Fri 25 Sep 2009
FRINGE Devastated By Competition (Or Abrams Must Be Mighty Pissed At Kevin & Pete)
Posted by Nick C under FOX, FRINGE, Nielsen Ratings
[13] Comments
5.85M viewers tuned in for the 2nd episode of Season 2 of FRINGE.
Compare that to last week where it was viewed by 7.98M people. In the demo it pulled a 2.3 compared to last week’s respectable 2.9. There was a time on major network TV that if something fell below a 2.5 it was toast. In today’s world that number is a 2.0 (if aired Mon-Thu). Why the sudden collapse for last season’s new hit?
That sick look on Anna Torv’s face? It’s their reaction to the ratings.
Thursday is tough. It also isn’t helping that it is going up against a genre show of the same nature in SUPERNATURAL which btw is not pulling any punches right now in terms of quality story telling. FRINGE is hurting but the good news is that premiere numbers are always high. It survived the premieres without dropping below the 2.0 number and it can only hope to not have more erosion next week.
When the new schedule was release JJ Abrams wasn’t quiet about his opinion. He thought it was a bad move for his show, but he understood why FOX was trying it. FOX wants a strong Thursday presence. BONES definitely gives them a decent opening hour. It doesn’t matter how things go, BONES is worth a 2.8-3.2 just about any time slot you put it in.
Right now it is looking like FOX is killing a once semi-popular show. The show isn’t as good as other genre shows (and I think mentioned before that it isn’t selling well on DVD compared to SUPERNATURAL) and as long as the mythology is slow moving I don’t see the ratings getting better.
Is it good enough for FOX? Would you be happy with a 2.3?
13 Responses to “ FRINGE Devastated By Competition (Or Abrams Must Be Mighty Pissed At Kevin & Pete) ”
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What exactly is the logic of throwing all these huge shows onto Thursdays? It just seems like the networks are wrapped up in their big numbers battle and who loses? Us. I’m just glad Supernatural is still holding its own, a rare example of quality prospering against the odds.
Damn. It’s a decent show but Thursday is so damn crowded right now.
FOX had to be expecting a drop in viewers and demos. The question is how much of a drop are they willing to take.
That sick look on Anna Torv’s face? It’s their reaction to the ratings.
Actually, I’m pretty sure that’s just the only expression she knows how to make.
Brad, Thursday is crowded because that’s the day the networks can make the most money with their hit shows. Fox was just trying to take advantage of that. Too bad they decided to use a show that just isn’t strong enough to hold up on its own.
Julia, Oh I know, just from a “wanna watch it all” standpoint. I hate having to stay up until midnight to watch all my shows yet still have to play catchup on Friday with Flash Forward and Supernatural
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Julia,
How many shows are ever strong enough in their 2nd season to hold up on their own?
Greys Anatomy started out with DH as its lead for a couple of seasons. CSI got help at its start thanks to Survivor. I’m not saying Fringe would or will ever get to the ratings level of those shows but I can’t think of many shows that are huge hits on their own right away.
Also, if Thursday is so important (I’m not doubting you, you know more about this than I do) why doesn’t FOX move House to Thursday at 9? I think House could put up a good fight with CSI.
Thanks,
Scott
Leave house on Mondays to steal away viewers from Heroes.
Scott, they need to weigh the pros and cons. House either tied or won (we’ll see in the finals) the week in the demo in scripted shows. Does Fox want to put their one scripted ratings giant in a place where it can compete but no longer be a giant? Or do they want to take a risk on a show that could maybe make them at least a decent fourth place, rather than a distant fourth? (I say this assuming they did not predict NBC collapsing quite this horribly.)
Crusoe would’ve probably stolen viewers from Heroes.
I don’t like it when people talk about moving House, whether it be to Thursday’s or into the 9PM slot and I don’t like it because from where I’m sitting Fox’s ‘House strategy’ is absolutely perfect. Sure they could move it to 9 and/or Thursday nights but ultimately they’d be sacrificing long term pay-off’s for short term benefits and they’d likely damage House in the process.
On the subject of Fringe, its hard to really judge it on the strength of this weeks numbers because it was the return of CSI and Grey’s, what it does next week will be important. If it holds at a 2.3 or drops again then Fox should and probably will be a little worried but I would imagine it’ll go back up at least a little next week as Grey’s and CSI both drop.
Just fyi, you misspelled devastated in your headline.
Thursdays are too damn crowded. Counter-programming, people. Better to have a successful show build an audience on another night than to get Thursday night bragging rights.
Qkccc8 I want to say – thank you for this!