brain from scratch, Dr. Morris has rescued Michael's brain from his dead body and implanted it in the engineered body. The process allows Michael Wiseman to continue to live, but also forces him to work as an experiment for Dr. Morris and occasionally help fight terrorists. Because of the top-secret nature of the project, Michael is told he may never again have contact with his wife or daughter, under penalty of his own death and the death of anyone he tells of his existence. Despite the threat, Michael finds ways to contact his family while keeping his true identity a secret.
Over the course of the series, Dr. Morris continues to experiment on Michael, testing the limits of his abilities and strength. Michael is occasionally used to complete secret missions or foil criminal activity. Lisa and Heather find themselves running out of money because the insurance company refuses to pay on Michael's policy, leading Lisa to become a realtor.
Characters
[edit]Main
[edit]- Michael Wiseman (Eric Close), an insurance executive who was killed in an accident; his brain has been implanted into a genetically-engineered body.
- John Goodman plays Michael in both pilot and flashbacks
- Dr. Theodore Morris (Dennis Haysbert), the head of the top secret government project to engineer a human being
- Lisa Wiseman (née Slegermelge) (Margaret Colin), Michael's housewife widow who must learn to move on with life after her husband's death
- Heather Wiseman (Heather Matarazzo), Michael's teenage daughter
- Roger Bender (Gerrit Graham), Michael's best friend and fellow executive at the insurance company
Recurring
[edit]- The Eggman (Kim Chan), a terrorist who uses eggs to contain a deadly poisonous gas
- Gerald Misenbach (Chip Zien), a lawyer who represents Lisa in dealing with Michael's insurance company, and later a potential suitor
- Craig Spence (Chad Lowe), Michael's scheming and corrupt boss at the insurance company who is dead-set against paying on Michael's policy
- Special Agent #1 (Mike Henry), Dr. Morris' right-hand man
- Ruth Bender (Christine Baranski), Roger's never-seen wife
Notable guest stars
[edit]- In the first episode and flashback scenes in later episodes, John Goodman played Michael Wiseman in his original body.
- Reiko Aylesworth appeared as Dr. Taylor, a physical therapist for Michael Wiseman, sent to test his romantic attachment to his former wife.
- Mick Foley appeared in the final episode as the Eggman's cellmate, and assists in the Eggman's escape from prison.
- Ian Somerhalder appeared as Brian in the episode "A Girl's Life".
- Mark Margolis appeared as Nicky Vordogov in the episode "Pulp Turkey".
In addition, beginning with episode 10, Charles Durning was heard reading a brief narration at the beginning of each episode summarizing the show's backstory.
Production and broadcast
[edit]The show ran for one season. Airing on Friday nights, the show was frequently preempted and received only fair ratings. The reasons cited by CBS for its cancellation included the unjustifiable expense of the program and the low ratings. Each episode of the series cost $2.4 million.[2]
Episodes
[edit]| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Origins" | Glenn Gordon Caron | Glenn Gordon Caron | September 24, 1999 | |
|
Michael Wiseman's brain is taken from his dead body to be implanted inside the "perfect man", created by the U.S. Government. Dr. Theodore Morris, his caretaker, instructs him he will never see his family again. | |||||
| 2 | "On the Town" | Christopher Misiano | Glenn Gordon Caron | October 1, 1999 | |
|
Desperate, Michael breaks free and kidnaps his old business partner, Roger, forcing him to drive to his old house. Roger, however, is unaware of who this young man is. | |||||
| 3 | "Over Easy" | Alan Taylor | Glenn Gordon Caron | October 8, 1999 | |
|
The city receives a threat from "The Eggman" who claims he will release a poison gas. Dr. Morris takes Michael to try and stop him, unaware that Roger and Lisa – joined by Heather – are following Michael to find out who he is. | |||||
| 4 | "One for the Money" | Susan Seidelman | Hans Tobeason | October 15, 1999 | |
|
Michael is given a mission by Dr. Morris but his moral feelings on the issue don't help his relationship with his captor; and Lisa and Heather run into money troubles. | |||||
| 5 | "The Insurance Man Always Rings Twice" | Vincent Misiano | René Echevarria | October 22, 1999 | |
|
Michael learns that Lisa is selling his house and pleads with Dr. Morris to find out what is happening, and to save his wife by "convincing" his former boss Craig Spence to pay his insurance policy. | |||||
| 6 | "Nothing to Fear but Nothing to Fear" | Tim Van Patten | Michael Angeli | November 5, 1999 | |
|
Michael is stunned when Lisa shows up at his apartment to ask him out, but Dr. Morris forbids his involvement; while a wave of seemingly random acts of dangerous nonchalance sweeps the city. | |||||
| 7 | "A Girl's Life" | Bryan Spicer | Marlane Emily Gomard | November 12, 1999 | |
|
When Heather is struck by lightning, a distraught Michael convinces Dr. Morris to let him go to her bedside where she wakes and sees him outside her window, leading her to claim that an angel saved her. | |||||
| 8 | "Pulp Turkey" | Harry Winer | Ted Humphrey | November 19, 1999 | |
|
Morris takes Michael to Thanksgiving with his own family, but their car breaks down near Lisa's house, so they stop in to call for a tow truck. But a pair of hired gunmen follow Roger to Lisa's Thanksgiving dinner to steal a Russian medal that he can't insure because of the holiday. | |||||
| 9 | "By the Light of the Moon" | Vincent Misiano | René Echevarria | November 26, 1999 | |
|
Dr. Morris is replaced by a new doctor, Dr. Taylor (Reiko Aylesworth) who intrigues Michael; while Lisa considers her romantic feelings for her suitor, Gerald Misenbach. | |||||
| 10 | "I've Grown Accustomed to His Face" | David Jones | Story by : Marlane Meyer Teleplay by : René Echevarria | December 17, 1999 | |
|
On the morning he is supposed to be doing a 'survival' test, Michael wakes to find his front door open and his apartment empty. Unsure if it is a test or the result of some kind of accident, Michael is given the chance to flee into the outside world. | |||||
| 11 | "Fire and Ice" | Vincent Misiano | Ted Humphrey | January 7, 2000 | |
|
While doing dangerous tests on Michael, Morris approaches him for help in wooing a lady colleague. | |||||
| 12 | "Disco Inferno" | Jace Alexander | Marlane Meyer | January 14, 2000 | |
|
Michael investigates a church that is seemingly the nexus of an apparent spontaneous human combustion. | |||||
| 13 | "I Am the Greatest" | Vincent Misiano | Michael Angeli | January 28, 2000 | |
|
Lisa starts her daunting new job in real estate; while Michael and Morris track down the first man the government experimented on: the one who got away (Charles Malik Whitfield). | |||||
| 14 | "Film at Eleven" | Ronald L. Schwary | Debbie Sarjeant | February 11, 2000 | |
|
While out in the park on Valentine's Day, Dr. Morris is called away to meet with the President. Michael, to save a life at a bank robbery, uses his super-strength, which is caught on film by a security camera. | |||||
| 15 | "Deep in My Heart Is a Song" | Vincent Misiano | Thomas Edward Bray | February 18, 2000 | |
|
General Irving (James Rebhorn) visits just as this time Michael slips into an apparent coma. While Dr. Morris desperately attempts to discover what is wrong, we see flashbacks to Michael before he became superhuman and a similar health scare that occurred then. | |||||
| 16 | "Everybody Who's Anybody" | Stephen Cragg | Dan E. Fesman & Harry Victor | February 25, 2000 | |
|
Roger invites Lisa to a reception when his wife is unavailable, and General Irving makes a request of Michael which rubs him the wrong way. | |||||
| 17 | "Boy Wonder" | Vincent Misiano | Ted Humphrey | March 10, 2000 | |
|
A mentally-challenged teenager follows Michael home after he sees him using his super-strength; Roger's investment portfolio becomes the subject of Craig Spence's envy. | |||||
| 18 | "Lizzard's Tale" | Bob Balaban | Deborah Sarjeant | March 31, 2000 | |
|
At a medical conference, an old colleague of Morris's – trying now to recruit him into his organ-harvesting business – becomes very interested in Michael. | |||||
| 19 | "There Are No Words" | Aaron Lipstadt | Thomas Edward Bray | April 14, 2000 | |
|
The country slowly devolves into madness after a mysterious virus which removes the words from books begins appearing in places Dr. Morris frequently visits. | |||||
| 20 | "The Bugmeister: Part 1" | Sandy Smolan | Michael Angeli | April 21, 2000 | |
|
Roger is kicked out by his wife and comes to stay with Lisa, soon getting on her nerves; Heather befriends an insect expert with a secret; and Morris takes charge in investigating a plague of mosquitoes who seem very specific in their targets. | |||||
| 21 | "The Bugmeister: Part 2" | Vincent Misiano | Michael Angeli | April 28, 2000 | |
|
Dr. Morris and Michael desperately attempt to thwart a series of attacks by a bug expert. | |||||
| 22 | "The Eggman Cometh" | Ronald L. Schwary | René Echevarria | May 5, 2000 | |
|
For a brief period, Michael is without a tracking device and he is determined now more than ever to flee and take his family with him. The Eggman plots to escape from prison and get revenge on Michael. Lisa discovers more information than she expected on Dr. Morris and Michael and, determined to prove what she believes, decides to confront Dr. Morris. | |||||
Home media
[edit]In 2014, CBS DVD released Now and Again: The DVD Edition on region 1 DVD in the US.[3] The 5-disc set features all 22 episodes of the series, two featurettes and a nearly two-hour long retrospective documentary. These include interviews and full participation from almost all of the leading cast and crew, bar John Goodman. According to the packaging the "music has been changed for this home entertainment version."
In 2016, an identical set was released on region 4 DVD in Australia by Via Vision Entertainment (VVE), though it was slightly retitled Now and Again: The Complete Series.
Reception
[edit]Ratings
[edit]Now and Again averaged at 6.3 million viewers, ranking at 76, with an audience share of 11, for the 1999–2000 television season.[4]
Awards
[edit]In 2000 Now and Again won three Saturn Awards for:
- Best Genre TV Actress – Margaret Colin
- Best Genre TV Supporting Actor – Dennis Haysbert
- Best Network Television Series
Now and Again was also nominated for an Emmy in 2000 for Outstanding Main Title Design.
References
[edit]- ^ Tomashoff, Craig (December 12, 1999). "COVER STORY; Just a Regular Guy, Who Can Outrun a Car". The New York Times.
- ^ "Untitled". The Charlotte Observer. August 20, 2000. p. 110. Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Finalized Date, Bonus Material for DVDs of the Late-'90s Sci-Fi Thriller!". Tvshowsondvd.com. May 27, 2014. Archived from the original on September 29, 2017. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
- ^ "NIELSEN RATINGS FOR 1999-2000". sfgate.com. May 26, 2000. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
External links
[edit]Now and Again
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Premise
Plot summary
Michael Wiseman, a middle-aged insurance executive and family man, dies in a subway accident, only for a secret branch of the U.S. government to salvage his brain and transplant it into a genetically engineered superhuman body that cost $3 billion to develop.[10][11] Renamed Michael New and confined to a secure, monitored facility in a Midtown Manhattan townhouse, he possesses enhanced physical and intellectual abilities far beyond those of an ordinary human.[12][13] Under the supervision of Dr. Theodore Morris, a government scientist who serves as his mentor and handler, Michael is forbidden from any contact with his former life, with the threat of the experiment's termination—and his own erasure—if he disobeys; he is instead deployed on covert missions to combat threats like bioterrorists and rogue operatives.[12][11] Parallel to Michael's isolated existence, his wife Lisa and teenage daughter Heather grapple with the aftermath of his apparent death, enduring emotional grief and financial strain as Lisa contests his life insurance payout against corporate opposition while navigating everyday challenges like Heather learning to drive.[11] Over time, Lisa begins dating other men as she attempts to move forward, unaware of Michael's survival.[14] Torn by his lingering memories and love for them, Michael covertly observes and aids his family from afar without revealing his identity, heightening the tension between his superhuman duties and human desires.[11][12] The series builds to its conclusion in the season finale "The Eggman Cometh," where a mass-murdering scientific genius escapes prison, prompting Michael to finally reveal his true identity to Lisa and Heather and attempt a reunion by rescuing them from their home just as a government strike force arrives to enforce his isolation.[15] The episode ends on an unresolved cliffhanger amid the ensuing chaos, leaving Michael's fate and potential family reconciliation ambiguous following the show's cancellation after one season.[15][11]Themes
The series delves into ethical dilemmas surrounding government experimentation on human subjects, particularly the lack of consent in repurposing a deceased individual's brain for national security purposes, as exemplified by the $3 billion investment in creating a superhuman operative.[16] This raises questions about the morality of such interventions, where the subject is treated as an expendable asset in covert operations like countering terrorist threats, blurring the lines between scientific advancement and exploitation.[17] Central to the narrative is the theme of family and loss, portraying the profound grief of separation from loved ones and the emotional toll of an imposed isolation that prevents any contact with a wife and daughter, under threat of termination.[17] The protagonist's yearning for his middle-aged wife amid his new existence underscores the irreplaceable bonds of familial life and the personal sacrifices demanded by duty.[16] Identity and humanity emerge through the brain transplant device, which forces the exploration of retaining an "everyman" personality—wry and quizzical—within a genetically engineered, youthful, and superpowered body, challenging notions of selfhood and what constitutes authentic human experience.[10] This juxtaposition highlights existential tensions, as the character grapples with vulnerability and emotional depth despite physical perfection, avoiding a portrayal as a mere "bland robot."[10] As a sci-fi comedy-drama hybrid, the show masterfully blends action-packed missions against villains with heartfelt family-oriented drama and whimsical elements, such as superhuman feats contrasted against mundane longings, creating a tonal shift from thriller to black comedy that provides a unique, playful atmosphere.[17] This mix grafts a Frankenstein-inspired premise onto romantic and humorous threads, resulting in an addictive narrative that softens heavier motifs with lighthearted escapism.[16][10] The series also touches on 1990s contemporary issues, including privacy erosion through constant government surveillance and the struggle for work-life balance in a post-Cold War landscape where personal freedoms yield to national security imperatives.[17][10]Cast and characters
Main characters
Michael Wiseman, portrayed by Eric Close, serves as the central protagonist of Now and Again, an ordinary middle-aged insurance executive whose life ends in a subway accident, only for his brain to be salvaged and implanted into a genetically engineered, superhuman body designed by the U.S. government.[10] This transformation grants him extraordinary strength, speed, and durability, turning him into a reluctant operative for national security missions, but it also severs him from his previous identity, forcing him to adopt the alias Michael Newman.[17] Throughout the series, Wiseman grapples with profound isolation and longing for his family, evolving from a compliant subject eager to embrace his enhanced abilities—such as leaping across rooftops or outrunning threats—to a more rebellious figure who repeatedly risks everything to glimpse his loved ones, highlighting his everyman heroism amid superhuman circumstances.[7] His wry and quizzical personality provides emotional depth, as he navigates the ethical dilemmas of his secrecy while performing high-stakes tasks like thwarting terrorists.[10] Dr. Theodore Morris, played by Dennis Haysbert, is the brilliant and authoritative government scientist who oversees Wiseman's project, acting as both a paternal mentor and a stern handler in the experimental program.[18] With a stoic demeanor that masks coiled intensity and occasional flippant condescension, Morris monitors Wiseman's missions and capabilities, often testing his limits with a mix of clinical curiosity and imperious control, as seen in his declarations like "You are an experiment, and I will tell you when and what you will do."[10][17] Despite his initially cold and subtly menacing approach, Morris evolves to offer moral guidance and subtle affection, adjusting his expectations to accommodate Wiseman's humanity, which injects moments of comic relief through his bemused reactions to the agent's personal struggles.[7][18] His role underscores the tension between scientific ambition and ethical oversight in the government's covert operations. Lisa Wiseman, portrayed by Margaret Colin, is Michael's devoted wife, thrust into the role of a grieving widow after his apparent death, while contending with financial hardships from denied life insurance and the challenges of single parenthood.[17] Resourceful and resilient despite her initial vulnerability and tentativeness, she navigates tentative new relationships and investigations into her husband's fate, all while maintaining a tender, playful bond with her daughter that reveals her inner strength.[10][7] Unaware of Michael's survival in his new form, Lisa's arc focuses on rebuilding her life, embodying the emotional toll of loss and the quiet determination of an adoring partner adapting to unforeseen circumstances.[18] Heather Wiseman, played by Heather Matarazzo, is the teenage daughter of Michael and Lisa, whose adolescent angst and sense of abandonment form the emotional core of the family's storyline.[10] Dealing with her father's absence through typical sarcastic outbursts and non-glamorous realism, she relies on her mother's support and occasional aid from family friend Roger Bender, providing a grounded counterpoint to the show's fantastical elements.[7][17] Heather's portrayal avoids clichéd smart-aleck tropes, instead emphasizing her vulnerability and the profound impact of familial disruption on her coming-of-age experiences.[10]Recurring characters
Roger Bender (Gerrit Graham) is Michael's best friend and colleague at the insurance company, serving as a source of comic relief through his frequent mishaps and bumbling personality.[14] He appears in all 22 episodes of the series, often interacting with Michael's family after the presumed death and providing humorous contrast to the show's dramatic elements.[19] The Eggman (Kim Chan) is a mysterious and eccentric terrorist figure who becomes a recurring antagonist, launching attacks like poison gas incidents that heighten the stakes of Michael's missions.[7] Appearing in four episodes, his unpredictable nature adds tension and dark humor to the government conspiracy storyline, forcing Michael to confront threats from his past. Gerald Misenbach (Chip Zien) acts as Lisa's lawyer, handling the legal and insurance battles following Michael's death and injecting witty banter into family subplots.[20] Featured in four episodes, he represents the bureaucratic hurdles the Wiseman family faces, occasionally clashing with Lisa over settlement issues while offering grounded support.Notable guest stars
The TV series Now and Again featured several notable guest stars in limited appearances, enhancing the episodic blend of drama, action, and family dynamics with their established talent. John Goodman appeared as the original Michael Wiseman in the pilot episode "Origins," depicting the character's fatal subway accident and the subsequent government decision to preserve his brain in a new superhuman body, which effectively grounded the show's sci-fi premise in emotional reality. Ian Somerhalder guest-starred as Brian, a high school reporter, in "A Girl's Life" (season 1, episode 7), where his character engages with Heather following her lightning strike and vision of an "angel," heightening the episode's themes of family vulnerability and perceived miracles.[21] Chad Lowe had a limited recurring role as Craig Spence across four episodes, portraying a fellow government agent who aids Michael in high-stakes missions, injecting tension and camaraderie into the action sequences while underscoring the secretive world of the NSA project.[3]Production
Development
Glenn Gordon Caron, founder of Picturemaker Productions, best known for creating the acclaimed series Moonlighting, developed Now and Again through his production company in association with CBS Productions and Paramount Network Television as a genre-blending project combining science fiction, drama, and comedy, drawing on his experience with character-driven narratives.[17][7][22] The concept originated from Caron's pitch to CBS executives, including then-president Les Moonves, who courted him with promises of creative control and a guaranteed payment for the pilot script regardless of production.[23] The series' inception in 1998 was inspired by ethical sci-fi tropes explored in works like the film Seconds (1966) and the musical Damn Yankees, emphasizing a high-concept government experiment that transplants a deceased man's brain into a perfect young body, balancing espionage thrills with profound emotional depth about loss and identity.[7][23] Caron wrote and directed the pilot in 1999, envisioning it as an effects-intensive production to visualize the protagonist's superhuman abilities while grounding the story in relatable family dynamics.[17][23] Due to its ambitious visual effects and New York City filming, the pilot and subsequent episodes carried a high production cost of $2.4 million per installment, reflecting CBS's investment in Caron's vision.[24] The network ordered a straight-to-series commitment of 22 episodes after the pilot tested well, later airing the full season starting in September 1999.[7][23] Central to this vision was casting a lead like Eric Close to portray the enhanced yet conflicted protagonist, bridging the show's fantastical elements with human vulnerability.[7]Casting
The casting for Now and Again was largely overseen by creator and executive producer Glenn Gordon Caron, who prioritized actors capable of navigating the series' blend of science fiction action, family drama, and humor, drawing from his experience on shows like Moonlighting.[7] Eric Close was selected for the lead role of Michael Wiseman due to his everyman appeal as a relatively unknown actor at the time and his physical build, which suited the demands of portraying a superhuman operative requiring rigorous workouts for action sequences.[7][25] For supporting roles, Dennis Haysbert was imposed by CBS as Dr. Theodore Morris, though Caron came to value his steely gravitas and on-screen chemistry with Close, marking Haysbert's first major recurring television role.[7] Margaret Colin was Caron's personal choice for Lisa Wiseman, chosen for her emotional range as a veteran of soap operas and procedurals, bringing tremendous humanity and a balance of strength and humor to the family dynamics.[7][26] Heather Matarazzo was cast as Heather Wiseman to capture the vulnerability of a sarcastic, non-glamorous teenager, aligning with Caron's directive against stereotypical Hollywood youth; her prior work in Welcome to the Dollhouse informed this authentic selection.[7] Recurring and guest roles further emphasized tonal versatility, with Gerrit Graham chosen by Caron for Roger Bender owing to his proven comic timing in cult films and television.[7] Notable guest stars, such as John Goodman in the pilot and flashbacks, were selected to elevate episode appeal and draw viewers with their established star power.[27] Assembling the ensemble presented challenges in balancing actors who could handle the show's dual tones of high-stakes drama and wry humor, a signature of Caron's character-driven approach from the development pitch, but the production proceeded without major recasts over its single season.[7]Filming
The series was primarily filmed on location in New York City, including Brooklyn, to maintain authenticity with its urban setting.[28] Interior scenes, such as those depicting government facilities, were shot on soundstages, while exterior mission sequences incorporated practical effects to simulate high-stakes action.[29] The production blended these elements with visual effects to portray the protagonist Michael's superhuman abilities, including enhanced speed and strength, requiring coordination between stunt teams and effects specialists.[30] Filming took place over 1999 and 2000 for the full 22-episode season, adhering to the standard weekly network television schedule. Creator Glenn Gordon Caron directed the pilot episode, "Origins," ensuring a consistent vision for the blend of drama, action, and science fiction.[31] This hands-on approach by Caron helped integrate the technical demands of the show's premise into the episodic structure. The production encountered significant challenges due to its ambitious scope, with each episode costing approximately $2.4 million—among the highest for 1990s television—driven by location shoots in costly New York venues and the extensive visual effects required for the sci-fi elements. These expenses, driven by the need for practical stunts and CGI integration, strained resources in a competitive broadcast environment.[30]Broadcast and distribution
Original run
Now and Again premiered on CBS on September 24, 1999, occupying the Friday 9:00 p.m. ET time slot.[2][3] The series aired its 22 episodes over the course of the 1999–2000 television season, concluding on May 5, 2000, with the episode "The Eggman Cometh."[2] While the show maintained a weekly Friday evening schedule, it experienced several brief hiatuses, including periods in late October–early November 1999, December 1999–January 2000, late January–early February 2000, and late March 2000.[2] Despite facing competition from other network programs during its run, Now and Again remained in its original Friday slot throughout the season, aligning with CBS's strategy to target an adult audience on a night traditionally associated with lighter viewership among younger demographics.[32] Following its cancellation, Now and Again saw limited syndication in the United States and select international markets, with broadcasts noted in countries such as the Czech Republic on TV Nova and subtitled versions in Finland, but no widespread foreign network pickups were reported.[33]Cancellation
Despite receiving a full 22-episode order for its first season, Now and Again was not renewed by CBS following declining viewership, which averaged around 11 million weekly but failed to meet network expectations on Friday nights.[11][7] The decision came in May 2000, shortly after the series finale aired on May 5, ending the show's run after one season.[2] High production costs, driven by on-location filming in Midtown Manhattan and other expensive elements, were also cited as unsustainable by CBS executives, including then-programming chief Les Moonves, who described them as "unjustifiable" amid broader budget constraints.[11][7] Creator Glenn Gordon Caron expressed disappointment over the cancellation, viewing it as a missed opportunity despite the grueling production demands; he later reflected that a "small part of [him] was wildly relieved" to end the intense schedule, with no immediate attempts at a backdoor pilot or revival at other networks.[34][7] The season finale concluded on a major cliffhanger, with protagonist Michael Wiseman escaping government oversight to reunite with his family and villain The Eggman breaking out of prison, leaving key arcs unresolved and contributing to the series' enduring cult status among science fiction enthusiasts.[7][11]Home media releases
The complete series of Now and Again was released on DVD in Region 1 (North America) on August 26, 2014, by CBS Home Entertainment as a five-disc set containing all 22 episodes from the single season.[35] The set features the episodes in their original full-frame aspect ratio and includes bonus materials such as the archival featurette Now and Again: On the Set (5:30), which offers behind-the-scenes interviews with cast and crew, and the four-part documentary Gimme a Sign: Engineering Now and Again, featuring new interviews discussing the show's production and unproduced second season plans.[36][37] An identical edition was released on Region 4 DVD in Australia on February 10, 2016, distributed through local retailers including Amazon Australia and Sanity.[38][39] These physical releases present the unedited episodes without alterations for additional seasons or spin-offs, as the series consists of only one season. As of November 2025, no official digital streaming or purchase options are available for Now and Again on major platforms such as Netflix, Paramount+, or Amazon Prime Video, though unofficial fan-uploaded episodes appear on YouTube.[40] The lack of streaming availability has sustained interest in the physical DVD sets, particularly following the show's abrupt cancellation after one season.[41]Episodes
Season overview
Now and Again consists of a single season comprising 22 episodes, which were produced and originally broadcast on CBS from September 1999 to May 2000.[2] Each episode runs approximately 42-45 minutes, excluding commercials, and follows a format that alternates between the high-stakes missions undertaken by the protagonist in his new superhuman body and the emotional family drama involving his former life.[3] The episodes are assigned sequential production codes from 001 to 022, with the pilot episode titled "Origins" designated as 001, establishing the core premise of governmental experimentation and personal loss.[42] The season's narrative arc begins with the setup of the protagonist's transformation and confinement, gradually escalating through increasingly perilous missions and covert attempts to reconnect with his family, heightening the tension between his dual identities.[7] This progression incorporates serialized elements, such as ongoing threats from adversaries and internal conflicts over memory and autonomy, interwoven with standalone action sequences to maintain episodic momentum while advancing the overarching story.[14] The structure culminates in unresolved cliffhangers, including risks of memory erasure and the escape of a major antagonist, leaving Michael's future and family ties in jeopardy as the season concludes without resolution.[7] This open-ended finale was designed to propel into a potential second season, reflecting the show's blend of science fiction intrigue and domestic pathos.[7]Episode list
The first and only season of Now and Again consists of 22 episodes, all of which were broadcast on CBS.[2]| No. | Title | Original air date | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Origins | September 24, 1999 | Michael Wiseman, a middle-aged insurance seller with a family, dies in a subway accident, but a secret branch of the U.S. government rescues his brain and transplants it into a genetically enhanced young body designed for espionage, with the strict condition that he can never contact his family again. Directed by Glenn Gordon Caron; written by Glenn Gordon Caron.[31] |
| 2 | On the Town | October 1, 1999 | Michael escapes his handlers to visit his co-worker Roger and secretly observe his family, prompting Dr. Morris to dispatch agents to retrieve or eliminate him, while the villainous Eggman plots to blackmail New York City using nerve gas.[42] |
| 3 | Over Easy | October 8, 1999 | The Eggman escalates his threat by demanding $10 million to avert a nerve gas attack on New York; Michael is tasked with delivering the ransom, as Roger and Lisa continue searching for signs of Michael's survival.[42] |
| 4 | One for the Money | October 15, 1999 | On his first mission, Michael partners with agent Murphy to assassinate a rogue former agent in Hong Kong, while back home, Lisa desperately searches for employment to support her family.[42] |
| 5 | The Insurance Man Always Rings Twice | October 22, 1999 | Discovering that Lisa plans to sell their house due to an unpaid life insurance policy stemming from a grudge at his former company, Michael confronts Roger and schemes to resolve the issue.[42] |
| 6 | Nothing to Fear, but Nothing to Fear | November 5, 1999 | A rogue chemist's experimental compound that eliminates fear sparks chaos at a nightclub; Michael and Dr. Morris investigate the incident, while Lisa unknowingly invites them both to dinner.[42] |
| 7 | A Girl's Life | November 12, 1999 | While testing an advanced high-tech jumpsuit, Michael inadvertently reveals himself to his daughter Heather, who is struck by lightning and enters a coma, hallucinating him as an angel and drawing unwanted media scrutiny.[42] |
| 8 | Pulp Turkey | November 19, 1999 | During Thanksgiving, Michael attends dinner with Dr. Morris and his family, while Roger disrupts Lisa's holiday gathering by arriving with uninvited guests.[42] |
| 9 | By the Light of the Moon | November 26, 1999 | As Lisa begins dating a new man named Gerald, Dr. Taylor subjects Michael to experimental enhancements to amplify his combat abilities under the full moon.[42] |
| 10 | I've Grown Accustomed to His Face | December 17, 1999 | Dr. Morris rigorously tests the limits of Michael's enhanced physiology, forcing him to confront his lost identity, while Lisa struggles emotionally with her husband's absence.[42] |
| 11 | Fire and Ice | January 7, 2000 | Dr. Morris evaluates Michael's endurance in extreme conditions; Michael offers personal advice to Morris about his love life, as Lisa bonds more closely with Heather amid family challenges.[42] |
| 12 | Disco Inferno | January 14, 2000 | Trained in heightened sonic perception, Michael investigates a bizarre case of spontaneous human combustion at a disco; meanwhile, Lisa enlists Roger to teach Heather how to drive.[42] |
| 13 | I Am the Greatest | January 28, 2000 | Dr. Morris discloses details of a failed prior experiment involving another enhanced human; Michael goes undercover as a professional boxer to track down clues about the subject's whereabouts.[42] |
| 14 | Film at Eleven | February 11, 2000 | Granted a rare 15 minutes of unsupervised freedom in public, Michael uses his superhuman abilities to thwart an armed bank robbery in progress.[42] |
| 15 | Deep in My Heart Is a Song | February 18, 2000 | Ahead of a critical government funding review, Michael suffers a sudden catatonic episode, triggering flashbacks to hidden health issues from his pre-accident life with Lisa.[42] |
| 16 | Everybody Who's Anybody | February 25, 2000 | Michael infiltrates a high-society gala undercover to gauge the intentions of the government general overseeing the project's funding. |
| 17 | Boy Wonder | March 10, 2000 | A teenage boy witnesses Michael apprehending terrorists and begins tracking him, uncovering a hidden missile cache; separately, Roger stumbles into a windfall from stock trading, drawing the attention of a shady investor.[42] |
| 18 | Lizzard's Tale | March 31, 2000 | Michael and Dr. Morris share a meal with Morris's old acquaintance Lizzard, a black-market organ dealer who discovers Michael's secret and plots to exploit it for profit.[42] |
| 19 | There Are No Words | April 14, 2000 | A mysterious phenomenon causes printed text to vanish worldwide, linked to Dr. Morris's proximity, turning libraries and documents blank and sparking a desperate investigation.[43] |
| 20 | The Bugmeister | April 21, 2000 | Powerful corporate executives across the city succumb to deadly insect attacks orchestrated by a vengeful exterminator known as the Bugmeister, prompting Michael to intervene.[43] |
| 21 | The Bugmeister, Part Bee | April 28, 2000 | As the Bugmeister's insect assaults intensify and claim more victims, Michael closes in on the culprit to prevent further chaos.[40] |
| 22 | The Eggman Cometh | May 5, 2000 | The Eggman schemes a daring prison escape and final revenge plot against Michael; simultaneously, a witness claims Michael survived his subway accident, shaking Lisa's resolve and forcing Michael to weigh his options without his tracking device. Directed by Ronald L. Schwary; written by René Echevarria.[44] |