‘Jericho’ supporters may get wrap-up movie

[24 May 2007]

By Maureen Ryan

Chicago Tribune (MCT)

Jericho, Kan., is the post-apocalyptic town that won’t die. Or rather, “Jericho,” the show based on the post-blast life of that rural town, won’t be killed - not if fans have anything to say about it.

CBS announced last week that the network was wrapping up the show after only one season. As was the case with many other dramas this season, a lengthy hiatus in the middle of the season drove away viewers, and “Jericho,” an unlikely success in the first place, never quite regained the audience that it had during the fall. But viewers reacted with swift fury, and said “Nuts!” to CBS (echoing a line from the show’s rousing season finale, which saw the residents of the town making a last stand against an armed attack from a nearby settlement).

Viewers inundated CBS with outraged e-mails and message-board comments calling for a second season of the show, and the network’s president, Nina Tassler, was compelled to post a message on a fan forum a few days ago.

“We have read your e-mails over the past few days and have been touched by the depth and passion with which you have expressed your disappointment,” Tassler wrote. “Please know that canceling a television series is a very difficult decision. ... Thank you for supporting `Jericho’ with such passion. We truly appreciate the commitment you made to the series and we are humbled by your disappointment. In the coming weeks, we hope to develop a way to provide closure to the compelling drama that was the Jericho story.”

It sounds as though Tassler’s talking about a possible wrap-up TV movie (something “Deadwood” fans will have to be content with - if and when those wrap-up movies air, which may be up to two years after the show’s third season ended), but some fans have made it clear that that won’t be good enough.

“While it is very flattering that Ms. Tassler went out of her way to post a message for us online, I have to say on behalf of each and every `Jericho’ fan that not one of us will settle for anything less than season two, CBS or no CBS, and if they think our recent campaigning has been bad, it’s only going to get worse,” one fan, Melanie, wrote in an e-mail to me on Monday.

Could “Jericho” move to another network? Hard to say. Network dramas are far more expensive than cable dramas, which would make any cable network very wary of picking up the show (even TNT, which would be a good fit - fans have been pressuring that network to pick up “Jericho”). Still, even after it began getting clobbered by “American Idol” this year, “Jericho” had a respectable audience of 8 million viewers - a segment of which has proven itself to be very devoted (one fan petition already has more than 60,000 signatures).

My own two cents: The show certainly has some life left in it, but without a certain central character, who died in the season finale, the show is less attractive. The show deserves a wrap-up movie, but perhaps not another season, in my humble opinion.

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The Fans of Jericho will settle for nothing short of a second season. There is a lot of story left to tell, and whether that story plays out on CBS, or whether it plays out on another network matters not. The important thing is that the producers have time to finish their story. Not just figure out how to “wrap it up” in two hours.

This was a pisspoor decision by CBS, and we’re letting the world know it.

Dear CBS,

Nuts.

Sincerely,
Ben

Comment by Ben — May 24, 2007 @ 8:54 am

We cannot stress enough that we want actual seasons, not a movie. At the very LEAST we want a second season, and will continue to fight to get it.

I, for one, feel that there are many interesting stories that have yet to unravel, whether we are missing that character or not. I think Jericho has a lot of life left in it.

Comment by Shauna from MD — May 24, 2007 @ 9:02 am

If bringing back Johnston will save the show, it would be easy enough to do.  The only people that pronounced him dead were his two sons, with a nurse and a doctor on the way.  The last scene we saw was his wife with her head on his chest.  They can make him not dead prettily easily.

Comment by Sauceman from USA — May 24, 2007 @ 9:02 am

At this time, several tons of peanuts have been delivered to CBS.  An ad is being taken out for next week’s “Variety.”  Hundreds of letters have been sent to CBS executives.  Thousands of phone calls have been fielded by frenzied (yet for the most part, polite) CBS employees.  All of this has cost several thousands of dollars.

Think of the revenue which could otherwise have gone to the advertisers!

Every day, more fans realize the series has been cancelled.  Every day, voices are added to the chorus singing “Give us another season.”  Every day, more thousands of pounds of peanuts are ordered.  Every day, our influence grows.

As more and more people become aware of Jericho’s plight; as more people become involved in this cause - as more people become motivated to take action, we will become that more impossible to ignore.

For some reason, CBS has taken leave of it’s senses and has attempted to do away with it’s crown jewel.  We are the customers and demand a quality product.

We therefore say a resounding “NO!” to a movie; and insist upon a new season of Jericho!  Thanks!

Comment by Pat Hogan from Upper Marlboro, MD — May 24, 2007 @ 9:03 am

Thank you for the story on this, but I have to agree with Melanie.  A movie sometime in the future will not satisfy the fans of Jericho, only a second season.  Yes, a well loved character did die in the season finale, but this has only added fuel to the fire for the town of Jericho, which would only add to the spectacular acting performances we would receive.

There was not much mention of the NUTS campaign that is currently going on.  Already more than 3 tons of nuts have been delivered to CBS Headquarters in NY, and much more are coming.  Visit www.nutsonline.com/jericho to see actual numbers!

Comment by Paula Hawk from Kansas — May 24, 2007 @ 9:04 am

Thank you for writing about Jericho.  I agree the <death> of Johnston is hard to take - my theory is that is is not dead.  I didn’t see any doctors come in to confirm this.  He may be unconscious. Hey! I am holding out hope on that one.
Seriously, this show has a lot to say.  It is a tought provoking and action packed drama that is hard to find on tv these days.  My entire family watched it together.  By the way, that’s 5 people in the 18 to 49 demographics.  We will not be satisfied with a wrap-up movie or a mini-series.  We want Season 2.

Comment by Rachel from Canada — May 24, 2007 @ 9:07 am

CBS has a problem on its hands! Everyday, more fans find out that Jericho has been canceled and then they learn how little respect CBS has for its viewers. The public are sick to death of executives like Nina Tassler cancelling shows without regard to the hours viewers have invested. Jericho ended with a huge cliff hanger and with 8 million rated viewers, a million more online (not to mention DVR users) I think that qualifies as a mistake. Add Tassler’s comments, and CBS has a huge PR problem. I quote:

“If a low-rated serial drama doesn’t get the chance to tell the end of its story that’s just too bad.”

Step down from the Ivory Tower lady! This fight is a fight for everyone who has ever had a great show canceled on them just so someone like you can buy a new Lexus!

Comment by Steve from NH — May 24, 2007 @ 9:07 am

A two hour wrap up movie is not good enough! We have devoted to much time to this show to settle for a rushed, sloppy movie. There are to many loose ends to wrap up in two hours.

Nothing but another season will do!

Not
Understanding
Term
Surrender

Comment by Steve from Rockwall, TX — May 24, 2007 @ 9:12 am

WE WANT SEASON 2!

NUTS TO CBS!!

SAVE JERICHO!!!

Comment by Uunder from Chicago, IL — May 24, 2007 @ 9:12 am

We will not settle for less than a second season!!!

Comment by Dixie from Virginia — May 24, 2007 @ 9:16 am

Maureen,
I respectfully disagree! Jericho had a strong ensemble cast and I feel that despite the death of Johnston Green (Gerald McRaney) on the season finale, the show has pleanty of life in it to pull off a full season 2 and beyond.  We are fighting to get this show back on the air, not for a “wrap up movie”.  This show was a class act, all of the cast did a stellar job and we won’t rest until Jericho is back on the air, some way, somehow.

NUTS for Jericho!

Comment by Yvonne from Norfolk, VA — May 24, 2007 @ 9:24 am

No wrap up movie!  We want a Season Two!

Comment by Zane Zackerly from New Mexico — May 24, 2007 @ 9:24 am

We want another season, Save Jericho. Help us fight.

Comment by barbara from Canada — May 24, 2007 @ 9:29 am

CBS must give us another season and we want Gerald McRaney back with us.

Comment by Audra from Canada — May 24, 2007 @ 9:32 am

WOW!  Your article was published today, but it is filled with EXTREMELY old news from last Friday.  The movement really kicked off on Sunday and now, four days later, we’ve spent over $25,000 dollars on both a full-page ad in Variety magazine AND over 14,000 lbs of nuts - that’s 7 TONS!

Furthermore, we’ve literally deluged CBS New York and LA with phone calls, emails, and written letters since Monday. 

This is the BIGGEST viewer revolt in the history of television. 

You need to stand up and take notice of that - not sit on your behind and copy/paste what was on the newswires last Friday.

Sloppy, sloppy, Maureen Ryan, The Chicago Tribune, and Popmatters!

Comment by Craig from Michigan — May 24, 2007 @ 9:57 am

— PopMatters sponsor —

Thank you for noticing our efforts in trying to save “Jericho”.  However, I disagree with you on two points.  The Johnston Green character can show up in flash backs like they did on the last show.  It’s an ensemble cast.  The death of this character will not hurt the show that much. A movie wrap up is not what we are fighting for.  We’d like a second season.

Comment by P.A. from Portland, Maine — May 24, 2007 @ 10:01 am

We will not be placated with a movie we want a second season.

Comment by Ben from tallahassee — May 24, 2007 @ 10:06 am

Dallas brought Patrick Ewing back from the dead.  Who said Johnston Green was really dead??? His 2 sons… neither one of them a physician.  Besides Jericho has so much life in it.  It was just a baby and babies need a chance to grow.  Sadly, its parent abused it and finally killed it before it was given a chance to survive.  That parent needs to be held accountable.  Consider us law enforcement.

Comment by Draven from California — May 24, 2007 @ 10:08 am

Anything less than a Season 2 is a joke. A wrap-up movie is certainly not going to satisfy me. Come on CBS, you know you need a Season 2 as much as we do !

Comment by James — May 24, 2007 @ 10:09 am

I also wold like to chip in my thanks for the well written article.
But I do have to agree with Melanie, the show imho deserves at least a shot with another season.
Fans have spent over 25 thousand dollars in 8 days, putting their money, time and effort into its recall from cancellation, and I hope we succeed at another season.

Comment by Stormy from Pittsburgh, PA , USA — May 24, 2007 @ 10:12 am

The death of a certain central character is not a problem.  Obviously, it’s the lives of the people of Jericho before the bombs dropped that will inform their characters’s actions as they face the difficult challenges ahead.  This character was a big part of those lives and his character will continue to live on in their memories (which, of course, will be incorporated into upcoming sequences). 

The subject matter itself is simply far too challenging to treat respectfully and well in a wrap-up movie.  It has to have at least another full season.

This view, incidentally, is shared by others who, as of this writing, have already ordered over 12,000 pounds—or six tons(!)—of nuts to be delivered to the network AFTER MS. TASSLER’S SUGGESTION OF A WRAP-UP MOVIE!

Thank you so much for mentioning the campaign.  As the movement continues to grow, we look forward to seeing additional articles!

Comment by Gayle from New Mexico — May 24, 2007 @ 10:20 am

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