Just where the hell is Jericho?

I don't know if I'll actually stick with this show. The concept is certainly intriguing, but there's just too much crap to nitpick on. **SPOILER ALERT**

First, where is Jericho? This map on the CBS Web site shows Jericho being on Interstate 70 where U.S. Highway 83 meets it and U.S. 40 divides from the interstate. Although the roads don't match exactly, in reality that would mean Jericho is standing in for Oakley, Kansas, a town of about 2,000.

However, at the end of tonight's episode, as Mysterious Big City Guy is putting pins in his map (presumably of where other nukes have hit), he starts somewhere southeast of Oakley before putting his pin at Denver. That would actually fit with the idea that townspeople were taken to a salt mine to hide out from the fallout, as there are salt mines at Hutchinson.

Hutch, however, is more than 450 miles from Denver -- much too far away to see a mushroom cloud. Let alone the damn mountains. Plus, Hutch is only about 50 miles from Wichita, which doesn't fit in with the mileage sign shown in the beginning of the first episode. Oakley is about 250 miles from Denver, still too far away to see a mushroom cloud or the damn mountains. Kanorado (on the state line) is about 180 miles from Denver. Still too far to see the damn mountains, at least.

Second, Jake's ex-girlfriend is living up to her blondeness. She's walking along the road for gas when a patrol car from her home county's sheriff's office stops to help and she doesn't realize that the two guys wearing the uniforms are people she's never seen before? Trust me, in a town the size Jericho is supposed to be (I believe the mayor said about 3,000), you would know who all the people in uniform are. I didn't get the impression she had also just arrived back in Jericho. And some guy who needs a shave and has skanky teeth would be a big tip off. Especially when he doesn't know where the nearest gas station is.

The Mysterious Big City Guy: Really, one black family in a small, rural town isn't that unbelievable. Neither is that he would act like he knows everything and the bumpkins no nothing. I've known plenty of big-city types who come out here acting like they've been sent from God to save us from our own hickness, only to turn tail and run when they can't cut it out here. Can't live without theater or opera or jazz clubs or one-hour eyeglasses or sushi or drive-through everything? Fine. Seeya. Just what this guy is still remains to be seen, though.

Oh, and just because cops or fire fighters are out in the middle of nowhere doesn't mean they don't get training and education from Homeland Security. Where do you think a good portion of food in your kitchen and favorite restaraunts comes from? Don't you think that'd make a good target? Pass the smallpox, please.

And just what is Jake's story? This (and some of the other characters) might be the only thing that keeps me watching. He's vague about where he's been, but he seems to have some medical training, and he "knew someone" who knew something about explosives. He did something to disgrace his family, but something they were able to keep secret (not an easy trick in a small town). And something that didn't bother his grandfather enough to disown him. That could be anything from prison to being grand marshal of a gay pride parade. If they reveal these stories slowly, it might make it worth it to put up with the stupid parts.

I'm sure I could go on, but that's enough for now.