I recently read something that scared me: “Fringe is likely to be cancelled.” The show might not be cancelled at all, but it’s dipping dangerously low when it comes to viewership. What I had to realize is that it doesn’t matter how good a show is, no matter the quality or the talent or even critical opinion etc, if no one is watching, the show is going away. And it’s really too bad for an awesome show such as Fringe or past shows like Arrested Development and Undercovers. Yes, I’m still crying about those shows.
Sometimes you can tell from the premiere if a show is going to last. So many people wrote off The Cape after the pilot that by the second week you already knew it was doomed. I never did officially follow up on this show, so consider this it: it has been officially cancelled. Am I sad? No. Will I miss it? No. Did I even watch it? Barely. I continued to DVR the show, and would watch it with my parents… but the last few episodes it had been background noise. The last episode on TV I still haven’t watch and probably never will. (Ironically the same thing happened with Heroes.) There’s a final episode online that I also probably won’t watch. You know a show is in bad shape if they cut your 13 episode season to 10 episodes, then air the last one online.
The other show I follow… and I say “follow” instead of “fan” because I’m not devoted to it… is No Ordinary Family. I like the show. It’s fun to watch. But there’s just something about it that’s not keeping me hooked like appointment television. Like Lost was for me and several others, American Idol for everyone except me, and Fringe has always been for me, those are shows that must be watched when their aired or ASAP. I was devoted to NOF in the beginning, but… the thrill is gone. It became another show that sat in the DVR, collecting digital dust.
It’s not a good sign for a TV show just sitting in the DVR and you moan about watching it later. On the contrary, I actually have a few shows I’ve watched and saved to re-watch, or shows I just haven’t had time to watch yet but look forward to watching, and shows I like to build up so I have a few to watch like a marathon… like An Idiot Abroad.
I said all that to say that The Event is coming back on tonight. I really want this show to work. Around the end of the first half of the season, I was losing interest. But I heard word that they’ve done some retooling of the show and NBC seems to have some faith in it by promoting it almost every other commercial break. So with all the shows that are on the line (or the bubble) when it comes to May (or sooner), I’m pulling for Fringe and The Event to make it to the next season. A few of the shows are already dead or soon will be.
So if I were to make a plea… please watch Fringe. It’s awesome entertainment. It needs viewers. Check out The Event tonight. I don’t know if it’ll be better or worse, but I’m always looking for some high quality scripted entertainment… so we shall see.
Worst case scenario, if Fringe does get cancelled, I hope there’s a network out there willing to revive it. Please. Seriously, the show is really that good. It fills the void left open by Lost. Okay, I’m done now.
Monday used to be the night for HEROES… which had a downward spiral since season 2. We won’t talk about that though. I’ve been a fan of CBS’s HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER for the past couple years but I’ve never really been home to watch it at 8. (Lately, I’ve been at Cartoon Network for a cartoon called ADVENTURE TIME, REGULAR SHOW and MAD, all starting at 8.) Also at the same time is CHUCK, which I keep hearing is an awesome show, but I can’t personally cosign on it yet. However, NBC has a new show that it has been teasing since late spring called THE EVENT starting at 9. I’ll be watching that to figure out what it is and if it’s a suitable LOST replacement. Speaking of 
I’m excited about Tuesday because of a new show called NO ORDINARY FAMILY. Simple premise, an ordinary family gets superhuman powers. It reminds me of Fantastic Four (for more than one reason), HEROES and THE INCREDIBLES. It starts at 8 on ABC. I actually caught an advanced screening; this is a show I would follow. Unless there’s something on cable, I might take 30 minutes to work on my knitting until RUNNING WILDE comes on. I like Will Arnett and those who are fans of the cancelled-too-soon cult comedy ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT I hear won’t be disappointed. That’s on Fox at 9:30. At 10, I may watch the news or pull out my Crayolas and a coloring book.
I only had one important show to watch on Wednesdays: Emmy winning, hilarious hit comedy MODERN FAMILY. If you haven’t watched this show yet, please do so. Every episode in season one was a blast. That’s at 9 on ABC. I try to be home for this show. But let’s back up to 8pm because J.J. Abrams, one of the geniuses behind LOST, FRINGE, ALIAS, etc. is on NBC with a new show called UNDERCOVERS. I don’t care what it’s about, if Abrams is attached, I’m there. But rest assured you know I know what it’s about: married undercover agents. I was thinking of the movie MR. & MRS. SMITH, but this show might be better. Oh, and I ignored COURGAR TOWN for a while, but it’s not so bad. It’s on after Modern Family on ABC. I’m no longer desperately looking to change the channel.
However, Wednesdays at 10 have been reserved for USA network show PSYCH. They are going on hiatus until the winter, so I may check out THE WHOLE TRUTH. Apparently it’s a different kind of legal drama where you see both sides of the story, so we’ll see how that goes. Another new show at the same time is TERRIERS on FX. Just a warning, it’s more adult themed. I’d list shows like TRUE BLOOD and DEXTER but I don’t have HBO or Showtime. Sadness.
Fridays have generally been known as the death slot for TV shows. Like a curse. I hope that isn’t the case for my new favorite cop show THE GOOD GUYS, on Fox at 9. I generally don’t plan on being home at all on a Friday. But if I’m not as some exclusive party in Manhattan or Hollywood, then I’ll at least watch that show if not picking up a movie.
