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« Today's News: Our Take
Bombs Away: CBS Cancels Jericho (Again)
National upheaval caused by a nuclear assault? Easy. Nielsen ratings? Hard. Despite efforts from zealous fans to keep Jericho alive — including the now-famous peanut incident — Tuesday's episode will be its last.
"The March 25 episode... will be the series finale," CBS entertainment boss Nina Tassler says in a statement. "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."
Two "finales" were filmed for Tuesday: one that left viewers with a cliff-hanger (in the event of a Season 3), and one that resolves things a bit more. The latter edit, now headed to your screens, will leave fans "not too happy," Skeet Ulrich confirmed in this Mitovich Mega Minute Q&A (at the 3:00 mark):
Those who helped save Jericho the first time around shouldn't feel bad: Although the series faced worse ratings this year, the fans' efforts to keep it alive are seen as one of the biggest outpourings of support for a show, ever.
What's your take? Did Jericho get every chance it deserved? Did it deserve every chance it got? Are you already mourning the loss? — Anna Dimond, with reporting by Matt Mitovich
Reader poll: Discuss your favorite Jericho moment, twist or character in comments.
UPDATE: Jericho Boss Eyes "Possible Other Life" for Show
Recent Jericho coverage:
• Jericho's Brad Beyer on His TV Sister's Death
• Ask Matt: "How awesome was last week's Jericho?"
• Reader's Cheer of the Week: Jericho's Secret Weapon
• Cheers: Jericho Salutes Its Nutty Fans
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Mar 21, 2008 4:02 PM
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Well, I can't believe CBS is that stupid.... well, yes I can. First off the show has a big following, but the idiots took the show from the 8 pm to 10 pm hour. And not only the change in time, but the change in day, to Tuesdays, CBS's worst timeslot on its schedule. Can we count all of the shows that failed in this time slot the past few seasons? I wish another network was smart enough to pick it up. Let's say like ABC, which could be a good companion piece to LOST. But then again, I'm giving network execs too much credit for possibly having a brain.
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Mar 21, 2008 4:20 PM
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one word..... CRAP.... oh well I will still watch until the bitter end.
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Mar 21, 2008 4:32 PM
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I wish CBS had given the producers a chance to take it to another network rather than killing it outright. CBS has now lost me as a viewer.
To the cast and crew: THANK YOU, from the bottom of my heart, for these incredible 7 episodes. It was clear that you put everything you had to give into making them, and we are grateful.
Me, I would be happy to watch seasons 3, 4, 5, and 6 of this fascinating show. If you want to help try to bring the show to another network, check in with the fans at the rally point: http://www.jerichorallypoint.com/home/
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Mar 21, 2008 4:50 PM
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I'm pissed. In my opinion the lead the fans on: when the episode aired on Tuesday they said that the next episode airing would be the "season finale" not the series finale. Why give us all that hope just to take it away.
Yet another reason not to watch CBS.
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Mar 21, 2008 4:56 PM
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"Are you already mourning the loss?"
What kind of question is that? Yeah and badly. I'm so sick of the dreck on TV and the two times in two years I've found something worth watching I go through this. There really are people out there who DON'T care for reality tv and raunchy sitcoms or the 5000th reincarnation of a law or CSI show. I still believe Nielsen could in no way account for recruited viewers since that could not factor into how they extract numbers on a normal basis unless a proportionate number of recruited viewers happened to be Nielsen families. With the small sample number how could that even be possible? I myself got 5 new people to watch it this season. It wouldn't have mattered what fans did really, I don't think it would have gotten reflected in the ratings. The ratings did show a dedicated fan base. A consistant viewership. I am pretty much left with nothing but news watching for television now. Let's see if any of the frosh shows that they bring in are juggernauts. I will be looking for that.
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Mar 21, 2008 5:00 PM
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After the SEASON finale, I am deleting CBS from my TV. Jericho will return, just on a better network.
I'm also going to use CBS as a swear word.
"That's CBSed up, man!"
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Mar 21, 2008 5:00 PM
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BRING ON THE NUTS GUYS/MILLIONS AND MILLIONS. BRING IN THE ARMY FOR THIS ONE. IF ANYONE TOOK PART IN THE DELIVERY LAST YEAR, QUADRUPLE THAT FOR EVERYONE. YOU HAVE TO MAIL THAT BY MAY 09TH. CBS HAS THEIRE UPFRONTS THAT FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY. THE TIME/DATE FOR SEASON 2 WAS REALLY SHI**Y. I WILL SOON MAKE A POLL ON MY FREEWEBS SITE.
THATS ALL I HAVE TO SAY FOR NOW BESIDES THIS PISSES MY A** OFF.
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Mar 21, 2008 5:00 PM
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While I appreciate the graciousness of CBS in their acknowledgement of Jericho's loyal fan base, it still unbelieveably sucks that crap shows like Numb3rs gets a pass, and they drop such a great show. (The only cool thing about Numb3rs is that neat Arts and Crafts house the dad lives in...) And don't get me started about those lame CBS reality shows like Big Brother, etc...
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Mar 21, 2008 5:06 PM
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This is squarely aimed at the people who are "pissed off":
For the love of God, save your damn outrage!
What you SHOULD be doing is sending CBS thank you notes for giving Jericho's passionate fans (of which I am one) a seven episode mini-season that the network DID NOT HAVE TO DO AT ALL.
As for Jericho, even as a fan I would have canceled it, too. I thought this new, shortened season has been just dandy (Hawkins' has been rockin' it! Esai Morales a superb addition! Bonnie's death tragic and heartbreaking!) but the ratings have been atrocious. And for that I must place part of the blame on the fans who saved the show in the first place.
To wit, CBS did not under any circumstances have to bring the show back at all. Fan pressure with all those damn peanuts paved the way for something pretty rare and even extraordinary by some measures. But when CBS ordered those 7 new episodes, the network specifically, directly and unambiguously said that in order for the show to survive these same fans had to not only watch the show, but actively campaign to get more people to watch it, as well.
From what I have seen though, the fans who won their short term reprieve pumped their fists in the air, declared victory, and then folded their arms in smug satisfaction that they had beaten CBS into submission. Without doing the follow-up work that had been asked/tasked to them.
It's CBS' job to promote its shows and I think they did a bang up job leading to the premeire of this shortened season; everywhere one looked on the network there were ads running. There was tons of free press. But folks didn't watch.
And don't get your panties and/or boxer shorts in a bunch because the show aired at 10PM. It's not like CBS aired the show at 3AM on a Sunday morning! They put it on in an open time slot against mostly REPEATS during a STRIKE. Honestly, if folks who claim to love Jericho so much were unwilling to stay up a little later to watch it at that hour, then that says a LOT about their "true" devotion.
But the "true fans" didn't even stick around, did they? In the end, larger numbers of viewers did not only just not turn in, the ones who did initially during the season premiere kept tuning out as ratings fell week by week.
Oh, wait. If I recall, a good many of the "fans" bitched and moaned incessantly about how the first few episodes did not "feel" like the Jericho of old. How it "lacked" a certain something and how they were "disappointing." Of course, this did not take into account that the show had to radically slash its budget, refocus its storytelling to accomodate a 7 episode arc, and try to find a way incorporate the familiar while beefing up with the new.
With all the whining and other blather, I wish that many of these "fans" would find a way to grow the hell up instead of engaging in the sort of navel gazing selfishness that denies that a real world exists that includes more than their personal fandom.
So, so long Jericho. It was nice to have a fantastic show with a great cast and great writing around as long as we did. And thank you, CBS, for giving us an additional 7 episodes that will hopefully provide some bit of closure.
Fans of other prematurely cancelled shows should be so lucky.
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Mar 21, 2008 5:09 PM
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I'm not annoyed with the cancellation of this show, I'm annoyed with the people who say that CBS is being stupid by doing it.
When Veronica Mars, my favorite show, got cancelled by the CW, I was crushed beyond belief. But did I think the decision was stupid? No! Because the ratings were low by their overly high expectations of their new network. If they knew what ratings they'd end up with with their new shows, they would know it was stupid, but at the time it wasn't.
What frustrated me is that they dragged it out over a month past the finale so that it didn't have a chance to wrap up it's stories. Jericho not only was the first show to be BROUGHT BACK FROM CANCELLATION, it got it's second chance despite abysmal ratings, got WORSE ratings and people still say it's stupid to cancel it! I read that Jericho has two season endings... one in case of cancellation. So there, you got your damn second season and you got your series finale with closure! Don't be happy, but stop complaining that it's the wrong decision. Every network is a business, they made the right choice. And at least you got the respect and closure that is clearly more than you ungrateful fans deserve!
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Mar 21, 2008 5:12 PM
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"the show has a big following"
If it truly had a big following, wouldn't it have big ratings as well? Seems like it's a good show with a following that is incredibly enthusiastic...but not that big.
Campaigns are nice, but sometimes it seems like that effort could be better spent on a campaign to get more people to watch the show.
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Mar 21, 2008 5:13 PM
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"it still unbelieveably sucks that crap shows like Numb3rs gets a pass"
Um...doesn't Numb3rs have way WAY better ratings? Doesn't it usually win Friday nights?
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Mar 21, 2008 5:17 PM
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Geez Guys
There is no reason to be pissed. CBS gave the fans 7 more episodes and that is more than anyone could have asked for especially for a show that was declining in the ratings and couldn't get any new viewers this season.
If Jericho was the only show you all watched on CBS, then just move on and watch something else. There is plenty of things to entertain us on TV and the movies.
CBS was gracious enough to spend the money and bring back most of the cast and crew for this abbreviated season. We shouldn't diss them just out of spite. TV is a numbers game and the numbers just didn't warrant a 3rd season.
RIP Jericho, it was a fun 29 episode ride.
Now, I hope some network sees what an awesome actor Lennie James is and we will get a chance to see him again soon.
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Mar 21, 2008 5:21 PM
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Why does everyone harp on JERICHO's ratings issues when it's no different than FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS ratings issues.
EVen at it's worse JERICHO did BETTER than FNL!
What makes FNL any more special then JERICHO, or JERICHO any less special than FNL.
Plans are underway to try to find a new home for JERICHO - who has a fan base as loyal - or loyaler than FNL.
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Mar 21, 2008 5:22 PM
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