Fringe was on death watch much of its second season due mainly to sub par ratings, but fans can now relax. FOX president Kevin Reilly told attendees at the FOX TCA gathering today that Fringe is still one of the networks most highly regarded assets. Let's get one thing straight though: ratings or not, Fringe surely established itself in the story department last season - taking the series well above expectations. Fringe's - ahem - fringe fans went from luke warm to burning hot as the season's overarching story came to a close with the Peter revelation and the team's infiltration of 'over there.'
In a report filed by Michael Ausiello at EW, FOX president said “We have no intention of screwing with Fringe because the show has been going great. It really came into its own last season. If I have any frustration it’s that I’d like the audience to be bigger because people deserve to see the work.”
There were also indications in the article that Fringe would be spending a lot of time in the alternate universe early on, perhaps portending a rescue - or escape - for Olivia Dunham, who was trapped in a cell at the end of last season while her duplicate sat out to blend in on our side.
FOX's faith in Fringe is most apparent in the fact that they are leaving the show on Thursday's at 9pm est where it will do battle with The Office, Grey's Anatomy, and CSI. The numbers from last year would make Fringe an underdog, but clearly the net doesn't view the numbers as table scraps . One thing is for sure, if the storyline continues on the trajectory set last year, Fringe could potentially rise from the alternative niche to overpower its procedural nemeses.
This makes me so happy I just might cry.
WHOO!Glad one network is taking things seriously. Compared to ABC's fail of last years programming, Fox is definitely rising in my eyes. It's good to know they've got this show's back. Cause I have a sinking feeling it might need it someday.