Sci Fi Lands ‘Jericho’

Fans of CBS drama Jericho can now go nuts for the show on cable as Sci Fi Channel has acquired the rights to the series’ first two seasons, totaling 29 episodes.  

Sci Fi Channel on Feb. 11 will air four installments of the series, which follows the residents of a small Kansas town in the aftermath of a nuclear bomb attack.

The show’s debut on Sci Fi’s comes one day before CBS premieres the seven-installment second season of Jericho, which debuted on CBS in September 2006 and stars Skeet Ulrich (Scream), Gerald McRaney (Ike: Countdown to D-Day), Pamela Reed (Proof of Life), Lennie James (Sahara) and  Michael Gaston (Prison Break).  

Sci Fi Channel will air the show’s remaining episodes Mondays at 10 p.m., beginning Feb.18.

CBS initially cancelled the series in May, but reconsidered its decision after a massive fan outcry, which included the shipping of more than 40,000 pounds of peanuts—a reference to the final line spoken by Jericho’s hero in the season finale—to CBS network executives in a bid to save the series


“Jericho is a gripping science fiction series that Sci Fi Channel is excited to add to our schedule,” said Thomas Vitale, senior vice president of programming and original movies, in a statement. “Thanks to the passion and persistence of its loyal viewers who saved this program from being canceled, new viewers can now experience this show for the first time on the Sci Fi Channel while CBS continues the story in its second season run starting this February."

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.