How many times have you become completely captivated by a television series only to go online and read that it's the latest casualty in the ongoing network ratings war? I for one am fed up becoming invested in a series only for it to end without any kind of satisfying conclusion.

Farscape, although not the first to hit the chopping block, is perhaps one of the most newsworthy cancellations to date. As the SciFi Channels signature series, it was a massive blow to the morale of science-fiction fans to hear that such an immensely creative show was to end with a cliffhanger after four years of entertainment. But the cancellation itself wasnt the hardest part of the announcement.

Quoting financial concerns as the main reason for axing the show, the SciFi Channel completely disregarded its obligations as an entertainment medium and once again proved that television is nothing more than a business and that fans are nothing more than dollar signs. But then the Save Farscape campaign happened, and thousands of fans worldwide banded together in order to save the series.

Preview showings, advertising ploys, DVD projects and mass-mailings to the SciFi Channel itself were all carefully designed to draw attention to the series. And up to the final moment when the sets were to be struck, it looked like their efforts had been wasted until the head honchos behind the network decided to put all sets, costumes and props into deep storage giving fans the break they needed. Not long afterward, The Peacekeeper Wars movie was announced and Farscape was back. The fans had been heard.

It wasnt the first time fans had come together to save their show - when Fox cancelled Dark Angel, its transgenic followers sent barcodes (a trademark for the series) to the suits behind the decision in the hopes of changing their mind. Even earlier still, viewers of the teen drama Roswell flooded the offices of The WB with Tabasco sauce bottles (which bought them another season) and then UPN with Snapple caps before the show was eventually buried. Unfortunately, neither campaign had the same success as Save Farscape.

The latest in this line of success stories is the Nuts campaign which essentially said to hell with CBSdecision! Stacks of nuts were dispatched to the CBS offices forcing network executives to take notice of the fanbase Jericho had acquired. And the news that the series will be making a comeback is not lost on its fans who are eternally grateful.

I was so disappointed when CBS cancelled 'Jericho,' especially since I completely missed the very last episode, massive "Jericho" fan Karen e-mailed me. "So when I opened the TV Guide and saw they were bringing it back, I was jumping for joy! I am so happy CBS listened to their fans. I can't wait for the new episodes to come out.

And Karen is not alone. Jericho will make its second season debut in the winter, most likely early 2008, and there are hoards of fans out there watching the reruns on CBS desperate to continue the apocalyptic story. So if you have ever watched a series that has been taken off the air before it had a chance to shine, watch Jericho. Tell your family about it, tell your friends about because these fans need to be heard. This is a series with genuine heart, a wonderful concept and a very talented cast and crew.

But with the new season set to introduce a whole new generation of genre shows, the question becomes who will be next in line for a save our series campaign?

SyBits

For those of you missing Michael Hinman and wondering how he can be writing stories but not writing his column, never fear, he'll be back next week. He's been on a well-deserved vacation in Pennsylvania, although it doesn't seem like it since he appears to be working more now than he does when he's not on vacation.

If you want to send me a letter, just drop me an e-mail at mhinman@airlockalpha.com and you might find your words right in this very spot

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Alan Stanley Blair is the assistant news editor of Airlock Alpha, writing out of Scotland. He can be reached at ablair@airlockalpha.com

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