Jericho returns: maybe, possibly (if CBS and Netflix make nice)

Ever since Netflix moved into the business of producing original content, they have become more and more like a pop culture Santa.

On their latest trip down the TV show-giving chimney, it’s been announced that they’ve been talking to CBS about resurrecting the critically-mourned, but ratings-starved cult favourite Jericho, which followed the residents of a small town in Kansas in the chaotic aftermath of a nuclear attack.

You can read the full report at TV Guide.

While the show has been off air since 2008, its fan have maintained a visible enthusiastic presence online (it’s hardly a surprise they have reminded so motivated since it was their inspired strategy of sending peanuts by the truckload to CBS that got the show a second season*; these people are invested in the show in a big way), and repeats of the show remain popular on Netflix’s on-demand service.

So it makes sense that Netflix would want to revive Jericho. Of course, intent and execution can be two very different animals, and any resuscitation of the show hinges on whether CBS and Netflix can agree on terms that make it financially viable. Any discussions about that could be a long time in the making, and that’s assuming that Netflix and CBS are talking at all.

So far all the only words the two entertainment powerhouses have uttered on the matter are variations on the stock-in-trade “no comment” which, while it usually indicates they are probably talking like excitable school girls about that cute guy they, like, totally want, means that all we have is speculation.

Still, Les Moonves, President of CBS has indicated that they are talking to Netflix about reviving a show, and Netflix is certainly doing more raising from the dead of axed TV shows than Jesus on a busy day, so the odds are good that discussions are under way in some form.

Of course, they can talk till Jericho is in its 100th cycle of re-runs on cable and it will come to nought if Netflix, whose share price has dropped considerably recently, and who is already committed to reviving Arrested Development and producing seasons of House of Cards and Lilyhammer.

And even if Netflix finds the big entertainment conglomerate equivalent of $10 in the back pocket of an old pair of pants, there’s still the small matter of gathering all the writers, producers, and yes, cast back together again, all of whom haven’t exactly been waiting for the phone to ring about bringing back Jericho.

Still a sci-fi nerd can dream, and I am going to believe that this host of obstacles can be overcome, and that Santa Netflix will alight on my roof very soon, and leave me brand new episodes of Jericho glistening with promise at the foot of my bed.

Posted In TV

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