Showing posts with label television. Show all posts
Showing posts with label television. Show all posts

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Remembering Jericho, and Others (or "Digital Vomit Rules the Airwaves")

JerichoIt was nearly one year ago today that CBS canceled Jericho, their season and a half program that inspired a nation of fans to flood the producers with peanuts. It was one of the greatest shows of modern television.

I recently picked up a copy of Jericho - The Second Season on DVD, and just watched the alternate ending. The ending that would have been aired if CBS had decided to continue the episode for a full second season and beyond, rather than canceling it after just seven shows in the second season.

I have to say, the second season wasn't as good as the first, but after viewing the alternate episode, it sure looks like it was going to get pretty intense had they chosen to continue. With the independent Republic of Texas essentially declaring war on the new "Allied States of America" and their government in Cheyenne, Wyoming, there was certain to be plenty of action in a prolonged second and possibly third season.

It's quite sad, really, that so much digital vomit manages to stay on the airwaves while great shows like Jericho get canceled. It has happened before, though. Remember Sliders? And Quantum Leap? I don't think anyone was happy to see the last episode of M*A*S*H. And the final episode of Seinfeld was disappointing not just because it was the final episode, but because it was lousy. And Cheers, yeah, I miss it, too.

What shows do you miss? What great television that has been canceled to make room for the digital vomit that pollutes the airwaves today would you like to see come back?

Share your thoughts, and enjoy a look back at Jericho.






Your comments?

Joe





Tuesday, March 25, 2008

R.I.P. Jericho

Jericho is now in the history books. The last episode of the second season -- doomed by CBS to be the last season -- has aired.

It is reported that they recorded two season finale episodes -- one if the show was renewed, and one if it was canceled. The second was intended to provide some sort of closure for Jericho fans. (I'd really love to see that other version, anyway.)

Well, their definition of "closure" must be "a beginning." As Jericho season two ended this evening, it ended with what was clearly the beginning of a new civil war in America. There are so many places they could go from here.

It was, in my opinion, the best episode of the second season. If I were being completely honest, I would admit that I was disappointed with the first few episodes of this second season. My wife got me hooked on the show online after it had been canceled at the end of the first season. I played catch up and watched almost every episode of the first season -- something like 24 of them -- online before it was announced that the show would be back for a second season.

That second season, signed for only seven episodes, was disappointing in many ways. First, only seven episodes? That's not a season, that's a mini-series. And the time slot they put it in? 10:00 PM on Tuesday night, a time slot that is historically bad for shows on CBS. Looking at what it was up against, I can't understand why it's a bad time slot. Jericho versus Primetime, Frontline, Baywatch, and three local programming options? Give me a break!

Anyway, the show has come to what is probably a final demise -- the beginning of a civil war. I must say, this last episode was done quite well. The story flowed quickly, yet smoothly, and wrapped up several story lines. In the end we learn that Robert Hawkins is indeed a good guy, as well as Major Beck. We learn that Texas isn't such a bad place, after all (I'm still not convinced on that one, I lived there long enough to know better).

If you missed the show, I'm sure you can catch it online soon, or on iTunes. After all, based on the ratings this second season, that's how most people watched it anyway. And, as we all know, as great as this Internet content is, it doesn't pay the bills for the networks.

Next time, I urge you, support your show by tuning in to it on television. All the letter writing campaigns and all the NUTS in the world don't pay the bills. For now, Jericho has joined the great Quantum Leap in that dreaded TV graveyard.

Goodbye, Jericho, Kansas. May you rest in peace.

Joe

Jericho Finale Coming Up

In just forty-five minutes, the final episode of Jericho will begin. Very disappointing that the show has been canceled.

I'll be tuning in, will you?

CBS at 10 PM Eastern.

Joe

Jericho Canceled - Last Episode 3/25

From the Washington Post (which, if you don't subscribe to, you won't be able to read there after today, so I won't do them the favor of a link, but rather a cut and paste of the story):
Jericho Canceled

Well, at least they had a dream, and it came true for a season: CBS (NYSE: CBS) has canceled the post-apocalyptic drama "Jericho", the second time this has happened in two years. The first time it got canceled due to low TV ratings, the passionate fans led a protest online and forced CBS to bring it back. It has been a popular show on CBS.com and iTunes.

But on TV, the second season's Nielsen ratings were even lower than the first...the March 25th will be the last show.

According to CBS: "Without question, there are passionate viewers watching this program; we simply wish there were more...We have no regrets bringing the show back for a second try." According to THR, this does not mean the show couldn't come back on cable, but the high cost of the production, however, will likely prevent a continuation of the show.
Sure, they brought it back for a second season, but my question is this: did they really give it the best chances of survival by putting it in a 10pm time slot?

The final episode of Jericho will air Tuesday, March 25, 2008, at 10pm Eastern Time on CBS.

You know, this reminds me of the last time that a show I really enjoyed got canceled. There haven't been many shows I've enjoyed as much as Jericho. It's a shame that the real entertainment gets canceled and the garbage lives on.

Joe

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Jericho Season Finale Next Week

With only one episode remaining in season two of Jericho, and no word yet of a third season, the story is building up quickly to this Tuesday night's climax.

You can catch the final episode this Tuesday evening at 10 pm Eastern on CBS. You can catch a sneak peak of the episode here.

Don't miss this episode!

And if you like what you see, remember to let CBS know:

Nina Tassler, President, CBS Entertainment
Les Moonves, CEO, CBS Corporation
CBS Television City
7800 Beverly Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90036

Joe

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Jericho Time

Time for Jericho (10 pm Eastern). Only two episodes left.

Tune in to CBS now.

Joe

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Jericho: Only Two Episodes Left?

With only two episodes left in the second season of Jericho, the action is really starting to heat up.

It is unknown as of yet whether the show will be renewed for a third season. It was originally canceled after the first season, and brought back only because of the NUTS campaign launched by the disappointed fans.

I, for one, would love to see the show continue. The story is getting better and better with every episode, and I hope to see CBS renew for a third season.

You can have your say and voice your opinion to CBS. Let them know that you want to see another season of Jericho. Send your letter today:

Nina Tassler, President, CBS Entertainment
Les Moonves, CEO, CBS Corporation
CBS Television City
7800 Beverly Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90036

And if you need a reminder of just why Jericho should be renewed for a third season, check out a preview of next week's episode.



Joe

Monday, March 3, 2008

Give Jericho a Chance

Episode 4 of the second season of Jericho runs Tuesday night at 10 PM Eastern and Pacific.

I'll admit, the first episode of this season was just a bit disappointing. Season one ended with quite a cliffhanger, and I had some pretty high expectations of how they would resolve that cliffhanger in the new episode. After the first episode, I felt that they didn't do it justice.

But as each new episode has progressed this season, the story just gets better and better. By Friday each week, the anticipation for me has already built to a fever pitch. I just can't wait for the next episode to roll. My wife, who introduced me to the show, doesn't seem to be enjoying it as much as I am. I think that, for her, it's a bit deeper and more involved than the first season was, and she doesn't want to have to think about what she's watching too much to enjoy it.

I encourage you to give Jericho a shot. With only seven episodes committed for the second season, I'm asking you, please give Jericho a shot this week. And catch up on all of the past episodes -- including the entire first season -- at jerichorises.com. You, too, may just end up being hooked.

Joe

Friday, February 29, 2008

Jericho Just Keeps Getting Better

It just keeps getting better every week. Check out a preview of Episode 4, which is scheduled to air next Tuesday, March 4, 2008, at 10:00 PM Eastern and Pacific.

I'm telling you, folks, this show is a must see. And unless CBS does something to extend the season, the Jericho team only has four more episodes to prove themselves.

Tune in.

Joe

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Jericho 2:3

Jericho season two, which I personally feel had a disappointing first episode, is getting better and better as the season progresses. You can catch a preview of episode three, which airs Tuesday night at 10 PM Eastern and Pacific, and get caught up on the entire show at JerichoRises.com, if necessary.

Tune in. This is a show you won't want to miss.

Joe

Thursday, February 21, 2008

What's Wrong With This Picture?

I'm going to make just a couple of quick observations about the newly reported John McCain lobbyist scandal.

What's wrong with this picture? Is it that John McCain may or may not have been involved in some way with a female lobbyist? The New York Times (whom I won't dignify with a link) alleges not that John McCain did something politically immoral with this lobbyist, but that he did something personally immoral with her. That his sin was against his spouse and not the American public.

So what's wrong with this picture? Senator McCain denies the allegations. He denies being involved in any inappropriate way the lobbyist in question. He denies having any type of romantic relationship with her.

So what's wrong with this picture? If McCain did do something wrong, that's his business. Does it affect the American people? Maybe. But no more than when "President" Bill Clinton was involved with Monica Lewinsky in the White House. In fact, I would submit that what Bill Clinton did in the White House was more of a sin against the American people because it took place within the hallowed halls of the White House.

So what's wrong with this picture? The media, that's what. I've been watching coverage of this story this morning mostly on MSNBC, and what I keep seeing over and over and over is that the media seems to present this in a light that would have more negative impact than positive on John McCain. They say things that sound somewhat supportive of McCain, but the images that they show are all unflattering images. Both in television and print media, the pictures are of John McCain with a guilty grin on his face, of the lobbyist in an evening gown -- anything they can put on the screen to give us the worst possible impression.

So what's wrong with this story? That we, the American people, allow ourselves to be so influenced by the mainstream media that we would even give this story the amount of time that it took me to write this and you to read it.

Let's move on to what really matters, America.

Read more on Redstate.com.

Joe

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Jericho Season 2, Episode 2: Condor

With just two days left before episode two of Jericho season two, the suspense is building.

Catch a preview of episode two now.

Then tune in Tuesday night at 10 PM Eastern Time on CBS.

Joe

Saturday, February 16, 2008

The Joe Show #62: Jericho Rises

New this week on



The Joe Show
featuring Average Joe American

Episode Sixty-Two: Jericho Rises

Free MP3 Download


* left standing | american anthem | www.leftstanding.com

* jericho returns | CBS | www.jerichorises.com

* carbon leaf | the war was in color | www.carbonleaf.com

* jeremy rowe | in line to die | www.myspace.com

* jeff wahl | freedom | www.magnatune.com

* kevin burdick | america | www.kevinburdick.com

* neil brian goldgerg | born in america | music.podshow.com

* phil ayoub | white feather | www.philayoub.com

* ray younkin | america's sky | www.rayyounkin.com

* matt stevens | jubilee | www.mattstevensguitar.com

* nico and the known | the cost of freedom | www.hapnindudes.com

* shawn cole | in the middle of nowhere | www.shawncolemusic.com

* chris demarco | unknown soldier | www.chrisdemarco.com

* john batdorf | all for you | www.johnbatdorfmusic.com

* rick roark | remember me | www.airplaydirect.com

Register to win a free CD prize pack.
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Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Jericho Premiere Tonight

Tonight is the night. While CNN and MSNBC continue to talk about why Mike Huckabee should drop out of the race for the Republican Presidential nomination and just give McCain the nomination, Jericho season two will premiere at 10 PM Eastern Time tonight, and fans like myself all over the country will be watching. You should tune in, too. You won't be disappointed.



Joe

Monday, February 11, 2008

Jericho Season 2

Just one more day -- tomorrow -- until the season 2 premiere of Jericho. Ten o'clock PM Eastern Time. On CBS. Will you be there?



Joe

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Jericho Season 2 Teaser

Only three days left until Jericho season 2 premieres on CBS. You can catch the first five minutes of Tuesday night's episode now.

I've watched it, and it's not really a spoiler. More like a teaser that will make you want more.

Tune in Tuesday, 2/12/08, 10 PM ET, on CBS.

Joe

Friday, February 8, 2008

Four More Days Until ....

Just finished watching the season 1 finale of Jericho online. You know, just to refresh my memory of how the first season ended.

Only four days left until Jericho Rises.

Be there. Tuesday, February 12, 2008, at 10 PM Eastern Time.

This is not a paid advertisement. Just a fan trying to share the enjoyment of Jericho.



Joe

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

More on Jericho

I received a comment from a reader asking me for more information about just what the show Jericho is about. Maybe I should make it a little clearer, for those of you who may not have seen it before. But rather than try to put it in my own words, I'll quote directly from the shows ABOUT page.
About Jericho

JERICHO is a drama about what happens when a nuclear mushroom cloud suddenly appears on the horizon, plunging the residents of a small, peaceful Kansas town into chaos, leaving them completely isolated and wondering if they're the only Americans left alive. Fear of the unknown propels Jericho into social, psychological and physical mayhem when all communication and power is shut down. The town starts to come apart at the seams as terror, anger and confusion bring out the very worst in some residents. Jake Green, prodigal son of the town's mayor, becomes a reluctant hero when a school bus crashes as a result of the explosion. Mayor Johnston Green is conflicted with the return of his estranged son, but is called to action when the town begins to riot. Johnston's wife, Gail, is the strong, savvy first lady of the town who runs interference between her husband and her favorite son. Attempting to usurp the mayor's power is Johnston's political adversary, Gray Anderson, who is not above putting his personal agenda before the welfare of the very community he wants to lead.

Though the cloud appears in the distance, it affects all the residents in Jericho, including Dale Turner, the 16-year-old trailer park kid everybody picks on, who finds himself in a position that could change his status; Robert Hawkins, a mysterious stranger who seems to be a jack-of-all-trades as he steps in to help restore order; Heather Lisinski, a pretty young schoolteacher on the bus with her students returning from a class trip when the glare from the explosion causes a terrible accident; Emily Sullivan, Jake's high school sweetheart who lives outside of town and innocently goes about her business unaware of the catastrophe, Bonnie Richmond, a pretty 17-year-old who is hearing impaired; and Bonnie's older brother Stanley, Jake's best friend from childhood and an avid car lover who works on the family farm. In this time of crisis, as sensible people become paranoid, personal agendas take over and well-kept secrets threaten to be revealed, some people will find an inner strength they never knew they had, and the most unlikely heroes will emerge.
Personally, I find Jericho to be a very thought-provoking story about what could happen if we don't put a stop once and for all to the type of radical terrorism that struck us on 9/11. I regrettably missed the entire first season during it's original airing on CBS, but got caught up online after my wife raved about how much she was enjoying watching the show online.

I strongly encourage you to, at the very least, watch the last season 1 episode before tuning in next Tuesday on CBS at 10pm Eastern Time. I promise you two things:
  1. You may choose not to watch further, but you won't be bored or disappointed if you watch next Tuesday night;
  2. This show will make you think.
Joe

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Jericho Returns

Where have you been? The second season of Jericho begins in just over a week. I missed this show all last season and played catch up online with my wife only after it was canceled. I was thrilled to learn that, due to viewer outrage, CBS has brought the show back.

This is truly must see television!

Learn more at CBS. You don't have much time to get caught up.





Joe

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