Not "Save Jericho" again!

Well, you can't fault one of the most chronicled fan campaigns in history for attempting an encore. I mean, you have to be a little nuts to want to spend your hard-earned money to bring back a TV show nobody is watching, right? And since NUTS worked the first time, why not a second helping?

First, though, you've got to see the TV ad.

I love it. The group, Save Jericho Again, says their campaign has the full support of "Jericho" producers Jon Turteltaub and Carol Barbee. And about that ad ...

Fresh on the heels of funding an ad in “Variety” and a gigantic billboard in downtown Los Angeles broadcasting the need for a new home, fans of Jericho -- also known as Jericho Rangers -- raised over $6,000 in less than a month to fund a ten-day media schedule with Time-Warner. The 30-second spot is airing over 200 times around Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and the South and East San Fernando Valley and is hitting popular, ratings-rich shows, such as “Ghost Hunters” on the SciFi Channel, “Deadliest Catch” on the Discovery Channel, and other programs on the History Channel. With voice-over graciously provided by actor Brad Beyer, Jericho’s stalwart, salt-of-the-earth farmer/ranch owner “Stanley Richmond,” the ad targets areas in and around the Hollywood industry area where a decision about Jericho’s future will most likely be made in the near future. Jericho Rangers worked with Time-Warner (with 97% of the market share in that region) to create a schedule that complements other fans’ media efforts and maintains awareness of support for the show, its cast, and crew.

Now that the "Save Moonlight" campaign appears to have hit a cul-de-sac, that leaves "Jericho" as the last show standing ... for the second year in a row. The campaign recently got a pat on the head from Clay Shirky in his brilliant new book, Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing Without Organizations. And once again, devotees of the show convened in Oakley, Kansas — roughly near where Jericho would be if it existed, and home of a bitchin Buffalo Bill statue — for a post-cancellation convention.

Will lightning strike twice again? Will tons of peanuts be shipped again to some unsuspecting network exec? Of course, it's easy to make comparisons between the plucky, battle-hardened fans in this drama, and the characters on the show. But mettle isn't going to be enough this time, and it will require more than a ragtag band of enthusiasts to bring back "Jericho" for a third go.

Previously on TV Barn:

• Peanut Mountain: How the battle of "Jericho" was won

• Audio with CBS' David Poltrack: How fans with DVRs saved "Jericho"

• "Jericho" coming back - what the...?!

• CBS nukes "Jericho"

• "Jericho" could mushroom

Comments

[Leeser]

Actually, the fans are still working to save Moonlight. You can't keep the Tribe down.

Fans knew that the sets were taken down at the end of May. We found that out during MoonlightCon 2008, which was held at the Westin LAX during Memorial Day weekend.

It is common practice to take down sets for shows on hiatus.

There will be a billboard up shortly in beautiful Burbank, and signs on taxis in New York City.

Yep, we're keeping busy!

There has also been a new site set up called ViewersMatter.com which is intended for all those people who have had a favorite show cancelled and want to work to change how the television ratings system works.

In vampire solidarity,

Leeser
MoonlightLine.com
ViewersMatter.com

[Dbalcer1]

I wouldn't call us ragtag. I would say we are battle scarred but we are making a difference. I will be very surprised if we don't get to see the next chapter in Jericho somewhere. Rubberpoultry's ad was wonderful. The billboard was fantastic and the location can't be beat. I hope that soon you will be reporting about our success.

[xrammyx]

A lot of us fans don't believe in sending nuts again to various news organizations, A lot of us believe that the Nuts campaign should be put in the history books where it belongs.
Fighting against Nielsen is another thing that many of us don't believe in right now, maybe down the road but right now a big NO, as I have said to many others, The Nielsen system in no way canceled Jericho, it was the people that had the boxes chose not to watch Jericho.

[NightShade]

Thank you for your interest in Jericho and the Jericho Rangers, Aaron. I can appreciate that viewing from the outside of our fandom; it would appear that we are trying to repeat what was done last year to bring Jericho back. We've done so much more than last year’s effort, in just a bit over 3 months since Jericho was cancelled. First of all, people were watching Jericho. They just weren't watching it in the traditional ways. The second season, hot on the heels of a writers strike was made with a slashed budget and a slashed season - 7 episodes. In addition, it was aired at 10PM when most working (advertising dollar families) have to be asleep in order to wake up for work the next day. So, most fans took to watching online and on their IPod’s - sources not counted by the antiquated Nielsen ratings system. In addition, our goal is to be adopted by another source to continue the Jericho saga. I do thank you for the comparison to the characters on the show. I think the majority of us are committed to family, community, and doing what's right - life imitates art. We've donated over $30,000 to charity - and not just nuts! We've contributed over $20,000 to Greensburg, Kansas toward their rebuilding efforts, over 200 DVD's for the troops, and currently doing a collection for the Kansas Food Bank to help the tornado stricken area's there this year. So, we have done more than just send Nuts to a network or to Nielsen. We've embraced our power as a group and used that power to not only take out ads and put up a billboard in Studio City, but we've also produced a commercial to help increase awareness. We've drastically changed our methods, and will continue to evolve and grow until Jericho has a new home. If you check out www.savejerichoagain.com you will see actual posts from the cast, crew, and producers of Jericho! Talks are now ongoing and there positive indicators that we are succeeding. I know of no other fan base that has the interaction from the people in power to make things happen. And in history, I know of no other fandom that has done what we've done to bring Jericho back, while at the same time make a positive difference in our communities. It has required more than a "rag tag band of enthusiasts" and we've risen to that challenge and will continue raising the bar! Thank you again for your coverage of our story. It is in fact a work in process :-)

[Wufpacker]

Why so negative? Like leeser I'll be expecting Jericho to catch on somewhere...maybe not CBS, but frankly I don't want CBS involved with the show any longer anyway. All they've shown so far is that they are capable of killing it off with sub par promotion and time slots.

And you're way off saying no one is watching. Might not be numbers that CBS wants, but a cable channel would kill to have the numbers Jericho brings down. If Jericho is not picked up by some cable affilitate then they are missing the boat.

[Aaron]

Hate to be "negative," but you're making a terrible case. Hopefully Jon and Carol are punching up the numbers a little more persuasively than that.

I'd love to see the show back. But c'mon people! Double resurrections for TV shows are about as common as good hair days are for me.

[curlybean]

Jericho is a show that is worth fighting for again and again. Some things are too good to give up on. I, more often than not, watched Jericho online because of my work schedule. The Nielsen numbers may not show enough "buts in the seats", but the viewers were definitely there. Just check out the itunes downloads for Jericho and the other multiple avenues for online viewing. Thanks for the article.

[NightShade]

Well, Jericho Fans are doing amazing things that no other fan base in recorded history has ever done before! And I'm sure that Jon and Carol being the professionals they are have better numbers with more concise information than a blog reporter or the staunchest of fan. I guess, Aaron, it's time to say: Watch our smoke! (We will send you a cake in the shape of a crow to eat when we get back on another network/cable channel) Until then, many who have "bad hair days" decide to do the bald look... Might work? hmmmmmm?

[lj]

I don't think us JERICHO fans know how to give up!! It's just not in our blood.

[Crackie]

if it were at all possible. i believe that this show would become one of the best shows on network TV in some time. i watched every episode. down right remarkable. its a show that not only make you think but also allows you to enjoy. like one with the others, this show should remain in production.. no questions should be asked..

[Josh]

i believe Jericho shoud have a regular family friendly time slot. as a second course of action we could send potatoes because nuts was last year and final options if they won't continue jericho realse it so other networks can take it on