Another Friday, and another batch of freak out worthy ratings for Fringe and FlashForward.
How long will FOX tolerate the middling ratings for Fringe?
Barring a decision by FOX to move Fringe to a better time slot, or some statement from FOX along the lines of “We love this show, we love JJ Abrams, and we don’t care how bad the ratings are we will air this show forever,” I wouldn’t plan on it being back for a third season.
I know, we’ll hear a lot of “wait for the DVR numbers”, “New Moon opened last night!” and “It will be back to a 2.2 next week, just wait and see…”
Hear me, Fringe fans: root for a better time slot anyway!
Fringe is no Lost
FOX has enough data to realize already that Fringe is no Lost.
If last night is any indication it is never going to approach Lost levels of intrigue for me. Last night was supposed to be a big mythology episode. Only it just wasn’t that great. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t think it completely sucked or was even bad. But it didn’t have any “Wow! I can’t believe THAT happened” moments in it.
If you loved last night’s episode and it made you giddy with delight, I’m happy for you. Truly. But you should probably root for a schedule change then, and not to Fridays!
Did anyone really think a bunch of bald, pale skinned, no eyebrow having white guys would be a huge draw?
If there was a market for bald pasty faced white guys who like spicy food, I would be an international sensation! Short of stunt-casting Patrick Stewart (Jean Luc Picard) and Michael Chiklis (Vic Mackey from The Shield) as Observers, you probably aren’t going to be able to use the Observers as a big marketing ploy.
FlashForward Finally Introduces a Likeable Character!
As for FlashForward it’s good news, bad news. The good news (at least for me) was that last night was one of the better recent episodes, the bad news is the ratings are still falling and I’m probably going to cut bait on the show anyway. I did like last night’s episode better than most for one simple reason: the Keiko character was fully introduced and it was like “finally, a character I actually like and care about!” As a bonus the back/forward story for Bryce got more interesting due to Keiko as well..
Too Little Too Late? What’s the story?
But the down side is it took to almost Thanksgiving to get a character I actually was interested in and…it was in an episode where there’s almost no discussion about why the flash forwards happened. What’s up with the dead crows? How can you have Dominic Monoghan playing an evil villain and hardly use him in a way where he gets to be an evil villain!?
It will be very interesting to see where ABC slots FlashForward in the new year. With Lost taking the Tuesday at 9pm spot, it seems likely FlashForward will stay put where it is for season one, but some think it will be moved to 10pm on Tuesdays to be paired with Lost (but the betting money is on “V” occupying the 10pm slot).
Some other network has to pick up Fringe. It’s such a great show!!! So well written. This makes me cry.
I feel for Fringe. Decent show in a terrible time slot. We won’t get a new episode for 2 more week’s and I think that’s it for 2009. Move the show already, Fox!
Unless Fox moves House or AI to Fringe’s time slot it has nothing that can complete against Grey’s Anatomy, The Office, & CSI.
Fringe will have a third season. Mark my words.
Fringe is a great show on a night of established great shows. The word clusterf*ck comes to mind. It is far better than last year. It’s just a shame Fox is run by shit-for-brains execs. FlashForward was very intriguing in the beginning, but became very boring quickly. And Joseph Fiennes is HORRIBLE.
I’m actually ho-hum about Fringe. I was hoping it would do well, but I personally couldn’t get into it.
Here comes Kitchen Nightmare/Hell’s Kitchen!!
I don’t watch those shows either, but price-wise, their ratings justify their existence.
Unless they move Fringe to Fridays before the end of this season, I’m more certain than not that Fringe will come back for a third season.
Yes, the ratings aren’t great, but this is a show Fox has confidence enough in to deliberately put up against stiff competition. It doesn’t make much sense to do that, and then simply assume it has to go because it doesn’t work there.
This isn’t T:SCC, failing when there’s nothing else on TV.
Do you think they won’t give a second timeslot trial period for Flashforward? It seems logical to at least try it somewhere else, before the axe is drawn. I’m glad somebody else enjoyed the latest episode, it was indeed better then most, although, for those who enjoy action packed FF, and Judging from the promos, the next episode should take care of your needs no problem. I Feel just a little pain inside when I think a procedural like Bones or Castle get better ratings than this show. It’s just not possible that procedurals are still this popular. CSI has been here for 10 years, isn’t it time for a tide change, already?
Fringe and Flashforward are excellent shows, and both not for their leads. Olivia is great, but Walter and Peter are the money on that. Flashforward seems to do better away from Mark and Olivia, and last ninght’s episode benefited from that. If FlashForward and V and Fringe end up going this season, and things like Bones and NCIS LA keep growing, there’s something really screwed with american television.
Squiggleslash — if Fringe were going to win some Emmys, maybe. But aside from special effects that’s not going to happen and so FOX will be in the position of:
1. trying another scripted show that might do better (a difficult task)
2. figuring a 1.8 rating that costs nothing is better than a 2.0 that costs a lot!
Hell’s Kitchen can do MUCH better in that time slot, but it doesn’t look like FOX wants to air more Hell’s Kitchen in-season and plans to stick with the the spring/summer route.
I do think Fringe will get a Third season as well.
By the end of this season it’ll be at 40 episodes so it’s possible WB will lower the fee for Fox to produce another 22 episodes to get it into syndication (may not be the perfect number, but it would still be at 60 episodes).
Brad, it’s not even clear to me Fringe has a back nine for THIS season yet.
Really? I thought it was picked up for a full 22 episode season? If not, I imagine there would be other sites worrying about its (now very late) back 9 order. Isn’t the midseason schedule do soon?
Brad, the mid-season schedules are due soon. And I take it back, FOX did pick up Fringe for 22 episodes when it announced its pick up last May!
Wait, you guys posted it got picked up for a full second season
http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/05/04/fox-renews-fringe/17977
yep, sometimes I’d do better to rely on the press releases from the networks we post than to rely on The Futon Critic’s database, but for some things their search is much easier than ours
Ahh, we posted at the same time. I knew I remembered a full season pickup.
I know this is a ratings site BUT I have to say the following. First off I was an avid X Files fan back in the day. This show is just a poorly done version of the X Files without the character chemistry that Mulder and Scully shared. Walter Bishop’s character is such a baffoon and unbelievable to the point of being annoying. From the botton left hand corner on the X Files stating where the scene was to the big block letters used on Fringe.
20 (S1) + 22 (S2) leaves the option for a 22-23 episode Third season to hit 65 episodes. I can see WB doing a deal to get that Third season. But I’m still in the camp that thinks Fox will renew it and hopefully move it to a better night.
Robert, did Fringe say 13 when you looked on TFC, because right now it’s ??? Just wondering if they are really monitoring the comments here that closely.
I don’t want the show to get canned, I loved yesterday’s episode. I’m going to hope for whatever possible way to save the show for a while but I won’t be surrealistic. In this new world order, we can’t get attached to scripted broadcast shows anymore. Every time a new show that I love starts, in never gets to do better than 1 or 2 weeks. I really really hope that Fox will AT least give the writers the opportunity of giving us a decent ending. No shitty TSCC, Las Vegas or one of those canned show.
Only shows you can have a decent hope of seeing until the end are cable shows end CW shows (Supernatural!!!!)
Look at stargate SG1 and Atlantis, there is still direct to dvd movies coming out for both series. Look at Las Vegas, or Dead zone, 5-6 seasons end all of a sudden… boom, canceled, no ending, screw you fans.
So let’s enjoy the show we get now, but not to much, they’re not going to last long anyway.
Julia it said ??? last time I looked — thus “uncertainty” expressed on my part. I do not think they are busy monitoring the comments here!
Samuel,
I think Dead Zone S 5/6 was shot at the same time, USA just split them into smaller seasons (which happens more often now on USA). They had to know it was ‘the end’. I remember they thought Season 3 or 4 was the end but was renewed at the last minute.
Robert – I’m not denying they’ll not move Fringe, actually I believe they will move it. What I’m saying is that it would be ridiculous of them to put so much faith in Fringe and then cancel it instead of moving it to a timeslot that doesn’t have such competition.
Fox obviously believes Fringe can perform well, that’s why they put it in its current timeslot in the first place. It obviously doesn’t work there, but that doesn’t mean it can’t work somewhere else.
I’m only going to predict a 13 ep S3 at this point, I don’t think Fox will leap into a 22. But I do think they’ll give it one more try.
I’m not so sure about Flashforward moving. Just what else would ABC air there? MF+Something Else is the only real option now that Lost is scheduled, and that move makes no sense (MF gets murdered AND ABC has a Wed dead zone to fill). It will continue to sink and not return next year.
Fringe is a bit trickier. Lost getting Tue @9pm just ruined the last escape hatch they had, so it’s all Thu/Fri middling ratings from here on out. Only a collapse of Fox schedule would give Fringe another chance.
Although I will reiterate that it’s sci-fi in general that should have a Freaky Friday: None of Heroes, V, Day One, Lost, Fringe, or Flashforward are likely to be on the schedule next year.
Tom,
I still say move Fringe to Mondays at 9pm and put Lie to Me after Bones. Seems like a better fit anyway.
I predict the following responses from the hardcore “Fans”
1) Nothing is official till Fox says it
2) This was the best show ever produced
3) We will boycott FOX and put them out of business
4) Robert Siedman hates Fringe and that’s why he is trying to kill it.
5) In addition to the collapse of the economy TVBTN was also repsonsible for directly killing TSCC, just like they did Fringe.
6) Fringe was better than Dollhouse and deserved more episodes.
7) Let’s get a mobile billboard, spam every TV related site and blame everything except a lack of interested viewers. That way FOX will be forced to produce a straight to DVD movie.
of course all you Fringe fans can now turn your interest to Chuck!
LOL
~Lanie~
Lanie – you need to post more girl!
Brad,
I (and everyone else) still say 24 comes back in early January, and Fox shows no sign of moving their slot.
Lie to Me has no backorder at this point, though Fox will probably give it a partial order and air it on Tuesdays. What else can they air there (assuming they don’t move Human Target to Tuesdays and air a ton of Glee repeats on Wednesday)?
My only hope is that Fringe doesn’t take over Dollhouse’s slot on Fridays.
Wow, forgot about 24. I never watched the show but its Mondays at 9? Damn. Where will Fringe go
I still think FLash Forward will pick up later in the season. I dont see ABC cancelling it. That would mean ABC had no new successful dramas yet again this season.
ABC has to stop cancelling all of their shows! ABC cancelled 11 shows last season. Thats a lot!
I enjoy both Fringe and FlashForward. They aren’t perfect (Joseph Fiennes — can you hear me?), but both were highly entertaining last night. I sure would hate to see them replaced by more tacky/cheap reality shows. Sadly, I believe that is the direction in which broadcast television is moving. Pretty soon, that’s all that will be left.
These are two of my favorite shows. I watch them at broadcast time back-to-back on Thursdays. They both get good DVR numbers so this indicates they suffer more from competition than from a lack of viewer interest. I think this is even more so with Fringe, which competes against Grey’s, CSI and The Ofice, and they all have great DVR numbers, too, so Fringe may even be getting crowded out in DVR space.
I have to admit Fringe has had a few dud episodes, the ones with predictable pedestrian sci-fi mysteries. I think Fox will stick with Fringe. It is being the good soldier for Fox and took on the toughest, most important time slot of the week. And Fringe is from J.J. Abrams of Alias, Lost and Star Trek fame. The one negative factor for renewal is that it is not an in-house production, so WB is going to have to make it worthwhile.
Quality-wise, I think there is more reason to be worried about FlashForward. FlashForward is like a lot of TV shows that get cancelled early–the writers take a small nugget of idea and try to make 22 hours of shows (11 movies) with snail-speed progression. It’s greed and laziness. Some people compare FlashForward to Lost and that’s an insult on Lost, because the latter had intriguing backstories about their characters each week. I know a serial is in trouble when I think back and realizes that I could have skipped an episode and still be all up on the plotlines, because the show keeps dithering with the same plot points. That’s what I’m feeling about the past few episodes of FlashForward.
Once I realized that Anna Torv looks and sounds like Janis from The Muppets I couldn’t watch any longer.
How come, though I have not been able to see the past two episodes of “Flash Forward”, I don’t have that missing feeling like I do for also missing “Community”? Maybe FF just goes too damn slow and it seems more soap opera than fantasy. Someone ssid on here FF is best since “Jericho”. Well, “Jericho” had a cast you could connect with. Sadly, a part of me really care for some of the characters. Remember FF fans, this time last year it was “Life On Mars”.
Lanie, “7) Let’s get a mobile billboard, spam every TV related site and blame everything except a lack of interested viewers. That way FOX will be forced to produce a straight to DVD movie.”
Mobile billboards are so last season for crazy fans.
This season, even though ABC called it off, skywriting is the new, new thing for crazy fan campaigns.
Two things:
1) I don’t think it’s been confirmed 22 episodes will be shot. Last year’s “full season” was only 20 episodes.
2) While I get these types of posts are to educate fans on the show’s ratings, they often come off as – especially when you’re criticizing its content – “hey Fringe fans, your show sucks and nobody is watching.”
Its highly likely 22 will be shot. I still dont think FOX would give up on Fringe just yet.
@Bill Gorman
OMG! I don’t know how I missed the TVBTN TSCC Mobile Bill Board Post and I loved some of the comments, especially me being dead!
@James Bonds
You said ” “hey Fringe fans, your show sucks and nobody is watching.”
The correct statement is “Hey Fringe Fans, your show sucks and not enough people are watching”
and the purpose of this post is not to educate the fans, the fans already know everything.
The purpose is to kill all TV Shows except for Chuck!
All TV should be Chuck!
~Lanie~
I totally agree with Kozy on Flashforwards its problem is its moving along to slow and the fact none of the FF or characters are that intriguing. What enable lost to move along so slow was most characters were intriguing and in the flashes we got told things we would of never seen coimng like when we found out locke was actual in a wheelchair who saw that coming no one and if you say you did your lying imho.
Also its suppose to be a serial drama but you could probable miss like the nexted 4 or 5 episodes and start watching again and feel like youve missed nothing.
on the fringe front needs to be tested in different imho before giving it the axe. Also last nights episode was suppose to be this big mythogeloy episode but imho we got no wow moment like we did in the season 1 finale.
idea…..
get the crowds who saw New Moon last night to see New Moon again and again and again, except for the hour that Fringe is on!!!!!
good idea, Brad?
Besides HOUSE, what other quality scripted series does Fox have? Bones..I guess(I don’t watch). Lie to Me is a bore and is an in-house show, so they may support it. Glee? Give me a break. If Fox cancels Fringe, it will be a sign that they no longer have faith in scripted series. And they will rely on SHITTY “reality” shows for their bread and butter. And Fox is the reason why(possibly) Fringe is cancelled. They move a series building an audience(a long-term winner) to a TV ratings battlefield in its second season. MORONS.
Umm, I’m starting to lose faith in this website and getting less worried as it posts FRINGE IS IN TROUBLE once every two days.
@Cress,
FOX has relied on a “reality” show for their bread and butter for…what 6, 7 years now. (how old is Idol?) Well, that, and sports, and their animation block, and House, and Bones, and 24, and….
You may not like the animation block, Bones, or Glee, but that doesn’t mean FOX would be stupid to choose them over Fringe when they are getting better ratings.
Fringe is up against ABC’s #1 show, NBC’s #1 & #2 shows, CW’s #2 show and CBS’s #7 show. Fringe is doing good considering that, It is like this site is just trying to create drama so they can get more web clicks
How much of a cost difference between last year and this year for fringe? They moved the show to Canada to lower the cost, how cheaper is it?
I know it’s the fanboy in me but I would prefer them cutting the order to about 16 episodes this season and give it a season 3 just to wrap up the story, even if it is on Friday.
P.J.
Excellent idea. I’ll let the fans know.
If Fringe does get renewed, it’ll get Dollhouse’s old slot on Fridays.
“Didn’t like Dollhouse? Try Fringe Fridays! Only on Fox. After a special night of The World’s Scariest Dancing Animals Idol! Directed by Joss Whedon.”
Lanie – an all-Chuck network?
Okay – but only if there’s a second Chuck…
…who happens also to be (mostly) owned by Warner Brothers…
…and who has won two Academy Awards – two more than any show on television…
…and who wrote an autobiography whose title will be the name for the new Chuck network…
…may I present Charles M. – otherwise known as Chuck Jones
Moving FF seems like a long shot. It’s not like it didn’t get noticed because it is in a tough time slot. It’s the exact opposite. It got noticed big time right off the bat and drew really excellent ratings for its first episode, but then people started bailing big time because they did not like it. Second episode ratings were down but still good, but the slide has just continued every single week, until now it is in Heroes demo territory, only without the crazy Heroes fans to go with it.
So people did watch the show, but then they decided not to come back. Moving it will just give people another night not to watch it.
Schmoker, moving FF would likely mean ABC has given up on it, not that it wants to save it.
FlashForward got rid of showrunner Mark Guggenheim, apparently because they didn’t like the direction he was taking the show. Has the last episode he was involved in aired yet? If not, when is his last episode? His name is still in the credits, but is it because he worked on that episode or because he contractually still gets credit even though he’s gone?
I was responding to someone’s question about moving FF to a less competitive night, Julia. If you come to class late, you are going to miss some things.
“Hell’s Kitchen can do MUCH better in that time slot, but it doesn’t look like FOX wants to air more Hell’s Kitchen in-season and plans to stick with the the spring/summer route.”
Well, Walter seems to have his lab doubling as a kitchen half the time anyway, so… what about a cooking show featuring Walter Bishop…
“Once I realized that Anna Torv looks and sounds like Janis from The Muppets I couldn’t watch any longer.”
…and Muppets?
“Now Asterisk, and Animal, I need you to get the souffle pan… Peter, come here, I want you to meet this delightful little green man and a talking pig…. “
An all Chuck Network… ha
But I do have an inside scoop to the Chuck Season Finale….
Chuck verses The Terminator Wiki
While working Chuck makes a comment that he can’t believe Buy More actually charges money for S2 TSCC! Chad, an over zealous TSCC Fanboy not constrained by reality alerts The Terminator Wiki that there are actually people that accept the cancellation as fact, do not worship Summer Glau and god forbid may have never seen the show!
An online campaign as well as a mobile billboard against Buy More is launched by the Wiki, all 42 members take part.
Meanwhile, Chuck discovers that the Terminator Wiki holds the key to removing the intersect in his head and must also stop, the evil Robert Seidman and TVBTN from killing TSCC before he can find the hidden secrets of the Terminator Wiki.
Things get crazy as Seidman points out the show has been cancelled for a year now and that Skynet is in fact not real….
~Lanie~
I would like to see a cook-off between Walter and Bunsen Honeydew.
I’ve never seen Fringe (and have absolutely no interest in seeing it) but I can’t really see FOX dumping the show which has a lot of critical acclaim (and really no major backlash against that) after trying it out in a truly difficult slot without trying it somewhere else. They don’t have many other slots to try it in, but Monday at 9 wouldn’t surprise me. Since it’s only partially serialized, it’s not in the same situation as V and FlashForward and Lost, which have virtually no chance to pick up new viewers.
Joseph: You forgot the Swedish Chef
And Lanie, Chuck is in some danger, but would be perfectly safe from death or serious injury (smoke inhalation and first-degree burns are very possible, though!) – remember that Chuck has an invincible ally, that can turn the Terminator Wiki into a bunch of dodos…
…or hit them all at once, on their pointy little heads, with ten ton Acme anvils…that wascally wabbit we all know and love…
…and all this while comforting Bill Gorman, who has been unjustifiably ignored in this particular episode, as well as keeping him from accessing Bugs’ special powers, which as we all know, are accessed only when provoked…
…and if Bill ever accessed those powers, the Intersect, Skynet, Animation Domination, and CSI would all be doomed…
…shoot – not even Brett Favre would be safe!
What’s with all the “ha ha, your show sucks” attitude? I don’t watch either of these shows, but I also don’t feel compelled to make fun of the people who do. I guess it’s an internet thing. Angry, lonely, bitter people with way too much time on their hands.
Fringe has showed promise in the past and is generally liked by the critical community. The move staring Fox in the face is to axe Lie to Me at mid-season and give Fringe a last chance after House in the spring.
Lie to Me is dropping off worse than Fringe while facing popular but crummy competition. If the people who run Fox are smart – and they are – they won’t throw away Fringe before trying it in an easier slot.
If Fringe can’t succeed after House, then I can see canning it. But Lie to Me clearly is ahead of it in line at the TV slaughterhouse.
“Did anyone really think a bunch of bald, pale skinned, no eyebrow having white guys would be a huge draw?”
sounds like an NFL Pregame show
Fringe was amazing but here’s what I think will happen, fox wil renew fringe for a third season but they will establish that it is the final season
@shaz
marc guggenheims last episode as producer and writer is episode 13. After that Goyer took over
Mib, there’s zero chance of that happening. While I think a third season is a long shot, there’s still a chance, but a third season that is announced as a final season is never going to happen.
Again it makes for nice comments on this site to every week rehash the same crap on either Fringe/Dollhouse/Castle/Chuck but it still doesn’t change that there is practically ZERO chance of Fringe not getting a 3rd season.
depeding on what happens to fringe, moves to a new slot or something, i don’t think too many more people would watch, by the 5 episode of the last season it was already in the 7 millions (which don’t seem so bad now) and one of the only reasons it was able to stay back up was cause it was on after idol
i really like the show, but i haven’t been watching it since it moved to thursday like so many other people
^It wasn’t because of Idol. It was because the competition wasn’t nearly as brutal.
blah blah blah, the sky is falling.
yes fringe is not doing as well as the first season. for me, personally, the stories are not as good as they were last season, but i still like it. and i still see FOX renewing it for a third season.
Crimineys. Do you guys EVER make a conclusion that’s not based on how you like/dislike a show? I’ve yet to see it. Sure you get the easy ones right (even my cat could do that), but really, this is ridiculous. Fringe and FastForward are middling shows, and in particular have massive competitions. It’s not clear EITHER WAY as to whether the shows will be canceled, and in FastForward’s case I’m betting no way will ABC only give it one season. Eight million really is NOT THAT BAD, and shows lose millions over the course of their seasons ALL THE TIME. Look up Lost for a reminder.
Theoacme says:
“Joseph: You forgot the Swedish Chef”
‘Yuoo see-a, Egent Doonhem, ve-a essoome-a thet oooor uneeferse-a is zee oonly uneeferse-a. Boot thet’s nut trooe-a. Zeere-a is un inffeenite-a noomber ooff uneeferses. Und in iech ooff zeem, zeere-a is a ferseeun ooff us — yuoo, me-a, und Egent Fernsvurt — boot iech oone-a sleeghtly deefffferent… chunged oofer teeme-a besed oon zee eccoomooleshun ooff oooor chueeces. Bork Bork Bork!’
The certainty expressed over the demise of these shows in this article is just preposterous.
Again I ask, what would Fox put in Fringe’s place that would draw better ratings? There is no good answer to that question. The show is doing far better than what Fox had in that timeslot last year. By that measure, the show is a succes for Fox. Why mess with it?
Furthermore, the high DVR viewership clearly has Fox’s attention. Networks don’t really know what to do with that data yet, but they’re likely afraid to cancel something that seems to be popular on a relatively new platform like DVRs.
Unless and until Fox says something, lay off and just report the ratings.
I agreed last nights Fringe was solid, but nothing special.
I think the problem with Fringe is Sci-Fi fans are also watching Supernatural, which is in season 5. It got a 1.1 demo, and i would guess half of them probably watch Fringe via DVR, online.
I know i watch both shows, FRinge 1st, Supernatural DVR.
It’s in alittle trouble but, JJ Abrams has more cloud than Lie To Me or Human Target producers.
24 is also expensive, but it was allowed 3 seasons behind IDOL at 9pm Tuesday, before moving. They jumped the gun and moved it too soon, it will get 1 last chance before being cancelled.
What ratings standard for renewal could Fox reasonably have had for Fringe when they put it at 9pm Thursday?
I don’t get all of the complaining from fringe fans. Admittedly, I haven’t watched fringe at all, I have too many tv shows to watch already. People saying that FOX will rue the day that it cancels a show that can’t keep a large chunk of its audience by moving to a non-plum timespot.
1) If Fringe were such a good show, why is it losing so many of its viewers. Sure, the vocal minority that sticks with the show likes it, but advertisers look at the number of viewers that they can reach.
2)You mention the competition from the other shows in the timespot, but how many people that are fans of Fringe are going to ditch it because its on the same night as Grey’s or CSI or Office/30 Rock? Those shows seem to reach a different target audience than fringe.
3) If a show can’t hold its own in a non favorable spot, it shouldn’t stay on the air. Good shows will stand up well in a hot spot like this. The ones that can’t, it just shows they had a lukewarm audience that was just watching it because nothing better was on.
4) House has more than just their reality shows and sports. They have 24, House, Glee, Family Guy, The Simpsons, UN-inventive Family Guy spinoffs, Lie to Me, and Bones which cover a wide target market. While I would like for the shows I like to be renewed and the ones I don’t like to not be renewed, you have to realize that fox isn’t going to hold on to shows that can’t hold on to viewers. This includes Dollhouse, which I’m not going to threaten to stop watching fox over.
It didn’t lose viewers. Many are just DVRing it now.
Sushiroll, if you compare the number of Live+7 audience this season to last season, Fringe did lose viewers.
Not that many. And that’s not counting how many people watch it on Hulu (it’s one of the top 5 shows there) and Fox.co. People are just finding other ways to watch it because of the jam packed night. Think about it.
I enjoy both shows. My prediction if things stay around the same, that Fringe will be back for a 3rd season and Flash Forward will end after this season. I’m discouraged by how hard it is for a serialized show to make it on broadcast TV. Is it the type of show that people aren’t gravatating too or would the ratings be higher if there was a better quality serialized show?
I personally enjoy Fringe a lot most weeks and i’m torn on Flash Forward which has an interesting story, but I feel it could be done better. I want these types of shows to survive. I don’t know if I should be annoyed that more people aren’t watching them or annoyed that we aren’t getting better shows?
sushiroll, imma let you finish but LOST is the greatest HULU story of ALLLLLLLL TIME. Fringe is minuscule. Tiny. But seriously where do you get your stats since you’re full of sushiroll? Last week here were Hulu’s Top 10 shows…
Saturday Night Live
Family Guy
The Office
Glee
The Cleveland Show
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
V
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Naruto Shippuden
30 Rock
So yeah, Glee, It’s Always Sunny, The Daily Show and Naruto. Naruto! Naruto > Fringe kills any argument ANY reasonable person might have with regard to Fringe and Hulu! Thank goodness for all the unreasonable people!
I’m sorry Robert, I had read otherwise elsewhere.
Robert, Hulu is obviously involved in the conspiracy to keep Fringe down. It has to do with Tabasco sauce, but I’m murky on the details.
It’s too bad you guys don’t like the show. I still like it, and will enjoy it’s 3rd season.
Directly via Hulu for the previous week (through 11/15):
MOVERS & SHAKERS
Hi Robert –
Below is the Hulu Movers & Shakers list for the week of November 9th through the 15th, highlighting the weekly performance of some of top videos and shows on Hulu. This week saw Taylor Swift’s appearance on Saturday Night Live continue to dominate for the second week in a row. Most notably, Saturday Night Live retained it’s position as the “Most Popular Show” and accounted for 7 of the top 10 Most Popular Clips.
Most Popular Video
Rank Series Title Video Name, Type
1 Saturday Night Live Taylor Swift Monologue (Clip) ?
2 Family Guy Hannah Banana (Full Episode) New!
3 Family Guy Brian’s Got a Brand New Bag (Full Episode) New!
4 Saturday Night Live Digital Short: Firelight (Clip) ?
5 Glee Wheels (Full Episode) New!
6 The Office Murder (Full Episode) New!
7 Saturday Night Live Taylor Swift (Full Episode) ?
8 NBC TODAY Show Chimp Attack Victim Breaks Her Silence (Clip) New!
9 Saturday Night Live The View (Clip) ?
10 V Pilot (Full Episode) ?
Most Popular Show
Rank Series Title Network
1 Saturday Night Live NBC
2 Family Guy ? FOX
3 The Office ? NBC
4 Glee ? FOX
5 The Cleveland Show ? FOX
6 It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia ? FX
7 V ? ABC
8 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart ? Comedy Central
9 Naruto Shippuden ? VIZ Media
10 30 Rock ? NBC
Most Popular Clip
Rank Series Series Title
1 Saturday Night Live Taylor Swift Monologue
2 Saturday Night Live Digital Short: Firelight
3 NBC TODAY Show Chimp Attack Victim Breaks Her Silence New!
4 Saturday Night Live The View ?
5 Saturday Night Live Roomies ?
6 Jimmy Kimmel Live Guillermo Interviews Sammy Sosa New!
7 Saturday Night Live Scared Straight ?
8 Saturday Night Live Driving PSA ?
9 Saturday Night Live Bunny Business ?
10 Glee Dancin’ With Myself New!
Most Popular Movie Trailer
Rank Trailer Title Release Date
1 Brothers – Trailer 2 New!
12/4/09
2 Brothers ?
12/4/09
3 Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
5/28/10
4 Clash of the Titans ?
3/26/10
5 Salt
7/23/10
Most Popular Search Term
Rank Series Title Network
1 Family Guy ? FOX
2 Glee ? FOX
3 The Office NBC
4 House FOX
5 V ABC
6 Modern Family ABC
7 It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia FX
8 Bones FOX
9 The Cleveland Show ? FOX
10 Community NBC
A couple of noteworthy things to watch for this week that may make next week’s Movers & Shakers list include:
• Tuesday – Twilight: New Moon’s Taylor Lautner on The Jay Leno Show.
• Tuesday – Carrie Underwood and Twilight: New Moon’s Kristen Stewart on The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien
• Tuesday – Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw make an appearance on The View.
• Thursday – Twilight: New Moon’s Kristen Stewart on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
• Saturday – special “Twilight: New Moon” episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live.
I’m saying I made a mistake and read erroneous info. Or maybe it was an older episode.
That’s “minuscule” to you, Baldy Sour.
Flashforward need to can about half of its utterly boring subplots and work on the more pertinent ones to the plot. Last nights episode was okay, but so damn vanilla. And yes I so agree, Simon is the most interesting character and they’re barely even using him!
On top of that their “main character” (if an ensemble show can have one) Mark is absolutely terrible. Eight episodes in and they’ve not even given us a single reason to even root for the guy. The writing needs a desperate overhaul, less proselytizing exposition for stupid people and more actual content. That’s not a plea for answers right this minute either, I’m a patient LOST fan. It’s a plea for less word vomit and more intelligence.
More Cho. And more Monaghan, and please let him stay good and evil. I like him outside of the box he’s been in. Whoever’s writing the pair of them are the best writers the series has.
Phil i agree lost was able to hold of giving us answers because the ensemble of the cast was so great and the subplots were interestings were as none of the subplots on FF are remotely interesting or any of the characters are either. The one that is interestinf Dominic/simon there using very little of him.
I read on a magazine (i don’t remember now the name).. that Fox is very supportive with FRinge.. said JJ on a interview…He said FOX likes the show and will siick with it .. he doesnt say for how long. but at least gave me somem hope!
I just hope FOX change teh time slot, that would be the perfect solution for FRINGE!
Face it, Fellow Fringe Fans, this show jumped the shark when they killed Charlie Francis: that happened very early in S2. The new female agent appeared and disappeared just as fast. The William Bell reveal was a huge downer because little was learned about anything, it was just Nimoy smiling at the camera and rambling about Fringe’s mythology. Then there are the “monster of the week” eps that are little more than treading water. S2 is where this show goes to the alternate universe permanently.
I like Fringe I hope it gets renewed. On the plus side can’t wait for Chuck.
I think Fringe is back in 2010 for the winter and spring. I can’t see FOX pulling a plug on it like they did Dollhouse. To me, they’re apples and oranges, but I wonder if Fringe’s fate is directly more tied into whether or not 24 comes back in 2011 and what happens with Human Target. Fox may have know room for the drama and axe it after two full seasons. Of course, the ratings decline would make this a much easier decision, but the amount of dramas or actions dramas on FOX is kind of ridiculous. They’re so many.
IF 24 ends this year and Human Target flops big, Fringe may get brought back by default. I personally love the show and I think it’s ashame FOX gave Lie To Me the Monday time slot instead of Fringe, but that’s just the way it is.
FOX simply will not find a show that can sustain an audience in that timeslot. Not until the competition goes away. Until then, they should just go with something cheap IMO.
Flashforward is a very solid show IMO, but you can’t miss an episode or you’re loss. It’s a lot like 24 or Lost in that regard. The problem with it right now is the story is taking a very long to develop and audiences just don’t have patience. I think Flashforward comes back in 2010 much like Life on Mars did, but whether or not it gets a second season remains to be seen. If it can stay around that 2.5 range, I think it has a chance. Maybe a bold ending would garner the final episode some hype and it could build off of that.
Is ABC really going to have both Flashforward and V end with one season? If so, then ouch especially on top of Lost ending.
TrollingForTheHits is very good at what it does, no?
“I know, we’ll hear a lot of “wait for the DVR numbers”…”
Yeah, you will because the main goal of the Observer Week, per FOX itself, was to raise the Live audience – or the Live + 3 Day. FOX pretty much only went after pre-existing Fringe fans for “August”: the DVRers. And since we don’t have the Live + 3 Day numbers then we really can’t say whether or not the strategy worked. My automatic thought would be that it did, since I can see a Fringe fan putting off say, “Night of Desireable Objects”, but I would think they’d rush a bit more to see “August.”
Live + SD and Live + 3 Day are what the networks and advertisers use to set ad rates. Fringe has a large Live + 7 Day. FOX needs to get those 7 Day-ers to watch 4 days earlier.
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118011366.html?categoryId=14&cs=1
First of all I like Fringe but I would not call it the best TV show ever.
The problem with this semi-serialized type of show is that it needs a consistent spot. Once you move it and you lose your following I do not see it coming back in droves in a different time slot.
I would like to see it moved to a better time slot on a less congested day but I doubt it will survive past a 3rd season if it even gets a 3rd season.
Which is just too bad. Of course I started off liking the concept and story but was not a big Anna Torv at all. Over time I have really grown to like her in that role.
I love the Walter Bishop character.
The story telling has been too disjointed regarding the major fringe events, which is too bad as this is my main interest.
Oh well add that to FireFly, TSCC as shows that I loved on Fox and that they messed up with.
Look at The Mentalist, it also had an important episode on Thursday, The Red John Killer. It was advertised heavily on Sunday Football as the episode we’ve been waiting for. It only went up 3%, very difficult to get new viewers.
I know a few football fans that saw the ads, and they had no interest in watching The Mentalist. They had no clue what night it was on, and could barely name the show.
I still think both shows come back, everything is dropping.
I appreciate all the work you guys put into reporting and analyzing the numbers for us and all, but I’d have thought that after your “Glee” opinion piece fail and your “Heroes has a better chance at getting renewed based on numbers from the last four weeks — except I forgot to include the sliding numbers for the last two weeks!” fail, you’d learn and give up on doing this kind of post.
But no.
I like FF nad watch it online every Friday morning because I cant wait for Mondays for it to air in the uk. It’s really popular over here, I think maybe the highest rated american show at the moment!
I did hear that they would solve the mystery of the FF at the end of this current season so would there really be any need for another?
I dont really like Fringe, I watch Supernatural and hope it gets another season. It would probably benefir from the cancellation of Fringe as long as they dont replace it with something that is aimed at the same audience!
If both FlashForward and V survive until next year, I sense they will shove both at 9 and 10pm, after Dancing, or another reality show when Dancing isn’t on air, put a TV show that is better suited as Greys’ lead in, perhaps something like The Deep End.
If FF doesn’t survive, then throw V at 9 and another new drama at 10.
Blue Sunflower, there is no Live+3. There is a C3, which is what they are referring to in that article, but C3 is rarely available to the public, and when it is, it is shown to be about the same or less than Live+SD. So what Fox was actually looking for was more people watching it live, who can’t skip commercials. Fact of the matter is that the Live+SD ratings went down from last week. That is not what they were looking for with the campaign.
Blue Sunflower, the article you’re referring to states
“The hope is we get a few more viewers watching the show live,” Earley said. “Or at least watching it within three days of air.”
There true goal was to get more live viewers, but from what I’m reading here, they are willing to hold their nose and deal with Live + 3 numbers if there’s enough of an increase within those numbers. And if the live numbers are any indication, they weren’t successful.
Bottom line, live viewers are what any network wants, followed by the following 3 days of DVR viewing (those still count, but IMO not worth as much as live viewers.) DVR viewing after 3 days if pretty much meaningless except to the PR people.
I don’t see how FOX can justify keeping Fringe for another season with the ratings it’s getting this season. Short of a new timeslot, which I don’t see any room on another night for it besides Fridays, The show’s fate is sealed. Fridays would likely do worse than it’s currently doing now on Thursdays. So to the fans, pray for a new night. That’s it’s only shot at getting a 3rd season, and even then without a huge increase in viewers the show’s days are numbered.
Given how well FOX is doing this fall, and it’s only going to get better this winter when Idol returns, they are going to have pretty high expectations ratings wise. Especially when it comes to expensive dramas that they don’t produce in house.
And now for FlashForward. The fact that it had such a high rated premiere and now is doing worse than Castle, is a very, very bad thing. ABC had high hopes for the show (after all they started the promotional campaign last year during Lost) and it’s falling flat. I don’t see a new showrunner being able to build it up. When you have a show like this, people don’t want to jump in halfway though because they have no idea what’s going on in the story. So short of a miracle it’s not going to see a second season.
FlashForward does get a boost in the DVR ratings, but like Fringe those don’t matter. ABC might see the DVR numbers as a reason to move it to 10PM on Tuesday or Wednesday (my money is on V getting Tuesdays at 10 following Lost) to see if live viewing improves. That’s really it’s only shot at seeing a 2nd season, and it’s long shot at best.
That wasn’t much of a mythology episode – the managed to make it look like a total standalone episode, one of the observers going bonkers. Apart from telling us there is more than one, we got zero useful information from this – it felt almost like when Chris Charter was stringing people along on x-files with people saying “oh, this is really important”
It’s clear that Fringe is in a bad time slot with limited options of where else to move it. Suppose that it is canceled after this season. Won’t the slot still be a crappy one for another Fox show? In other words if Fox puts a brand new show in that slot isn’t it likely to do even worse than Fringe is? It’s not like they’d be likely to put a show like House or any of the channels most successful shows in that slot. What I’m getting at is that despite not doing too well the fact that Fringe is at least somewhat established may give it a better chance of remaining past this season than a new show being put there and hypothetically doing even worse. That’s assuming that ratings don’t slip even further. Is that an unfair assumption?
With flash Forward I agree that it’s not the kind of show that people jump into once it’s already started but at the same time it’s probably safe to say that the finale will lead to another forward. My possibly false prediction is that Mark and whoeveer try to stop it from happening again and then there’s the inevitable cliffhanger and failure to do so. Either way theres likely to be another forward. Then season 2, if there is one would be hyped up in such a way through commercials, interviews, etc to make people believe that it’s ok to start watching without confusion because even with some established characters it’s essentially starting over again to a degree. With millions of people in the world the show could easily focus on any number of new characters and their forwards and try to move the show in a bit of a different direction or maybe even a new actor/character could attempt to draw people in. (bigger than Domic Monaghan for example. In other words even though it’s the kind of show where people are unlikely to start with once it’s already begun, in theory there are still ways to try to bring in more fans. Unfortunately it probably wouldn’t involve this season and this season improving is necessary for a second season to exist in the first place.
Klown, if FOX decides that Thursdays at 9 are just too tough to compete they have much cheaper options then Fringe. A reality show costs a fraction of what Fringe does.
If Fringe gets a third season, I hope they put it on another night. Thursday is just too overcrowded for me to watch the show live.
Flashforward would have to improve a lot to get me watching again.
If it gets cancelled I don’t really care.
I think Fringe will get another season, maybe only 13 episodes, Flashforward gets cancelled and Human Target toatlly flops.
Sadly I think I can do now is enjoy these two shows while they last. Given FlashForward hasn’t been nearly as good as I thought it was going to be, but I’ll stick it out anyway as I want to see how it ends.
I personally can’t catch a break. Lost is definitely ending this year. I wouldn’t be surprised if Heroes does too. And now the 2 shows I thought would stick around for awhile, FlashForward and Fringe, look to be limping to the finish line as well. Ho hum, at least I have shows on USA returning soonish
Your right Fringe is not Lost but we have to say that the series is amazing it remind me The X files and im a hardcore X file fan so fringe i amazing WE ( the fans) have to fight for a better time slot and No friday becausr friday is the graveyard and CBS own fridays with GW and Medium so monday or wednesday
Jared, Heroes has the best shot (of all the shows you mentioned) to see another season. Yes it’s ratings suck, but so do NBC’s as a hole. Heroes has a lot more working in it’s favor then Fringe and FlashForward combined. Such as syndication, international licensing, DVD sales, and being an in-house NBC-U production. I wouldn’t say Heroes is 100% coming back next year, but I’m about 90% sure it will.
As a huge SciFi fan to me Fringe is a horrible show and I quit watching that excuse of a show after a couple episodes. I don’t see the ratings ever picking up or it attracting new viewers. At this point the only people viewing it are die hard fans of the show. It’s not the timeslot, it’s the show itself that is flawed. I expect that it will continue downward in the ratings until the end of the season. I’d be surprised if Fox picked it up for a 2nd season but considering they picked up Dollhouse after its horrendous ratings it’s hard to tell.
Unless Flash Forward stops bleeding viewers it has no chance of a 2nd season, which would be hard since it’s a show that you have to watch every episode in order to understand it. Unless it’s ratings stablize and increase somewhat I’d be surprised if it would get a 2nd season. It’s an expensive show with a large cast.
Fox it’s simple put American Idol on Weds. and Thurs. so it can compete against CSI, Grey’s, Office to see who has the best show of the week. Then put Fringe back on Tues. and it will survive for many yrs. By the way NBC you guys are terrible you put The Jay Leno Show (ratings are pathetic) on to take up 5 hrs a week and cancelled some good shows. (Bring back Knight Rider) Congrads to ABC you have some great shows finally Flash Forward, Modern, Cougar, Forgotten, V, Keep going strong. (Thank God you got rid of EastWick it was boring)
I enjoyed Thursday’s episode, which I watched on Friday thanks to my DVR. I enjoy Fringe and would like to see it continue…I won’t say anything else lest I utter a Fan Excuse and have to mark it down on my bingo cards.
FlashForward will NOT be moved from Thursdays. I wish it had a better timeslot but it won’t change.
As for Thursday’s episode, it was the worst of the season. Matter of fact, the only one so far I didn’t like. I was bored out of my mind and I don’t think anyone could write more plain, dull characters than Keiko and Bryce.
But I loved Fringe last night. It wasn’t a WOW episode and it wasn’t terribly exciting but it was very entertaining and even though I was sleepy watching it, I didn’t want to go to bed until I saw it through.
I really hope Fringe gets a better timeslot. They need it. Without it, this show is done.
The observers on Fringe and the reapers on Supernatural freak the hell out of me!
The Observers are a last ditch, desperation effort to lift terrible ratings. Don’t expect Fringe to last much longer.
Such a shame FF was not a movie or mini series. It would’ve been great in such a context but now that the novelity of the story is out, it’s too late. Missed opportunity.
ya im done with both
As a 4th generation Asian American, may I say that 1) I love John Cho in this series and 2) This is the worst episode of the season.
I’m sick to death of the mistreatment of Asians **Males** in American cinema, and while I’m glad that an Asian Male has a leading role in a major series, this does not make up for 1) The slew of Asian killers on the prowl for the FBI and 2) the terribly **CLICHE** treatment of Japanese businessmen, all of whom are apparently holding back Keiko from all she can be.
Please, please recognize this for what it is: White Male Geisha Girl Fantasy.
I am a fan of Fringe and am trying to like Flashforward (but they are not making it easy). That being said, I think Fringe does better when they focus less on the “big picture” and more on the oddity of that episode. When the episode is more focused on the overall plot, it tends to drag and loose my interest.
As die Flashforward, I am guilty of expecting another Lost…however that was definitely not the case. I’ve moved from watching the episode to just DVRing it for a “nothing else on TV” time. Honestly, I’m at the point where I don’t even care why the flash happened, I just want it to be over. Not holding my breath for another season, perhaps I’ll read a book instead…
I am a fan of Fringe and am trying to like Flashforward (but they are not making it easy). That being said, I think Fringe does better when they focus less on the “big picture” and more on the oddity of that episode. When the episode is more focused on the overall plot, it tends to drag and loose my interest.
As die Flashforward, I am guilty of expecting another Lost…however that was definitely not the case. I’ve moved from watching the episode to just DVRing it for a “nothing else on TV” time. Honestly, I’m at the point where I don’t even care why the flash happened, I just want it to be over. Not holding my breath for another season, perhaps I’ll read a book instead…
why not but all 3 shows on one (Tuesday) night on ABC? Flash Forward, Lost, and V all in one night, a defo geeks wet dream!
Will wait to hear FOX’s midseason plans before I can guess how rosy “Fringe’s” future is.
If they move it back to Tuesday 9:00, I’ll figure they are going to keep it.
If they leave it where it is, I’ll suspect they are done with it.
If they move it to Friday, I’ll KNOW they are done with it.
Honestly, stay or go, I couldn’t care less. All I care about is “Lie to Me,” which is in trouble. And if that show is in trouble…
High concept serialized shows like FF or V would benefit immensely from being planned up front as just a 1 or 2 season tightly plotted arc that *moves*, that actually has a real climax. Having a line drawn in the sand — and treating the show as an ‘event’ rather than a ‘franchise’ they hope to milk until it fades away — well that helps the writers focus. Remember, it’s the only thing that saved a floundering Lost — time to piss or get off the pot.
I’d even support 13 ep short seasons to aid in the task — remember BSG started laying its first few stinkers in S2 when they had to crank out 22 instead of 13 like the miraculous S1.
[To add a somewhat gratuitous bash of BSG -- it is an outlier in that knowing well in advance what their last season was going to be, Moore still started pulling major plotlines out of his a$$ (Final Five anyone?) late in the game, resulting in the unsatisfying incoherent mess of an ending.]
Fox has already done the whole thursday cheap reality, they want dramas, especially if they keep the dancing in fall again.
I just hope the realize its tough to move shows to different timeslots.
Look at L&O:SVU NBC”s top drama moved from usually spot after 9 years and it’s now in 4th place in it’s slot. It went from mid-high 3’s to mid-high 2’s.
If Fringe is cancelled, I will lose all hope in humanity. Fringe is one of the best programs on tv right now. Yeah, it has some annoying filler episodes, but welcome to the world of 20+ episode tv shows. Overall, the plot is a unique take on parallel universes and some pretty out there science. Besides that, whatever good quality sci-fi shows are on nowadays? Crud like Vampire Diaries, True Blood blah blah don’t count and Heroes certainly doesn’t either. Cancelling Fringe will be one of the worst crimes committed on TV. If it happens, I will no longer watch a show from when it first comes on – I will just wait until it’s a season and a half in, then see if it’s still on.
*goes back to watching Eureka*
Oh and PS, I agree with newscaper – make the seasons shorter and higher quality and stop dragging them out for the sake of it. A three year plan would be perfect – otherwise we’ll keep on ending up with things like Smallville – UGH!
Flash Forward is an interesting story. If the show starts to take off though, I’m not sure if I could stomache another 100 hours simply to see the end.
There lies the problem. People have many other things to do in life now and don’t have the patience to sit out a 100 hour film spread over 5 years.
WHY WOULD YOU EVER IN YOUR WILDEST DREAMS EVEN THINK OF PUTTING FRINGE UP AGAINST, THE BIGGEST SHOWS ON TV…WHY FOX? WHY, YOUR DOWN RIGHT STUPID, MOVE FRINGE NOW, I BET THE RATINGS WILL BOOM, PUT IT ON TUESDAY!!! FOX YOU CAN FIX YOUR MESS, DON’T LOSE THIS AMAZING SHOW, I LOVE FRINGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Billy Bob Jonsson
While it’ll be a shame to lose Fringe, it is hardly brilliant television or even sci-fi. As to sci-fi shows these days, there are quite a few, just off the top of my head (ignoring FlashForward and Fringe):
Lost, Warehouse 13, Eureka, SGU, Dr Who, Torchwood, Being Human, V.
So there is quite a few sci fi shows out there and almost everyone of the shows I named above are better than Fringe (IMO). So I am happy to enjoy both Fringe and FlashForward now but I really don’t care if they are cancelled because there are better shows to watch.
its kinda that ABC’s supposed new hit shows V and FlashForward’s rating keeps falling! Damn I remember when Ugly Betty was such a big hit on its first season and after that ABC cannot produced a new hit show anymore.
The problem with FlashForward and Fringe is they are trying too hard to be like Lost… but they can’t
*its kinda sad that
You are absolutely right about Fringe’s creative decline–it just hasn’t lived up to expectations, and not just in the ratings.
But I still think FOX will give it another chance. THEN cancel it. That’s their M.O. lately. If they gave Joss Whedon another chance to prove Dollhouse could work, when it couldn’t even do as well as COPS repeats, if they gave Sarah Connor Chronicles another chance, then they are most likely giving Fringe another chance. Yes, this is its second season, but it did well in its first. They are not ready to give up on it. They will look at the DVR numbers and think “We can get these people back.”
But yeah, this season has been very disappointing, and barring a major creative shakeup, it’s not going to rebound. Though let’s be real–that’s the toughest timeslot in television. Fringe would have had to have vastly improved from the previous season to compete there. And I thought maybe it could. And I learned sadly it couldn’t.
I think Fringe should be moved to Sundays after animation domination the way i remember the x-files used to be.
I think personally it should move to Shotime or HBO or maybe to Syfy Channel.
I always want to watch the show but never seem to catch it. I wish it was in syndication somewhere so i could watch repeats.
@ Kyle
not to mention the upcoming Caprica which looks promising
I am SO not up for a Battlestar Galactica prequel. I do not remotely see the point of that.
Quince, FOX only has two hours of primetime–they’d have to dump half of their animated shows to put Fringe there. That bloc makes them a ton of money, and they are not going to mess with it.
It is not moving to cable–not even FX. HBO and Showtime do not pick up shows from other networks. SyFy hasn’t done that in a long time, and could not afford Fringe, even if they wanted it.
Best Fringe can hope for is a different timeslot on FOX–where it would have to substantially improve on its current performance.
Someone said that Joseph Fiennes was “horrible” on Flash Forward. I beg to differ. He is the only reason I watch the show at all. The woman who plays his wife is my least favorite actor on the show. She puts me to sleep. Maybe Flash Forward should concentrate on the action aspect of the story and steer away from the personal drama a bit.
fringe isn’t worth campaigning for. The first half of season 1 was terrible, and only second half was worth watching imo. So far this season isn’t that great either.
Fringe is just a mediocre sci-fi series with no new and original ideas and that’s why it takes mediocre ratings. Come on: shapesifters, observers, cloning, mind control, experiments with the DNA etc, all these things have be done before and way better by so many different tv series! We’re not in the 90s anymore! As a huge sci-fi fan myself I’ve tried to like Fringe but I’m really disappointed. Sci-fi genre needs fresh ideas and not recycled ones.
There are a lot of us who have never missed a single episode of Fringe. We will watch it whenever it comes on. We just love this quirky show. Please keep up the great work and please don’t cancel our favorite show.
Well, now both shows are going on hiatus: http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?date=11/24/09&id=8399
Let’s hope, at the very least, Fringe survives this.