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TV Wasteland: Everybody's on the FRINGE
All Eyes were on Fox for the FRINGE Premiere By
Stephen Lackey
September 15, 2008
Anna Torv as Agent Olivia Dunham in FRINGE.
© FOX
Did you watch the series premiere of Fringe? Apparently everyone else did according to Nielsen. Preliminary numbers for the 90 minute premiere averaged 9 million viewers and a 3.2 rating/share in the adults 18 to 49 demographic. Those numbers made the premiere the highest rated of the evening for that coveted demographic and the biggest drama debut for FOX in a couple of years.
FOX and series producer J.J. Abrams had a lot riding on this series premiere having put reputations and big dollars behind it. Abrams seems like a sure bet having created some of the best TV has had to offer over the last several years with LOST and Alias, but he most recently had a flop on his hands with Six Degrees proving he’s not infallible.
TV isn’t like film - where one good weekend defines a success or not. Fringe has had a successful launch but the question is will viewers come back for another helping next week? Most reviews for the series, including our review, were favorable with caveats. The first episode was full of pacing and tonal problems and character development was scatter-shot. The concept of the series is sound and has potential though. Will you stick with the series based on the pilot? The script for the pilot had to be written over a scant few days due to the writer’s strike so future installments, given more time, could prove to be stronger with better pacing and dialogue. Lately it seems like the best series on television start off weak and require some level of dedication to succeed and find their footing. The most recent example is Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. The first three episodes of that series were fairly grueling to get through, but after that point, the series was excellent at best and entertaining at worst. Another example of this situation is Heroes. That series had the pacing of a turtle for the first four installments but it picked up and became top notch competition for LOST during that first season. So, whose giving up on Fringe and who’s sticking it out? You can bet we’ll be following it for a while longer....
More series premieres are hitting the small screen this week! Of the two shows that are returning this week Supernatural is the most highly anticipated and most likely to actually be good. Smallville is coming back too, and it’ll get watched because well, it’s on TV. Fringe and True Blood had OK premieres last week so this week, the shows really need to prove themselves with solid episodes. Also of note this week are new episodes of Prison Break, The Sarah Connor Chronicles, and Burn Notice.
Monday
TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES (FOX, 8PM EST) AUTOMATIC FOR THE PEOPLE
Sarah checks out a nuclear power plant. Meanwhile, John's schoolwork suffers, but his social circle widens when he makes a new friend; and Catherine Weaver continues to make progress with her project.
PRISON BREAK (FOX, 9PM EST) EAGLES AND ANGELS
The crew tracks another card down to the Turkish consulate in Los Angeles, but the cardholder isn't the consul. Meanwhile, Wyatt arrives in L.A. with information about Sara he had extracted from Bennett; Michael and Linc happen upon T-Bag by chance; and Bruce Bennett is found dead.
Tuesday
FRINGE (FOX, 9PM EST) THE SAME OLD STORY
The bizarre death of a woman who gave birth to a rapidly aging baby after an hours-long pregnancy challenges the nascent partnership between Dr. Bishop, Peter and Olivia, who reaches out to Massive Dynamic's Nina Sharp for answers.
EUREKA (SCIFI, 9PM EST) HERE COME THE SUNS
The arrival of a second sun over Eureka upstages the town's mayoral race and forces Carter, Allison and Zane to investigate the fiery threat. Dean Marshall, Margot Berner.
Wednesday
BONES (FOX, 8PM EST) THE FINGER IN THE NEST
The discovery---not far from the Jeffersonian---of the mutilated body of a veterinarian leads to an investigation that uncovers the deceased's gambling addiction and possible ties to an illegal dogfighting enterprise. "Dog Whisperer" Cesar Millan guest stars.
GHOST HUNTERS (SCIFI, 9PM EST) THE BOY IN THE BROTHEL
A Rhode Island banquet hall, formerly an inn that was established in 1760, is probed regarding spectral sightings and claims of cold spots in the attic. Also: Groton, Conn., is visited for a home investigation.
Thursday
SMALLVILLE (CW, 8PM EST) ODYSSEY
In the eighth-season opener, the Justice League searches for Clark, but is stymied by the new CEO of Luthorcorp, Tess Mercer (Cassidy Freeman); and Chloe is held prisoner by a group who have discovered her powers, while Clark has been stripped of his by Jor-El.
SUPERNATURAL (CW, 9PM EST) LAZURAS RISING
In the fourth-season opener, Dean has been freed from Hell and reunites with Sam and Bobby, but the three don't know how he returned. Bobby: Jim Beaver.
Friday
STARGATE ATLANTIS (SCIFI, 10PM EST) TRACKER
Dr. Keller vanishes during a medical mission, forcing Ronon to tap into his past experiences to try to save her. Mike Dopud.
Saturday
PRIMEVIL (BBC, 9PM EST)
Another anomaly materializes as Cutter tries to solve the mystery of Claudia's disappearance; the team is summoned to deal with a shopping center's raptor problem.
DARK CORNERS (SCIFI, 9PM EST)
A pregnant woman is haunted by nightmares of a serial killer stalking a woman who looks like her. Thora Birch is in this one. Think it’ll make a difference?
Sunday
TRUE BLOOD (HBO, 9PM EST) MINE
Sookie becomes the focal point of a heated dispute between Bill and his more bloodthirsty vampire associates; Sam and Tara find common ground in their current states of romantic affairs; Jason begs Lafayette for help with a personal problem after Dawn kicks him out.
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