Just last week we posted the news that the Jericho Rangers (fans of Jericho who want to see the show come back for another season) were pooling resources together in an effort to make a commercial to play in the L.A. area for the month of June, in hopes that some TV executive would take notice and do something about it.

Well, that commercial is totally complete now and it launched officially last Friday. They got the voice-over work done by Brad Beyer, who plays Stanley Richmond on the show, which was totally great of him to help out.

The great thing about this campaign is that it’s not just the fans doing it themselves, but the writers and creators of the show, and even Jericho actors like Beyer, are all trying to get it done together.

Go check out the commercial on SaveJerichoAgain.com when you get a chance, and check out the official press release for the commercial below.

Keep up the good fight Rangers!

HISTORY STARTS NOW:
JERICHO CAMPAIGN TAKES TOTHE AIRWAVES

Fresh on the heels of funding an ad in “Variety”and a gigantic billboard in downtown Los Angeles broadcasting the need for a new home, fans of the serial post-apocalyptic drama Jericho are once again demonstrating their commitment to resurrecting their favorite television show. The latest salvo in the fight for Jericho? Over 200 cable TV ads airing over the course of ten days around Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and the South and East San Fernando Valley.

Through yet another massive fundraising effort over the past three weeks, fans – or Jericho Rangers, as they’re often called – have put together over $6,000 to purchase TV advertising in what may be a first for a fan commu- nity seeking to show support for a beloved show. The 30-second ad, created by a talented fan with the screen name RubberPoultry, begins airing June 12th in a ten-day run that hits popular, ratings-rich shows, such as “Ghost Hunters”on the SciFi Channel, “Deadliest Catch”on the Discovery Channel, and other programs on the History Channel.

With voice-over graciously provided by actor Brad Beyer, Jericho’s stalwart, salt-of-the-earth farmer/ranch owner “Stanley Richmond,”the ad can be found at www.savejerichoagain.com, a site specifically created to showcase the TV spot and highlight fan efforts on behalf of the show.

Targeting efforts in and around the Hollywood industry area where a decision about Jericho’s future will most likely be made in the near future, Jericho Rangers have worked with Time-Warner (holding 97% of the market share in that region) to create a schedule that complements other fans’media efforts and maintains awareness of support for the show, its cast, and crew.

Since Jericho’s official cancellation by CBS in March, it’s been rumored that several networks and media compa-nies, including the SciFi Channel, have expressed an interest in reviving and picking up the show. Talks are thought to be currently underway with Jericho’s creators and interested parties to bring the show back to life in some incarnation.

A Save Jericho commercial is in the completion stages that will run through June and hope to compel some studio or executive to bring Skeet Ulrich and company back to life.

You can go watch the commercial right now, even though it’s not totally completed yet. Tonight at 10pm EST, there will be a special live showing of the commercial on the Save Jericho Again website.

The fans sent the producers of Jericho a notice about the commercial, and they got an awesome message from Jon Turteltaub:

Jon Turteltaub here and I have to tell you… Wow! I am beyond impressed with both the enthusiasm and the talent that went into the commercial you made. It’s brilliant!

People say we work in a cynical business, but I can tell you that none of us on “Jericho” feel anything less than grateful and encouraged by your support, effort and passion.

We’re still fighting…. and knowing you’re all out there, fighting right along with us, has completely kept this fight alive.

In my career, I have never experienced anything like this. Sometimes, the quantity of fans, viewers and theater goers is only visible in ratings and box-office numbers. But on “Jericho”, you are all very real and very special to us.

Thanks for being there… and for giving us the belief in our show, and in you, even when times are tough.

We’re not done yet!!

Jon Turteltaub

I really, REALLY hope The Rangers’ hard work pays off, because this whole endeavor and effort to save the show is going above and beyond what I’ve ever seen before.

Variety reports that Fox plans on running LESS commercials during their showings of Fringe and Dollhouse this coming 2008-2009 season.

Fox is calling it “Remote-Free TV.”

They will be showing only HALF the normal amount of commercial and promo time during an hour show, which will amount to only FIVE MINUTES according to Variety.

This is amazing stuff. Here is a big excerpt from the article, which is absolutely mind-blowing:

Fox Entertainment chairman Peter Liguori introduced the initiative as “less reason (for viewers) to grab the remote and change the channel.”

“We need to give viewers new reasons to come to network TV.”

Fox sales topper Jon Nesvig said the ads will air in smaller pods.

“It’s more entertainment for the viewer and more impact for your messages,” Nesvig told advertisers. “We’re committed to this format.”

According to Liguori, the initiative will add about six minutes to “Fringe” and “Dollhouse” segs.

“Fringe” exec producer J.J. Abrams said he appreciated the opportunity to expand his show’s segs.

“It’s always a struggle to get traction,” Abrams told Daily Variety. “And it feels like there are a dozen commercial breaks per hour. Anything that allows us to have more time is great.”

It doesn’t appear as if Fox is paying any additional license fees for the added minutes, but the net believes that the extra minutes will add value to their properties.

“It gives extra attention to the show, and helps series when they go to DVD, foreign and syndication,” Liguori said.

If only NBC had thought of this first and given Journeyman more attention…who knows what would have happened.

No doubt though, Fox is trying HARD to give these shows a chance. And I appreciate it.

I think the commercials are pretty unique, hence the reason I’m posting it here. They consist of a split screen with two different athletes saying the same phrase. The kicker is, from what Kobe Bryant said on Monday, is that they didn’t tell the players who they’d be paired up with.

Kobe’s partner? Shaquille O’Neal. That’s great stuff.

The one I’m posting below has Steve Nash with Jason Kidd, and the final line is ironic. Two people are saying the same words, but there can be only one.

These probably were a bit complicated to get right, because the players had to say the words at the exact same pace as the other guy, but filmed entirely separate.

All I have to say is that Nike marketing division has to be one of the best around. They constantly churn out top-notch advertising.

The commercial came out awhile ago, so this may not be new to anyone, but if you haven’t seen it yet, or even if you have, it’s worth another look. It features Steven Jackson of the St. Louis Rams and Shawn Merriman from the San Diego Chargers.

The players are shown running through various obstacles, time and weather, all blended together as if they never stopped moving. The concept depicts the utter essence of a football season, in which a player can’t give up and has to keep fighting all year long, through mud, rain, snow, day or night.

It starts with Merriman and halfway through, it switches to Jackson, who finishes it on a strong move to the end zone, which it what all offensive players strive for. That last inch.

With the whole thing done to the theme from “The Last of the Mohicans“, it has an epic feel to it.

The trailer on YouTube was taken from the HD feed, so it’s decent quality. If you want to see it in high resolution, visit Nike’s football area of their website. Click on Media and then Leave Nothing ads.