FOX Entertainment President Kevin Reilly has spoken about the future of Fringe at today’s TCA — while not drawn on cancelation/renewal talk, he outlined the reality of the situation for FOX.
Reilly concedes that while a decision is yet to be made on the future of Fringe, the show is losing money:
“Fringe has been a pride of point. I share the passion for the show that fans have. It’s an expensive show and we lose a lot of money with that rating on [Friday] night. We’re not in the business of losing money. We need to figure out if there’s a [deal to be done with Warner Bros. that will] make business sense.
To the fans, he says:
“Please do not start the letter-writing campaign right now. I just can’t take it. I’m not doing the soft-cancel here. I don’t want to drop the ball at the end and let the fans down. I hope we get some credit with the fans of seeing through a great show that they’ve enjoyed.”
Reilly adds that the show’s producers will have to construct the season finale before the renewal/cancelation decision. This essentially means that a ‘conclusive’ ending may only come if they bank on the show getting canceled.
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He’s certainly not as upbeat over the show’s future as he was at the same point last year, when he was setting fans the more tangible target of transferring the show’s Thursday ratings to Friday night.
It seems even more clear that the producers/writers are preparing for the end. I just don’t think they want to be in a position where the show gets yanked without a decent conclusion, so they may try to create a final arc that will end the series as satisfyingly as possible while also leaving themselves an escape hatch in case the show is renewed for Season 5.
UPDATED..
For his part, Fringe co-creator JJ. Abrams remains hopeful:
“For some sick reason I’m hopeful. There’s some stuff coming up this season that’s so great. Maybe it’s dumb optimism that the good work [of the Fringe showrunners] will be rewarded.”
Should the worst happen, perhaps the show could be resurrected elsewhere?:
“And if not on Fox, maybe somewhere else.”
While he didn’t expand on where Fringe could go, he believes FOX would do the decent thing and give the show a proper ending:
“I would think that if the show is going to end.. They’ve been so wonderful [and incredibly supportive] and really aware of the audience that they have — and in some cases don’t have. I’m sure that they would be courteous enough to do that, for sure.”
Additional: EW.com | IGN.com
Fringe returns Jan 13 on FOX with seven all-new episodes in a row.
PERSON OF INTEREST Renewed For Season 2
TERRA NOVA: Season 2 Decision Delayed Until 2012
ONCE UPON A TIME: The Comprehensive Character Guide
BREAKING BAD: Bryan Cranston Confirms Season 5 Will Premiere In July
FRINGE OBSERVATIONS: 4.22 Brave New World: Part 2
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ONCE UPON A TIME OBSERVATIONS: 1.22 A Land Without Magic
ONCE UPON A TIME OBSERVATIONS: 1.21 An Apple Red As Blood
FRINGE OBSERVATIONS: 4.21 Brave New World: Part 1
ONCE UPON A TIME OBSERVATIONS: 1.20 The Stranger
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Yeah this kinda sux! Although I can’t say I didn’t see it coming. So I just hope that P-yman saw it coming too. I could deal if they hit the series arc hard (go full observer mode please) with the rest of this season. I say let’s wrap it up guys and take this dog and pony show out like it should be done.
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Noooo! One more season (at least). Lost lasted 6. Fringe should at least make 5.
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or half a 5th season to have more time to wrap it up.
Reilly said discussions haven’t started, so don’t give up yet.
Watch live, tell everyone.
“In the end I have to believe in hope”.
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