I've never been a big television fan. I have specific shows I enjoy watching, but our televisions are typically tuned to cartoons. In truth, I watch more cartoons now that I'm fully grown than I did as a kid. But, every once in a while, I will come across a show that I rather enjoy so I make a point of banishing the cartoons for a while and watching that show.
Last year, Jericho was that show. Of course, like most of the Jericho watching population, I didn't watch it when it was actually on air. I had class during that time, so I had a standing date with the show On Demand. Every Monday morning after working the night shift all weekend, I would curl up on the couch and tune in On Demand before sleeping the sleep of the graveyard shifter.
It was my little pleasure. My husband and sis would look into the living room, see me watching Jericho and go about their daily business, amused that I actually had a date with the television. It was a rare enough occurrence that it warranted amusement and even a little amazement. I let them laugh. I liked the show and the fact that I could watch it when it was convenient for me. They liked that I actually stopped moving long enough to watch it even though they didnt like it. It made me seem normal, as they gleefully informed me.
They always tell me that I take on too much. I work to hard, volunteer too much, am far too passionate and too quick to lend a hand. After a day of endless frustration, I might actually agree with them for a few minutes. But in reality, I don't know another way to be. Having an opinion and the overwhelming desire to do something about those things that bother me is normal for me. When I sit down in front of the computer, I have a purpose. While I'm moderating here, I'm sending out press releases or organizing campaigns and volunteers elsewhere as well. When I read the news, I'm looking for the stories to pass on to those same volunteers. When I'm scanning legislation or candidates, I'm taking notes to pass on to various groups. Or I'm doing schoolwork or helping someone else with schoolwork.
And it's all fun to me. I don't want to go out and party or watch countless hours of television. I don't have a desire to gossip about celebrities or my best friends. I don't feel a need to immerse myself in video games. Those things bore me to tears. So, the fact that I liked Jericho enough to make a point to watch it weekly with absolutely no other purpose than the fact that I liked the show was a huge thing around here because everything else I do for fun has a purpose too.
At any rate, the ratings for the show weren't great, so after the first season, it was canceled and my television viewing returned to the cartoon sphere where I sit with Kaia and Alo and we discuss what is happening and what it means.
What I did not know, however, when I returned to cartoons, was that I wasn't the only one totally bummed about Jericho being canceled. But, whereas I moved on and got back to life as usual, other fans of the show decided to do something about it and so began to collect nuts and send them to CBS by the pound. 44,000 pounds of nuts rolled into CBS and surprisingly, the campaign worked. Jericho is now back for a second "mini" season. And fans are still pushing like crazy to keep the show on the air.
And as happy as I am to see Jericho back for a second season, I'm a little disappointed. Not in the show, but in our priorities. Why is it that we can put so much effort into saving a television show, but when it comes to the things that really make a difference, we can't be bothered?
It's completely acceptable, and even encouraged, for people to rally for a television show to such an extent, but rally for something important and you're the odd one.
We gripe because we don't like the way this is going, we don't want to see this happen, we hate that this is the way something else is... but how many of us really ever do anything about it? As the Save Jericho campaign indicates, we can make a difference when we want too. So, why is it that the only things that are worthy of our action are television shows and other minute things that, in the end, aren't going to really affect anything other than how we spend one hour each Tuesday night or Monday morning?
I suppose I just don't get it. Sure, Jericho is a great show... but why are we putting so much effort into saving a single television show when we refuse to even entertain the notion of rallying for wolves, of sewing for a NICU or for the elderly, of writing to our elected officials about the issues we gripe about daily? How have our priorities shifted so drastically and when exactly did it happen?
If we can put all of that effort into saving one single television show, why can we not shift even a fraction of that dedication and purpose to the things that matter? All of our energy goes into the unimportant and the trivial and we're left with the desire to do nothing but bitch about the rest.
It truly disappoints me to know that the things we find worthy of our attention are the things that, in the end, don't make a difference at all. Jericho has its second season... but those wolves you griped about yesterday? They were delisted today. The homeless man you were depressed about last week? He's still sitting there tonight. That man you were hoping would get elected as president? He dropped out of the race two weeks ago. And where were you when it happened? Sending nuts to CBS? Bitching to your friends? Watching American Idol yet again?
It makes no sense, but I can say one thing with absolute certainty, if being normal means only taking action when taking action doesn't really mean anything... I'll happily pass on that one and go back to organizing campaigns for one of those things not worthy of your efforts. Those things need my attention far more than Jericho does and I'm perfectly okay with that.
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
