Fringe at the Paley Center: A Panel of the Show's Actors and Producers Discuss Human Drama Through Science Fiction

Fringe at the Paley Center: A Panel of the Show's Actors and Producers Discuss Human Drama Through Science Fiction

By Dianne Garcia Fri., May 20 2011 at 4:39 PM

Dianne Garcia

John Noble, Anna Torv, Akiva Goldsman and J.H. Wyman

I admit that I only began to watch Fringe the day I attended An Evening with Fringe at the Paley Center in Beverly Hills last night, and this panel was definitely geared towards fans of Fox's sci-fi show, with words such as "Fauxlivia", "parallel universe" and "dopplegangers" thrown around casually.

But I'm not new to the sci-fi genre and it's easy to quickly pick up on Fringe's themes and its universe. It's also easy to become emotionally invested -- after five episodes, I was already about to burst into tears after tragedy hits one of the main characters (no spoilers!).

During the panel, which followed a screening of the "Entrada" episode from season three, the love and mutual respect between the fans and the people who work on the show were obvious. Even Anna Torv, who plays Olivia Dunham, explained that when a fan comes up to her, the questions are about the show, not her. "The show is the star," she said.

Dianne Garcia

J.H. Wyman, Akiva Goldsman, Jeff Pinker

John Noble, who plays Dr. Walter Bishop, charmed and joked his way through the evening, quipping that fans always call him out by his character's name -- "Walter! Walter!" -- before they proceed to ask him questions such as, in his words, "What pastry do I like best?" Akiva Goldsman, a director and consulting producer on the show, told us that his own pharmacist "would write Fringe on the back [of my receipts] with a ballpoint pen so it cuts through the paper...every week! I love him!"

Though the panelists evaded many questions to not spoil the upcoming fourth season, the interaction throughout the night was lighthearted. At one point, the moderator, KROQ and Hollywood Babble-On's Ralph Garman, briefly brought up the topic of the mysterious man from season three that Torv's character, Olivia, had said might be the man who will cause her death. Even Torv herself sat up straight in her chair and asked executive producer J.H. Wyman, "Are we going to see him again?" The answer was a simple yes without any further elaboration. An audience member shouted out if the man was a "good guy or a bad guy" to which Wyman playfully answered, while gesturing at Torv, "Well, he's going to kill her..."

Part of the show takes place within an alternate universe, so Noble and Torv get to play their characters from two completely different realities. Noble, with a sly smile, described the process to be like the difference between "Saturday night and Sunday morning." He added, "It's such a gift to be able to do that to take the same characters and take them to different places...and show them in different stages and different developments...I don't find it difficult at all, I love it."

"It's also trying to find that subtle difference," Torv explained. "Olivia very much wants to be the best and Fauxlivia [her doppelganger in the alternate universe] wants to win...and you can kind of see that you get to the same place that way."

Dianne Garcia

John Noble, Anna Torv, Akiva Goldsman, J.H. Wyman, Jeff Pinker and Ralph Garman

Garman asked if the writers really knew where the story was going, unlike in a lot of other sci-fi based shows. Jeff Pinker, one of the executive producers, answered that by episode two of the first season, they already had a lot of the bigger ideas planned, and he is confident that viewers of a show can tell if the creators know what they're doing. Goldsman added that people can sense architecture and structure in a story, and when "it's not there, people don't feel safe."

We are all looking forward to season four and let us hope that our universe will win the war -- or at least that we survive and don't get sucked into a wormhole.

Follow Dianne Garcia on Twitter @punkagogo.

Location Info

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The Paley Center for Media

465 N. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, CA

Category: General

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Tags:

akiva goldsman, alex kurtzman, anna torv, fringe, j.h. wyman, j.j. abrams, jeff pinker, john noble, paley center, ralph garman, roberto orci, science fiction, television

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guest

Thank you for your report. From all I read , twitter etc, everyone was so impressed with the interaction between Anna Torv and John Noble,clearly a loving frindship, and also their respect etc towards the showrunners, and viceversa.

It seems that for once Anna Torv got a chance to say more then normally, as John Noble let her speak. The impression that I get from the clips and reports that both Anna and John are very intelligent people, with great human insight, and very modest. The show is the star, says it all.

real1

"" The show is the star ""

Beyond well said , beyond that it's from brilliant person which did make the show a star .

I wish that all the cast and crew are seeing Fringe the same , that no one is complaining or getting jealous from how the others were amazing in every thing .

I really was hoping to see Brown Blare aka Nina sharp , while Nina's character didn't get so many scenes Blare was appreciating the work on Fringe and supporting the story line and even teasing the fans about the show , that's say something to me as a real fans .

salmanj1

Joshua Jackson will come back, maybe as a different character. I don't know why but I think he'll come back as an observer. Maybe he'll slowly become self-aware as an observer. That way, we'll find more about the observers plus we'll get more joshua jackson. Because who are we kidding, joshua jackson never hurt anyone... (except for those god damn shapeshifters. But they had it coming. NOW STAY OFF MY LAWN)

guest

Well the only thing I know is that giving about 15 interviews or more and everytime complaining about the showrunners etc,which is what you do when you are negative about storylines, josh jackson must be grateful that he will be in season 4.

martisco

Please correct your story - the producers have already stated that Joshua Jackson will be back next season. He hasn't left the show. He is off this week filming a movie.

Space Pirate Queen

Corrected, thank you. :)

Aimee L.

Awesome :D

Aimee L.

Pinkner and Wyman are a joy, and really do love connecting with fans. Can't ask for better show-runners.

Space Pirate Queen

Yes! Love the relationship between the creators and the fans. It really shows.

Aimee L.

Welcome and enjoy. You have a very good take on the heart of what makes it great.

Space Pirate Queen

Yes, thank you guys for the clarification! I'm quite new to the show.

real1

Well said , and i have a comment as Aimee , Peter's character is important to the story line , yes i can see them can move on without him BUT eventually he will be there somehow , Talking about the structure and the architecture of the show .. you can't arrive to floor 4 without building basement and 1st 2ed 3th floors :)

If red Peter died ... still we can deal with blue Peter .... no escape from that but if Josh doesn't want to complete with them the show .. then i think blue Peter is an option with another actor ,, they can fit it in the story line .

Aimee L.

Another actor? No, no and no. But I'll leave it at that.

Aimee L.

"In the upcoming season, Joshua Jackson's character will be absent (and the actor also did not attend the panel), but this doesn't seem to deter the enthusiasm of fans for the show."

I think that you are wrong here on several counts. 1) The EPs said Josh Jackson will be back in some capacity 2) All people are talking about is "what happened to Peter" and "he'd better be back."

Please be careful what you say. This show is loved by many, but losing Josh would not be as trivial as you write...

Joshua Jackson was not at the panel because he is currently filming "Lay the Favorite." He DID Attend the FOX Upfronts.

Space Pirate Queen

Sorry about that. I noted that I heard them say that Joshua Jackson won't be in the next season, but I must have misunderstood the context of it :)