NUTS!
June 6th, 2007
Who would-a-thunk that 20 Tons of peanuts could get a television network to bring a canceled television show back to life. After CBS received 8 million peanuts, 30,000 emails and watching passionate fans of a cancelled television show donate over 15,000 dollars to tornado-ravaged Greensburg, Kansas. CBS sent a letter to Jericho fans, you got our attention and your collective voice has been heard. CBS has ordered seven episodes of “Jericho” for next season. Hell Yeah! I’ve been a fan since the first commercial for the show.
How did this work? I think we have the ultimate case study for a “Social Network Movement.” Disgruntled fans on online message boards and radio talk shows banded together with a single idea. Send nuts to CBS officials to protest the cancellation. The idea came from a reference in the final episode to a historic moment during World War II, US General McAuliffe said “Nuts” in response to Germans demanding that Americans surrender.
An interesting twist to this is how the peanuts were distributed. Instead of shipping the nuts themselves, Jericho fans used the services of nutsonline.com, which offered a turnkey solution. In fact the letter to Jericho fans from CBS president Nina Tassler can be found on their homepage.
This is a big win for television citizens; we’ve lost shows from Star Trek to Arrested Development. Now there’s a game plan.
Other posts by Geno.
Patrick says:
I wish something like this could have been done when CBS canceled Now and Again after on one season and at a serious cliffhanger. I’m still mad at CBS for not wrapping that storyline up. At least they could have done a follow up 2 hour movie of the week or something.
June 6th, 2007 at 7:59 pmThe Digital Perm says:
These people are Nuts…
Still doubt that this whole social networking thing is for real and actually works? Still think you can lock yourself in your ivory tower and not listen to your fans/customer? Well, apparently if you do, you can expect 20 tons…
June 6th, 2007 at 8:52 pmSpike says:
Don’t forget about “Sports Night.” I still can’t believe they canceled that one.
June 7th, 2007 at 4:43 amGeno says:
Most of the time as a television show watcher, its passive. Our shows get cancelled we bitch a little around the water cooler. This story plants seeds of hope that one powerful voice/idea can create change. But with that change comes responsibilty. Saving the show is Part One. CBS is now putting the future of the show in the hands of its fans. Can a community be up to the responsibilty? This will be fun to watch.
June 7th, 2007 at 5:25 amMatt Haverkamp says:
You are right Geno. Be careful what you ask for though. You have to able to live up to the task Definitely will be interesting to watch.
Glad that I found your blog. Have enjoyed your storytelling.
June 7th, 2007 at 5:33 amJane says:
Thanks. Jericho will return in reruns July 6th at 9 p.m. Everybody please watch.
June 13th, 2007 at 7:48 amJennifer says:
Wow. Is anyone up for some Studio 60 flavored peanuts? Well… I guess they’d probably be an almond or a cashew… but still!
June 22nd, 2007 at 1:11 pm