Jericho - anyone still watching?

[Mistwell]

It might be renewed, and might not. The latest (some broad, vague spoilers about the next season, though nothing you wouldn't already know if you were watching the show):

http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=11723

 

[Mistwell]

I am curious - anyone decide they liked the show after earlier skepticism?

 

[LightPhoenix]

I don't think Jericho is in a bad timeslot.

The two ABC sitcoms are waning (sorry, Senor Lopez and Mr. Belushi).

You have to be kidding about any MyNetworkTV's programming.

CW has Top Model. Again, you must be kidding.

The only competition is FOX's Bones and NBC's Friday Night Lights. (I got bad reception from FOX's local TV station, and not a fan of high school football as a TV series.)

I didn't mention MyTV or WB or CW, none of which I consider credible threats to any network timeslot. I did, however, mention Bones and FNL. This week, Jericho came in third, behind Bones and a repeat of Dateline (link ). That's not even covering the threat American Idol will pose once they start having longer results shows.

However, just to make sure I wasn't making anything up, I did go and check ratings for the week before, and apparently FNL isn't doing very well. That was a surprise to me - I thought Jericho and FNL were roughly even in the ratings. As it turns out, Jericho is, on average a good 1.5 to 2 points ahead of FNL in ratings. I'm surprised, because between the two shows, FNL has gotten by far more critical praise.

 

[Ranger REG]

However, just to make sure I wasn't making anything up, I did go and check ratings for the week before, and apparently FNL isn't doing very well. That was a surprise to me - I thought Jericho and FNL were roughly even in the ratings. As it turns out, Jericho is, on average a good 1.5 to 2 points ahead of FNL in ratings. I'm surprised, because between the two shows, FNL has gotten by far more critical praise.

That's because the critics are not genre fans.

 

[LightPhoenix]

That's because the critics are not genre fans.

Doesn't matter if they are or not... critical review goes a long way towards determining word of mouth, which thusly determines ratings. That's why, as a general rule, genre shows do not do as well as more mainstream stuff - especially on network television.

That said, I don't want it to seem like I'm attacking Jericho. All of the word of mouth I've heard says that Jericho has gotten a lot better than when I first watched it, and since I'm not a watcher, I'm inclined to agree with that assessment. There's also the recent CBS push to advertise - and I don't watch TV much, and I've noticed it, so there's definitely a push. There's also, and this is not to be discounted, CBS's image as the "old folks' network" where Jericho pulls in decent 18-35 ratings. All of this convinces me that despite a poor timeslot, despite being "on the bubble," it will get renewed. I wish it well... genre shows are not easy to come by. That despite the runaway success of Lost, BSG, and this season, Heroes.

What I did say is that Jericho isn't in a good timeslot, and I stand by that. Genre shows support each other across networks... Lost moving to 10pm weakened the timeslot. Going against American Idol, later in the season when they're not playing Bones, which is a good two points higher... that's weak. Losing to a repeat of Dateline... that's weak. Like I said above, FNL isn't doing as well as either of us thought, apparently, so that's a plus. Even so, I still think Jericho would do a lot better in a different time slot... and I'm not talking a move to Friday or Saturday here, I'm talking about moving the most watched show in the world to capitalize on an overall weakness in the Monday schedule (one of the most watched nights on TV) that even NBC, which is dominating Monday nights, can't seem to get a winner in. A strategy that would capitalize on the propensity for genre shows to support each other, across networks... and not only that, but to cash in on the audience of the most watched new show this year.

All that said, if there's a reason other than personal preference that you disagree, I would be happy to hear it... as I'm sure you know, I'm wrong as often as I am right, and television is a fickle beast. It's all a moot point anyway, since I'm not a television executive, and neither is anyone else that posts here. Unfortunate, that.

 

[Ranger REG]

Doesn't matter if they are or not... critical review goes a long way towards determining word of mouth, which thusly determines ratings. That's why, as a general rule, genre shows do not do as well as more mainstream stuff - especially on network television.

Just like in high school. *double-flips critics off*

 

[Arnwyn]

I am curious - anyone decide they liked the show after earlier skepticism?

I certainly like it more than I did at the beginning - but that's because the show has improved, IMO.

It's still a shadow of the far superior Heroes, though.

 

[Ranger REG]

It's still a shadow of the far superior Heroes, though.

I'm just glad they're not head-to-head against HEROES.

They could give LOST a run for the money on Wednesday nights, though.

 

[LoneWolf23]

He seems to go to great lengths to prove it this episode. He complaining about not having enough supplies to last through the winter and kicking the last to arrive to Jericho out to fend for themselves. Yet gives half of their supplies to the marines without considering or asking the other townsfolk.

And yet it's obvious that the "Doers" of Jericho still consider former Mayor Green's input to be much better then Gray's decisions.

 

[Ranger REG]

And yet it's obvious that the "Doers" of Jericho still consider former Mayor Green's input to be much better then Gray's decisions.

Makes you wonder who are Gray's minions? I'm hoping for a "civil war" been the Green and the Gray.