Newest Fringe Twist: Scheduled in TV's Toughest Time Slot
If you thought the World Trade Center in Fringe's season finale really upped the ante on "I can't believe they'd go there," Fox has responded with a scheduling move that's just as ballsy.
The network has just revealed its fall schedule, which (in addition to cloning summer hit So You Think You Can Dance for an autumn berth) moves the well-performing Fringe into the war zone that is Thursday night at 9pm. Now, the sci-fi show has to go up against the other networks' heaviest hitters: Grey's Anatomy on ABC, CSI on CBS, and The Office on NBC.
"The door is more open on this night than it has been in a long time," Fox president Kevin Reilly said. "Fringe is a real alternative to both [Grey's and CSI]."
Our response to the news mirrors that of Fringe's central trio: skepticism (Joshua Jackson), blank-faced acceptance (Anna Torv), and then, finally, a rambling, overacted monologue about how alternate universe network CNS once scheduled a test pattern on Thursdays that forced viewers to become flesh-eating automatons (John Noble).
· Official: Fox's fall schedule; 'Fringe' on Thursdays [THR]
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Comments
Hey, nows, that overacting MAKES this show.... throw some Shakespearean actorly-ness into your standard "Freak occurrence of the week" show, dial it on up to 11, and Viola! You've got more fun than you expected to have!
If you're gonna sell me such lines as heart squeezing Ugh-tastic monsters are somehow necessary in a war with a parallel universe (note: haven't seen last two episodes yet), do it with *panache*. (This is a note to you, Jackson, since at some point halfway through this whole affair you went from 'not bad' to 'totally phoning it in'.)
omg, i LOVE 'fringe'. how can you not love a show where one of the characters references his LSD trips at least once an ep?? thursdays however, might not be the wisest move FOX.
I agree with LLH. John Noble makes the show.
I don't watch Grey's and I don't watch The Office. I'd rather watch Fringe than whatever crap Bravo is showing Thursday nights at 9:00 PM.
How is Fringe going to be competing with Grey's Anatomy? I don't think Fringe's female viewership is really all that high, and I don't know any guys who (admit that they watch) Grey's. And if you ask me, The Office is getting stale. CSI is for old people. Bold move by Fox, for sure, but I like their odds, and I doubt their ratings will drop that much.
You're forgetting the "Pacey" factor - the ladies dig Joshua Jackson...
I think that's a terrible move on Fox. I love Fringe, and I am a female, who also loves Grey's Anatomy and that show has always been on Thursdays. I also happen to love The Office. I think that I might have to watch Fringe online and not on the tv anymore. Bad, bad move Fox! Are they trying to get rid of that show on purpose by making it really hard to watch?