One of the problems with Season 2 of FRINGE is they ended last season with a teaser that we would see what the other universe was like (where the World Trade Center still stands and the Whitehouse was destroyed and rebuilt. Plus there are too many stand alone episodes. Next week they get an OBSERVER centric episode – finally! He is the link between the 2 worlds.

Of course 9pm Thursdays is a very tough time slot, so that may factor into FOX’s decision as well.

If I had a choice between FRINGE and FLASHFORWARD, I would definitely rather have FRINGE return for Season 3. The characters of FRINGE are more interesting. Particularly Walter Bishop.

And I also agree that I would love to see more Lennard Nemoy and the watcher.

It is definitely now a DVR and then watch program.

So riddle me this..When Fringe was on Tuesday getting the ratings it got vs the lower rating that it is getting on Thursday which is making more commercial $$ for Fox for each hour.

Anyone know?

I would like to see it moved back to Tuesday although I would say Friday ala X-Files except for TSCC and Firefly being canceled in that spot.

The ratings are still there now but if this season keeps going the way it is, it’s just a matter of time before the decline shows in the numbers.

Completely agree.( just like we were in the summer)

…yeah, you could get a Johan Santana, if you got really lucky…

…but remember, the NBC scouting and minor league departments are about as good as the Washington Senators’ right now, with the budget of Jack Benny – I wouldn’t count on them finding a better option than the canny veteran they already have

Forgot Community was a Sony produced show.

Tom,

I too think that if NBC does not have a strong pilot season they may stick with a few shows to see what works out. Even though Heroes pulls decent ratings, its stale and needs to go. Mercy needs to go. L&O needs to go. Keep the Thursday night shows, Chuck, Biggest Loser and SVU. That should give the network a few spots for new shows to try out.

—-

“Fringe probably will be renewed for a 3rd season. Why? Anna Torv is Rupert Murdoch’s niece.”

You don’t think Murdoch is the type of man to ditch his niece to save money?

FOX, MOVE IT.

1. Get time machine
2. Travel to 1993
3. Turn to FOX on Friday night
4. Watch X-Files to the point of memorization *
5. take time machine back to when Chris Carter pitched XFiles to FOX
6. Kill Chris Carter and take his episode of the “Pilot”
7. Cross out his name…write in by “J.J Abrams”
8. Give to FOX
9. Profit

*may seem like an unnecessary trip since he really could have just watched the DVDS before leaving 2009, but if there is some chance that doing this would fix seasons 8-9 instead of what we got…we have to take it.

Im not trying to rip on Fringe because its great. I just don’t think people should keep expecting it to be X-Files. IMO Supernatural is much closer to The X-Files than Fringe in similarity.

…sunshine, lollipops, and atomic knee-drops…:D

Although, I wonder if NBC could purchase the rights, and move to prime time once per week, uber-versions of a WWE production, “Wheel of Fortune”, and “Jeopardy” – they would have to get better ratings than Leno…

…wait a minute, could I host a panel discussion about TV ratings, on NBC, and get better demos? With Bill, Robert, Julia, and Holly, all I would need would be a couple of guest panelists each week (JBF on bad “Dollhouse” weeks comes immediately to mind), and we could have a 3.0 demo…

…wait a minute – there are a few guest panelists that would inspire Jerry Springer-type brawls – good for ratings

And Holly, I’ve done so well at bingo (my losing streak is twenty times longer than NBC’s!), I would advise you to take your bingoes wherever you can find them…

“The ratings carnage at NBC is so complete that unless a miracle happens this spring with their new shows (and their development slate) the network very well may have to have to hold its nose and keep some of its well below average performers. If that happens, 30 minute sitcoms like Community and Parks & Recreation are the likely candidates”

That is a stunning possibility. You’re telling me, with all the outrageous amounts of money NBC spends on development, and all the current spec comedies out there, that they actually have NOTHING to buy for 2010??? Is that an indictment on NBC’s development staff, or an indictment of the overall lame state of TV sitcoms in LA?

Of course when you’ve got two shows that average the same (or close enough) the same demo then obviously the networks would all prefer to have the show that brings in more viewers, however fewer viewers isn’t going to be anything close to a deal breaker. Take a look at House, there’s a decent list of shows that all average bigger total audiences than it does but I think only Grey’s Anatomy is averaging a bigger demo number so far this season, do you believe that every network executive wouldn’t give their right hand for House? And I’d bet everything I have that right now every network would take Grey’s over CSI despite the fact that CSI has more viewers.

As for the CBS makes more money somehow by “throwing in” the 50+ viewers. Although I agree that makes “common sense”, I haven’t actually seen any evidence that it happens, either in the estimated advertising revenues/rates we see quoted from time to time, or in the behavior of the networks for scheduling and renewal/cancellation.

@Bill You’re right about Vampire but when it beats Leno in both total and the demo is when I would be worried for Leno. Doesn’t Kate Plus 8 beat Jay in the demo?

On the fact that total viewers only matters in a press release, I differ. I say that as a former tv & sales guy. When you look at the .2 edge that ABC had over CBS in the demo CBS did pretty will. Plus the fact that, on average, CBS had roughly 5 million more viewers gave CBS an edge. Not only can they reap the rewards of selling avails based on the demo, but they can also throw on some gravy with the higher number of viewers.

What I’d like to see is Supernatural at least match the Vampire Diaries.

Say what?

Through last week, The Office 18-49 ratings average is a 4.2. Fringe’s 18-49 average is a 2.12.

Especially when you consider that a franchise like “The Office” is almost being beaten by “Fringe.” How quickly that audience bailed after the junk they ran at us last season.
Last night’s episode was equally stupid. The only funny part was Creed running from the office when Michael scared him. Otherwise, I thought it was about as dopey as sitcom TV gets.

I think Fox will take Fringe next year over Lie To Me next year, which makes no real sense from a numbers or quality view point but that’s how I see things playing out. With that said I would be interested to see how a Bones/Lie To Me combo plays out so maybe they can give that a go at some point in the new year since it looks likely that Bones will be bumped at some point for a Thursday edition of Idol and they’ll have Lie To Me episodes to burn mid season.

And I know Fringe takes a lot of heat for being propped up by its lead-ins last year but I think Lie To Me’s performance this year proves rather bafflingly that the lead-in isn’t everything. And I say that’s baffling because I think just about everyone expected the House/Lie To Me pairing to take off.

Elsewhere usual Thursday nights really, although the CSI crossover helped boost CSI’ numbers this week we’ll see if that holds next week – my guess is no.

….There is a hole in your mind. Why are you here? Do you have anything worth living for?

A couple more lines from “The Wheel Of Fire” intro for the Eastwick crazies.

“The ratings carnage at NBC is so complete that unless a miracle happens this spring with their new shows (and their development slate) the network very well may have to have to hold its nose and keep some of its well below average performers. If that happens, 30 minute sitcoms like Community and Parks & Recreation are the likely candidates”

Right now there are three factors at play. (1) Nothing at NBC is working right now, (2) NBC can’t allow itself to become the network of Reality shows + Jay and (3) NBC has put a genuine effort into having a Thursday night comedy block (probably to remind people of its glory years more than anything)

Given all that I think all the Thursday night comedies are probably safe if they can stay about 2.0

It’s not like it’s a horrible show. if it was, I’d have stopped watching a few weeks ago, like I finally did with “Heroes.”

It blows my mind that no one at the networks takes there Thursday lineup and go against NCIS!! Then see what happens to the ratings. Metalist is a perfect example. No competition last year great ratings… competition this year ratings are just good.