"Fringe" Info
The (relatively) new mega-Sci-Fi site io9 has posted a report on J.J. Abrams newest project - "Fringe".
I am a flat out a J.J. Abrams fan. I think he hits (e.g. "Lost", "Alias", "Cloverfield", heck...even "Felicity"!) way more than he misses ("Six Degrees"). So, when this new, ten million dollar pilot was announced, I was instantly interested. Alex Graves, who most recently helmed "Journeyman", has been tabbed to direct the pilot, which also should be seen as a good sign.
The io9 article paints "Fringe" as a "...slightly tweaked X-Files clone". I have to disagree. Here is the plot summary from that site, which is the most detailed that I have found so far:
Fringe focuses on the brilliant-but-maybe-crazy scientist Walter Bishop (Noble), his estranged son... and the female agent who brings the two of them together. When the show starts, the elder Bishop is in an institution. Every week, the show focuses on another self-contained paranormal mystery, plus the relationships among the characters.
To me, this sounds more like "Supernatural" than "X-Files". The show focuses on the relationship between the family members more than the conspiracy or the paranormal events that drive the character interactions. Of course, it's too early to tell the eventual feel of the show, but everything points to a good chance of success.
I'll keep tabs on any news associated with "Fringe". If you want to do a little research for yourself, check out the Buzzfeed site. The y have links to articles that detail pretty much everything that we know about the show to date.
I'll agree Abrams is no Whedon (or Cuse or Lindelof or Minear or Goddard)...but his stuff does seem to get on my watch list.
You have given me a thought here though....Felicity, Forever Young, part of Alias...Abrams has a handle on the "hallmark romance" theme that is stereotypical of the female viewer (which is why I can always get my wife to watch his shows). Is that his real target audience?
-- Posted by: Fred at January 28, 2008 11:35 AM
LOST is good because Lindelof and Cuse made that show what it is and Vaughan and the other story editors saved it.
-- Posted by: brian at January 26, 2008 6:55 PMALIAS was good because Jennifer Garner carried the show.
CLOVERFIELD wasn't good. (But that was neither because of or in spite of Abrams.)
And FELICITY...really, man? I don't want to go there.
Abrams is a commodity name.
I love the way Abrams knows you can throw some tricks at the fanboy culture and they will anoint you the next coming if you keep them buzzing.
I mean, look at AICN...good god.
The people truly involved in his projects get nowhere near as much credit as they should.
Maybe that's his gift: He knows who to bring together to make his projects appeal to a very small but very vociferous audience.
Look at what he personally had a hand in creating, either writing or directing:
MI3? Crap.
Forever Young? (Writer)
Gone Fishin? (Writer)
Armageddon? (Writer)
Crap
Crap
Crap
The guy can't write his way out of a bad script.
But he knows how to hire people that can.
Oh...Cloverfield? Largest drop besides Star Trek Nemesis? Yes?
Very small but very dedicated group.
He's the Dane Cook of producers.