21st
One day before history was made
Hello all. My name is Jason, and I work in the Jericho Production office. I have been in this office for over a year, every day. It is quite possible that I talked to some of you on the phone as you called looking to voice your displeasure with our show being cancelled. That was fun for me. Anyway, I wanted to write about my experience on the show, and give you all a little insight into what it is I do. However, that would be boring. “Copy this”, “Get me this”, “Can you do this”, “I hate you, you’re the worst Office PA ever”. Like I said, boring. I thought I might talk about a day that most people haven’t yet heard about.
It was a day like the rest, coming into an empty office, setting up my computer and answering the phones, of a still very passionate fan base. The grips and electricians are taking all of the sets apart, slowly erasing any evidence that there was once this great show filmed here on the stages in a small warehouse. Let me say that the “Nuts” to CBS movement had been taking its toll. There was a buzz that CBS was thinking about it. Along with our wonderful producers, making sure they did everything they could to fight for you the fans to get a little more Jericho. Back to the story. The day was normal, hot, smoggy, traffic, and almost dead quiet. Lunchtime!!!!!!! For me this consisted of a cigarette and a soda. Take that Lance Armstrong! While outside, a CBS executive pulls up, and parks. He’s one of the good guys so I spare him my evil eye, and instead greet him with a hearty “please hire me again” handshake. After laughing at his jokes, we see the Electricians start to head to lunch. And this is where it happened.
The executive talks to the lead electrician and tells him that after lunch, they should just go home, and not come back. Wow. I was thinking maybe they had dropped a light, or done something wrong, and that is when I heard it. “We’re putting a halt on the wrap. CBS told me to stop the wrap out. They’re talking about it”. After wiping the soda from my face and off of this gentleman’s newly washed car, I asked what that meant. At the time it meant very little, yet meant so much. They are TALKING about it. The executive then told the Set decorators to stop returning the furniture and other stuff. The grips, got the same word, and the stage was set. Could this be? Am I really hearing this? I go back into the office, not wanting to get exited, but how can I not. Gosh I should really call someone. A couple of hours and a few episodes of Entourage later, and my trusty Blackberry starts to ping. I look at the screen and am excited. It’s one of the Producers. I pick it up and it hits me. “What’s up? They halt the wrap and you don’t think to call me?” I try and apologize, but I messed that one up. Great, he hates me. We’re about to get picked up and I’m gonna get fired. Sweet. After a few choice words, the excitement of the news takes over and everything is good. I ask what this means, and he is trying to be tight lipped, but he is excited and I know it. I promise to call him with any further updates and hang up the phone.
The next few weeks were full of waiting, trying to keep the news to myself, even though all you fans made that so hard. I really wanted to give you some good news, you really deserved it. Finally the news came and we were picked back up. Congratulations Jericho Fan, you made a difference. You earned it and for that I am thankful, because I have a job on a great show. Plus you proved that if you make good television, the fans will watch, and they will care. Thank you for caring.
Jason M.
