The Plot Thus Far: Nuclear bombs have gone off all over the country. Jericho, a small town in West Bumblefuck, Kansas, has been cut off from most communication from the outside world, except for the occasional satellite transmission to the one and only television located in the local bar, which is where most people spend their time. They do know that several cities have been hit, including but not limited to Denver, Washington, D.C,. Atlanta, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Hawkins, the mysterious stranger, has a map in his basement indicating even more cities, but we don't know how he knows this information or who he's connected to or anything about him really, other than the fact that he hates football and seemingly his family.

Every week we get a new piece of cryptic information, usually having something to do with the government's (very limited) response to the attacks. So far we've gotten an F-16 flyover, a tank sighting, a Homeland Security recorded telephone call, an Emergency Alert System alert that led to nothing, a couple warnings from FEMA, and an airdrop of supplies from the Chinese government. There have also been a couple of fairly reliable reports of FEMA operating refugee camps in other towns, and the makeshift Jericho police squad has had a few run-ins with Ravenwood, a group of mercenaries allegedly sent by Homeland Security. Why no one from Jericho ever tries to actively seek assistance from any of these fine institutions is anyone's guess.

The town is being run more or less by Mayor Green and his family. The two boys run around making all the decisions and then report back to Daddy, who usually disapproves. In the last episode's election, he was defeated by Gray Anderson, who is going to have an awfully big hat to fill in the upcoming half of the season.

The Jericho Community Players

Jake Green (Skeet Ulrich) - Oh, Jake. What can I say. The heart and soul (and maker of many a confused face) of Jericho, Jake has a Very Mysterious Past that is revealed in tiny, tiny slivers of information each week. Kind of like Lost, except not at all. He returned to Jericho right before the bombs went off and has henceforth dispensed all sorts of random information and heroics at exactly the right time in exactly the right place. Other than that, he's a pretty big idiot.

Johnston Green (Gerald McRaney) - The father of the Green clan and former Mayor McCheese. Papa Green just lost the election to his nemesis, Gray Anderson, and God only knows what he's going to be doing with himself now. He spent the better part of the first season dying from a bad flu, and was only saved at the last minute by the valiant and ridiculous efforts of his sons.

Gail Green (Pamela Reed) - The unofficial Mother of the entire town. Sometimes creepy but always fun to watch, Mama Green usually spends her time threatening her boys and providing a shoulder to cry on to many various citizens of Jericho. She's the queen of making seemingly innocuous bits of dialogue seem outrageously sinister. It's great.

Eric Green (Kenneth Mitchell) - The other Green brother. Eric is both a whiner AND a major pussy. Every time Jake comes up with another wacky plan to blow shit up, Eric pouts as hard as he can. He's married to April (a weepy waif and apparently the only nurse in Jericho), but he is currently in love with another woman (Mary Bailey, owner of the local bar and temptress extraordinaire). Oh, and April's pregnant. Good luck, Eric.