"Jericho" Protected, "King of Queens" Returns
Posted November 8th, 2006 by RD Heldenfels
From CBS today, a couple of things of note. The network is sufficiently happy with "Jericho" that it doesn't want people to burn out on reruns, and the people who keep asking me about "King of Queens" finally have an answer. Here's the skinny from CBS:
JERICHO, CBS's hit freshman drama about the aftermath of a nuclear explosion in a small, peaceful Kansastown, will be broadcast without repeats for the remainder of the 2006-2007 season. The network announced today that it has devised a scheduling pattern to broadcast JERICHO in two distinct seasons.
JERICHO will conclude its "fall season" with a cliffhanger finale on Wednesday, Nov. 29 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) and come back in February with all original episodes for the remainder of the season.
JERICHO will return on February 14th with a recap special looking back at the first 11 episodes, followed by an original episode on February 21st. The all-new episode on February 21st will provide a look into life in Jericho the day before the nuclear bombs exploded.
To sustain audience momentum and update potential new viewers, CBS will create an online destination for JERICHO during the show's 10-week intermission. The site will include original content, interactive elements, recaps and sneak previews. CBS will also continue to stream all episodes of JERICHO broadcast to date on its broadband channel innertube. Currently, JERICHO is the Network's most-streamed program on innertube. …
In a related announcement, Kevin James, Leah Remini and Jerry Stiller return with original episodes of THE KING OF QUEENS in December.
CBS will broadcast back-to-back new episodes of THE KING OF QUEENS on Wednesday, Dec. 6 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) and Wednesday, Dec. 13 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET). New episodes of THE KING OF QUEENS will also be broadcast on Wednesday, Dec. 20 (8:00-8:30 PM, ET/PT) and Wednesday Dec. 27 (8:00-8:30 PM, ET/PT). Seven more episodes of THE KING OF QUEENS to be broadcast in 2007 will be announced at a later date.
CBS will also announce additional programming for the Wednesday (8:00-9:00 PM) time period at a later time.
November 8th, 2006 at 2:52 pm
Ok, you knew you'd hear from me about this announcement, right?
Rich, I'd like to know if you think this is a good move on CBS' part. Personally, I think they are risking the audience they've built thus far. "Jericho" has provided them with solid ratings, the best for this day and time in several years. I'm afraid they're shooting themselves in the foot. I'm disappointed to say the least, but I sure hope I'm wrong.
November 8th, 2006 at 4:18 pm
Hello, Kay. The long-standing wisdom about serialized shows is that they do not repeat well. And viewers' frustration with repeats of "Lost" in particular suggests that going ahead with repeats irritates folks considerably. So we'll see how the "Lost" hiatus works, and how things go with "Jericho." I'm actually a little relieved by this, because I have not had the time to watch "Jericho" every week and this gives me a chance to catch up on shows I missed.
November 8th, 2006 at 7:33 pm
Thanks, Rich. I took a deep breath and calmed down ; ).
You're right–airing repeats would throw people completely off kilter as to the story line.
I'm glad to see CBS will continue to make the previously aired episodes available on-line and keep adding some new things until the show returns in February.
Honestly, tonight's episode seemed to be the first one that wasn't setting the stage/background and we got into the heart of the story.
I hope once you watch the first half of the 'season', you get caught up in it.
Anxious to hear what you think.
November 8th, 2006 at 8:04 pm
I can understand the move, but to replace it with KOQ is a bad move IMHO. This show has hit the wall big time, CBS could and should do better than put this loser back on the air.
November 8th, 2006 at 8:27 pm
Harry, I could not agree more. This show has been getting lamer every season. I am also sick and tired of that A list wanna be Leah Remini and her no talent classless act.
Please CBS give us something new and fresh and not this dried up dribble we get from KOQ.