'Jericho' To Return To CBS

TV Guide columnist and chief scooper Michael Ausiello is reporting that CBS is close to announcing that the recently-cancelled television show "Jericho" is going to get an eight-episode renewal.

"Multiple sources are telling me that CBS is this close to sealing a deal to bring 'Jericho' back for at least eight episodes, possibly at mid-season," Ausiello said. "My spies caution that this is in no way official, but it certainly sounds like it could be by day's end."

If such a thing were to happen, then it would be a tremendous victory for "Jericho" fans who organized out of nowhere to launch one of the most solid fan campaigns in recent memory with e-mail, letters and tons and tons and tons of actual nuts to CBS studios in New York and Los Angeles.

One company with owners who had never previously watched the one-season CBS series, became instant fans and public spokesmen for the campaign. Nuts Online president Jeffrey Braverman has spearheaded the delivery of more than 38,000 pounds of nuts -- nearly 20 tons -- to CBS officials on both sides of the country. Fans put their money where their mouths were to buy more than $50,000 in nuts, most of which were sold at cost, with remaining monies going to charities such as a fund to help tornado victims in Greensburg, Kansas.

Even if the show does return, Gerald McRaney -- former Mayor Green -- will not return, said E! Online.

"Gerald is moving on," the actor's personal representative told Kristin Veitch. "Although he enjoyed working with the people at 'Jericho,' the 'Deadwood' experience [with HBO] was one of the best of his entire professional career."

McRaney actually bailed from the show before a decision to cancel the show initially had been given by CBS, which is why his character died in the season finale, Veitch said.

"Jericho" fans have started a number of Web sites and are even raising money for an ad to run in trade publications to convince the network to bring back the show which was expected to return for a second season before being abruptly cancelled.

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