News about 'Jericho' is good ... and bad

Isn't it great that CBS listened to the fans and uncanceled "Jericho"?

Yes!

And no.

Yes, it's fantastic that a well-organized campaign by impassioned fans of a low-rated television show has had such an impact. Far too often, networks seem to ignore the very people they're trying to attract.

But ... this will ramp up the save-our-show efforts for every series that gets canceled. And, make no mistake about it, in this Age of the Internet every single show has passionate fans who try to organize to reverse cancellations.

And not every show deserves to be saved.

There's also a whole lot more riding on this than simply the effort to make a hit out of a show whose ratings went from pretty good to, well, lousy. In announcing the seven-episode, midseason order for "Jericho," CBS executives also issued a challenge to the show's fans. If the fans can't help bring a whole lot more viewers to "Jericho," those seven episodes will be the last. For good.

And future efforts to revive other series will be made more difficult if "Jericho" doesn't succeed. Execs at all the networks will point to this show and say, "Look, it doesn't work."

The problem is that while "Jericho" has a small but passionate cadre of fans, it's far from certain that the series — about life in a small Kansas town after America suffers nuclear terrorism — can widen its audience. Personally, I was intrigued by the concept but lost interest before the first half of the season ended.

On my list of shows that deserved another season, I'd have put "Jericho" after "Andy Barker, P.I.," "The Class," "Drive," "Justice," "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" and "Veronica Mars."

For the sake of "Jericho" fans, it would be great to see the show turn into a hit. Certainly CBS would like nothing more.

But it's a really, really iffy proposition with a downside that goes far beyond just "Jericho."

"BOSTON LEGAL" is retooling for its fourth season — adding one blast from its past (sort of) and reportedly dropping about half the present cast.

ABC announced that John Larroquette is coming aboard as a senior partner from the law firm's New York office who transfers to Boston. Larroquette won an Emmy for his role as a brilliant, insane murderer on "Boston Legal's" predecessor, "The Practice."

The show is also adding Tara Summers as a young associate, and Christian Clemenson — who won an Emmy for his role as Jerry Espenson — will be a regular next season.

Reportedly, Julie Bowen, Rene Auberjonois, Constance Zimmer and Mark Valley — the only original cast members other than James Spader and William Shatner — are all being written out of the show.

In the case of Bowen, Auberjonois and Valley, their characters did seem played out. But it's a bit surprising that Zimmer is going, too.

• CBS will air repeats of "Jericho" on Fridays at 8 p.m. beginning July 6.

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E-mail: pierce@desnews.com