http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/10/09/J.J.-Abrams-Has-a-New-Show-Heading-To-Fox.aspx LOST creator J.J. Abrams, along with cohorts Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, is bringing his new show FRINGE to the Fox network, with a two-hour pilot whose budget is reported to exceed $10 million! The show will explore the paranormal investigations of a brilliant (possibly crazy) research scientist, his estranged son and a female FBI agent who reunites the two. If it sounds like a rehash of  THE X-FILES, it is because Fox is betting that Abrams and co. will successfully tap a similar vein of fandom as the 90’s cult-hit. Even Abrams admits his goal with FRINGE was to emulate THE X-FILES, simultaneously infusing it with “a slight TWILIGHT ZONE vibe.” “So much of the story is relatable people in extraordinary situations," Abrams said. "The Show is definitely a nod to ‘Altered States’ and ‘Scanners’ and that whole Michael Crichton/Robin Cook world of medicine and science.” The show will offer mostly self-contained episodes of paranormal exploration, strung together by a few serial storylines between main characters. The tone is expected to be at once spooky and humorous: “It does the stuff my favorite TV shows and movies do, which is to combine genres that shouldn’t fit together,” Abrams said. “It’s definitely meant to scare the hell out of you, but it’s also meant to make you laugh…” However, expect FRINGE'S main character, eccentric researcher Walter Bishop, to be less Fox Mulder and more Dr. House, according to Orci: “He’s someone who has the mental ability to solve so many problems but is so different that communicating with them is almost impossible.” en-US Critics Rant info@criticsrant.com Subtext Version 1.9.4.0 http://www.criticsrant.com/images/default_gravatar_bullhorn.png http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/10/09/J.J.-Abrams-Has-a-New-Show-Heading-To-Fox.aspx 77 60