Programming Note: Fringe Airs on Science Channel Starting Tonight 

First the Firefly goodness, now this. Science Channel is giving fans of smart, well-acted and critically-acclaimed programming another chance to see Fringe from the beginning. Or from a different perspective, they are giving curious sci-fi lovers the opportunity to finally get on board with the show just in time for the series to end in Jan. 2013 on FOX. We’re cool with whatever reason gets viewers to use their remote to tune into what is an amazing drama that needs to be experienced.

Fringe, in a perfect universe (alternate or otherwise), should have had huge ratings and a lab full of Emmys. But we’ll settle for it being a cult hit that has achieved much greatness for five glorious seasons. Starting tonight, Fringe returns to its very beginning.

• Science Channel is airing all five seasons of Fringe in 2012 and 2013, starting with the network premiere of the two-hour pilot and first episode on Tuesday, November 20, 2012, from 8-11 PM (ET/PT).

• To celebrate the premiere, Science Channel is continuing season one of Fringe with daylong marathons on Friday, November 23 from 10:30 AM – 11 PM (ET/PT) and Saturday, November 24 from 11:30 AM – 11 PM (ET/PT).

• Following the marathon, Fringe will air regularly every Tuesday night from 8-11 PM (ET/PT) beginning on Tuesday, November 27 with season two.

• Science Channel will also debut a short-form companion series called Science of Fringe, in which leading experts examine phemonena such as time travel, dream sharing and parallel universes.

“Viewers tuning into Fringe on Science Channel will see one of television’s smartest and most addictive series in a more thought-provoking format than ever before,” said Debbie Adler Myers, General Manager and Executive Vice President of Science Channel. “Audiences will find all of the action and riveting drama associated with this pop culture sensation, along with a deeper dive into the mind-blowing science that provides the foundation for the series.”

Fringe explores the ever-blurring line between scientific concepts and reality, where hybrid beings tear through sewers, thieves walk through walls and portals open to parallel universes. Unable to police a world in which science has advanced beyond our wildest dreams–and nightmares–Olivia Dunham (series star Anna Torv) seeks help from Dr. Walter Bishop (John Noble) and his jack-of-all-trades son, Peter Bishop (Joshua Jackson). Under the direction of Special Agent Phillip Broyles (Lance Reddick) and assisted by Agents Astrid Farnsworth (Jasika Nicole), Charlie Francis (Kirk Acevedo) and Lincoln Lee (Seth Gabel), the Fringe Team investigates unusual incidents that defy human logic and unimaginable events that threaten our very existence on a universal scale.

If any potential newbies need more reasons to watch:

• John Noble (along with the writers) has created what is one of the most unique characters on all of TV. Walter Bishop’s eccentricities are legendary, humorous and heartbreaking all at the same time.
• Each season has a very different vibe and that helps keep this show fresh.
• The character-driven aspects of the show are wonderful to watch. The actors have to use their full battery of skills in order to play these complex and layered individuals.
• Watching the science of it all, as the team investigates these various fringe events, is just plain fun — sometimes gross and scary — but fun.
• At the heart of this story, there’s a couple to root for.
• We’re about to head into winter hiatus. There’s plenty of time to not only DVR these Tuesday night back-to-back-to-back episodes (along with the S1 marathons over Thanksgiving break) but to watch all of them too.
• In the more immediate future, there’s not a new Fringe episode on FOX for three weeks. Seems like Science Channel has timed things out perfectly.

A mini-marathon of the first season of Fringe debuts tonight on Science Channel at 8/7c.