Jericho' May Find New Life With Comcast [Text View]

LoadStar

04-08-2008, 08:43 PM

I am baffled, completely totally lost, as to why this series is deserving of so many chances. Ignoring any creative potential the show might or might not have, it premiered to mediocre ratings that steadily dropped throughout the first season. These poor ratings were not due to any network mismanagement, like bizarre schedule shifting, preempting, or showing episodes out of order, meaning it's even more likely the problem can be traced back to the show itself. It was inexplicably brought back through the efforts of a rather small fan campaign (small when compared to other fan campaigns like Star Trek, Farscape, Firefly et.al.). When brought back, it continued it's steady decline into ratings oblivion.

I guess the part that irks me is that there are other, more popular franchises (say, Firefly) that, if given a savior like a CBS, Comcast, DirecTV or the like, would have significantly more potential than Jericho has, and I don't get why it is Jericho being given second and third chances instead.

CMO

04-08-2008, 09:20 PM

The long hiatus in season 1 is what killed this show. I hope they bring it back.

LoadStar

04-08-2008, 09:29 PM

The long hiatus in season 1 is what killed this show. I hope they bring it back.

The series was already circling the drain by the time of the hiatus. The hiatus just finished it off.

justapixel

04-08-2008, 09:34 PM

I sort of like Jericho the first time around but I did think the story was full of fluff. The second time around I thought it was much better.

But I wouldn't switch to comcast for it. It is odd that it got so much attention - some people really like peanuts.

Alfer

04-08-2008, 10:23 PM

Cainebj

04-08-2008, 10:31 PM

There is next to nobody who cares to watch this show anymore..NOBODY.....trying to revive it again is silly and pointless IMO.

well - I guess I am next to nobody because I would care to continue to watch it...:p

cwoody222

04-08-2008, 11:14 PM

What's the deal with FNL they mention?

Aren't the actors from Jericho released from their contracts already?

jstack

04-08-2008, 11:23 PM

I'd rather have it gone forever than Comcast being in charge of the show.

dswallow

04-09-2008, 12:13 AM

If you read many of the episode threads from the first season you'll find numerous accounts of how many of us viewers really, really felt the premise had both significant promise and was of a compelling nature. And through much of the first season and unduly large number of us seemed to be viewing not the shows that were broadcast but the concept and (unrealized) potential of the show.

With season 2, perhaps just by accident through a shortened season order, they really stepped up to the plate and gave us an entertaining adventuresome series that never let up. They did real good.

And I think that's why it's garnering such attention. It's not so much that X millions of people watch it, but that those X millions of people watch it with a fervor of sorts. Many realize how full of possibilities the Jericho universe actually is, and how it has the potential of drawing in viewers and creating some significant emotional connections. And that seems to be the sort of viewership that is attractive in these specialized cases that we find developing with companies like DirecTV and Comcast. It's still an experiment, certainly, but they seem to be latching onto the right demographic to experiment with.

DougF

04-09-2008, 10:15 AM

...I guess the part that irks me is that there are other, more popular franchises (say, Firefly) that, if given a savior like a CBS, Comcast, DirecTV or the like, would have significantly more potential than Jericho has, and I don't get why it is Jericho being given second and third chances instead.

I read stuff about "Firefly" here all the time, so I looked this up today. According to BoxOfficeMojo.com, Serenity was only the 99th most popular movie (by domestic gross) of 2005 and didn't even make back the production budget. The series was canceled due to low ratings. I know it's wildy popular here at TCF but it doesn't seem to be otherwise. Is there something I'm missing?

I'm still hoping to see what all the fuss is about one day. I finished my home-brewed DVD set from SciFi Channel airings a couple of years ago but haven't found time to watch them yet.

WhiskeyTango

04-09-2008, 10:31 AM

Jericho's ratings even though they dropped thru it's run would still put it atop the cable channel ratings if it were picked up elsewhere.

The show debuted with ~12 million. The show was averaging about 10.5 million viewers before the hiatus. After coming back almost 3 months later the ratings average dropped to about 8.5 million viewers going up against American Idol. Those numbers may not be good enough for network television but are on par with, if not higher than, many popular cable shows. Example, BSG premiered this season with only about 2 million viewers. The cable show with the highest ratings the week of Jericho's finale was WWE Raw with about 5.3 million, whereas Jericho drew around 6 million.

LoadStar

04-09-2008, 11:24 AM

I read stuff about "Firefly" here all the time, so I looked this up today. According to BoxOfficeMojo.com, Serenity was only the 99th most popular movie (by domestic gross) of 2005 and didn't even make back the production budget. The series was canceled due to low ratings. I know it's wildy popular here at TCF but it doesn't seem to be otherwise. Is there something I'm missing?

The series was canceled due to network mismanagement. They shelved the first episode very late in the process, forcing the producers to basically whip together a replacement episode... oh, and the network said "the first episode moves too slow. There's too much explaining who the characters are and what is going on. We want action." So they had to jam in all sorts of action while also trying to explain all these characters and the backstory of this whole universe. (Oh, yeah: the whole marketing for the show focused on a scene from the now shelved first episode, so viewers who tuned in to see what the marketing was all about were completely confused.)

The network mismanagement continued by preempting episodes, moving the show randomly from timeslot to timeslot, then (the cardinal sin) they decided to show the episodes in a random order, despite a clear progression in storylines being developed throughout the episodes. Lastly, they buried the show in the Friday night death slot, then finally canceled the show when (surprise) people stopped watching.

Boxofficemojo only shows part of the story; through international and home sales, the movie has made a modest profit. Both the movie and the TV show box set continue to this day to sell well. Put this way: Universal wouldn't release a special "Platinum Collectors Edition" DVD years after the movie release if it wasn't selling well at home. (All of this is despite marketing for this movie being virtually impossible: how do you advertise a movie sequel to a "failed" TV show that FOX made deliberately difficult for anyone to hear about?)

Anyway, I don't really want to hijack. I just bring up Firefly as a counterpoint to Jericho. Jericho was shown in proper episode order, on the same night (at least until the hiatus.) The ratings fell through nothing but the series' own accord, as best as I can tell, unlike "Firefly."

LoadStar

04-09-2008, 11:26 AM

After coming back almost 3 months later the ratings average dropped to about 8.5 million viewers going up against American Idol.

Point of clarification: it came back opposite the results show from American Idol, which does get good ratings but isn't the juggernaut that the Tuesday night.

I also do think you need to also take into account the ratings for this season as well, which were (by even cable standards) miserable.

unicorngoddess

04-09-2008, 11:39 AM

LoadStar

04-09-2008, 11:46 AM

I'm okay with the way it ended. I would watch another season if they made one though. But I kind of agree with the confusion about what make's this show so much more deserving.

If only Journeyman could've gotten a second change like Jericho. But even then, I'm okay with the way Journeyman ended too.

Excellent point, and worth repeating: Firefly is just one of many series I can think of that deserve another chance or two. Journeyman is probably the most recent and the one most deserving of another chance.

WhiskeyTango

04-09-2008, 11:51 AM

Point of clarification: it came back opposite the results show from American Idol, which does get good ratings but isn't the juggernaut that the Tuesday night.

AI Ratings Tuesday--29 million viewers
AI Ratings Wednesday--27 million viewers

I also do think you need to also take into account the ratings for this season as well, which were (by even cable standards) miserable.

Example, BSG premiered this season with only about 2 million viewers. The cable show with the highest ratings the week of Jericho's finale was WWE Raw with about 5.3 million, whereas Jericho drew around 6 million.

If you don't like Jericho and you're mad that it's getting more attention than your favorite cancelled show Firefly did, then just say so.

LoadStar

04-09-2008, 12:04 PM

If you don't like Jericho and you're mad that it's getting more attention than your favorite cancelled show Firefly did, then just say so.

Excellent point, and worth repeating: Firefly is just one of many series I can think of that deserve another chance or two. Journeyman is probably the most recent and the one most deserving of another chance.

I have no feelings one way or another about Jericho, by the way.

Cainebj

04-09-2008, 01:39 PM

Point of clarification: it came back opposite the results show from American Idol, which does get good ratings but isn't the juggernaut that the Tuesday night.

I also do think you need to also take into account the ratings for this season as well, which were (by even cable standards) miserable.

I'm not sure about programming where you live, but Jericho in the east coast was on at 10 pm and Idol was on from 8 to 10 and then 8 to 9, so one doesn't have anything to do with the other.

Also cable viewers vs. network - wasn't Jericho getting like at least 6 million a week which is on par with most Cable HITS? Not to mention it was widely reported that it was one of the most watched on CBS.com and on I believe itunes - so there is an audience, just not necessarily on network...

JLucPicard

04-09-2008, 02:27 PM

Just a thought about the comparisons of network ratings to cable ratings, I believe there is a real ratings difference between moving a program from CBS to NBC, for example, than moving a program from CBS to something like SciFi. The 6 million viewers Jericho got on CBS would most certainly not translate to 6 million viewers on SciFi. If there was a "network-to-cable ratings conversion ratio", I don't know what it would be, but it certainly wouldn't be 1-to-1.

hanumang

04-09-2008, 02:46 PM

I'm not sure about programming where you live, but Jericho in the east coast was on at 10 pm and Idol was on from 8 to 10 and then 8 to 9, so one doesn't have anything to do with the other.

The 'return from hiatus' referenced, and the heads-up battle with American Idol, was in the Winter/Spring of 2007. That was in the 2006-2007, not this current (2007-2008), TV season.

timr_42

04-09-2008, 02:47 PM

Excellent point, and worth repeating: Firefly is just one of many series I can think of that deserve another chance or two. Journeyman is probably the most recent and the one most deserving of another chance.

Don't get me wrong, I liked Journeyman and didn't want it to be cancelled. But I don't think it got jerked around like Firefly did. Can you enlighten me as to why it deserved a second chance. Could it be that it just was not liked by most veiwers.

I liked that show, it kinda reminded me of a Quatum Leap type of show which I always tend to like.

WhiskeyTango

04-09-2008, 02:56 PM

I have no feelings one way or another about Jericho, by the way.

Ok, just seemed like you had something against Jericho, maybe I misunderstood.

LoadStar

04-09-2008, 03:02 PM

Ok, just seemed like you had something against Jericho, maybe I misunderstood.

Nope... I just wonder what is so special that there's talk about it getting a third chance, when most shows don't even get a second chance.

JLucPicard

04-09-2008, 04:05 PM

Nope... I just wonder what is so special that there's talk about it getting a third chance, when most shows don't even get a second chance.
It could be simply be the fact that the fan base has been quite loud about this one, even to the point of "saving it" once already.

And I will probably be taken to task on this, but in the back of my mind I can't help but think DirecTVs deal with NBC in bringing Friday Night Lights back when that may have not happened otherwise is something that Comcast would like to cash in on and Jericho seemed like a reasonable choice.

Nah, I really have no idea. :)

WhiskeyTango

04-09-2008, 04:27 PM

It could be simply be the fact that the fan base has been quite loud about this one, even to the point of "saving it" once already.

I actually think this is the reason it's getting so much attention as a show Comcast would consider picking up. If it had died quietly after season 1 or even season 2, we wouldn't be having this discussion. Maybe Comcast believes that the uproar from fans will translate into a guaranteed number of viewers who will follow the show wherever it moves to.

jgickler

04-09-2008, 04:35 PM

Just for the record, I loved Firefly, but Jericho is in no way comparable to Firefly in ratings.

The max national rating that Firefly had was around a 4, going as low as 2.6, with each point being a little over a million viewers. Jericho started at a 12, 3x the viewers of the first firefly episode, and by the end of the run, they were down around a 6. So even the lowest rated episode of Jericho had 50% more viewers then the highest rated episode of Firefly. Also, when the renewal decision was made, Jericho was getting a consistant 8-9 share, as opposed to the steady drop of Firefly from a 4 to a 2.6. Simply looking at the ratings, it is easy to see why the networks treated Firefly differently the Jericho.

cwoody222

04-09-2008, 04:53 PM

The network mismanagement continued by preempting episodes, moving the show randomly from timeslot to timeslot,

Every episode of Firefly ran on a Friday. It didn't bounce around the schedule. (FOX only has two timeslots on Friday - 8pm or 9pm Eastern)

It was never preempted more than 2 weeks in a row (that was around Thanksgiving - totally normal).

It ran from late Sept - late Dec.

Blame other things, but not scheduling, for Firefly's demise.

http://www.epguides.com/firefly/
http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/index.html?year=2002&country=1

Jonathan_S

04-09-2008, 05:34 PM

Every episode of Firefly ran on a Friday. It didn't bounce around the schedule. (FOX only has two timeslots on Friday - 8pm or 9pm Eastern)

It was never preempted more than 2 weeks in a row (that was around Thanksgiving - totally normal).

It ran from late Sept - late Dec.

Blame other things, but not scheduling, for Firefly's demise.

http://www.epguides.com/firefly/
http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/index.html?year=2002&country=1I seem to recall one of the episodes got bumped to 11pm.

And I found a posting (http://archive.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/history/topic/79103-1.html) in the archive section about Fox premepting a friday showing for a game and slotting the show in for that Sunday (and then getting the start time wrong) Based on the post this may have only been a regional issue; but I seem to recall it.

And I one or two of those preempted weeks weren't scheduled in advance. At the end of the show Friday Fox would have a 'coming next week' trailer, if would be in the guide data, and then at some point through the week just disappear.

So my recollection is that the airing weren't quite as neat and organized as epguides.com makes them appear.

Johncv

04-09-2008, 08:03 PM

terpfan1980

04-09-2008, 09:18 PM

I really don't care about Jericho one way or the other, but I could see this as a move made by Comcast to help counter DirecTV's move with FNL (Friday Night Lights), and even potentially as a move to help get programming for a cable channel they own such as G4. G4 would seem to tilt towards a geeky type of viewer anyway, but offering up an interesting alternative reality futuristic war type show there would perhaps offer a lot of opportunities to advertise games like Call of Duty, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six, Medal of Honor, Gears of War or other similar games to viewers of the show. Additionally, of course, airing a program that has a somewhat cult following on the channel would give Comcast more viewers for a channel that many viewers completely ignore, and once you have them watching you can flood those viewers with ads (between scenes/acts in the shows) and pop-over/pop-up/banner type ads for other programs that would perhaps interest the viewers (demographically) of a show like Jericho.

After the fact though, would the number of potential viewers and ad revenue that could be generated be enough to offset the cost of making the show? Would Comcast really want to spend heavily on making the show and then promoting it and the channel it airs on? And finally would any of this really be enough to get viewers to think of switching to Comcast (where necessary) or change their viewing habits enough to find the program on another channel (such as G4)?

Tough call for sure.

dswallow

04-09-2008, 09:37 PM

After the fact though, would the number of potential viewers and ad revenue that could be generated be enough to offset the cost of making the show? Would Comcast really want to spend heavily on making the show and then promoting it and the channel it airs on? And finally would any of this really be enough to get viewers to think of switching to Comcast (where necessary) or change their viewing habits enough to find the program on another channel (such as G4)?
I really would love to see the financial anatomy of a typical one-hour drama from the last couple years. I have a difficult time believing that anyone's lost money on most series by the time you get to international distribution, DVD sales/rentals and syndication runs... that is if you get at least a "season" of shows out of it.

Todd

04-09-2008, 09:52 PM

I guess the part that irks me is that there are other, more popular franchises (say, Firefly) that, if given a savior like a CBS, Comcast, DirecTV or the like, would have significantly more potential than Jericho has, and I don't get why it is Jericho being given second and third chances instead.

Jericho was much better than Firefly.

There, I said it....

;)

BeanMeScot

04-09-2008, 09:57 PM

Jericho was much better than Firefly.

There, I said it....

;)

<cough> BS <cough> :D

gastrof

04-10-2008, 03:07 AM

I read stuff about "Firefly" here all the time...The series was canceled due to low ratings...

The series was cancelled because Fox didn't know what they were doing.

They showed the episodes out of order, totally confusing the viewers and making it hard for a following to build up. (They didn't even show the two hour opener until the END of the show's run.)

They also took it off and put it back on enough so people didn't know if it would be aired or not.

Again, not the way to build up a following.

And yet, the show just EXPLODED in popularity enough where the DVDs sold like hotcakes and the movie company jumped at the chance to let them do a film with the characters.

No, the show didn't get bad ratings. It just wasn't allowed to breathe long enough to get good ones.

Watch FIREFLY in the order it was meant to be seen in, then watch SERENITY, and then wonder what might have been.

gastrof

04-10-2008, 03:11 AM

Jericho was much better than Firefly.

There, I said it....

;)

But did Jake have a neat junkbox spaceship? Huh? Did he? :)

gastrof

04-10-2008, 03:16 AM

Some more info posted on SCI FI Wire....

http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=3&id=51950&type=0

Jericho Seeks Home On Comcast

The New York Times reported that CBS Paramount Network Television has held talks with Comcast, the cable provider, about finding new life for Jericho, citing two people briefed on the talks who requested anonymity.

It's unclear what form a revived Jericho would take or where it would air.

The low-rated post-apocalyptic series ended its short second season in CBS last month without being picked up for a third season.

But executive producer Carol Barbee told SCI FI Wire last month that producers were holding talks with a number of unspecified parties, including cable-television networks, about picking the show up.

(Fans wishing to write SCI FI Channel about picking Jericho up should NOT use the scifiwire@scifi.com e-mail address, but rather should send snail mail here: SCI FI Channel, 21st Floor, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112.)

SciFi is evil.

They were running the first season on a weekly basis, and suddenly pulled it, then scheduling a few evening marathons to cover the next bunch of episodes.

Then, when CBS cancelled the show, suddenly SciFi's schedule changed and the marathons disappeared from their schedule.

Sly Lie Chunnel never even finished running the first season. People are talking about a THIRD season being picked up? Or at least further reruns?

I'll believe it when I see it.

DevdogAZ

04-10-2008, 03:29 AM

I really would love to see the financial anatomy of a typical one-hour drama from the last couple years. I have a difficult time believing that anyone's lost money on most series by the time you get to international distribution, DVD sales/rentals and syndication runs... that is if you get at least a "season" of shows out of it.
I'm sure you are correct that shows that survive for at least a season make money. However, those have to be offset by all the shows that don't make it a full season, or pilots that were paid for but not picked up, etc. Those unrealized development costs drag down the profitable shows.

Also, let's not forget that for the networks, just like any other business, it's not just about making a profit, but it's about maximizing that profit. A network has a finite number of primetime timeslots in which to air programming and make money. Therefore, they have to decide which programs will net them the largest profit. They're not canceling Jericho because it loses money. They're canceling it because they believe that utilizing their resources elsewhere will net them a bigger profit.

cheesesteak

04-10-2008, 08:26 AM

I may be totally wrong, but I assume Jericho was cheaper to produce than Firefly.

dcheesi

04-10-2008, 08:56 AM

For some reason, Jericho has turned my friend into a raving fan-girl, and she's really not the type. I think it's a case where the squeaky wheel gets the grease; the number of fans may not be huge, but many of them are unusually die-hard about it.

Keep in mind that if Fox didn't have a hard rule about burying all its shows (BIHF!), Firefly probably would have popped up on another channel as well. The only difference here is that CBS is willing to negotiate a deal with another network.

WhiskeyTango

04-10-2008, 09:28 AM

SciFi is evil.

They were running the first season on a weekly basis, and suddenly pulled it, then scheduling a few evening marathons to cover the next bunch of episodes.

Then, when CBS cancelled the show, suddenly SciFi's schedule changed and the marathons disappeared from their schedule.

Sly Lie Chunnel never even finished running the first season. People are talking about a THIRD season being picked up? Or at least further reruns?

I'll believe it when I see it.

If you're looking to catch up, they've been showing them on UHD every Friday at 6pm.

visionary

04-10-2008, 12:35 PM

All Comcast would do is turn it into a show about restoring cable-TV to the new countries anyway, they'd be up on poles running cables and talking about shopping on the internet again, it would be one long commercial. Comcast is not even in my area, yet started ads here first of year. Something is up, Ravenwood, or I mean Comcast, is coming to my area soon I fear.

Johncv

04-10-2008, 08:09 PM

This also from Scifi.com for all the Firefly fans who think it unfair that Jericho “MAY” be pick-up for another season.

http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0&id=51933

Blu-ray Firefly Set In Works

Jewel Staite, who played Kaylee on the much-loved Fox SF series Firefly, told conventioneers in Australia that a Blu-ray special edition of the short-lived show is coming soon, according to a report on TV Guide online.

Speaking at the 2008 Supernova Pop Culture Expo in Melbourne, Staite (Stargate Atlantis) said: "I just heard that they're re-releasing Firefly, a special edition of Firefly, in a box set. They actually asked me if I was able to come down to L.A. and do a commentary in the spring. So I think that would be fun."

TV Guide reported that the release she mentioned is indeed on its way to North America and will actually be coming out on Blu-ray high-definition disc. No timetable has been given for the disc's release.

All you Firefly fans will now have a true high-definition version of the show, unlikely to happen to Jericho. Now all you have to do is save your pennies for a PlayStation 3. :rolleyes:

Mike10

04-10-2008, 10:02 PM

Keep in mind that if Fox didn't have a hard rule about burying all its shows (BIHF!), Firefly probably would have popped up on another channel as well.

thats not true they actually kept the sets up for a lot longer then they do with other shows that they have cancelled so that it would be easier for joss whedon and 20th century fox television to try and a find a new home for the show

Bulldog7

04-11-2008, 04:47 AM

Nope... I just wonder what is so special that there's talk about it getting a third chance, when most shows don't even get a second chance.

I would sum it up in 3 words...more vocal fans. I guess the whole 'nuts' phenomenon not only caught the attention of the network but also the press, and the network just caved to the pressure/media coverage. Look, I LIKE Jericho, along with Firefly, Journeyman and a host of others that the networks seem to like, then kill for various reasons....how often does any show get a chance to build an audience anymore, with the rash of networks pulling a show after sometimes even only one airing??? Frankly, I am in favor of almost any show that can stay on the air just by it's fans raising a ruckus. At least it won't be another #$%ing "reality" show, you know?

aintnosin

04-11-2008, 07:22 PM

I'd rather have it gone forever than Comcast being in charge of the show.

I don't think they'd be "in charge" so much as putting up the money and then getting first rights to show each episode. It would be the same people making the show.

Johncv

04-11-2008, 08:02 PM

Another post regarding the Comcast/”Jericho” deal from SySy Portal...

http://www.syfyportal.com/pagetogether.php?id=4927&page=1

Michael Hinman bring up some good points.

Cainebj

04-11-2008, 08:19 PM

They're canceling it because they believe that utilizing their resources elsewhere will net them a bigger profit.

Ya mean with shows like Secret Talents of the Stars? :rolleyes:

I have a difficult time believing that anyone's lost money on most series by the time you get to international distribution, DVD sales/rentals and syndication runs...

not to mention downloads on itunes and Unbox.

dswallow

04-11-2008, 11:28 PM

Another post regarding the Comcast/”Jericho” deal from SySy Portal...

http://www.syfyportal.com/pagetogether.php?id=4927&page=1

Michael Hinman bring up some good points.

He brings up some points that could be looked at in different ways...

Comcast has 24.2 million cable customers. DirecTV has somewhere around 16 or 17 million customers. Dish Network has 13-14 million customers.

Comcast has a larger existing subscriber base to draw upon for viewers.

While DirecTV or Dish Network potentially could poach any Comcast customer (provided they have a suitable location for or access to a dish), Comcast certainly could poach any DirecTV or Dish Network subscriber in their market areas.

I think both services look at these programs more as a value-add for their subscribers than they look upon them as a draw to get people to switch providers. Perhaps when there's a significant enough amount of such content it could be considered a draw.