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SpoilerTV - TV Spoilers

Fox is close to renewing Fringe for a fifth and final season

15 Apr 2012

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Thanks to Simon for the heads up..

Fox is close to renewing Fringe for a fifth and final season, TVWise has learned. For the past couple of months, Fox has been having discussions with Warner Bros. Television about the future of the low rated series. Sources familiar with said discussions tell me that, while there are still a few points that need ironing out, a deal for a fifth and final season of 13 episodes is expected to be reached within the next few weeks.

I’m told that one issue that has been resolved is the length of this fifth and final season; with WB initially pushing for a full season of 22 episodes, while Fox expressed that they would be more comfortable with a “limited episode order” of 7 – 13 episodes, which would get the show close to or past the 100 episode mark required for syndication. Another issue that has been widely reported on is Fox’s licensing fee for the series. I’m told that WB has offered Fox “a substantially lower” fee for the fifth season. As such, insiders tell me that they expect Fox to announce the renewal of Fringe for a fifth and final season of 13 episodes in the coming weeks.

This news will come as a relief to fans of the series, which has had a hard time in the ratings for its last two seasons. The latest episode of the sci-fi series attracted a mere 3 million viewers and a 1.0 rating in the 18-49 demographic in live+same day. With those numbers, most shows would be looking at certain cancellation, but the amount of money Warner Bros. stands to make from off-network syndication deals is the driving force behind the series’ future. The only real question that still needs to be answered is will we see an announcement before the network’s upfront presentation in May?

Source: tvwise
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205 comments:

  1. pinkphoenix198515 April 2012 at 11:39

    well this is good news :) At least there will be a final season if it is a go

    ReplyDelete
  2. Francesco B.15 April 2012 at 11:41

    Oh god i'm so HAPPY for Fringe and Fringe's fan. Five seasons for a series are really enough. Also Fox and WB were so generous with this series, trying in every way to renew it, even with low...low ratings.
    13 episodes are enough.. and WB wanted a full season O.O
    It's all deserved... it's such a well written show,that an impossible renewal is still possible :D

    ReplyDelete
  3. Mutsie15 April 2012 at 11:43

    YUP it's all about the money... Weird is that a lot of other TV shows with higher ratings or getting ditched ... HOWEVER  I SOOO HOPE WE MIGHT GET A SMALL SEASON 5 AS LONG WE GET TO SEE A FULLFILLING END and not a hasty one, if you know what I mean. So yeah bring on Season 5....
    ♥

    ReplyDelete
  4. G'15 April 2012 at 11:44

    My avatar is me right now. Thank you for the news and really we need this 5 Season!!! A final season at least with answers, we deserve to have a good end after all. Can't wait to the confirmation. :')

    ReplyDelete
  5. tatibsblp15 April 2012 at 11:51

    God, yes please!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Simon Aitken15 April 2012 at 11:52

    If this goes according to plan, all I can say is this, SUCK IT HATERS!

    ReplyDelete
  7. laura334115 April 2012 at 11:54

    This has been out for some time now,i was hoping they would have finalized the deal and announce it already.

    I know its a long shot but i am still hoping for 22 episodes!

    ReplyDelete
  8. nellymendezcolon15 April 2012 at 11:54

    its ok congratulation of all fringe fans we expect that story line ending will be fulfilling for all fans wishes and desires

    ReplyDelete
  9. Connor Davey15 April 2012 at 12:05

    If true...BEST. NEWS. EVER. Also, 13 episodes would make the final episode the 100th!!! XD

    ReplyDelete
  10. Stupot81515 April 2012 at 12:15

    in that case, 21 would make it the 108th :-)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Steff35715 April 2012 at 12:20

    As much as I want a fifth season to happen, I doubt this is true. Don't want to get too excited haha so I will wait until an official confirmation about a final season. Also the final episode being the 100th would be really cool and a great ending to the series.

    ReplyDelete
  12. SeySey2915 April 2012 at 12:21

    YES Please!!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. eb0008915 April 2012 at 12:27

    This is great news -- the fact that the fan base is being paid attention in spite of the show actually LOSING money for Fox.

    I think a season of 13 episodes is a good idea. No messing around. 

    ReplyDelete
  14. Ryan Ellis15 April 2012 at 12:29

    Wait, wait, wait, 7 episodes? Taking the piss much? Full 13 please.

    ReplyDelete
  15. MichaelDiBiasi15 April 2012 at 12:32

    SIX SEASONS AND A MOVIE!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Michael Di Biasi15 April 2012 at 12:33

    I totally agree with myself from the other universe 

    ReplyDelete
  17. Gy.Zs.15 April 2012 at 12:34

    Full 22 please. That would be so awesome!  :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Jonathan Francesco15 April 2012 at 12:42

    I am not a Fringe viewer but I am happy for Fringe fans if this is true. As somebody who's seen the benefits of networks working for and against a favorite series, I know how important this is to fans. Hope it works out for you.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Chris Kelly15 April 2012 at 12:47

    That's great! I can finally start watching this series now :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Mutsie15 April 2012 at 12:53

     I think we need to be happy IF FOX will continue with Fringe we must be happy to get even 7... We must stay realistic here, ye know. WB want to have a full 22 epi's not realistic because of the viewers amount and well 13 would be AWESOME however start little I always say and be happy what you get even if it is 7 episodes!
    ♥

    ReplyDelete
  21. Ryan Ellis15 April 2012 at 12:58

    I see that I do, but when it comes down to it, a show like this should be getting 200 episodes, never mind possibly 100, it's all due to the ridiculous and outdated method of recording and assuming how many viewers are watching. The Nielsen figures do not accurately represent how many viewers are watching, and that's why everything's getting bloody cancelled, based on a flawed system!

    ReplyDelete
  22. overandback15 April 2012 at 13:01

    Thanks for your support. If you've never watched Fringe you should give it a try. It's a fantastic show, one of a kind. I'm hoping we could get another 22 episodes,but I know realistically 13 is more likely. I just hope we won't have to wait too much longer to find out.

    ReplyDelete
  23. chuckles8315 April 2012 at 13:01

    please let it happen :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. tvmonkey15 April 2012 at 13:04

    Fringe fans should count themselves lucky with whatever they get, ratings do not warrant a renewal. 

    But the fans have been loyal and insistent and I guess FOX must be making money somehow though I was sure they said they were actually making a loss on the show. So perhaps WB has sweetened the pot so FOX  has agreed to more episodes? 

    Either way I'm guessing it goes the way of Chuck. A short order renewal to air in the fall and be over before Christmas thus allowing FOX to air other new shows in its time slot. Or it could be a mid season replacement?

    Who knows any how congrats Fringe fans. Be content with whatever you get because it could have been a lot worse-it could have been cancelled.

    ReplyDelete
  25. tvmonkey15 April 2012 at 13:05

    I thought Fringe didnt need more episodes for syndication, I thought it would have enough by the end of this current season? 

    ReplyDelete
  26. LucAltaiR15 April 2012 at 13:07

    No way Fox will take the chance on more than 13 episodes.

    ReplyDelete
  27. lostrocks4ever15 April 2012 at 13:08

    amazing that there is most likely gonna be a new season. just suck that i finally get into this amazing show and its being cut short :(
    can't wait for season 5!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  28. jini15 April 2012 at 13:23

     YAY! GREAT news! I'm still hoping for another 22 episodes, but I know 13 is more likely.
    Well I just wish we won't have to wait too much longer to find out...

    ReplyDelete
  29. Pascal21915 April 2012 at 13:30

    As much as I would love a full season, I'll take anything I can get! Awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  30. eb0008915 April 2012 at 13:39

    Fox have come out and stated that Fringe is losing money for them though -- it's a testament to Fringe's cult status that they're even considering 7 additional episodes.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Nick Scryer15 April 2012 at 13:41

    Called it long ago!

    ReplyDelete
  32. mrflamethunder15 April 2012 at 13:49

    This is just a speculation and I doubt the credibility of this report. Beware Fringe fans. It is good to have optimism, but until the official announcement is out, don't let your expectation set too high. All I'm sayin' is anything can happen.

    The "Fringe" team will meet with FOX execs in the first week of May to pitch their plans for Season 5 -- and to figure out whether it's in FOX's best interest, financially, to renew the series. They've already made it clear that the network has lost money airing "Fringe," but there are still hopes that they can turn that minus into a plus. 

    http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2012/04/fringe-josh-jackson-and-john-noble-talk-season-5-and-the-peter-and-walter-dynamic.html 

    ReplyDelete
  33. mathew15 April 2012 at 14:13

    100 is usually the mark for syndication

    ReplyDelete
  34. mathew15 April 2012 at 14:16

    This made my day. Know I can watch each episode without worrying so much about ratings and if I will see the answers to questions I'm seeing.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Dor Fiderer15 April 2012 at 14:30

    Now we all know where Selectric 251 is connected to :)

    ReplyDelete
  36. Mark Johnson15 April 2012 at 14:30

    88 is actually the mark.

    100 episodes is just a nice round number for the syndicators to get off on.

    ReplyDelete
  37. the dane15 April 2012 at 14:32

    YES!YES! YES! I really really hope there is some truth to this. I´m ok with the 13 episodes. That way we can get a proper ending to this brilliant show.

    ReplyDelete
  38. arun27915 April 2012 at 14:33

    it used to be 100 before, but now it's 88....the magic number to be reached for syndication... The renewal will be based on how bad WB want to renew it... They have to give FOX a pretty good deal...

    ReplyDelete
  39. Justine Kubica15 April 2012 at 14:45

    Please, please, please, let us have one final season! 

    ReplyDelete
  40. RobertAriadne15 April 2012 at 14:48

    Please, God.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Afino15 April 2012 at 14:56

    I'd pretty much do anything for this to happen.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Laura15 April 2012 at 14:58

    My fingers and toes are crossed! Fringe for season five! In any way that we can get closure, so 13 sounds perfect a la Chuck.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Lou15 April 2012 at 15:12

    I just want official confirmation rather than speculation, hey we have all been saying the same thing for months now

    ReplyDelete
  44. Pascal21915 April 2012 at 15:21

    Did you have to bring up Chuck? I miss it. :(

    ReplyDelete
  45. ShatteredOne15 April 2012 at 15:37

    Oh please let this happen!  That would be utterly amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  46. cortexifan15 April 2012 at 15:41

    Where can we send money to so we can have a full season. I so would give every cent I can spare to them. 

    ReplyDelete
  47. Dahne15 April 2012 at 16:02

    Fringe does have enough episodes for M-F syndication.  Since its pilot was 2 hours, they have 88 episodes to air.  My guess is that the WB thinks they can make enough money by selling it at 100 episodes to cover the cost of making these 13 episodes.  Of course this is only if the article is true and who knows if it is.  I hope Fringe gets a satisfying ending and I think that only happens with a shortened season next year.

    ReplyDelete
  48. DarthLocke415 April 2012 at 16:04

    a little sigh of relief. Thanks for the article! (:

    ReplyDelete
  49. mathew15 April 2012 at 16:18

    Why did they make it 88? 100 always seemed like the right number

    ReplyDelete
  50. mathew15 April 2012 at 16:21

    I'm sure with a Show like Fringe with such a supportive fan base will get the ending it deserves. It's good that early on it was already talked about by everyone involved so it won't come out as a surprise if it gets renewed with a 13 episode order. 

    The question is when will it air? Sept-Dec, or Midseason?

    ReplyDelete
  51. cortexifan15 April 2012 at 16:23

    I was thinking about that too. And how much will it be interrupted with hiatuses. 

    ReplyDelete
  52. Arjan de Vries15 April 2012 at 16:33

    A relief? I hate short seasons. Doesn't matter which show. One final 22 episode season would make me very comfortable, 13 episodes makes me mad for some reason, I can't help it.

    ReplyDelete
  53. mathew15 April 2012 at 16:34

    I'm sure it will air straight with no interruptions

    ReplyDelete
  54. mathew15 April 2012 at 16:47

    A shorter season would mean straight to the point episodes and not too much filler

    ReplyDelete
  55. Michelle Lee15 April 2012 at 17:05

     A show like Fringe doesn't really have filler episodes.

    Anyway TVWise is hardly a source we should be trusting and its based on UK. We need to hear it from something like Variety, Hollywood Reporter, etc.  TV Line does have it listed as 'a sure thing" for renewal so that makes me feel better but we still don't have 100% confirmation yet.

    ReplyDelete
  56. Lemonworld15 April 2012 at 17:06

    Holy frak, this is seriously good news! Fringe is fast surpassing Chuck for the title of 'the little show that could' :-) !!

    ReplyDelete
  57. DarthLocke415 April 2012 at 17:24

    I am hoping Fringe will air in the fall and Alcatraz can take it's place in January...

    ReplyDelete
  58. mathew15 April 2012 at 17:25

    It has the "monster-of-the-week" episodes and sometimes they drag the storylines a bit

    ReplyDelete
  59. arun27915 April 2012 at 17:33

    100 was an odd number in terms of number of seasons... a show will generally reach 100 episodes at the beginning of, or in the middle of, the fifth season. A show usually finishes 88 episodes or close to 88 episodes by 4th season end. It was just a matter of convenience..

    ReplyDelete
  60. Xanadu West15 April 2012 at 17:35

    Let's all band together and push for 22 episode renewal by sending in real cows!!!

    ReplyDelete
  61. Afino15 April 2012 at 17:49

    Considering the issues with FOX and baseball, I'd be shocked if it was the fall.

    I would actually be happy if it was the spring - it could plug in a spot of a canceled series....which may not be Friday.

    ReplyDelete
  62. Wilson Crawford15 April 2012 at 17:51

    Fingers crossed people!

    ReplyDelete
  63. Afino15 April 2012 at 17:53

    If it is 13 episodes, no way it gets into the spring. This year, we only had 7 episodes pre-break. It should be 8, but baseball got in the way.

    You could add the first couple of weeks of December where there haven't been episodes, but that's only 10.

    Here's a potential schedule for the fall:

    Sept 14, 21, 28
    October 5, 12
    (two week break for baseball)
    Then 8 straight weeks for 13, ending 12/21.

    ReplyDelete
  64. rain2015 April 2012 at 17:54

    Please let this happen, I would be so grateful.

    ReplyDelete
  65. LostGorillaz15 April 2012 at 18:00

    Me too, 2 hour premiere, september, 2 hour finale december. would be a great way to finish it. Or a 13 episode run from 21 Sept to 15th dec

    ReplyDelete
  66. michel murillo15 April 2012 at 18:12

     I think 5 seasons is enough or at least the absolute minimum for this
    show. Is 13 enough? I guess but I would like it to be 20 for the final
    season. That would be the same amount as the first season. Plus it
    just looks like a full season rather than 13 for a network (not cable)
    tv show. It wouldn't feel like it got cut off short.

    ReplyDelete
  67. Supermak15 April 2012 at 18:15

     I hope they still get 22 episode, but a season with 13 episode would be awesome!!!! lets just hope to hear the announcement sooner rather than later ^^

    ReplyDelete
  68. David Weiss15 April 2012 at 18:19

    Here is hoping too for a 22 episodes' 5th season (one can only dream, right?)

    ReplyDelete
  69. michel murillo15 April 2012 at 18:33

     I would love it if it meant we also got a shorter 6th season. But I suppose that's asking too much.

    ReplyDelete
  70. laura334115 April 2012 at 18:48

    I think that would be pushing our luck! :)......Nice try though!

    ReplyDelete
  71. Ricky Terry15 April 2012 at 18:50

    I think you might be forgetting "Alone in the World" That was pure filler. There are more examples, but I just had to say it. Don't get me wrong I love Fringe...even filler eppies, but not while the show in on the bubble. Season one had quite a bit of filler, as did season two. season three had its moments as well, but really picked up the pace with the Mythology eppies. Honestly the first 4-5 episodes on this season felt like filler to try to force us to squirm over the whole Peter thing, but at this point I have kinda forgot he ever disappeared. But I guess my point is there is more filler in Fringe that a jelly doughnut. 

    ReplyDelete
  72. LostGorillaz15 April 2012 at 18:51

    Oh please Fox noooooooo, not 7 episodes, unless they're all feature length. A full season pick up or at very least a 13 episode to bring it to 100 episodes

    ReplyDelete
  73. Sandra B.15 April 2012 at 18:52

    We are supposed to believe someone that doesn't know that 88 now is the number of episodes required for syndication? If Fringe is renewed syndication is not the reason. It already has 88 episodes.

    ReplyDelete
  74. nalex101315 April 2012 at 18:52

    Fingers and toes crossed!

    ReplyDelete
  75. laura334115 April 2012 at 18:56

    I'll take Fringe filler,Fringe fat,Fringe MOTW,COTW ANYDAY! I never tire of watching them, and knowing that this will be the last season, i want as much as possible for this will have to last me the rest of my life.

    ReplyDelete
  76. michel murillo15 April 2012 at 18:56

     As long as they are given notice that whether it's 13, 15 or 22 episodes
    that it is definitely the final season then I think it would be one
    hell of a season. Yes, it means we'll miss out on things they may have
    thrown into the mix for a potential 6th or 7th year but as long as it's a
    conclusion that the show deserves then I don't mind.

    My fingers and toes are crossed!!!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  77. laura334115 April 2012 at 19:01

    Thought you would like to know there is another poll on E Oline for best of show 2012,so far as of yesterday we were in 4th place....  :)

    ReplyDelete
  78. Ricky Terry15 April 2012 at 19:04

    I wisht the people saying they hope for a 22 ep season would just think about it for a minute. We know the budget has been cut and will be cut more so. We know that for this 5th season to even happen WB will have to agree to give the show away virtually for free. So having said that think about economics here. Lets say you have 10 million dollars to produce the season, then you divide that by 22 That is roughly 450,000 per episode, then you gotta pay the actors, we already complain when Peter misses an eppy, or when Broyles misses a few, not to mention Nina, then there is the crew, the locations, musicians etc. this would bring down the SFX budget to almost nil. But take the same numbers and divide them by 13, or even 7 at worst case scenario and see what you get. 

    I don't know about you guys but I prefer quality over quantity. Just saying. 

    ReplyDelete
  79. laura334115 April 2012 at 19:07

    Ha! Me too!  :)

    ReplyDelete
  80. laura334115 April 2012 at 19:09

    And toes!  Hell i even braided my hair!

    ReplyDelete
  81. laura334115 April 2012 at 19:13

     LOL...That was perfect!!  :D

    ReplyDelete
  82. michel murillo15 April 2012 at 19:13

     very true British tv does it with less.!!! GO fringe

    ReplyDelete
  83. Dean Phelps15 April 2012 at 19:14

    Couldn't agree more Ricky

    ReplyDelete
  84. michel murillo15 April 2012 at 19:14

     Ha!! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  85. laura334115 April 2012 at 19:22

     I think everyone here or almost everyone here knows the score.I don't see anything wrong with wishing for 22 eps.especially knowing we will only be getting 13,its just letting off steam,releasing a little frustration,a little wishful thinking

    ReplyDelete
  86. KatHale15 April 2012 at 19:27

    I never managed to get into Fringe,but I really am happy for the renewal,if it's true.It has a very large,dedicated and passionate fanbase and,knowing what it's like to love a show so much,they deserve a proper ending.
    Plus,despite the fact that it didn't grow on me,I know it's better than a lot of shows out there,some of them with more seasons and counting.
    So,I hope it's true! : )

    ReplyDelete
  87. Ricky Terry15 April 2012 at 19:29

    Prime example: Walking Dead season one was flawless, season two even at 13 eps was full of ridiculous filler. Not saying it was a bad season, just not as good as season one. Fringe is an expensive show to produce. They have some of the best actors in the Television business. Thoses actors don't just do it for the love of acting, they need to get paid. If the season were stretched out to 22 eps then we would certainly see several of our favorites killed off, or stuck in some limbo until they were needed. People wonder why we have so much Stinckin Lincoln this season...Because he works for cheaper than Josh Jackson, and Anna Torv, and John Noble. People wonder why Broyles is never around, and why Nina only pops in and out...They do all their shooting in one day to keep the budget down. This sort of thing affects writing too. 7-13 awesome eps versus 22 less than mediocre eps seems a no brainer.

    ReplyDelete
  88. Ricky Terry15 April 2012 at 19:38

    Well yea in a perfect world there would be money coming out of our ears, and this conversation wouldn't even be happening, but thinking realistically 7-13 is perfect. Hell I'd have been happy with 13 eps this season if it meant we could have gotten more substance in the writing and production. I would never be mad at a reduced number of eps if it meant the writers were looking out for their story and not jerking us around. LOST was one of my favorite shows ever, but I was put off by all the contrived filler that they produced in the second and third seasons. Fringe was doing this at the beginning of this season, but thatnk God they got it together from the middle onward. Dexter on Showtime has suffered a very similar fate, but now they have a know end date. 

    ReplyDelete
  89. grapes9h515 April 2012 at 19:39

    13 episodes is not just better than nothing, its WAY better than 22 episodes. No filler and tighter story that can focus primarily on building the mythology and character arcs to their final climax and conclusion. Im so happy to hear this is so close to being real. With a proper final season and conclusion, Fringe will end up being able to rightfully claim its place in the very small and elite canon of amazing and excellent shows that tell a complete story. You know, right there with The Wire, The Sopranos, LOST, and BSG.

    ReplyDelete
  90. Ricky Terry15 April 2012 at 19:45

    I'd rather spend $10 on two or three cups of fine quality coffee from starbucks that to get 20 cups of swill.

    ReplyDelete
  91. Алексей Иванов15 April 2012 at 19:46

    I think it's all FAKE. Deadline and other reliable sources do not confirm this.

    ReplyDelete
  92. laura334115 April 2012 at 19:46

    And i know how much you hated the ending of LOST! Of course i know we will get 13 eps.at least i hope for that,i really rather not go with 7,but i'll be happy with what ever we get. But in that perfect world i would expect 24 eps,not 22! :)
    How did yesterday go?

    ReplyDelete
  93. Ricky Terry15 April 2012 at 19:49

    I got the Job! I will be picking up and moving again in a week or so. The perks are outstanding, plus the benefits and pay.  Only thing is, I gotta move 200 miles away from home.

    ReplyDelete
  94. Cuervaverdinegra15 April 2012 at 19:54

     Spectaculars news, Walter Bishop rules!

    ReplyDelete
  95. laura334115 April 2012 at 19:55

    I'm so happy you got the job! :) Nice that your getting perks,i remember those,and benefits too that is more important than the perks! Congratulations!! Where are you moving to?

    ReplyDelete
  96. NIM15 April 2012 at 20:03

    YES!! I'm good with this. All I want is 1 more season to wrap things up (as much as you can wrap things up in Fringe).

    ReplyDelete
  97. Kriszta H15 April 2012 at 20:04

    Dear Fox,
    Screw you.
    Sincerely, me.

    ReplyDelete
  98. Ricky Terry15 April 2012 at 20:10

    First I'll be in Jackson Mississippi for about 2-3 months, then I get to move a little closer to home by moving an hour south of Jackson to Hattiesburg. I'll get to be my own boss once i'm in Hattiesburg. I'll be doing service on Gas pumps and cash register systems. 

    ReplyDelete
  99. Ricky Terry15 April 2012 at 20:11

    uhmm...?

    ReplyDelete
  100. michel murillo15 April 2012 at 20:14

     Ha ha ha!! love it!!!

    ReplyDelete
  101. laura334115 April 2012 at 20:15

    Sorry you have to move away from your family,but at least its only for a few months,and an hr away is doable once you get settled.i'm sure your excited about it when will you be leaving?

    ReplyDelete
  102. laura334115 April 2012 at 20:16

    Why may i ask?

    ReplyDelete
  103. Ricky Terry15 April 2012 at 20:17

    Next week.

    ReplyDelete
  104. Oru Ah15 April 2012 at 20:18

    I'm not sure why you think "Alone in the World" was pure filler. There are many episodes of Fringe I would call pure filler but I don't think "Alone in the World" is one of them.

    In a way though, I definitely agree with Michelle when she says that a show like Fringe doesn't have "filler" episodes, at least not in the real sense of the word, because the non-mythology ones have ALWAYS been part of the show's formula. There's no point in complaining about them, they've always been there. Before season 1 I remember several articles and interviews in which the creators of the show said that they wanted Fringe to be able to appeal to audiences that needed a standalone/procedural element too, which other shows like Heroes and Lost didn't have.
    So, I don't think the COTW episodes can really be considered filler, they're as much of an element of the show as the characters and the longer story-arcs. They're there to entertain at least a portion of the audience, to tell beautiful self-contained stories, to form a connection between the viewers and the show's world, to create a concrete and detailed background and to establish/develop the characters and their relationships, especially when the case acts as a metaphor for what they're going through. And as a matter of fact I really enjoy them. I love the mythology but I don't think it would be the same without the small pieces, the references, the mini-cliffhangers at the end of every standalone (the one in "Alone in the World" actually being one of my favorites) building up to the big, intense pay-off episodes (like "Entrada" and "The End of All Things" for example)

    ReplyDelete
  105. laura334115 April 2012 at 20:21

    That's fast! Hope you didn't unpack everything,and the apartment are they giving you grief?Are they holding you to it?

    ReplyDelete
  106. Oru Ah15 April 2012 at 20:41

    It doesn't work like that. You don't choose a season budget and just divide it for whatever number of episodes you want the season to have. It's the episode budget that matters because it will be more or less the same no matter how many episodes are in a season. It's not like "We have prepared 10 millions for a season of 22 episodes but we can reduce the number to one episode and just invest those 10 millions in that single hour so that we can fill it with super SFX and guest appearances" because in the end that season would only occupy an hour of programming which has very limited revenue. 

    In other words, if Fringe makes 450,000 dollars out of advertising in an hour and WB wants to spend 450,000 per episode in a 22 episode season, if the season order were cut to 13 episodes, they wouldn't just redistribute the budget to 900,000 per episode, cause the revenue would still be 450,000.

    ReplyDelete
  107. rks10015 April 2012 at 20:46

    If it gets renewed, i hope its 13 episodes so it could strictly focus on the mythology. As good as Fringe is, i cant stand the amount of filler episodes/case of the week stories there was this season. Its made me stop watching the show live. Its almost as if they went back to the format they had back in the season 1/first half of season 2 which i was able to tolerate because the show was essentially in its early stages at that point. But now st season 4 with the ever growing danger of cancellation, I honestly believe they shouldnt have wasted so much time this season. T

    ReplyDelete
  108. Taryn Groves15 April 2012 at 20:54

    Fox does not care about Fringe fans. there, i said it.

    ReplyDelete
  109. Catriona O' Neill15 April 2012 at 20:54

    Ohhhhhh,,,,fingers and toes crossed!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  110. Ricky Terry15 April 2012 at 21:03

    Well I don't care if they think they are i'm going anyway. They'll get their money. 

    ReplyDelete
  111. Jenni Lou15 April 2012 at 21:13

    HOPING AND PRAYING. I've felt pretty good all along that a renewal is imminent, despite the ratings. But I need some confirmation damn it. :)

    ReplyDelete
  112. Jenni Lou15 April 2012 at 21:18

     Fucking Nielsen's. Can't believe we still live and die by that piece of shit system with all the technology we have these days. Also can't believe no one is working on a better way after all these years with Tivo and DVRs and online streaming etc. Clearly, people don't watch tv the way they used to. If they did, Desperate Housewives or Bones or -name your show here- would be getting like 25 million people watching.

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  113. David Nikiforov15 April 2012 at 21:18

    OK, people, calm down... 110 comments for a couple of hours... it's not even official yet, and by the way... the source is a british site, like they know so much about US networks and shows, so don't freak out so much... I love Fringe and I truly hope for the best but this is not reliable enough for me and I won't believe it till it's official. Cause if it gets cancelled all the hope and the hype would've been for nothing.

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  114. rks10015 April 2012 at 21:18

    The show got a season 3 renewal when the ratings showed cancellation. 
    The show got a season 4 renewal when the ratings obviously showed cancellation. 

    No Fringe fan should be saying this what so ever. Fox has been supportive of the show and has given 2 more seasons then it deserved. Be happy of what you got. 

    ReplyDelete
  115. Ricky Terry15 April 2012 at 21:20

    I know it's not exactly like that I'm just trying to make a point. If you think getting 22 episodes is not going to hurt the writing, and quality of the season as a whole then you are in la la land. If you don't think they figure out what a season is going to cost before they produce it then you are in la la land. I also know that budgets are not static and they can go up or down depending on advertising dollars. But if you think they are going to get  Fringe season 5 for the same price they got season 4 considering they admit it has been losing them money, then again you are in la la land. 

    It WILL be for a reduced price, and that price includes paying for the actors' contracts, and screen time, Special fx, plus locations, and directors, guest stars, crew and services. 

    Simple economics says that a cheaper product lacks quality, but that cutting production down to half saves money for the individual quality per product. 

    I can see that the first half of season 4 was a bad quality product, but it got better because they saved the bucks for the latter half of the season.

    You get what you pay for, so why not filter it down to fewer eps so that each one is the best they can produce rather than spreading it out over a long drawn out trail of crapisodes.

    And yes there IS filler in Fringe. I'd even go so far as to say that the reason to have Peter not exists was so they could save money on Josh's per episode cost to be able to afford him for the season as a whole. This is an example of when the budget constraints affect the writing, and thus the ratings.

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  116. laura334115 April 2012 at 21:23

    Its not just that paper,this has been all over the place since last week since J.Wyman tweeted it.besides for some this is the first time they are hearing this. Whats the big deal.this is giving people a chance to chat and express their feelings.

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  117. Spike15 April 2012 at 21:36

    I really hope they renew it! I really need Fringe in my life next year (for personal reasons)

    ReplyDelete
  118. Ricky Terry15 April 2012 at 21:36

    My definition of a filler episode is one that only reinforces things we already know. How many times did they slap us across they face with the Where is Peter crap at the beginning of this season? I think a couple of episodes was enough to establish the fact that something was definitely missing from our group of Fringies. The MOTW in that ep (Alone in the World) was a joke, and there was never an explanation of where an alien fungus even came from. Same thing with the Episode starring Michael Masse, a prime example of hyping a guest star to underwhelmingly utilize him. I get that his story was an allegory to the whole Love story between Peter and Olivia, but it was weak at best. 

    On the topic of Peter and Olivia; we all know that they belong together, but I feel time was wasted on the obvious reunion that was going to happen. Time wasting is also filler in my book. But I see your point too...One could have said the same thing for Brown Betty in season 2 but now that we know what we know it is very relevant. But I know when I smell bad or lazy writing, or filler, and this season was ripe with it. (the first half anyway) 

    But I know one man's trash is another man's treasure so we can agree to disagree if you'd like.

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  119. Ricky Terry15 April 2012 at 21:46

    Slow clap...^ this one gets it. 

    ReplyDelete
  120. Janne G15 April 2012 at 21:48

    YAY!!! I wish I could give this one a thousand LIKEs and +1s!!!

    ReplyDelete
  121. Taryn Groves15 April 2012 at 21:56

    guess u  are right. i just want Fringe to get the amount of seasons it deserves

    ReplyDelete
  122. Benito Hepton15 April 2012 at 22:04

     Actually, us British more than likely know just as much as you... Thanks to a wonderful invention (you may have heard of it) known as "high speed broadband internet," we're not only able to research our favourite US shows and Networks but ALSO - WATCH THEM AT THE SAME TIME AS YOU?!

    Oh, and yeah - the article mentions that the writer has sources at Fox/WB, who I'm presuming live in the US.

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  123. Benito Hepton15 April 2012 at 22:06

    Personally, I think a 13 episode order would probably do a final season more good than harm. This way we get little or no COTW episodes and each one gets closer to wrapping up the overall story.

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  124. Pascal21915 April 2012 at 22:11

    I think most of us would be happier with a 20 episode season, but really are we in any position to complain? This show has defied cancellation odds so many times, shows how much Fox has learned from their Firefly debacle! At least that's what I like to think. ;-) 

    I think we should be happy with anything we get at this point! It gives the creators time to end the show, which is way more than most shows get! 

    So every fiber in my body is crossed waiting for (Hopefully good) news!

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  125. DarqueMode15 April 2012 at 22:18

    Fringe has been "close" to getting renewed for something like 3 weeks now I think.

    Until we get official word of renewal or cancellation I will not put faith in any report either way.

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  126. Ricky Terry15 April 2012 at 22:19

    In that case you should be happy because it has gotten more than its share. This of course is looking at it from the practical perspective of Fox. But as a fan I think, no scratch that, know it is a great show deserving of more viewers and higher ratings. I wish we could get a full season 5 and 6 but being realistic we'll be lucky if the next few eps aren't the last ever.

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  127. bluebox44415 April 2012 at 22:41

    WOOOT!!! I'm okay with the 13-episode season, personally, though I naturally would prefer 22. I'm sure the writers will give us plenty of great storytelling in the space that they have.

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  128. cortexifan15 April 2012 at 22:51

    I voted, thank you. 

    ReplyDelete
  129. Jimi Sturges15 April 2012 at 22:58

    That is Awesome news..

    ReplyDelete
  130. laura334115 April 2012 at 23:04

    Your welcome,we will just have to remind each other every week!  :)

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  131. arun27915 April 2012 at 23:07

    Usually shows are not assigned budget seasonwise, but episodewise. And, WB would be willing to finance 22 episodes too, at the same price per episode, if FOX is willing to license it from them.. In fact, the rumors are saying that WB has been pushing got 22 episodes, but FOX wants it to stay at 7-13. At the price that they will eventually agree on, if they do, the budget of the show will be reduced again, but the per episode budget, not for a season.

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  132. arun27915 April 2012 at 23:09

    As far I remember, there was only one filler episode of LOST.

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  133. arun27915 April 2012 at 23:12

    Agree. The moment the last episode ended, I was really moved and it was quite an emotional finale. But in the days that followed, I began to slowly come to terms with LOST ending and started to realize that so many important questions were never answered. I do say that in some way, I hated the finale. I did not stick with a mystery show to see all the character plots tied up in the end; I saw because I wanted to see the mystery resolved!

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  134. arun27915 April 2012 at 23:14

    I am guessing it will take a couple of weeks at least to get an announcement...

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  135. arun27915 April 2012 at 23:15

    yes. if it's 13 then I am sure there will be no COTW episodes which is a really good thing.

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  136. arun27915 April 2012 at 23:16

    wouldn't we all like to say that? :) Hope it all goes according to plan... I had all but lost hope about renewal, the ratings are completely abysmal unfortunately. :(

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  137. arun27915 April 2012 at 23:17

    Yes, it has not been reported by any other source as far as I know. So, there is a chance that it's not real. :(

    ReplyDelete
  138. Supermak15 April 2012 at 23:17

     Exactly xD...

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  139. cortexifan15 April 2012 at 23:18

    yes, please.
    FRINGE FOREVER!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  140. arun27915 April 2012 at 23:18

    Yes, but I actually like Fringe's Case of the week episodes most of the times. I am in no hurry to find out whatever season long arc is going on. The writing is absolutely brilliant and the stories are great; I would love to watch any and all filler episodes.

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  141. arun27915 April 2012 at 23:19

    Exactly, I don't mind filler episodes at all!

    ReplyDelete
  142. arun27915 April 2012 at 23:20

    Thanks for the support! and watch Fringe if you get the chance... it's one of those rare network shows that is actually good!

    ReplyDelete
  143. arun27915 April 2012 at 23:20

    Why? :(

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  144. arun27915 April 2012 at 23:22

    6th... wow! expecting 22 itself is pushing our luck.... Season 6 is just out of the question. Season 5 will be given on the basis that it will be the final season. If they had said it's not, then I am not even sure season 5 would be considered.

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  145. laura334115 April 2012 at 23:28

    I already liked you,but i'm liking you more and more Arun! :)

    ReplyDelete
  146. Oru Ah15 April 2012 at 23:28

    The idea that the number of episodes could change the quality of the season, especially of the writing, seems really unfounded and farfetched to me, and the first half of season 4 being "a bad quality product" is an opinion which I don't agree with, and even if I did agree it wouldn't have anything to do with budget constraints. The first few episodes actually had more SFX than the recent ones, and since Peter was only absent for three episodes I doubt they did it for money. After all, if it were for money reasons they could've just written three standalone episodes in which he doesn't appear instead of making a huge season long storyline out of it.


    I also never implied that they don't figure out what a season is going to cost before they produce it, I just said that that cost is supposed to be determined AFTER the number of episodes. Making half a season is NOT going to increase the single episode budget or save any money unless the WB just decides to do that for no reason. And I never said Fox was going to buy season 5 for the same price they bought season 4.To be honest, I haven't heard that the budget has been cut any further since the move to Vancouver in season 2; and it seems to me that the production values are still very high in season 4, so I'm not sure where you're getting your "dramatic budget cuts ruined the show" idea from.

    Anyway, just because you didn't like a few episodes or storylines it doesn't mean that the show should be cut short, and it probably doesn't have anything to do with the budget or how many episodes are in a season... And hey, if you hate the "filler" episodes that much you can just skip them and let the other fans enjoy them.

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  147. laura334115 April 2012 at 23:31

    It has been reported elsewhere but right now all i can think of is Entertainment Weekly,and of course the tweet that J.Wyman sent to us fans!

    ReplyDelete
  148. arun27915 April 2012 at 23:35

    Oh! Nice to hear that... I'm glad we are not just letting our imaginations run away with us on this...

    ReplyDelete
  149. laura334115 April 2012 at 23:42

     Really who knows? I thought when J.Wyman tweeted last Tuesday that we were supposed to hear by the end of the week i thought it was a done deal..Now this paper says one thing,someone knows someone who works for Fox and a decision hasn't been reach yet,yadda, yadda, yadda know what i mean? I'm hoping for Monday or Tuesday,i still think they came to a decision last week,but a few minor details needed to be worked out and that's why it wasn't announced Friday.I'll find out soon enough if i was right or not.Hell as long as we get another season let them take there time,it might be better for us?

    ReplyDelete
  150. neon_ruby15 April 2012 at 23:43

    Aargh...enough with the rumours! I just want something official! I hope this is true and we get the higher end of the limited run (although 22 would be an absolute dream come true!)

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  151. Ricky Terry15 April 2012 at 23:45

    I understand that but it adds up to a lump sum that equates the season's budget. They know what this number is and will not sway from it, unless of course the show makes huge jumps in the ratings. For the show to make huge jumps in the ratings it needs all the Stars it can get on each episode, as well as all the best writing it can get on each episode, and  so on. In order for all that to happen the show will need to spend as much per episode as it can, while being able to make some semblance of AD money too. Thus less episodes means that the network loses less money if the ratings stay like they are now. Not to mention that less episodes mean less filler and more to the point writing. This will keep the  audience that has been here all along happy while still getting what they want out of it. 

    Fox looks at the cost of a season as a whole, versus the profit of said season. This is why Fringe is (or has been) in danger, because it is expensive to produce. Fox says;  we paid x amount for Fringe last year, and x amount for Fringe this year, WB says we paid X amount last year, and X amount this year...WB has taken into account that if they reduce the licencing fees they charge Fox to air the show then they will more than likely get the number of eps they want for syndication, so they are willing to do it more than likely. A syndicated show with no ending is not a good investment. Fox will then figure a profit/ loss margin and will adjust the amount of money they are willing to pay. WB will also go over this profit/loss and determine a budget per episode based on a whole season's worth of episodes. 

    So if lets say last season cost them (just for discussion's sake) 30 mil to to produce 22 episodes and Fox paid them 50mil to licence it. you can break that down to a per episode amount plus or minus depending on each ep. You save a couple hundred thousand on this one you spend a couple hundred thousand more on that one. 

    All of this will factor into the cost of producing a season in total. Taking that number I just used, 30 mil, and cutting it in half for the sake of WB not losing money, and for the sake of Fox not losing money will mean that the per episode budget will get cut in half too. But the problem is that the actors are not going to just say yeah i'll take fifty percent pay cut, same goes for the crew and so on. So if they try to squeeze out 22 eps with a cut budget it will look something like a cheezy 80's movie, thus why it will be better if they cut the amount of eps down as well. Everyone is happy.  

    How does this not make sense to you?

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  152. laura334115 April 2012 at 23:49

    Oh no,and as a matter of fact if you go and look at Fringe for Tuesday,April 10th you will a picture of the tweet that J.Wyman sent.

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  153. arun27915 April 2012 at 23:53

    I am sorry if I missed some point from ur comment, I didn't get a chance to read it in detail. Airing 22 episodes is different and airing 13 episodes is different. The licensing fee to be negotiated by FOX, if it's done for a season as a whole, it will be done after deciding the number of episodes that will be produced, or it will be decided as x dollars for an episode. Assuming they will come up with a number for a whole season, that number will be different if it's decided that they will produce 22 episodes and it will be different if they decide to produce 13 episodes. In the end, the budget for single episodes will be what they will be, it won't necessarily be affected by the number of episodes they decide to produce.

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  154. Ricky Terry15 April 2012 at 23:55

    "dramatic budget cuts ruined the show"   

    Why would you put something in quotes that I never said? I never said the show is ruined, I just said that the budget cuts show in the quality of the writing due to having to save money on actors either being there or not. Also I never said I hate anything about Fringe, just that lazy writing and reduced budgets show. You are putting words in my mouth, and that I hate!

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  155. Jay Gibbs15 April 2012 at 23:56

    Incidentally, Wyman appears to have abandonned Twitter after putting up that Teaser #3 video, which was on Friday. Not a good sign, considering up until that video was posted, he was constantly reassuring fans that everything would be fine.

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  156. arun27915 April 2012 at 23:58

    in networks, I reckon it will done for some shows on an episodewise basis because, if 13 episodes are ordered, they will have the option to order a back 9 at the same price. No new negations need to take place. And, we also keep seeing sometimes how the number of episodes will fluctuate. Sometimes the order will be reduced by 1 or 2, sometimes it will be increased by 1 or 2. These proceedings will go a lot smoother if they have a per-episode deal.

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  157. bluebox44416 April 2012 at 00:01

    I agree with you. Plus, I think many of us would agree that there have been a few episodes this season which we could have done without, plot-wise. A thirteen-episode season will make it more likely that every episode will be high-quality and will carry along the overall mythology of Fringe.

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  158. Ricky Terry16 April 2012 at 00:03

    But the point of the matter is: Do you agree that whatever WB decides to charge Fox for in Licencing fees will decide the budget per episode? And if you agree to that do you also agree that the higher the episode count is the less the per episode budget will be? and if you also agree to that then wouldn't you agree that less episodes would equate to a larger per episode budget thus making those fewer episode better and thus making the season as a whole better? 

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  159. cortexifan16 April 2012 at 00:09

    That makes me sad. I thought the same and still hope he was just too busy.
    Argh!

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  160. arun27916 April 2012 at 00:12

    Yes for the first and no for the second. The license fee will definitely be a big part of deciding the episodic budget of the show, allocated by WB. But, as the number of episodes being ordered increases, the total licensing fee paid increases. (more episodes, more money). Here, let me take some dummy data:

    Let's say Fox decide that they will pay 100 dollars per episode of Fringe, and they decide that 13 episodes will be produced; the whole deal will be for 1300 dollars. Then WB contacts Fringe's producers and gives them a budget of 75 dollars to produce, which is 975 dollars for the whole season. Then, let's say FOX comes back to WB and say no we want 22 episodes; now the total license fee paid will be 2200 dollars (100 per episode as per the deal). WB has no problem giving the same 75 dollars per episode; it will cost them 1650 (22*75) dollars, but they are getting 2200 from FOX for 22 episodes as opposed to 1300 they were getting for 13 episodes.

    See how the budget will depend on the overall deal with FOX, but not on the number of episodes?

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  161. Lisa Donadio16 April 2012 at 00:22

    Well, as one of the few who watches this awesome show, I will be happy for another season!

    ReplyDelete
  162. DarqueMode16 April 2012 at 00:25

    I'm not sure we should expect news the next week or two if this article is accurate....
    "The "Fringe" team will meet with FOX execs in the first week of May to pitch
    their plans for Season 5 -- and to figure out whether it's in FOX's best
    interest, financially, to renew the series. They've already made it clear that
    the
    network has lost money airing "Fringe," but there are still hopes that they
    can turn that minus into a plus."http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2012/04/fringe-josh-jackson-and-john-noble-talk-season-5-and-the-peter-and-walter-dynamic.html

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  163. Ricky Terry16 April 2012 at 01:16

    Ok That makes sense,  if it happens the way you are saying, but I was looking at it from a different angle. 
    I was looking at it from Fox's perspective. Say Fox comes to the table and says : I'm willing to pay you 2200 dollars in licencing fees for the season period (with an option for more if the ratings increase).Then WB would  say ok  Producers how many eps do you need to make? They say 22. So WB says 75 dollars per episode is the budget. This would allow for 22 episodes to be produced at 100 apiece for FOX and allow WB to make $550 ,but say Fox says we want only 13 eps, and if the Ratings increase by X amount of time we might order 9 more at an increased price. This would then allow WB to increase the budget per ep right? This would mean that Fox is gonna spend $2200 either way, no more no less (unless the ratings change for the better). it would then be up to WB to fit the per ep budget into the full price, and adjust for their profit. The producers may want 22 eps  but ultimately Fox gets the final say. See Fox is in the position of authority since it is airing the eps and paying the advertisers. WB has to kowtow to them to make the money they need, and get the desired amount of eps for syndication. The Producers are at the whim of both. They have to use what they are alloted to make the best product they can.

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  164. DarthLocke416 April 2012 at 02:02

    I disagree with you too..Firstly I think the idea of "networking" which was presented in the episode is still highly important to the plot. Second, I think there is still something to the idea of broken down and/or secondary incarnates to our main characters, as Aaron was more than reflective to Walter.

    And lastly, season four has made all what were previously considered filler episodes, non filler episodes by using relativity of universes as means to string them all together and prove that those things could have at any point have become more heavily apart of any arc/plot, as they could also all be manifestations of any thing that came before in other time lines, including our lost original, as we are trying to see if we have changed anything, and if it;s for the better?!

    I think just about every epsiode, even if it is a filler or seemingly at the time, MOTW, gives clues and actual "theory" to it's fans as a means for us to guess what the bigger picture and/or arc of the season is.

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  165. Oceanic10816 April 2012 at 02:16

    Why would they add someone just because they work for less money without taking someone else away? That would just add to the amount that they're already spending, it wouldn't make it cheaper.

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  166. cortexifan16 April 2012 at 02:23

    Josh was also doing a movie. 

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  167. Ricky Terry16 April 2012 at 02:24

    They didn't add anyone Seth already worked for them. They just give the cheaper guy more screentime, because it cost them less than giving the expensive guy more screentime. They can have Josh come out for a few hours and go home, but keep Seth out longer due to his price. this of course is speaking about the first part of the season. Now it is is different. 

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  168. Dahne16 April 2012 at 02:34

    Actually advertising has nothing to do with it.  The WB doesn't get advertising dollars; Fox does.  The WB is negotiating how much FOX will pay per episode of Fringe and how many episodes FOX is willing to take a chance on next season.  Each episode's budget will have to be less than the selling price plus merchandising or the WB will lose money.  I have absolutely no doubt that the WB cut the asking price for Fringe this season.  Because the ratings are so bad and FOX is actually losing money from buying the episodes, the WB will most definitely have to slash the asking price for next year.  Also, you have to figure that at least some of the crew will be contracted for a raise in the coming season.  Even if DVD sales go through the roof, the WB will have to cut costs somewhere and the most likely place will be in the episode budget.  Really the only chance Fringe has is in the possibility that someone will pick it up for a hefty syndication price.  Then the WB could afford to take Fringe as a loss the last 2 seasons in exchange for future gains.

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  169. Dahne16 April 2012 at 02:46

    FOX will order Fringe by the episode not by a lump sum price, based on the projected ad revenue it will get from Fringe.  The episode count will be in the contract and largely driven by FOX, which makes sense because FOX will have already made plans for how many episodes all its shows will have.  They basically need to be able to tell advertisers what the schedule will look like by May upfronts.  Once the schedule is set if Fringe were to get extra episodes, it would be because it did surprisingly well and something else failed miserably.  But they would still be paid per episode not as part of a lump sum price.

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  170. Dahne16 April 2012 at 02:49

    What?  Do you want Fringe not to be renewed in hopes that something else will be?  Because this would be freaking fantastic news for Fringe fans.  If you're secretly hoping Alcatraz gets renewed, I don't think its fate has anything to do with whether Fringe comes back for 13 episodes or not.

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  171. Dahne16 April 2012 at 02:54

    Agreed.  There have been several episodes this season I could have done without, including the porcupine mutation story.  Those stories are just fine when the show is going well and you have 2-3 years to tell your story.  When you are in danger of cancellation and still have so many questions that need to be answered, then the whole push needs to be wrapping up the story so your dedicated fans are satisfied.  It's like Supernatural after the writers' strike.  They had 4 episodes to tie up a crucial piece of mytharc and they wasted 2.5 of them on filler.  Very frustrating!

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  172. Dahne16 April 2012 at 03:00

    FOX is a business just like any other business.  They have to answer to shareholders.  If a business had a product line that was losing them a million dollars a year, the obvious solution is to shut that product line down.  No one should ever fault FOX except its shareholders who probably wonder why the show got renewed this year.  If you are going to blame someone then it would have to be Nielsen families that don't watch Fringe or the advertisers who decry any other way of setting ad prices than Nielsen.  Because in all honesty, it is the ratings that negate your claim that Fringe is a popular show and therefore make it unprofitable for FOX.  

    ReplyDelete
  173. LockeUp16 April 2012 at 03:06

     Breaking Bad does just fine.

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  174. Ricky Terry16 April 2012 at 03:07

    Yeah I get what you are saying but as I said in another comment my definition of filler is when they reiterate what we already know. They didn't need the boy to be friends with an alien fungus to tells us that Walter feels all alone. We knew that. they could have spent that time getting down to the real issue...Who's that dude that keeps showing up in the mirrors. Then maybe the ratings wouldn't have dropped like they did. I am sorry but this season has been mishandled up until the second half. And by then many people had already jumped ship. Why is it I find myself only rewatching certain episodes? Because those are the ones relevant to the mythology of the show. I will never rewatch Alone in the World, it is not worthy of a rewatch by me sorry. I also will never rewatch Johari Window. I could go on but I think you know what I mean. 

    The main problem I have with season 4 is that the writers and producers spent too much time on stuff that in the grand scheme of things are irrelevant to the mythology. I get that there was character development, but honestly we already had three seasons of Character development they chose to reset the timeline and it became tedious in the first half of the season. Now that everything is in its right place I am having a better time with season 4 but I honestly was not liking it for a while there.  I know you are an Alcatraz fan and it did the same for me too thus I did jump ship with it. I love Fringe because of the time invested in it, so I am willing to go through the motions, but some people are not, and that is what happened to the ratings this season. 

    Be honest, didn't you expect the season premiere to at least touch on the whole bridge room incident of season 3 finale? I know I did. Did you not want the show to somewhat explain where exactly Peter was during his nothingness, or at the least get his version of the event. I mean I know you and I both read the comics and from that we sort of know, but why didn't the show confirm that? Did P&W expect every single fan to read those comics? No so they should have at lease not made it seem like Peter is clueless as to where he went and what he did, and just act like everything is normal. These things needed explanation at the beginning of the season, but instead of doing that they chose to keep Peter away from the set and thus the show for 4 episodes, really 5 because he was only onscreen a total of maybe 30-45 seconds all 4 first episodes. I am sitting there thinking surely they will go there, but meanwhile we are investigating alien fungi. 

    Another point of contention I have is just after the two sides came into agreement over the whole DRJ thing, we are right back to solving irrelevant cases involving a girl who draws the future. Why? There is literally a multiversal terrorist running loose breeding shapeshifters that kill people for their identities, and unbeknownst to us also breeding mutant ani-men and filling up his Island of Dr Moreau styled Noah's arc to eventually repopulate the universe after he collapses both of the two together into one. 

    My point is, why did we have to wait through some 8 episodes to get to the real meat of the season? Why? We could have had all this earlier and then I guarantee the ratings would be higher, and we wouldn't be talking about a shortened season 5 right now.

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  175. LockeUp16 April 2012 at 03:10

    This couldn't be more wrong. I think Fox has been more than kind. Giving us 13 more in a final season would be perfect.

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  176. Dor Fiderer16 April 2012 at 05:12

    Actually, the only thing I'm worry about is the 19th episode tradition... but who cares? if we have a 5th season it's good enough :)

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  177. mathew16 April 2012 at 05:16

    Assuming we do get 13 episodes, could it be possible to get 50 minutes episodes like back in season 1?

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  178. Oru Ah16 April 2012 at 06:54

    You guarantee the ratings would be higher? Look at the ratings for the entire series and you'll find out you're wrong. They started dropping in season one, kept dropping during the much better season two, dropped even further during season three, which according to most fans is the "creative pinnacle" of the entire series, and they kept dropping in season 4.


    If anything, I'd say season 4 was actually more stable with the ratings than previous seasons, since for at least its first half it managed to stay at 1.1-1.2 which was the rating for the third season finale.

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  179. DarqueMode16 April 2012 at 08:30

    According to Wyman's Twitter a few minutes ago....
    "We might know something tomorrow. I know you're all anxious....." and..
    "Hate to Tweet and run... Gotta take off. Just wanted you guys to know we know nothing yet. 'Night."

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  180. Jenny16 April 2012 at 08:31

    i agree completely with this! that would make it so worth it. I miss the "fringe will return in 60 seconds" 

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  181. Ricky Terry16 April 2012 at 09:00

    Ok Thanks for the info. You are clearly quite the authority on Fringe. Thank you for being here to correct me all day long. I just don't know what I'd do without your services. I hope that tomorrow we can continue to argue over this matter. Until then goodnight. 

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  182. arun27916 April 2012 at 10:37

    exactly!

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  183. Athinaxy16 April 2012 at 13:06

    I'm happy for you fringed people, I really am. But what about me and Alcatraz now?

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  184. Alexander16 April 2012 at 13:08

    Oh hell no, there's so much more to tell. I want two more seasons and that's it

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  185. Oru Ah16 April 2012 at 13:19

    I don't consider myself an authority on Fringe (or anything else) and I'm not trying to invalidate your opinions, at least not until you try to sell them as facts. I just find it pretty annoying that since you didn't like some episodes in the season you're blaming them for the decline in ratings, and blaming them on some budget cuts that may or may not actually exist.


    Opinions are opinions and I have nothing against them: there are many people here who want a 13 episode season just like you, and there's nothing wrong with that as long as you don't try to back up that opinion with made up facts and rules.

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  186. Oru Ah16 April 2012 at 13:29

    I simplified the process in my explanation, but advertising still has quite a lot to do with it. Even though it's Fox that gets the advertising revenue, the price at which WB would try to sell the single episodes, and consequently the per-episode budget, still depends on how much money Fox makes out of that hour in advertising money.


    If Fox makes 500,000 dollars for an hour of Fringe it's obvious that it would only be profitable if they buy the episode for less than that, which also means that the episode budget from WB can't be higher than that unless they're producing as a loss (and they are). But it still doesn't mean that they can cut the episode order in half and double the per-episode budget like Ricky Terry was suggesting, because cutting the season in half also means cutting the revenue in half, making the show even less profitable.

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  187. Ciacho_8816 April 2012 at 13:32

    If Fringe was a European show, it definitely make to his 7 season (in my opinion). I don't know how ratings are counted in UE, but about 3.0 viewers should do the trick. I don't really get it how such a shows like - Teenage Mother, or any shows like that can make it. But show like Fringe strugels with bad reitings week after week. I just assuming that most viewers do not want to be challenge, It's sad.

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  188. laura00816 April 2012 at 15:44

    Such a wonderful show and all its extraordinary unique characters desreve to exist in the TV world for longe time! A show like Fringe happens not every day so IMO if we have it so we should care about it who knows when something so special as Fringe comes along! So although I would be very very thankful for the 5th final season I also think that there are still so many stories to tell in the Fringe world for at least still 2 seasons so why not just renew Fringe year after year with 13 ep.so that the writers and producers could have the opportunity to tell the whole story and we audiens could enjoy Fringes beautiful stories and characters a little bit longer. I think Dr.Walter Bishop and his gang desreve this!!! And I have the feeling that somehow we get the renewal for our beloved Fringe and than although happy I think I will be also sad that this is going to be the final season!!!! (still hope it will be not final............)

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  189. LC4071616 April 2012 at 17:04

    WB....hold out for 22 episodes!!!! I want 22!!!! PLEASEEEEEEEEE!

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  190. cortexifan16 April 2012 at 17:11

    so does that mean Monday or Tuesday?

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  191. rks10016 April 2012 at 17:54

    Well its easy to say that about season 4 when its painfully obvious that the show has bottomed out. Meaning that the core fans are left. All shows have their core fans that will stick with the show throughout its life span. This is further proven by the fact that In all the prior seasons before this one, the show had always suffered ratings declines as the season progressed which usually got bad around the spring time. This season, yeah it was around a 1.1-1.2 essentially the whole season up until a couple of weeks ago. 

    Regarding the rest ,Well all serialized shows have ratings decreases, but in this instance you have to look at the ratings trends throughout the seasons. I'm not going to address season 1 because they had the beneift of having American Idol and House as lead ins. So i'll go into season 2. The first half of season 2 which was mainly procedural with several heavy mythology episodes ( off the top of my head, i remember 2.01, 2.04, 2.08, 2.10, and 2.15 ). Now saying that, the season started off with a 3.0 18-49 demo which was good.... and then by episode 8 already dropped to a low of 2.0. From episode 9 to episode 15, oddly enough it increased back up to a 2.8 for the 15th episode but the show benefited from 1-2 weeks where other shows where repeats and also benefited from a random monday episode where it was ahead of house at the time. When the show returned, it had dropped a lot from returning in march-april but remained relatively stable throughout the rest of the season when its in the 2.0-2.4 range throughout the rest of the season. I would go into season 3 but my post is getting long and plus most of it was in the friday time slot. But for the first 8-9 episode, when things were mythology heavy, ratings had declined but were once again more stable in the 1.7-2.1 range. 

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  192. DarqueMode16 April 2012 at 18:03

    Who knows! XD
     From the sound of it Wyman does not know when the news will come either.... but he is hoping it is today.

    Like I said in an earlier post, it seems odd to me to announce renewal or cancellation on the weekend. 

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  193. RobertAriadne16 April 2012 at 18:33

    If that was true, why are we even worrying about season FIVE, when we shouldn't have even gotten season FOUR? Hell, they could've yanked us after Marionette and not sent us to Friday.

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  194. overandback16 April 2012 at 20:57

    Thanks and good luck with Alcrataz. I know only too well it's not good when a favorite show's in danger.

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  195. Ricky Terry16 April 2012 at 23:29

    I not making up facts I'm just sayin it as I see it, wrong or not it is the way I see it so why don't you just go find someone else to bother. i'm not trying to sell you or anyone else anything, if you don't like what i'm saying then don't read it kinda like you said if I don't like filler episodes the just don't watch them. Seriously dude get off my case. So what I may be wrong, but who says you are right? Lets just agree to disagree like I said yesterday. You are not going to make me learn anything as much as I'm not going to make you learn anything. One thing I know for sure is that neither of us is a FOX exec, so who really knows how they are going to buy Fringe this upcoming season?

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  196. Oceanic10816 April 2012 at 23:58

    Seth was only a guest star before this season, and now he's a regular. Since they have him on much more often than they used to, it's costing them more money than it would have to only have him on sometimes, like before. Do you have a source for what you were saying about the budget cuts, because I haven't seen anything about that?

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  197. Dahne17 April 2012 at 01:36

    Agreed on all points.

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  198. bluebox44417 April 2012 at 01:40

    Maybe they'll do it with the tenth episode this time, or something.

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  199. DarthLocke417 April 2012 at 02:29

    But the boys ABILITY is what is more important. Yes the boy is like Walter because they both feel loss and alone, but more over Walter (all versions) is really the character(s) that we could blame for criminal behavior in not thinking about "consequences" to his actions, and his journey is about using what he knows to mend the consequences. (Even August goes to him for help)

    Additionally the idea that maybe we can converge and/or rearrange time lines might also be vital in saving the universes...to be able to change the future. Aaron then also mirrors the cortexifaners and Peter, as all of those characters have been "loners" too. And both Olivia and Aaron like to "draw".

    This is one of my favorite episodes. It was so philosophically inspiring (and they gave us a LOST red herring, a special boy named Aaron)

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  200. Tristan Mayer17 April 2012 at 15:56

    im guessing they wont officially anounce something untill right after the season finale this year. 

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