CBS Ends "Jericho" In New Schedule

(AP)  CBS canceled the nuclear apocalypse drama "Jericho" on Wednesday, another sign that television networks are shying away from serial dramas after overloading on them last season.

The network unveiled a fall schedule with five new shows, three of them dramas.

"Jericho" started out strong last fall for CBS. However, like "Lost" on ABC and "Heroes" on NBC, many viewers abandoned the show after it went on a long midseason hiatus.

"We lost a lot of steam," said Kelly Kahl, CBS' chief scheduling executive. "I know we had loyal viewers ... but the show sort of lost its engine and wasn't performing."

CBS' only new show that is heavily serialized, "Swingtown," will start in midseason and run uninterrupted until the end of the season. The series is set in the shag-carpeted 1970s, with Chicago-area couples navigating the sexual freedom of the era.

To counter its stodgy image, CBS has scheduled a handful of edgy new shows for the fall: a drama about a vampire, a musical and a drama about a Cuban-American family running a sugar business in Florida.

"For those of you who accuse CBS of being too conservative, you will feel differently when you see the shows we have lined up," said Leslie Moonves, chairman of CBS Corp.

A new reality show, "Kid Nation," will take 40 children and set them up in an abandoned New Mexico town. Cameras will follow them as they try to set up their own society without adult supervision.

Veteran actor Jimmy Smits is the patriarch in "Cane," about the family sugar business. "Moonlight," about a vampire in modern society, is another one of a handful of high-concept ideas networks are trying out next year.

Hugh Jackman is producing "Viva Laughlin," an adaptation of the BBC show "Viva Blackpool," about a shady businessman. Music plays a central part in driving the series along.

The Monday comedy "The Big Bang Theory" seems like a sitcom version of "Beauty and the Geek," with two brainy guys flustered by a sexy new neighbor.

CBS canceled the comedies "The Class" and "Close to Home." The comedy "The New Adventures of Old Christine" was left off the fall schedule but will be used at midseason.

[judist63]

I am so in agreement with all the above mentioned posts. My advice to CBS is rethink your decision and continue wonderful programming before its too late. Any other response is suicidal for CBS since they will lose soo many "numbers" of viewers that they are soo fond of.(numbers,that is) I am currently blocking CBS with my tv parental control so noone in my home can watch anything on this channel. Until they hear our cries, this will continue along with the emails and phone calls and nuts will arrive at CBS corporate until they hear us!! Listen up and take notice!! or be banned forever!

[mslh4565]

For a network that benefited tremendously from a show NBC cancelled and CBS picked up (JAG), I'm shocked and dismayed you would have the very short-sighted view and confidence in Jericho. By far, it was the most original show to come on t.v. in years. It was a show my husband and I watched together faithfully each week, and talked about quite a bit. The plots actually made you use your brain - there's not much on t.v. nowadays where you need to do that! Please reconsider your decision - many of your viewers though conservative?? are also in a very valuable demographic who will start searching for smart programming on cable or other networks.
Your daytime soaps are the best on television - why don't you make sure your night time lineup is the same? Please bring back Jericho!

[lynfred1]

YOU HAVE A GREAT SHOW IN JERICHO; BUT YOU AXED IT. YOU NEED TO LOOK AT YOUR PROGRAMING DIRECTOR. I LOVE THE SHOW AND THINK YOUR ACTIONS STINKS. TEXAS

[jdec123]

What is with you guys? Getting rid of Jericho. Now you want people to tune in and watch your new shows next season. Right. I don't think so. You have just lost a couple of viewers. Way to go! You knew before you showed the Season Finale, so why did you bother to show it? You don't think much of your viewers.
Please reconsider and prove you really care!!

[donna1837]

I'M SHOCK THAT YOU COULD DO THIS NOT JERHICO!!!!!!!!! I was so stunned by this I actually post my original comment on a different BLOG!!!!!!!!! What are you doing this for no season finale or nothing ths is so WRONG!!!!! There is enough soap operas, reality shows(survivor, great american race) and other so-called sitcom that are suppose to be funny(which aren't)already on during the day and night already. Have the three biggest TV networks have turned it to one big reality soap opera!!!!! Bring back the old days when TV was suppose to be entertaining and let us go back to when TV shows resemble what could happen in real life. People get tire of watching a show where the winners are already predetermined from the beginnig of the show. Or was it because this show was to close to resembling what could happen in this country if something like that were to ever happen in our life time? CBS you should be a shamed for doing this to your viewers. Maybe I should cancel my subscription with the satellite company because there sure isn't going to be anything worth watching now. I can see the news on the computer or on MSNBC, the local news I can read a paper.

[cbutterflyc6]

I completly agree with the last comment. It was the only show my husband and I watched on CBS and can not believe there is no ending. The past few years networks have been starting shows, getting us intrested, go on far too long of a hiatis, blame the viewers for not coming back, then cancel it with no ending. This is the fourth show in two years that we have watched to do this and we are tired of it. I'm afraid it is time to turn off the TV and start reading books that I know at least have an ending. CBS I am very dissapointed in you.

[cajungreek1]

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! This is the ONLY thing I watch on CBS! They can't leave us hanging like that! At least they could have 1 more series & wrap things up! I hope SciFi Channel picks up the show!

[janiegirl22]

Please bring back Jericho! My husband and I love it. I am a TVaholic, but he is not and this is one show he loved. He can't believe he found a show he liked and you had the nerve to cancel it without at least giving us a Series Finale. Please have a heart for your loyal fans.

[niffer82402]

Please everyone, we have to band together if we hope to save this show. CBS has to realize that we are not just casual viewers, we are passionate fans of Jericho. Visit http://www.jericholives.com ! Call, write, and sign the petition! There are currently over 31,000 signatures, but this is not nearly enough! Tell all your friends and join the campaign to save the show!

[linemech]

Thanks for nothing CBS. Jericho was my favorite show. My family and I will now be boycotting your network from here on out. I wacthed Jericho like clockwork every wednesday night. I also did so with several other shows as well now they're going to suffer due to poor decision making by the cbs execs. If I read the numbers correctly 10 million people tuned in for the finale and another 20 or so million tivo or dvr'd it. So you mean to tell me that 30 million people is not enough of a fan base? What are you people thinking?????? Well I guess I will get more done around the house now, since I won't be watching television anylonger during primetime nor will I be watching CBS period unless there is a return of Jericho.