In spite of my pessimistic comments about the grass roots effort to bring CBS’s post-apocalyptic series Jericho back from the dead (see here and here), it appears that there are at least some indications that I may have been entirely wrong:
For weeks, “Jericho” junkies have been firing e-mails (effectively shutting down InBoxes at CBS and this newspaper), signing petitions and sending bags of nuts to CBS headquarters in protest.
The assault seems to have worked, “Jericho” creator and executive producer Carol Barbee said Tuesday. CBS executives are in discussions with the show’s producers and actors to resuscitate the show — killed just last month — for an eight-episode run in mid-season.
“The idea would not be to bring it for eight and out, but to bring it back for eight with the hope that it would keep going,” Barbee said. “They’re making deals with the actors and there’s other logistical stuff to work out too. ‘Swingtown’ [a new drama] was supposed to take over the same stages so it’s a lot about the logistics of how to work out a schedule that works for all of us.”
Barbee said the fan fever for the show did not surprise her-she had been keeping a close eye on the show’s viewers on the Web. But she never expected CBS to change its mind because of the devotion.
Quite honestly, neither did I. And that’s part of the reason why I never really joined in on the whole “save Jericho” campaign. For one thing, I’m not really into the idea behind campaigns like this. For another, I just never thought it would work.
But maybe, just maybe, it has. And if it leads to more than just an eight episode wrap-up of the story arc, then I will very pleased.
And if this turns out to be true, here’s a clue to CBS……programming a show like this opposite American Idol is not a good idea. Jericho, if it lives, is a show that, notwithstanding it’s cheesy moments, makes people think. Don’t worry about losing viewers to a show that appeals to people who think that pretending to sing is actually a talent.
Further coverage at SyFyPortal and Entertainment Weekly
H/T: Brendan Loy
