Fox Executive Responds to "Friday Night Re-Animation" Video ~ Fringe Television - Fan Site for the FOX TV Series Fringe

Fox Executive Responds to "Friday Night Re-Animation" Video

      Email Post       12/17/2010 02:08:00 AM      



Jeff Jensen of Entertainment Weekly has a very interesting article about Fringe's move to Friday, and the so called "Deathslot" video.
To further combat the perception that Fox has basically issued a “no confidence” vote in Fringe, the network did something unusual: It created a cheeky promo that tackles the fear-mongering head-on, spliced with darkly comic death-themed clips from the show and even spiked with quotes from a variety of Chicken Little bloggers.

Jeff talked to Dean Norris, Fox’s senior VP of marketing and special projects, about about the inspiration for the video:
The network began thinking about creating the provocative spot after making a Web splash with its movie-style trailer for “Entrada,” ... “We started getting feedback from the viewers that basically said, ‘How could Fox do something so cool for a show they’re going to kill?’ We started reading these things and said, ‘Wait! We have to address this!’” The mission was to produce a piece of communication that dealt with the situation in a self-deprecating fashion, yet also assuaged fan fears.
Of course, the BEST way to "assuage fan fears" would be to renew Fringe for a fourth season. Are you listening Mr. Norris?

Norris also revealed Fox's "interesting" new marketing strategy:
The promo is the beginning of a larger effort by Fox to shore up Fringe’s existing fanbase and hopefully grow the audience by targeting teen viewers who might be at home Friday night. (The show returns on Jan. 21) Fox will continue posting “pre-caps” (as opposed to “recaps”) at Fox.com featuring cast members and producers setting up each new episode. For viewers, they’re a more entertaining and personal approach to “Previously on…” rehashes. Additionally, Norris also says future on-air promos will emphasize Fringe’s horror elements, albeit not right away, as the first episodes on the new year are relatively light on Fringe-style gore.  “We are trying to rebrand Friday, and what we’re trying to do with this show specifically is make it kind of like forbidden fruit,” says Norris. “We want that teen demographic that might not be our audience right now to say, ‘That this is a show my parents might not want me to watch — but I’m going to watch it, anyway.’”

I love me some "Fringe Cringe", but I'm not sure that turning Fringe into Tales From the Crypt is the right way to go. What do you think of this approach?

You can read the full article at EW.com

13 Comments:

Ron E. said...

Fringe is at its best when it mixes a bizarre case with the strong personal interactions among the team. Tales from the Fringe would work fine for me.

fringeobsessed said...

Ari Margolis did a beautiful job on the promo, but all this is just a diversion from the real issue.

If the FOX executives really cared about Fringe they would stop messing around and move it to Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday.

SamuraiJack said...

I don't see it that way. Now that Syfy has thrown its Sci-fi fridays fans under the bus, Friday is a ripe night.. Certainly its a death knell for a lot of shows, but the Friday sci-fi audience has what now? Supernatural?

Dennis said...

I think there is a big misconception that no one watches TV on Friday. If you look at the ratings for last Friday, there are some solid performers. The top five Friday shows pull in more viewers each week than Fringe does on Thursdays (5.1M average this season).

7.9M CSI: NY
7.8M Blue Bloods
6.7M The Mentalist (repeat)
6.1M Dateline NBC
5.7M 20/20

It's reasonable to think that Fringe can keep pulling in similar numbers, which would be a huge improvement over what is there now (The Good Guys season finale only pulled in 2.3 million)

Fox has "Animation Domination" on Sundays, it's a shame that Fox doesn't have another Sci-Fi show to go with Fringe to make a "Sci-Fi Friday" work. Despite the scary title, Kitchen Nightmares does not seem like a good match.

I think the biggest problem Fringe faces right now is confidence. Are people going to switch nights watch a show they think is just going to be canceled? Fox need to put their money where their mouth is and RENEW FRINGE FOR A FOURTH SEASON.

fringeobsessed said...

I totally agree with your last paragraph, Dennis.

Anonymous said...

I do anything to keep Fringe going.

ANYTHING!

Matthew M said...

The one thing I want to know, actually two things, is the alternate universe still going to be featured every other week (hope so) and what happened on the 'over there' opening splash, "First People' is missing? I want to know how this plays into everything. I think they are responsible for the problems in alters and the the Observers work for them.

The M.A.S.S. Project said...

I'm afraid that they are going to target the show for teenagers as this article suggests.

Fringe is amazing and will continue to be. We will have a fourth season!

Anonymous said...

If I was trying to bait the coveted teen to watch Fringe on a Friday, I'd:
1. have more than one promo to flood the airwaves with.
2. slow the torrent of images in the promos down so they can actually be seen and remembered.
3. add a few more creature heavy scenes (tons to choose from).
4. have longer Olivia and Peter close-ups. FOX wants those hook those young hearts now.
5. add more Walter-isms. What teen wouldn't be drawn to the cool dope smokin' crazy old dude with the sweet tooth and the non-sequiturs?

Remember, It took The X-Files several seasons to find its niche. Fringe will find it's footing too and in another season or two, JJ Abrams will be in talks to make the first Fringe movie.

JJ said...

The writers are far too brilliant to allow it to turn into a "Tales from the Crypt" type show. I think the move to Friday is too risky due to the fact that ratings don't tell the whole story.

Anonymous said...

I think it's worth remembering that Friday night was where The X-Files got off the ground and had many of its finest episodes. I think it's a great slot for the "my parents don't want me watching this but I'm going to" demographic.

And I agree: more Walter-isms and Peter/Olivia close-ups in the promos would go a long way towards hooking the younger audience.

fakehater said...

Funny firefly jab with a "New Opening" for Fringe fridays
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yz5H_LX8sMY&feature=player_embedded

fakey said...

sorry FRINGE goes FIREFLY (Opening theme style)

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