Fringe

CHICAGO – When so much of your already-limited primetime schedule is devoted to reality singing competitions and animated programming, it gives a network little room to play. FOX only has a few timeslots once one takes “The X Factor”/”American Idol” and “Animation Domination” out of the equation. But play they will.

CHICAGO – FOX just announced that they have renewed the low-rated but fan-loved “Fringe” for a fifth and final season to air in the 2012-13 season. That’s the good news. The bad news is that there will be only 13 episodes left in your favorite show, although writers will surely make them count, knowing that they can wrap up all of their plotlines with a series-ending arc.

CHICAGO – Brian Tallerico appears for a full hour on Bill Moller’s program to take listener calls and discuss television programs and new films including Game Change, Blue Bloods, Jesse Stone, Missing, Terra Nova, Fringe, Alcatraz, Drive, John Carter, A Thousand Words, Silent House, Once Upon a Time in Anatolia, and more!

CHICAGO – FOX continues to struggle to produce a new dramatic hit, announcing this week that the highly-promoted “Terra Nova” would not return for another season of dinosaur action. The cancellation combined with Monday night’s truly dismal ratings for “Alcatraz” has given some hope to “Fringe” fans. They can’t cancel everything, can they?

CHICAGO – There’s “potential” all over FOX’s highly-anticipated “Alcatraz,” debuting tonight, January 16th, 2012 with two back-to-back episodes. A great cast, strong production pedigree, interesting concept — so why are both of the first two episodes so forgettable? Why is this show more “meh” than amazing?

CHICAGO – FOX has confirmed what everyone expected; the animated series “Allen Gregory” starring the voice of Jonah Hill is officially cancelled. The news came today at the FOX Television Critics Association meeting and press tour event in Pasadena.

CHICAGO – There are very few programs as ambitious or refined as “Fringe.” Low ratings have proven that it’s not a show for everyone and I’ll admit to dipping in and out of it myself over the first two seasons, but I was struck by the confidence on display in season three, recently released on Blu-ray and DVD. In many ways, this program is redefining what it takes to stay on network television with low ratings but impressive numbers in other arenas. Check it out and see why.

CHICAGO – Brian Tallerico guests on Bill Moller’s show on WGN-AM 720 Radio in Chicago on July 16th, 2011 to take calls and discuss 2011 Emmy nominations and snubs with mentions of “Community,” “Fringe,” “The Walking Dead,” “Southland,” “Parks and Recreation,” and more.

CHICAGO – Before getting too deep into what the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences did wrong this year, they deserve a few moments of high praise. First-time Best Series nominations for “Boardwalk Empire,” “Game of Thrones,” “Friday Night Lights,” and “Parks and Recreation” — those were stellar choices to fill those slots.

CHICAGO – Horror writers and directors have been afraid of the dark since the start of the genre. Sadly, that fear of blackness has never translated to film as successfully as one would hope. There’s an inherent problem in watching a movie about darkness in that it can never make that fear fully real unless it goes to complete black screen. The latest entry in this flawed subgenre is Brad Anderson’s “Vanishing on 7th Street,” a minor work from a major director.