Sunday, February 24, 2008

Jericho Fans: Not At Fault



I am very aggravated by the articles that are coming out every day that seem to imply that Jericho fans are somehow at fault for the bad ratings. Can't these people read? Do they ever venture out from their blog? Like this comment:

"Well, you Jericho fans out there can’t say CBS didn’t give your show a chance. Networks rarely uncancel a show as it is, but they did it with Jericho after fans got riled up enough to engage in a brilliant resurrection campaign, but apparently all the publicity from that didn’t generate enough viewers, because Jericho’s Season 2 return from the abyss, starting with its first two episodes, netted well below average numbers."

++++++++++++++++++++++
I beg to differ. CBS has never given Jericho a chance. There was the long hiatus, lack of advertising,summer reruns that were constantly being preempted, and affiliates who replaced Jericho with other programs. Many affiliates did not air the episode last Saturday night.

Furthermore, CBS told us to get viewers. Thanks for telling us to get viewers who don't count unless they're Nielsen families. Let me get my list of all those families that we don't know who they are. Thanks for never giving us any marketing help.

Are Jericho numbers below average? Compared to what? All the strike did was chase off viewers and some have never returned. Ratings are down all around us.

Joe says it best when he writes:
"If last season’s “Save Jericho” campaign taught them anything it was that this show has an audience, a damned vocal and clever one at that. Connecting to that audience is CBS’s job. In other words, each Tuesday night all of those hardcore Jericho fans are tuning in (to the tune of about 5 million). CBS needs to grow that audience. Too bad they’re not doing it."




Even Kelly Kahl of CBS says he realizes audiences are down so Jericho's ratings cannot be compared to last year's. What will CBS do now?


" Once the networks are back it remains to be seen whether viewers will be back as well. Expectations of audiences flocking to rare instances of original programming during the months-long strike proved incorrect. This year's Grammy Awards broadcast, after receiving a waiver from the Writers Guild of America, went on as usual in the teeth of the strike but got one of its smallest audiences on record. Likewise, there was much speculation "American Idol" would do its biggest numbers ever, based entirely on the fact there would be so few viewing alternatives. Instead, while far and away the most watched show on television this season, "Idol" is down this year from last.

"The real interesting thing when we get back up is what [viewing] levels are going to be at," Kahl said. "Are viewers going to come back, or will there be a strike hangover here?"



5 comments:

erika said...

strike hangover indeed! Keep it up, Jane.

Sweet Tea said...

Thanks Erika. Have no fear about me keeping on.

terocious said...

Once again it seems like we have multiple factors getting in line to threaten this show. Television viewership does seem to be down after the strike.

Debby said...

This strike has hurt network televsion like the last baseball strike did baseball. It too a long time before the prestrike audience was back and I am not sure it is completely back today. I hope CBS realizes that they have a strong audience in today's market and keeps this show and its devoted fans happy. We have shown we care and that should mean something.
Debby

Sweet Tea said...

Thanks Tero and Debby. Network TV is hurting. I think more changes are coming soon. I just hope they come in time to save Jericho again.