I am one of the manydie-hard Jericho fans who were distraught last week upon hearing ofthe shows demise. And don’t get mestarted about Kid Nation. Itdoesn’t take a genius to add things up: a reality show, with fame-starved kids(I’m assuming, especially after watching the preview), costs much less to produce than a serialized drama thatactually has an intriguing storyline. Iguess CBS really is trying to harness that younger demographic, although I’mnot sure that pre-teens are the market they were aiming for. And while Jericho’s ratings may not have been stellar, they weren’thorrible either (like the ill-fated 3 Lbs.).
Let’s quickly run down whathas happened since last week’s announcement:
May 16: Right after CBS announcedits fall schedule, the petition frenzy began, and the Jericho boards at CBS went crazy. Fan sites alsoimmediately began a rallying cry on how to help keep Jericho on the air.
May 17: Our esteemedMandi Bierly brought up Kid Nation on PopWatch, inspiring some 500 comments, most of them pro-Jericho.
May 18: CBSannounced, "In the coming weeks, we hope to develop a way to provideclosure to the compelling drama that was the Jerichostory."
May 19: At the Piratesof the Caribbean: At World’s End premiere in Hollywood, Ashley Scott (pictured), who played Emily Sullivan, told EW’sCarrie Bell how she felt about Jericho’s cancellation: "It infuriates me. It is not fair to peoplewho watched because we didn’t wrap it up because we thought we were comingback. Now viewers will never get a chance to know the whole story of the bombsand what happened or what is going to happen to these townspeople. It is justrude and I think people are going to stop watching shows like that because theykeep getting shafted by these serials that they get into, then they getcanceled and they never get any closure."
May 21: Nuts Onlinebegan taking orders to send to CBS. They have YouTube video and photos of the more than 10,000 pounds of nuts being delivered to CBS HQ in NYC. (Another 4,000 pounds were to be delivered today). SyFy Portal even interviewedJeffrey Braverman from Nuts Online about the massive influx of orders.Why the nuts? It’s in reference to the Battle of the Bulge tale Grandpa Green tells in the final episode, which Stanley mistakenly calls the "peanut story," in which the Allied commander replied, "Nuts!" when asked if he wanted to surrender to the Nazis. In the final scene of Jericho, when Constantino asks Jake if they are going to surrender, he replies, "Nuts."
And here we are now, a weekafter the cancellation announcement, with nothing firm. A friend toldme that the season finale was supposedly written as aseries finale in case the show didn’t get renewed. At first, I didn’tbuy it, but as Ithought about it some more, I realized it could work as a finale. Whileit left many questions unanswered, it also let your imaginationrun wild with possibilities. What was Robert Hawkins going to do withthe tank? Who would get killed in the fight at the Richmond farm? Wasthetrain full of the soldiers racing to the farm from Nebraska? If Darcywasright when she asked Robert about "eliminating all witnesses" (re: thenuclearbomb), wouldn’t all of Jerichobe doomed to die? How could the new government ever figure out who didor did not know about the hidden bomb? Are Skylar’s parents stillalive? And most importantly: Where was Jake for all those years?
IfCBS does sum things up with a two-hour movie, I say, "Brilliant." The show was great, I loved it, but realistically, it’s timeto move on to other things. Do, however, count me amongthose viewers who won’t get involved in serial dramas ever again. I got burned last year with NBC’s Surface and this year with Jericho.I’ve learned my lesson.
What say you, PopWatchers? How long will the Jericho fight go on? Are you abandoning CBS for the long haul? What should happen now?
Comments (1-30) of 370 Add your comment
I stopped watching serialized dramas in their first season. I got burned watching Surface, Invasion, Eyes and just can’t do it anymore. My heart can’t handle it. This upcoming season, the only new show pulling me in is Private Practice.
I’m incredibly annoyed. I spend a year getting into the series, looking forward to it and then they cancel it! Let me tell you, from now on, I’ll tape and wait. If it gets picked up then I’ll watch the tape, if not then I didn’t waste my time. All the networks better watch themselves, especially in the age of YouTube and DVR.
I loved Jericho. I wished it hadn’t got cancelled but I can’t say I was terribly surprised. A two hour movie would be an awesome idea. I most certainly would rather watch a Jericho movie than CBS’s Sunday night Hallmark schmaltz. While we’re at it, let’s find out what happened on The Nine too.
Although I liked Jericho, I’m not as upset as I should be after its cancellation. Maybe it’s because I didn’t care for most of the characters. They’re either uninteresting (sans Jake, Hawkins and the teenage kid) or unlikeable (most of the female characters, except Stanley’s deaf sister). Compared to Lost’s or Heroes’ bunch, they’re underwhelming.
Still, I liked the plot enough to keep watching. Jericho definitely improved after the hiatus and the possibilities seemed endless after the season finale. It’s too bad it got cut for a reality show, though CBS should’ve cut some of their procedural crime dramas, since they’re far more of those populating CBS than reality TV.
Still, I think I’m done with serialized dramas. Look how many of them – regardless of quality – were cut in the last two TV seasons without a conclusion: Surface, Threshold, Invasion, Reunion, Kidnapped, Vanished, Drive, Day Break, The Nine…and now Jericho. If these networks aren’t willing to finish them, forget it.
I watched “Jericho” all season but am OK with letting it go. I do think a miniseries would be nice, with two or three two-hour parts. It wouldn’t be as cramped as a TV movie, and CBS could treat it as a Big Event.
I feel for you Jericho fans being cut short. I feel that ABC shafted me on Six Degrees. The “exclusive online” episodes were okay, but the supposed “finale” wasn’t any closure. A voice over monologue does not a series finale make.
The actress was right. We, the audience, are going to give up on serials all together if we keep getting cut short.
I didn’t watch jericho, but had a full schedule including a bunch of serialized dramas: Kidnapped, the Nine, Smith…
By the time the cw cancelled Veronica Mars, I still have a full schedule on Thursday, but only an hour and a half of shows the rest of the week.
No new shows next fall. By January, I’ll watch a new show only if it comes with a certificate of longevity.
I was totally into Surface, too. Sad…because I really wanted to know the backstory.
I thought it worked well as a series finale – kindof a “they went down fighting” and then you can imagine what happened to everyone.
I don’t think they could wrap up everything in one two-hour movie, due to the many, many, many, many storylines they would have to address.
CBS should do a graphic novel or shoot a mini-series.
Jericho was by no means the greatest tv show ever. In fact, as was mentioned, it was at times underwhelming and the acting was subpar. Still, it was a very intriguing storyline that drew in enough viewers to at least be bumped to a Friday night time slot instead of being chopped completely. With DVRs most committed viewers would either tune in to watch live or watch it within the week thereby counting as far as Nielsen is considered (see recent article re:advertisements watched up to one week after the original air date).
I’m not abandoning CBS – their Thursday night line-up was stellar this season and will be worth the return even without Shark – but I will be much more cautious before beginning any new serialized dramas.
I’d sign any petition to get Jericho back on the air, even if only for a mini-series or for one more season. Please CBS, cut us a break!
ABC also deserves a little slap for leaving us hanging with The Nine.
I am completely outraged and will only settle for a second season. This is the only show my entire family gathered for and kept conversation alive for days after each episode! We’ve been glued since Day 1 and want to see a second season!
We DO NOT want a wrap up movie! There is tons of storyline left to tell. The cast is awesome, the writers are brilliant and the Producer’s rock.
I’m tired of networks punishing the viewers by pulling GREAT shows off the air for shows that have no substance.
This family has not tuned in to CBS since 05/16 and we will continue to boycott it until Jericho returns.
A Dedicated Jericho Ranger
I say shame on CBS, NUTS TO YOU! We as fans have adopted the Jericho family into our homes for the past season, short term breakup included, only to have you say that my opinions aren’t good enough. Well, how about the opinions of the over 70,000 strong so far on the petition or the ones sending nuts! Wake up CBS!
Unless CBS brings back Jericho for, at bare minimum, a 13 episode Season 2 – they will continue to be bombarded with NUTS !! See http://www.jericholives.com for details. They will be buried in NUTS up to their eyeballs – if Jericho returns I would have spent $200-$300 on DVDs and related items. Either CBS gets the money or http://www.nutsonline.com does. Plus CBS will be under prime-time boycott for at least 1 year in my house (everyone is on board with this decision) CBS – go ahead make my day.
Thank you for the article. A network can’t drag people all seaon long, then to just cut and run. It take time, a couple of season for a show to catch on. Also Jericho was in a bad time slot on top of that. It still managed 2nd place for the time, not including Idol.
Closure is not an option. Jericho needs to be renewed either on CBS or another network.
CBS will continue to have zero traction going into the new season until they resolve this. The $7K for a full page variety ad was raised today, and another 4,000 pounds of nuts goes out tomorrow. We are in this fight for the long haul.
I loved Jericho, I’ve never been so passionate about a show in my life. I think CBS made a very bad decision by canceling it.
I think CBS will renew Jericho for a second season. I’m looking forward to sharing the show with relatives and friends as soon as the DVDs come out.
For one I dont think the season (because hopefully the series will come back) finale would make a good series finale. Too many unanswered questions. Sure it’s great to let your imagination run with the story but there is too much to leave to your imagination. Many of us and there are many of us .. will continue to fight for that second season. I mean all this free press should be a CBS dream. They should work it. After one week of being cancelled I have informed many about the situation with Jericho and several have watched the show and become fans. I just hope someone realizes the great potential bringing Jericho back for a second season could be.
I just have one word for CBS. Nuts.
Could Jericho be wrapped up in a two hour movie, maybe. But, this fan doesn’t want a two hour movie or a mini-series, there’s to much left to be told. I know I will not vest my time in another series.
This is an opportunity for all the viewers who have been burned in the past by networks who have given up after one season. Jericho was a quality show with quality actors. I think that the outcry you see is precisely the reaction networks need to see-the viewers are tired of being talked down to and trampled upon. If you love reality shows, great, but not everyone does. Their ratings are going to continue to fall.
EVERY person who is furious with CBS about Jericho or any other show they have cancelled for their stupid programming decisions should send NUTS. Trust me, it is the best $5 you will EVER spend. I felt great after.
Thanks so much for saying what we have all been saying since the annoucement to can our favorite show. Jericho needs to come back. Fans will not be satisfied with a 2 hour movie. And I am another who will not be watching CBS or the new shows they put on because if they can’t be bothered with us….then I can’t possibly be bothered with CBS. We will continue to send nuts and are looking into other possibilities to get attention over this matter.
Thanks again!
Bring back Jericho!! I love this show so much. CBS PLEASE give us back our beloved show!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To hell with a 2 hour movie. ONLY SEASON TWO WILL DO!
I love Jericho. The best show I’ve ever seen. I don’t want a 2hour movie to wrap things up. I want a second season. Pick it up for a second season,put it in a different time slot and see what happens. I think the fans of Jericho have shown we have your desired demographics, and we have the volume of viewers desired. Bring it back !! Please!
Jericho definitely deserves a second season. Although I would not ordinarily voice my opinion about a television show, I believe this cancellation was based upon a poor understanding of audience viewing habits in a new media environment, given the proliferation of digital recording devices and the availability of online episodes. Additionally, experimenting with an extended mid-season hiatus rather than building viewership through airing repeats of the first half of the season was an ill-advised strategy. I understand the economic realities of network decisions and the importance of ratings, but Jericho’s cancellation was not based on accurate data.
It would be a shame to trade cheap “reality TV” drivel for quality
programming, especially when audiences’ loyalty can so easily shift to other sources when they feel their intelligence has been insulted and their opinions have been disregarded.
Bottom line – CBS did Jericho/us wrong and it hurts people: It appears that CBS set up 18-49 year old viewers for disappointment and displeasure by unexpectedly cancelling Jericho (without transferring it to another network or executing some other viewer-friendly option).
In any event, some folks don’t have a clue if they think Kid Nation (thanks to Mandi Bierly for bringing up KN on PopWatch) will out do Jericho in that unfavorable timeslot. Dunno, may be I’m in the wrong business…
Jericho was cancelled because of the lack of the 19-45 demographic (so say CBS honchos). A network can charge advertisers more for a commercial if that demographic is high. I doubt that CBS is worried if the Jericho fans boycott CBS as we apparently were not the right demographic. It is the advertisers who should be worried. It is my intention to boycott the adverstisers of ANY reality show on ANY station. Stop the madness. Give me quality or give me static!!
I belong to a book club and will read more — especially on Wednesday night. At least it is unlikely that someone will let me read half way through and then yank the book from my hands and say — That’s all for you. And just think — there are no commercials in a book. Any authors out there want to write a Jericho book series? I’ll buy it, but only after all the books are published.
And NUTS to your demographic.
Jericho may have not been the ‘BEST’ show on television, but to myself and many others ( as exhibited by the NUTS campaign ) it was. We, the fans, deserve a second season. ! CBS give me back my show !