What is really sad is that I planned on using this space this week to talk about how disappointed I was that CBS picked what I felt to be a horrible time slot for "Jericho," and what I think is one of the reasons that the show is struggling to regain its audience (and the eight-month layover didn't help, either) and could possibly lead to yet its second cancellation.

Instead, I feel like I once again have to share with some people who don't feel they can separate the message from the messenger that they need to take a step back, take a deep breath, and think about things for a little bit.

If you've visited Airlock Alpha for a long time, you will know that I make it quite clear the shows I like, and the shows I don't like. Sometimes that means we don't cover specific shows, but usually, my opinions only come out in occasional snarky remarks, or on message boards.

That's some of the fun of doing an entertainment site, where we don't have to be all news, all the time. But we are still a news site, which means that we sometimes have to cover stories that I don't really like to cover.

People know that I didn't want to write anything negative about the campaign that had been organized to save "Star Trek: Enterprise," but I had to. Facts were there, questions were being left unanswered, and there was a fear that fans sending in their money because they thought they were doing the right thing might actually lose that money, for no reason.

I also didn't want to write about how "Flash Gordon" is doing on SciFi Channel, because I really like the actors, and I think the people who produce the show are amazing (and are really nice people). But in the end, I have to report what crosses my desk, and what I feel is going to be interesting for our readers. Sometimes, you as the reader appreciate that, and sometimes you don't. It's OK, because we know that no one is going to like what we write about 100 percent of the time, and we would never expect that anyway ... otherwise, you'd be nothing more than one of the robots Dr. Dan just talked about earlier this week.

The hardest stories for me to write are stories talking about the cancellation of shows. Even if I didn't like the show, or even if the cancellation came as no surprise, the benefit of having the type of sources we do is that we tend to learn about the fate of shows ahead of everyone else. The bad thing is that like it or not, there are fans of every show out there, and fans who do not want to hear bad news about their show, whether it's considered newsworthy or not.

"Jericho" is a prime example of that, but it's not alone. This site also was one of the first, if not the first to announce cancellations of just about every Joss Whedon production, and many other shows. I never liked making any of those announcements, but what are you going to do? That is my job here, to deliver news, and to deliver rumors that I feel have some legs to stand on. And the fact that you are here reading the site every day is a testament to how we put that together.

Because I am saying that "Jericho" is going to get canceled, does that mean I want the show to be cancelled? No. I love "Jericho," and I think this second season has been amazing. I had screeners for the first three episodes, so I have had the past few weeks off while the network catches up, but I can't wait to see how this ends. And I more than anything want to watch a third, fourth, and fifth season of the show.

Hell, I don't even have the heart to call my mom right now, because I'm afraid I'm going to have to break her heart. She loves "Jericho," it's one of the few shows that both of us watch and enjoy and talk about. She is not a science-fiction or genre fan by any stretch of the imagination, and she doesn't read this site. So right now, she has no idea that this rumor even exists, or what the ratings have been like. But I want to be wrong on this story so that I can call my mom with great news, that "Jericho" is going to be back in the fall.

I just don't think that's likely, and you can't blame me for that.

One of the amazing people that was part of the "Jericho" campaign who is known as Schumi, caught up with one of the producers of the show, the very talented Karim Zreik, in response to Airlock Alpha's report, and had this to say:

They have heard nothing about a cancellation; CBS is going to promote "Jericho" with the ratings challenged "Big Brother" in coming weeks; and no one has asked them yet to edit the final episode to include the series finale ending instead of the season finale ending.

I think that's great, and it's very encouraging. But there's one problem with that. In the 10 years I have run Airlock Alpha, and in the 10 years I have reported cancellations and renewals, there is one consistent element that always exist: cast and crew are almost always the last to know. I mean, look at the surprise these same producers had the last time CBS canceled "Jericho." Even we were surprised because we had reported the network was going to renew (and we found out later, the network was going to renew, but then changed its mind in the 11th hour). Over the years, producers and writers and actors have found out the fate of their show on the Internet on sites that are or are like Airlock Alpha before they hear it from the network bosses.

Of course, that's not always true. Sometimes, we end up being the last to know ... but as much as I want Karim's statements to be reflective of what the CBS hierarchy is thinking, I have to remember history, and have to remember about who makes these decisions and where.

Can we blame Nielsen Media Research, who provides the ratings? No. While the system has its flaws (no system would be perfect), it's still a system that networks rely on primarily in their decision to keep or kill programs. And once again, Nielsen has no stake in the survival or death of "Jericho." They are simply a messenger, and they shouldn't be attacked.

For the record, "Jericho" fans for the the most part have treated this news well, and while they may not like what they read, they have not even though about attacking us, or attacking others who express news they feel is "negative" toward their show. That is one of the many things I love about "Jericho" fandom, is that this is a very intelligent, passionate group of people who really care, who really love their show, and remember the people who have supported them in the past.

Sadly, it's the few bad apples that end up sticking out. And that's real sad. That's why I end up ditching a column that I think would've been far better in helping "Jericho's" cause than one that does nothing more than bitch about a couple of people who feel the need to attack those who are simply trying to do their job.

For the handful of people who can't be like other amazing "Jericho" fans like Schumi and Jane over at Jericho Monster, let me offer a bit of advice: Stop wasting your time attacking me, and spend your time instead in mobilizing people (especially those who might be Nielsen families) to watch this show. Let people know that on Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET, they need to be tuned in to CBS, and they need to make sure everyone they know is doing the same thing.

Nina Tassler had just one caveat to fans in renewing "Jericho" -- you have to bring the people to the show. It can't just be a show for the hardcore fans who saved it. It has to be a show for everyone. So get out there, and make it happen.

SyBits

On top of all of that, I still feel that CBS gave "Jericho" a garbage timeslot. Someday, maybe at the end of "Jericho's" fourth season, I can elaborate on that more.

In the meantime, let's read some letters.

I'll be brief, but what have you heard in regards to SciFi Channel picking up "Jericho"? What is the likelihood of having them do so? Is there still interest there?

-- Christopher Witman

Well, we're already familiar with the fact that SciFi Channel has picked up the reruns of the show, which I think is a great sign. But let's remember that this likely was a deal between SciFi and the production company behind "Jericho" as a way to help provide another promotional avenue for the show, so the cost to SciFi is likely quite minimal.

In terms of whether or not SciFi would pick up the show, I would think it's highly unlikely. The production costs alone on a basic cable budget are just too much, and with eroding viewership across the board, some of these cable channels have to scale back a bit. A couple years ago, I might say that SciFi's sister channel, USA Network, might have been a great candidate to pick this up, but even that isn't likely now that USA has changed its programming outlook.

I think that "Bionic Woman" should be given a second chance, but not on NBC. It should go to the SciFi Channel. I am sure it will have a better chance there. What do you think?

-- Hermes

This was a show that I didn't like, but at the same time, we go back to cost factor. I think it would be too costly to bring this show over to a cable channel. You have to remember that because this was a major network show, like "Jericho," contracts in place for cast and crew are at levels meant for networks. They can't just be reduced because it's moving to something smaller, which is why you don't see a lot of shows make that kind of move.

And you won't see it here, either. "Bionic Woman" is dead.

I am appalled that in an article about Bonnie Hammer and the SciFi Channel (link), you failed to even mention the real" flagship of the network, the Stargate franchise. Without "Stargate SG-1" and "Stargate: Atlantis," SciFi would have already closed their doors. There would have been no darling of you media types, "Battlestar Galactica."

Stargate has kept the network going for the last six years. Ten-year-old episodes still pull in higher ratings than new episodes of other programming.

Had your beloved "Farscape" or even "Battlestar Galactica" drawn the amount of viewers that "SG-1" does, then perhaps Bonnie Hammer would have renewed them. As such "Atlantis" is heading for Season 5, and "Battlestar Galactica" ... well, it is heading for reruns.

-- Becky

Yes, you're right, I should've mentioned Stargate somewhere in there, but I would hardly call it a flagship. Last time I checked, "Battlestar Galactica" still pulled in better ratings than "Stargate: Atlantis."

In terms of how the Stargate franchise trumps all other SciFi Channel programming, I am looking at the ratings SciFi Channel put out earlier this week that featured a new episode of "Stargate: Atlantis." It finished with a 1.1 household rating, behind three other SciFi Channel programs: "Ghost Hunters International," "ECW" and something called "Scorcher" that I never heard of.

Not to knock "Atlantis." I love the Stargates, and I should've mentioned them (my apologies). But no need to go crazy citing things that may need a little more thinking through.

Whenever I visit Airlock Alpha, I see an ad promoting L. Ron Hubbard. Are you guys supporting Scientology?

-- Jean

One of our advertisers do promote the L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future anthology. We don't discriminate in who is willing to spend money to promote their products here, and no matter what Hubbard's religious beliefs were, he was still a science-fiction author, and one that I believe is still enjoyed by many of our readers.

We don't support any particular church or religion, nor are we against any particular church or religion. Me, I'm Jewish, and feel there's room for everyone to believe what they like. To me, it's all a part of Gene Roddenberry's infamous Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations.

Send your letters to mhinman@airlockalpha.com, and if you grab my attention, they may end up right here for everyone to see.

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Michael Hinman, a 22-time winner of the British lottery and heir to three Nigerian fortunes, is the founder and site coordinator for Airlock Alpha, writing out of Tampa, Fla. He can be reached at mhinman@airlockalpha.com