FOX previously announced that Fringe was headed for Friday nights, beginning January 28th. The network has now adjusted their plans and the sci-fi series will debut in the timeslot one week earlier.
Many fans of the series are understandably concerned about the move. Shows that are moved to Friday nights are typically in grave danger of being cancelled, particularly ones that attract a niche audience. The ratings for Fringe have taken a real hit this year, dropping nearly 20%.
Last season, the series averaged a 2.3 rating in the coveted 18-49 demographic and 6.36 million total viewers. This season, Fringe’s averaged a 1.9 rating in the demo and 5.12 million viewers. Last week’s installment brought a 1.8 rating.
FOX’s Entertainment President, Kevin Reilly, maintains that “We are not killing the show… It’s been such a loyal fanbase. I will be really disheartened if the viewer base decides to not watch because it shifted one night. I hope they go with it, and if not they have the option of picking it up on their DVRs. If it does anywhere near what it did on Thursdays, we can glue that show to the schedule because it can be a big win for us.”
Of course, Fringe getting the same ratings on Fridays as it’s been getting on Thursdays is easier said than done. We’ll have to wait to see how the ratings story unfolds but the show’s got an uphill battle ahead.
Here’s the press release about the Friday premiere…
HOT FROM FOX…”FRINGE” TRAVELS TO NEW NIGHT AND TIME BEGINNING FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, ON FOX
Christopher Lloyd (“Back To The Future”) Guest-Stars in Midseason Premiere
Special “Tweet-Along” Event During All-New Episode of FRINGE This Thursday
The midseason premiere of hit series FRINGE will air Friday, Jan. 21 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), following the season premiere of KITCHEN NIGHTMARES (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.
In the “Firefly” midseason premiere, which kicks off a string of six all-new episodes of FRINGE, an Observer makes contact with the Fringe Team to help rectify a mistake. Meanwhile, WALTER (John Noble) befriends one of his musical heroes (guest star Christopher Lloyd).
Be sure to tune in to the all-new “Marionette” episode of FRINGE, airing this Thursday, Dec. 9 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. When the Fringe Team investigates a case where a victim had his heart extracted, it’s just the beginning of a series of mysterious and reanimating events tied together. Meanwhile, PETER (Joshua Jackson) comes to terms with the reality of his relationship with OLIVIA (Anna Torv).
As part of a special “Tweet-Along” event, John Noble will be tweeting LIVE during this Thursday’s all-new episode. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/FringeTweet. Follow John on Twitter at www.twitter.com/labdad1, and use #FringeLiveTweet to submit your questions directly to him on Thursday.
FRINGE is a procedural thriller that follows the Fringe Team as they investigate unbelievable events and mysterious occurrences linked throughout the world in pursuit of a larger, more shocking truth. The series stars Anna Torv, Joshua Jackson, John Noble, Lance Reddick, Blair Brown and Jasika Nicole.
Created by J.J. Abrams & Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci, FRINGE is produced by Bad Robot Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television. Abrams, Bryan Burk, Jeff Pinkner, J.H. Wyman and Joe Chappelle serve as executive producers, while Kurtzman and Orci are consulting producers. Additionally, Pinkner and Wyman serve as the series’ showrunners. Become a fan of the series on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fringe and follow the series on Twitter at www.twitter.com/fringeonfox.
What do you think? Is Fringe doomed to be cancelled or will it survive to see season four?
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Image courtesy FOX.
This has been one of the better series that has come along for some time. Always look forward to the upcoming program and really appreciate how interesting the new plots are. Great special effects and story lines and since this is filmed around Vancouver and suburbs, always enjoy seeing some locations that I know!!! Huge fan and truly hope it will survive!!! If anything, this should be expanded and get the Network working on promotions for the series and hopefully it would get a lot more scifi fans onboard!! Sure gives ones imagination a real workout and truly beats a… Read more »
Fringe is Brilliant…DON”t CANCEL!!! This season has been really different than last, focusing more on Olivia’s trans time travel more than the more unusual, interesting Fringe events back in this world shown last season. I still love watching, a HUGE Walter fan…I like to watch on a week day other than Friday because it is a great escape from my work reality!
My favorite show on t.v. More original ideas then most of the stuff on t.v. Please don’t take it off. Will this help to keep it on? Hope so.
I would watch Fringe live if I didn’t work on Thursday nights. Networks need to figure out a way to include DVR usage in ratings. Fringe is a very well written show and one that I really enjoy. I also like “The Event”. Smart, well written, scifi shows get cancelled, while stupid reality TV, (Jersey Shore) keep going. But then again, I was one of the few nerds that liked “The 4400”. What do I know…
don’t cancel FRINGE! it’s one of the few good shows that ARE left!!!
I hope it stays on. I love the acting and plots, it’s nice to get away from the same old cop dramas.
I love it! It’s sci-fi! It’s doomed!
No great sci-fi show goes unpunished.
A reason the ratings have dropped this season may be
because there have been many weeks the show hasn’t aired. It’s
fustrating waiting all week for the show and it not being on, then
again the next week, and so on. I love the show, but this problem
has been as annoying as the show is good…maybe previously loyal
viewers have givin up on it.
the problem with Fringe, by far my favorite show on television by a substantial margin, is also the problem that Lost had. The storylines are so intricate that it is hard for new viewers to turn it on one night and start watching. Trying to determine what is going on with actors/actresses playing dual roles, spanning dual universes, must be confusing for a new viewer. Heck, with the dual Olivia’s there were a few episodes in which Ana Torv played “both” Olivias with very minor differences (and she did a Hell of a job, too). Sometimes I was happy that… Read more »
Love the show, hell it’s the best one that I and the wife watch every week, if it was on every week that is, do not remove this one, it’s just too damn good , when the next one broadcast?
We watch Fringe with our 22 year old son because it is one of the few shows we watch as a family. Fringe is a fantastic show with great acting (this is a rare plus not seen on TV since Lost). The storylines are as good as the X-files and we love quirky Walter ( the one on our side of the split universe). This show is a gem in a mountain of crappy reality T.V.
We’ll keep watching no matter what night it’s on!
Theresa
from New Orleans Go Saints
I love Fringe. Love the characters, the writing, the story, everything. I really hope this doesn’t mean the show will be canceled. You know I will be watching it no matter what night is on.
Fringe is one of the best shows on television! In a time where all these dumbing down reality shows are so popular, it’s a breath of fresh air to have an intelligent, intellectual and adventurous show. The dual role Ana Torv plays is amazing. Watching her character grow and go through so many changes has truly given her acting ability a chance to shine. There are so many nuances in the show that I’d hate to see that go. 24 was dropped…don’t drop this too. I don’t care which night Fringe switches to, I’ll be switching with it!
Oh, I was so upset when I heard this – of course to me it doesn’t matter what day/time it’s on because we DVR it and enjoy it whenever we want but… we rarely wait more than a day to watch it because we love it. The alternate universe with alternative olivia was a real “wrong way” for us – we love the original stuff, xfiley stuff and the relationships among the quirky walter and others. Do dvr recordings count? do they even register as far as ratings? don’t know how that works. I wonder what show will replace fringe’s… Read more »
I got to agree with Samara that I hope Fringe doesn’t go up against Supernatural becuase they’re both excellent shows. However, since Supernatural is in it’s last season, I’d fear that any fans who can’t record both would watch Supernatural thus drawing Fringe’s numbers even lower.
I love “Fringe”! I’m sure all of us die-hard fans will watch it no matter when it is on – I just hope that’s enough!! I worry that it is up against “Supernatural”, since that’s also an atypical show that is more in the science fiction or fantsy genres! But, it has a great lead in with “Kitchen Nightmares” – Gordon Ramsey knows how to keep an audience! I’m glad they have finished with the whole swapped Olivia’s storyline, in my opinion, that is the only reason ratings have been lower than usual Now they should pick back up again!… Read more »