Possibilities for the Future of 'Jericho'

News Type: Event — Seeded on Fri Mar 28, 2008 7:17 PM EDT

Article Source: BuddyTV.com

Considering all of the storytelling options available, it seems quite possible that the recently canceled Jericho could return in some form. The executive producers of the series are currently exploring all options, but we have the three best possibilities.

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{"commentId":1631868,"authorDomain":"fdbryant3"}

FDBryant3

I think the powers that be are missing and opportunity. If they would take a show like Jericho or Firefly and continue to create episodes and distribute them over the web that they would find they have a whole new audience to make a lot of money off of.

{"commentId":1631868,"threadId":"241766","contentId":"1397144","authorDomain":"fdbryant3"}

4 votes

#1 - Fri Mar 28, 2008 7:39 PM EDT

{"commentId":1631924,"authorDomain":"divbyzero"}

Division by Zero

They just don't "get" web distribution because they can't see how to monetize it as effectively as broadcast tv. They also fear that people will simply pirate the show, strip out any commercials, and make it available for download elsewhere.

{"commentId":1631924,"threadId":"241766","contentId":"1397144","authorDomain":"divbyzero"}

5 votes

#2 - Fri Mar 28, 2008 8:08 PM EDT

{"commentId":1631939,"authorDomain":"hamid"}

hamid.nyc

Mydree,

This is the first I've heard of it. I can't believe it, it's my favorite show on TV. Is it that there are too many parallels with our own reality here in the U.S.? I thought the fan base was huge. I can only hope that another station picks it up.

I went to the link, The Jericho Rally Point and signed up, I hope the membership grows to a number that can't be ignored...

{"commentId":1631939,"threadId":"241766","contentId":"1397144","authorDomain":"hamid"}

5 votes

#3 - Fri Mar 28, 2008 8:16 PM EDT

{"commentId":1632024,"authorDomain":"divbyzero"}

Division by Zero

I think the major decision point was when the show lost a big chunk of its audience after the writers' strike. Like most shows, the audience wandered away to other things while the show wasn't on the air. It's wrong to expect everything to resume as if you'd hit a reset button after a show has been off the air for that long. I have to think that the network also figures that something else can easily replace a show that has a sizable ensemble cast and a team of writers, something along the lines of cheap and quick.

{"commentId":1632024,"threadId":"241766","contentId":"1397144","authorDomain":"divbyzero"}

4 votes

#3.1 - Fri Mar 28, 2008 9:01 PM EDT

{"commentId":1632209,"authorDomain":"hamid"}

hamid.nyc

Ah right,

Damn, I didn't consider that. Yeah, and all the other shows had enough history to put up plenty of repeats to keep their fan bases, damn...

{"commentId":1632209,"threadId":"241766","contentId":"1397144","authorDomain":"hamid"}

2 votes

#3.2 - Fri Mar 28, 2008 9:53 PM EDT

{"commentId":1632334,"authorDomain":"fdbryant3"}

FDBryant3

I suspect the fan base really isn't as large as it appears. It was already canceled once and really brought back mostly to provide closure and a hope of continuing (although kudos on that, petitions almost never work). The Internet has a way of making things seem more..........ummm popular than it actually is. Well at least to those within the participating fanbase.

You'd have to look up the actual ratings to get a better sense of how things went.

{"commentId":1632334,"threadId":"241766","contentId":"1397144","authorDomain":"fdbryant3"}

2 votes

#3.3 - Fri Mar 28, 2008 10:36 PM EDT

{"commentId":1632342,"authorDomain":"fdbryant3"}

FDBryant3

Here is what Wikipedia had to say about the second season:

On June 5, 2007, Jericho executive producer Carol Barbee announced that CBS was discussing the possibility of the show's return for an eight-episode mid-season run.[22] A day later, Tassler posted an announcement on the forum stating that seven new episodes of Jericho had been commissioned as a midseason replacement for the 2007-2008 television season, with the possibility of an extension based on viewership.[23] The last of these seven episodes was broadcast on March 25, 2008, and were not affected directly by the 2007 Writers Guild of America strike.[24][25]

On August 2, 2007, a video was released on YouTube showing clips from the first day back at work for the Jericho cast and crew. It included a "thank you" from the cast and crew to the fans for their efforts to revive the show.[26] Several months later, CBS released trailers announcing the second season premiere,[27] including Morse code spelling "SPREAD THE WORD".

Jericho returned for its second season on February 12, 2008 to mostly favorable reviews[28][29] but with the lowest numbers the ratings had seen yet.[30] In the early days of January 2008 the first three episodes of the second season leaked on the internet via a DVD screener source.[31] The show's second season has also premiered in Canada on CTV, mirroring the US broadcast.[32]

The first two episodes of the 2008 season received the lowest ratings to date for the series.[33] Jericho's ratings did increase somewhat for its third episode, but dropped back down to fairly consistent but still low ratings.[34] On March 21, 2008 CBS announced that the network would not be renewing Jericho for a third season.[35] The final episode aired on Tuesday, March 25, 2008.[36] According to SyFy's source, two endings were shot for that episode. One involved a cliffhanger leading in to a third season, while the other would wrap up the series and provide closure for fans who had worked to secure the series' return. "There are a lot of people here who really care about what happens to Jericho, and I think we all wanted to see it succeed," the source, who asked not to be identified, said. "Numbers are numbers, and [CBS] had to do what [CBS] had to do."[37]

On March 21, 2008 it was officially announced that the show had been canceled. CBS entertainment boss, Nina Tassler stated that "The March 25 episode... will be the series finale. Without question, there are passionate viewers watching this program; we simply wish there were more. We thank an engaged and spirited fan base for keeping the show alive this long, and an outstanding team of producers, cast and crew that went through creative hoops to deliver a compelling, high-quality second season.... We're proud of everyone's efforts."[38]

Jericho's cast, however, still held hope that the show would be picked up for a third season.[39] "We're hoping that the ratings will go up and we'll have a reason to be picked up," Brad Beyer, who plays Stanley Richmond, told TV Guide. "This has been one of the best experiences of my career. Our show got rave reviews; people don't really write things like that very often. It's a shame that hasn't yet transferred into higher numbers for us." Beyer added it would be difficult to see the show canceled twice.

{"commentId":1632342,"threadId":"241766","contentId":"1397144","authorDomain":"fdbryant3"}

2 votes

#3.4 - Fri Mar 28, 2008 10:39 PM EDT

{"commentId":1632402,"authorDomain":"wharrison55"}

Bill Harrison

Hamid

I made it a point of watching this last season's episodes after hearing the buzz about the series both in print and from friends. I found it mildly entertaining but very, very pedestrianly written and chockablock of ridiculous allusions to today's events (Jennings & Rall = Blackwater; Daniel Benzali character = Cheney; etc). Of course I can see how that would appeal to you. ;>0 The character of Hawkins is the only one I found anywhere near fully-developed. Another strong point is the hotness factor of Alicia Coppola.

{"commentId":1632402,"threadId":"241766","contentId":"1397144","authorDomain":"wharrison55"}

2 votes

#3.5 - Fri Mar 28, 2008 10:58 PM EDT

{"commentId":1632453,"authorDomain":"tigerblade"}

tigerblade

I don't wanna hear nothin', you hear me? I'm still working my way through Season One via Netflix. Would be easier if it was on "watch instantly" but hey.

Go figure, I always seem to find shows to watch just in time for them to get cancelled. Firefly, anyone?

{"commentId":1632453,"threadId":"241766","contentId":"1397144","authorDomain":"tigerblade"}

4 votes

#4 - Fri Mar 28, 2008 11:18 PM EDT

{"commentId":1634877,"authorDomain":"wharrison55"}

Bill Harrison

The Sci-Fi channel is also reairing all the previous seasons on cable. Check local listings for air times.

{"commentId":1634877,"threadId":"241766","contentId":"1397144","authorDomain":"wharrison55"}

1 vote

#4.1 - Sat Mar 29, 2008 6:48 PM EDT

{"commentId":1635132,"authorDomain":"tigerblade"}

tigerblade

DVDs are so much more convenient. Better quality, no commercials (even with the ability to fast forward through commercials with DVR), and no need to wait for them to air the next one the next day.

{"commentId":1635132,"threadId":"241766","contentId":"1397144","authorDomain":"tigerblade"}

2 votes

#4.2 - Sat Mar 29, 2008 8:17 PM EDT

{"commentId":1636448,"authorDomain":"michaelsautter"}

Michael Sautter

Bill it looks like the Sci-Fi channel has pulled the Jericho first season repeats.

{"commentId":1636448,"threadId":"241766","contentId":"1397144","authorDomain":"michaelsautter"}

2 votes

#4.3 - Sun Mar 30, 2008 10:22 AM EDT

{"commentId":1638311,"authorDomain":"wharrison55"}

Bill Harrison

Sure enough. Guess they haven't bothered to change the website yet.

{"commentId":1638311,"threadId":"241766","contentId":"1397144","authorDomain":"wharrison55"}

2 votes

#4.4 - Sun Mar 30, 2008 9:35 PM EDT

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MICHAEL SAUTTER

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Possibilities for the Future of 'Jericho'

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