US Series Brought Back From The (Near) Dead

Sometimes in television, there IS a second act. Usually, when a programme is cancelled due to low ratings, it goes into the world of reruns (or these days, the Internet or DVD), to be watched by old fans and a new generation of viewers. Occasionally, there are shows that are axed by network executives but come back stronger than ever.

The recent revival of CBS’ nuclear drama “Jericho” is the latest example of a show coming back by viewer demand. “Jericho” was pulling in surprisingly good ratings and a fan base of at least ten million viewers every week after its premiere in the fall of 2006.

But CBS put the show on hiatus until early 2007 to avoid repeating episodes of the continuing drama. By the time it returned, “Jericho” faced the buzzsaw of “American Idol” on Fox–and the audience tumbled. Not surprisingly, CBS cancelled “Jericho.” But then came the inevitable letter-writing campaigns, complete with tons of peanuts sent to CBS–an ode to the lead character’s declaration in the season finale that his town would not surrender: “Nuts!” In early June, just weeks after the fall line-up was announced, came this open letter from CBS’ top programmer:

To the Fans of Jericho: 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.

So occasionally, talking back to your television set CAN make a difference. In light of “Jericho’s” comeback, I have a list of just some of the US series that were cancelled–and brought back. In many cases, they went on to great success. But some fan-driven revivals didn’t work. Here are the notable comeback stories in fictional programming:

“Mama” (CBS) – Based on the book “Mama’s Bank Account” (which spawned a successful film, “I Remember Mama”), this half-hour live drama began in 1949 and centred around the Hansen family and their daily lives at the turn of the 20th century. It featured Peggy Wood and Judson Laire as the parents, with a young Dick Van Patten as son Niles and future feminist-author Robin Morgan as younger daughter Dagmar. In 1956, CBS announced that “Mama” would be leaving the airwaves–but a flood of letters from loyal fans prompted the network to change its mind. “Mama” returned in a filmed series that ran for 13 more episodes until it finally left for good in March 1957.

“Father Knows Best” (NBC/CBS/ABC) – Robert Young starred as the all-knowing dad Jim Anderson on the radio version of this gentle family sitcom. In 1954, CBS brought the series to television, with Anderson and a new supporting cast including Jane Wyatt as wife Margaret, and Eleanor Donahue, Billy Gray and Laurin Chapin as their three children. It aired late Sunday nights, but the ratings were low and CBS cancelled the show after one season. Fans wrote letters, calling for the return of a show that one writer claimed “restored parental authority” on television. NBC heard the cries and renewed “Father Knows Best,” airing it at an earlier time on Wednesday nights. Ratings rose and the show gained Emmy awards for both Young and Wyatt. “Father” returned to CBS in 1958, but two years later, Young decided he had enough. (It was in television’s top ten when the show left the airwaves in 1960.) In an unusual move, reruns aired in prime time on ABC from 1960 until 1962, before hitting the syndication trail. And in 1977, NBC aired two “FKB” reunion specials with the original cast.

“Gunsmoke” (CBS) – The longest running drama in American television history (at this writing) was actually based on a popular radio series that began in 1952. Three years later, CBS brought the Western to television, with relative unknown James Arness replacing radio’s William Conrad as Marshall Matt Dillon of Dodge City, Kansas (Conrad was consider too plump for the role on TV, but would be perfect as detective Frank Cannon in the early 1970's.) “Gunsmoke” eventually became the most-popular show on television, but its ratings were in decline by the mid-1960's. In 1967, CBS executives killed “Gunsmoke” to make way for the return of the sitcom “Gilligan’s Island” and a new comedy that would air right after “Gilligan.” Fate saved “Gunsmoke” through several events. First came the flood of letters from loyal fans–who included both CBS Chairman Bill Paley and his then-socialite wife Babe. Second, CBS sales executives had been unable to sell that new half-hour comedy to advertisers. And third, some members of Congress wanted “Gunsmoke” to stay on the air (it was said to be a favourite of President Lyndon Johnson and wife Lady Bird as well). CBS dumped the new sitcom, cancelled “Gilligan’s Island” and moved “Gunsmoke” to an early time slot on Monday nights. The show surprised everyone by returning to the top ten, and it stayed on the schedule until it was cancelled–this time for good–in 1975. (Five reunion films were made and aired on CBS from 1987 until 1994.)

“Cagney & Lacey” (CBS) – This well-produced but low-rated drama about two female detectives in New York City was given the axe in 1983, after one-and-a-half seasons. But producer Barney Rozenzweig organized a massive write-in campaign, urging CBS executives to save the series. Rozenzweig’s efforts were helped in September 1983, when series co-star Tyne Daly won an Emmy for Best Actress in a Drama Series (beating out competition from, among other shows, “Hill Street Blues). The show’s return was also helped by a new grass-roots organization, which called itself “Viewers for Quality Television.” Fans of “Cagney” quickly banded together to urge the show’s renewal. It worked. In early 1984, “Cagney & Lacey” returned to the CBS schedule and landed in the top ten; the show ran through 1988 and four subsequent television films that reuniting the characters.

“The Paper Chase” (CBS/Showtime) – Based on the 1973 film about law students, CBS premiered the series in the fall of 1978 with John Houseman repeating his Oscar-winning role as gruff professor Charles Kingsfield and James Stephens as one of his students. But despite critical acclaim, “Paper Chase” was cancelled after one season. Reruns of the show aired on public television. But in 1983, “The Paper Chase” was brought back to television–not on one of the broadcast networks, but on the pay cable channel Showtime. Houseman and Stephens returned to their original roles, and the show lasted for three more seasons, when the law students finally graduated with degrees.

“SCTV” (Syndication/NBC/Cinemaxe): Probably one of the funniest sketch comedies in television history, SCTV began in 1976 as a Canadian program with a limited budget but a rich and talented troupe of comics-writers (including John Candy, Joe Flaherty, Eugene Levy, Harold Ramis, Andrea Martin, Dave Thomas and Martin Short) who parodied EVERYTHING about television–from the programs to the commercials. It was shown on local US television stations during its Canadian run, and was picked up by NBC in 1981 to replace the cancelled Friday night music program “The Midnight Special.” Originally known during the NBC run as “SCTV Network 90,” then simply “SCTV,” it won a large number of Emmy awards and a loyal but small following–too small for NBC’s taste. In 1983, SCTV aired on the cable channel Cinemaxe (a sister network to pay cable giant HBO), where it lasted one season. But it continues to have an influence on today’s comics; “The Simpsons” creator Matt Groening says he was inspired by “SCTV’s” fictional Melonville to create the town of Springfield for his dysfunctional cartoon family. And of course, it left us with “The Great White North” and its mandated-for-Canada content in every hilarious sketch.

“Designing Women” (CBS): This adult comedy about four middle-aged women in an Atlanta interior designing outfit was loved by critics when it debuted in 1986. But CBS kept shifting the show’s timeslot during the fall, confusing loyal viewers. By early 1987, it looked as if “Designing Women” was set to be cancelled. But again, fans (including members of the growing “Viewers for Quality Television”) petitioned CBS to give the show another chance. Network entertainment chief Bud Grant hung a white flag in the window of his office and surrendered to the fans: “Designing Women” soon returned to the CBS Monday schedule and became a top ten hit, running through 1993. (“Viewers for Quality Television” disbanded in 2000, a victim of reduced membership and a lack of funds.)

“The Family Guy” (Fox): This animated series about a vulgar father and his equally loopy wife and children debuted to strong ratings when it premiered after the airing of the Super Bowl in January 1999. But by the second season, ratings began to flag (not helped when Fox kept moving “Family Guy” to different time slots). It was cancelled by the network in 2002.

But new technology gave it as second chance. Reruns of “Family Guy” aired on America’s Cartoon Network in 2003 as part of its late-night “Adult Swim” block, and became the top-rated cable show in its timeslot with younger men. Around the same time, the show was released on DVD and became the top-selling television DVD title of the year. Fox soon began negotiating with “Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane to bring the show back. It returned to the Fox schedule in May 2005, with MacFarlane biting the hand that fed him twice: The first episode featured a flashback from the final 2002 episode, where dad character Peter announced to the family that their show would be taken off the air--"Unfortunately, there's just no more room on the schedule," he says. "We've just got to accept the fact that Fox has to make room for terrific shows like ‘Dark Angel,’ ‘Titus,’ ‘Undeclared,’ ‘Action,’ ‘That 80's Show,’ ‘Wonderfalls’...and ‘Greg the Bunny’”–all shows that had been cancelled by the network! Fortunately for “Family Guy,” the show fit well on Sunday night with other Fox adult cartoon series such as “The Simpsons” and “American Dad.” It held up against strong competition such as “Desperate Housewives” and “Cold Case,” appealing to the young male audience. “Family Guy” will return for the 2007-08 season.

And there you have it–proof that you can talk back to your television set. Even better, once in a while, someone hears you.