'Fringe': Spot the Observers

If you had the feeling someone was watching you as you stopped for your morning Starbucks, you might not be crazy (this time). The Observers are out there, waiting, watching, and stopping by the Grove. To help promote the return of the sneaky bald stalker to the foreground in this week’s episode, “Fringe” has made a massively dynamic PR push featuring the normally shy Observer.

It started last week when media outlets started receiving mysterious boxes. Mine came a little late, but I’m sure that has nothing to do with my five things that could help “Fringe” last week. The boxes contained a page of strange writing, historic pictures and a bottle of Tabasco sauce.

The writing is the Observer’s unique notes, as we saw in his first unhidden appearance in “Fringe.” Luckily, the Observer was kind enough to include “The next all-new episode of FRINGE, 'August,' airs Thursday, Nov. 19 (9:00-10:00 ET/PT on FOX." Unless that just happens to mean something completely different in Observer-ese.

The pictures include a photo of Archduke Ferdinand, Marie Antoinette and an engraving of the Boston Massacre. If you look close enough (or have seen the promos for this week’s episode) you can spot the Observers standing in the background of each.

The Tabasco sauce is, or course, the Observer’s favorite condiment, and I guess he just likes to share.

Then it has been Observer week on Fox. You may have noticed a new addition to your normal promos. I know I caught him wandering in the background of a “Lie to Me” ad. If you saw him anywhere else, leave a comment and let me know.

But the final wave of Observer mania comes today via Facebook. Yep, the Observer has joined the ranks of your parents among the people you’d never guess would join the social networking site. I wonder if the Observer is going to start Twittering? Just random posts of 140 undecipherable characters.

Men dressed as Observers will be wandering around major cities today and tomorrow. Let’s just say a little birdie told me to keep my eyes peeled in Los Angeles and Atlanta today and Boston, New York and Chicago on Thursday. If you happen to be so lucky as to catch a picture of the Observer, make sure to upload it to www.facebook.com/theobserver.

And that’s all I can tell you …

… maybe …

… OK. If you’re in Los Angeles and can escape from work, I might have some suggestions of places you might want to stop by.

From 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., the Third Street Promenade is really nice.

Or, if you’re free from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., you might want to swing by Hollywood Boulevard.

And if you can’t get away around 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., the Grove is a lovely place for lunch.

If you do happen to make it to one of those locations and spot the Observer, make sure to let me know.  Otherwise the best place to catch him is Thursday night on “Fringe.”

— Andrew Hanson

Photo: The Observer (guest star Michael Cerveris). Credit: Fox.

Comments

[Richard Lively]

Observer sighting as audience member of "so you think you can dance" 11/18/09 ten minutes into the episode just as breaking away to commercial. It was a fun nod to a great show. Fringe is stepping up the game! --Rick--

[JOHN HOMESLEY]

2 OBSERVERS IN THE CROWD @ THE DALLAS COWBOYS & GREEN BAY PACKERS GAME AT LAMBEAU FIELD ON FOX LAST SUNDAY

[ab rocket]

Fringe rocks! I bought the season 1 dvd's and plan on buying the rest. good, clean, sci-fi entertainment for intelligent adults

[smooth elliptical]

I love Fringe! I watch it everyday, even repeats.