Heroes = Dead?
Mon, November 2, 2009 
I was never partial to Heroes. When everyone else was nerdgasming over how “awesome” it was during the first season, I couldn’t sit through the pilot. What can I say? It was crap from the get-go. Of course, it’s now in fashion to shit on the fledging superhero series. With things as bad as they are for NBC, they’ve kept it around even though the ratings have been bad. Hell, a lot of us thought the Peacock network would pull the plug a year ago.
Now a report from Airlock Alpha states that the producers have been told to wrap up the series. Right on queue, the network came out and denied any truth to such claims. But that’s just the thing. Regardless of whether it’s true or false (leaning towards the former myself), there’s nothing else they can do but cry foul.
But honestly at this point, who cares about Heroes? I mean if you can’t get viewers to tune in after seeing Zachary Quinto’s Spock this past summer in Star Trek (something that the general public, nerds and critics alike loved), what will get them to watch? I’m more curious about what this does to NBC as a whole.
Their big gamble with The Jay Leno Show hasn’t paid off and ratings are dropping increasingly by the week. The way things are going right now, it looks like they’re going to renege and not give Leno a second season (even though their deal with the former Tonight Show host is for two years). If that occurs, that automatically results in five hours of open-slots next fall in addition to the just-cancelled Trauma and (if the afore-mentioned report is accurate) Heroes.
Thus I’m willing to bet that low-rated shows like Community and Parks & Recreation will be spared and get renewed as well as fan-favorite Chuck (and maybe even the equally under-performing Mercy). We won’t know how Parenthood does until mid-season. And network staples like The Office, 30 Rock and both Law & Orders (the flagship and Special Victims Unit) aren’t going anywhere.
No network is going to depend on that much of their line-up on brand-new programs. They’re going to have to have returning shows just to cover their bases. Then again, it’s that same mind-set that could get Heroes a fifth season.
Reader Comments (1)
Heroes will be around for the rest of the season; Jay Leno will also last through the remainder of the season. Both , like most other NBC shows will get a break due to the Olympics. Worst case: Law & Order marathons, the common practice of bringing over L&O: CI over as well from USA network, and another uneeded Celeb Apprentice. (I actually watched that reality series when they had non-celebs trying to get a job working for Trump; all that magic is lost on me now.)
Pilots will be looked over and some will be picked up.
My guess is that they might look for something like another sci-fi type drama like Heroes, but won't attempt another series based on a previous show from days gone by (last season's Knight Rider, Bionic Woman)--I'll even go far as to say a "comics based" property, like, say Human Target. Or another light but effective action show, like USA's 'Burn Notice', which fills that void.
But if I was at NBC and had to pick a new show, I'd look into a few more sitcoms, perhaps even a soap-type drama...like the good (?) old days when we had the likes of Melrose Place, Falcon Crest, Dynasty and Dallas. Or Twin Peaks.
That suggestion isn't cause for alarm; but my point is what "don't we have" on the air right now, or what don't we have enough of. Medical dramas, L&O, NCIS and CSI type shows and spinoffs are a dime a dozen; it is time for something that fills a void.
Yes, I KNOW they will play it safe and have Who Wants To Date A Stripper or The New Game Show...