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[07/26/08 - 04:45 PM]
Live at the San Diego Comic-Con: "Fringe"
By Brian Ford Sullivan (TFC)

Please note: As a courtesy, please do not reproduce these comments to newsgroups, forums or other online places. Links only please.

Fringe Q&A and Trailer Screening

The panel's description: "J. J. Abrams (Lost), Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman�the team behind Mission: Impossible 3, Alias, and the upcoming Star Trek feature�join fellow Fringe executive producers Bryan Burk (Cloverfield) and Jeff Pinkner (Lost), as well as stars Anna Torv (The Pacific), Josh Jackson (Shutter), and John Noble (The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King), for an exclusive Q&A about one of the most anticipated new television series of the fall season, a drama that will thrill, terrify and explore the blurring line between science fiction and reality. The session will kick off with the screening of a trailer for the series. Television Week deputy editor and columnist Joe Adalian moderates. From Bad Robot Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, Fringe premieres September 9 and airs Tuesdays at 9:00 PM on FOX."

4:48 PM: Hey it's the trailer for "Fringe."

4:52 PM: Our host Joe Adalian introduces JJ Abrams, Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, Bryan Burk, Jeff Pinkner, Anna Torv, Joshua Jackson and John Noble!

4:56 PM: JJ admits their are no pre-set rules to their show, a la "Smallville's" no tights, no flights.

4:58 PM: He adds that Massive Dyanmics is modeled after the idea that certain corporations like GE seems to own/make everything.

4:59 PM: "The role was originally called Pacey," JJ jokes about Joshua's casting. Joshua adds that it was the script to the show that brought him out of TV retirement.

5:01 PM: "We were looking for people who could bring different things to the show," Pinkner says about the show's writing staff, which includes Darrin Morgan.

5:03 PM: JJ notes the show will try to mix standalones and mythology episodes but not get too caught up in the latter that the casual viewer can't pick it up.

5:04 PM: Bob (Roberto) is the resident conspiracy theorist.

5:06 PM: JJ again confirms that they didn't purposely leak the pilot online. He adds it wasn't a finished product - scenes were missing, music hasn't been locked, effects weren't finished, etc. Bob says he doesn't believe him/

5:07 PM: Starting to run low on battery power - let's hope we can go another 20 minutes.

5:08 PM: Joshua and Anna both admit both of their characters are still in flux and are learning more about them with each passing week.

5:09 PM: John says his character's journey involves re-learning all the things he's forgotten since being institutionalized. And no he doesn't miss the beard.

5:11 PM: Joe can't resist - are Pacey and Joey still together in his mind? Joshua says he doesn't think about it too much.

5:12 PM: Burky notes that a comic book is in the works that hopefully will be organic with the show.

5:13 PM: JJ says they have a lot of ancillary material out there but it seems silly to give out clues how to find them when that's sort of the point.

5:14 PM: JJ adds that they'll be dropping clues about the next episode in the episode that airs before it. Also in between the acts there will be glyphs that run which have some sort of connection to be revealed later.

5:16 PM: A fan asks if there are clues in JJ's other projects (Lost, Cloverfield, etc.) that talk about "Fringe" and vice versa. Essentially there are little easter eggs but nothing serious. He adds that he hopes Lance Riddick will still be available for "Lost" despite his commitment to "Fringe."

5:19 PM: Someone asks how involved JJ will be with "Fringe" since he has a track record of moving on so to speak (a la "Lost"). JJ notes that part of the draw to do "Star Trek" was to worth hands on with Damon Lindelof again.

5:21 PM: JJ adds that it's too early to talk about an end date for "Fringe" but they do have an internal sense of what it would be since it gives them something to move towards.

5:23 PM: A fan asks if the "No Humans Allowed" campaign see around the Con has anything to do with "Fringe." JJ says he has no idea what that is but (jokingly) Bob might.

5:24 PM: "Their names shouldn't be any smaller than mine," JJ says about his collaboration with Bob and Alex.

5:25 PM: JJ says editing "Trek" and launching "Fringe" at the same time is the hardest thing he's ever had to do, even topping when "Lost" and "Alias" were on the air together.

5:26 PM: Joshua on what he learned on "Dawson's Creek" that he carries with him to "Fringe": "Always bring a dictionary with you on set."

5:27 PM: Pinkner says online feedback is essential to give them a window to what people are thinking outside their bubble.

5:28 PM: More badass villain: Borg or Khan? JJ says Khan. Random note: JJ says "Supernatural" is one of Joshua's favorite shows and he finds it a good show as well.

5:30 PM: Burky notes they'll be diving into the mythology of the show sooner rather than later.

5:31 PM: Someone asks if George Takai can be in JJ's "Star Trek." His reaction: "Oh my." Adding that they had a great meeting with him.

5:32 PM: On if - spoiler alert - we'll see Mark Valley's character again. "He will be back in some form for sure," JJ admits.

5:33 PM: When will we meet William Bell? In short, they want to build the mystique about that character before actually having him turn up. But it will happen for sure.

5:34 PM: Laptop power is at critical. This may be the last posting of the day. If so, thanks for reading today's coverage. See you tomorrow!

5:35 PM: JJ says unfortunately Grunny wasn't in "Fringe" and the scheduling couldn't work out to get him in "Trek."

5:37 PM: JJ reveals they're playing around with ideas for a "Cloverfield" sequel but it won't be a direct continuation, it will be something different.

5:38 PM: "If you like giant robots, you're going to love Transformers 2," Bob says when asked.

5:39 PM: Burky on why no trailer for "Trek" yet: the special effects are still being worked on.

5:41 PM: "You care about the story and the people," JJ on why he knows "Trek" is working.


Anna Torv, Josh Jackson, John Noble


Anna Torv, Josh Jackson


JJ Abrams, Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman





  [july 2008]  
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· FRINGE (FOX)
· SAN DIEGO COMIC CON (TFC)





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