Another Nail in the Coffin

It is now apparent that the powers that be at the large television networks have only one thing driving their choices - greed. Of course money is a motivator, we know it. No one would deny that the networks need to make money or their right to do so. What is so immensely crazy is that the decision makers somehow believe that with blatant disregard for the wishes of the viewing audience, there will be no consequences. (It is sad that when Fox was using ’slash and burn’ techniques, the other networks claimed to be holding on to the ideals of integrity, and value of the audience opinion, but time has seen all the networks move to the the Fox model of ‘audience be damned, the bottom line trumps integrity or artistic choice each and every time’.)

The latest in the long line of blows to the health of episodic network television is the fact that, for most, the return of Jericho was something that was at the beginning, a sign of what the power of the pen could do, and as of March 24 a sign that no real consideration was made - it was a simple convenience for the programming ‘droids at CBS.  That is to say that it was probably seen, when the write-in campaign showed a base of support for Jericho, the network had a way to keep a few episodes going to appease the clamoring crowd, and allow for a transition when the writer’s strike was over. It was a money move, and not motivated by anything other than nuisance control.

What is worse, for the network, is that though it might have been possible to know that only a few episodes were made, with no plans for a second season, most people did not know that - and the obfuscation of that fact was furthered by the advertising up until March 24 that the March 25 episode would be the season finale. On March 24, a change in the ad spots on CBS indicated that the last episode would be the series finale.

Worse still, no reworking of the episodes leading to the end was done, that would have cost some money, and the audience was deemed to not be worth it. The episodes that resumed after the strike had a slower pace, with very detailed smaller plots, and no hint that the final episode  had been so designated. The episodes were very strong, and the writing made many think that the series would be back in September with more of this well told cataclysmic saga.

The final episode looked as though it had been cut and pasted from about three possible episodes, and was a disappointment on so many levels.  It was a hurried ending to a strong well-timed tale. Once again, corporate decision makers have overestimated the ability of time to make people forget, and underestimated the ill will generated by trying to fool those who ultimately supply the revenue.

Just one more reason to look elsewhere for entertainment.

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Tags: jericho, episodic television, greed, writer’s strike, disdain for the audience