"Jericho" fans: Take what you can get

As you may know from reading TV Barn, the Internet is ablaze over the cancellation of "Jericho," and the heat from outraged fans has been so intense, CBS actually dispatched an executive to try to put out the fire.

"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," the network's entertainment chief, Nina Tassler, posted to a fan forum. "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."

Maureen Ryan and I both read that as a sign that CBS was considering a wrapup movie, which makes sense, since wrapup movie is simply another way of saying reunion movie. (Ask Mikey is reporting that "Gilmore Girls," airing on another CBS-owned network, may have a similar deal going.)

Naturally, the hardcore are resisting. "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," one viewer named Melanie emailed Mo, which is sweet, except for two things: Mrs. TV Barn and I did not authorize Melanie to speak for us, and resistance is futile.

Let's have a reality check here. 

• As the number one network in total viewers, CBS considered "Jericho" an underperformer -- and it was right. According to Nielsen, CBS averaged 12 million viewers for every hour of prime time during the 2006-07 season, which concludes tonight. "Jericho" was averaging 11 million viewers in the fall -- less than any of the "CSIs" to be sure, but respectable for a program airing at 7 p.m. in the Midwest. After a three-month hiatus, however, that number dipped to 8 million viewers.  Now, there is a network that averages 8 million viewers in prime, but that network is fourth-place NBC and it isn't looking for any CBS castoffs.
• It wasn't only the hiatus. Every serial drama lost viewers this season. Much has been made of the three-month layoff between story arcs on "Jericho," and given the steep falloff in viewership between the two halves, the long vacation was likely a factor. But "24," a serial thriller that takes no time off, also lost viewers in droves this season. "Ugly Betty," which stayed on all year and aired frequent repeats to get viewers interested, was down 41 percent from its premiere, as Tassler noted last week during the CBS upfront presentation. And then there were all those shows that fell over dead right out of the gate: "Day Break," "Kidnapped," "Vanished," etc. etc. The point is, networks can see that serials are a fading genre. You don't want to be in business with a fading genre (speaking of which, farewell Stone Phillips). If the casualty list of new serials wasn't so alarmingly long, maybe CBS would have rolled the dice on a second season for "Jericho."
• "Jericho" can't just go looking for a new home. ABC produced "Scrubs" for NBC, and as its creator Bill Lawrence explained in January, if NBC declined to air a seventh season of the show this fall, ABC would have happily jumped in and snatched it away. "Jericho," however, is a production of CBS/Paramount. It's completely in-house. There is no instance I know of where a 100 percent network owned program first aired on that network, then switched to a rival. And that's likely for a number of very good financial reasons. I know, it's screwy, networks producing shows for other networks. ABC's in-house studio developed "CSI" but ABC passed and CBS picked it up. NBC produces "House" for Fox. I don't know the backstory there, but if NBC turned it down, it deserves to be in fourth place.
• Wrapup movies can be surprisingly cathartic. Here is the main reason "Jericho" fans shouldn't demand too much from CBS. I remember being upset that NBC cancelled the civil rights drama "I'll Fly Away" after two seasons. PBS arranged for a wrapup movie which, despite its somewhat farfetched storyline, had its intended emotional effect. And meanwhile, Sam Waterston found other work. So did the show's executive producer, David Chase, who perhaps learned a few things about wrapping up series that he could apply to his other show, "The Sopranos." Speaking of HBO, David Milch is making two "Deadwood" films that will bring an end to that franchise ... perhaps just in time. I've even forgiven the producers of "M*A*S*H" for that overwrought, movie-length finale they inflicted on the American public. I saw it again not long ago and actually, it holds up pretty well.

I have no idea if Jon Turteltaub and his co-producers on "Jericho" have a wrapup treatment ready to go. But I would think they could be persuaded fairly easily to work one up. With Gerald McRaney's character gone, the finale would allow a bigger role for his widow, played by Pamela Reed (left), who was, along with Lennie James, who played Hawkins, the real talent on this show.

Hey, it's five whole months until the next sweeps period begins. That's plenty of time to make a TV movie. Let's get cracking, CBS.

Comments

[Newell]

This about more than a hiatus. When you put a show on hiatus, bring it back with a clip show, then pit it directly against American Idol after it did well, then move it around after that, wouldn't you expect it to lose viewers?

[Aaron]

Not necessarily. CBS has done quite well counter-programming "Idol" with shows like "NCIS." The network wasn't expecting "Idol" numbers, but it had good reason to think "Jericho" would hold its own against "Idol," which has not exactly been shooting out the lights this season.

I'm not sure what you mean by "moving it around."

[L. Ludvicek]

WE ARE SO NOT GIVING UP! We are in this for the long haul and we want to see a SEASON TWO!

I'd highly recommend tuning into the site and watching the show for yourself and deciding. For DAYS we have been saying that the ratings ARE OLD SCHOOL and outdated! They do not reflect the true fan base..via online, TIVO or DVR...
Dont let CBS win this battle...change the way these tv networks view their shows and the viewers FOREVER...

This is about more than Jericho..its old media vs new media and old way of metering viewers vs the new media revolution.

CBS built an immense online presense for JERICHO, encouraged people to get involved and watch the show online and now they are taking Jericho away...

CBS bemoans the demo and how the young people are not watching on TV..hello?? They are watching on TV and online on the platform YOU built and encouraged people to use..

The Nielsens have been a flawed way of looking at viewing habits of TV shows for years...Are you going to let the select few with those precious Nielsen meters decide what the REST of us are going to watch???

Again this fight is important to Jericho but more important that we the viewers be heard about how popularity of tv shows are figured out now in this new age..

If you are sick and tired of these holier than thou network executives disrespecting audiences by putting shows on and then yanking them off the air or bouncing them around the schedule with ruthless disregard for its audience...this is your fight..

If your sick and tired of being force fed this reality tv show garbage like a crack addict then this is your fight !!

If you want the networks to give us more quality original programming that is not a spin off or rip off of another series...then this is your fight.

If your a cable tv fan who wants a show to be able to come back to the networks for..then this is your fight

If television itself is ever going to evolve back into what it was meant to be...then this is your fight..

In the end even if we do not prevail in this battle, CBS will surely know we were here and we will have left a mark on CBS for years to come....

CBS and its egomaniacal executives have to be reminded that yes we the audience DO matter.

These days ahead are long and treacherous and we are dealing with a billion dollar heartless corporation..remember we are their viewing public, if we do not win this we can ultimately win by NOT watching CBS.

CBS would think they won in the short run but in the long run they will be the true losers...

Now push ahead and speak out to the media and all who will hear you...

Get up off your chairs and couches and do something...MAKE A DIFFERENCE !!!
www.jericholives.com
www.jerichorallypoint.com
www.nutsonline.com/jericho

[Alex]

YOU get a reality check!! Check out the myspace Save Jericho website and Jericholives.com and Nutsonline.com to see the movement is actualy gaining momentum. Not to mention the $7000 ad in Variety that is being raised by the Jericho fans. You forget that Jag, Touched by an Angel, and other shows were brought back after cancellation. NO TV MOVIE!

[Megan]

But why Jericho? Seriously, I have never cried so much over a TV SHOW in my LIFE! I loved it so much, and when they killed off Johnston Green, I was crushed.

Why CBS? Why?

[kevin]

Skeet Ulrich was amazing as well on this show and the rest of the cast was brilliant. Brad Beyer, Alicia Coppola, Sprague Grayden, Michael Gaston were incredible.

only $10 to screw CBS? Put me down for 20.

[Rahul]

You take a reality check. You don't want to have the show renewed, fine, then stop pretending. We will do what is necessary for a renewal, while you go cry in a corner with your buddies about how resistance is futile, and that we should give our lives to the networks. WE, the consumers, make decisions, not them. You'll thank us later. Till then, cheerio!

[Craig]

Wow, you sound like an Old Media CBS shill with your column. Knock-knock, Aaron Barnhart, it's the Internet-connected/coordinated, non-Nielsen viewership here and we WILL be heard!

10,000 (5 tons) of NUTS is a pretty big elephant in the room!

[Scott]

You missed some major points in your analysis.

CBS Made a HUGE PUSH to get people to watch Jericho on their Innertube service, which streams shows.

They then, after the long haitus, put it up against American Idol, which has a "live" aspect to it, since it involves live voting. Many people, ESPECIALLY those tech savvy people in the 18-49 demo watched Jericho on Innertube, which is why it was consistently the number 1 show on that service. It also ranked top 10 on Itunes every week, meaning people were shelling out cash to see the show.

In short, this show was far more popular than they realized and that is what they are learning right now. The viewers were there, they just weren't watching in ways that the outdated "neilson" ratings system picked up.

A renewal is the only logical answer left for CBS at this point. Anything less is a failure on their part.

[Robert E.]

This is about more than a dedicated group of fans trying to save a quality program, it's about the ever-increasing lack of respect that television networks display for their viewing audiences in this regard. Fans of "Lost," "Heroes," and the like should jump on this bandwagon with us (I would include "24" but it apparently is safe for another two seasons), you could be next!

[Lisa]

The treatment this show got mid-season was not acceptable and then to blame the viewers for not tuning in was apalling. CBS pushed viewers to watch their shows in more non-traditional ways, Innertube, DVR, OnDemand. Do not talk down to us as though we have nothing better to do. This show was quality and entertaining. A testament to that fact is the fans. I would think that any show out there would want a loyal, dedicated, and vocal fan base. If not, then why even bother? SAVE JERICHO!!!

[Steve]

Yes, it looks like serial drama's are fading, but will that trend continue? I doubt it! People throughout history have told stories and I doubt that is going to stop. Once the reality TV craze fades and the smoke settles there will still be serial dramas. So, with that said, this isn't just about a cancelled show! It's about a network that slaps it's loyal viewers (Jericho has a very high 'Q' rating) with a cliff hanger and then drops the story. CBS has show by it's actions that it doesn't care or respect it's viewers. THAT's half of what this struggle is all about. The other half is about bringing back a great show with an un-counted audience (DVR, online downloads etc etc etc).

[Rachelb61]

I can't believe you just wrote that. Unless you are trying to get us Jericho Fans even more worked up than we are already.

As others have posted here earlier, the network did not give Jericho a fighting chance. Never mind the hiatus, how about some publicity?

Other shows that turned out terrific were almost discarded by the all-powerful networks - Seinfeld for one. That first season didn't get my attention either, after Season 2, I was hooked.

Jericho has something to say, it is thought-provoking and action-packed. I, for one have had enough of the reality genre (Amazing Race to me is still in a class of its own); CBS plans to shove another down our throats with Kid Nation... Have you taken a look at that gem?

I wish the networks would listen to their customers a little bit more. They gave us this great new show and then pulled the plug even before we had an ending. We have invested time and interest here. In my opinion, the should stop relying on Nielsen. It is outdated. CBS should give Jericho a second season and just watch what happens...

[Stacey]

A show with as much depth as Jericho had can't be wrapped up with just a two hour movie, it's practically impossible. This is why we continue to fight to have the show renewed and why we are balking on the idea of a wrap up movie. It would NOT give the show the respect it actually deserves.

You want to tell us to buck it up, that's your business. But you need to realize that we've actually been lied to, Tassler openly admitted it was about money and business, had nothing to do with the fans who actually tune in every day of every week to watch their shows. You also need to realize that we were told CBS was watching the message boards they created for the fans, and watching how many people were actually tuning in to the episodes online because of the internet tie-in with Countdown. These were NOT watched as promised. If they did, Jericho NEVER would have been considered for cancellation, ONE specific thread holds well over 150,000 views and thousands of posts. The Jericho boards see more traffic than the stupid CSI boards, go check it out for yourself if you don't believe me. Jericho was THE MOST WATCHED SHOW ON iTUNES, but that didn't count.

If there's one thing in the world we don't need more of, it's TV critics that think they know what's going on just by reading an email here and there and that's it. DO the research, CHECK OUT the message boards, WATCH the episodes. Then maybe you can write a better article about our cause. And articles such as yours just gives us more reason to shut CBS down.

[Viewer77]

Who are you again? Oh wait, another nobody writing an article on a show they never watched? I watched several episodes on innertube being I work during the time slot. What I didn't innertube.. I DVR'd. Does that make me less of a customer of CBS? It's time to rethink things BABYBOOMER... Gen X has to work hard and doesn't have the same amount of time you guys do to sit at home. Thank god for technology that let's us view our own programming at times we are able to. Now you want to punish us for being hard working individuals who aren't retired yet? It's sad, because the audience you want ... is the audience you are alienating!

[Jennifer S]

The only thing that CBS can "wrap up" for me is a second season of Jericho in a big red bow!!

[Scott]

To quote you:

"According to Nielsen, CBS averaged 12 million viewers for every hour of prime time during the 2006-07 season, which concludes tonight. "Jericho" was averaging 11 million viewers in the fall -- less than any of the "CSIs" to be sure, but respectable for a program airing at 7 p.m. in the Midwest. After a three-month hiatus, however, that number dipped to 8 million viewers. Now, there is a network that averages 8 million viewers in prime, but that network is fourth-place NBC and it isn't looking for any CBS castoffs."

I would like to take issue with the first part of that statement. For starters, how outdated are the Nielsen ratings anyway? We live in an era of DVR's, Tivo, and the Internet that are not taken into account by an antiquated ratings system. Furthermore, CBS said themselves that they wanted to reach viewers in new and different mediums like the Internet. When viewers were tuning into the episodes via the CBS (ad supported) web site to view any episodes they might have missed, CBS complained about lack of viewers. Again, the vaunted Nielsen ratings don't take that into account either.

The movement of loyal Jericho fans wanted and still wants quality programming, not more reality garbage from Mark Brunett. Most of us don't want to see another new version of CSI. We certainly don't want to see kids ages 8-15 in...you guessed it...a reality show that takes the time slot that Jericho would have occupied.

You are entitled to your opinion, as are we all but I would respectfully disagree with your suggestion that the fans of the show simply give up. I would say that we should be resolute in our determination to keep the show going. We should be resolute in our efforts to hit CBS where it hurts..the pocketbook. We should be resolute in not watching the tripe that CBS continues to try to pass off as quality television.

You say NBC is fourth among the major networks. To that, I say not for long. NBC has shows like Hero's and Friday Night Lights that will or at least should draw in more viewers for them. With it's reality ladden schedule for the fall, as well as it's cheap knock off of Angel, CBS will fall from that lofty #1 perch.

Again, thanks for your critique, but I respectfully disagree with your sentiments.

Scott Brown,
Hutto Tx

NUTS! to CBS!

[Ray]

CBS has no idea how badly they are going to get crushed in the fall in Jericho's spot. Kid Nation a brain dead reality show (yes another one of those) pits against Deal or no Deal and the new offering from ABC, Daisy's. Nina should be looking at Jericho's numbers as mighty good, as opposed to what they will see with the concept they are trying to market in that slot.

[Amy]

Take what we can get? I think not. Do you know that quite a few shows that were/are considered popular were cancelled early on and then brought back due to letter-writing campaigns and public demand? Ever hear of Star Trek? The Family Guy? A little research goes a long way.

http://www.jerichonuts.com
http://www.jericholives.com

[Kas L.]

Way to go! You just managed to get us even MORE fired up than we already are!

Thanks for the motivation!
A Jericho Ranger in Colorado.
Kas Lincoln

[Jeremy McCollum]

We can't do this? Mr. Barnhart, when we do you can be the first to write an "I can't believe they pulled it off!!!" column.

Jeremy
Wilmington, NC

[M.Thordarson]

thanks for your critique, but I respectfully disagree with your sentiments.
No 2-hour movie can provide closure and nielsen ratings are outdated. We are going to show that.
sincerly
M.T.
www.jericholives.com
www.jerichorallypoint.com
www.nutsonline.com/jericho

[David Carless]

Wow -- some people just can't shake the Old Media mentality.

Pretend Jericho didn't have a first season. Now a writer comes to a TV exec and says: "I have this show that I want to sell you. I have a petition with 70,000 signitures of viewers wanting it, an online forum with 6,000 discussion threads about it, and 9,000 pounds of nuts headed your way. Interested?"

You cannot BUY that kind of exposure. Any executive that turned that down would be fired on the spot by the Board.

A movie is not going to cut it. Not unless they place the movie between season 3 and 4.

[James Carr]

I think it's time we start boycotting the sponsors of CBS I'm sick of 8 to 15 million people not being enough to keep a great show on TV. I mean how many CSI shows do we need?

All the BIG networks should have what ESPN has, ESPN and ESPN2 if the show is not a BIG hit but has a very good following like jericho put it on CBS2 or 3, just put it somewhere!!

[jenna]

Jericho is an excellent show and it's fans are passionate, loyal, dedicated people. It's time that we, the viewers are heard. I'm fed up with networks cancelling quality television to put on reality garbage that is degrading to viewers who have morals and family values. Jericho takes us back to the basics, where people have to count on each other for survival.