The Latest from "Ask Matt" and TV Guide

Apr 16, 2012 09:24 AM ET

by Matt Roush

Send questions and comments to askmatt@tvguidemagazine.com and follow me on Twitter!

Question: As a Fringe fan, I have participated in the Twitter campaigns on Friday night as I watch the show, but I can not help wondering if these type of campaigns really make any difference. Many viewers seem to DVR Fringe or wait until it comes out on Netflix, and no fan campaign is going to change these viewing habits enough for the nightly ratings to drastically change. So do you think these campaigns work when there is little increase in ratings? — Mandy


Matt Roush: The networks take many factors into account these days when deciding the fate of a cult "bubble" show like Fringe. Social media (and the attention paid by more traditional media) are playing a role as well, but to spare you from my generalizing, let me steer you toward the best story I've read on this topic in a while, by my colleague Michael Schneider. Bottom line from my POV: It can't hurt to let your passion be known to the network and/or to advertisers in whatever form — although sending tchotchkes seems to be out of vogue — but fan campaigns have limited effect if the show doesn't somehow pull its weight or otherwise make sense economically. Still, with Fringe more than most shows in its situation, I wouldn't lose hope.

Read Matt's entire post here.

Beyond The Fringe Comic #5: Chapter B

DC Comics has released the tenth comic in the "Beyond The Fringe" direct-to-digital series.

Beyond The Fringe #5: Chapter B was written by Cole Fowler, is available now for $0.99 via Comixology.com.

Here is the official description:

Imagine If... Walter Outlived The Earth

Imagine If...Fringe was in space! In an alternate future where the Earth has been destroyed, we find Walter, newly unfrozen from cryogenic sleep, leading a spaceship of surviving humans through the universe, searching for another planet to call home.

Order "Beyond The Fringe" here

Fringe Review: The Consultant

“No one can be certain exactly what they’re capable of.”

As I work my way though a complete Alias re-watch, and as I’m considering a Lost re-watch for this summer, I keep puzzling over the emphasis on parent/child relationships in JJ Abrams shows (even ones, like Fringe, that he’s not very involved in). One of the great strengths of Fringe—an area where it outshines Lost and even, a little bit, Alias—is its examination of parent/child conflicts from both sides of the relationship. The challenges and anguishes of parenthood are just as important as the pain and trauma the children experience.

Read more »

Fringe Observer in "The Consultant"

Observers make an appearance in every Fringe episode. In the Fringe episode "The Consultant", one can be spotted walking right behind David Jones before he meets with Colonel Broyles.

You can see all of the other hidden appearances of Observers here.

Closeup of the Observer after the break:

Read more »

Fringe 419 Preview: "Letters Of Transit"

Here is the preview from the end of "The Consultant" for the Fringe episode "Letters Of Transit", which airs on FRIDAY, April 20th at 9:00PM on FOX.

Screenshots from this preview can be viewed at FringeFiles.com.

Fringe Glyph Code in "The Consultant"

The Glyphs code in the Fringe episode "The Consultant" spelled out SIMON.

For more information on the Fringe Glyphs, check out Fringepedia's Glyph / Symbols page, which has all the previous glyphs and codes.

Fringe Episode 418: "The Consultant"

WALTER GOES TO THE ALTERNATE UNIVERSE

Walter travels to the Alternate Universe to assist in the investigation of a Fringe event with ties to both worlds. Meanwhile, David Robert Jones reveals his next target.

Happy Fringe Friday!

During tonight's episode, you can chat LIVE in the Fringe Chat Room, and help promote Fringe by tweeting about the episode using this week's hashmark #AcrossTheUniverse (Wait until 8pm, and don't use any other #hashtags!), plus please add the word Fringe (without a #) into your tweet, if possible.

Also, don't forget to check-in to Fringe at GetGlue to get this week's Fringe sticker.

After the episode airs, continue the discussion here in the comments, and get more Fringe information at the:

• Episode page on Fringepedia
• Transcript on Fringepedia
• Screenshot gallery at FringeFiles
• Promotional photos at FringeFiles

Check back here soon for Observer sightings, Glyph codes, and other Fringe Easter Eggs.

How do you rate the Fringe episode "The Consultant"?

Fringe Teaser: #April20thIsTheNineteenth - Part #3

Here is part 3 of the Fringe teaser series "April 20th Is The Nineteenth". April 20th is the air date of the Fringe episode "Letters of Transit", which is the 19th episode this season (#419).

Agents, what seems to be the matter?

No matter, we're just heading out of town.

I trust you have papers

There are hidden elements in this video, so "observe it closely"!

Head over to FringeFiles.com to see select screenshots of the video.

Click "Read More" to see some of the Easter eggs

Read more »

FRINGE: Now That Olivia Remembers Peter and Her Timeline, Is Walter Next? Josh Jackson Weighs In

FRINGE: Now That Olivia Remembers Peter and Her Timeline, Is Walter Next? Josh Jackson Weighs In
 April 12, 2012 by Marisa Roffman

 Most fans of FRINGE’s Peter and Olivia were thrilled when she finally remembered her life from our original timeline (and Peter got confirmation he had been home all along), but there has been one key thing that has been missing — Walter’s memories.

True, Walter and Peter had a lovely moment in “Nothing As It Seems,” but it’s still not the relationship we spent three seasons growing to love. So when I sat down with Josh Jackson (Peter) on the FRINGE set last week, I asked him whether his character would now be trying to get his father to remember his past now that Olivia has finally “returned” to the right state of mind.

Read Marisa's entire Give Me My Remote post here.

Fringe Observiews 4.17 Everything In Its Right Place

Welcome to the Observiews for Season 4 of Fringe. I call them Observiews because they are more visual observations than deep thinking reviews, if that makes sense.

Screen caps from this episode are taken from fringefiles.com. Dialog is from fringepedia.net/transcripts.

All observations are mine and therefore could be totally off the wall and/or wrong. I have not read or looked at any recaps or reviews. I could also have missed a few things, oh well…

This is a plaque I have in my Fringe case and it is what I thought of and looked at when Alt-Lincoln said (4.17 Everything In Its Right Place):
“Maybe it's free will. I don't buy that we're all just defined by our circumstances. Maybe I just made a choice to become the man I wanted to be.”

Read more »

Fringe Noble Intentions: "Everything In Its Right Place"

John Noble discusses discussing Gene and Walter's enthusiasm for experimentation in this latest episode of Noble Intentions, for the Fringe episode "Everything In Its Right Place".

Fringe Wins Zap2It's TV March Madness

The fans have spoken - the winner of the 2012 TV March Madness tournament is the no. 13-seeded "Fringe"!

Congratulations to the show, its stars and its fans who propelled it to victory.

Along the way, "Fringe" bested "Game of Thrones," "Sherlock," "Justified" and "Castle" in the On-Air Drama region, then toppled top-seeded "Community" and "Arrested Development" in the Final Four and the finals.

Head over to Zap2It for the full bracket, and to see how far other shows made it in the tourney.

Zap2It: 'Fringe' wins TV March Madness; Here's hoping it gets renewed