The TV Zone

And that, friends, is that: CBS has pulled the plug on "Jericho," ending one of the more extraordinary tales of survival in recent TV history.

Here's the official statement from Nina Tassler, CBS chief, and - cynical beast that I am - I'd still say that it's sincere and heartfelt:

"The March 25th episode of Jericho will be the series finale. Without question, there are passionate viewers watching this program; we simply wish there were more. We thank an engaged and spirited fan base for keeping the show alive this long, and an outstanding team of producers, cast and crew that went through creative hoops to deliver a compelling, high quality second season. We have no regrets bringing the show back for a second try. 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."

Well, really: This whole thing was a long shot, but what a story nevertheless. When CBS killed the show after the first season ('06-'07), fans organized this quite literally nutty effort to get the webheads to change their minds. They sent millions and millions of nuts to them, inundating CBS offices in New York and LA, and finally getting execs to re-think the execution. They thought...more nuts came...and thought some more...more nuts came...and then, boom, they re-newed the show they had just canceled.

"Jericho" got only a seven-episode order, but fans hoped for more. Alas, ratings shriveled and Tassler pulled the trigger.

This is the end. Forever. Hold the nuts.

Last week's second-season premiere of "Jericho" can be downloaded free from iTunes, for watching on-computer or on the go.

That should bring everybody up to speed before tomorrow night's second installment (Tuesday, Feb. 19 at 10 p.m. on CBS), which introduces the new president of the -- gasp -- Allied States of America.

[Hail to the Chief, above: Mayor Anderson (Michael Gaston) and Eric Green (Kenneth Mitchell) with President Tomarchio (George Newbern) in "Condor" episode of "Jericho." CBS photo by Cliff Lipson.]

Finally, something worth watching on Saturday night network TV! For one weekend, anyway.

This week’s second-season premiere of “Jericho” will now repeat on CBS Saturday (Feb. 16) at 8 p.m. -- perhaps a tiny test of whether the series now airing Tuesdays at 10 should return to an earlier time slot. I can’t be the only critic getting emails from parents outraged that their kids’ once-favorite show has returned at a weeknight hour too late for them to stay up for.

The episode is also streaming online at CBS’ extensive “Jericho” site, either with or without commentary.

[Above: "Jericho" star Skeet Ulrich and cast addition Esai Morales in CBS photo.]

Big weekend in high-def homes. First comes Universal HD’s first-season marathon of “Jericho,” the fan fave starting its second season on CBS Tuesday night at 10 (Feb. 12).

“Jericho” on Universal HD runs from Saturday 10 p.m. to Sunday 8 p.m. (Feb. 9-10), catching viewers up to speed on all the post-nuke drama. You can read all about second-season plans in Newsday’s Sunday feature story interview with producer Carol Barbee.

High-def homes with access to the HDNet Movies channel can also enjoy “Lawrence of Arabia” Sunday at 6:15 p.m. (Feb. 10). This is the restored director’s cut of the epic 1962 adventure with Peter O’Toole and Omar Sharif that made the AFI’s Top 100 Movies list at No. 5. The film repeats on HDNet Movies later Sunday night at 12:30 a.m. and four more times this month.

“Jericho” isn’t just coming back to CBS for its new second season Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 10 p.m. It’s also bowing on Sci Fi Channel the previous night, Feb. 11, with a four-episode first-season marathon 7-11 p.m.

That’s on top of the current encores on Universal HD. (Upcoming UHD episodes: “Walls of Jericho” Friday at 6 and 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.; “Four Horsemen” Saturday at 1 p.m., Sunday at 9 a.m., Monday at 6 and 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.).

Sci Fi’s pickup of first- and second-season repeats also includes HD airings on the channel’s new high-definition simulcast feed. Too bad it’s not yet widely available. (It does get carried on DirecTV.) "Jericho" episodes will encore on Sci Fi Mondays at 10 p.m. starting Feb. 18.

You can also wallow in nuclear nightmares at CBS’ busy “Jericho” web site, which offers Season 2 sneak peeks alongside episode guides, behind-the-scenes footage, insiders’ commentary and full-episode streams of that cult-creating 22-hour first season.

[CBS photo above: Skeet Ulrich and Esai Morales in "Jericho's" Feb. 12 season premiere.]

Make your reservations now, you “Jericho” nuts. The canceled/revived CBS series will be the object of obsessive affection at Jerichon 2007, a fan get-together near the (fictional) town site, to be held Sept. 14-16 in Oakley, Kansas.

Info about the gathering, the town, registration and more is available at the Guardians of Jericho site. (Visit the fictional Jericho at CBS’ interactive map.)

Season 1 episodes are still streaming online at CBS’ site, which promises to post video of the “Jericho” Comic-Con panel soon. CBS plans to start Season 2 at midseason.