And so it begins. The Nielsen ratings for Fringe 4.01 “Neither Here Nor There” are in. How did the episode perform?
Fringe scored 3.5 million viewers and 1.5 adults 18-49 — down 21% on last season’s Friday night premiere, but up 25% from the finale.
Not outstanding ratings, although Fringe out-performed new CBS drama A Gifted Man (9.3 million, 1.4) and helped the network to their highest-rated premiere week Friday for the network in six years.
Source: EW
Science Channel Confirms Fringe Hasn't Been Cancelled
Fringe Seasons 1-4 On Netflix
FRINGE Final Season & Complete Series DVD Release Date & First-Look
Almost Human - 4 Minute Featurette Teases Upcoming J.H. Wyman Series
Team Fringe's New Show: Almost Human - 4 Minute Trailer
{ 38 comments… read them below or add one }
How did Fringe outperform Gifted Man, if it had 9.3 million viewers compared to Fringe’s 3.5? Sounds like Fringe got the tar beaten out of it to me. Which is sad….people sure dont know what they’re missing.
Like:
0
Nick: It’s more about the demo — 1.5 vs 1.4.
Like:
0
I think this will be fringes last season. It will be hard to build up viewers. Possible, but hard. Sad to say but I no longer have hope.
Like:
0
Never give up. As long as you keep watching, and get other people to start watching, we’ll be okay.
Like:
0
Exactly .. as long as we keep this up and don’t go down, I think we’ll be okay.
Like:
0
keep watching
Like:
0
My only advice would be to watch it on DVR within the first 24 hours and don’t skip through the commercials. And watch it on Hulu once it becomes available.
Like:
0
Does anyone know if season 4 will be availlable on iTunes… and when??
Like:
0
Anyone??
Like:
0
If you just wanna quickly catch up on the episodes, check TVShack.bz. Otherwise, you can get DVD and HDTV quality episodes of it on ThePirateBay.
- 2 Bunny
Like:
0
I really hope the ratings go up, it is such a good show!
Like:
0
Friday is a tough night. I hope Fringe can hold on for a few more seasons.
Like:
0
I think this is even more disappointing due to the fact that a big part of the premiere was to bring in new viewers, this in conjunction with the fact that fox has clearly put effort into fringe’s promotion (past+present+future), I have a suspicion that this is because of the reset, but last nights show will probably have had big DVR
Like:
0
The generally always do. This is disappointing to say the least, and while it does no good to bemoan the shoulda, woulda, coulda’s, I still maintain that this is a show to be consumed earlier in the week. Tuesdays were perfect for Fringe. It’s a heady show that almost demands a re-watch or re-airing on a Friday night just to pick up the nuances. I truly hope the numbers pick up over the season, because it would be a shame if this ends up being the final season. It deserves at least one more to unfold properly.
Like:
0
Just a suggestion, and yes I’ve been feeling like an advertiser posting this all over the place… but in the articles about ratings for new shows (which people check to see if they’ll keep watching them or if they’re tanking and get cancelled) I’ve basically been posting this little Fringe ‘sales’ script:
a) do your new shows suck? Fringe doesn’t, ask around, its cool.
b) you can catch up with the lost-style retrospective episode here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-vLxOlbZ1I&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PLB326FB077698478D and then watch the premiere of S4 on fox.com.
c) it’ll only take you an hour and a half and then you’re ready for next Friday!
Very salesy, (oh the things I do for Fringe!) I know, but if anyone is watching shows tanking in ratings or just plain doesn’t like the new shows, then maybe we can strike when the iron is hot.
I’ve been replying to comments near the top, so that what I’m writing is more likely to stay near the top of the comments too.
Feel free to use my link above if you want, or just give the link to fox.com, I just still give mine because I titled my playlist “Fringe: catch up to S4 w/o watching the 1st 3 seasons” to try and be clear.
Like:
0
I just read comments below about fox not posting a new ep for 8 days. Crap, crap, crap. I just tweeted maskedscheduler about it, maybe he can do something.
Like:
0
Rating…. Don’t worry about them. I didn’t get to see it as it aired b/c of other issues, but I like many others DVR the sode and it was awesome. Just wait for the people who didn’t get to watch it last night see it. I’m sure they won’t want to miss the next one.
Like:
0
If they wanted to bring in more viewers, they should have less Fauxlivia and MORE NINA! I am so sick of Faux and her stupid smirks! With that said, I mostly enjoyed the episode and look fwd to rest of season.
Like:
0
Yeah, they should “listen” to the fans.
Nobody liked Altliv when she was a slut…now she is a slut again.
Fans liked the developed relationships walter/peter, peter/olivia, even walter/astrid or olivia/nina –> gone.
There was no Nina in the PREMIERE and very little Broyles and no Peter. You know, they are regulars since the beginning and nina was only in 30 of 66 episodes. ridiculous.
I fear ratings will drop because of that.
Like:
0
Yay?
Like:
0
Nay.
Really, a slut ?
Olivia and Bolivia each have their own distinctive personality.
Slut is not one of them.
Like:
0
I agree. Even though I didn’t like it, I don’t think sleeping with Peter made Faux a slut. She was trained to be a soldier and soldier do what they have to do. As for her being a slut now? I say a double no for that. What did she do “now” that was slutty?
Like:
0
Lol !
Just like The Queen Mum said, “Lie back and think of England.”
Olivia is more than ready to take one for the team !
Like:
0
Does anyone know when Fox will re-air the premiere? I had to work last night and missed it and Fox/Hulu will not release new episodes until 8 DAYS after they aired! But if I wait 8 days, then I’ll never catch up enough to watch the show live. Seems like Fox is really shooting themselves in the foot here–how are people supposed to catch up or re-watch before the next episode? GRRR.
Like:
0
I believe it re-airs tonight right after the news at nine.
Like:
0
Pierce, not out here on the West coast
Like:
0
Apparently, not at all. I just checked my tv guide and Hell’s Kitchen airs after the news. I don’t get it. You can’t re-watch the episode on-line until a week after it airs and a new episode airs. Now they’re no longer showing an encore episode…? Who comes up with these schedules?
Like:
0
I know! There are ZERO re-plays of the premiere scheduled for the upcoming week in my area (West Coast). And I can’t watch it on fox/hulu until next Saturday, so what are we supposed to do if we miss it or want to re-watch before 4.02? I guess I’m just going to have to be a week behind using hulu until they start re-airing current episodes on Saturdays or eliminating the 8 day period on hulu/fox.com. This does NOT seem to be ratings/advertiser/viewer friendly. Which really infuriates me, cause I love this show and so want it do well so that we can have another season.
Like:
0
Apparently Hulu and Fox are making it so you have to wait eight days to watch a Fringe episode online, which means if you miss one it’s not possible to catch up and watch it live the next week unless you have DVR. That’s not going to help the ratings.
Like:
0
I know! That’s what I thought! If I can’t catch up before the next episode, then I’m not going to skip one just to watch “live.” If they want to encourage people to watch “live” (read: big advertising dollars), then they shouldn’t make it so hard to catch-up/re-watch.
Like:
0
I’m going to keep faith. As long as ratings stay stable or even get better there’s hope! Fox had the best Friday ratings in six years! That’s got to count for something!! Let’s just keep watching and encouraging others to watch! Fox has got to see they have a sure bet for Fridays!
Like:
0
FOX doesn’t expect ratings that are through the roof for Fringe on Friday night (though I’m sure they wouldn’t complain if they got them). As long as Fringe brings in decent ratings, they’ll be pleased. These ratings weren’t outstanding, but they weren’t pitiful, either. All shows on Friday had pretty bad ratings that showed a drop from last season. All things considered, I think Fringe did all right, and it will be okay if the ratings stay like this.
Like:
0
We must also realize that most viewers are now dedicated. As long as the quality and integrity are maintained, it shouldn’t drop very much if at all. P.S. That is a lousy time-slot.
Like:
0
I wouldn’t fret too much about the short game here. It’s the long game here and the Network knows this. Roco Is right to make the distinct in the demo numbers. These numbers are key because advertisers market to the key demo of 18-34 year olds. If Fringe maintains consistent numbers here than Fox/Warner Bros. is making money from the show.
This is also the top demographic that is buying not only the advertisers merchandise, but the studios merchant. They buy the the DVDs, etc., and more importantly cross promote the show via various Internet and social media mediums ( Hello, Fringbloggers and Seriable!). This is the number that matters, because that is where the money is.
I am more interested in seeing where the story goes, and challenging the network to make a firm commitment to Season 5 in Feb/Mar.
What else is Fox going to put on Friday night that will get them fresh advertising dollars and strong demo numbers against other networks? Fringe is better TV on a smaller budget. Who is to say that some other shows (that I will not name, but they have a BIG CGI budget) that have yet to even premier can do any better long term like Fringe has done.
Like:
0
I’m not concerned with the ratings, especially since Fox has said they are just looking for numbers in line with last season, which this episode was. I’m really mad about the whole wait 8 days thing. It’s not the first time Fox as done that with a show (House) but it will serve the complete opposite effect of what Fox inttaends, which is making people watch live each week. Totally stupid.
Like:
0
Agreed! How does this encourage live viewing?
Like:
0
You know, 1.5 is not that bad considering it went up against the season premieres of csi ny and supernatural.
Like:
0
Our fandom is small, but hardcore.And also the BEST. That’t what really matteres.
But watch it people! It the best show on TV!
Like:
0