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For Fox's 'Fringe,'
a booster shot


A special 'lost' episode will air behind 'House'

Jan 9, 2010
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Let's be honest: This week will be all about Fox. From last night's 20th anniversary special for "The Simpsons" to tomorrow's season premiere of "American Idol," this is Fox's week in the spotlight, and it will catapult itself way ahead in the ratings even if "Idol" loses half of last year's audience, which seems unlikely.

But one Fox program that could use a bit more attention is "Fringe," the struggling second-year show that performed well in year one but has seen its ratings plunge since moving to Thursdays last fall.

Tonight Fox is giving "Fringe" a booster shot of sorts, airing a so-called lost episode from season one at 9 p.m., in the slot behind hit show "House."

"Fringe" aired behind "House" early last season and later moved behind "American Idol," and it pulled strong ratings, averaging a 3.5 adults 18-49 rating. This year it's averaging a 2.2, off 37 percent, on a much tougher night, though it does gain another 0.8 rating points from seven-day DVR playback.

It's no wonder, then, that Fox is giving "Fringe" the one-time slot behind "House" this week. The episode is one that did not air last season, about a supposedly dead teenage girl who awakens when doctors are harvesting her organs.

"Fringe" should hit a season high tonight behind "House," which is averaging a 5.4 rating this year and is coming back from a holiday hiatus. But whether those viewers will tune in again on Thursday seems doubtful; "Grey's Anatomy," "The Office" and "CSI" will be originals this week, and that's mighty tough competition.


A look at this week’s top TV draws

MONDAY, JANUARY 11

Time

Network

Program

Description

8 p.m.

ABC

“The Bachelor” (R)

The bachelorettes move into the mansion.

8 p.m.

Fox

“House” (D)

House and Wilson try to get the attention of a new neighbor.

8 p.m.

NBC

“Chuck” (D)

Now in its regular Monday 8 p.m. timeslot.

9 p.m.

ESPN

“College Basketball” (S)

In-state rivalry game between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.

9:30 p.m.

CBS

“The Big Bang Theory” (C)

Leonard finds out that Penny believes in psychics.

10 p.m.

TNT

“Men of a Certain Age” (D)

Joe has his first date in 20 years, and it’s an eventful one.

10 p.m.

CBS

“CSI: Miami” (D)

A singer catches on fire during a concert and dies.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 12

Time

Network

Program

Description

7 p.m.

ESPN

“College Basketball” (S)

A strong Purdue team hosts Ohio State.

8 p.m.

CBS

“NCIS” (D)

Robert Wagner guests as Tony’s father.

8 p.m.

NBC

“Biggest Loser: Couples” (R)

The contestants compete in a balance challenge over a pool of water.

8 p.m.

Fox

“American Idol” (R)

Season premiere. The first round of auditions takes place in Boston.

9 p.m.

CBS

“NCIS: Los Angeles” (D)

Callen goes undercover to look into a murder.

10 p.m.

MTV

“Teen Mom” (R)

Amber puts her baby in daycare, and Maci has ongoing problems with her boyfriend.

10 p.m.

Oxygen

“Bad Girls Club” (R)

Kate and Natalie get into it after Kate’s boyfriend visits.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13

Time

Network

Program

Description

7 a.m.

ABC

“Good Morning America’” (N)

“Project Runway’s” Nina Garcia, Tim Gunn and Michael Kors guest.

8 p.m.

Fox

“American Idol” (R)

More auditions in the second half of the season premiere.

9 p.m.

CBS

“Criminal Minds” (D)

The crew looks for someone who abducts certain types of women.

9 p.m.

NBC

“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (D)

A rich couple is murdered and their daughter becomes the suspect.

10 p.m.

FX

“Nip/Tuck” (D)

Christian won’t operate on a model who may want to go too far.

10 p.m.

MTV

“The Real World” (R)

Ty begins having stronger feelings for Emily until she drops the “I’m not looking for anything serious” bomb.

10 p.m.

CBS

“CSI: NY” (D)

The CSIs find planted evidence while investigating a stabbing.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14

Time

Network

Program

Description

8 p.m.

Fox

“Bones” (D)

The duo heads to New Mexico to examine the death of a UFO believer.

9 p.m.

ABC

“Grey’s Anatomy” (D)

Addison shows up to help Mark with an operation on his daughter.

9 p.m.

CBS

“CSI” (D)

Ray continues to look into the Dr. Jekyll murders.

9 p.m.

NBC

“30 Rock” (C)

Jack leaves a drunk voice message on New Year’s Eve.

10 p.m.

ABC

“Private Practice” (D)

Mark and his daughter head to L.A. in the second half of the crossover.

10 p.m.

Lifetime

“Project Runway” (R)

Season premiere. It’s back to New York for the new round of designers.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 15

Time

Network

Program

Description

8 p.m.

CBS

“Ghost Whisperer” (D)

Melinda tries to save a family by discovering a secret.

8 p.m.

NBC

“Law & Order” (D)

Revelations of a talk show host’s scandals follow the killing of a journalist.

8 p.m.

Disney Channel

“The Wizards of Waverly Place” (C)

Alex puts a spell on her new English boyfriend.

9 p.m.

Fox

“Dollhouse” (D)

Echo and the crew go to Arizona to take down Rossum Corp.

10 p.m.

CBS

“Numb3rs” (D)

A shipment of weapons goes missing.

10 p.m.

NBC

“The Jay Leno Show” (T)

Actress Julianne Moore guests.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 16

Time

Network

Program

Description

4:30 p.m.

FOX

“NFL Football” (S)

The NFC’s No. 1 seed, New Orleans, opens up its playoff run.

8 p.m.

CBS

“NFL Football” (S)

Now the AFC’s top team, Indianapolis, takes the field.

8:30 p.m.

Fox

“Cops” (R)

Cops in Oklahoma take in two guys for drug possession.

9 p.m.

Syfy

“House of Bones” (M)

Syfy movie about TV investigators who visit a haunted house in New Orleans.

10 p.m.

BBC America

“The Graham Norton Show” (T)

Actor Michael Sheen from “New Moon” guests.

11:30 p.m.

NBC

“Saturday Night Live” (C)

Sigourney Weaver is the host and the Ting Tings perform.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 17

Time

Network

Program

Description

1 p.m.

Fox

“NFL Football” (S)

Brett Favre and the Vikings face off against Dallas.

4:30 p.m.

CBS

“NFL Football” (S)

The trendy AFC pick, San Diego, opens up the playoffs.

6 p.m.

E!

“Live from the Red Carpet: 2010 Golden Globe Awards” (A)

Ryan Seacrest and Giuliana Rancic interview the stars as they arrive at the ceremony.

8 p.m.

Fox

“Human Target” (D)

Series premiere. An agent saves clients by integrating himself into their lives.

8 p.m.

NBC

“Golden Globe Awards” (A)

Ricky Gervais hosts the 67th annual event. Which star will drink the most?

9 p.m.

Fox

“24” (D)

Season premiere. This season’s in New York, with a Middle East leader visiting the U.S. on a peacekeeping mission.

A = awards show or special, C = comedy, D = drama, DD = daytime drama, G = game show, K = kids, M = movie, N = news/documentary, R = reality, S = sports, T = talk/variety show.


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Louisa Ada Seltzer is a staff writer for Media Life.




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