CBS Cancels ‘Jericho’ and Unceremoniously Alienates Legions of Fans
Just File This One Under “Dumb Network Decisions”
The news reports are already in. Clearly demonstrating that it only cares about numbers and not the devoted viewers who invest their time and effort into following an intriguing and, for once, well-made serial program, the Eye Network is allegedly set to cancel the sci-fi doomsday drama Jericho, one of its best, most original new television shows in ages. As one perceptive fan stated in the comment thread for the posted news at TV Guide.com’s Ausiello Report, “Maybe if they resubmit the show under the name CSI: Jericho, CBS will reconsider renewing it.”
Tell me about it. Remember not too long ago when CBS was notorious for being the Old Fogey Network? Well, now it’s the official dumping ground for slick, vapid crime procedurals. Regardless of the decline in ratings following Jericho‘s lengthy hiatus, if ABC and dead-last NBC can stick by their sci-fi serials (Lost and Heroes, respectively) in the exact same situation, a top-rated broadcast network like The Eye surely can, as well.
Although I really enjoy CBS’ Monday-night comedy lineup usually comprised of How I Met Your Mother, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Two and a Half Men, and a fourth rotating sitcom, I follow most shows on the network only tangentially, when there’s nothing else fresh scheduled for my preferred series on other channels. This will be the case more than ever now that word has spread that CBS also plans to officially nix the Friday-night legal drama Close to Home.
What? I knew the female-oriented, suburban crime series was on the bubble, but I honestly didn’t think CBS would dare get rid of the show when it still managed to deliver decent ratings on every outing. To say there’s no other series like Close to Home on TV now is an understatement. Viewers are instead left with a slew of big-city, super macho crime procedurals that are primarily either as stale as month-old bread or filled with ridiculous criminal acts so intentionally bizarre they literally boggle the mind.
While I’ll keep my final judgment in check until the network’s 2007–2008 schedule is formally announced Wednesday morning during the upfront presentation, I can give preliminary thanks to CBS execs for freeing up a sizable chunk of my TV-watching time for the great shows on other channels. The one new CBS fall pick-up I’m eagerly anticipating is the vampire crime drama Moonlight, previously titled Twilight, which will probably get hastily canceled, too. —SIGH— Some networks never learn…
Related News: Bubble Trouble: Tonight’s ‘Close to Home’ Finale Possibly the Series’ Last | ‘Jericho’ Finale Promises Explosive Conflict and a Shocking Death
Jericho photo courtesy of CBS
