Aw Nuts: CBS Pulls Plug On Jericho, Final Episode Airs Tuesday, Promises To Tie Up Storyline

March 21, 2008

Jake (Skeet Ulrich) and Emily (Ashley Scott) say goodbye and their "I love you's" as Jake prepares to leave for Cheyenne, on the series finale of "Jericho." (CBS/Michael Desmond)

(CBS) "Jericho" has been canceled, and no amount of peanuts will bring it back.

"The March 25th episode of Jericho will be the series finale," CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler said in a statement. "Without question, there are passionate viewers watching this program; we simply wish there were more."

The show was canceled after its first season, but was resurrected when fans joined together and sent tens of thousands of pounds of nuts to get the network to change its mind.

CBS ordered a second season of seven episodes which premiered on Feb. 12, 2008. Ratings never equaled the first season's numbers, and have taken a tumble since the premiere.

"We have no regrets bringing the show back for a second try," Tassler said. "We listened to our viewers, gave the series an opportunity to grow, and the producers put a great story on the screen. We're proud of everyone's efforts."

Producers hedged their bets by shooting two alternate endings to the final show, which airs Tuesday.

One is a cliffhanger that could have led to a third season and the other ending is said to bring "closure" to fans.

But, sources tell the Hollywood Reporter, there's enough wiggle room in the final episode to make room for new life of the series on cable.

"Jericho" is a drama about what happens in the aftermath of a nuclear explosion in the once peaceful town of Jericho, Kansas.