Thursday FOX announced that it will renew Fringe for a 22 episode fourth season, much to the delight of the show’s San Francisco fans.
“It’s not only the best program on TV right now, it’s the smartest,” said Urie Aptow, a San Francisco resident. “It really would have been a TV travesty to have it cancelled so early in its run.”
The news of the sci-fi drama’s renewal not only raised fans’ spirits, but it gave a slight boost to the ratings. The show posted a 1.5 rating in the 18-49 demographic, a 15 percent gain from last week.
Fringe has held respectable ratings since its move to Friday nights in January, only dipping slightly in recent weeks. Many fans were worried about the move due to FOX’s history of canceling Friday night sci-fi shows, including, Firefly, Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles, and Dollhouse. Network president Kevin Reilly stated that the move did not indicate a looming cancellation and the timeslot shift was a way for FOX to “re-animate” Friday nights.
“Everyone knows Friday night is the death slot,” said San Francisco Fringe fan Sara Rutler. “I freaked out when I heard they moved the show and thought this season would be the last, but I’m thrilled they renewed it and seem to have faith in the show.”
The early pickup came as a surprise to some fans who expected to wait on pins and needles until upfronts in May when networks announce their fall schedules.
“The ratings are decent, but aren’t good enough for me to feel comfortable,” Aptow said. “I thought I’d have to agonize over them Saturday mornings until May. The network has always said they’re behind the show, but that’s something fans always hear and their favorite program gets cancelled anyway.”
For their part, FOX has stayed true to their support for the show. Reilly has often expressed his love for Fringe and his intent to keep it on the schedule for as long as he can.
“Fringe has truly hit a creative stride and has distinguished itself as one of television’s most original programs,” Reilly said in a statement about the renewal. “The series' ingenious producers, amazingly talented cast and crew, as well as some of the most passionate and loyal fans on the planet, made this fourth-season pickup possible. When we moved the show to Fridays, we asked the fans to follow and they did. We’re thrilled to bring it back for another full season and keep it part of the Fox family.”
Are you excited about Fringe’s renewal? What other shows are you hoping will be saved from cancellation?
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