It happens every spring [Commentary]

It’s May. Baseball season is in full swing and the network television season is wrapping up another year. As popular television shows find themselves “on the bubble” of cancellation, fans pour out their hearts to the heartless corporations that run the networks. They try to buy a little more time for their favorite shows, in hopes that one more season will provide the necessary buzz to turn them from undiscovered gems into blockbusters.

I gave up on this tactic years ago, after we failed to save Dark Skies from NBC’s corporate axe. But I admire fans who are dedicated enough to try. Recently, fans of CBS’s post-apocalyptic drama Jericho managed to buy a half-season for the troubled show. It was enough to wrap up the horrible cliffhanger from the end of the season and pave the way for (hopefully someday) a feature film.

As with recent years, this season’s most troubled shows are of the science fiction/fantasy genre. The big contenders right now are Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles (FOX), Chuck (NBC), and Dollhouse (FOX).

Not surprisingly, TSCC is getting a big push from fans. They have a potential summer blockbuster in Terminator: Salvation to help them sway the executives at FOX. And although money is the language that speaks loudest in the corridors of Hollywood, others are taking a more personal approach.

From Tuscon, Arizona, comes this heartfelt and heart-wrenching plea, “Save TSCC or I’ll Be Sad.” If this doesn’t sway FOX executives, it may be that Skynet has already taken over and Terminators are running the network.