Apparently, old dogs (or in this case, old networks) can learn new tricks. The old dog in question today is the Fox network which, it seems, has learned that it’s okay to a give struggling series that you scheduled in the Friday night ‘Death Slot” a chance to reach an audience and continue its story. That series, we are happy to say, is Fringe – which has been renewed for another season by the network.

But wait, there’s more. Not only has the struggling series been given another season, its also received a full-season order of 22 episodes. Awesome, right? Despite low ratings, which got lower after the show was moved from Thursday to Friday, Fox management was still interested in the show’s creative direction.

In addition, Fringe has also been a big hit for the DVR crowd. So, when that is taken into consideration, the series ranks as the top-rated series on Fridays. Whatever the reason, or combination of reasons, we’re glad Fox decided to give Fringe another year to build an audience. It’s a great show that deserves to be seen. If you haven’t checked it out yet, you should.

Fringe is a show we watch and enjoy around The Flickcast offices. We like it and hope it lasts for along time. Sadly, at least on the surface, Fox’s decision to move the show to Friday night seems like a bad one considering most people “in the know” refer to that as the “time slot of death.”

However, it seems that the creators of the show know full well what they’re in for an have decided to confront their potential time slot problems head on with a new promo that directly addresses the problem. Watching this video makes me even more glad to be a fan of this show. It’s just really clever and, as always, Walter is awesome.

Will the move to Friday end up being the death of Fringe? I sincerely hope not. Hey, it hasn’t hurt Smallville. Maybe by helping spread the word about this promo and how great the show is we can continue to watch Fringe for years to come? Let’s hope so.

Check out the promo after the jump and see what all the fuss is about. Fringe returns to Fox (On Friday nights) starting January 21st.

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If you love cool shows that feature a great sci-fi premise, compelling characters and terrific acting then Fringe just might be a show for you. Of course, we’re big fans of J.J. Abram’s answer to the X-Files around here and are waiting somewhat patiently for the new season to begin.

In the meantime, the Blu-ray and DVD for Fringe season two was released yesterday and to commemorate that we’ve got a treat for you in the form of a new scene from the second season never before released. The scene features Agents Dunham and Broyles discussing some pressing matters vital to discovering the mystery of season two. In short, its a pretty cool scene and one you won’t want to miss.

Plus, you won’t want to miss this great show’s season two debut on Blu-ray. It’s definitely one to watch. In addition to the deleted scene, the new Blu-ray features lots of extras like The Mythology of Fringe, Fringe: Analyzing the Scene Sidebars on 6 Key Episodes, In the Lab with John Noble and Prop Master Rob Smith, Commentary on 4 Episodes by Series Stars and Creative Team, Unusual Side Effects: Gag Reel and Dissected Files: Unaired Scenes.

Check out the scene after the jump. Fringe: The Complete Second Season, on Blu-ray and DVD, is in stores now.

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This week, things are getting a bit weird on Fringe, which is an understatement if you’re a regular viewer of the show. This week, things get turned around as we’re told a story of our favorite Fringe characters in the style of a classic crime noir–with a musical twist. From Fox:

While Walter (John Noble) deals with some very upsetting news, he tells Olivia’s niece, Ella, a fairy tale in which the entire gang gets caught up in a mysterious new adventure that includes musical performances by Olivia (Anna Torv) and Agent Broyles (Lance Reddick).

So in order to set itself apart from previous musical episodes of supernatural dramas, this one in particular will take place in a 1940′s noir film. A nice touch. Check out two different sneak previews of Thursday night’s episode, entitled “Brown Betty” after the jump, and be sure to catch the episode on Fox at 9/8C.

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As we previously reported, NBC has given new season order for 30 Rock, The Office and Community while, according to a recent interview with NBC network president Angela Bromstad, a fifth season of the beleaguered Heroes is still undetermined. In addition, the CW has ordered a 10th season for Smallville.

Now, Fox has officially renewed the J.J. Abrams sci-fi procedural Fringe for a third season. The show had perfoemed reasonably well but was not a ratings powerhouse. Still, it’s hard to believe it wouldn’t get renewed, especially given its J.J. Abrams connection and the fact that Lost is ending this season.

Two big reasons for Fox to keep it around for another year. Plus, any show with the great John Noble, the hot Anna Torv and the cool Leonard Nimoy should be on the air as long as it wants to be.

The fate of Jack Bauer and the CTU team of 24 is still up in the air due to falling ratings and the show’s considerable expense to produce. Fox president Kevin Reilly recently told The Live Feed:

“It’s a very tough call. It’s a huge part of our legacy, and there’s not a lot of shows that could do a 9 share against the Olympics. Tremendous sales asset for us still; a show we’re so very proud of creatively. So it’s not an easy call.”

Well, if our own Shannon Hood has anything to say about it, that call should be an easy one.

Sure, people complain about Fox for it’s repeated canceling of shows involving Joss Whedon and/or Terminators, but at least the network is now stepping up and offering a boost to the J.J. Abrams co-created show Fringe. The Futon Critic reports Fringe will return from it’s winter hiatus on January 7, but then that following Monday, Fox will air a new episode after a new episode of House.

The duo will be facing off with some heavy competition in the form of NBC’s Chuck and Heroes, ABC’s The Bachelor, and CBS comedies like How I Met Your Mother and The Big Bang Theory. Then in February, the Fringe will take a seven-week break to allow the mid-season drama Past Life, starring Kelli Giddish (All My Children) and Richard Schiff (West Wing) is about “an unlikely pair of past-life detectives who investigate whether what is happening to you today is the result of who you were before.”

Fringe will then return on April 1. According to TV Guide, as of the December 4 episode, “Snakehead”, Fringe had it’s highest ratings since the season premiere, with an audience of 6.9 million viewers. So, it’s good to see not only the show succeeding, but Fox putting their faith into it.

Fringe, much like some of the new hour-long dramas on FOX, has been picking up quite a bit of steam this season. Things have been heating up quite a bit with Agent Dunham and the mysterious Massive Dynamic, as well as some interesting developments between Walter and Peter.

We’ve got some brand new clips from tonight’s episode, “Earthling”, for you. In the first, Walter (John Noble,) takes on a puzzling investigation where victims inexplicably disintegrate into ash. He and Peter (Joshua Jackson) discuss the trials. In the second clip, Agent Dunham (Anna Torv) and Agent Broyles (Lance Reddick) discuss this week’s strange killer, and how it could be connected to the others.

Catch the two exclusive clips from tonight’s episode right after the jump. Be sure to catch “Earthling”, airing tonight from 9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT on FOX.

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Even though we’ve started a new feature here at The Flickcast highlighting our own Cortney Zamm’s favorite new or returning TV shows, I felt compelled to mention a show she didn’t include in yesterday’s edition. She picked some great ones for sure and shows that I intend to watch, I just feel this one also warrants attention. I’m talking, of course, about Fox’s Fringe which, if you’re not watching it, I have to ask you “Why not?”

Sure, on the surface, the show seems like a combination of X-Files and “name of cop show here” but its more than that. In addition to the compelling and intricate storyline, a great cast led by Anna Torv as FBI Special Agent/Blonde Brooding Problem Child Olivia Dunham and the amazing John Noble as Brilliant Scientist/Resident Whack Job Walter Bishop, well photographed visuals and lots of drama and tension, it also has something else going for it: humor.

Putting aside the show’s dark and often violent storyline, the show is often very funny — especially when Walter Bishop is in a scene. Noble is one of those actors that effortlessly inhabits a role and has become Walter Bishop week after week. He’s entertaining, smart and knows how to deliver a joke. Plus, he’s pretty much the smartest guy in the room and can really help solve all those inter-dimensional and alien hybrid issues that seem to keep popping up.

If you haven’t checked out Fringe yet, now’s your chance because it returns to Fox this Thursday at 9/8C. Until then, take a look at the Fringe season two promo after the jump to get you in the mood.

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J.J. Abrams’ Fringe is one of those television shows we really like here at The Flickcast. Watching the weekly adventures of that eclectic group of people (especially John Noble as Walter) as they try to solve the odd mystery of the week and figure out how it all ties together is a welcome diversion from the more mundane shows offered up by the various networks. Plus, the show is well written, has a great cast and is just plain fun.

And now, those of you who are also fans of the show can join in that fun because ABC has announced a brand new contest in conjunction with the show. Just head on over to this site: www.CompleteThePattern.com for your chance to enter. The grand prize winner will win a trip to Vancouver, BC and a visit to the set of the show to see how they make the magic happen.

The first prize winner will get a hi-def home entertainment system and five second prize winners will receive a copy of the Complete First Season of Fringe on DVD — which hits stores on September 8th. So Fringe fans, head on over to the site and enter for your chance to win. Sadly, as much as we like the show, we can’t enter or win. But if you win, can you take us with you to the set? That would be cool.