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Nov 1,

Is “Fringe” in danger?

News / Spoilers | Posted by Scully

It’s that time of year: The networks are looking ahead to January and their midseason schedules, but some fall shows will have to be canceled to make room for the new stuff. Here’s our list of 13 at-risk shows, many of which have posted significant ratings declines. Others are expensive to produce, a little long in the tooth, or just aren’t performing as well as their timeslot competition — or even other shows on their own networks. Read about the issues each faces and then weigh in on which deserve to stay — or go.

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#1 – Brothers (Fridays at 8/7c, Fox)
Issues: This family sitcom hasn’t connected with an audience, nor has its timeslot-mate, ‘Til Death.

#2 – Cold Case (Sundays at 10/9c, CBS)
Issues: Show sources say that this is the final season of Cold Case. It’s losing to Brothers & Sisters regularly.

#3 – Dollhouse (Fridays at 9/8c, Fox)
Issues: Fox yanked the show from its November lineup. Executive producer Joss Whedon has hinted that the party’s over after Fox burns off the rest of the show’s 13-episode run in December.

#4 – Eastwick (Wednesdays at 10/9c, ABC)
Issues: Is nobody watching TV at 10 p.m. anymore? Not only are Leno’s ratings tanking, so are those of his competition.

#5 – The Forgotten (Tuesdays at 10/9c, ABC)
Issues: Its title may have become its destiny. Even star Christian Slater couldn’t bring eyeballs to the Jerry Bruckheimer drama.

#6 – Fringe (Thursdays at 9/8c, Fox)
Issues: It’s been consistently fourth in its extremely competitively timeslot (opposite Grey’s Anatomy, The Office and 30 Rock, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Supernatural), despite actually posting gains for Fox on Thursday nights over last season. But the relatively healthy Tuesday audience it used to have is shrinking.

#7 – Gary Unmarried (Wednesdays at 8:30/7:30c, CBS)
Issues: Its ratings are decent, but nowhere near those of CBS’ top sitcoms.
(Editor’s note: Since publication, we’ve received word that Gossip Girl is safe.)

#8 – Hank (Wednesdays at 8/7c, ABC)
Issues: ABC has announced pickups for Modern Family, The Middle and Cougar Town (the rest of its Wednesday-night comedy block), and Hank’s absence from that list speaks volumes.

#9 – Law & Order (Fridays at 8, NBC)
Issues: It’s losing to Ghost Whisperer, and it’s been on the air for 20 years, which is about 140 in TV years. If it completes this season, it will tie Gunsmoke as the longest-running drama in history. NBC wouldn’t pull the plug before that achievement, would it?

#10 – Melrose Place (Tuesdays at 9/8c, CW)
Issues: Yes, the CW has ordered 18 episodes for this season. Two cast members have been fired, and producers say they plan to change direction from the new Melrose Place’s dark murder mystery. Will it be enough?

#11 – New Adventures of Old Christine (Wednesdays at 8/7c, CBS)
Issues: See above for Gary Unmarried.

#12 – Three Rivers (Sundays at 9, CBS)
Issues: Critics hated it, despite their ongoing love affair with star Alex O’Loughlin (Moonlight). And it’s getting clobbered by Desperate Housewives.

#13 – ‘Til Death (Fridays at 8:30, Fox)
Issues: It’s never been a ratings barn-burner, and its pairing with Brothers hasn’t helped.

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CANCELED/NOT RETURNING (most recent first)
Trauma (Oct. 28, , after its 13-episode run)
Southland (Oct. 8, )
The Beautiful Life: TBL (Sept. 25, )

PICKED UP FOR FULL SEASON
Community (Oct. 23, )
Mercy (Oct. 23, )
Parks and Recreation (Oct. 23, )
Melrose Place (Oct. 21, , 18 episodes)
The Vampire Diaries (Oct. 21, )
Castle (Oct. 20, )
FlashForward (Oct. 12, )
Cougar Town (Oct. 8, )
The Middle (Oct. 8, )
Modern Family (Oct. 8, )
The Good Wife (Oct. 7, )
NCIS: Los Angeles (Oct. 7, )
One Tree Hill (Sept. 23, )
Glee (Sept. 21, )

14 Responses to “Is “Fringe” in danger?”

  1. Raised Y

    Oh shit

  2. Di

    nooooooooooooooooooo. Fringe is way better than it was last year. everybody knew they couldn’t compete for first with grey’s on the same timeslot, and supernatural has been around longer and those two guys have a way of keeping women watching them [me included, and to be honest i don't even know what's happening anymore lol]. i think they should move it back to tuesdays again. but as far as i know they’re still taping, and they were in for a whole season already, weren’t they?

  3. ariannejean

    OH NO!
    my two most fave are both in trouble!
    Dollhouse AND fringe!
    AH!
    (i am happy to see that glee is safe.)

  4. Bubbleman

    The cluelessness of Fox rears it’s ugly head once again…move a popular show to a bad slot for no reason and then blame the show for “losing viewers.”

    If the X-Files had been launched in it would have been cancelled by today’s Fox before the end of the first season. Fringe, despite Fox’s best attempts to kill it last season with the endless interruptions and sabbaticals, actually had an audience that stuck with it.

    That’s not to say that Fringe season 2 hasn’t been weak (in my opinion) so far…but I wasn’t hooked on Fringe until “The Arrival” aired. I fully expect it to pick up big time.

  5. Jo

    The credit crunch bite again oh for goodness sakes why start something and try and bail in the middle of it. Finish the season.

  6. vini

    hi, here in BRA they put the show at 11pm !!! tried to watch yesterday (second season 3rd episode) but was impossible … before was 10pm, much more reasonable … so I am not sure, the public is really specific and the show will propably be beat by for example lie to me, criminalminds, dexter, etc … more simple and trivial series … anyway, would be a disaster …

    Other thig that I heard is that Nemoy said would leave the show if WillIan Bell character had a clear definition and developement … anyway, other %&¨&*()_ news.

  7. Raised Y

    Still shutting down?

  8. Siri

    Noooo! They can’t. They just can’t. I don’t even understand how people rather want to watch shows like Grey’s Anatomy than Fringe or Cold Case..

    I don’t even think they will show the second season here in Norway. If that’s true, SOMEONE will get a bit irritated.

  9. Fringe kid

    It is going to be a sad, sad day when Fringe gets canceled

  10. Emi

    Is this website not updated anymore?

  11. ariannejean

    @emi
    The person who runs this site ran into personal troubles and can no longer run the site.

  12. Ian

    I emailed the owner of this site to see if we could buy it and continue updating and connecting with FRINGE fans but they wanted $750 for this site… we don’t have that kinda cash!

  13. vini

    i miss this site

  14. Tizzle

    I would be realll pissed if they shut down fringe it is one of the most mind blowing episodes ever created plzzzz I beg them don’t shut it down olivia is awesomeeeeee plllzzz i really don;t kno wat show is gunna beat fringe yet it i s the bessst show ever I think it needs to be advertised and market better cuz i inroduced sum of my frens and they luv ittttt