Fringe, the FOX sci-fi show from Star Trek’s JJ Abrams, Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, has been renewed for a fourth season. Despite lower ratings and a move to Friday, Fox is still firmly behind the show, giving it a full season order. Plus Orci and Kurtzman’s other TV show had an extended Star Trek reference on it this week. All the details below
Fringe gets a fourth season + Nimoy talks finale
Thursday evening brought great news for fans of Fringe. Word of a fourth season renewal first came from producer Joel Wyman on Twitter. The news was confirmed by Entertainment Weekly, reporting that FOX had ordered a full season of 22 new episodes from JJ Abrams Bad Robot production company.
The 4th season news prompted a tweet from Damon Lindelof (the only Star Trek producer who is not involved in the show) congratulating his friends with: "In an alternate universe, FRINGE was just cancelled. In this one, however, SEASON FOUR, baby! #YAY" Later Roberto Orci sent out a thank you tweet to the fans, saying "Thank you, Fringe fans, for earning us a fourth season. You rock!"
Fringe fans have been getting nervous about the prospects of a fourth season ever since FOX moved the show to Friday (and sci-fi fans remember how that worked out for shows like Enterprise and Firefly). Last week the show (going up against NCAA basketball) hit a series low of just 1.3 in the 18-19 demo, but apparently that didn’t seem to phase FOX. One thing Fringe has going for it, is the show gets a big ratings bump when factoring in DVRs, jumping up to an average of 2.2 with adults 18-29.
Episode 18 ("Bloodline") of the third season of Fringe airs Friday night, which means there are just four more episodes to the season finale featuring Leonard Nimoy, reprising his role as William Bell. The finale, titled “The Way We Died”, airs May 6th. In an interview with the official Star Trek site, Nimoy says of his return:
I can’t say if William Bell will ever be back…I thought the character was finished, but they came up with a wonderful idea.
Nimoy in the Season 2 finale of "Fringe" – coming back for S3 finale
Here is a preview for Friday’s episode "Bloodline".
"Sisko" on H50
In other news related to Orci and Kurtzman’s TV empire, their CBS show Hawaii Five-0, had a Star Trek reference on this week’s episode “Na Me’e Laua Na”. The episode dealt with a murder of a sci-fi fan, sending McGarrett and Danno to sci-fi convention and an encounter with a "Commander Sisko" cosplayer. The episode was written by Roberto Orci’s brother J.R. Orci. You can watch the episode at CBS.com (Skip to the 10:00 minute mark to see "Commander Sisko"…and yes he was wearing a First Contact costume and had captains pips, and yes CBS.com only works in the USA).
Commander Sisko helps out McGarrett and Danno on Orci & Kurtzman’s Hawaii Five-0
So happy about Fringe’s renewal!
By the way, the episode titles and airdates for the rest of the season have been released:
4/15 Lysergic Acid Diethylamide
4/22 6:02 AM EST
4/29 The Last Sam Weiss
5/06 The Day We Died (season finale)
right you are, thanks
Wasn’t DS9 one of those things that hard core Trek fans augured about with those of us who love all Trek and keep saying it isn’t real Trek until Star Trek 09 came out?
Wish they would make a DS9 Mini-Series rather then leave Sisko in the Wormhole in actual Canon, Yes I know in the books he is out but it would be nice to see it on screen.
All i know is Star Trek 09 and Enterprise in my Opinon couldn’t have such dark Twists to them if DS9 didn’t exisit. Love seeing a refrance in H50!
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No problem, Anthony.
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Yes, a lot of fans were divided about “Deep Space Nine” simply because it took place on a space station, as well as the fact the show went in a different direction, covering war, religion, and politics in greater detail. Also, unlike “The Original Series” and “The Next Generation”, there wasn’t the “boldly going” concept as we were used to. DS9 boldly went in different areas, having different races come to the crew instead of the other way around. Finally, there was the grittiness, darkness, and overall grimness of war that both TNG and TOS, as well as “Voyager”, mostly avoided.
And its nice to see DS9 get some references. Up until now, for the most part, most pop culture references of Trek involved TOS, TNG, and even “Voyager”.
I love all of the series, but must admit that “Deep Space Nine” is my favorite, by a nose. I just think it was the best produced (first season excepted) of all the series.
that sisko actor reminded me of the one fan that showed up at the experience n cons in vegas- n he kinda sounded like laforge hah
oh yes a full season of Fringe renewed! YES! Now if only we can all help to get more people to watch and like it…they are missing one of the best shows on tv!
Yeah I saw that and I was dorky enough to notice that he said he was Commander Sisko and he had four pips on his collar.
It is sad when an overrated show like this gets season after season of renewals, while great shows like Jericho and Firefly were never really given a decent chance.
Interesting how far removed Hawaii Five-O can be from reality. Just this year, Creation had its first Star Trek convention in Honolulu in something like twelve years, as it is hard for them to make ends meet in Hawai`i–a far cry from the Comic Con-like convention depicted in the episode. That said, the Sisko reference was still a lot of fun.
YES YES YES YES YEEEEEEESSSSS!!! I am incredibly jubilant regarding the renewal of FRINGE. I must wholeheartedly concur with #9, Jim Nightshade in that we must do our part to ensure that Fringe gets a fifth season next year! We have the entire summer coming, and I say it’s time we all convinced our friends to catch up while they can! I convinced my girlfriend to watch it, and she absolutely loves it! I myself got into it through word of mouth from other trusted friends!
#3: Yes, DS9 was somewhat ill-advisably black-listed by many Trek fans who argued semantics about premise. It was unfortunate as DS9 boldly went where no Star Trek had gone before. The narrow-mindedness of certain Trek fans certainly hindered the popularity of DS9. Personally, I find it to be the best Star Trek series ever made. Sorry, purists. TOS is my very close second, if that makes it any better…
Great news to start the day! Congrats to boborci and the Fringe team!
I was worried myself about a Fourth season for Fringe. I have been playing catch up since I haven’t seen season 2 yet. I just started S2 box set this past weekend and loved the beginning so far.
Just by chance, I was at Barnes N Noble yesterday and they have a Fringe Graphic Novel. Going to go back and pick it up. Still gotta get the first one.
Okay, I’m going to lose my DS9 cred here, but wasn’t Sisko a Captain and wearing the FC uniform for the last season (or maybe a bit longer), thus just making the reference to him as “Commander” the inaccurate part?
Oh, and if you’re reading this boborci – tell your brother, “Thanks for showing us DS9 fans some love and that we’re not forgotten!” :)
Great news for Fringe! Now we just need a renewal of “V” and we’re all set!
Hoping they also renew Hawaii 5-0. Didn’t see the original, heard it was a bit dippy, but this new one is really good.
I prefer to think of it as a Deep Space Nine costume since they premiered it before First Contact did. ;-)
Good on Fox for renewing FRINGE.
Fringe is a great show. If you’re not watchng it give it a try. Great mix of drama sci fi and yes character development
Kudos to Fox for standing behind it.
And I never watch Hawaii 5-0 but I saw the episode with the DS9 reference.
I must be living in a alternate universe. Fox not cancelling a sci-fi show?? I was beginning to not believe in miracles.
It’s nice to see various CBS shows giving Trek some love. Big Bang Theory and now Hawaii 5 0, too bad Sh*t My Dad Says is finished for the year or maybe they would have sneaked something in especially with Mr. Shatner being on the show.
Mediocre ratings for an X-Files knockoff…Fox trying to make up for Terminator and Firefly premature cancellations.
Doesn’t look good for Human Target now…
Right on. More Fringe.
I’m really glad Fringe will be back. It’s the only “must watch / can’t miss” show for me.
Deep Space Nine: simply the best of all the series. Yes, even better than TOS. I love TOS, I really like Next Gen, I enjoy TAS, I get along with Enterprise… let’s not talk about the other one, but DS9 was where Ron Moore learned how to do BSG. DS9 had the best character development of any show on television. As an example trace how “Cardassian Bridge Officer” would later become “Damar” and finally a major player. Excellent show. Love it, love it, love it.
Great news about Fringe. Congrats Fringe team on the renewal!
#24 Second that Chris. I’m happy one of the shows I watch will be back.
Agree it doesn’t look good for Human Target or V.
Loved the DS9 reference on Hawaii 5-O
Good for Fringe. Now on to V being renewed. Love Hawaii five 0
Thrilled about Fringe! I kind of wished we’d seen The X-Files head off in this direction back in the aftermath of 9/11, where, rather than debunking Mulder’s investigations, the DHS had set up a task force that absorbs the X-Files, meaning Mulder would be butting heads with people more paranoid than him! Either way, Fringe is a firm favourite and a show I find utterly rewatchable! I’m a huge fan of the cast, the writing and the premise. Plus anything involving parallel universes is guaranteed to grab my attention!
As for DS9, even though I’m no fan of the Berman era, I’ll defend it on the grounds that it’s arguably the only true spin-off of Star Trek, ie taking an aspect of Star Trek and hiving it off to do its own thing, a la Frasier, Angel and so on.
In comparison, TNG, VOY and ENT were simply remakes of the original show’s premise with a different cast, made by people who, I feel, didn’t particularly get what the original show was about (and that includes Gene Roddenberry in the 1980s, sadly!)
As for cosplayers … yuck! There was a poll recently, IIRC, that showed most Trek fans think people who dress in Trek costumes and obsess about the shows to that level are weirdoes, yet, sadly, science fiction fans are routinely portrayed as these freaks!
yes
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank god. I was really hoping for a fourth season. This is really exciting news. Theirs not much good sci-fi on tv anymore, so its nice to see Fringe comeback.
now listen fringe team…. MAKE FRINGE CROSSOVER INTO THE X-FILES UNIVERSE !!!!!!
I really love Hawaii-five-0, the premise is amazing, the Wo Fat storyline is interesting, the actors are appealing and excellent. The storylines are great. It’s a wonderful updating of the original all-around.
But why does the background music have to be there even when the dialog doesn’t require it??? The two main characters might have a light moment together with a little ‘kirk/spock’ type ribbing and what do we hear? LOTS and LOTS of invasive background music.
I’m all for dramatic music, but in every scene? Frankly, that adds nothing where the audience should be hearing what the characters are saying without the support of the music. Sometimes the moment requires a focus on what’s being said without mood music.
Love the show, hate the continuous 24/7 background music.
Fringe is a great show, nice to know good sci fi can get still succeed in this day and age.
And I agree with Ryan, although my preference is TNG but DS9 is/was the all around best production of any of the series. Voyager, I thought was outstanding as well. with many, many great episodes.
“The Last Sam Weiss”? Ooooohhh… that episode is bound to be full of interesting reveals!
DS9 is my favorite series of all the post-TOS ST shows.
It’s funny how I can just pop in one of the dvds and it still seems as relevant as ever. The characters and relationships are also the warmest of any since TOS. Easily the pick of the litter.
Even seeing that bit on Hawaii 5-0 reminded me how good a series it was.
As for ‘no brothers’ on the Enterprise, what about Geordi LaForge? He was chief engineer.
19.
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“First Contact” premiered a few weeks before DS9 adopted the uniforms.
DS9 used those uniforms for two and a half seasons total til the end of the series.
I’m guessing J.R Orci wrote the cosplayer as “Commander” Sisko while wearing the FC/late DS9 uniform with captain’s pips just to “bait” us fans into nitpicking. :-)
Look, let’s get serious, here.
DS9 was, I believe, the most unfairly least appreciated Star Trek series ever produced. I say that advisedly: In other words, the fact that it is so little appreciated in comparison with, say TNG, is most unfair.
DS9 had all the elements of an epic saga, far outclassing its rival in my opinion (B5), with limited exceptions. DS9 was everything an avid Trek fan could want — great characters and stories, and an amazing series of plotlines that were coherent and fantastic at the same time.
I miss DS9.
DS9 also gave us a little history lesson in ” Far Beyond The Stars ”
It looked back at the very start of Sci-Fi as written in mags like ‘Amazing Stories’ ‘Fantastic Tales’ and so forth and so on
It was also a look back at what kind of world it was in those days, it showed us where we were at that time, and how far we had come, and how far we still have to go
it was possibly the best “Valentine” we ever got as Sci-Fi fans
Fringe! Yes! Hope we get more Lincoln Lee!
YEA for Fringe. Good show, yes, but still–wish tptb could have learned their lessons sooner. I’d rather have even more Enterprise or Firefly or Alien Nation. Only the good die young…or something like that. not really. but you know.
Awww, this is the only pop culture reference to DS9 I can think of besides Family Guy.
I’ll take what i can get!
Hooray for Fringe! One more season. That’s just great. Now let’s get Bell’s katra out of Olivia. It’s getting a little wild. Bring on Leonard Nimoy. Questions for next year.
1. Why did Bell operate on Walter?
2. Who are the Observers and what do they want? Oh, and no “Lost” garbage and leave the questions unanswered.
Anway, congratulations to Bob Orci, Alex Kurtzman and J.J. Abrams. Congratulations to Joel Wyman and all the talented people at the show. And thanks to Fox for having the guts to stick it out.
I’m happy about about the DS9 Reference. Its a deeply under-rated show. My favorite Star Trek Series by a LONG shot.
Maybe my 2 most favorite Sci-Fi shows of all-time are:
-DS9 and BSG(ron moore’s version)
Hey. Ds9 also gave us the Tos Crossover in Trials and Tribulations with the U.S.S Defiant going back in time to Space Station K7 and the Big E with Kirk and Spock and of course Tribbles. Now that was a Valentimes for all of us hard core Trek Fans. I love how they had Capt Sisko getting Capt Kirk to sign the Duty Roster. Now that is a Classic moment.
Sorry. I meant Valentines. Loved that Ep. We got to see the Big E again along with the orignal uniforms and got to hear all of the orignal sounds and everything that made Tos what it was. Loved seeing Worf fighting Tos era Klingons. Seeing Chief Obrain outright Lie to Capt Kirk and seeing Dr. Bashier Squirm under the scrutiny of Capt Kirk. That Ep to me was a Tos Ep number 81
By the way, last week at my local mall, I passed by a LEGO fair. Someone had built foot-and-a-half long models of the Jem’ Hadar Attack Ship and the DS9 Defiant out of LEGO. They were awesome. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a camera and couldn’t take any pictures.
Why couldn’t they make it the real Ben Sisko? OOoooooooohhHH!
48.
They probably didn’t get Avery Brooks to play himself because in real life Brooks is a little out there. He might have adlibbed about there being 28 dimensions with aliens hiding in the 7th one, and how they’re controlling us with magic crystals. Great on a reality show, not on H50!
re: FRINGE …
Well crack my knuckles and jump for joy!