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.