'Fringe' producers prepare for the final chapter

There's no doubt in the minds of "Fringe" producers Jeff Pinkner and J.H. Wyman that there wouldn't be a fifth season of the sci-fi series if it weren't for the social media efforts of its fans.

"This is actually a really cool time, I think, in television history, or it will be considered a cool time, where social networks are informing the big networks - like, people are talking, people are doing things, people are moving," Wyman told reporters on Wednesday.

"They go into action for their show, which is great. Before, it used to be like, 'Well, we’re going to send a whole bunch of letters,' which is OK, but it’s not this," he went on.

Rather, what's happening now "is really empowering for the fans because they feel that they have a platform and a forum to really express to people who may or may not be listening, but the chances are that they are."

With a two-part season finale starting on Friday, and 13 episodes to finish the series next season, the producers know exactly how much time they have to tell the rest of the story.

"We know the end," Wyman said. "It’s a perfect amount of time to be done right and to be doled out at the right pace. We feel really confident that we can have a satisfying ending for us but also, of course, for our fans and supporters within the timeframe of 13 episodes."

However, rumors that an alternate ending was shot for this season – in case Fox canceled the show – are greatly exaggerated.

"We did not shoot an alternate ending. We did not. We thought about it, but we did not," Wyman clarified.

But what about the 2036 storyline which was introduced a few weeks ago? The pair says that we will definitely return to that time at some point.

Last week, viewers also seemingly said goodbye to Seth Gabel's Lincoln, who chose to return to the alternate world when the doorway between worlds was closed.

"Seth is spectacular and awesome and has been such a phenomenal addition to the cast, but as far as his standing going forward, to say anything about that would also be to reveal things that are coming ahead," Pinkner said.

And is there any chance that the "retired" Leonard Nimoy – who recently made a vocal appearance on "The Big Bang Theory" – might return to the world of "Fringe?"

Pinkner put it this way: "We basically erected a sign outside of Leonard’s house which said, 'Please come back to "Fringe,”' and we are hoping that by season 5, he says yes."