Comments about ‘TV is a business — I told you so’

Most scripted dramas that have a prominent arc don't work on major networks anymore, but unless they're insanely expensive to make, there is really no reason why a cabler shouldn't pick them up. CBS may still depend on advertising, but smaller networks, ones that get about the same amount of money from subscriptions as they do from ads, can thankfully still afford serialized dramas, especially ones that get them more viewers.

I don't really understand how you can be so sure that Jericho has no future. If the producers are saying the show will go on, if the cast is helping the fans out with various campaigns, if those campaigns only keep getting bigger, where do you come up with all this confidence?

I will be expecting a full page apology after Jericho Season 3 returns ! Instead of CHOOSING to write a "no hope" story,you could have focused on the massive,massive campaign to help bring Jericho back.....THE BILLBOARD ! THE COMMERCIAL ! The massive fanbase from all over the world who have come together to save this show once again.Did you mention once the Neilson Ratings system,and how you cannot rely on accurate ratings with fans being able to download there fav shows if they cannot watch it in its timeslot.
I'll be back to your site when Jericho Season 3 comes back and you have posted an apology.

Dear Sir I respectivley disagree with you. The producers themselves are working on a plan to the the opposite of your statement. Perhaps your not informed feel free to visit the ''Jericho'' site. Our fan base is strong intelligent and persistent and like true Rangers we will get the job done. Thank You

its not dead read this!

Jon Turteltaub here and I have to tell you... Wow! I am beyond impressed with both the enthusiasm and the talent that went into the commercial you made. It's brilliant!

People say we work in a cynical business, but I can tell you that none of us on "Jericho" feel anything less than grateful and encouraged by your support, effort and passion.

We're still fighting.... and knowing you're all out there, fighting right along with us, has completely kept this fight alive.

In my career, I have never experienced anything like this. Sometimes, the quantity of fans, viewers and theater goers is only visible in ratings and box-office numbers. But on "Jericho", you are all very real and very special to us.

Thanks for being there... and for giving us the belief in our show, and in you, even when times are tough.

We're not done yet!!

Jon Turteltaub


thats a post from one of the producers,
get your facts right

"I'm tempted to write, "So just get over it," but I won't. Because I know that wouldn't go over well with the fans"

???

He is tempted, he writes it and then he pretends he didn't but we are the ones who are delusional.

I have to agree with the others that commented on your article. It was very one sided and very negative. I also feel that there is a chance for season 3 on another network, of course not one of the big three (CBS,NBC,ABC). Skeetilicious and Hawkins4prez, both made some good points, that I most defintely agree with. I will be one of those people that comes back for an apology when Jericho returns to television. It is obviously easier for you to write an artile filled with negative comments, versus going out there and researching some of the positive things going on with Jericho. All I have to say is "Solider on Rangers" and don't give up.

I did forget one more thing....thank you for writing about Jericho. Any mention by the press keeps our cause in the news, so thank you for that even I don't agree with the article.

Hi Scott, I appreciate your column on Jericho but respectively disagree with you about it not returning. Jon Turteltaub and Carol Barbee have told us enough to know there is a very good chance of Jericho Season 3, just not on CBS. They have encouraged us to keep up the good fight and we are!

Thanks again and have a great weekend Scott.

Dave

Sir, As people before me and after me will state, The producers of Jericho are still working to get the show back. You act as if Jericho has no chance of being picked up. Well if it doesn't have a chance then WHY are tv stations listening, because there is a chance you are just to ignorant to see it. I'm sorry, but you are a hypocrite and I hope that when Jericho does return that your hypocrite ways will allow you to write an apology to the fans of Jericho.

The fans themselves have raised money for a billboard, for a commercial, and the 4 people working on fan films to support Jericho (myself included in the fan films)

I hope to see you soon for that apology
Sincerely
Outlaw2448

As you probably know already, the efforts to save Jericho are continuing with the support of the Jericho producers. It won't be back on CBS, and that's fine! But, it will be back and better than ever, you'll see!

Gosh, I sure am glad you didn't say I told you so because when Jericho DOES get revived I wouldn't want to stoop to your level to say "I told you so". Research before writing an article really does help keep your foot out of your mouth but I promise not to return and say "I told you so".

Um, it is a television show. Don't get me wrong--I like TV as much as the next guy (and sometimes more). And I have had shows that I loved, that I was even passionate about. But still--it is just a show. Will the world come to an end if there is no third season? And, dare I say it: Aren't there better things all of you fans can do with your time and money than desperately try to resurrect a canceled television show?

If - as Skeet claims - there were a true "massive fanbase" the show wouldn't have gotten cancelled in the first place. Deal with it. Not enough people watched your show to keep it on the air.

Dear Just Me: there is indeed a massive fanbase for Jericho. Yet, there is no accurate measure of viewership, anymore, given the outdated, inaccurate Nielsen ratings system that still uses a formula that doesn't take into account changing lifestyles and new forms of media. Not enough people watched? I contend not enough people were COUNTED.

Another View, please be aware Jericho fans have raised money for victims of weather catastrophes and for military men and women currently serving in the armed forces. There have been many other philanthropic efforts of varying scales acted upon by Jericho fans. They open their wallets for not only the show, but also for people who have specific unmet needs.

Finally, Scott, while I appreciate your viewpoint, I respectfully disagree. I think all of us Jericho fans realize that any further relationship with CBS is history. However, there are possibilities elsewhere and other venues that would relish the viewer numbers garnered by Jericho and the passionate fanbase that accompanies them. I hope that one day I can tell you "I told you so," but if not, I will still feel like my time on behalf of Jericho has been well-spent. Thank you for the coverage.

Ya know...people insisted the world was flat for a long time too. TV is changing. Right now, for the worse, and people are getting restless. Jericho is a show that epitomizes what "can do" well...can do. It certainly isn't going to change if no one says anything. So, I'm tempted to say to you, regarding the idea that this can't happen, "Get over it" but I won't because you won't like it.

My name was lost in the earlier comment to Another View, Just me, and Scott. Thank you for the opportunity to respond.

You have to be the naysayer because of the line of work you are in. If you were to jump on our bandwagon, you would be laughed at by all your colleagues. We don't care what everyone says, we are doing what we feel is needed to try to bring back some quality TV programming among a sea of tripe call "reality shows". There are millions of us out here who will follow the show to a new network. Our sincere belief that a quality drama can survive is witnessed by our ads in Variety, Hollywood Reporter, the billboard and now the TV ad. We are paying for these with our hard earned money and any network should be glad to have such a loyal fan base as viewers. We'll see who has the last laugh.

I think that the television studios need to open their eyes and get with the times. The world is changing and people watch television shows when they want on the venue of their choice, I personally never watch a show live even if I have to wait 15 minutes to start watching it on my dvr so I can skip commercials. Another problem that nobody talks about is the fact that the studio never wanted to keep the show in the first place, they waited way to long to start the second season, they only shot 7 episodes, and they put it in crappy time slots, you think they didn't do this on purpose? personaly I will never watch any new shows that cbs has to offer, and once the few shows I like are gone I'm done with cbs all together.

I am so glad you did not write "So get over it" as you were tempted. Who knows what would happen if you did. Our fight is more than to save a television show. It is to take a stand against cheap and poor quality television shows. If we do not fight we will not win. So far the word from the Jericho producers have been very promising. The word of our failure is greatly exaggerated.

Herein lies the true root cause of this dilemma:

"Not only did ratings not improve, they declined."

CBS lives by ratings - as in Nielsen ratings. Nielsen has been plagued with errors an inaccuracies for ten years or more. This year marks Nielsen's second season of being denied accreditation by the MRC. Major advertising agencies, such as Starcom, are already signing on with alternative ratings systems such as TNS/DirecTV's joint venture, DirecTView. DirecTView holds a sample size of 100,000 - ten times the number of Nielsen People Meters. Still, Nielsen does provide a lagging metric, and eventually will catch up with the pulse of television viewing habits. When that happens, don't be surprised to see CBS fighting for fourth place in the Nielsens. And don't be surprised that the ratings drop will be blamed on new programs that have not been given a chance to build an audience.