Sci Fi Channel makes a deal for the briefly cancelled, quickly restored CBS family drama starring Skeet Ulrich.

By Jonathan Zipper

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 1/23/08 – It worked in WWII and it worked again. Ever since a fan-driven nut stunt helped resurrect “Jericho,” the CBS series is on a roll – recently receiving a pick-up for cable distribution from the Sci Fi Channel.

The Sci-Fi focused net will have six months of exclusive rights to air reruns of the post-apocalypse drama’s first season. Once “Jericho” returns to CBS in February for its second season, Sci-Fi will get to replay those episodes as well. Overall, the network inked a three-year deal for access to the show.

Fans of “Jericho” were heartbroken when CBS unexpectedly announced its cancellation at the end of the 2006-2007 television season. Having debuted to solid ratings, the series seemed to fall off many viewers’ radars when it came back from a three-month hiatus. The announcement sparked a full-fledged movement by “Jericho” watchers, which included delivering shipments of nuts to various executives, an homage to the first season’s explosive finale.

“Nuts” was what General Anthony McAuliffe told the Germans in World War II when asked if he wanted to surrender his outnumbered troops during the Battle of the Bulge. The simple statement stumped the Germans as much as it rallied the Allied troops and the key town of Bastogne was saved.

“Jericho” character Jake tells the story and it gave viewers a rallying point to the degree that 40,000 pounds of peanuts were sent to CBS.

With an abbreviated second season, seven-episode arch set to premiere February 12 on CBS, Sci Fi wanted to reassure the fan-base that its voice is being heard loud and clear.

“Thanks to the passion and persistence of its loyal viewers who saved this program from being canceled, new viewers can now experience this show for the first time on the Sci Fi Channel while CBS continues the story in its second-season run,” said Thomas Vitale, senior VP of programming at Sci Fi.

Promotional plans for “Jericho” on Sci Fi include a four-hour marathon on February 11 before it bows in its regular time-slot on Mondays at 10 p.m. a week later.