pamela reed
Gone Too Soon: Jericho

The modern poster-child for a show that's "gone too soon" is Jericho. The impassioned fans buried CBS under a ton of nuts, which got the show renewed for a shortened second season. Your mileage of the quality of that season may vary, but the fact remains that the fans did something none of these internet campaigns today will be able to.
What people don't realize is that when Jericho came back for the second run, the ratings weren't any better than when the first season ended. So when they cancel your favorite show and you start mailing in bizarre objects and setting up your web petitions because "it worked for Jericho," remember that the networks remember Jericho as well. They remember that it failed to find a sizable audience twice.
Yup, they're making a Jericho big-screen movie
If According To Jim is the comedy show that will not die, Jericho might be the drama.The canceled CBS drama (saved by a nut campaign which helped it come back for short second season) is not only airing Sunday nights on The CW (and getting better ratings than some shows the network has had on that night), they're going to make a big-screen movie. Producer Jon Turteltaub tells IfMagazine.com that a feature film is indeed in the works, and that the original cast will be back.
Hey, do you think Jericho will be renewed?
I know, I know, you're thinking to yourself, "I thought we went through this already and Jericho has been officially, definitely, and finally canceled by CBS?" Oh, silly people!
Jericho fans just won't quit. The "Save Jericho" people have erected a billboard on Ventura Blvd. in Los Angeles. It looks like a real estate ad, with a sign that says "TV Show For Sale," and includes the CBS phone number and the URL for a web site. They're looking for a new home for the show, and if it's not CBS then maybe The Sci-Fi Channel or another cable network.
Now, I sort of rolled my eyes at this, but what makes it a little bit more confusing is that Jericho producers Carol Barbee and Jon Steinberg called into a radio show during Jerichon and said that they were having meetings with various people and that they were optimistic. Huh?!
[via Franklin Ave.]
Could Jericho come back?
I know, I know, we've all heard those words before. It seems that every other show that gets canceled these days has a "could it come back on another network?" addendum, a glimmer of hope that somehow, some way, a show that had a small but loyal following will actually survive. Unfortunately, 9.9 times out of 10 it doesn't happen.
But it could happen to Jericho. According to Brian Stelter at The New York Times, CBS/Paramount execs have been having secret talks with Comcast (yes, Comcast) about doing something with the show for a third season. Now, this might seem like an odd, desperate play for another season if it wasn't for the fact that NBC has already done something very similar to this with DirecTV, twice. First they had a deal with the satellite provider to air Passions, but that was a big bust (sorry, Passions fans), but they have a new deal to air another season of Friday Night Lights. The new season will start airing on DirecTV in October, and then repeats will air on NBC in early 2009.
Goodbye Jericho
The nuts campaign convinced CBS to give us another (short) season of Jericho, but now it looks like the show is indeed canceled for good.
The network told producers yesterday that they are not giving another season to the nuclear attack drama. The show had filmed two endings for the seven episode second season: one a cliffhanger in case the show was renewed for another season, and the other an ending that would serve as an ending to the show and satisfy fans. It's the latter that will air on March 25. While the episode does indeed leave room for a continuation, I think we can say it's really gone for good this time.
Jericho: Sedition
(S02E06) "When do we leave?" - Jake Green
Is it just me or was it kind of funny that each of the wanted men had their addresses under their name? Are they really that hard to find? I couldn't help imagining the soldiers busting down the wrong door. "Hey guys, this is 92 Washington LANE. Jake lives at 92 Washington DRIVE." Although I am a fan of random trivia and now we know the address of many of the characters. By the way, while Jericho, may be a real city, 66812 is not an actual zip code.
We also found out that Goetz's first name is actually John. Now I'm hoping that the man on the phone is named Stathis Borans.
Jericho shoots two endings (just in case)
Jericho fans (me included) are really excited about the new season coming up (February 12 at 10pm). I have the first three episodes in front of me but I'm waiting until this weekend to watch them.
Producer Carol Barbee tells Sci-Fi Wire that this second season, which is seven episodes long, is actually a contained story with a definite ending. However, since they don't know yet if CBS will give the show a third season, they've actually filmed two endings. One ending shows that everything is OK in the town and the country and the other ending leaves the door open to a third season. As Barbee explains, "I wouldn't call it a cliffhanger as much as I would say you say, 'Oh, OK, now I know where we're going to go.' "
The first episode will focus on the battle between Jericho and New Bern, and after that the reconstruction of the town and the country, though I'm sure not everything is as it seems.
Jericho, Season One - DVD review
I suppose we're lucky that this is a "season one" DVD and not a "complete series" set. The nut campaign aimed at CBS worked, and the second season of Jericho will start in a few months. It's only going to be seven episodes long, and then they'll look at those ratings and see if it warrants more episodes.
In the meantime, we have this season one set. You either like the show or you don't, which will help you decide whether you will want the DVD or not. And if you buy it, you're interested in the extras, and on this set they're actually pretty good.
Here's the plan if Jericho is canceled again
Jericho was canceled once, only to be saved by a massive nut-sending campaign (and that's probably the first time I've ever typed the words "nut-sending campaign"), and the show will return in a few months for it's second season, which at the moment is slated to last seven episodes (when we last left the town, they were starting a battle with New Bern and military people were on the way). But what if the episodes are low-rated? What will happen in the story if the CBS show is canceled again?
Skeet Ulrich thanks fans for Jericho renewal
Short but good interview with Jericho star Skeet Ulrich over at TVGuide.com. He talks about how surprised he was by the intensity of the fan support the show received after it was canceled. He says his mom first alerted him to the campaign (everyone say it at once: awwwwwwwwwwwwwww!).
He says the "nuts" line was actually the hardest line he had to deliver all season, because "it's such a non-sequitur," so he finds it funny that it was that line that inspired fans.
He also reveals that Gerald McRaney was ready to leave the show. In fact, he was frustrated throughout the season because he wanted more to do.
[via Pop Candy]
Jericho: Why We Fight (season finale)
(S01E22) First off, I have to say I love a good flashback. The way tonight's show blended the flashbacks with the current scenes was really well done. For a show that has really become very basic, the level of artistry is very high.
Well, Heather is alive and she's in Nebraska. I've been to Nebraska and, quite frankly, she was better off dead (that's a joke, son). It was great that Heather was able to alert the military to what's happening between Jericho & New Bern but relief is clearly going to come at a price and Robert Hawkins' name is on that price tag. I loved that shot of Heather looking at the flag, that very disturbing looking flag.
Jericho: Coalition of the Willing
(S01E21) Maybe I missed something but where is the freaking tank?
As the messenger from New Bern came into town, all I could think was that it's nice to see the kid from Deliverance still getting work. Sadly he brought along some real bad weather.
After watching Dale's performance tonight, I have developed a new opinion of him. He may be nuts but he's got balls of steel. It's clear that if Jericho can survive this battle, he will emerge as one of the most powerful men in town. The scene between Dale & Johnston was awesome because it showed the true nuances of the ex-mayors ability to govern. A truly great leader gets you to do things because you want to.
Rumors galore: Veronica Mars canceled, Jericho renewed
Those are the latest rumors spreading around the internets and the industry, that The CW has all but canceled the cult favorite Veronica Mars and that CBS is going to give a surprising second season renewal to Jericho, which looked like it might be dead in the water.
USA Today is reporting that a really good source is saying that Veronica Mars is "all but dead." Critic Robert Bianco says that fellow writer Gary Levin says the show is gone and he's "almost always right about these things." I think any buzz that the show might have had a year or so ago is now dead and a renewal is unlikely. (Isabelle talked about this last month, too.)
As for Jericho, SyFyPortal says that not only will CBS renew the drama, but it will move it to a new night in the fall to get it away from American Idol. Time will tell. The networks reveal their new schedules next month.
[via TV Tattle]
Jericho: Winter's End
(S01E16) I love any show that starts with someone burying a dead body. I especially liked the metaphor that Hawkins was digging his own hole deeper and deeper with every lie he tells. It's clear that he will have to share his secrets with the town very soon.
This episode had so much action in the first ten minutes that I was hooked right away. Just when I think I've had enough of the end of the world, Jericho reels me back in.
I especially liked all the technical information I learned by watching this episode. Whether it's building a windmill, delivering a baby or "negotiating" a contract, there was plenty to be learned.
Jericho: Heart of Winter
(S01E14) I got a lot of heat because of my review of last week's show and usually I ignore all criticism because I'm so brilliant. However, when 99% of the comments are negative, I'm forced to take another look at my reviews. So, as I watched Jericho this week, I vowed to pay close attention so as not to miss any pertinent information and it totally paid off. During the opening, the Morse code message clearly said, "Don't bother watching. This episode is kind of lame."
To be honest, I couldn't really concentrate on everything that happened because of the scene early on where Gerald McRaney & Pamela Reed decided to get boozed up. It may me wonder: Why aren't more people getting drunk in the middle of the day? I mean, it's not like anyone has a job to go to and shouldn't a small town like Jericho have at least one town drunk anyway?
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