A new hope for Jericho?

Edna:  Margie, I just found something on the Internet, I think you'd best come over here and listen to this. Do you remember when that film crew was in Jericho a few years back, making that documentary about us townfolk?  I'm sure you do, I definitely remember how much you complained that they focused too much on the Green family (especially that scandalous Jake Green!) and not enough on the rest of us.

Margie: Edna, those folks came here and made a big commotion but did they put you and me on the TV? No, and we've lived here longer than anybody else. We ARE Jericho. Nuts!

Edna:  I think we'd better take some steps to make sure we're included this time.  I don't know about you, but I'm going to go out and buy a new hat. The flashier the better, maybe that will attract some attention during filming.  Plus, I'm going to write a letter to that Mr. Netflix, whoever he is. Plead our case directly, so to speak.

Margie: Great idea! I think I'll wear my new hat that has the big fish on it. Do write him a letter and we'll enclose a picture of me. He won't be able to refuse us then for sure!

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News broke last week on various online media outlets (TV Guide and The New York Times, among others) that Netflix may be picking up Jericho in order to resume filming the TV series that originally aired on CBS. We were tickled to hear the news, because Jericho is a show that we both hold near and dear to our hearts.  This is partly because we both participated in the original fight for the second season, but it's also because Jericho is how and why we became friends in the first place.  We would love for Jericho to get another chance, and fans are mobilizing to help Netflix to fully appreciate what a devoted fandom Jericho already has.  If you're interested in becoming involved, we suggest you check out SavingJericho.com for resources and suggestions on how to let your voice be heard.  

National Peanut Month

Margie: March is National Peanut Month. I guess we all know a lot about peanuts. Yes, I remember when CBS came to town and filmed Jericho. It was a wonderful show even though a lot of nuts watched it. I bet a lot of nuts are still working at CBS too. I won't call any names.

I remember all the nuts we sent those folks. Those were the days, huh? Well, it's pretty quiet here these days. Edna and I still go to Bailey's but Skeet doesn't come by anymore and all those TV trucks are gone.

You all grab some nuts and let's watch the reruns of Jericho. Come see us again. We'll leave the lights on for you.

Sunday Funnies

Margie: Here's what Edna's husband always said to her.

Emma Nutt Day

Emma and Stella Nutt on the switchboard.

Margie: Edna, I bet you don't know what today is. It's Emma M. Nutt day.

Miss Nutt was the very 1st female telephone operator, hired in Boston on September 1st, 1878. She is quoted as saying she was "very glad her 1st name was not Imma".

Edna: Ha! Well, at least she had a sense of humor. I bet it came in handy while trying to work the phones in a big city like Boston back in those days, when ALL the calls went through a switchboard.

Margie: You couldn't have worked there, dingbat. The women operators had to be single, between 17 and 26 years old, and they needed long arms to reach the switchboard.

Guess how much money they made? $7 a week. That wouldn't have bought your chocolate much less anything else.

Edna: You just can't resist trying to be a know-it-all about everything, can you? I think you're forgetting about inflation, I imagine $7 per week back then would have gotten you quite a bit.

You know, this all reminds me of my years answering phones at the salt mine here in Jericho. Not a day went by that I didn't get a compliment from perfect strangers about my sweet phone voice and impeccable manners. Such a shame that the profits fell off so sharply after I retired, I think their customers missed talking to me.

Margie: There are Nutts then there are Nuts. Need I remind you of which one you are? Lying liar.

Margie and Edna: Origins

Some of the more recent followers of Margie and Edna may not be aware of the ladies' humble beginnings, so today we'd like to shed a little light on their origins.

Margie and Edna's past began well before this blog did. They have their roots in a CBS television show, Jericho. In the spring of 2007, Jericho was canceled and fans got angry. What followed was a massive fan uprising. Ultimately, the nutty fan protest led CBS to change its mind and complete a shortened second season of the show. (Sadly, the show didn't survive its second season and was canceled again.) The "Save Jericho" campaign of 2007 took place largely online, with fans of the show making use of blogs and other resources such as Digg to spread the word about their show and its plight.

Margie and Edna debuted on the Remote Access television blog in August 2007, and made several repeat appearances there as well as on other blogs. (It should be noted that the characters of Margie and Edna never actually appear on the show itself. Rather, we created these two characters as a way to be able to comment on the show's action without the limitations of being in the show, which gave us a certain amount of freedom in what we could have the ladies discuss.) The two elderly sisters soon grew in popularity within the Jericho fandom, and in October 2007 a short video was created to illustrate their place in the community of Jericho.

We'd like to share that video with you today, and we hope you enjoy it. With the inception of this blog in March 2008, Margie and Edna were able to branch out from the Jericho universe and into a world of their own, much to our delight. We thank you all, both old fans and new, for continuing to provide an audience for these two crabby old ladies.

Margie and Edna: Elvis Lives

Margie: Here's a picture of me, Cousin T, and Cousin T's mama when we first met Elvis. I knew your head had a purpose, Cousin T.


Margie: Edna, I was just thinking about the time I had Elvis in the basement for a visit. What a lovely gentleman he was. We had Special Tea and I made his favorite peanut butter sandwiches. You were gone to Paris, Texas so that made his visit even more special.

Edna: Margie, every time you open your mouth, you give me cause to worry about your mental status. First of all, I went to Paris, France, not Paris, Texas. Second of all, when I was in Paris, France, that young man was barely out of short pants, so I can't imagine you'd have been "entertaining" him in the basement. You always did get your stories mixed up.

Margie: You are a lying liar. You have never been to France, fool. If you'd been to France you'd know some French words like the ones Elvis whispered to me.

Edna: Land sakes, how could I have heard what he whispered to you, you maroon? But, I'm betting what he actually said to you was "Vous etes fou et dangereuse" and then he escaped from the basement, yelling "Aidez-moi!"

Margie, you're the lying liar, you know full well that I've been to France. You're just saying I haven't to vex me, and it surely is working! Besides, you know the government asked me not to talk about it, so that's all I'm going to say about that.

Margie: And I have a final word for you, you Nut! Who do you think took Elvis in when he tired of the spotlight? Elvis lives! In my basement.

Here are the pictures I took of him in the basement, you fool.