May 14, 2010

Bad news for the few remaining fans of "Heroes": The series, once upon a time a contender for mega-franchise status, has finally been cancelled.

News ends speculation that NBC was looking to bring the show back on a limited basis to wrap things up. That was still considered a real possibility until recently. But having picked up 11 new shows for fall, NBC likely didn't see the need, the room or the money necessary to make such an arrangement.

Peacock execs are already moving on to a new superhero, anyway: "The Cape," which has been ordered for 2010-2011.

A case study should probably be drawn up on what happened to "Heroes." Rarely has such a strong opener fall from grace so quickly.

"Heroes" opened huge in 2006, and became such a quick player for the network that it quickly spawned a spinoff (which was ultimately scrapped), online components, books and merchandising. The rally cry "Save the cheerleader, save the world" became a marketing powerhouse.

The show's creative, however, eventually fell off -- a factor that some pegged on creator/exec producer Tim Kring's busy schedule. NBC touted a rejuvenated series several times, and attempted to sell the show as a series of "books" with a beginning, middle and end. But viewers didn't return.

And at some point, it didn't make sense to bring such an expensive show back -- even though Universal Media Studios is the producer. Season to date, "Heroes" has averaged a 3.0 rating and 7 share -- down 32% from last year's 4.4. Among viewers, its 6.5 million is down 29% from last year's 9.2 million.

"Heroes" starred Jack Coleman, Noah Gray-Cabey, Greg Grunberg, Ali Larter, James Kyson Lee, Masi Oka, Hayden Panettiere, Adrian Pasdar, Zachary Quinto, Sendhil Ramamurthy, Dania Ramirez and Milo Ventimiglia. Kring was EP, along with Dennis Hammer, Allan Arkush and Greg Beeman.

Reaction to the cancellation has so far been of the "coulda been a contender" variety. Critics and fans said the show just didn't live up to its season one promise.

"'Heroes," canceled by NBC, and rightly so, was one of my biggest disappointments as a TV critic. And viewer," the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Gail Pennington wrote. "I loved it so much!"

"Heroes" even won the Television Critics Assn.'s 2007 award for program of the year, while the TV Land Awards gave the show its "future classic" award.



http://weblogs.variety.co...eroes.html
[Edited 5/15/10 16:41pm]

thank fuck. this is like putting down a dog that broke 3 legs and couldn't eat. it was a great dog in the first year and then got increasingly worse. this is the year to cull all the shitty shows and those overdue their welcome

unique said:

Couldn't agree more.

When Sylar survived to begin season two, I literally quite the show right then and there. (I might have watched one or two more episodes, but I don't remember anymore).

It reeked of "well we've got a ratings winner on our hands here so let's figure out a way to keep one of the main guys around". I think too many people saw that as a betrayal to the storyline and went away for good.

I know I did.

Fenwick said:

originally he was supposed to die but they kept him as he was a popular character, and obviously a great actor playing the part. things went down the tube when they had the historical japan part. they did pick up when they had the orange jumpsuit part and they were being hunted, but then it swiftly went down the dumper when they confused the fuck out of everyone when the good people were bad and bad were good and then they weren't good anymore, it was so fucking confusing it made lost make sense

24 is still enjoyable to watch, but it just got too stupid. we've only seen 8 days in the life of jack bauer yet they've had about 12 presidents, 24 moles in CTU, 3 different CTU's, jacks been killed or close to dead about 18 times, about 3 people who died didn't really die, 3 nuclear bombs have went off in the states, etc etc. it's just not possible for so much to happen in the space of a day. and no-one eats or drinks or takes a shit or a piss, or sleeps. how can they function like that? the worst part is they keep rehashing the same ideas in every seasons

lost is great, but there is only so much you can take, so it's ending at a good time

fuck knows how V got renewed when other shows got cancelled. it must be cheap to make with all the CGI. at times it looks like i've turned the xbox on instead of the telly. it's not as good as the original, but i'll keep watching

fringe is excellent. this weeks was fucking amazing. it opens up a whole new possibility of ep's in the alternate world for next season, with all new gadgets and stuff

it reminds me of the terminator chronicles, it was starting to get really good and it got cancelled. the last episode was brilliant

dollhouse was great in season 1 but season 2 got a bit boring, but it had some great episodes. at least they got to wrap it up properly

romantically challenged is cancelled. anyone who's seen more than 2 minutes of it will realise why. it's not the 90s anymore but the creators don't seem to realise that

chuck is renewed, it had a few boring episodes but really picked up this season, so it's good to get a half season confirmed

desperate housewives is another show that could be canned. it's just going through the motions. some episodes are great, most are a bit boring. now they are all older they aren't as pleasing on the eye, and dre is leaving, and she's the best thing on it now

the office is still great, i think next season is supposed to be the last, they are calling it a day before it gets stale

modern family is going from strength to strength, one of the best comedies on tv right now

oh yeah, life was a great show but they cancelled it. fuckers. great cast, great story, great show

and southland, wtf. how could they cancel this? at least another channel picked it up and showed the few eps they made and they are making more

and what happened to flashpoint, i really enjoyed that. one of the few dramas to have contained episodes where you can watch one and understand what's going on and not lose out if you miss an episode because of a demanding and complicated story arc. tv is supposed to be entertainment, not a fucking study group

i'm looking forward to the next season of dexter. last season was superb. few shows get this much better after 3 seasons, usually first is best and then they get worse

i really liked the first season of mad men, but not so much the other 2. i think this season is the last. i preferred the subtle humour in the first season, and i suppose it was a new novelty with the outfits and sets that wore off later. christina hendricks keeps you glued to the screen though

treme is great, but i'm not sure if it's supposed to be a one off season or what, but the writer died before it was broadcast, so that could be the end of that

justified is pretty good too, but i don't know how long it will last

i presume crash is finished as dennis hopper isn't going to be around for the next season. i enjoyed that, but the second season wasn't as good as the first. i didn't like the character becoming a hooker. it was out of character for her. some of the stuff got a bit stupid too, like the village for the homeless

unique said:

Hey my friend

I love when people go on mini-venting tirades like this. I did the exact same thing on a different TV thread someone started a few weeks ago. I actually said the same thing you did about 24, but for me, my negative sentiment began with season TWO. The premise makes no sense.

You mean to tell me a dude got himself immersed right into the middle of an intricate international terror ring with secret spies who have taken years to infiltrate the agency and he figures it all out, catches the "bad guy" and saves the world all within 24 hours? OK, I'll come along for the ride ONE TIME.

But you mean to tell me the same dude came across that shite a second time and did it again? All within 24 hours? Again? Sorry for the un PC remark here. But that premise is beyond RETARDED. I'm fully able to suspend disbelief, for SUPERMAN. But Jack f*ing Bauer? Totally stupid.

And now they are on season 8. Baffling.

As to the other shows you listed, I'm not really a big TV watcher so I haven't seen any of them except Lost. But based on your passion for Fringe, I will put that one in my queue in check it out.

My best friend told me the best shows on TV he has ever seen are

Mad Men
Arrested Development
West Wing
Dexter

I have not seen a single episode of any of these. Once Lost is done I plan on putting them in the queue and checking them out, (now along with Fringe).
[Edited 5/15/10 5:31am]

unique said:

Same goes for Lost. Loved it the first season, hated it since. Glad it'll be gone in a few weeks, too. And don't think they're going to answer all the "questions" as they hyped at the beginning of the season.

Poiple said:

i did enjoy lost from start to end, never got bored at all. brilliant show

Fenwick said:

i only started watching 24 just before season 6 i think, i watched the first 5 seasons in a marathon session over a couple of weeks and then caught up. did the same with dexter 1-3 and madmen 1 and 2. haven't seen the west wing but the complete box set has been on sale for pretty cheap so i'm tempted, but i think i wanna devour the complete sopranos first if i can get that for a good price

They fucked up the show though. Season one was brilliant, really close to a 'comic' plot/imagery, (it reminded me of X men), then too much success probably made them ... Where the eff was the script going anyway? They were too many twists, resurrections, new useless superheroes...

They get my Award of the "Worst Use Of a good idea on TV ever" ..

RIP 'Heroes'... Claire Bennett gave m some nice erotic dreams though...