Fans of "Jericho" literally sent tons of peanuts to CBS executives and convinced them that they were "nuts" to cancel the series. Seven new episodes have been ordered and CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler has asked fans to "Please stop sending us nuts."
Even with the successful appeal, the show's long-term future remains in doubt. In her note posted on the show's Internet message board, Tassler warns that while a "loyal and passionate community has clearly formed around the show," the audience is going to have to grow to keep it viable. That was a not too subtle hint to the fans to spread the word if they want to keep their favorite show on the air.
Since shooting takes time, Jericho won't be back with new episodes until 2008 as a mid-season addition to the CBS schedule. In the meantime, Tassler told fans that existing episodes will be rebroadcast this summer and streamed online. Also, the first season DVD will be coming out in September.
CBS, by the way, is donating its surplus peanuts to charity, including one that sends packages of goods from home to troops overseas.
Read Tassler's posting.
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 🙂
