What is it about Kansas that makes it the official site of postapocalyptic TV America? The Day After — the first of the two nuclear-bomb-aftermath TV movies of the early '80s — took place in a small town in Eastern Kansas.

And 20+ years later, Kansas had a postapocalyptic TV revival in the form of Jericho, a short-lived series about life in a small Kansas town after the United States as it previously existed is gone.

If I lived in Kansas, I don't know whether I'd be honored or offended that my home state was the official site of postapocalyptic TV. I guess there's no such thing as bad publicity. And who wouldn't want to be portrayed as a survivor? (But this assumption that the heartland will remain after the cities get bombed might possibly explain how Indiana petting zoos are considered for Homeland Security funding.) Maybe there's just something quintessentially American about the Sunflower State.

Regardless of why, postapocalyptic horror is coming back to Kansas tonight when Jericho returns to CBS, somewhat unexpectedly, for a short second season.

The show debuted in 2006, was canceled and then brought back to life after a viewer campaign. And now it's back again for seven episodes of postapocalyptic fun. Apparently, the new character introduced this season (Esai Morales of NYPD Blue and Bad Boys fame) will bring enough of a new story to the show that new viewers will be able to jump right in and join the party.

If you're a former fan, be prepared for fewer characters and explosions: “We had to be very wise about where to blow things up, because it's expensive to blow things up,” according to executive producer Carol Barbee. But the new season will answer many questions left dangling last time around — such as the origin of the bombs.

I've never seen the show and don't know yet whether I'll watch — I'm still spooked by The Day After. But it could be intriguing. Has anyone seen it? Is it good? Regardless, if you're jonesing for some postapocalyptic Kansas, you're in luck tonight.