By Kofi Outlaw
Narrowly pulled from the jaws of cancellation, cult-favorite “Jericho” may be back on TV for its seven-episode second season, sooner than expected. CBS had originally planned to premiere “Jericho” during mid-season, which would fall around 1st quarter 2008. However according to
tvweek.com, CBS execs have a plan that could land the show back on the air well before that time.
The network has hinted that, should any one of their hour-long freshman shows falter in the ratings, “Jericho” could very well be utilized to fill its spot, rather than trying to force-feed the public a tired string of re-runs until midseason rolled around. That means that if (and ONLY if) “Kid Nation,” “Moonlight,” “Cane” or the yet-to-premier “Viva Laughlin” are not up to ratings par, (ahem,) then “Jericho” will most likely get its spot. If you’ve seen any of those aforementioned shows, you know that could be any day now (except you “Kid,” we love you!)
Of course, to downplay any anxieties about its new shows’ performance, the network is thwarting any speculation of “Jericho’s” early return:
“The best thing going for ‘Jericho’ is it’s done and ready to go, [CBS scheduling head Kelly Kahl says.] “But it’s too early to tell what time period is going to available.”
Kahl maintains that CBS’ fall premieres are performing well, and that no opening is guaranteed before mid-season.
For those who don’t remember “Jericho” aired Wednesdays last season on CBS. The show, starring Skeet Ulrich, is about a small town that seemingly survives nuclear holocaust after a large mushroom cloud appears on the horizon. With no power and isolated from the world, paranoia and fear take over, turning some town residents into savages, others into unlikely heroes. The show averaged 9.5 million viewers, a number that plummeted when “American Idol” returned mid-season; the ratings fell again in April when “Jericho” returned from a three-month hiatus with barely a fan left to watch.
The fans that did watch however, were extremely loyal. When CBS axed the show at the end of last season, enraged fans took to the web to do the usual petitioning, emailing and complaining. Then they got nuts. Literally.
After seeing Skeet Ulrich’s character Jake utter the word “nuts” during a pivotal scene in the season 1 finale, angry fans of “Jericho” bombarded CBS with thousands of bags of nuts, paid for by money pooled from fans across the country. When the Sci-fi channel, next expressed interest in picking up “Jericho” if CBS didn’t want it, network execs (allegedly) took a hint and “Jericho” returned as a late addition to CBS’ upcoming mid-season lineup.
During “Jericho’s” season 1 DVD release party last week, executive producer Carol Barbee expressed her eagerness to see the show back on the air ASAP, before viewer interest wanes, giving CBS another excuse to trash it. She elaborated that the show’s second season would pick up some time after the events of the first season cliffhanger and promises to tie together all of the hang plot threads (plus reveal what happened between seasons 1 and 2) in just seven episodes.
“By episode seven you are going to be very satisfied.” [Barbee says] “We packed an entire 22-episode season into seven shows, there’s a lot of mythology answered.”
Kudos for “Jericho” and for grass-roots fan campaigns altogether (except for you “Snakes On A Plane” folks, you’re worse than gangrene.) However, either way you look at it the show is in a tricky spot: if it airs early, fans and (more importantly) potential new viewers may have trouble keeping track of whatever timeslot “Jericho” gets stuffed into. On the other hand, if it airs during midseason as scheduled, people could be already scratching their heads, their brows furrowed, saying “Jericho who?”
I TV, you are a rough mistress. Probably why I like you so much. Good luck Skeet Ulrich, because unless they plan on making “Chill Factor 2” this is pretty much the best shot you got. Don’t blow it.