The protest worked! We now have official word from the President of CBS Entertainment, via this message posted to their press website:

To the Fans of Jericho:

Wow!

Over the past few weeks you have put forth an impressive and probably unprecedented display of passion in support of a prime time television series. You got our attention; your emails and collective voice have been heard.

As a result, CBS has ordered seven episodes of "Jericho" for mid-season next year. In success, there is the potential for more. But, for there to be more "Jericho," we will need more viewers.

A loyal and passionate community has clearly formed around the show. But that community needs to grow. It needs to grow on the CBS Television Network, as well as on the many digital platforms where we make the show available.

We will count on you to rally around the show, to recruit new viewers with the same grass-roots energy, intensity and volume you have displayed in recent weeks.

At this time, I cannot tell you the specific date or time period that "Jericho" will return to our schedule. However, in the interim, we are working on several initiatives to help introduce the show to new audiences. This includes re-broadcasting "Jericho" on CBS this summer, streaming episodes and clips from these episodes across the CBS Audience Network (online), releasing the first season DVD on September 25 and continuing the story of Jericho in the digital world until the new episodes return. We will let you know specifics when we have them so you can pass them on.

On behalf of everyone at CBS, thank you for expressing your support of "Jericho" in such an extraordinary manner. Your protest was creative, sustained and very thoughtful and respectful in tone. You made a difference.

Sincerely,

Nina Tassler

President, CBS Entertainment

P.S. Please stop sending us nuts : )

I gotta tell you, this totally makes me laugh. The idea of those network Execs signing for 50,000 lbs of peanuts. The image makes me giggle!

Labels: Power of the Little People

I've certainly criticized CBS's Jericho for the bizarre way the writer's bent the rules of probability, but I did watch the show. I reveled in each new ridiculous episode. I enjoyed it because it made me think.

But then, CBS announced that the show had been canceled. Rabid fans took to protesting this action and even sent 50,000 pounds of nuts to CBS to push their point.

This article seems to suggest that the protest may have worked.

The network apparently has been impressed by the display of viewer passion,which included the delivery of 50,000 pounds of peanuts to its New York offices.

In the season finale, a character replies “Nuts!” to a demand that the beleaguered town of Jericho surrender.

That’s the same response that a U.S. general in World War II made to a German demand for surrender at the Battle of the Bulge.

There’s already been one positive outcome: CBS is donating the protest peanuts to charities, including one that sends care packages to troops overseas.

I really just like the idea that the viewers might save the show. I, too, am tired of really good shows being canceled - like Alias, The Embassy, Close to Home, and lots of others.

Labels: Power of the Little People