I've talked to a few people who actually work for TV, and they both say that internet campaigns/petitions and radical mail-ins have almost no effect on whether a show gets the axe or not. Essentially, it's because they're too easy: anybody can type their name (or a dozen names, or a hundred) into a text field, and anybody can toss five bucks at a plan to bombard some poor slob with staplers or old Teddy Ruxbins. Both said that real, personally written letters leave the greatest impression. To quote one of them "Knowing I have 2,000 unique viewers out there is more important than 20,000 names on a website."
I've talked to a few people who actually work for TV, and they both say that internet campaigns/petitions and radical mail-ins have almost no effect on whether a show gets the axe or not.
Same thing with comics too. Typically, when a book gets cancelled - it stays cancelled. Though - there are sometimes a few exceptions to the rule - (e.g. Spider-Girl, Manhunter)
Apparently it worked: http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20070606cbs01
JERICHO PICKED UP FOR MIDSEASON -- A LETTER FROM NINA TASSLER TO "JERICHO" FANS
To the Fans of Jericho:
Wow!
Over the past few weeks you have put forth an impressive and probably unprecedented display of passion in support of a prime time television series. You got our attention; your emails and collective voice have been heard.
As a result, CBS has ordered seven episodes of "Jericho" for mid-season next year. In success, there is the potential for more. But, for there to be more "Jericho," we will need more viewers.
A loyal and passionate community has clearly formed around the show. But that community needs to grow. It needs to grow on the CBS Television Network, as well as on the many digital platforms where we make the show available.
We will count on you to rally around the show, to recruit new viewers with the same grass-roots energy, intensity and volume you have displayed in recent weeks.
At this time, I cannot tell you the specific date or time period that "Jericho" will return to our schedule. However, in the interim, we are working on several initiatives to help introduce the show to new audiences. This includes re-broadcasting "Jericho" on CBS this summer, streaming episodes and clips from these episodes across the CBS Audience Network (online), releasing the first season DVD on September 25 and continuing the story of Jericho in the digital world until the new episodes return. We will let you know specifics when we have them so you can pass them on.
On behalf of everyone at CBS, thank you for expressing your support of "Jericho" in such an extraordinary manner. Your protest was creative, sustained and very thoughtful and respectful in tone. You made a difference.
Sincerely,
Nina Tassler
President, CBS Entertainment
P.S. Please stop sending us nuts
Okay ... I guess I'm going to see if I can give the show a try. My interest is piqued.
Dude, whatever the opposite of piqued is? Do that. At first it was sorta fun in a trainwreck way, and then even that died out. Not completely bad, per say, just utterly dull. It regularly forgets that it's supposed to be a post-apocalyptic thing and tries to be, like, five other things instead. Meh.
I've talked to a few people who actually work for TV, and they both say that internet campaigns/petitions and radical mail-ins have almost no effect on whether a show gets the axe or not. Essentially, it's because they're too easy: anybody can type their name (or a dozen names, or a hundred) into a text field, and anybody can toss five bucks at a plan to bombard some poor slob with staplers or old Teddy Ruxbins. Both said that real, personally written letters leave the greatest impression. To quote one of them "Knowing I have 2,000 unique viewers out there is more important than 20,000 names on a website."
ReplyDeleteI've talked to a few people who actually work for TV, and they both say that internet campaigns/petitions and radical mail-ins have almost no effect on whether a show gets the axe or not.
ReplyDeleteSame thing with comics too. Typically, when a book gets cancelled - it stays cancelled. Though - there are sometimes a few exceptions to the rule - (e.g. Spider-Girl, Manhunter)
Apparently it worked:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20070606cbs01
JERICHO PICKED UP FOR MIDSEASON -- A LETTER FROM NINA TASSLER TO "JERICHO" FANS
To the Fans of Jericho:
Wow!
Over the past few weeks you have put forth an impressive and probably unprecedented display of passion in support of a prime time television series. You got our attention; your emails and collective voice have been heard.
As a result, CBS has ordered seven episodes of "Jericho" for mid-season next year. In success, there is the potential for more. But, for there to be more "Jericho," we will need more viewers.
A loyal and passionate community has clearly formed around the show. But that community needs to grow. It needs to grow on the CBS Television Network, as well as on the many digital platforms where we make the show available.
We will count on you to rally around the show, to recruit new viewers with the same grass-roots energy, intensity and volume you have displayed in recent weeks.
At this time, I cannot tell you the specific date or time period that "Jericho" will return to our schedule. However, in the interim, we are working on several initiatives to help introduce the show to new audiences. This includes re-broadcasting "Jericho" on CBS this summer, streaming episodes and clips from these episodes across the CBS Audience Network (online), releasing the first season DVD on September 25 and continuing the story of Jericho in the digital world until the new episodes return. We will let you know specifics when we have them so you can pass them on.
On behalf of everyone at CBS, thank you for expressing your support of "Jericho" in such an extraordinary manner. Your protest was creative, sustained and very thoughtful and respectful in tone. You made a difference.
Sincerely,
Nina Tassler
President, CBS Entertainment
P.S. Please stop sending us nuts
Okay ... I guess I'm going to see if I can give the show a try. My interest is piqued.
Dude, whatever the opposite of piqued is? Do that. At first it was sorta fun in a trainwreck way, and then even that died out. Not completely bad, per say, just utterly dull. It regularly forgets that it's supposed to be a post-apocalyptic thing and tries to be, like, five other things instead. Meh.
ReplyDeleteMars bars, duh. Didn't work, obviously.
ReplyDelete