Smallscreen News

Two worthy shows deserving of bigger ratings: Lights Out and Fringe

By April MacIntyre Feb 20, 2011, 3:26 GMT

Diane Kruger and Joshua Jackson - New York City, NY, USA © Janet Mayer / PR Photos

Two terrific TV shows are in ratings limbo.

One is a pugilistic drama that is a steady climb of anticipatory heart and soul action, and the other is a twisty sci-fi tinged network drama that has brilliant guest casting.

FOX's "Fringe" and FX's "Lights Out" are the two scripted shows that M&C loves. Both are as different as can be, but equally well-acted, crafted and original in their premise for the smallscreen.

The star of "Fringe," Joshua Jackson, talked to James Hibberd at EW and is being proactive to make some noise with his fan base to help drum up some Nielsens' numbers for the tally man.

“I’m a positive person in general, but we really need our Fringe fans to tune in and watch us on Fridays,” Jackson tells EW. “We did good when we first moved, but last week we did not have a good week, ratings wise. It is going to take the people that like the show to watch the show and start the campaign and show their support if they want to see us stick around for another season.”

The trouble with DVRing television shows is that they are never properly counted in the figures that matter for greenlighting another season, it seems.

On "Lights Out," episode seven is coming this Tuesday, and Holt McCallany's character "Lights" Leary is ramping up his comeback with a welcome back fight with Morales, a just-released felon who wields a Machete at the press conference. This dirty fighter spurs a truce with an unlikely advisor for Lights - Death Row Reynolds - the now heavyweight champion who defeated Lights five years earlier. Death Row is itching to rematch with Lights, laying to bed all the "Lights was robbed" chatter once and for all.

Weekly, M&C has been talking to Holt McCallany (Patrick "Lights" Leary), and another exclusive bit of behind-the-scenes chat on this key episode from him will post shortly.

Two quality TV series, night and day in their story lines, and each equally deserving of much larger audiences to take them in and give them their precious time.

Lights Out airs Tuesdays at 10 E/P on FX

Fringe airs Fridays at 9/8c on FOX