Well, I'm back (though still homeless for another week), and so is "Jericho."
Yes, you wacky, passionate, determined Jericho-ites, you did it!
CBS announced that the impassioned campaign, which included several Web sites/blogs and a gigantic amount of nuts being sent to CBS HQ, was successful enough to make "Jericho" a midseason replacement for next season with seven episodes (so far) lined up.
Here is the open letter from CBS president Nina Tassler, as posted on TVGuide.com:
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 e-mails 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 grassroots 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 rebroadcasting Jericho on CBS this summer, streaming episodes and clips from these episodes across the CBS Audience Network (online), releasing the first season DVD on Sept. 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
Personally, I'm stunned by the success of the campaign. I thought "Jericho" might net a TV movie, perhaps even a miniseries, but to get a partial season out of it is a true testament to the series' fans. Now, if those fans can please get on the "Veronica Mars" bandwagon over at the CW. (Mars bars, perhaps?)
REVIEWS: In other TV news, I'm playing a lot of catch-up because of my ceiling caving in. So, here are the bulletpoints:
--"The Sopranos:" Um, wow. I won't put any spoilers by naming names for people who haven't seen the penultimate episode yet (my own version of omerta, I guess) but the first assassination was one of the most beautifully filmed sequences of the entire series. The second (apparent) assassination was also genius, especially with the sequence in traffic and the crowd from the bing. Sunday's finale can't come quickly enough.
--"On The Lot:" Dear Michael Bay,
Shut the fudge up, you hack. As someone who has sat through too many of your crappy movies, you have no business criticizing any other director, ever.
How can he possibly criticize what were clearly the two best films of the entire series thus far, the man vs. the toilet and the musical set in a bakery, yet goes out of his way to praise the girl who shot a pointless three-minute documentary about a gay comic? (Though the film about the Finkelsteins was much worse and actually offensive, at least that director stayed within the assignment).
There is some real filmmaking talent on this show, so I urge anyone who hasn't watched "On The Lot" yet to climb aboard.
--"The Shield:" This series not only never has a bad season, it almost never has even a bad episode, and Tuesday's finale didn't disappoint. It cleverly sets up next year's final season (I'm already in mourning) and gave Vic a way out of his predicament during this one. Too many great moments to list here, though the alliance between Vic and Aceveda, and Claudette realizing she can't run the precinct without Vic were two of the best.
Coming tomorrow: Emmy suggestions (assuming the ceiling doesn't fall in).
THURSDAY'S BEST BETS: If you watched "Pirate Master" (CBS, 8 p.m.) last week at my suggestion, I apologize profusely. Just remember, my ceiling caved in destroying a chunk of my stuff, so fate has decided to punish me.
The NBA finals kick off tonight as the league's best team (the Spurs) face the league's best player (LeBron James) beginning at 9 p.m. on ABC.
Everything else is reruns except for Fox, which has new episodes of "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth-Grader?" at 8 p.m., followed by "So You Think You Can Dance?" at 9 p.m.
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Back To Your Regularly Scheduled Programming
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4 comments:
I'm not much of a Bay guy either; even "The Rock," which I loved when I was a young college man pretty much grates on my nerves at this point. I especially loved when he talked about tightening up on their shots; maybe he should follow some of his own advice. But I get it, "Transformers" is coming out in a few weeks, blah, blah, blah. But I was thinking who the hell wants to be the next Michael Bay anyways?
I do however love the insight Gary Marshall has been giving. It really makes me want to like his films more.
Phillip, first and foremost I am really sorry what happened to you with the flooding but at least Insurance will buy you new furniture so overall, it will be a good thing...longer term
I have to say, I am hit or miss with Bay movies (I was a college Junior when "The Rock" came out and I certainly liked it better at age 20 then I do now at age 32) but to be honest, "Transformers" LOOKS like the best Summer film.
I am not saying it's going to be the best movie of the year, but I am more excited then the endless sequels. Seriously, Spider-Man, Pirates, Shrek...they all sucked. Enough with the damned sequels. Thank goodness for anything original.
The best movies I have seen this Summer (so far)? Knocked Up and Waitress. Guess what? Neither is a sequel.
Re: The "Jericho" Campaign
Wow, I am stunned beyond belief. As a huge fan of the show, I am thrilled. Yeah, I would rather have 7 episodes (or possibly more?) then just a TV movie but I really was going to "settle" for a TV movie. I can't believe it.
What's more is I am even more impressed with CBS.
This is a network I bash regularly for getting such huge ratings on boring drivel like "Criminal Minds" and any of the "CSI" shows (not to mention really horrible dreck like "Survivor").
Now, it still saddens me that too much of these dull shows are getting boffo ratings, BUT, the way Nina Tassler and CBS treated a show that was different and interesting and not like what's typically filling CBS' airwaves, is beyond heartwarming and classy.
They are the network that least has to keep a quality low rated show (unlike NBC which is forced to keep high quality but low rated shows on air like "30 Rock" and "Friday Night Lights") but they did anyway. CBS may still contain the least amount of shows I personally watch ("Jericho" and "How I Met Your Mother") but I stand up and applaud them for being willing to keep around a series (Jericho) that they clearly didn't have to keep. Amen.
As a die hard Spurs, fan, let me add:
GO SPURS GO!
I hated "The Rock," "Pearl Harbor" and pretty much any Bay movie you can mention. This was the guy who said, when Scarlett Johansson was willing to do a nude scene in "The Island," No thanks, Scarlett. Doofus.
Garry Marshall has done a good job, as has Carrie Fisher and most of the other guest directors. Bay's appearance was just shameless plugging by Fox, which is producing "Transformers" (which doesn't look like a great film to me, Zod, no offense).
On the other subject, I'm still amazed at what the Jericho fans accomplished. It's a testament to both the fans of the show and the network for listening to their viewership and taking the risk. Hopefully, this will inspire other fan campaigns in the future.
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