Ah, Nuts! Jericho canceled again

Sorry, Jericho fans. But CBS has canceled your show, again, due to low ratings.

This Tuesday, March 25, will be the final episode, according to CBS entertainment boss Nina Tassler.

Despite an incredible fan campaign last year that sent more than 20 tons of peanuts (8 million nuts) to the network and brought the show back from initial cancellation, this time, it seems the cancellation is final. (The nuts campaign was based on a line from the show, where a character remarked “Nuts!” in what was going to be the final episode last year.)

Here’s the official statement from Tassler:

"Without question, there are passionate viewers watching this program; we simply wish there were more. We thank an engaged and spirited fan base for keeping the show alive this long, and an outstanding team of producers, cast and crew that went through creative hoops to deliver a compelling, high-quality second season.... We're proud of everyone's efforts."

The bottom line is that Jericho did not deliver the ratings CBS had hoped this season, after its heroic return.

Fans of the show, I empathize with your loss, but you should take some solace in the fact that your fan campaign last year gave you a satisfactory ending to your show. The poor fans of Las Vegas on NBC (including me,) on the other hand, aren’t even getting that.

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The Office and Jericho fan conventions

Get out your Dwight Schrute glasses and your Jericho nuts. The fans of two popular shows are planning conventions.

The Office convention is scheduled for Oct. 26,27,28 in Scranton, Pa. All of the stars have been invited, but none have announced yet if they’ll attend, according to the convention Web site.

Meanwhile, Jericho fans are planning their event for Sept. 14,15,16 in Oakley, Kansas.

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Jericho returns to CBS

I just received a press release from CBS that’s going to make Jericho fans do the happy dance.

Jericho is returning to CBS July 6 at 9 p.m. ET. with a rebroadcast of the pilot episode. Then, each Friday at 9 p.m. ET for the remainder of the summer, the network will rebroadcast episodes from the first season.

CBS brought back the show, after its initial cancellation as a result of an impassioned fan campaign that sent tons of nuts to the network.

For those of you not familiar with the show, Jericho is a drama about how residents of a small, peaceful, Kansas town band together in the wake of a nuclear explosion.

On July 13, a special “Return to Jericho” at 8 p.m. ET will recap the first 11 episodes. Then at 9 p.m. ET, episode 12, which launched Jericho’s spring return, will air.

The remaining summer broadcasts will consist of episodes 13–22, in which tensions continue to escalate between Jericho and the neighboring town of New Bern as they battle the Kansas winter, dwindling resource, and the uncertainty of a new world. The citizens of Jericho must then find a way to unite against these hardships, working together to preserve their community and their way of life as they prepare for an all out battle for survival in the season finale.

Hmm…sounds just like the plight of the Jericho fans trying to save their show. Well, done, folks. Well done!

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Jericho fans inspire Veronica Mars fans to send chocolate to the CW

CW network executives, I hope you like chocolate.

Plenty of it is coming your way soon, as part of a fan campaign to save Veronica Mars.

Taking a page from the Jericho fans' strategy book, Mars fans are resorting to food as the latest treat to sway the minds of CW network honchos. (Last year, they launched a skywriting plane to fly over the network offices in California.) The food idea worked for Jericho fans recently, so the Mars mission is to achieve the same goal.

The fans of Jericho went “nuts,” literally, after CBS cancelled the show and bombarded the network with tens of thousands of pounds of nuts. The stunt worked, and CBS announced earlier this week that the show would return for at least seven more episodes, possibly more.

Now, fans of Veronica Mars are hoping their food campaign will do the same. Fans of the show are sending chocolate Mars bars to the CW, to try and convince the network to give the show another chance. The campaign motto is: "Veronica Mars: More Addictive Than Chocolate! Satisfy our craving for Season 3!"

I pray this campaign works. Now, I’m off to buy my Mars bar. Please do the same, won’t you?

You can buy online, if they don’t sell Mars bars where you live anymore. (The U.S. version of the Mars bar is now called Snickers Almond.)

For more information on the campaign, how to get free shipping, and where to mail your chocolate, please visit this site: http://www.saveveronicamars.tv/

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CBS revives Jericho, asks fans to stop sending nuts

Jericho fans, you win!

After sending tens-of-thousands-of-pounds of nuts (as a nod to the “nuts” line on the show) to CBS executives in protest of Jericho’s cancellation, CBS has agreed to bring the show back for at least seven more episodes, possibly more.

I’m so thrilled for the fans of this show. Fan campaigns like this rarely work. (R.I.P. Invasion, Everwood and Veronica Mars.) But, you guys did it. You made a difference!

Here is the official word from CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler to fans:

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

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Jericho fans speak out on show’s cancellation

Photo: Jericho, CBS

Jericho fans, I’ll give you this: You’re a committed, passionate bunch when it comes to trying to save your show.

I had no idea that the CBS show Jericho had so many fans, and I’m not sure CBS did either.

After the show was cancelled last week, my inbox has been flooded with e-mails from passionate fans begging the network to give it another chance. The fans even set a Tube Talk record for the number of comments left on a single blog post and the number of visitors to this site in a single day. I can only imagine the onslaught of mail CBS has been receiving.

In a shocking move that shows perhaps that networks do take fan reaction into consideration, the network executives are meeting this week to discuss how CBS can let fans know how the Jericho story would have ended, according to the L.A. Times.

That’s a decent thing to do, and CBS gets points from me for doing this. But, honestly, it’s a win for the network and for the fans to give closure, because how many more times will fans commit to a serialized drama, when networks drop them so quickly, mid-story? If networks want great ratings, then they should give viewers some assurances that the shows they fall in love with won’t stop mid-storyline. (I’m still ticked that we’ll never know what happened on Invasion.)

On the official CBS Jericho Web page, Nina Tassler, president of CBS Entertainment, told fans that the network hopes to somehow provide closure for the series. Tassler wrote this message for fans:

"We have read your emails over the past few days and have been touched by the depth and passion with which you have expressed your disappointment. Please know that canceling a television series is a very difficult decision. Hundreds of people at the Network, the production company and the incredibly-talented creative team worked very hard to build and serve the community for this show — both on-air and online. It is a show we loved too. Thank you for supporting Jericho with such passion. We truly appreciate the commitment you made to the series and we are humbled by your disappointment. In the coming weeks, we hope to develop a way to provide closure to the compelling drama that was the Jericho story."

Actors from the show have also posted messages on the CBS board about the cancellation.

Although I never got on the Jericho bandwagon, I certainly believe in helping out fans when their favorite shows get kicked to the curb. I’ve been there myself with Veronica Mars, Invasion, etc. I don’t think the Jericho fans will be investing in a sky-writing campaign (R.I.P. Veronica) or a ferris wheel gimmick to save the show (R.I.P. Everwood,) but they’ve set up several Web sites and petitions and have embarked on a nuts campaign that is taking the nation by storm. Check out the links below.

http://www.nutsonline.com/jericho

http://www.cbs.com/primetime/jericho/

http://savejericho.wetpaint.com

http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?09272006

http://www.savejericho.info/

http://www.jerichorallypoint.com/sm/index.php

http://savejericho.blogspot.com/

http://youchoose.net/pledge/save_jericho/from/xavierr

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CBS unveils fall schedule: Jericho cancelled

CBS is introducing five new shows this fall, including one comedy, three dramas and one reality series, according to the press release from the network I just found in my e-mail box.

As for what won’t be returning, sorry Jericho fans, it’s done. The show apparently wasn’t da bomb with the network.

The Amazing Race and The New Adventures of Old Christine are scheduled to return midseason, so don’t panic that they aren’t included on the fall schedule.

And all of you Ghost Whisperer fans who’ve been e-mailing me (who knew there were so many of you?) relax. Jennifer Love is back in all her glory.

My favorite CBS comedy How I Met Your Mother is back, too. Can I get a Woo-Hoo?

Also returning are: CSI: Miami, NCIS, The Unit, Criminal Minds, CSI: NY, Without A Trace, Ghost Whisperer, Numb3rs, Cold Case, Shark, 48 Hours: Mystery, Crimetime Saturday, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Two And A Half Men, Rules Of Engagement; 60 Minutes, and Survivor.

CBS is introducing some interesting new shows this fall, including Viva Laughlin, a mystery drama with a musical element; Cane, starring Jimmy Smits as the head of a powerful South Florida Cuban-American family; Moonlight, a romantic thriller with a new twist on the vampire legend; The Big Bang Theory, a comedy about genius geeks from Two and A Half Men co-creator Chuck Lorre; and Kid Nation, a reality series where 40 kids will try to build a new society in an abandoned ghost town.

Here’s the complete primetime schedule, with a synopsis of the new shows at the end. New shows are listed in bold.

2007-2008 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE
(N=New, NT=New Time, all times ET/PT)

MONDAY
8:00-8:30 PM HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
8:30-9:00 PM THE BIG BANG THEORY (N)
9:00-9:30 PM TWO AND A HALF MEN
9:30-10:00 PM RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
10:00-11:00 PM CSI: MIAMI

TUESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM NCIS
9:00-10:00 PM THE UNIT
10:00-11:00 PM CANE (N)

WEDNESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM KID NATION (N)
9:00-10:00 PM CRIMINAL MINDS
10:00-11:00 PM CSI: NY

THURSDAY
8:00-9:00 PM SURVIVOR
9:00-10:00 PM CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION
10:00-11:00 PM WITHOUT A TRACE (NT)

FRIDAY
8:00-9:00 PM GHOST WHISPERER
9:00-10:00 PM MOONLIGHT (N)
10:00-11:00 PM NUMB3RS

SATURDAY
8:00-9:00 PM CRIMETIME SATURDAY
9:00-10:00 PM CRIMETIME SATURDAY
10:00-11:00 PM 48 HOURS: MYSTERY

SUNDAY
7:00-8:00 PM 60 MINUTES
8:00-9:00 PM VIVA LAUGHLIN (N)
9:00-10:00 PM COLD CASE
10:00-11:00 PM SHARK (NT)

New Shows:
COMEDY
THE BIG BANG THEORY — A comedy from the Emmy Award nominated Co-Creator and Executive Producer of "Two and a Half Men" Chuck Lorre, about brainy best friends Leonard (Johnny Galecki, "Roseanne") and Sheldon (Jim Parsons "Judging Amy"), who can tell you anything you want to know about quantum physics, but when it comes to dealing with everyday life here on earth they're lost in the cosmos. Neither fully understands that scientific principles don't always apply in matters of the heart — until they meet their sexy new neighbor Penny (Kaley Cuoco, "8 Simple Rules…"), a friendly screenwriter/waitress from the midwest who also happens to be newly single. She quickly makes an impression on the other members of Leonard and Sheldon's geek squad — Howard Wolowitz (Simon Helberg, "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip"), who portrays himself as the Casanova of Cal Tech, and fellow whiz kid Rajesh Koothrappali (Kunal Nayyar, "NCIS"), who is rendered speechless around anyone unprepared to converse about the Theory of Relativity or other scientific jargon. The chemistry between this gaggle of geniuses and a delightful damsel is about to undergo a stimulating series of inter-personal experiments. Multiple Emmy Award winner James Burrows ("Will & Grace") directed the pilot. Lorre and Bill Prady ("Gilmore Girls," "Dharma & Greg") are executive producers for Warner Bros. Television.

DRAMAS
VIVA LAUGHLIN — Executive produced by Tony and Emmy Award winner Hugh Jackman ("The Boy from Oz," "X-Men"), VIVA LAUGHLIN is a mystery drama with music about eternal optimist and freewheeling businessman Ripley Holden, whose sole ambition is to run a casino in Laughlin, Nev. Occasionally using upbeat contemporary songs to accentuate the drama and humor and advance the story, the series is based on the hit BBC show "Viva Blackpool." Ripley (Lloyd Owen, "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles") is the ultimate gambler with an infectious personality who is on the brink of making a killing… just as soon as he opens his casino that's nowhere near completion. When his financing suddenly falls through, the fearless and tenacious Ripley approaches his enemy — dashing, sarcastic, wealthy casino owner Nicky Fontana (Hugh Jackman) for help. Though the odds are stacked against him, Ripley doesn't miss a beat, even when he becomes embroiled in a murder investigation after the body of his ex-business partner is found at his club. At home, Ripley uses his dry wit to adjust to the demands of his family: his gorgeous wife, Natalie (Madchen Amick, "ER"), wants more attention; his teenage daughter, Cheyenne (Ellen Woglom, "The O.C."), wants his approval; and his son, Jack (Carter Jenkins, "Surface"), wants to help him at work. All of this adversity would defeat a lesser man, but for the outgoing and passionate Ripley there's no such thing as bad news, only deals to be struck and wagers to be won in the intoxicating neon glow of Laughlin, where the cards are on the table, romance is in the air and lively music is on the stage. Eric Winter ("Wildfire") and D.B. Woodside ("24") also star. Directed by Gabriele Muccino ("The Pursuit of Happyness"). Golden Globe Award nominee Hugh Jackman, John Palermo ("X-Men: The Last Stand"), Bob Lowry ("Huff"), Paul Telegdy and Peter Bowker ("Viva Blackpool") are executive producers for BBC Worldwide Productions, Seed Productions, CBS Paramount Network Television in association with Sony Pictures Television.

CANE — Stars Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Jimmy Smits ("The West Wing") in an epic drama about the external rivalries and internal power struggles of a large Cuban-American family running an immensely successful rum and sugar business in South Florida. When the family patriarch, Pancho (Hector Elizondo, "Chicago Hope"), is offered a lucrative but questionable deal by his bitter adversary, the Samuels, to purchase thousands of acres of sugar fields, he's faced with a tough choice: Should he cash out of the sugar business and focus solely on rum, which would please his impulsive natural son, Frank (Nestor Carbonell, "Lost"), or protect the family legacy that he built from the ground up by not selling, and side with his adopted son, Alex (Smits), who mistrusts the Samuels and still sees value in sugar. Alex and Frank's approach to business is as different as their approach to life. While Frank might lose focus chasing women, Alex is deeply in love with his beautiful wife, Isabel (Paola Turbay, "Bailando por un Sueño"), who is also Pancho's daughter. Married when she was just 17 years old, Isabel balances Alex by choosing not to involve herself in the business, focusing instead on their three children, who are determined to forge their own paths outside the family. For the Duques, will family allegiance come first or will their secrets and acrimonious conflicts over love, lust and control of the family fortune be their downfall? Eddie Matos ("General Hospital"), Rita Moreno ("West Side Story"), Michael Trevino ("The Riches"), Lina Esco ("CSI: NY"), Sam Carman ("Bones"), Alona Tal ("Veronica Mars") and Polly Walker ("Rome") also star. Cynthia Cidre ("The Mambo Kings"), Jonathan Prince ("American Dreams"), Jimmy Iovine ("8 Mile") and Polly Anthony ("Lifehouse: Live in Portland!") are the executive producers for ABC Studios in association with CBS Paramount Network Television.

MOONLIGHT — From prolific movie producer Joel Silver ("The Matrix," Trilogy), is about Mick St. John (Alex O'Loughlin, upcoming "White Out"), a captivating "undead" private investigator who uses his acute vampire senses to help the living… instead of feeding on them. In an agonizing twist of fate, Mick was "bitten" 60 years ago by his new bride, the seductive and beguiling Coraline (Amber Valletta, "Hitch"). Immortal and eternally as young, handsome and charismatic as he was then, Mick is sickened by Coraline and other vampires who view humans only as a source of nourishment. With only a handful of undead confidantes for company, including deceitful ally Josef (Rade Serbedzija, "24"), Mick fills his infinite days protecting the living, and trying not to think about how his life would have been if he hadn't followed his heart. However, after six decades of resisting, he wonders if it's time to pursue the love of a mortal. He has his eyes on Beth Turner, a beautiful, ambitious reporter who has been covering the ongoing plague of unusual murders. But would Beth even consider giving up a normal life to be with him, and can Mick risk the pain of seeing himself as a monster in her eyes? As Mick lives between two realities, fighting his adversaries among the undead and falling in love with Beth, he knows he needs to figure out a reason to keep "living." MOONLIGHT is directed by executive producer Rod Holcomb ("ER"). Joel Silver, Ron Koslow ("Birds of Prey"), Trevor Munson and Gerard Bocaccio are also executive producers for Warner Bros. Television.

The new reality series is:

KID NATION is a reality-based series in which 40 kids will have 40 days to build a new world — in a ghost town that died in the 19th Century. These kids, ages 8-15, will spend more than a month without their parents or modern comforts in Bonanza City, N.M., attempting to do what their forefathers could not — build a town that works. They will cook their own meals, clean their own outhouses, haul their own water and even run their own businesses — including the old town saloon (root beer only). They'll also create a real government — four kid leaders who will guide the group through their adventure, pass laws and set bedtimes. Through it all, they'll cope with regular childhood emotions and situations: homesickness, peer pressure and the urge to break every rule they've ever known. At the end of each episode, all 40 kids will gather at an old fashioned Town Hall meeting where they will debate the issues facing Bonanza City. They'll show wisdom beyond their years and the unflinching candor that only kids can exhibit. There are no eliminations on KID NATION — you only go home if you want to. And in every Town Hall meeting, kids may raise their hands and leave. Will they stick it out? In the end, will these kids prove to adults everywhere (and their own parents!) that they have the vision to build a better world than the pioneers who came before them? And just as importantly, will they come together as a cohesive unit, or will they abandon all responsibility and succumb to the childhood temptations that lead to round-the-clock chaos? KID NATION is produced by Emmy Award winner Tom Forman ("Extreme Makeover: Home Edition") for Tom Forman Prods. and Good TV, Inc.

The new summer reality series is:

POWER OF 10, hosted by award-winning comedian Drew Carey ("The Drew Carey Show"), is a high-stakes game that challenges contestants to guess the behaviors, opinions and lifestyle choices of the American public for the chance to win $10 million. POWER OF 10 polls thousands of people across the U.S. asking them, well, just about everything — from "What percentage of married Americans said they were virgins the day they got married?" to "What percentage of American's believe they are smarter than the president?" Each week, contestants must decide if they have their finger on the pulse of the American majority and can accurately predict the results of these nationwide surveys. With the first question worth $1,000 and only five questions to answer, each one increasing 10 times in value, contestants participate in a potentially lucrative game where they just might walk away with $10 million. The higher they are on the money ladder, the closer they must be to the actual statistic. The studio audience and a friend can help them, but the final answer is theirs. Michael Davies ("Who Wants to be a Millionaire") is executive producer for Embassy Row in association with Sony Pictures Television.

The new midseason series is:

SWINGTOWN, from the director of "Big Love" and "Rome," peeks into the shag-carpeted suburban homes of the 1970s to find couples reveling in the sexual and social revolution that introduced open marriages, women's liberation and challenged many conventional wisdoms. During this heady era of provocative change, Susan (Molly Parker, "Deadwood") and Bruce Miller (Jack Davenport, "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest") move their family to an affluent Chicago suburb in search of a different sense of community, and they look forward to barbecues and get-togethers with their new neighbors, as well as a change of pace for their teenage daughter and pre-teen son. Enter Tom (Grant Show, "Melrose Place") and Trina (Lana Parrilla, "24") Decker, a striking, outgoing couple on the hunt who redefine the term "neighborhood watch." After a mind-blowing evening with them, Susan and Bruce realize that couples in this town share much more than recipes, local gossip and a view of Lake Michigan, and are worlds apart from their former conservative neighbors, Janet (Miriam Shor, "Big Day") and Roger (Josh Hopkins, "Brothers & Sisters") Thompson. Susan's loyal friend Janet is appalled by what she witnesses in this new neighborhood, while Roger, though dutiful to his wife, may be more intrigued than she knows. In a changing social climate — defined by its music, fashion and style — everyone in SWINGTOWN is confronted with personal choices, experimentation and shifting attitudes. Shanna Collins ("Wildfire"), Aaron Howles and Brittany Robertson ("Freddie") also star. Mike Kelley ("The O.C.") and director Alan Poul ("Six Feet Under") are executive producers for CBS Paramount Network Television.

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Friday Night Lights and What About Brian get full seasons
NBC has given the go ahead for a full season of Friday Night Lights, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The show follows a small Texas town, where football is the main star. The delectable Kyle Chandler stars as the coach of the high-school football team. The show has received only mediocre ratings in its Tuesday timeslot, (an average of 6.7 million viewers) but it has been a hit with critics. Rumors persist that the show may move to Sundays, later this year, to avoid having to go head-to-head with American Idol. Meanwhile, ABC gave the go ahead for a full season of What About Brian. (I’m not a fan of the drama starring Barry Watson.) However, the show’s audience has grown from 6.3 million to 6.7 million recently, so someone must be watching.

The King of Queens returns in December
To all of you who’ve written to ask about the fate of The King of Queens, I have good news to report. (Sorry, I still don’t watch the show, but I’ll certainly pass on the 411 to you.) CBS will broadcast back-to-back new episodes of The King of Queens on Wednesday, Dec. 6 (8:00-9:00 p.m. EST) and Wednesday, Dec. 13 (8:00-9:00 p.m. EST.) New episodes will also air on Dec. 20 (8 p.m. EST) and Dec. 27 (8 p.m.) Seven more episodes will be broadcast in 2007. Those dates are not yet available.

Jericho schedule change
CBS recently announced it will change the schedule pattern for Jericho, the hit freshman drama about the aftermath of a nuclear explosion in a small, peaceful Kansas town. Jericho will conclude its fall season on Wednesday, Nov. 29 (8 p.m. EST) and return in February with all original episodes for the remainder of the season. In other words, no repeats! 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. If you’ve missed any episodes of the show, you can catch them on the CBS broadband channel Innertube.

Remaining Smith episodes on Innertube
Those of you who fell for Smith, the CBS drama starring Simon Baker that was abruptly cancelled, you can watch the remaining episodes on the CBS Web channel Innertube. Thank you CBS for sharing those episodes with fans of the show. That was a classy move.

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How I Met Your Your Mother scoop
Tonight’s How I Met Your Mother could be legendary. Lily begs Barney for a place to stay, and the two move in together. Can you imagine? Well, we don’t have to. According to my CBS scoop, “as they take their relationship to the next level, he is petrified that Lily has fully stripped him of his singlehood.” Hmmm…I’m not so sure what this “take their relationship to the next level” business is, (I’m guessing roommates) but anything that puts a kink in Barney’s swinging single life sounds like a good time to me. Photo courtesy of CBS.

Sara Evans quits Dancing with the Stars
Sarah Evans quit Dancing with the Stars Thursday, after Wednesday’s show, and filed for divorce the same day. The country music singer survived the week’s elimination, only to turn in her dancing shoes the following day. Evans cited personal problems and the need to spend more time with her family. She filed for divorce from her husband of 13 years, accusing him of adultery, verbal abuse and a pornography addiction. He has refuted the allegations. No word yet on how the show will handle Evans’ departure.

ABC keeps Ugly Betty
Ugly Betty received a full season pickup from ABC on Friday. The show has been a ratings hit for the network and a favorite of critics. (This one included.)

An interview with Pam and Jim of The Office
MSNBC has a fantastic interview with Pam and Jim of The Office. Those of you who support Office romances, don’t miss it. It’s a fun read.

CBS has faith in Jericho
Jericho fans, you don’t need to worry that your show will be dropped in the middle of the season. CBS showed its faith in the show by giving it a full-season pickup. Jericho stars Skeet Ulrich.

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New Show Reviews: Smith, Studio 60, Six Degrees, Jericho, Brothers and Sisters, and Men in Trees

We made it through the first big week of new-show premieres, and the good news is I haven’t seen a Head Cases yet. The bad news is, I haven’t found a new Lost or Veronica Mars either. But, this week, several more new shows debut, so I’m not giving up hope.

As always, here is the Tube Talk ratings guide. The ratings are based on having viewed only one episode of each show. So in some cases, you may want to try out the shows for a few weeks before calling it quits, as they sometimes take a few episodes to find their footing. If a show debuted this week (Sept. 17-24) but isn’t here for review, well, take that as a sign.

Ratings Guide:
Four stars — Do NOT miss this show. Use extreme measures if necessary, including hiding if visitors ring the doorbell, screening phone calls, and bribing a neighbor to record it for you if you haven’t mastered your DVR/VCR. Or just become completely irrational and don’t leave home when it’s on. (Previously rated four-star shows include Lost, Jack and Bobby, and Freaks and Geeks.)

Three stars — It’s good. Catch it if you can. (Previously rated three-star shows include Bones and Joey.)

Two stars — If you’re home with nothing to do, turn it on, but don’t waste your precious TiVo hours on it. (Previously rated two-star shows include Father of the Pride and Clubhouse.)

One star — It’s so bad you’ll want to shut off the TV and write an angry letter to the network that aired it. (Previously rated one-star shows include The Help and Head Cases.)

Smith — Thieves, killers, and eye candy all play a part in this engrossing, action-packed drama. It’s Ocean’s 11 for television, except the storylines and characters are much darker. And these bandits don’t seem to have the same knack for pulling off perfect crimes the way George Clooney and company do on the big screen. So far, the Smith gang is down one member due to a shootout— ending in a chest full of bullets for one sorry lad— and they managed to leave behind a witness who can identify the only female member of the team (Amy Smart, Felicity.) Another member of the group just got out of prison for a job that went wrong. So, they aren’t exactly smooth criminals. Simon Baker and Virginia Madsen steal the show, and I hope they’ll get more screen time. (And a special thanks to the smart exec who gave us Baker surfing in his opening scene.) The entire cast is brilliant, from Ray Liotta to Smart. However, Smith is a risky concept for television, as this is a group of thieves and murderers. That seriously hinders the likeability factor for the characters, which is usually key for a TV show to succeed. I applaud CBS for taking a chance with this daring drama. It was the best new show of the week. (CBS, Tuesdays at 10 p.m. EST)

Six Degrees — It’s hard to believe this dud of a drama is from TV-genius J.J. Abrams, who gave us two of TV’s greatest series ever: Lost and Felicity. Six Degrees and Abrams’ last dramatic effort, (What About Brian), have left me wondering what happened to the Abrams’ magic. Six Degrees isn’t horrible; it just isn’t memorable either. The premise of the show is that a group of strangers in New York City are somehow, by fate, all connected. In the premiere, we met the characters and watched as they tried to maneuver the rocky world of romance and life. Yawn. I was bored before the 20-minute mark. (Sorry, J.J. Don’t hate me.) You should know that not everyone feels the way I do about this show. In fact, E!Online’s Kristin Veitch loved it. (ABC, Thursdays at 10 p.m. EST)

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip —
Maybe it was the hype that had me expecting this to be the best new drama of the season. Sadly, it isn’t. I liked the show. I didn’t love it, which is unusual considering that TV-writer-extraordinaire Aaron Sorkin is behind it. Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip is a behind-the-scenes look at a fictional sketch comedy TV series. (Think Saturday Night Live.) Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford are as charming as ever in their roles as a TV writer and producer, and Amanda Peet sparkles. However, the show, overall, seemed a little slow-paced and a bit flat. It lacks the charm of Sorkin’s signature show The West Wing. Considering Studio 60 is set in the world of television, I’m sure there are plenty of juicy stories to tell. I’m hoping we get to see a few of them here. My fellow critics who have seen the second episode tell me it gets better. I hope they’re right. (NBC, Mondays at 10 p.m. EST.)

---Editor's note, after viewing episode 2: My fellow critics were right. If you gave up on this show after the first week, try it again. The second and third episodes were much better, and Sorkin's signature cadence and pacing are back.

Brothers and Sisters — Calista Flockhart and Sally Field star in this family drama, heavy on the drama. It seems their mother/daughter relationship is strained at best. Make no mistake: This isn’t the Walton family. The Walkers have problems that can’t be solved within the span of an hour. The acting is top-notch in this series, but I’m not sure I care enough yet about the characters to make a weekly date with this one. I was excited that Tom Skerritt was part of the cast, but they killed him off in the premiere. Is it possible he’ll be back as a ghost, because that could get me to keep watching? I was most intrigued by Flockhart’s character, Kitty, a conservative political pundit, and her brother, Justin (Dave Annable,) a war veteran and drug addict. If you like family drama and have siblings, this one may be to your liking. (ABC, Sundays at 10 p.m. EST.)

Men in Trees — Big city girl, reeling from a break-up, moves to an isolated town in Alaska where the men outnumber women 10 to 1. OK, so the concept isn’t fresh. (We’ve seen similar versions in Ed and Northern Exposure.) But, I still enjoyed this show immensely. It’s quirky, fun and a good way to spend your Friday nights. Anne Heche plays famous writer Marin Frisk, who realizes she’s spent her whole life in relationships with men and that she needs a break. The always-perfect John Amos portrays the town’s only pilot, Buzz, and had the best line of the show. “She’s no Selleck,” he deadpanned, after hearing “celebrity” Marin speak at a public meeting. (Any show that pays tribute to Tom Selleck gets points in my book.) Viewers will recognize ER’s “Jerry” (actor Abraham Benrubi) as the town’s bartender. Men in Trees is unsteady in places. The B story of the supermodel-looking gal who happens to be a prostitute is just bizarre. But overall, the show works. Even the title is clever. The name refers to the construction sign Marin spied when she hit town that warned of “men in trees” cutting branches. However, the Darwinian metaphor isn’t lost on the audience. She’s comparing men to monkeys, one of the smartest animals in the kingdom, but still, an animal. Granted, she has just cause, considering her fiancée followed his primal urges and hooked up with another woman. Heche is enjoyable and wacky enough to sell the part. “She’s a crackpot, but I dig her,” said the town’s deejay Patrick. Yeah. Me, too. (ABC, Fridays at 9 p.m. EST.)

Jericho — If you’re fascinated with disaster shows — or Skeet Ulrich — you’ll definitely want to check out Jericho. It’s the story of a small, Kansas town that survives a nuclear attack. The drama unfolds as residents see a mushroom cloud and realize that other cities across the nation have been hit. Panic, fear and unrest hit residents, as the mayor (Gerald McRaney) tries to keep order. Ulrich is solid as the mayor’s estranged son and the reluctant hero. Jericho held my attention, but isn’t nearly as gripping as last year’s brilliant drama Invasion. ( I know, I have to let it go.) (CBS, Wednesday's at 8 p.m. EST.)

**Check back soon for Tube Talk Girl’s take on Heroes, Ugly Betty, The Nine and Friday Night Lights.

What did you think of this week's new shows? What are your favorites? Share your thoughts in our comments section.

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