Fringe is an American science fiction television series co-created by J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. The series follows a Federal Bureau of Investigation "Fringe Division" team based in Boston, Massachusetts under the supervision of Homeland Security. The team uses unorthodox "fringe" science and FBI investigative techniques to investigate "the Pattern", a series of unexplained, often ghastly occurrences that are happening all over the world. The show has been described as a hybrid of The X-Files, Altered States, The Twilight Zone, and Dark Angel.

The series premiered in North America on September 9, 2008, on the Fox network. Fringe was part of a Fox initiative known as "Remote-Free TV". Episodes of Fringe were longer than standard dramas on current network television. The show ran with half the commercials during the first season, adding about six minutes to the show's runtime. When the show went to a commercial, a short bumper aired informing the viewer of roughly how much time commercials will consume before the program resumed. On October 1, 2008, Fringe's first season was extended to 22 episodes.This was then cut back to 20 episodes with the season finale airing May 12. The series was renewed for a second season.Season 2 premiered September 17, 2009.However, Fox's "Remote-Free TV" trial has not continued past the first season.

On March 6, 2010, Entertainment Weekly and Variety reported that Fox TV has renewed Fringe for a third season. It was later reported that it will be a full season of 22 episodes.