Last week, DirecTV struck a pretty radical deal with NBC regarding Friday Night Lights. The satellite network will retain the rights to air new episodes of the drama first, followed by repeat viewings later on NBC.

This has obviously opened a new door for many other programs that developed passionate followings but less-than-stellar ratings…specifically, CBS’ Jericho. Well, according to an article in yesterday’s New York Times, the ball could already be rolling on just such a deal.

According to “two people briefed on the talks who requested anonymity”, Comcast has been in talks with CBS Paramount Network Television, who owns Jericho, to establish a similar deal, which would have the post-apocalyptic drama airing first exclusively on the cable network, followed by a later run on CBS.

So, Jericho continues to hang on by a thread for a little longer. I would love to see a deal like this, for a lot of reasons. For one thing, it would be nice to have Jericho back…I feel like this mini-season was just as good, if not better in parts, than the first season. Also, this move would continue to establish a trend that could spell hope for a lot of quality shows in the future that just can’t seem to find a niche.

Why couldn’t this have been around for Studio 60?

CAN WE PLEASE STOP TRYING TO SAVE SHOWS BY SENDING CRAP INTO THE STUDIOS?!??!?!

In yet another futile attempt to save a struggling show, fans of “Friday Night Lights” have decided to attempt to save the show by sending in lightbulbs to NBC executive Ben Silverman.

For some reason, ever since “Jericho” was “saved” this is what everyone things they should do if their favorite show is cancelled. Well, I got some bad news for you guys - “Friday Night Lights” isn’t getting saved by this - in fact, no show is ever going to be saved by sending junk into the execs at any network.

I mean seriously, chances are they don’t even see this stuff - and if they do, they’re so convinced that the Nielsen ratings are fool-proof and that their corporate way of doing things in television is fool proof that they’re not going to allow this kind of thing to “save” anything.

Let’s face it - the “nuts” campaign didn’t even save Jericho. It simply gave the show a temporary stay of execution. CBS has been determined NOT to promote this show - even seemingly ignoring it when during the Writer’s Strike when it was one of the only scripted shows even on the network with new episodes.

How can anyone explain or justify that? The answer seems clear - CBS doesn’t want the show saved. If they did, they’d promote it, they’d do recap episodes, they’d do SOMETHING to remind people that its coming on - but they haven’t done that.

So please, I’m begging you, stop sending stuff to executives to save television shows. Take those few dollars and donate them to a charity - if we all spent as much time trying to save other people as we do trying to save tv shows we’d be a lot better off.

Though I don’t cover it on the site or watch it regularly, what I have seen of Friday Night Lights has been quality TV.  Good news for fans as multiple sources are confirming that it has been picked up for the 2007-08 season.  The NBC upfront is Monday, so be looking for official word on everything the Peacock has in store!

It’s Wednesday, which means it’s one of the fullest nights of the week.  Here’s what’s on:

Friday Night Lights - State - NBC - 8/7c

Friday has some great news this week, with the order from NBC for six new episodes.  And tonight, they head into the season finale, with the Panthers heading to the state championship, and with Coach Taylor considering a move to coach a college team.

Jericho - A.K.A. - CBS - 8/7c

Still loving the heck out of Jericho.  I think one of my favorite moment of the series came last week, and it was just one of those ‘little’ moments.  At the end, when they’re picking up the radio news transmission, one of the characters recognizes the guy doing the news report as the old “farm reporter” or something like that.  I wish the show would highlight more moments like this, with ordinary people being forced into roles they never expected they would have to take on. 

American Idol - Results Show - FOX - 9/8c

So, who’d have thought that Sanjaya would actually put on a competent performance, huh?  In fact, it seems like last night the girls were somewhat overshadowed by the guys for the first time this year.  Someone’s on their way out, tonight, though.

Lost - One of Us - ABC - 10/9c

I hate to have my expectations raised.  Hate it.  But these folks who have seen tonight’s episode don’t make it any easier. 

Exhibit A : Ausiello from TVGuide had this to say:

I feel it’s my responsibility to tell you that this is easily the best Lost episode of the season. Bar none. You want answers? This one’s got ‘em in spades. Not only will we find out how Juliet came to the island, but we’ll learn why she stuck around and the reason her people gassed her. And unlike some of the show’s other “answers,” these make perfect sense in the context of the overall narrative.

Exhibit B : Doc Jensen from Entertainment Weekly:

A couple years from now, when the series is done, I’m certain there will be a DVD product that will collect the 20 or so episodes that represent the Definitive Lost Saga, and this one will be on it.

Exhibit C : Herc from Aint It Cool give it 4 1/2 stars:

We get answers this week to questions we’ve been asking since early season one.

The hype!  Must…not…buy…in…

TVGuide’s Ausiello reports that NBC has ordered up 6 new episodes of the high school football drama Friday Night Lights. 

This is great news for fans of the show, as it has been ‘on the bubble’ for a while, and the fact that NBC has faith in the program this late in the game is a good indication that a second season pick-up is on the way.