My favourite show on television has been canceled. Jericho, a serial drama on CBS has been cut from the 2007/2008 lineup after low ratings. They blame the shift in ratings on a problem that all serial dramas have, the long winter break.
To me it is like reading a novel, and then half way through putting it down and not reading it for two months, and then randomly picking it back up. I am more likely to start from the beginning again than trying to figure out what happened months ago to bring me to this point.
The solution for television networks is simple: no winter breaks! If winter breaks are what kills a serial drama, don’t have one for that show. I’d rather the show end earlier in the year and play consistently, than lose great shows like Jericho.
I am horribly upset that they’ve canceled the show, and so is Sabine. It was one of the only shows we both walked away from at the end of an episode going “wow”.
There are petitions forming, and groups getting together, but really I think it might be too late. Had everyone known that Jericho was on the chopping block weeks ago, then there might have been something that could have been done. Some people are saying that DVD sales could save Jericho like it has other shows, but since it is a serialized drama, I don’t see it being very popular in DVD sales, half the fun of watching the show is not knowing what comes next, thus eliminating most of its repeat viewing value.
Now I will never get to see the ending that the show rightfully deserved.
R.G. Said,
May 16, 2007 @ 2:11 pm
Hi David,
I’m shamlessly looking for a Joost invite. Although I am disappointed to hear that Jericho is cancelled. I’m an American living in the UK and I’ve been anticipating the start of the 2nd season for weeks now. Too bad there won’t be a third.
Thanks!
rnbwgroovy@aol.com
Susan Said,
May 16, 2007 @ 2:13 pm
Wow….they could have at least ended it; not just left us with the season ending cliffhanger. Coudn’t they have at least tied up the loose ends. Ugh…I usually don’t watch the serial dramas because I don’t have the time to keep up with them…this one I actually did and they cancel it without even finishing up the plot lines they started. I doubt I’ll ever start up with one of them again.
Tammy Said,
May 16, 2007 @ 2:59 pm
I feel your pain.
NUTS to CBS! That was just WRONG.
They could have AT LEAST given us a SERIES FINALE.
GREG Said,
May 17, 2007 @ 3:43 pm
THIS IS SUCH BS. This is the reason I dont follow shows anymore. There are like 500 storylines left. This show is so well written and acted out. I hate these networks for stuff like this. IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO GET IT BACK !!!
LETS BAN CBS !!!!!!!!
Steve Brandon Said,
May 17, 2007 @ 5:18 pm
The problem with too many of the serialized dramas this past season is that too many Internet fanboys got too vocal about wanting shows to have unbroken 24-like runs with no reruns in-between new episodes and the networks responding, thinking the unbroken runs would boost ratings, but I think the “no televised reruns” fad is what is killing most new Lost wannabes as it makes it very difficult for casual viewers to catch up on what they missed the first time around, and the individual episodes of a lot of these shows have little to no entertainment value as standalone stories, if you’re unfamiliar with what came before.
Back episodes of most of these shows can now officially be seen at the network website (though usually not here in Canada unless you use a proxy) and/or be bought on iTunes (and, of course, pretty much every show on television is available through… ahem… less official avenues), but I doubt this alternate distribution of episodes is all that effective at initially catching the attention of casual viewers, some of whom might not be that net savvy, the way simply re-running the first few episodes during prime time would be.
Jericho, like ABC’s Invasion last season, also suffered from having too slow a build-up and perhaps a few too many soap-ish plot threads, causing a lot of viewers to jump ship, so they weren’t watching by the time the show got a lot more intense over the final couple of episodes. That Liberty City army base with clues for the viewer about the restored-and-almost-but-not-quite-the-same-as-before American government looked to be promising a second season that would be even more interesting than the first, but, alas, it’s not to be, unless CBS does some kind of closing 2-hour TV movie next season with the nutshell version of what they planned to do over the next 22 or so episodes.
(Fellow Ottawa resident, by the way.)
Eric MacMullin Said,
May 17, 2007 @ 7:08 pm
Don’t forget, fan petitions have saved other shows….. email, call and write letters. That’s what I plan to do.
Adrian Said,
May 17, 2007 @ 7:19 pm
Im from Australia and have many friends/family that watch the show. I can’t believe they cancelled it, the best show i have seen in a while
It was very big here
Grace Said,
May 17, 2007 @ 9:21 pm
THIS SUCKS!!!! I love Jericho!!!! Who are these idiots that put on a season that gets you hooked and then stab you in the back by cancelling!!! I hope there is a outcry to carry on with the show.
>Bryan Said,
May 18, 2007 @ 12:35 pm
Its a real shame that such a sensitive and decent show be canceled. I had hoped that it would rise up to join the ranks of shows like LOST and Heroes, even though I consider it to be a better show than those two. The simple reason I think Jericho is superior is because the stories pay off for the viewer. It only took me two seasons of LOST to learn that there most-likely is NO payoff, and with Heroes I can hear the “tune it next week true believers” almost as clearly as if Stan Lee was standing in my living room.
The difference between a “twisting” and a “building” story action is easy for me to feel, and hard to explain. Where a twist (yet again) complicates a story line, a building action cements the previous revelations of a story (maybe even clarifies them, or shows those facts from new viewpoint) and then it carries the story forward.
I will admit that I’m not part of any solution for the success of a TV show. I catch most of my TV through alternate means, and I think TiVo is quite possibly the best idea ever, since I feel no obligation to keep regular dates with an inanimate object. I wasn’t able to save Firefly, or Boomtown, and I didn’t even hear about Jeremiah until it was waaaaay over, so I guess I’ll just go back to hoping that the success of shows like LOST and Heroes will keep bringing fresh and interesting TV to the Internet where I can watch it any time I like.
Mutual Condolences,
>Bryan
Justin Said,
May 18, 2007 @ 1:55 pm
Totally Insane…
CBS is done for me.. this is it.. I am tired of being sucked in, only to be let down.
matthew mcnealy Said,
May 18, 2007 @ 9:59 pm
I can not believe that CBS is willing to cancel a quality show such as Jericho. This was the best show that has come down the pike in years. By far better than anything else out there. I hope that CBS wakes up soon because this is the kind of decision making that will cause them to slip back to the basement in the ratings. Before Jericho the only thing good on CBS was the Unit and the Road to the Final Four(NCAA Basketball Championship) CBS please bring Jericho back.
Frank Said,
May 19, 2007 @ 12:29 am
I say we sic Hawkin’s on the CBS execs!
Diane Said,
May 19, 2007 @ 2:18 am
If you haven’t already, please sign the Save Jericho petition:
http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?09272006
There is also a campaign to send a can of nuts to CBS to let them know that fans think they are nuts! See the message board for Jericho at CBS.
Bryan Said,
May 19, 2007 @ 12:39 pm
Can anybody say “Farscape”….same damn thing all over again…but hey…maybe we can get a mini-series to polish it off!!
Drew Said,
May 21, 2007 @ 3:38 pm
This was posted on the CBS message board:
To the fans of Jericho:
We have read your emails over the past few days and have been touched by the depth and passion with which you have expressed your disappointment. Please know that canceling a television series is a very difficult decision. Hundreds of people at the Network, the production company and the incredibly-talented creative team worked very hard to build and serve the community for this show — both on-air and online. It is a show we loved too.
Thank you for supporting Jericho with such passion. We truly appreciate the commitment you made to the series and 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.
Sincerely,
Nina Tassler, President of CBS Entertainment
So we’ve got something headed our way, hopefully.
Craig Said,
May 21, 2007 @ 6:35 pm
Just plain idiotic…
Jeff Conard Said,
May 22, 2007 @ 1:41 pm
I dont watch tv much at all, the only show I see out there worth watching was Jericho. and Thanks to CBS they took that away from us. Im so mad about this. and the way they ended it is BS!!!!! I thought CBS was a great TV channel, but if you ask what I think of it now they are the worst!!! the only good show on CBS now is The price is Right.. what a Joke!!!! and after Bob Baker leaves CBS will have nothing in my book. CBS you think your ratings are low now. wait until next season Im sure they will be alot lower. Cancelling a show like Jericho shows CBS is doomed..
Toney Said,
May 23, 2007 @ 11:40 am
I am so upset I mean I feel like I know the people of Jericho and I think with every episode it got more compelling. I promise you this I will never watch another show on CBS, sorry Dave (Letterman). If you don’t believe me then ask FOX, since they cancelled Arrested Development I’ve had a block on my TV and I liked a lot more FOX shows than CBS.
Sean Said,
May 24, 2007 @ 6:30 am
TV execs would rather kill a show than los a whole sweeps month. If you start a show in January you lose November. If you start it in September-November, you lose May. Only now are more shows taking this approach. Lost is going to start in February with 16 episodes. It’s what’s best for the longevity of a show to start later. They should break the year into two seasons, a Fall and Spring season and this way they can get more shows on the air.
Oh and by the way, saying Lost will most likely have no pay-off after two years is really ridiculous…It’s like watching a mystery and turning it off because you don’t know who the killer is 20 minutes into the film. You’re pretty much the reason why shows like Jericho get cancelled…Not enough resolution for your ADD.
Brezzy Said,
May 26, 2007 @ 7:27 pm
I hate that Jericho is cancelled and now I can’t see the end to he best show ever. im only 12 but I absolutely love this show and Im going to what ever i can do to make the show air again i made all my friends and family love it and im not goin to stop
SD Said,
June 4, 2007 @ 8:45 am
I can’t believe Jericho got canceleld. It’s a joke! why is it that TV exec always canceled shows ppl like such as: “My so-called Life”, “Arrested Development” and many more!
Maybe Sci-Fi will pick the show up!
maybei Said,
October 20, 2007 @ 1:29 am
Hi! I just stumbled across your blog. Very nice
Fellow Jericho fan here. Looking forward to the next 7 episodes!!
Scott Said,
March 21, 2008 @ 11:50 pm
I think the networks need to re-think their delivery format. In asia it’s very very common to produce an entire drama series from start to closure in one production, then they air it. Perhaps they should try this here, it’s sort of like an extended miniseries. The networks here cancel shows before there’s any type of closure at all, and frankly almost every new show they have on these days is junk, it’s all game/reality shows.
kk Said,
March 25, 2008 @ 5:58 pm
CBS is now officially see BS. The only thing worth watching on that network was Jericho. Too bad they track ratings by the boob tube ’cause I watched the show online. Fell in love with it when it first came out and have been a faithful viewer eve since. LOL, Frank. My sentiments exactly!
goncalo pina Said,
August 27, 2008 @ 1:04 pm
i just finished watching the second season in my contry portugal ,jericho was the best tv show ever for me simply oustanding ,my question is
why the hell nobody in the us watched it?????
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