'4400' Fans Send Sunflower Seed Plea

By DAVE KOLPACK,

Posted: 2008-02-10 09:37:14

Filed Under: TV News

WAHPETON, N.D. (Feb. 10) - A sunflower seed company says it has shipped nearly 6,000 bags of its salty snacks to USA Network to try to save a science fiction show. And the actor whose seed-spitting character inspired the campaign is loving every minute of it.

Fans of "The 4400" asked Wahpeton-based Giants Snacks LLC to help with the campaign after the cable network dumped the show in December. Many of the sales of Giants Sunflower Seeds are international orders, which the company does not normally accept.

"I'm sure by Monday afternoon, the mailroom at USA Network will be getting somewhat full," said Tom Schuler, who handles Internet sales for Giants.

The campaign, modeled after one by fans who sent peanuts to keep the CBS show "Jericho" alive, has the support of 4400 actor Jeffrey Combs. His character, Dr. Kevin Burkhoff, was the inspiration for the sunflower send-off.

"There's nothing better than an avid fan," Combs said. "The '4400' fans have taken their loss with grace and dignity and, with this campaign, quite a bit of ironic humor.

"Love it. Love them for doing this," he said.

The show tells the story of 4,400 people who were abducted at various times but returned at the same time near Seattle. They have not aged since their abduction and remember nothing about the time they were gone.

Network spokeswoman Kristin Schulman said its New York offices had received about 30 pounds of seeds by Wednesday, before Giants sent its first shipment. The company has since shipped about 650 pounds of seeds, with orders from about 30 states and a dozen countries, Schuler said.

"We love hearing from our viewers and appreciate their enthusiasm for 'The 4400,' a series we're extremely proud of, but it would be very difficult logistically to bring the show back," network officials said in a statement.

Renee Cuddahy, 32, a '4400' fan from Philadelphia, was optimistic the sunflower seed campaign would work. The bags sell for $5 apiece or $20 for a case of 24.

"I didn't realize there were so many places in the world where the show was so popular," Cuddahy said. "This is so wacky it just might get their attention."

Combs said he has chewed sunflower seeds all his life, but has yet to try the Giants brand.

"They probably have quite a few of them over at the network right now," he said. "Maybe I can get a sampling from them."

On the Net:

Fan sites: http://www.savethe4400.com , http://www.savethe4400.net

Giants Snacks: http://www.giantsnacks.com

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

2008-02-10 09:37:14

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9 comments

applet30 03:02:48 PM Feb 11 2008

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Love the show watched from very beginning, they didn't even give you an ending not the way to go. Bring back good tv programs get rid of the smut.

ZerstorerArranz 01:56:11 PM Feb 11 2008

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Now if only Lost, Heroes and every reality show would get canceled then it would be perfect television.

chris36m 12:13:16 PM Feb 11 2008

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Never saw or even heard of the show, we dont get USA-HD, so if it's not in Hi Def, i wont watch it.

Junuminati 11:21:13 AM Feb 11 2008

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The first 4 or 5 episodes were intriguing but it went downhill after that. And it kinda plays out like an extended X Files episode and if anyone remembers, Fox Mulder in X Files was eating sunflower seeds in several episodes so that's cleary a take on Duchovny's character..

maregolden 10:11:04 AM Feb 11 2008

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Even if they can't bring the show back, it would be great to have a movie to tie up the loose ends and give us closure. I would really like to know if Tom ever does the shot, and if so, what 4400 power did he get?

anlago2 08:40:59 AM Feb 11 2008

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The whole problem is the Nielson Rating System. They do not represent the correct number of eyes on any show on any network. They need a new system besides the one they have been using forever.

Mccoyanderson 11:39:54 PM Feb 10 2008

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These guys are just trying to copy what the Jericho fans did....

shortbarb50 11:22:03 PM Feb 10 2008

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I loved this show. I can't understand how some really bad show stay on for so long and then youfinally get a really good show and they cancel it. All the stories were so good and the actorsd are so good. Same thing happened to Far Scape that was on SCI Fi channel. I can only hope they do bring 4400 back on.