'Jericho': Its renewal is official

The fictional town of “Jericho” survived a nearby nuclear blast, and now the CBS drama, canceled just last month, will live to see another day.

After much fanfare—intense viewer support that came in the form of letters, petitions and lots of nuts delivered to CBS headquarters, network executives have re-grouped and decided to give the Skeet Ulrich-led drama a second chance.

On Wednesday, CBS President of Entertainment Nina Tassler ordered seven episodes of the series to air sometime in mid-season, crediting the fervent cancellation protest as “creative, sustained and very thoughtful and respectful in tone.”

If the series, which appeared to be on its way to becoming a hit in the fall and fell in the ratings after a long winter hiatus, picks up steam, the network will consider producing more episodes, Tassler wrote in a letter to the fans on its messageboard on www.cbs.com.

“A loyal and passionate community has clearly formed around the show,” Tassler wrote. “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.”

“Volume” in this case is a euphemism for tons—the tons of nuts fans delivered to CBS in tribute to the show’s season finale, in which Jake (Ulrich) replied "Nuts!" when New Bern’s commander asked him to surrender. (In World War II, when General MacAuliffe was asked to surrender at the Battle of the Bulge, he simply replied "Nuts!").

And what did CBS do with all those nuts, you ask? They were donated to charities, such as, the Staten Island Project Homefront, which sends supplies to the Armed Forces and City Harvest in New York City.

In a P.S., Tassler wrote, "Please stop sending us nuts."

Update: After this post was initally published, Ulrich issued a statement through his publicist. "I'm so thankful to our fans for not only their passionate support but their tireless efforts to revive our show," it read. "The whole cast and I are thrilled to have the opportunity to be together again and I look forward to the chance to give back to the fans with more of the story that brought us here."

-- Maria Elena Fernandez

(Photo courtesy CBS)

Comments

[Vince Villagran]

This news made my day. Jericho will be back!!!!!

[Lynnation]

I'm so glad they're bringing Jericho back - one of my favorite shows!! It's rare that a show is entertaining AND makes you think. Can't wait for Season 2!!!!

[Angel]

Hearing Jericho will be back made my day

[Chris]

Thank you for following the story from the outset. The coverage that you have presented greatly helped the fans to bring the show back from the dead!

[Donna]

Thanks for the fast report Maria! Now that Jericho is alive and living again, we want to tell everyone to watch the show when it comes back on this summer to repeat the first season. It's fantastic!

[CarrieLynn]

Absolutely amazing! The power of fans triumphs again! Perhaps now the nets will learn not to put shows on hiatuses for so long.

[Brenda Smith]

Season 2.....wonderful.
Now, everyone who wants to know what kind of show can garner a response this passionate needs to watch Jericho and stand WITH us in our efforts to KEEP Jericho on for seasons 3 and 4, and 5 and.........

Join us Future Rangers!! Join us and be counted!

[kev]

I am so happy right now. Next, we get the troops home.

[Elizabeth G]

It's so nice to hear they gave us another season. even if its only 8 shows! maybe they will give us more as time goes on! Thanks again for letting us see this and keeping updated on the show and how the fans worked to get our voices heard!

woohoo!!!

[Jesse]

I liked the premise of the show, but the acting (and reacting) was terrible. It was a big idea bogged down by unconvincing situations and a lot of cliche characters.

[Henchman]

CBS made the right decision. Kudos to them. Long Live Jericho

[Stephen]

When I got the news a few weeks ago that "Jericho" had been cancelled, my heart literally sank. Then I got mad. Then I took action.

This news, while not ideal, is remarkable and it really makes my day. I think this could be the start of a whole new era of viewers interacting with networks and producers to encourage and sustain quality television programming.

Meanwhile, we need to spread the word to friends and family that "Jericho" is the one to watch--now, over the summer, and next year.

Congratulations everyone and THANK YOU, CBS!

[Rob M]

Yessss !

Thank You CBS.

Now we have to spread the word and get more people watching the show.

Jericho Lives !!

[John Weiler]

Hooray!!! Jericho is back and I am very peased. I think a new way of tracking viewership needs to be developed. Apparently Nielsen isn't cutting it anymore.

[Steve]

Fantastic! I was so dismayed when they canceled the show, it's one of the best and most interesting new shows in years! Now let's hope us fans can turn others onto watching it and buying the season 1 DVDs!

[Kyle]

Thank you to reporter Maria Elena Fernandez for mentioning the reason behind the sending of nuts to network execs. I've read so many stories where the writer didn't bother mentioning 'why' that was happening, just that nutty viewers couldn't handle having a show they liked cancelled. You'd think journalists would be curious about 'the why' behind that particular tactic.
Thank you again. And I'm glad the network is giving the show a second chance.

[Jeff]

Thanks to all the great people who showed CBS that Jericho was something special. My whole family was over joyed of the news! Jericho lives!

[Geraldo]

I am so glad my favorite show is back, lets keep the momentum going and hopefully get CBS to make more shows.

[Richard Pardo]

I wrote my very first protest letter to Ms. Tassler over this cancellation, and I'm 61 years old! To hold the mismanagement of a unnecessary hiatus AGAINST a show that had begun to build a following is no way to build a brand franchise or network loyalty.

I compared Ms. Tassler's decision, and the agreement of it by CBS, to Jinmy Breslin's book - The Gang that Couldn't Shoot Straight.

Apparently their aim has improved.

Rick Pardo

[paula gonzalez]

yes thank you for mentioning the whole nut situation.
its cleared a lot of the meaning.

[Brenda]

WooHoo!!!

[Shana]

What a relief, one of the few shows worth watching.. was about to get rid of the tv. Thanks everybody!!

[Lisa M]

Sooooo HAPPY to hear this newp ! Jericho is by far one of most original and interesting shows on TV today. Those petitions worked!!! Keep the positive comments coming and let the network and writers know how you feel. Thanks CBS!!!!

[Linda]

HURRAY FOR JERICHO & US (the fans)!! Thank you CBS for listening to what your viewers want. Now give Jericho the chance it deserves (6 episodes is not near enough for such a dramatic story line.)

[tina jones]

Oh,thank you,thank you,thank you !!!!! More SKEET !!!!!!! I'm sooooooo happy !
Tell Skeet I love him very much...oh, and Jericho too.(lol)
I knew CBS wasn't as NUTS as we had thought !!

[Ty]

Great im glad Jericho is back. I was very disappointed they were being taken off air. This is my favorite program on wed.
Ty