JERICHO

The originality of a series plays a HUGE part in my decision-making to take on and commit to watching a new show, which is why I am already a fan of CBS' JERICHO. The opening moments of the pilot cut right to the chase: Skeet Ulrich has barely spent 10 minutes on screen before a mushroom cloud erupts in the far horizon. Cut off from the rest of the world, the citizens of this small Kansas town are soon panic-stricken with unanswerable answers to many crisis-situation questions. Further, an additional explosion has taken place in Atlanta, making Jericho not alone in what is going on. To add drama, a busload of convicts have escaped from their crashed bus, with one of the escapees shooting and killing the sherrif of Jericho. The pilot ends with the mayor of the town delivering a 'Stand United' speech that is borderline cheese, but not altogether horrible. The show definitely had some loopholes, but overall I am intrigued. JERICHO left me wondering what's going on...and I wonder how CBS can maintain the goods for an entire year (let alone more if the show is a hit). I fear that if the show is a hit, writers will drag the thing out (as the producers of LOST have done with their show...though LOST is awesome and has many creative avenues to explore: how can JERICHO maintain that same kind of drama and mythology in a single Kansas town). But hey, it's only been one episode, and from the ratings, JERICHO performed decently enough - which means the show won't be canceled as quickly as EMILY'S REASONS WHY NOT did (um, after just one episode). So watch JERICHO and let me know what you think! B