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CBS Gives ‘Jericho’ the Heave-ho

Mar 21, 2008  •  Post A Comment

“Jericho,” the CBS fan favorite that once escaped cancellation after a massive fan campaign, will not get a second reprieve.
The network announced today that the March 25 episode would be the series’ finale.
A CBS representative said the network has no immediate plans to shop “Jericho” to cable. Sci Fi Channel has been airing the first season.
The rep also quashed the rumor that there are additional episodes in the can beyond the seven ordered last summer, saying only that there were two endings shot for the final episode of season two. The one designed to be more specifically conclusive will be aired.
CBS renewed the show in June after angry fans mailed tons of nuts to the studio (a reference to the season-one finale).
In a letter to fans last year, CBS President Nina Tassler wrote, “You got our attention; your e-mails and collective voice have been heard. But, for there to be more ‘Jericho,’ we will need more viewers. … We will count on you to rally around the show, to recruit new viewers with the same grassroots energy, intensity and volume you have displayed in recent weeks.”
In a statement Friday, however, Ms. Tassler offered only a farewell and thanks to the cast, crew and a fan base she commended for being “engaged and spirited.” Ultimately, she said, “Without question, there are passionate viewers watching this program; we simply wish there were more.”
Jeffrey Braverman of NutsOnline, the Internet company that helped spearhead the original mail campaign, said efforts are already assembling.
“It’s certainly disappointing, as I feel the quality of the programming was only getting better,” he said. “We’ve been receiving e-mail about continued protests leading up to this announcement, e.g., sending peanuts to Sci Fi to get them to pick up the series.”
Update: Below are two clips from the upcoming “Jericho” finale.

8 Comments

  1. Nuts!

  2. Perhaps we should consider “Jericho” an extended length mini-series and call it a day.

  3. This is the problem with network TV today; the truly well-written series are cast off for not drawing “the demographic,” usually in favor of more lowest common denominator pap and reality-based garbage.
    Is there anyone who believes something like The Twilight Zone would have lasted a single season on CBS today?
    So farewell, Jericho, hello Big Brother 10, 11, 12 and so on. 🙁

  4. They killed the show by limiting it to seven episodes and then not doing anything to promote it beyond this season. People won’t watch a show that they think will get canceled soon…
    FOX would have done a much better job.
    Suzanne Lanoue
    http://tvmegasite.net/prime/shows/jericho/

  5. Yeah, this sucks.
    But I’m sure the network thinks they’re saving money, because they won’t have to actually pay actors for scripted shows, and they can have lots more lowest-common-denominator (reality TV) shows to appeal to the largest demographic of television watchers. As I look at the lineup on TV, it’s no wonder that most people don’t watch the networks any more. I can remember when the primetime hour was booked solid with shows that people wanted to see. Nowadays, we’re lucky to have two shows a WEEK, what with reruns and hiatus and shortened series seasons and the general dumbing down of TV. Most good shows that come along don’t get picked up by the masses. Dancing With the Stars or The Biggest Loser are the TV equivalent of fast food and Britney Spears. Guess this is Andy Warhol’s “15 minuts of fame” for these people.
    Hopefully Jericho will get picked up by a cable network and will live on. I’d even get HBO if Jericho appeared there.

  6. I echo the sentiments of most of the comments here.. I was looking at the new fall line-up for this year and trying to pick what shows might see the new year and couldn’t see one.. I am one of those who have tried to get into a show only to have it canceled, and now I won’t start watching a series that looks too questionable to make it through even to October (when they actually started in September, remember then).. So I look at cable channels, and watch the Discovery channels and wonder if network will ever be able to have shows like MASH, a show that took several seasons to develop an audience, ever again…

  7. Networks wonder why people are leaving in droves…well the shoddy treatment of a well-written show like Jericho simply drives home the point on just why exactly people are moving away from network TV to cable channels. If you are satisfied watching pablum like The Bachelor or American Idol, then the networks are for you. As for myself, I will see the rest of you on the other side.

  8. CBS, America needs Jericho, this country has been so inspired by the recent elections and the need for new leadership that was needed to bring a new start to this country and now would be a great time for a new start for Jericho. this series has made me realize the importants of everyday life and what it mean to survive at a time of so much dispare. we need Jericho in order inspire the young and old with that American spirit that makes everyone want to sit down and watch tv again with the family. CBS, bring this one back, and place it at that after dinner time and you will have a hit. im 44 and i love watching this and something that keeps you going like this and we need it, America needs it so that American spirit can be felt again for the young and old. dont leave America hanging in another war that will never be won, bring back Jericho so that winning spirit can be felt all over America again.
    thank you and may God Bless all of you.

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