It's time to start biting your nails, Fringe fans. Talks have begun between Warner Bros. and Fox regarding the renewal of the J.J. Abrams sci-fi series, which has been flagging in the ratings for years. The show has a strong (but small) fan base, and with the series appearing to have reached its low point for ratings (it's been steady for a few weeks at about a 1.1 in the adults 18-49 demographic), things are really up in the air.
Season 5 would bring the show to the 100-episode mark, something that would be incredibly helpful in its prospects of syndication. In fact, a thirteen-episode fifth season would bring the number of episodes out to exactly 100, which might be something the networks discuss. After all, Fox is looking for a way to bring Fringe back by cutting how much they pay Warner Bros. per episode to air the series. The fate of the show rests on whether they can work out a number.
"We remain hopeful that Fringe will be able to continue," J.J. Abrams tells TVLine. Abrams indicated recently that he would "do everything in [his] power" to direct an episode of the fifth season if the show is renewed.
Executive producer Jeff Pinkner is similarly hopeful, though he promises fans an upside to a possible cancellation. “Worst case scenario, if this were the last aired season of Fringe… we know what the end of this season is going to be,” he told TVLine, "and it can function as a series finale."
I'd much rather have a season 5. We'll keep you posted on what goes down with Fringe.
Fringe airs its next episode, "Forced Perspective," January 27 at 9/8c on FOX.
Yes, Sam. We're working to get the word out that Fringe fans are out there, and that we are invested in the show. We want to see the story unfold as intended. Please join us.
We all need to send pictures of white tulips to the executives involved.
A demo score of 1.1 is not acceptable for FOX, and it shouldn't be. Those are CW numbers. In fact, those are lower numbers than The Vampire Diaries. I can understand how the show was renewed back in the early seasons, but keeping it around at this point is just pathetic for FOX. And while the general plot of Fringe is decent enough, it's been carried out poorly over the past 2 years. Torv's unimpressive acting skills have done the show no favors as well.
Many Fringe fans like to troll the net going on about how people aren't watching the show because it's just too smart for the audience to understand. I think it's time we reel that one in. Smart is one thing, but low quality is another. And Fringe is no longer smart. People aren't watching it because it just isn't very good. Sad but true.
WHAT!?! Did you seriously just say this? Have you been smoking too much Brown Betty? Torv has to act this way for God's sake she has to alter EACH individual Olivia & make them slightly different & it IS a brilliant show & still continues to be with each episode! You can not possibly be watching the same show or either you are skipping episodes or you are not watching it the way you should and getting the point of why it is the way it is this season. My advise to you would be…go back & rewatch ALL episodes from all seasons & then come back & reply but until then, your opinion in speaking for the people, is far from the truth! It is YOUR opinion & only your opinion because the people believe differently or we wouldn't be fighting to keep this show on the air! If you feel this way then watch something else & don't spend your time reading & commenting on whether you think it deserves another season. If I watch a show & become uninterested, I simply stop watching & I sure don't take the time to read anything about whether it will get another season or not!
Totally agree with you!
Fringe Rocks and it needs to stay.
I'm sorry. Which universe do you live in?
May I disagree with you. The acting on Fringe is outstanding. That's one of the reasons I watch. Both John Noble and Anna Torv are outstanding in their renditions of their characters. The whole cast is amazing. The show is very smart and very well done.
I would like to see it go to a 5th season.
In any alternate universe, Fringe is the highest rated show on tv. As it should be.
Noble is good and has proven himself, but I see the exact same thing from Torv today as back in the pilot. The same expression and tone for every situation with no believable range or difference regardless of which Olivia she is playing.
And @Jennifer, calm down! We can still be friends. I don't think Torv is that impressive. So what? I didn't nuke the planet or anything. I don't need to re-watch the episodes or give up the show if I don't want to, and I'll read and comment on what I choose to. As you pointed out, it's all my opinion anyway. I use opinions daily and doing so gives me a license to say when I feel Fringe is no longer interesting or when it's slipped below what I consider to be quality TV. And I believe that time is now.
just curious, BigBobby… what is your idea of quality tv? don't want to insult or anything but i consider fringe to be a very high-quality tv show creatively.
Listen bigBobby if you dont like the show than why are you writng on this blogs go watch the vampire diaries and comment on their show
I wouldn't lose any sleep over comments by Bigbobby, Jennifer, properly just a reflection of the person themself, all arrogance no tact
Bigbobbys comments bespeak of a person who just likes trolling the Internet in searchevof people in which they can rile up with their nasty comments.
All T.V critics I've read have praised Mrs Torv on her acting ability, especially since she plays no less than
4 characters, also John Noble gets the same praise from critics for the role he plays.
Come to think of it, maybe BigBobby doesn't like Australian Actors.
Oh well I guess nobodies perfect, but Jennifer is right, BigBobby, if you don' like the show
And never have done, then stop watching it, watch something else instead.
Seriously though I hope Fringe gets at least a partial 5th season to properly tie up the story
If not I guess a terrific 4th season ending will have to serfice.
Oh by the way, big Bobby, for the record, I'm an Australian, and my advice to you Mate,
Is this "if you have nothing nice to say about people, then say nothing at all.
Hello David,
Here's the bottom line. I'm not a fan of Anna Torv's acting and I don't feel there's been any change since the beginning of the series. For me, this sometimes makes the show less enjoyable – I just don't believe it. That's not a particularly nasty thing to say. It's just how I feel. However, I DID say that Noble was good and had proven himself on the show. That's it.
The fact still remains that the numbers for FRINGE are very low. Many other shows have been cancelled with higher numbers, which is why Fringe should be wrapped up this season.
Hi BigBobby, glad to here from you.
But I disagree about your attitude towards Ms Torv's acting, your comments indeed are a nasty thing to say.
You seem to be individualising Mrs.Torv as the sole reason that the show has these rating numbers
Without looking into other reasons that the show might have low viewing numbers, you seem to have convinced yourself that this is indeed the case (Ms. Torv's Acting).
Your comment that your not a fan of Miss Torv seems to play this out, since Miss Torv has been involved in the show from day one, so one assumes by your comment that your opinion was formed from day one.
It begs the question why you watched the show at all, the girl is only acting the way she is asked to do.
While everybody has their favorites and not so favorites Actors, to lay the blaim for a shows poor ratings on a certain individual without looking at other factors, just doesn't seem right to me.
Hi again David,
Perhaps because I'm unhappy with where the show has gone in the past 2 years, I'm easier annoyed by things that I would normally ignore. For example, in the first couple seasons, I enjoyed the overall effect enough that if I had any problems with the acting or weekly scripts, I would just shrug it off. But now, with things not so enjoyable overall I find it harder to ignore the little things. I've never been a fan of Torv, but it would be pointless to put the blame on any one person whether it be a director, actor, or even a writer for the falling ratings.
Well i could not help but respond to this post because had previously stopped watching fringe due to lack of time and because I would forget to keep up with the show. I am a fan of sci-fi, horror, thriller, drama shows and have watched many tvs shows from beginning to end. No more than 2 weeks ago I decided to give another go on Fringe and have watched all but the latest episode airing later tonight. The acting has been so far pretty incredible, the plot is the best plot I have ever watched in any tv show, the suspense is equal to that of the Walking Dead maybe even superior. Personally I do not understand why it has such low viewing numbers. You say there has not been a change in Torv's acting since the beginning of the series. However, Torv has proven that she is able to play different roles well, she is able to show realistic and varying emotions, unlike tom welling from smallville and that series had like 9 seasons lol, and as we all know people do not necessarily change much once they've gone past high school or college so there really is no reason for her acting to change dramatically. She plays the role very well and anyone who says different is probably in love with soap operas. Yes you are entitled to your opinion but so is a child and it does not mean their opinion is correct.
And this is why I tend to ignore comments on these blogs.