While I didn’t agree with CBS’s initial plan to kill Jericho, one of the few new shows I enjoyed, I’m glad the nuts had their say:
The network apparently has been impressed by the display of viewer passion, which included the delivery of 50,000 pounds of peanuts to its New York offices. In the season finale, a character replies “Nuts!” to a demand that the beleaguered town of Jericho surrender.
“You got our attention; your emails and collective voice have been heard,” [CBS Entertainment President Nina] Tassler wrote, and seven episodes have been ordered for midseason 2007-08. “In success, there is the potential for more. But, for there to be more Jericho, we will need more viewers.
In originally declining the renew Jericho, dwindling viewership was to blame. However, those numbers don’t exist in a vacuum: CBS put Jericho on a several month hiatus over the winter months and lost a good deal of momentum, they competed directly with American Idol during the spring, and in general television viewing is down. Probably making it premature to kill a good property that could have legs.
I give credit to the Internet community of fanatics who helped CBS rethink their decision. And I give credit to CBS for keeping an open mind, ordering additional episodes, and rerunning the series this summer to attract new viewers. Now about Smith…
Thank you for your article. We will continue to work with CBS now to recruit new members. Thank goodness CBS was willing to give us another chance.
I think it is going to get harder to “cancel” low rated cult and niche series.
http://hdtivo.wordpress.com/2007/06/06/canceling-tv-shows/
Thanks for covering the story! I think the fan base has been there all along, and I think the show will have alot of new fans thanks to the publicity this campaign has generated! CBS made the right decision!
I never tuned into the show before the fans went nuts, but I’m planning on getting a season pass, now that CBS is repeating the show. I just wish that there would have been the same response in trying to save Surface. That was such an amazing show, that all of a sudden just stopped airing.
Thank you so very very much for the article. I have enjoyed coming together with so many great fans of Jericho. I look forward to visiting this site when the show re-airs.
Jericho fans have even more to be excited about, CBS will start showing the reruns from season 1 on Friday July 6th at 8pm central 9pm eastern. If you haven’t seen Jericho yet, give it a try, you’ll be hooked! Thanks for the article you need to take some credit yourself!