Remember those two agents that spent nine seasons dealing with strange and inexplicable events or the troubled teens whose lives in Orange County had audiences mesmerized for four wildly popular seasons? These are only two of Fox’s many successful shows, but because of a few cancelled programs that developed cult followings, people think the terms “Fox” and “early grave” are synonymous. In fact, the fall lineup demonstrates that Fox has kept some shows running well past any reasonable end point, just like any other network.
To see the channel’s current array of living hits and misses, one must look to Thursday night primetime. This slot usually houses the crown jewels of cable television (yes, Thursdays are why they invented TiVo), and Fox is no exception with “Bones” clocking in at 8 p.m. and “Fringe” right after 9.
With “Bones” in its sixth season, the show’s initial intrigue is beginning to dwindle. When the show first premiered, viewers were entranced by the show’s quirky non-couple — detective Seeley Booth and forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance “Bones” Brennan — and the potential for a romance developed over bloodstained corpses. By season two, the foundation of friendship was solidly in place, and we were all itching for them to go on a date, make out, something.
The couple finally shared their first (albeit forced) kiss in season three, but the lip lock seemed awkward. In season four, one started to wonder what Wendall the Intern looked like shirtless. And by season five, my thoughts during the show were punctuated grocery store lists or what I might have for tomorrow’s breakfast. “Bones” started out strong with its likeable cast, but five seasons of unresolved sexual tension is enough. By the time season six rolled around, any lingering hope for Booth and Brennan to be a couple was destroyed by my now firmly cemented idea of them as friends. By dragging out a two-season romance for six years, “Bones” squandered the spark that made it popular in the first place. Couldn’t they have just gotten together at the end of season three, solved a few crimes and ended the series with an adorable baby giggling at his mom’s dancing phalanges?
On the other end of Fox’s spectrum is “Fringe,” a sci-fi drama straight from the unfathomable depths of J.J. Abrams’ mind. With “Fringe’s” followers there are generally two groups. First, the fans who have improved their level of brain functioning simply by trying to wrap their heads around the abstract plot twists of each episode. Then, there are the skeptics — those who have seen clips, and cannot understand why anyone would invest an hour a week in a show where one of the characters is a guy who looks like he should be playing bingo with Great-Aunt Ethel.
Despite these factions, most would agree “Fringe” requires serious dedication. However, the mysteriously intertwined nature of the main characters’ pasts and their relationships make it an overall rewarding experience. Feelings develop between Peter and ice queen Olivia (Booth, Bones, feel free to take the hint), and the father-son relationship between Peter and Walter takes on a new dimension (literally) in the second season. So, if you think you can handle all that “Fringe” has to offer, pop a couple Advil and get comfy on the couch, because it’s going to be one hell of a Thursday night.
If anyone tries to tell you Fox is the worst network because it cancelled her favorite show, tell them about its Thursday lineup, where they aren’t afraid to let one show drag on past its prime and where mind-bending stories unravel; that is, unless your opponent’s favorite show is “Firefly,” in which case you should drop the issue immediately, as hardcore “Firefly” fans are likely to go River Tam on your ass if you insult their favorite space cowboys.