For an episode that could have very easily been Fringe's series finale, "Brave New World, Part 2," charges courageously ahead, resolving old storylines while setting up the endgame to come in the show's thirteen-episode final season. And while it contained several predictable and ultimately frustrating elements, the episode was ultimately a strong one that should leave audiences talking for a few weeks.

Of course, fans are going to be talking about one particular standout scene, which was undoubtedly one of Fringe's strongest moments: when Walter shot Olivia in the head. It was a moment just as shocking and as unexpected as it was when it happened back in last season's finale. Of course, over the following commercial break, it wasn't too difficult to figure out how the writers would work their way out of that corner: Walter's description of Cortexiphan's regenerative abilities should have sent alarm bells ringing in everyone's minds last week. Despite the fact that it didn't last, the shooting was a vey powerful moment, thanks mostly to Peter's heartbreaking grief, one of Joshua Jackson's greatest performances of the season. Even if the tension didn't last, the emotions felt real.

But it's growing increasingly difficult for Fringe to make us worry about the fates of the main characters. The show has retconned the deaths of so many characters so many times that it's hard to take death seriously as a threat on the show. Sure, we knew Olivia wasn't going to die on the eve of the show's final season. But if the writers really want us to feel the high stakes our characters are facing, they'll kill off some characters -- and not just peripheral ones like Charlie Francis or alternate Lincoln Lee. They had a great opportunity to give us an emotional sucker punch when Astrid took a bullet in last week's episode. When we found out that she survived this week, though, I couldn't help but be a little disappointed -- not because I don't like Astrid (who doesn't like Astrid?), but because the show needed the dramatic kick her death would have brought. The Fringe team has saved the world way too many times with way too few losses, and the more it spares its characters from the axe, the less compelled I am.

Speaking of predictability, who was surprised that Rebecca Mader's character was working for William Bell? I can't imagine too many people were, because it's not that surprising of a twist -- I predicted it, along with Olivia being saved by Cortexiphan, last week. In any case, though, it was nice to have Mader back, if only for a bit of brief nastiness and then some crazy eye-wiggling (which was more unsettling than some of Fringe's goriest monsters). Oh, and she did manage to shoot September, which solves that mystery.

Speaking of September, the episode featured some pretty cool set-up for a fifth season. Most of that came from the rune that somehow managed to trap September in place on Jessica's floor. This technology was apparently "beyond" Bell, September noted to Peter and Olivia, hinting at some context that will likely be revealed next season. I'm guessing that the Observers were sponsoring Bell's attempt to make a new universe, hoping to populate it after destroying their own future world. The Observers by now have realized that September is not on their side, which means that they must have partnered with Bell to eliminate him (thus, the superfast gun and the runes). With Bell's failure, it looks like there's only one thing left for the Observers to do: invade the past. This theory, while only a theory, links the rest of the show to the events of "Letters of Transit" in 2036 and starts to give Fringe a greater context. Have the Observers been manipulating events all along? Are they behind the Pattern that kicked off the storyline? We're so close to the answers we can almost taste them.

Finally, it'd be wrong not to note the sly scene toward the end of the episode in which Broyles and the Fringe division receive a promotion and greater funding from Congress, respectively. "You deserve it," the Congressman tells Broyles, and the scene can't help but feel like Fringe slapping its own back. Despite its flaws, this episode proved that Fringe does deserve all the recognition, both critical and otherwise, that it receives (and it could certainly use a higher budget). It certainly deserves the final season that it received, and my hopes are high that Fringe will go out on a high note when it returns next season. B

Fringe 4.22 "Brave New World, Part 2" Review

Fringe fans can finally stop chewing their fingernails -- FOX has renewed the fan favorite sci-fi series for a fifth and final season of thirteen episodes. The announcement came on Thursday, after weeks of nervous anticipation leading up to the announcement of the fate of the bubble show. Despite the cautious optimism of executive producers J.H. Wyman and Jeff Pinkner, fans were worried that the series might come to an abrupt conclusion in just a few weeks, at the end of its fourth season. Now, however, we have an ending in sight.

In a press release, FOX president Kevin Reilly, an outspoken fan of the show, had this to say about the show's renewal: "Fringe is a remarkably creative series that has set the bar as one of television’s most imaginative dramas. Bringing it back for a final 13 allows us to provide the climactic conclusion that its passionate and loyal fans deserve. The amazing work the producers, writers and the incredibly talented cast and crew have delivered the last four seasons has literally been out of this world. Although the end is bittersweet, it’s going to be a very exciting final chapter.”  

It's not just the end that's exciting -- with the show's renewal, it seems incredibly likely that J.J. Abrams will actually get to direct another episode.  “All of us at Bad Robot are forever indebted to our viewers and the amazingly supportive FOX network for allowing the adventures of Fringe Division to not only continue, but to resolve in a way that perfectly fits the show," the co-creator added in a statement.

It's news like this that gives me a little more faith in the power of network television. Fringe has always been a show that deserved its own proper resolution, and the fact that it will actually get one can only be seen as absolutely positive.

The show's renewal also might be partially due to the involvement of Fringinuity, a group of fans who have launched surprisingly effective Twitter campaigns targeting the advertisers for the show -- campaigns so effective, as it turns out, that FOX started using them to promote the show, too. If fans of any future shows need somewhere to look for a successful campaign, it couldn't hurt to give those guys a glance.

Fringe will return for the twentieth episode of its fourth season, "Worlds Apart," tomorrow night, April 27, at 9/8c on FOX.

Fringe Gets Renewed for Final, 13 Episode Season

"I have a feeling I've been here before...seriously, what's with that colour scheme?"

Mad Men: “Far Away Places” – An Expert Opinion

Far away places with strange sounding names
Far away over the sea
Those far away places with the strange sounding names are
Calling
Calling me

Written by Joan Whitney and Alex Kramer

Viewpoint one:

After the important developments for main characters that we’ve seen in previous episodes this year, and for Pete Campbell in particular from “Signal 30”, it’s hard to imagine a less “important” episode than “Far Away Places”. There is so little “going on” that the whole thing plays a little like the science fiction/Holocaust survivor story Ginsberg tells Peggy. Outside of Roger leaving his miserable marriage, very little of import occurs.

Which is fine—an episode spent watching how our favourite flawed characters take a road trip, take an LSD trip, or take a trip to a screening of Born Free that includes smoking a joint and offering an impromptu hand job to a stranger, sounds like good fun. If Steve Martin can write a short novel like Shopgirl and introduce us to disparate characters just to, in his own words (poorly quoted from my memory that is), “see how differently they eat dinner”, then why can’t we all catch our dramaturgical breath? Wheel-spinning episodes that stand apart from “I’m late for my period” or “I’m living under an assumed identity” type stories allow us to catch our breath and watch how these people conduct themselves in a hundred quotidian tasks we all do every day. If we can’t identify with Peggy having a pissy little argument while she gets dressed in the morning, why the hell are we watching the show?

All well and good. “Far Away Places”, however, adopts a storytelling trope that reeks of concept and is often—but not always—a sign of reaching at straws. Conan O’Brien made a good point about concept while (rightfully) fawning over an SCTV cast reunion at the Aspen Comedy Festival: it kills comedy. I would say that concept in a serialized drama can have similarly fatal effects. In such a setting, it can at least betray a shark-jumping tendency usually reserved for dramatic engines on inspirational fumes.

It is important to state that O’Brien made his point by heralding SCTV as an exception that proved the rule. In the case of Mad Men and “Far Away Places”, the overlapping story of multiple characters that jump off from the same spot in time feels more literary than desperate, and in this light feels less like a distressing musical episode (OK, it worked on Buffy, but let’s not sully the memory by doing exactly the same thing—and I am looking at you, Fringe). But in the grand scheme of the series canon, and certainly compared to recent episodes, “Far Away Places” plays like an artistic blip.

Viewpoint two:

The casual brutality of romantic relationships is well captured in this scattershot storytelling approach. Whether it is the sniping between Peggy and Abe as she gets ready for a fraught day at work, the suffocating elevator exchanges that reveal the undercurrents of dreadful discontent between Roger and Jane, or the actual brutality of Don kicking in the apartment door to chase Megan down—Weiner has the pitfalls of married life down pat. Of course it would be great to see a happy marriage in the Mad Men universe, but what fun is that for such a psychologically attuned drama (or any drama for that matter)? Nobody in the show could be confused with “well adjusted”, and even Don’s “love leave” is marked by a hidden and frantic desire to be loved that almost continually backfires (I swear—if he didn’t look so much like Jon Hamm, Draper would be the biggest sad sack on TV right now).

Part of this legendary attention to detail, both historic and psychological, leads to the LSD dropping scene that rolls out slowly, entertains with army choruses singing out of vodka bottles and cigarettes drained in one breath, but still leads to a sorrowful end with both Roger and Jane admitting to profound unhappiness in their union. Nothing good comes without a cost, whether it’s a highball glass of booze, a blotter of lysergic acid diethylamide or marriage to a beautiful young woman/successful older man.

In the end, an episode structured on this sort of loopback feed threatens to bore by covering the same dramatic ground, but in the hands of a master like Weiner reveals and enlightens.

I can only hope that a West Side Story-inspired musical episode is not in the offing.

Viewpoint three:

Where the hell is Sal? American Tobacco is out of the way, and more importantly, Lee Garner Jr., so where is our second favourite closet case of the show (Draper being number one)? Now that Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce is getting back on its feet, TV commercials should become more of a factor and, one hopes, signal the return of Sal as a director. Sure I want to see if he’s still in the closet, our happily out in the swinging sixties—more importantly, I’d like to see how he wears an ascot and a Nehru jacket.

Like what you've read? Sure you did! Jump over to Amazon to get my book Kings of Madison Avenue: The Unofficial Guide to Mad Men

And you can always find me at jessemclean.ca or on twitter @kungfugripe

Mad Men: "Far Away Places"--An Expert Opinion

Friday night's Fringe took its title from the Radiohead song "Everything In Its Right Place," from their (fantastic) 2000 album Kid A. Listen to it here if you've never heard it before. It's a song of hypnotic dread built around singer Thom Yorke's repeated pleas of confusion and disconnectedness: lyrics chosen simply by the band picking a few potential phrases out of a hat. Here are the song's lyrics, boiled down to their simplest form: "Everything in its right place / Yesterday I woke up sucking on lemon / Everything in its right place / There are two colors in my head / What was that you tried to say?" 

After watching "Everything In Its Right Place," the use of that song as the episode's namesake makes perfect sense. There were two colors in Lincoln Lee's head this week: the red and blue of the show's two universes. In his original Blueverse, Lincoln began to find himself obsolete. The woman he loved had forgotten the defining moment of their friendship, returning a token he had given to her after the death of his partner. The token was meant as a "tether" to help her find her way to where she belonged, though her path led, ultimately, away from Lincoln. Olivia's gaffe in returning the gift, though, came when he needed that token back the most, helping him to find a place where he was truly needed. This wasn't done through any inherent power in the little charm itself, but rather through Olivia's act of returning it, which seemed to be the final step in severing any hope Lincoln had of winning her love. Once this was gone, it was time for Lincoln to realize that he no longer belonged in the same place he had before.

Within minutes of (re-)receiving his necklace, Lincoln jumped at the opportunity to travel to the Redverse to present a report on David Robert Jones to the Department of Defense. He did so partially out of kindness for Astrid (who had plans), but partially out of a need to escape his current environment, which, as it had before Peter's disappearance, had no room for him. Of course, the episode was never going to focus on Lincoln giving a boring recap of things we already knew about Jones (whose absence is growing increasingly conspicuous from week to week), and soon after arriving in the Redverse, Lincoln was dragged off to assist in a new case.

The case turned out to be that of a shapeshifter, a fact almost too convenient considering Lincoln's obsession with the subject following the death of his partner. I shared the skepticism of Colonel Broyles, or at least I did until we were reminded that in this timeline, the Fringe Division director is a pawn of Jones. Broyles, keeping in contact with nasty alternate Nina from the week before, served as the informant whose actions resulted in the death of a beloved character. It seems likely that Broyles will exhibit some guilt for his actions in the future; something tells me the nature of his relationship with Jones isn't all as steady as it appears to be. But more on that death later.

The shapeshifter, naturally, reflected some of Lincoln's inner conflict. Like Lincoln, he was in denial about being spurned, and was still holding out hope for the fact that someone (in this case Jones) would remember him. But what it took the return of a trinket to do for Lincoln, it took a sniper on a rooftop to do for the shifter. After Olivia took the sniper down, Lincoln threw the shifter against a fence and repeated to him a lesson he had only just learned: it's time to find your own place and quit waiting for people to do it for you.

The sniper had served to provide a serious lesson in character development to the shifter, though he had also served to take a character out of the equation: the alternate universe's Lincoln Lee suffered a bullet to the chest and died as a result, leaving both Altlivia and Lincoln in shock. Several scenes of the episode had been spent attempting to determine the divergence point between the two incarnations of Lincoln, though none could be clearly found. Unlike many of the alternate characters, the two shared almost the exact same history, down to the minor details. What caused the divergence? Though the answer to that question was never discovered (What was that he tried to say?), Alternate Lincoln hypothesized that maybe it was just free will. Maybe it just took the Blueverse's Lincoln a little longer to learn to be assertive, to make his own place in the world.

As this change finally took effect on our Lincoln, though, the Redverse Lincoln died, his purpose in the story having been filled. His death left a Lincoln-shaped gap in the Redverse -- and Altlivia's life. After transporting the shifter to the Blueverse to be assisted by Peter and Walter (who was excited to study -- er, help -- his new patient), Lincoln returned to the Redverse to continue his quest to find Jones and to provide comfort to a mourning Altlivia. The possibility of a relationship between the two, almost from the outset of the episode, has increased to the level of "really, really likely," and the quiet moment between the two at the end of the episode only seems to solidify the fact that, through Altlivia, Lincoln has finally found that "tether" he had long been looking for.

Have the pieces for the show's "End Game" (the title of the season finale, though hopefully not the series finale) been set up? It certainly seems that way. With Lincoln probably staying in the Redverse, a defector from Jones's shapeshifters in the hands of Peter and Walter, and evil Alternate Nina in police custody, the walls seem to be closing in around Jones -- though I'd wager that with Col. Broyles, his ace in the hole, Jones still has a few tricks up his sleeve. We do still have five episodes left in season four. But slowly, things are coming together. Everything is in its right place. A-

Next week's episode of Fringe, "The Consultant," airs Friday, April 13.

Fringe 4.17 "Everything In Its Right Place" Review

Despite its science-y weirdness, Fringe is a show dedicated to the superiority of love. The show argues that love is something that doesn't adhere to the rules of science. It's something that can bring universes together, and it's something that can shatter them. "A Short Story About Love," the March 23 episode of Fringe, is ultimately part of a much longer story about love. But does the episode serve as a representative microcosm of the rest of the series, as any episode bearing such a title ultimately should? The answer is yes, though not without a few flaws.

"A Short Story About Love" thankfully put an end to the most frustrating part of season 4 so far: the contrived mystery of where Peter is. It's been obvious to most fans since the outset that Peter is in an altered version of his own timeline, but the show has insisted upon trying to convince us that he's actually in the wrong timeline. That's been the primary source of drama for the past few episodes, and it's been about as compelling as watching a debate of whether the earth is flat or round. We know, already. But the show finally addressed that question in this episode, answering definitely that the obvious was true. Now, thankfully, we can move on.

That reveal (confirmation?) was the major mythological payoff of the episode, but that storyline was largely disconnected from the case of the week, which saw a creepy burn victim (Michael Massee) attempting to perfect a pheromone cocktail that would make women love him. As a character, the villain remained almost entirely an enigma, though the brilliantly edited scene in which he sadly listened to "The Friends of Mr. Cairo" by Jon and Vangelis did wonders in developing the character. Also nice was the fact that the character survived the episode, making him one of the few one-off bad guys not to die at the end of their respective episodes. As he sat in a police car waiting to be taken away, the villain described to Olivia his twisted-but-noble goal: to make a chemical that could allow everyone could experience love. "[The episode] was inspired by the notion that love is chemistry," tweeted executive producer J.H. Wyman, who wrote and directed the outing (making him one of the few showrunners around to have done both, and to have done both well). But Fringe ultimately argues that this isn't entirely the case. The burn victim failed to replicate love through science because love transcends science.

Peter's largely disconnected subplot served to elaborate upon this theory. After discovering a message that September left on his eye, Peter followed it to an address that turned out to be our favorite Observer's rather pristine apartment. A tracking device found in the Observer's apartment ultimately led to Peter stumbling upon one of the beacons, the burrowing cylinders which haven't been properly seen since the season one episode "The Arrival" (though one did make a brief appearance in Walter's drugged-out dreamworld in "Brown Betty"). When he took the beacon back to September's apartment and it finally activated, it was revealed to serve as a gateway for September to escape the imprisonment that his fellow Observers had placed him in following the events of "The End of All Things." Apparently no longer suffering from the bullet wound in his abdomen, September revealed to Peter the truth of where he was -- and that Peter had been brought back because people had been unwilling to let Peter go. The Observer calls it "love."

There's an interesting parallel at work here. The beacon serves the same function for September as love does for Peter. Both serve as the hooks that bring our characters out of their extrauniversal isolation and back into this universe. But is the connection any deeper? And how is this beacon connected to the one we saw back in "The Arrival" (and what about those guys who were trying to steal that one)? Wyman promises that we haven't seen the last of these beacons, and I for one believe him. The fact that the series is calling back to a mythological element not examined since the show's fourth episode ever deserves applause, though, and with its reintroduction, it feels like we're getting another piece of the puzzle.

Finally, it's time to also direct your applause toward the acting of Anna Torv and Blair Brown in the scene near the close of the episode, in which Olivia resolved to allow her memories to be replaced by that of her old self. While there was no real question that she would do otherwise, the superb acting job by both actresses gave the scene weight it wouldn't have ordinarily had.

Ultimately, while "A Short Story About Love" isn't an entirely perfect episode of Fringe, it certainly sees the show ridding itself of some of its narrative burdens. It's a transitionary episode without a doubt, but it's a solid one that convincingly reinforces the show's central theme that love is more powerful than any fringe science. B+

Fringe 4.15 "A Short Story About Love" Review

For most Fringe Fans, (myself included) it has been a nerve-racking couple of months as Fox’s critically acclaimed mind-bending drama has seen a steady decrease in ratings. The dismal numbers lead many to assume that cancellation will be the likely outcome as Fringe's last new episode to air barely broke 3 million viewers. (You can check those numbers here!) To ease some of the sting, executive producers Jeff Pinkner and J.H Wyman have promised that, in the event of cancellation, the story will continue, just not in the way that you would expect. Like the previously announced Smallville comic, Fringe would do something similar where the show would continue in comic book form.

Speaking at Wondercon 2012, Pinkner had this to say about the comic, "It would be really elaborate and we would go to town on it and make sure that everything you needed to understand about the show would be in that and pay off that way. That's our back up plan."

Although it would be unfortunate to no longer have the Fringe team grace our television screens, a comic book is an interesting angle to take. Die hard Fringe fans might recall this would not be the Fringe team's first comic book appearance as Joshua Jackson (The Boy Who Lived/Peter Bishop) also made his comic book debut by writing the three part series "Beyond the Fringe."

What do you think Fringe fans? Would you read the comic continuation if the worst were to happen?

Fringe returns this Friday.

Source: Zap2it 

Fringe to Continue Even if Cancelled

As I'm sure many of you are aware, Fringe returns this week from a four week hiatus with the new episode "A Short Story About Love". Fox released some sneak peeks which you can watch below!

In case you need a bit of a refresher, we left off with the episode "The End of All Things", which was packed with revelations. We finally learned that the Observers are scientists from a possible future that is somehow dependent on Peter being with the right Olivia - that is, not the alternate Olivia. Peter learns that he had a son, who ceased to exist when he made his choice with The Machine. One thing I still find a little confusing is September's implication that his own future is dependent on a child of Peter and Olivia's, since they should never even have met without September's "error" and subsequent saving of Peter and Walter. I suppose Peter and Olivia could have met at some later point if Walter and Bell's forays into investigating the Other Side had progressed, but it isn't obvious to me how they would have met without interference.

I'm hoping that in the coming weeks we'll continue to learn more about the Observers, and why they've gone from scientists who simply observe important events to so blatantly interfering. You'd think that scientists from an apparently advanced future would know better than to disregard the "observer effect"! Another thing that came up when I was debating the episode with friends was: what even gives the Observers the right to change events? Since they obviously exist, who's to say that the way everything played out wasn't the way it was supposed to happen? If they come from a future that was brought about by Olivia and Peter somehow being together, then how do we know that they didn't bring it about by interfering in the first place? You have to love time-travel paradoxes!

Given the title of the episode, I'm assuming that Peter and Olivia's relationship will be the focus of the episode: I'm now convinced that this really is "our" universe, which makes Peter's behaviour all the more frustrating. That being said, I understand where he's coming from. Having already mistaken one Olivia for another, he's terrified of making the same mistake again and betraying the woman he loves. But now that Olivia remembers everything, she is his Olivia. Although I suppose the question still remains of whether this is, as Walter seems to think, simply an Olivia who is so tuned to Peter that she's becoming what he needs. There's also the question of what is it that makes us who we are: is it our memories? Or is there some intangible, undefinable thing - a soul, for lack of a better word - that makes us wholly unique and would distinguish between the same people in alternate universes?

This week's Fringe will be the first in a run of the last 8 episodes of the season, so make sure you don't miss them! I think we're in for quite the ride.

Fringe Sneak Peeks: Episode 4.15 'A Short Story About Love'

90210 | Why is Billy Ray Cyrus returning as Judd Ridge? E!Online reports that in Episode 22, Austin will call on a little favor from his dear ol' country music star dad to help out Adrianna's career using his connections to the music business. Oh, if only real life was as giving as tv life.

Which Backstreet Boy will make a bachelorette appearance? A number of surprise guests have showed up over the years, but in the May 8 episode, Nick Carter is set to make an unexpected visit as himself. According to EW, Naomi Clark will invite the boy band singer to a bachelorette party as a favor to the bride, who has had a crush on him since junior high. Again, I tell you, tv life is so much more giving than real life.

Which West Bev alum will return later this season? Though the exact details, including storyline and date, are being kept secret, Zap2it has the scoop on Trevor Donovan's reappearance as Teddy Montgomery: And the only thing they've been allowed to say is that Teddy will face a life-changing decision after he reunites with an old classmate.

And last, but not least, what's this about a wedding? While rumor has it this season may end with a wedding, at this point TVLine can only confirm there will in fact be an engagement. Any guesses on the lucky couple?

Don't miss the next all new episode "Blood Is Thicker Than Mud" on March 13 with guest stars Nick Zano, La Toya Jackson and Train.

The Walking Dead | What do we know about this Sunday's penultimate episode? Merely that last week's big death shocker is going to pale in comparison to what's in store for us. TVGuide and TVLine have revealed this week's "Better Angels" will feature two very significant deaths, one of which we already know to be Shane, and will also include some spectacular zombie kills via pitchfork. Plus: A big piece of the mythology about the walkers will be revealed.

If you missed last week's "Judge, Jury, Executioner," you can check out our comic-to-tv comparison of the episode here.

Fringe | Who will be joining the cast as the 'Alt Female FBI Agent'? In a previous spoiler post, I reported that Henry Ian Cusick would play the 'Alt Male FBI Agent' in the mysterious Episode 19, while his younger recurring female costar had yet to be chosen. TVLine now has the latest with the casting of blonde Australian actress Georgina Haig as his partner Etta. Have you noticed her similarities to Anna Torv?

Fringe will return with the all-new episode "A Short Story About Love" on March 23.

The Vampire Diaries | Will we finally meet Jeremy and Elena's parents? Until now, Grayson and Miranda Gilbert have only been glimpsed in photographs, but very soon we'll get our chance to see them in the flesh, albeit via flashback. E!Online has learned the show is currently casting actors who are willing to learn scuba diving for an underwater scene. Underwater, you say? Isn't that how the two died?

What else will this flashback show us? Just that, per E!Online, Jeremy's parents knew he was involved in something secret before they died. That's right, we'll also see the return of Jeremy to the show via flashback!

The Vampire Diaries finally returns next week with "1912," as we get a glimpse back to Damon's past and new character Sage (guest star Cassidy Freeman). Photos and a promo for the episode can be seen here and here.

Sage and Damon will then reunite in present day on March 22 in "Break on Through". Photos for this episode are here.

Spoilers: Why is Billy Ray Cyrus Returning to 90210? Plus: The Walking Dead, Fringe, The Vampire Diaries

Modern Family | Who is Haley's new boyfriend? Now that Haley's secret about not being a virgin is out, it's definitely time for a new guy to come around and make Phil a little nervous, don't you agree? Well, in a case of art imitating life, Zap2it reveals that Sarah Hyland's real-life boyfriend, Matt Prokop, has been cast as Haley's newest love interest. Interesting tidbit: This will be the third time that Prokop and Hyland have played boyfriend and girlfriend onscreen since first meeting at a casting call for High School Musical 3. Aaw!

Is Cam's father just as touchingly inappropriate as his mom? Not even. TVGuide has learned that One Tree Hill's Barry Corbin is set to play Merle Tucker, Cam's Midwestern, off-putting, and very masculine father in an episode to air during May sweeps. Seeing as his parents are pretty much complete opposites, which side of the family do you think Cam takes after more?

Fringe | How will Fringe head into its hiatus? Friday night's episode, and the last til March 23, is sure to be the talk of the town, based on what we've been hearing. "Everything will be revealed." and "It's a game changer." are just some of the phrases being used. And now E!Online has more on what to expect from "The End of All Things": The return of Peter's baby Henry and an ending that "will break your heart". Meanwhile, TVLine says we'll learn David Robert Jones' agenda and someone will make a difficult decision for the greater good...

Vampire Diaries | Are Elena and Damon about to get hot and heavy? After the last couple of episodes where Damon and Elena have been at odds on the status of their back and forth friendship-relationship, the last thing you'd except for the next while is them "heating up again." And yet, Delena fans can now rejoice because E!Online has the latest scoop on their love affair. A source reveals their estrangement is only temporary, and the two will be on again before the season is up.

The show returns with all new episodes on March 15 and will flash back to Damon in 1912.  View photos for the episode.

Revenge | Will the upcoming murder trial take over Revenge? If you honestly thought Emily would put aside her meticulously crafted plans because of a little ol' murder trial, then you're sorely mistaken. E!Online reports that in an upcoming episode, Emily will set her sights on a new target: a 63-year-old female secretary, who just happened to retire fifteen years ago when everything between the Graysons and David Clarke went down. We probably don't need to tell you that there'll also be "more to her than meets the eye."

How will Daniel respond to his new intel on Emily? Badly. Joshua Bowman recently told TVOvermind at a press screening for the episode "Chaos" that Daniel's going to become very inquisitive and nasty: "You’ll see Daniel change a little bit, he’ll get a little darker, and a little more with his feet on the ground. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree when you’re a Grayson."

The show returns with a new episode on February 29. Watch three sneak peeks.

Spoilers: Who is Haley's New Boyfriend on Modern Family? Plus: Fringe, The Vampire Diaries & Revenge

Fringe | When will the Observers return? The last time we saw September in "Back to Where You've Never Been," he wasn't looking too good with a bullet in his chest. So if you're like me, you've probably been wondering whatever became of him and his ominous message to Olivia. Well, in the Feb. 24 episode "The End of All Things," September is back, and it appears he's finally ready to answer one of Peter's biggest questions: "Who or what are you?" You can catch a teaser for this very important episode here.

And if you missed this week's excellent episode "A Better Human Being," we have a review for you right here.

Are Alt Olivia and Lincoln being replaced? A casting call for the upcoming Episode 19 has been released, and it's mighty suspicious, guys. The show's currently on the lookout for an 'Alt Universe Male FBI Agent' and an 'Alt Universe Female FBI Agent'. He's in his late 30s. She's in her 20s. He's around for one episode. She's possibly recurring. And considering EPs Jeff Pinkner and J.H. Wyman have said Episode 19 will be 'off the beaten path,' we should definitely be prepared for anything. Say it with me now: Hmm.

Has the 'Alt Male FBI Agent' already been cast? While we're not completely sure whether Lost's Henry Ian Cusick will indeed be playing the FBI agent recently mentioned in the casting call, TVLine reveals he is set to play a FBI agent assigned to the Fringe case of Episode 19. He certainly fits all the criteria previously released, however, so we're just going to go ahead and guess that he's the one in question. Now, who do you think will be cast as his younger lady-partner?

Grimm | Will Nick get answers regarding his past? In the March 2 episode "Three Coins In A Fuchsbau," Nick is going to be paid a little visit from Farley Holt (Lost's Titus Welliver), an old friend of Aunt Marie’s who has information about Nick's family and his parents' death. And it's a good thing Farley's around because Nick will also need help with some rare coins that seem to have taken over Hank and Captain Renard. Get ready Grimm fans, EP Jim Kouf tells EW that this episode will go "deeper into the mythology than other episodes".

Plus, can Nick keep his Grimm secret? EPs David Greenwalt explains to EW that it's only going to get harder and harder for Nick to hide his identity from those closest to him, especially after he finds out exactly why no one can know the truth. "Their partnership will be tested and its going to get to the point where some things are going to happen that are truly not easily explained to Hank." EP Greenwalt also tells TVLine that "Juliette's suspicions keep rising after she finds something of Nick’s…and also finds herself in danger.”

And is the Adalind mystery beginning to unravel? EW reports that True Blood's Jessica Tuck will be stopping by to play Adalind's mother Caroline in the upcoming episode "Love Sick". And surprise, surprise, she's definitely an example of like mother, like daughter. I think it's safe to say, we're going to learn a little more bit about the Hexen-beauty that's been working for Captain Renard very soon.

Once Upon a Time | Who is Dr. Whale in fairytale land? Co-creator Adam Horowitz recently told EW, "It’s a question we have an answer for. When we’re going to get to it, we can’t say quite yet." However, we do have a few clues: His name, as you know, is Dr. Whale and TVLine's source says, "He can’t be tied down." Could this be a reference to Pinocchio's song: "I've Got No Strings"? Let the speculation begin! But for now, Dr. Whale is set to return in the March 11 episode "Red-Handed", which will at last focus on Little Red Riding Hood backstory with the big bad wolf. For more on Ruby/Little Red Riding Hood's special episode, check out some spoilers here.

Plus, in case you missed this week's episode "What Happened to Frederick," we have your review right here.

And Once Upon a Time will be back in two weeks on March 4 with the episode "Dreamy". You can watch a promo for the episode here and look through photos from the episode here.

New Girl | Is it already time for three men and a baby? Seems so. Just when we were getting used to Jess living with the guys and CeCe's new fling with Schmidt, it appears that one of the two girls may just get a bun in the oven. According to E!Online, later on this season either Jess or CeCe will have quite the pregnancy scare. Guess they should have listened to Schmidt and double bagged it after all.

A Gifted Man | How will Michael explain Anna? Per TVGuide, that's going to be the big question for the Feb. 24 episode "In Case of Letting Go" after E-Mo (Eriq La Salle) walks in to find Michael in the middle of an argument with his deceased wife about Kate. Uh, oh. Looks like someone's gonna have some explaining to do.

Spoilers: When Will the Observers Return to Fringe? Plus: Grimm, Once Upon a Time, New Girl, A Gifted Man

Fringe's fourth season is really heating up, and don't expect that momentum to be deferred. Friday's episode, "A Better Human Being," promises to be a great outing, especially after the cliffhanger of last week's "Welcome to Westfield," which saw the new timeline's version of Olivia apparently regaining the memories from the other timeline's self. But it's the February 24 episode that's really going to blow your mind. The episode, titled "The End of All Things," is apparently so good that it necessitated releasing a trailer two weeks in advance.

"Answers are coming," the trailer ominously promises. What answers are we talking about, exactly? Well, if the trailer is to believed, a very, very big one is going to be answered: who are the Observers?

September (Michael Ceveris) will appear in the lab before Peter, suffering from the gunshot wound he had in "Back to Where You've Never Been." Either the gunshot happens after he enters the lab or his wound is healed, though, because the trailer reveals another shot of him standing next to Peter, with Peter asking him a fateful question: "Who or what are you?" The trailer seems to make it certain that we'll get a concrete answer.

Watch the trailer below. Fringe airs its next episode, "A Better Human Being," Friday, February 17 at 9/8c on FOX. "The End of All Things" will air the next Friday.

Fringe: Find Out Who the Observers Are on Feb. 24

Fringe has finally started answering questions, and that couldn't have come soon enough. Season 4 has featured some absolutely fantastic episodes, but it's also suffered from the affliction of being too damn frustrating. Episodes like "Enemy of My Enemy," which push the story forward, are too often followed by meandering affairs such as "Forced Perspective," which largely ignore the momentum created by the previous episode. There's a pervading feeling of 'Who cares?' throughout those episodes, and perhaps for good reason. Fringe has spent several episodes subtly trying to convince us that Peter needs to 'return home,' challenging the previously held notion that he is home and just needs to be remembered. The characters became just shadows of their previous incarnations that we were doomed to leave, and the mysteries, despite being quite often good, no longer held any real weight.

Thankfully, "Welcome to Westfield" finally slapped all those storylines back into place with a resounding, "Yes, it matters." It appears that, as we had previously thought, Peter does just need to be remembered. And, of course, Olivia is the first one to do so.

She remembers Peter over the course of the episode's case, a Fringe event reminiscent of season two episodes "Johari Window" (because of the hostile small-town setting) and "Jacksonville" (because of the melding universes). In a smart move, Fringe turned those similarities into a plot point, with Olivia remembering the case from "Johari Window" despite the fact that she never worked on such a case in the Peter-less universe. Add that to her Peter-lovin' dream from the beginning of the episode, and you've got a recipe for a kick-ass cliffhanger.

But first, the case itself, which was apparently the work of David Robert Jones, a notably absent figure who pulled the strings of the episode without even making an appearance. For reasons unknown, Jones decided to meld the town of Westfield together, ultimately succeeding in destroying it nearly entirely, save for a bike shop in which our heroes managed to hide.

The episode managed to make the most of the season's significantly lower budget. The mostly subtle changes to Westfield's residents were surprisingly effective, and served to be the perfect example of how the show can save money without looking like it's saving money.

So, finally, we reach the end of the episode, which saw Olivia apparently completely transformed into the Olivia we knew. The fact that she's acting like this is a routine seems to indicate that she has no memory of Peter's disappearance and return, which will make the next episode interesting, to say the least. It seems likely that Olivia's memory was returned by the Cortexiphan doses that she's been receiving from Nina, but does Nina know that is what the Cortexiphan is doing?

In any case, it seems clear that Fringe is no longer about 'going home,' but about remembering, meaning that the show can be compelling again after a few episodes of spinning its wheels. Welcome back, Fringe. We've missed you. A

Fringe 4.12 "Welcome to Westfield" Review

Tonight's episode of Fringe is one of its best, but you might do well to be getting excited about a future episode of the series. Episode 19 of the season is bringing in a guest star from that other great J.J. Abrams series, LOST. Henry Ian Cusick, better known as Desmond Hume, will guest star, according to TVLine.

Cusick will play an FBI agent assigned to a Fringe case, though it's unknown which universe he's from. TVLine speculates that Cusick's role is that of an "Alternate Universe Agent" who "possesses strength and confidence as well as strong comic timing."

Cusick's not exactly known for his comic timing, but I wouldn't put it beyond him -- the man can act. At the moment, the role looks like it'll be a one-off guest star, but I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that it would be absolutely fantastic to see Cusick recur.

Cusick, of course, starred on LOST, which was also created by J.J. Abrams. Writers Jeff Pinkner and David Fury have also worked on both shows. Star Lance Reddick appeared in a recurring role on LOST, and LOST star Jorge Garcia had a guest role on Fringe. There is plenty of overlap between the two shows, but we get excited with every new connection that's made.

Fringe airs tonight, February 10, with the fantastic episode "Welcome to Westfield."

Fringe Nabs Lost Star Henry Ian Cusick for Guest Role

If you’ve been watching Fringe this season, then you’ll recognize Michelle Krusiec as the actress who played one of the new, human shapeshifters. If you haven’t been watching, maybe Michelle herself can convince you to give it a shot! Michelle took the time to chat with us this week about her experiences on Fringe: covering everything from how the show is like an illicit drug to what it’s like to play a superhuman. Michelle also reveals the previously-unknown “shapeshifter” name of her character. The shapeshifter has been known only as Nadine, who was first introduced in the season premiere, and was seen most recently in last week’s episode “Enemy Of My Enemy”. I will say that I myself am curious as hell about what the shapeshifter name may signify…

And now I’ll let you get on to the good stuff:

TVOvermind: Had you been a fan of Fringe before working on the show?

Michelle Krusiec: I can't honestly call myself a fan prior to working on it, because that would make the real fans pretty upset since they are true fans.  I watched the pilot and I was intrigued, but I'm not an avid TV watcher. Mostly because of time and lack of it, nothing to do with the show itself.  I remember watching Fringe randomly one night earlier this season and I was totally confused by the two Olivias, but still, I was intrigued, and wondered what in the world the storyline was about!

What was it like to work on the show?

I was really giddy with excitement because it's a J.J. Abrams show and my character was just so awesome.  I was told she was a new breed of shapeshifter, but I had no idea what the hell that really meant, in terms of the show's mythology; I got to work and started watching as many episodes as I could. The first episode I was in, I was mostly dead, and since it was raining in Vancouver, I basically watched 36 back-to-back episodes.  I felt like some junkie hopped up in my hotel room.  My curtains were drawn.  I'd watch it in bed, from the bathtub, with room service.  I couldn't stop watching it.  I was completely hooked, and in complete awe of the storyline.

I'm such a sucker for sci fi because my Dad and I bonded over them growing up. Whenever sci fi is at its best, it makes you examine morality, ethics and the human condition: it really brings to light great questions and theoreticals about mankind and behavior.  In the case of Fringe, I was really struck by this notion of how one man's mistakes affect two universes and the people in them.  The way the writers explored these questions while still maintaining a procedural show was impressive to me.  And then to top it off, the calibre of acting on the show was so striking.  I felt like I had won the lottery to be invited onto the show.

What are some of your favorite memories and experiences from working on Fringe?

Some of my favorite moments include getting my face scanned for the digital effects and seeing a 3D version of my face on the computer. And I loved my character's name "Seven" because it's just a badass name.

I loved playing with the guns.  I took that very seriously.  I felt that a shapeshifter would move differently than humans and I wanted to be completely collected when I was operating firearms.  I practiced rolling around on the floor and shooting, which I never did in the show, and the firearms expert even told me while I was doing it, “they probably won’t ask you to do that,” but I’d just keep on rolling around on the floor. Basically, any time I got to kick ass, I was giddy with excitement because Seven has superhuman abilities and you just don't get a chance to play characters like that very often.  I was a little jealous whenever I had to shapeshift into another human being though, because another actor played that part. But it was also really awesome to see how they lined up my face with the other actress Lori Triolo's face so they could shift our faces together.  It was odd how our features were actually very similar on camera.  Who would have guessed I'd have Italian features?

Doing the shapeshifting in and out of characters was more challenging than I expected because it had to be subtle and it’s mostly digital effects so your face is like a canvas. The first time I did it, I just went crazy and after my first take the director Joe Chapelle just said, "Uh, make it smaller." That made me laugh, because I think I may have gone a little overboard with it.  All the other shapeshifters made it look so painful, so I thought I was doing exactly what I'd seen on the show, but I was mistaken. There's a great scene where Seven is injecting herself with the formula to correct her genetic mutation that's preventing her from shapeshifting on command. I loved shooting in that bathroom because it was a small little space and any kind of transformation scene like that for an actor is really fun to do.

I also loved seeing Gene the cow.  I wish I had taken a photo with her now… Can you tell that I had a blast shooting this show?

How did you approach your character?

I really developed Seven with an animal in mind. You're probably laughing, but I took this role very seriously. I felt like it was a great opportunity to work off of the pre-established mythology, and since Seven is a new breed of shapeshifter, I wanted to see what my imagination could come up with.  Since I had three weeks off in between episodes, I developed this idea that Seven is a super soldier but with empathic capabilities.  As a soldier, she has a direct mission objective she has to follow, but since she's also part human, she uses her ability to experience human emotions to convince Malcolm Truss to help her.  I tried to find moments in the episode where she could emote like a real human being and play "Nadine", her human form, but then switch back to shapeshifter Seven.  A lot of those moments didn’t make the final edit, because there’s just so much info packed into these episodes, but I had fun prepping it.

What made her different from other characters you’ve portrayed?

What makes Seven different? She gets to scale walls! She pokes guys’ eyeballs out! My stunt double, who was amazing, had to do wire work to scale that wall and I would have given anything to try the stunt myself: being superhuman is pretty much every kid's fantasy.

Was there anything you’d hoped to see explored with her that we didn’t really address? Given that characters never really die in Fringe, it’s not entirely beyond the realms of possibility that we might see her again someday…

I’m always fascinated when robots have emotions.  I'm really intrigued by that.  I had hoped that she would continue to work for David Robert Jones, but then begin to show signs of empathizing with the humans and switch teams.  I also wondered what would happen if she and Olivia ever got into a bitch fight.  Two badass women squaring off?  That's a season finale, come on!

What was it like to be a rather central “baddie” this season?

I wanted more. I was very sad when I read that Seven gets shot. I think I went right into mourning, but what was really incredible was being introduced to the Fringies.  I had no idea there were such loyal fans out there.  I really didn't want to let them down.  Although, having become a fan of the show myself now, I understand the addiction and the loyalty.  There’s really nothing quite like it on TV.

What’s next for you? Are there any projects you’d like to mention?

I just wrapped a comedy called Nice Girls Crew. I'm waiting to begin work on the feature Relative Insanity, and I'll be guesting on Touch next.

Many thanks again to Michelle for taking the time to do this interview, and for the thought-provoking answers! I always find it fascinating to hear inside perspectives on my favorite show, and I find it rather wonderful that she turned into a fan after working on the show. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to post below! You can also reach Michelle on Twitter here: @michellekrusiec.

Fringe: Michelle Krusiec Talks Her Shapeshifter Role and the Show

Chuck | What can we expect from the two-hour series finale? The time has finally come to countdown the days to "Chuck Versus Sarah" and "Chuck Versus the Goodbye" on Jan. 27, so TVLine went to Zachary Levi for some scoop: “The first hour is super-intense drama and action and some tears are shed. And the second half also has some drama, but there’s a lot of comedy, too.”

Co-star Yvonne Strahovki echoed similar thoughts to EW. “I remember reading the script thinking ‘My god! Wow, this is quite a bold choice that the writers have made,’ which is why I say people are going to be wondering how this is going to finish up,” she says. “It’s a little scary or disconcerting in a way, but that’s what makes it interesting.” Now excuse me while I go stock up on tissues.

Grimm | What's the secret behind the mysterious Captain Renard? Well, according to EP David Greenwalt and EP Jim Kouf's talk with EW, we'll soon find out. “It’s not what people think…and we’ve been told a lot of what people think,” says Kouf. “He walks a fine line. He’s balancing more than anyone." Greenwalt agreed, "He’s not just purely nefarious at all. He has his reasons for what he’s doing.”

And what about Nick's friend and partner Monroe? It seems like he'll soon find himself opposite his good friend during an upcoming case. “[Monroe's] whole past will be brought up.” Also, don't be surprised if Monroe gets a little romance.

Fringe | Will the Observer's message about Olivia's death come true? If you go by EP Joel Wyman's comments to EW, then yes. "He said it, so we have to take it as gospel," Wyman says. “Every situation she goes into, from walking across the street to taking down a Fringe freak, she could be killed.” Guess that settles it. Let the death watch begin!

Nikita | Could death be coming to Nikita? Showrunner Craig Silverstein recently joked to TVLine about his character problem: “We’ve built up a lot of [cast members], and so we’ve got to start killing them off.” And just in case you thought the regulars were safe: “Yes, some of those guys will die.” Sounds like all bets are off.

Spoilers: What Can We Expect From the Chuck Series Finale? Plus: Grimm, Fringe & Nikita

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.

Fringe Season 5 Renewal Talks Begin

Fringe's fourth season is picking up speed. After last week's stellar episode "Back to Where You've Never Been," the momentum continues with "The Enemy of My Enemy," which airs January 20 on FOX.

I haven't seen the episode, so how do I know it will be so good? That's simple: look at these clips. Three preview clips from the episode have been released. One of them features the triumphant return of David Robert Jones (Jared Harris), who popped up briefly in the last episode. He's totally intimidating and watchable as he proves a point to Altlivia and Alt-Lincoln.

The second clip features typical Walter hi-jinks -- this time he's liquifying meat to create the perfect recipe. As Astrid and Olivia both note, things don't exactly work out for the meat; it's pretty disgusting.

Finally, we have the third clip, which shows Peter and Lincoln arguing about what to do next. Peter wants to return to this universe, while Lincoln wants to stay and investigate the shapeshifters that killed his partner. Things seem to be resolved fairly quickly when Altlivia and Alt-Lincoln walk in with a handcuffed David Robert Jones, who Peter instantly recognizes. After all, Peter did kill him, once upon a time.

Fringe airs "The Enemy of My Enemy" tonight, January 20, on FOX.

Fringe: Three Clips from "The Enemy of My Enemy"

J.J. Abrams operates in a way that's similar to the deists' perception of God. He simply creates something, winds up the spring, and lets it go how it will. Sometimes, as with Undercovers, the clockwork is wound too tight and it breaks. But Abrams has a tendency, as he did with LOST, to wind things up just right, and then step away. He did the same thing with FOX's Fringe, one of the most creatively brilliant shows on television right now.

In a video released by FOX on Thursday, Abrams chats with Fringe marketing special ops Ari Margolis about why exactly he loves the show that he helped to create, pointing out how the show is a wonderful mix of the scary and the heartfelt, pointing to Walter Bishop (John Noble) as a prime example.

While Abrams realizes that viewership isn't great and that chances of a fifth season aren't great, he certainly sweetens the pot for FOX to renew the series; he's willing to once again wind up the clockwork. "While I don't know what the schedule is, it has been my desire since the pilot to direct an episode," Abrams says. "I would say without question that if Fringe comes back, I would do anything in my power to direct an episode. I would love it."

Fringe will air Friday, January 20 with the episode "Enemy of My Enemy" at 9/8c on FOX. Watch it live.

Check out the video below.

Fringe: J.J. Abrams Wants to Direct an Episode in Season 5

The Secret Circle | Which major book character is finally coming to Chance Harbor? Are you sitting down for this? John Blackwell. Best known for Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman and Higher Ground (Everyone saw this show, right?), Joe Lando has been cast as the mysterious and powerful witch who finally makes his entrance in episode 15 "Return," supposedly so he can protect the Circle. Yeah, that's what I thought, too.

And what's up with Faye's new boy-toy Lee? Nothing good, I'm afraid. It seems this whole time he's been hiding the secret of his ex-girlfriend Eva (Alexia Fast) being in a drug-induced coma. And would you look at that, she's ready to wake up in "Return". My that episode is beginning to look really busy...

CSI: NY | Will Mac finally be able to move on from his wife Claire? The season premiere "Indelible" not only gave us our first glimpse at the happily married couple pre-9/11, but Mac was also able to at last say goodbye to the wife he lost so long ago. So now may be the perfect time to find someone new. Just in case, Megan Dodds has been cast as Christine, a possible love interest and someone from Mac's past.

How I Met Your Mother | Is love in the air for Barney? In episode 16, Barney will go out on a double date with new girl Quinn (Becky Newton), who manages to push his buttons in all the right ways. Creator Craig Thomas teases, she'll be "a bit of a puppet-master and Barney sort of falls under her thralls. The inventor of the playbook is being played." Oh, it's on!

Parks and Recreation | Which Will & Grace star is heading to Pawnee? Why that would be Sean Hayes! His former co-star Megan Mullally already recurs on Parks, but soon the actor will guest star as a TV journalist who grabs a big political interview with Leslie (Amy Poehler). This should go well.

And just who will be stopping by to play Leslie's opponent in the race for City Council? Vulture reports that Paul Rudd shot his scenes late last year, though neither NBC nor the show will comment, and that the episode should be airing very soon. Hm...

The Vampire Diaries | Who's this mysterious new lady Sage? To find out we'll have to wait until episode 16, simply titled "1911," where Cassidy Freeman will first be seen via flashbacks as the "sexy and fearless" Sage. She'll have the exciting task of enticing both the Salvatore brothers and the Original family. Though in the books, Sage was actually a he. Awkward.

Plus, will Damon soon be sexing it up with a hot female vampire? Perhaps. But is it Katherine? While Nina Dobrev refused to comment on whether she would be in the scene as well, judging by the wig Somerhalder recently tweeted himself wearing we're beginning to wonder if does take place in the past.

Oh, and when will Stefan find out about Damon and Elena's kiss? Try in this week's episode "The Ties that Bind". Any guesses as to how he'll take it?

Once Upon a Time | Is someone else going to learn about the curse? Kind of. In episode 17 "Hat Trick," an intriguing new character named Jefferson, a former criminal in the fairy-tale world, shows up and attempts to convince Emma that the curse is indeed true. Though we're not even sure how he knows about the curse in the first place.

Hart of Dixie | Could there be yet another love interest in store for Zoe? Well, maybe third time's the charm because Justin Hartley will soon be lingering around Bluebell as Jesse, a "charming Southerner and war hero". Sounds to me like Wade better step up his game.

The Good Wife | Could Will be getting a new woman in his life? Two, actually. And they're coming by to find him the woman of his life. Will's two sisters Sara (Nadia Dajani) and Audra (Merritt Wever) will be showing up on his doorstep determined to fix their brother's love life. Of course, they may not be entirely welcome...

Fringe | What's coming up for Fringe? Only the worst. Michael Massee, who's actually made a living playing villains, will play a man pushed to the limits in Episode 15.  Executive producer JH. Wyman explained the casting thus: "His character promises to be one of the most memorable, guest bad guys we've ever had." Well, I'm sold.

Spoilers: The Secret Circle's Blackwell Returns, Will & Grace in Parks and Rec, and CSI: NY Love Interest

Alcatraz unlocks its first episode series premiere event from the mind of J.J. Abrams with tonight's pilot "Jack Sylvane," as Detective Rebecca Madsen (Sarah Jones) finds herself embroiled in a mind-boggling mystery of how 1960's Alcatraz inmates are re-surfacing in present day San Francisco with murderous intent.  Alcatraz certainly holds promise going forward, but isn't quite the dramatic hook some of Abrams' past TV works have been.

I first saw Alcatraz when they screened the pilot episode at San Diego Comic-Con, though I confess to drifting in and out of attention, owing partly to other assignments of previous Ballroom 20 panels, a lack of anything particularly grabbing within the pilot itself, and just a brutal, brutal hangover from all the socializing the night before.

So while I could have done a better job on focusing on what does, and doesn’t work about Alcatraz the first time around, the eminent prestige of J.J. Abrams and its sci-fi premise would inevitably draw me back in for further viewing.

Then, I found out they re-tooled the pilot a bit from what was shown, and I couldn’t be sure whether what I had watched recently in FOX’s online screening room was the original or the updated version.  Even with that dilemma, re-tooling pilots always bodes ill for a series.  So keep in mind that what you see from Alcatraz’s series premiere tonight wasn’t always present, and serves to highlight a few points FOX obviously found problematic, notably a lack of character for lead Rebecca Madsen (Sarah Jones).  Near as I can tell, none of the original pilot dealt with the death of her partner, her difficulting in working with others, or her grandfather already resurfacing in present day.

I also did a bit of research into other reactions to the pilot, many of which hit some of the same points, that conceptually Alcatraz seems like a cool idea for series and a smart blend of sci-fi with the procedural, but little else.  Clearly the writers are setting up some kind of larger sci-fi conspiracy to explain where the 302 Alcatraz prisoners and guards have been for 40 years, but beyond that most of the action simply lies in unremarkable characters following somewhat typical cop-show beats.  I’m reminded of specific comments* from J.J. Abrams on how he envisioned Alcatraz as a less serialized, inmate-of-the-week type series that anyone could find accessible by jumping on to random episodes during the season, and that mentality certainly shows.

(*) Others have also pointed out that in discussing the show Abrams drew on the same “Alias as over-serialized” anecdote he used when first describing Fringe, which hit its creative stride by embracing longer story arcs, not avoiding them.

The basic synopsis of Alcatraz unfolds as troubled young detective Rebecca Madsen and Alcatraz expert Dr. Diego Soto (Jorge Garcia) find themselves drawn into the murder investigation of a former Alcatraz staff member, apparently by long-dead inmate Jack Sylvane.  Once they uncover too many details of the seemingly impossible murder, secretive FBI agent Emerson Hauser (Sam Neill) recruits them as part of the larger investigation of why Alcatraz inmates are re-appearing un-aged in present day with murderous intent.

With 302 names on the roster to investigate and a host of unanswered questions, Alcatraz’ pilot leaves plenty of room to grow, but could use a little work in developing its characters.  Madsen seems to have a colorful enough past, but we don’t grasp much of a clear hook for why she finds herself so drawn to the Alcatraz cases, or even how impossible they seem.  As I mentioned earlier FOX seems to have beefed up her grandfather’s role in the mystery, but that shoehorning doesn’t illustrate much of a real connection she has to the man other than blood, or her surrogate uncle (Robert Forster).

Diego Soto on the other hand, everyone loves Hurley, but the pilot doesn’t give the good doctor much to do beyond a couple of “gee whiz” reactions and a few dots about Alcatraz to connect.  Sam Neill’s Emerson Hauser emerges as a frontrunner for the most intriguing character thus far, but I wouldn’t trust J.J. Abrams to show his hand so quickly.  By the same token I expect that whatever orders they might have, each inmate (or guard) the team encounters from the past will run the gamut of emotions, as Alcatraz’ pilot seems inconsistent on portraying Jack Sylvane as sympathetic and remorseless.  We feel for him given his plight and unfair treatment in prison, but those sympathies don’t quite gel with his unrepentantly violent nature.  I haven’t seen the second episode FOX will air along with the pilot, so we’ll see if character motivations become any clearer.

I’ll definitely keep up with Alcatraz going forward, but I might dip more into the recap side rather than review, unless the show manages to grow out of its more generic cop show conventions.  Really, must every leading detective be a loose cannon with family issues that no one else works well with?

See?  Not everything needs to draw heavy LOST comparisons.

And Another Thing…

• We'll be back with a recap of the second episode "Ernest Cobb" later, but you can also check out our extensive Alcatraz coverage, including set visits, and interviews with Executive Producer Jack Bender, Jorge Garcia, Sarah Jones and others.

• Should we start a pool of crazy theories to explain the science-fiction?  My money’s on either cloning, or cryogenics given the additional hospital ward experiment scenes added to the pilot.  Time travel seems like it might be a little grand for this show.

• For funsies, take a shot every time someone dramatically reminds another that “THIS IS ALCATRAZ!”

• Unless I'm mistaken, the current version of the pilot also removes a scene in which Sylvane recieves cryptic, almost hypnotizing instructions from a payphone call, something they may have wanted to keep more ambiguous at first.

• Man, the guy they got to play a young Sam Neill looks creepy.

What did YOU think?

Alcatraz 1.01 "Jack Sylvane" Series Premiere Review

As I’m sure many of you know, Fringe returns tonight from the winter hiatus with the all-new episode “Back To Where You’ve Never Been”. As was mentioned in an article we posted earlier this week, back in October, TVOvermind visited the Vancouver set of Fringe and spoke with some of the stars about season 4. When the interviews occurred, only the first two episodes of the season had aired, so the actors were understandably vague about much of what was to come. However, tonight’s new episode was the one being filmed during the set visit, so some of the hints are now coming to fruition.

Given where Fringe has gone this season, something on everyone’s mind was how the two universes can coexist relatively peacefully, considering the fact that they had basically been at war. The tension between the two sides is tangible, and it’s clear that none of the characters trust their alternates – especially after the revelation of a new breed of shapeshifter. As Olivia is quick to point out, Walternate was behind the previous generation, and this technology looks incriminatingly similar. Lance Reddick – who plays two versions of Phillip Broyles – discussed the fact that although the two sides have been working together, the tension has been building.  He also pointed out that "there’s potentially a third element that will be a danger to both universes that’s going to force them to work together". Jasika Nicole, who plays agents Astrid Farnsworth, went on to say that as crazy as things have been before, the dangers posed by this new threat will be even more severe.

Along with some tantalizing hints of what is to come, Mr. Reddick discussed some of the intricacies of working on a show that regularly shoots scenes with doubles of their characters. The short answer, which doesn’t do his answers justice, is that it’s incredibly complicated, but also rewarding and fascinating. He did note that one of the joys of playing alternate versions of characters is that it offers the opportunity to explore more of the backstories for each character. While he hopes to see more of this, he did note that he “[doesn’t] know if there’ll be time, because there’s just so much story happening!”

Jasika Nicole also had some thoughts on character backstories and relationships. She noted that both her and Anna Torv, who plays FBI agent Olivia Dunham, always found it a little strange that we never really got the opportunity to see the friendship between Olivia and Astrid in the original timeline; I definitely agree with her when she says that she thinks it’s "long overdue" that we’re finally seeing aspects of their relationship in this new reality! I also think that Ms. Nicole had a very good point when she pointed out that "[Peter]’s not there anymore, and so Astrid has sort of become Olivia’s confidante." Not to mention the fact that the two women have had shared custody, so to speak, of Walter Bishop since the unlikely trio joined Fringe Division, and I imagine they’ve had more than enough to bond over.

That being said, it’s been apparent from the beginning of this new season of Fringe that Walter and Astrid don’t share the same relationship in this new reality. My first thought was that in the absence of Peter, Walter should be closer to both Astrid and Olivia. We’ve certainly seen how Walter has come to rely on Olivia, yet Walter and Astrid’s relationship seems to have gone in the opposite direction. I assume that the main reason for this shift is because she isn’t entirely lab-based in this new reality. Since Astrid has had to function as Walter’s eyes and hands outside the lab, I guess they simply haven’t forged the same connection forced by close proximity for the past 3 years.  As Ms. Nicole pointed out, "that was the reason Astrid was there, was to be there for Walter when he needed her." And if that’s not her role in their little family any more, what is? Ms. Nicole was quick to state that "[Astrid] has to be a piece of this puzzle", and that according to the writers, we’ll see more of where Astrid fits in in the new timeline.

One thing I found particularly interesting was when Ms. Nicole pointed out that Astrid is "always trying to convince Walter that Walternate is not evil, that his world is just as important as ours...that he’s not the enemy." In some ways I think Astrid serves as the voice of reason, trying to keep Walter and Olivia on an even keel , as neither of them are particularly level-headed when it comes to their alternates. Ms. Nicole also noted that she thinks that her character "tries to see the best in people all the time", and I think that’s a trait that seems intrinsic to Astrid – at least for the one on Our Side.

As far as portraying Alt-Astrid, particularly in regards to the fact that she’s autistic, Ms. Nicole discussed how she tries to take what she knows of how autism affects the brain and therefore communication and behaviour, and bases her portrayal of the alternate agent on that. She tries not to model any one person in particular because she never wants it to seem that she’s making light of autism – something that’s particularly important to her because her sister is autistic. After observing that Alt-Astrid has been rather static so far because we only see her at work, Ms. Nicole stated that she "would love to explore what other facets of her personality there are". When it comes to the possibility of the two Astrids interacting, she mused that "these two women are fundamentally different, and I wonder what their common ground is, besides their having the same body".  Personally, she thinks Astrid would be fascinated and want to get to know her alternate, while her doppelganger would be rather oblivious to their connection. Personally, I’d love to see a confrontation between the two Astrids.  Actually, I’d like to see an exploration of Astrid’s backstory in general. I’m hoping that it’s something we see at some point in the back half of the season.

Now, fair warning, in case you want to go into tonight’s episode without any specific spoilers, I’m going to discuss a bit of what was seen of the scene of Fringe they were filming during the set visit.

The scene being filmed was obviously taking place Over There – so it looks like we’re finally going to get more than a glimpse of what’s been going on in the alternate universe in this new timeline. A group of people were standing outside of a transportation depot – in Vancouver, actually a horsetrack – when a bus comes speeding by only to have a shapeshifter jump on top of it. The alt-world citizens see the commotion which brings Olivia Dunham and Seth Gabel’s alternate Lincoln Lee to investigate. In the banner below, you can see one of the posters that urge citizens Over There to "Be Vigilant". It never ceases to amaze me, the amount of detail that goes in to every scene; the set decorators on Fringe are consistently fantastic.

The only other thing I’ll say about tonight’s Fringe episode is that I loved it, and I hope you all tune in tonight to watch it LIVE on FOX at 9:00 pm EST!

Fringe: The Stars Talk Doppelgangers, New Realities & Tonight's New Episode

Back in October, TVOvermind visited the Vancouver set of Fringe and sat down with the actors to discuss season four. At the time of the interviews, only the first two episodes of the new season had aired, so everyone was understandably tight-lipped about what we could expect in coming episodes. Now that we’re almost half-way through the season, however, we have some context for the various hints and references.

John Noble always has some fascinating insights into the characters he portrays, and this time was no exception. When asked whether we’ll see Walter get back to where he was at the end of last season, Mr. Noble stated that “somewhere down the track there will be a stabilization, because right now he’s just a loon… There has to be a stabilization somewhere.” He went on to say that while he doesn’t know when that might happen, as an actor, it isn’t really something he wants to know; it can change his choices on how to portray Walter in the present.

Mr. Noble goes on to say that “it’s a beautiful thing that [they] get to reset [their] characters."  It’s constantly a challenge, as well as a fascinating mental exercise, to have to rewind the last 4 years and imagine how events would have unfolded without the addition of Peter. Walter has been taken back to when he was in St. Claire’s, and definitely not a well man, except this time when he was released he didn’t have the stabilizing force of his son to anchor him to reality. This new Walter is simultaneously driven and paralyzed by fear - haunted not only by the loss of his son, but also by the fact that he is responsible for the damage done to both worlds. And even though Walter can’t really connect with anyone right now, John Noble has found the shift in Walter’s relationship with Anna Torv’s Olivia to be quite interesting. Speaking as to the new dynamic between Walter and Olivia, Ms. Torv herself notes that Olivia is now a “surrogate child” to Walter, and that “Walter and Olivia are closer, but they’ve had to be, without the buffer of Peter."

In terms of Walter’s relationship with the newest Fringe Division agent Lincoln Lee, John Noble states that while they’re certainly not close, Walter at least acknowledges him. When asked about whether Lincoln could be a surrogate son for Walter, Mr. Noble was quite emphatic that “he’s not Walter’s son - it will never be that beautiful emotional entanglement that you got in [earlier seasons]” and goes on to speculate that he doesn’t know when or if we’ll see that again. One of the many reasons that I hope to see at least elements of the original timeline restored is because I find myself missing that very dynamic: along with Olivia’s complicated relationship with both Bishops, Peter and Walter’s bond was part of the heart of the show.

Seth Gabel, who plays Lincoln Lee and was added as a full-time cast member this season, says that the moment he feels that Walter accepted Lincoln was when Walter got his name wrong and called him “Kennedy”.  He goes on to add that even though Lincoln obviously isn’t Walter’s son he might just be the “perfect placeholder and possibly bridge for Walter ultimately being able to accept this Peter that’s come back into his life”. One thing I found particularly interesting in Mr. Gabel’s interview was that he has some of the same questions as I do about this new timeline, particularly regarding Olivia’s time spent Over There: the question still remains as to how that entire story arc would have played out given that there was no Peter to cause them to cross over, and Olivia herself doesn’t seem to be aware of any of her Cortexiphan-induced abilities. It's been implied that Walternate kidnapped Olivia, but it still remains a subject of debate.

In terms of Lincoln’s dynamic with a newly-returned Peter, Mr. Gabel tries, unsuccessfully, to avoid the term “bromance”, and notes that they seem to work well together. We saw them play off each other in the Fringe episode “And Those We Left Behind”; for anyone who’s a fan of their dynamic, I will say that there’s a lot more of it in this week’s new episode “Back To Where You’ve Never Been”, which was the episode that was being filmed during the set visit in October.

During the set visit it was readily apparent that at least part of the episode takes place on the Other Side, which we haven’t really seen much of this season, aside from “One Night In October”. On the subject of Walternate, John Noble states that the reason we haven’t really seen what Walter’s alternate has been up to is that there hasn’t really been a reason for it. There have certainly been hints as to nefarious plans by Walternate, but we’ll see what he has been up to in this week’s new episode. Something I’ve loved about Fringe since they gave us our first glimpses of an alternate universe is how they’ve fleshed out the alternate versions of the characters. Mr. Noble says that he “never wanted [Walternate] to be evil… I always wanted him to be a human being with a big responsibility." Personally, I think that they’ve done that (although killing Olivia was a step too far, for me). One of the most intriguing contrasts between Walternate and Walter was the alternate’s refusal to experiment on children, which the lovable Walter has done without compunction.

Mr. Noble also addressed one of my biggest questions in this new timeline with regards to Walternate: how have Walternate and Elizabeth recovered from the loss of their son? Previously, Walternate could have at least been reassured with the fact that Peter was stolen from them, yet was saved in the process.  In this new timeline, he has no such reassurances. Mr. Noble muses that “last time [the loss of his son] really drove him through into that state; what happens now? Is he still the same?” This Friday we’ll finally start to get answers to those questions.

Use the arrows above to browse through a few photos from the Fringe set. And make sure you tune in to Fringe on Friday, January 13 at 9:00 p.m. ET on Fox to watch the all new episode “Back To Where You’ve Never Been” – I promise you won’t be disappointed!

Fringe Stars Talk Season 4: Relationships, Reappearances and Resurrections

Fringe returns on January 13 with "Back to Where You've Never Been," the episode that should have been the midseason finale before it was pushed back by the World Series. And while Fringe left us on the oddly pensive note that was "Wallflower," Friday's episode will make it obvious that the series meant to go to the winter hiatus with a bang. "Back to Where You've Never Been" is the best episode of season 4 so far, better than previous title holders "Novation" and "And Those We've Left Behind." The episode marks the season gaining momentum after a few episodes of spinning its wheels, and at least in one regard, that momentum is going somewhere. Fringe is back, baby.

Peter seems to have been growing as frustrated as we were with just sitting around, and in this episode, he takes initiative. As the countless trailers and promos released for this episode have indicated, he hatches a plan to the alternate universe, which seems more familiar than our universe, because the ramifications of his disappearance aren't nearly as severe. Of course, that doesn't mean that everyone is friendly. Things don't go smoothly at all (but did you really expect them to?).

Check out these promos and behind-the-scenes photos from the episode. 

The episode moves quickly, dodging opportunities to stall and instead hurrying right on to introducing new mysteries -- and bringing back some old ones. The episode sees the return of an old foe, while a familiar face is put into mortal danger. Someone we thought would be bad turns out to be good (perhaps), and someone finally gives John Noble credit for great acting. Here's one last little hint: this episode will leave you  craving some "Lysergic Acid Diethylamide."

Fringe looks to be heading into what I've been told is an energetic second half of the season. "Back to Where You've Never Been" would have been a fantastic midseason finale, but it makes a pretty great midseason premiere, too. A

Fringe returns on Friday, January 13 at 9/8c with "Back to Where You've Never Been." Check back to TVOvermind afterward for Nadine Ramsden's in-depth review of the episode.

Fringe Midseason Premiere Review: Back with a Vengeance

Well, Fringe fans, it's looking more and more clear that season four will be the final season of the sci-fi drama. The series returns on Friday, January 13, with an all new (fantastic) episode, but upon its return, we might be looking down the barrel toward the series finale.

That's despite the efforts of FOX president Kevin Reilly, a self-proclaimed Fringe fanatic. At the TCA today, he called his efforts to keep the show on air "a point of pride," though he acknowledged that it was much more difficult to justify another renewal for the series. "We lose a lot of money on that show," he confirmed. "At that rating, on that night [Fridays], it’s impossible to make money… and we’re not in the business of losing money.”

So does that mean that Fringe is cancelled? Well, not yet, Reilly said; nothing has been decided, so Fringe fans shouldn't start a letter-writing campaign to FOX to save the show (but really, how effective are those anyway?).

The only way Fringe could possibly be saved, Reilly hinted, would be massive budget cuts for the series. The budget for season 4 has already been much lower than previous seasons, as has probably been obvious to anyone who has watched the show this year. Thankfully, the quality of the show hasn't gone down too much, other than the increased frequency of those annoying product placements that we all just try to ignore. Slashing the budget again, though, would probably be a detriment to the show, stifling the writers creatively and probably forcing several main characters to be written out of the show.

So, as I've said many times before, I think it is time to end Fringe -- but the decision needs to be made soon. I've always been a proponent of the shortened fifth season as a way to wrap up the series, but if that won't be possible (and it seems unlikely), I think it's best that FOX comes to a decision quickly, so that head writers Jeff Pinkner and J.H. Wyman can give us the satisfying conclusion that Fringe and its audience deserve.

Update: Reilly has confirmed that no decision will be made until after the season 4 finale is written, meaning that if the show is cancelled, we might have to rely on a rumored comic-book miniseries to close out the show. 

On the brighter side of things, it doesn't look like Fringe will be going out on a low note, if it does at all. Fringe online marketing guru Ari Margolis has confirmed to me that the next seven episodes of the show are insane. "People are gonna go nuts," he confirmed.

I can't wait.

Check out the rest of the FOX TCA news here. 

Fringe returns Friday, January 13 with the midseason premiere, "Back to Where You've Never Been." Watch it.

Fringe Loses FOX 'A Lot of Money,' Cancellation Seems Likely

As you know doubt know, we've just entered into a new year, and one which will no doubt be eventful for the world of television. Of course, I can't claim to know what's coming up (though I wish I could). Instead, here's what we hope will happen in the world of television next year.

Check out my list over the next few pages, and add your own hopes in the comments section below.

The Headlines Start on Page 2...