7 days was a wondrous science fiction show that centered around a secret government
project that allowed one person to go back in time 7 days and work to change events. The
primary chrononaut of the program was Frank Parker who was "recruited" into service straight
from the mental hospital of Hansen Island where he was being held "for observation" after
suffering post traumatic stress syndrome from being a prisoner in Somalia.
The Somalians had locked Frank in a metal box and left him in the desert sun for over a week when they captured him. Frank suffered a severe emotional and physical breakdown from this torture. When he was rescued by his fellow CIA agents, they placed him at Hansen Island for treatment. Once there, he improved rapidly but then became essentially a political prisoner of his own CIA. His chance for getting off of Hansen Island lay in his willingness to cooperate with the assignment to the Backstep Project.
As a natural born rebel and questioner of authority, this was not as easy for Frank as it may sound. Eventually, as the main chrononaut of the project, Frank created his own niche complete with escapes to hidden tunnels within the complex and punctuated by frequent testosterone matches with Nate Ramsey. Frank makes no secret of his love and admiration for Olga but always manages to somehow shoot himself in the foot when beginning to get closer to her.
The sphere in which Frank travels through time was built using alien technology found in the remains of the Roswell crash. It is powered by something called "Element 115" of which only a very limited amount is possessed. The lack of an unlimited power source for the sphere is largely why backsteps are so carefully monitored and must be authorized by the NSA and the Pentagon.
Navigation of the sphere is very difficult and prior to Frank, seven chrononauts were killed during trials due to navigational issues such as rematerializing in the midst of space. Travel within the sphere is extremely hard on the body and mind of the chrononaut and thus again, Frank, who has a near total pain tolerance, comes in very handy as a pilot for the sphere.
When the sphere has left for a backstep, the persons in the prior timeline (7 days prior to the backstep occurring), know that a backstep has taken place because the sphere actually vanishes from it's launch pad. Alarms sound and the team awaits word from Frank wherever he may be landing this time.
For more in depth information on the sphere, please visit the link called "Detailed information on the sphere's workings" in the links section below.
Everyone's fantasy is to be able to go back in time to fix things. This show appealed to that universal fantasy. At the present time in light of the events of September 11th, 2001, we truly wish there was a real NSA Operation Backstep Project. This surely would have called for a backstep.
7 Days was a reasonably popular show when it was on. Towards the end of the show's 3rd season, UPN moved it's time slot from Wednesdays at 8 pm to Tuesdays and added a terrible show by the name of Special Unit 2 into the Wednesday time slot. 7 Days fans became concerned at this point but were assured the show would go on.
Then came missed shows, repeats shown instead of new episodes and then rumors that there would be no 4th season for 7 Days. At this point there were four unshown episodes. Fans worried these would never be shown. Eventually they were shown. Still no official word that there would be no 4th season. The repeats continued on Tuesday nights. When the fall lineup for UPN was finally announced, 7 Days was not listed.
There is still no complete consensus as to why the show was cancelled. It had decent ratings, a solid fan base and was one of UPN's prominent shows. Some rumors have circulated that there was dissention on the set. General consensus is that while there was some dissention on the set at one point in time, it had been settled by the time the decision to cancel came down. Fans began a write in campaign requesting the return of the show. This can be found by following the link below called "What Happened?" Further details on events leading up to the cancellation of 7 Days can also be found here.