"Jericho" Fans Go Nuts

Loyal Viewers Of Canceled CBS Drama Dump 18,000 Pounds Of Nuts On Network

(CBS)  By CBS News' Michele Filgate

Jeff Braverman has seen a lot of nuts in his life, but that doesn't stop nutty behavior from surprising and even inspiring him.

Last week, Braverman's family-owned business, NutsOnline, started receiving a lot of attention from fans of "Jericho" after CBS announced its fall lineup — and the drama wasn't on it. "Jericho" is set in a small town in Kansas that's struggling to deal with the aftershocks of witnessing a nuclear attack. CBS executives are now the targets of a different kind of "attack" from the show's loyal viewers.

There was a lot of discussion on online message boards and radio shows, where disgruntled fans banded together with a single idea: Why not send nuts to CBS officials in Los Angeles and New York to protest the cancellation? The idea came from a reference in the final episode to a historic moment during World War II, when U.S. Gen. Anthony McAuliffe said "Nuts" in response to Germans demanding that Americans surrender.

So far, more than 18,000 pounds of nuts, worth $24,000, have been ordered online for the grassroots effort. Braverman's blog on the company's Web site tracks the amount of nuts ordered and money spent. It changes each time you refresh the page.

"This is beyond my wildest imagination," Braverman says, noting that the blog he constantly updates has shown the fans he cares about their cause.

Braverman took it a step further by delivering 1,000 pounds of nuts himself, showing up at the network's New York headquarters in his "nut-mobile" to coincide with an additional delivery of 4,000 pounds of protest nuts.

"Jericho" fan Jeff Knoll helped coordinate with Braverman to get Nuts Online to serve as a distributor. Knoll was one of the originators of the campaign, and his biggest hope is that the network pays attention.

"What we're trying to do in this campaign is prove that the fan base is massive," Knoll says. "The people who are into the show are really, really into the show. We're talking 'Star Trek'-style into the show."

Knoll hopes that CBS will give the show a chance to air at a time other than against "American Idol." He believes that the show could flourish in another time slot.

The Canadian-based fan fell in love with "Jericho" because of the premise. He is intrigued by the idea of emergency management; one of his jobs is working as a town councilor. Knoll also rarely watches television, but says he couldn't help getting hooked on the program.

"I was completely swept away by the story, by the uniqueness of the program, by the intelligence of the program," Knoll says.

CBS officials say they've noticed the efforts by Braverman and the show's fans, but that there are no plans to bring back the show.

"It's been an impressive display of passion from a loyal audience," says senior vice president of communications Chris Ender. "You have to tip your hat to their ability to get attention and make some noise."

Ender says this is the biggest campaign CBS has ever seen using digital means to protest a show cancellation. He estimates more than 30,000 e-mails have been sent to the Audience Services Line.

CBS plans to give the bulk of the peanuts to Staten Island Project Homefront, and is in talks with the Bronx Zoo as well as local food banks and homeless shelters, Ender says.

The president of CBS Entertainment, Nina Tassler, issued a statement last week in which she expresses sympathy towards the fans.

"In the coming weeks, we hope to develop a way to provide a closure to the compelling drama that was the 'Jericho' story," the statement says.

"Jericho" has at least one more fan because of all the attention in recent weeks: Braverman himself anticipates watching episodes online when he gets more time. "I’m very eager to watch this, and I think remarkably because of this effort, so many people are going to get on board and watch this," Braverman says.

[tinalanee]

I really hope that CBS rethinks their position on this show. Jericho is a great show, it is very unique and different then the normal reality shows, medical or police shows. It shows into the human nature side. Please change your mind and bring it back. It is one of the best shows this past season.

Thanks
Tina
Marion, NC

[mcbh1960]

I am extremely disappointed that CBS decided to cancel Jericho! I have never missed an episode. I am not interested in reality shows. I hope that CBS will take another look into this matter and bring Jericho back!!!

[michgia]

Anybody at home? JERICHO IS A GREAT SHOW. IT IS ONE OF THE MOST INTELLIGENTLY WRITTEN AND ACTED SHOWS IN YEARS HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU HAVE TO HEAR THIS. I have been checking out abc news, DON'T ANY OF YOU NETWORK TYPES THINK IT IS STRANGE THAT YOUR FORMER CUSTOMERS ARE TELLING THE COMPETITION HOW BAD YOU ARE. WHAT A MISTAKE YOU HAVE MADE. GOOD THING GEORGE LUCAS DIDN'T HAVE YOU BEHIND HIM THERE WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN
ANY STARS WARS. YOU COULD BE PART OF SOMETHING REALLY BIG

[sundance203]

Myopic. This is the only polite word I can use to describe CBS' choice not to renew Jericho for another season. Had you told me a week ago that I would be sending e-mails, writing letters, and making phone calls to save a television show, I'd say you were crazy, that it sounds like the Save Star Trek campaign from the '60s. That being said, here I am. Honestly, I rarely watch CBS in the first place, because I loathe reality television (Survivor, for instance), and I have found the network's other "dramatic" offerings to be lacking in realism and intelligence. Jericho was a breath of fresh air, and I became an addict. I'm right in the demographic age group you're seeking, CBS. You say that I'm the exact kind of viewer you're most trying to attract and keep the interest of. How can that be so when you choose to kill the only show on your network worth watching? That's not trying to attract viewers, in my opinion, that's repelling them. Please wake up and see that America is smarter and more intelligent then you give us credit for. We want Jericho, not a piece of reality garbage about kids in a ghost town. We want a second season, not a quickie two-hour "movie" that will never be able to wrap up Jericho to the satisfaction of any of it's true fans. Give us what we want and we'll give you what you want: viewership.
This is Why We Fight, and in the immortal words of Jake Green and Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe, "Nuts!" to those that hope or expect us to surrender. Jericho Lives!

[marthasis]

I just exceed the up-to-49 years demographic having just turned 50 this year. My husband (49!) and our 20 and 18-year old children have all enjoyed Jericho although busy schedules mean that we often must watch it through Comcast On Demand - we did not miss a single episode!

We are professionals - both with Ph.D.s and I am a college teacher - we abhor reality TV and would love to see CBS make a bold move here and re-commit to Jericho. Please consider it!!!!

[dreohio99]

CBS please bring back Jericho! I watched most of the episodes online and loved it!

[dreohio99]

CBS please bring back Jericho! I watched most of the episodes online and loved it!

[dreohio99]

CBS please bring back Jericho! I watched most of the episodes online and loved it!

[dreohio99]

CBS please bring back Jericho! I watched most of the episodes online and loved it!

[dreohio99]

CBS please bring back Jericho! I watched most of the episodes online and loved it!

[amyruthy]

Please continue this story for another season atleast. Our whole family watched this together and looked forward to it every week.I have recorded every episode and look forward to it coming out on DVD. Please listen to your viewers.

[regulator67]

I love Jericho! It was the first show I had been excited about in a long, long time. I even got my wife into it. We never missed an episode. I am extremely disappointed that CBS decided to cancel it, especially the way they did! Bring it Back!

[suebeeme]

Why does CBS do stupid things such as this?
Nuts to them!!

[fl4jericho]

First, thank you CBS for bringing us Jericho in the first place. I have family across the country from Florida, to Georgia, to Kansas, to Washington state, we all watched it every week and discussed it throughout the week. Never has a show had such impact on my family.

Needless to say we were shocked and saddened by the cancellation. We are fed up with the reality trash that is taking up the air waves. Lying, stealing, cheating and conniving, are not values that we want our children to learn. The values taught in Jericho, family first, friendship, community are how we want to raise our girls.

Please bring Jericho back for a second season.

Thank you.

[regulator67]

I love Jericho! It was the first show I had been excited about in a long, long time. I even got my wife into it. We never missed an episode. I am extremely disappointed that CBS decided to cancel it, especially the way they did! Bring it Back!

[arysred]

Jericho was CBS best show and one of the best shows on TV. CBS never really gave this show a fair chance. They put a brand new show on hiatus then brought it back against Idol. There are very few if any shows who wouldn't take a ratings hit over this! Jericho was original and addicting. I dvr all my shows and Jericho and Lost are the only two I always watched the same night because I couldn't wait to see what was going on. They are also the only two shows I started watching again immediately after a long hiatus because I couldn't wait for them to return. If CBS is unwilling to give solid shows a chance there is no point in giving any new show on CBS a chance. I won't be watching any of the new fall shows on CBS if CBS won't stand behind Jericho.

[msl67]

Jericho is the best show CBS has had in years. CBS made a smart move in putting Jericho on their 2006-2007 lineup, now it is time for them to make an even SMARTER move and bring this AMAZING show back for SEASON TWO! Long Live Jericho!

[sixcats]

Thanks for doing this story, I want to say I think the cancellation of our show Jericho was cruel and thoughtless. The show has a huge following and we are currently engaged in a grassroots effort to save it, this show is precious and needs to be saved, it has the best cast and writing crew I have ever seen.

[stoltz61]

I will no longer watch any CBS show. Jericho was a good show and the fans were left in limbo. This is a network that doesn't care about what it's viewers want. The head of CBS is nuts!

[jimmyg1963]

Like another writer said: I will wach NO new CBS shows until you bring back "Jericho". You know that you are going to need a mid-season replacement for one of your lame shows that will likely fail anyway. You are already holding one new show to be shown 24-style starting in January. Why not keep a quality show on the air, but give it a better time slot? Get it away from American Idol. I can't believe you would do this. You also cancelled "Close to Home" but I see it is still being shown. Where is the love, CBS? Just because it's not called "CSI:Jericho" it goes away, huh? Do you remember how CBS rescued "JAG" from NBC and how long that show ran? Return the favor and offer "Jericho" to another network. Please keep the show alive. I may stop watching CBS altogether if NCIS, CSI, CSI: Miami, and CSI:NY continue down the road to becoming nothing more than soap operas. I want to see action and suspense, not all of the bed-hopping, and other BS!