This just got real. Fans are already going back and forth about the looming Supernatural and Fringe showdown - the truth is, most fans love both - but FOX Prez may have just introduced the first "Fighting Words" into the debate. That's right, Reilly has dissed Supernatural! Or, did he?
When asked about going head to head with Supernatural at the FOX TCA panel this week, Reilly seemed to subtly snub TheCW's uber popular fantasy/horror series by responding “Even in genre, that show is not a ratings powerhouse. By the way, is Supernatural on Friday? I’m not sure. Good to know. So, there’s your answer.”
Due to a much lower number of 'potential' viewers on TheCW, Supernatural could never post Fringe numbers but in terms of their respective market shares Supernatural creams Fringe hands down. Put another way, if Supernatural were on FOX - it probably wouldn't be moved to Friday.
One would expect Reilly, a network president, to be more aware of even the less potent competition in any given time slot; let alone, like-minded competition with a tremendous loyalty to their show. All of this raises one question: was Reilly pulling our legs?
It could be Reilly was so dismissive of Supernatural because he knew that was what it would take to put the word 'Fringe' on the lips of every Sam and Dean loyalist that stays home on Friday nights. Call me one of Pavlov's dogs, but the notion that Reilly was serious in denigrating Supernatural no doubt has fans of either show pushing those very comments to the top of their news stream.
Regardless of whether Fringe or Supernatural take a bite out of their mutual live viewership, having both shows on Friday is a win win for fans of the bizarre and imaginative - and, an extra cardio cycle for DVR's in both households.
[poll id="35"]
i Will watch Fringe… but Reilly seems to really want Fringe to get canceled -_-
r u kidding me?
supernatural ofcourse
we have proved time and time how loyal our fanbase is
and by commenting on Supernatural Riley HAS MADE A VERY VERY BAD MOVE
Supernatural really isn't that good…
I'm already tired of this whole SPN/Fringe debate. It's only gonna bring out the crazy in both fandoms.
I'll definitely be watching Supernatural, though.
Supernatural's a fun show, but it doesn't need viewers nearly as much as Fringe does. Fringe is the superior show, undoubtedly (and that's nothing against Supernatural). I would hate to see Fringe get cancelled, though, for fans simply refusing to watch it over SPN.
Nothing against Fringe or Fox, but I will be watching Supernatural on Friday night. But does Reilly really know what he's getting himself into when he mouths off about how SPN isn't competition? It's like opening Pandora's box! Seriously, Supernatural fans take things very personally when it comes to their show being bad-mouthed. And I would know, since I am one of the many loyal to the show.
The recent overreaction by Supernatural fans is really starting to turn me off this show and I've been watching since the beginning. I love both shows. That's why we have DVRs. I think Fringe is much better this season that Supernatural but I will likely continue recording SPN and watching Fringe. However, I think I'm just about done with the Supernatural fandom. It's been embarrassing for a long time but this is just getting ridiculous.
Why do you care so much about the fanbase? They're people you haven't met and don't even know. Why should that effect whether or not you watch the show…I'm sorry but that's just pathetic.
Guess you just proved the point about Supernatural fans overreacting to everything. Well done!
The CW's network coverage is 95% compared to Fox's 98% so no there isn't a massive difference in potential audience between CW and Fox. If Supernatural aired on Fox it would have been pulled by the second episode.
There are a couple of ways to cut that. You are talking the total number of sets that could dial to TheCW. If you count the % of CW viewers watching Supernatural, Supernatural appeals to over 70% of TheCW – higher in early seasons. Fringe is appealing to a much smaller fraction of the overall FOX audience, less than 30%. So relative to their network audience, Supernatural is doing much better than Fringe is on FOX.
Never seen Fringe. Don't want to. Supernatural all the way!
No need to be that close-minded. Fringe is a fantastic show, and Supernatural is, too. This isn't a competition.
I love both shows but Supernatural will be the one I'll be watching live (which means a lot because I don't have DVR). Fringe will have to wait until it comes out on dvd.
People like different shows for different reasons. I tried watching Fringe, but admittedly just couldn't get into it, and I am a big fan of Supernatural. However even though I am part of the SN fandom, I can't see the point of siding with one show and saying that all others suck. Every show has its good points and bad points, and fans that love them dearly. There's no point in disrespecting any of them, and that goes for the Fox President too. His job may be to promote his shows, but that doesn't mean that openly speaking out against another show is a great idea either. As we have seen in any fandom that exists, there are over-zealous fans that will freak out at the slightest hint of someone not liking their show. Never mind that opinions are part of being human. But in Riley's case, I would assume that common sense would also be an accepted trait. Apparently not, however.