I’ve found my new TV addiction, Jericho. Something had to take over the void left when NBC cancelled last season’s best newcomer, Surface. I may be one of the few people in the country who was legitimately excited for Jericho. I even had the full page ad stuck to my fridge door.
True, the apocalyptic show had some ”oh no, not this again” moments. (And I don’t mean the ”oops, atomic bombs have just gone off in Denver, Atlanta, and maybe everywhere else” moments.) I mean the clichés — the missing school bus full of kids, a bus full of convicts, a semi-riot at the local gas station, and an emergency tracheotomy done with straws (ok, so that part wasn’t cliché).
But those are trivial and every show has them. What’ll inspire me to keep me coming back is the intensely written story and expertly picked soundtrack. (The first episode featured songs by The Killers, The Goo Goo Dolls and Snow Patrol.) And I’ll be honest, I’m stoked that Pamela Reed (Arnold Schwarzenegger’s partner in Kindergarten Cop) is in the show, as Skeet Ulrich’s mom. I love her.
What did you think of Jericho? And which fall show is most likely to inspire you to keep watching?
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I liked what I saw. Unfortunatly, the show was not closed captioned! *insert frowning face*
I don’t think it was as well written as Studio 60, which is my favorite new show thus far. But the premise and Skeet Ulrich (not tomention the astounding number of character actors on) are enough to keep me watching, so long as the clichés don’t get out of hand.
This looks interesting, but Kidnapped seem to be a lot more impressive. I just hope that each season is focused on a kidnapping because if this is just a show based on one kidnapped teen, it is going to look real stupid.
This is the best line in the whole blog…
I’m stoked that Pamela Reed (Arnold Schwarzenegger’s partner in Kindergarten Cop) is in the show, as Skeet Ulrich’s mom. I love her.
ME TOO! And I love Kindergarten Cop. Oh the days when Arnold was cool.
I’m so glad you brought up Pamela Reed and her role in “Kindergarten Cop”. Her being in “Jericho” is the main reason I tried it out last night, and I’m not ashamed to admit it. I missed parts of the episode, but am interested enough to check it out again next week.
Thoroughly enjoyed it….reminded me of Invasion.
Even though it did have some problems (like the ones mentioned in the post) I really liked Jericho and will keep watching.
I liked it – I know many people have it pegged to be one of the first shows cancelled but I have high hopes for it.
The convicts were a bit much – but the trache thing was cool. I thought Skeet and the casting was great – keeping my fingers crossed for a Delta Burke guest role since her real life hsband is on it.
*Note to self carry around juice boxes in case of nuclear attack.
I was too busy watching America’s Next Top Model.
Top Model will always get my top priority, but if CBS keeps offering shows for free on innertube, I will totally try to make time for this one. I’m going to watch it this weekend.
However, the mention that Surface was the best show of last year has me questioning the recommendation.
I dug the storyline but also had beef with all the cliches. And for real, what’s up with pop culture making every Black black some sort of enigmatic superperson? Lost did that with Mr Eko, Eureka did the same thing with the mechanic, as did Bagger Vance, the Matrix with Morpheus, Jeepers Creepers with the psychic black lady, Ghost with Whoopi Goldberg, The Punisher with the Voodoo man who clearly was NOT Puerto Rican (even though that part of the film took place in Puerto Rico), the list goes on. I also took issue with the loner with the dark past of Mr Ulrich’s character. It’s a little overplayed.
That said, Jericho’s officially on my tivo list with Smith, so there’s at least two new additions. But I am holding out hope for the new seasons of Galactica and LOST for my serial action drama fix.
OK, color me this about the criticisms:
1. How is the school bus full of missing children a “cliché”?? Where, specifically, have we seen this so many times that it’s a cliche?
2. Semi-riot at the gas station: We’ve seen stuff like this quite a lot, but the WAY this semi-riot was handled was anything BUT a cliche. The folks “rioting” acually knew each other and were acting out of anger and confusion, not mindless violence.
3. Emergency tracheotomy: Seen this done on a few shows (including the brilliant 24, if I’m not mistaken). Why ISN’T this a cliché again?
4. “….atomic bombs have just gone off in Denver, Atlanta….”: again, maybe I haven’t been watching enough tv or movies, how does this qualify as a cliché given that the premise of the show is built on the mystery of what happened in the outside world?
Some of this knee-jerk “cliché” criticism seems a lot like when people says such nonsense about 24 when a character has met his/her apparent demise, “You know So-and-So could be alive because you never know with this show,” when in fact very, very few people on 24 who are dead ever “come back to life.” In the same way, I think what we’ve seen on Jericho is appropriate for the series and how it’s been set up.
I didn’t know that the show wasn’t closed-captioned, but the ironic thing about it not being closed-captioned is that the show actually has a deaf character. Oops.
If I have to candid… I wanted it to be darker (nuke holocaust-pretty bleak; nukes + convicts- bleak; nukes + convicts + Major dad popping rioters heads off-sinister)…Kudos on the mix tape soundtrack, but the orchestral swell when McCraney delivers his triumphant, we-shall-overcome monologue was just the onions on top of the philly steak cheesiness…great concept…waiting for the payoff
A blatant rip-off of the “Lost” pilot episode! I was very disappointed by the lack of originality. Check it out:
-A disaster isolates a diverse group of people with plenty of redemptive potential. (Lost’s island = Jericho’s small town).
-A washed-up hero archetype comes to the rescue! (Lost’s Mathew Fox = Jericho’s Skeet Ulrich).
-A recorder message provides a clue to the mysteries ahead (Lost’s intercepted radio transmission = Jericho’s ridiculously-timed answering machine message).
-Handcuffs and escaped convicts, oh my! (Lost’s Air Marshal/Kate = Jericho’s silly escaped prisoners twist).
-Another emergency tracheotomy? Seriously? (Jack to Boone: “Find me a pen! I need a pen!” = Skeet to bad-acting boy: “Do you have a pen?” “I have a pencil…”)
-The regurgitated “We need to band together” speech. (Lost’s Jack = Jericho’s Mayor)
-And, finally, the hilariously ripped-off closing line meant to send chills down your spine. (Lost’s Charlie: “Guys…Where are we?” = Jericho’s blond chick: “What is happening?”)
The only difference here is the quality in writing — where Lost is the obvious victor. Puh-leeeeease tell me I’m not the only one who immediately noticed these flagrant similarites???
While I agree on the cliches (and think the trach was one as well), I also agree that I was totally digging it. A pilot is to set up a series. It did. The difference is always in how it proceeds, and this one has much promise. I found myself at the end of the show wanting to know more.
And kudos on the acting to Skeet, Pamela Reed, Gerald McRaney and the kid whose mom left the answering machine message. I think that they are the biggest reason I enjoyed what I watched.
Having viewed the Heroes premiere online, I’m totally stoked for that one as well. Had me just as eager for more at the end. And for once with a large cast I wasn’t totally bored by at least one when it was done. They’re all compelling.
aside from the Major Dad-preachy aspect and the Doug Ross insta-trach, it wasn’t too bad.
What’s the point in getting into another show like this? The networks screwed me over when they cancelled Surface and Invasion. Why would I want to get invested in yet another show that will probably be cancelled at the end of this season? I’m dumb, but not THAT dumb. At least I know the Wire is going to be on for at least one more season after this one…
Men in Trees was a pleasant surprise. Anne Heche is charming and convincing as a big-time New Yorker “fish out of water” in Alaska, and the supporting cast is great. It’s now on my TiVo schedule, which I certainly was NOT planning on!
I really enjoyed Ep 1. I wish it was a bit darker, and the pop soundtrack was a bit much, but all in all it had a nice vibe to it and just enough mysterious moments to keep me intrigued. Looking forward to seeing where the series goes… Plus, I am a sucker for post-apocalyptic stories (e.g. Stephen King’s The Stand), so by default I am gonna be down with Jericho.
I really enjoyed the first episode. Great feeling of dread, especially when they realized that Atlanta had also been attacked. Although I like and own all the tunes featured, it does seem that more and more shows now feel the need to drop in popular music, either in a closing montage, or just randomly throughout the episode. Sometimes it is extremely effective, such as the seasoning ending “ER”. Other times it just seems haphazard, pandering, and cynical.
My greatest fear though is one that has been mentioned often about such serialized shows. Why become invested in a story and characters that are likely, if recent history continues, to be cancelled long before the questions are all answered? Maybe it’s better to wait for the DVD, if it’s successful after all…
Paul, you get props for pointing out all the similarities to Lost. I felt a similar vibe, wondering when the flashback to Skeet’s life that would show why he left town and what he was really up to. is that being saved for episode 2?
Gah, I can’t believe I missed this. I’ll just catch up with the second episode.
I like the premise, but what a few people brought up has me worried also. The cliches are a bummer, but since it’s a pilot, I’ll overlook them.
But…all three of the new sci-fi shows (Invasion, Threshold, Surface) that debuted last year ended the same season. At least in Threshold’s case, it wasn’t very good, so CBS might give this show a better shot. Between this, Lost and The Nine, Wednesdays will be my mystery show night this fall (and maybe Kidnapped if it’s not as bad as Vanished).
I actually had heard good things about this pilot. I checked it out and I’m definitely gonna stick around for at least a couple episodes. See if it can hook me.
I agree about the soundtrack. I’m sucker for good tunes set to powerful images and this show has it. Shows like Rescue Me, Smallville and others are great at doing this and can totally me a show for me.
I definitely enjoyed it and followed it up by watching Kidnapped. And in comparison, Kidnapped was awful. So many cliche’s I don’t know where to begin. And I had been told Kidnapped could be the best new show of the fall. Uh, no. No way.
Studio 60 or Jericho so far in my book.
I liked Jericho a lot and I hear that next weeks episode is way better. Go Team Jericho!
Actually the emergency tracheotomy is pretty cliche. I’ve seen it done in half a dozen shows or movies. Did anyone else think that when people kept asking Skeet Ulrich, “Where were you?” that they were asking the actor as much as the character what had happened to him? He was quite the “It” boy after “Scream” but the last time I saw him was in “As Good As It Gets.”
Definately an addiction, I wonder if its going to be like a “Lost” type show or a “Red Dawn”?
Skeet Ulrich – love him he is my Wednesday McDreamy.
Meh – I may give it a few more episodes, but my initial reactions to the show was that it left a lot to be desired and wasn’t very engaging.
Like Skeet Ulrich’s subtle acting and quite strength was one pleasant surprise, but other than Skeet and the African-American actor (don’t know his name in real life or on the show, unfortunately) who was mysteriously intriguing enough to get my attention, I don’t really like *any* of the other characters or actors playing them…
Hardly anyone stands out besides the two actors mentioned above – the rest were so bland and subpar in their acting abilities that I quickly grew frustrated and irritated while watching the show.
I do like the idea behind the premise, but they (the creators/casting agents/whoever!) really should have come up with some better, more diverse actors/actresses to fill out the supporting roles.
I like every single character on Lost and they have a huge cast of 14 people – and that’s not even including the reacurring characters/flashback characters!
In Jericho there’s a simularily large cast – but only two of them are mildly interesting…
Well, like I said – I’ll give it another shot next week, but so far I didn’t really enjoy what I saw – that faux-inspiring speech was cringe worthy, the use of trendy songs was laughable and most importantly – the majority of the actors are not very good.
End Rant Trasmission
When you’ve seen one Nuclear war you’ve seen them all.
I like the show thus far. However, there are some inaccuracies, which are indeed inevitable in a TV show. First, how is it possible that people living in Kansas could see a nuclear explosion in Denver? The mountain line in the horizon was a bit fake given the western border of Kansas, where I have been to many times (Yes, I am a Kansasan), is hundreds of miles from the Rocky Mountains. That annoyed me.