heroes
Upfronts 2008: So… You Think You Can Stop Dancing?
May 15th
My silence may be eerie, but I’m sneakily still very much liking TV. In fact, I just got in from the Fox upfront party. It’s been an exhausting and kind of uneventful week, but what better excuse to touch base than the TV equivalent of prom?
So this year marked my first in-person upfront experience, and I have to say, they’re kind of gross. A bunch of sloppy ad folks boozing to the point of public embarrassment and blatant starfucking does not a good time make. It was an education though. My deep love of So You Think You Can Dance (returning in one week!) was slightly challenged by the throng of contestants from seasons two and three that could literally not stop dancing at any point during the night. Brazilian BBQ buffet? Dance! Line at the porta-potty? Dance! Creepy ‘80s cover band? Um… dance!
They have their charms though. And about a month from now I’ll be so thoroughly into their successors, this transgression will be long forgotten. What won’t be forgotten is the fact those two beautiful creatures pictured above and Eliza Dushku all bolted before I got there. Perhaps it’s best that they stay on their respective pedestals, but I sure would have love to see TV actors not on Gossip Girl every once in a while.
Enough of that. Let’s get down to business. This time last year I was an unhappy camper. Veronica Mars was done, I was mostly unimpressed with the pick-ups, and Eliza Dushku’s pilot was passed over by FOX. Things could not be more different in 2008. Friday Night Lights and How I Met Your Mother, the two bubble shows that I desperately needed to see renewed, will both be back with a vengeance. I’m genuinely excited by some of the new offerings. And this year’s Dushku pilot, a little show called Dollhouse by some writer/auteur/genius named Joss Whedon, is a sure bet for midseason. If you can catch the trailer (they keep pulling them), you will see how very drool inducing it is. Full fall schedules for all the networks, if you haven’t already seen them, can be found right here: ABC, CBS, FOX, the CW. (NBC’s is oooooold news.)
There weren’t any surprises this week. News of renewals and pickups, save a few exceptions, all came weeks ago. The only real shock was that after all the hullabaloo over the upfronts being “soooo different” this year, they were more or less the same. No complaints on my part, as I can think of far worse things than tradition. Attention-starved dance competition veterans for one.
Heroes: The Downward Spiral Continues
Dec 4th
Few would argue that the first season of Heroes didn’t suffer from a certain lack of consistency, but even with all of the loose ends, vague explanations and annoying filler, we sure did love it. Hopes were high for the follow-up. Expectations were realistically low.
Not low enough.
Last night’s conclusion to “Generations” was so anti-climactic, so frustratingly pointless, it just doesn’t make sense that it was the culmination of 11 episodes and probably the end of the season. All of the new characters, the lack of focus on established ones, the ambiguous efforts of the company, the “virus”… they could have come together in the end for some grand purpose, but they didn’t. And they won’t. The plan on Heroes is just not fleshed out very well, and based on this season, it may not even exist.
So what sucked the most? I would have to say that the apparent deaths of Niki and Nathan top the list. Plugging the episode with the promise of two fallen heroes, I was hoping that at least one of my four least favorite characters would have gotten it (Matt, really? Are we still trying to make Matt happen?). Instead, I lost my favorite. Poor Nathan Petrelli. He spent the last three months either hiding in the shadows or looking at his messed up reflection in the mirror and moping. One of four heroes who tried to out themselves in this episode (might that be the new arc?), he assembled a giant press conference on short notice and was shot as he tried to tell everyone he could fly. He might as well have died at the end of last season. At least then it would have been, you know, heroic.
Far less sad, but equally as frustrating, is the death of Niki Sanders. She spent this season just as unused. Her confusing abilities got even more confusing. And as of now, I’m still not exactly sure if her power was super-strength, the ability to be a functioning schizophrenic or a bizarre combination of the two. Either way, she got the virus and blew up before it could kill her. Her awesome, orphan son is now free to be raised by the crazy lady from Star Trek.
“Generations” was supposed to be an interesting take on the old “sins of our fathers” bit, but it almost immediately dissolved into the ”stupidity of their children.” That’s out of the picture now though, because Sylar, the most effeminate, unconvincing villain since Jim Carrey’s Riddler, has apparently returned to once again cut people open and steal their powers. I want to ponder where they could take that, but I’m too tired and bored. Really, the one thing left for me to do, Heroes, is to forgive and forget. I want to forgive you, and I want to forget you.
Heroes: Assessing “Generations” Thus Far
Oct 29th
Sophomore seasons are almost never what we expect them to be. For some slow-burners, they can bring a watershed of explosive creativity (à la Buffy), but for most buzzworthy shows, the second season almost always marks the sophomore slump (think Desperate Housewives), a source of criticism and disappointment among viewers. I’ve been hesitant to express my boredom and frustration with Heroes, but after five decidedly mediocre episodes, the situation can no longer be ignored. This season kind of sucks.
Most of the fun in the first season of Heroes was the slow crescendo towards our scattered characters discovering the extent of their abilities and each other. By the finale, almost all of their paths had crossed and many had formed relationships. We picked them up, four months later, scattered once again, and now we feel like we’re just retracing our steps to an ultimately similar conclusion – like a Möbius strip of bad plot. It’s almost impossible to dissect all the ways in which I’m annoyed with Heroes, so here’s a list of the top ten things that shouldn’t be happening but are…
10 – The re-ambiguation of HRG
9 – Matt & Mohinder: gay foster parents
8 – Scabby mirror-Nathan
7 – The immediate threat of losing Mama Petrelli
6 – The “Hero Virus”
5 – Sylar & Matt: still alive
4 – Bad British actors with worse Irish accents
3 – Explosion-induced amnesia
2 – Molly Walker
1 – Splitting up Hiro & Ando
In the interest of not dwelling on negativity, it should be mentioned that we’re witnessing a few stellar moves this season. Two storylines in particular have me wiping the drool off of my chin. Oddly enough, they focus on new people. The first is Monica (Dana Davis), Micah’s cousin who can absorb the skills she witnesses. Not only does her power open the door for some non-Ali Larter ass-kicking, her struggle for independence and redemption in post-Katrina New Orleans is the only compelling portrayal of it’s kind since so many started popping up on scripted dramas after 2005. Her charming sibling-like interaction with Micah is also welcome, as the writers tend to underuse him. As child actors go, he is the Gregory Peck to Molly’s Tara Reid.
The second glimmer of hope is most definitely the addition of Elle (Kristen Bell). Her first appearance last week may not have been the most inspired introduction, but my love for the actress means that even when the writing leans a little too heavily towards high-voltage Veronica Mars, I’ll still be captivated. I have faith that they’ll explore the snotty daddy’s girl side to her when she returns in a couple of weeks… and that she’ll fry more people with her electric lazer hands. My vote is for Matt, Molly and Sylar.
Give It Up For Chuck!
Sep 24th
Only a handful of shows have actually premiered, and I’m already completely exhausted. NBC launches their new, sci-fi-tastic Monday night line up this evening with the return of Heroes and the premieres of Chuck and Journeyman. They can’t all be fantastic though, so let’s break it down real quick.
Chuck (8PM; NBC) – As I mentioned in the summer, Chuck is one of the best pilots out there. It’s worth watching for goofy sweetheart Zachary Levi alone, but there’s potential for a whole tally of reasons. Bloggers agree; Chuck is one to watch.
Heroes (9PM; NBC)– TV’s most awesome show or a whole lot of hype? Somewhere in between, I’d say. As much as I love the show, the first season ended on a seriously questionable note. And after almost an entire summer’s worth of promotions, a pseudo spin-off on its way and a slightly unnecessary Emmy nom, Heroes is almost begging for a sophomore slump. All things considered though, it’s still one of the most entertaining things out there. I’ll be tuning in with an open mind and the highest of hopes.
Journeyman (10PM; NBC) – If there’s a fly in this ointment, it’s most definitely Journeyman. The time-traveling drama is almost as unfocused as it is uninteresting. It’s not overtly bad by any stretch of the imagination, and all of the actors certainly pull their weight, its just not compelling TV. Your evening’s NBC-ing should really end after Heroes.
Emmys 2007: “A Wide Selection of Trash”
Sep 17th
The Emmys are something of a necessary evil. If you have any taste at all, you’re disappointed year after year by the criminal snubs, but if you like TV half as much as I do, you’re forced to pay attention anyways. This year wasn’t as bad as it could have been; Battlestar Galactica, Neil Patrick Harris and Minnie Driver all earned much-deserved nominations… not that they won. As for the ceremony itself, holding it “in the round” (just like JT!) proves that they’re at least aware of the their waning legitimacy. Ryan Seacrest was as non-present as a host could be. And his greatest success? A smart, if slightly dated, joke about his short relationship with Teri Hatcher – his last earnest attempt at feigning heterosexuality.
Since live-blogging would have required my watching the show in its painful entirety (and the onslaught of FOX plugs), I hope you’ll settle for my slightly delayed reactions to the big winners…
Supporting Actor in a Comedy – Jeremy Piven – Is it fair to award the same actor two years in a row for playing the same stagnant, stereotypical character that isn’t remotely different from who he is in real life? Apparently so. Piven, you may have Emmy, but you’ll never be half the bro Neil Patrick Harris is.
Supporting Actor in a Drama – Terry O’Quinn – As big of a Heroes fan as I might be… their Drama nod seems a little undeserved. Not so for Masi Oka though. He should have had this. Terry O’Quinn is all well and good in Lost, but if you’re going to award the supporting cast of the island, you could at least have given it to Ben Linus. Nice speech, though, Terry. Can’t say the same for the shirt…
Supporting Actress in a Comedy – Jamie Pressly – In all honesty, I’ve never watched more than five minutes of My Name is Earl, but I’m having a seriously hard time believing that a glorified extra from Not Another Teen Movie is more deserving of this award than Jenna Fischer or Vanessa Williams.
Supporting Actress in a Drama – Katherine Heigl – The reach of America’s love of Denny Duckett goes on long after he’s in the ground! “Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama” is now officially the “Lengthiest and Most Annoying Mourning Period” award. Not that I don’t adore you, Izzie.
Lead Actor in a Comedy – Ricky Gervais – I love Gervais. I love him for his work on Extras, and I love him for not being there to speak.
Lead Actress in a Drama – Sally Field – Have people seen Brothers & Sisters? I watch it religiously, but it’s all kinds of sucky. Unless this Emmy is for the episode when Sally got stoned with Margot Kidder, I don’t buy it. Also… nice editing, Emmy guys! A full hour after Tell Me You Loved Me showed real-life vagina and prosthetic wieners, FOX still can’t let America hear a middle-aged woman say “god-damned.”
Lead Actress in a Comedy – America Ferrera – Wow, the first award of the night I actually called. And one of the few I don’t object to.
Lead Actor in a Drama – James Spader – Can I say “wow” again? Boston Legal is not something I’ve ever watched, or ever intend to, but it can’t be all that bad. Somewhere in Los Angeles, Gandolfini is watching Mannequin and getting trashed.
Outstanding Comedy – 30 Rock – I hate to throw it out there so soon, but 30 Rock is flirting with Arrested Development-type prophetic doom.
Outstanding Drama – The Sopranos – Despite the acting snubs, the Emmys’ love for The Sopranos could not have been more obvious. That Jersey Boys homage? They might as well have just paid someone to felate a bunch of HBO execs live on stage for three minutes. Whatever, it’s not like they don’t deserve it.
… Oh, and Tony Bennett won everything else.
Heroes: How to Stop an Exploding Man
May 22nd
Heroes capped off its whirlwind freshman season last night with the showdown they’d been hinting at since the very first episode. Given the high bar they’d set with handful of seriously edge-of-your-seat awesome episodes that rivaled most theatrical sci-fi fare, the finale wasn’t all that it could have been, but it was far superior to last night’s other offering. Thoughts, recaps and speculations follow, so if you haven’t seen it, you should read no further… More >
Heroes: The Hard Part – Suddenly Sylar
May 8th
At the risk of becoming Mikey Likes Heroes, here is the second consecutive post on the topic – I assure you, it is most deserved. In addition to reclaiming the title of “highlight of my week,” Heroes is also becoming a hotspot for ridiculously obscure cameos. And possessing a keen sense for noticing such cameos, I feel compelled to share.
Last night we explored the softer side of Sylar. When he realized that he might soon blow up Manhattan, he started worrying that that might be too evil for even the most super of super villains. And how does Sylar handle this? He does what every wayward creep and latent homosexual does when encountering a crisis of conscious, visit mom! Conveniently enough, Ma Sylar was just few blocks away in some poorly reconstructed 1970s lower east side apartment and more than worth the walk. Virginia Grey has all the makings of a perfect horror movie mom. She’s…
a) overbearing (Psycho)
b) overly religious (Carrie)
c) obsessive (Friday the 13th)
d) a veteran of 80s camp movie-musicals?
She looked familiar, but it was that charming nasal voice that gave her away. Sylar’s mom was none other than Audrey from Little Shop of Horrors. I’ve never been one for musicals, but LSoH was a staple of my youth. It’s the perfect of amalgam of vintage New York and science fiction – just as absurd as Rocky Horror but not as gay. A little IMDBin’ will show that the Audrey (Ellen Greene) has not done much of consequence between then and now, but if Heroes and Little Shop are the bookends to her career, I’m sure she’s plenty satisfied. (Also, she apparently has had a really successful stage career going for her – if you dig that.)
Fulfilling the duty of all classic cinema killers’ moms, Virginia died at the hands of her evil spawn. And whether it was unconsciously intentional or by accident, it’s safe to assume our man Sylar has gone completely over the edge. He tries to destroy a now Audrey-less New York next week.
Entertainment Weekly’s Creepy Stand-In
May 7th
A long dependable source of awesome photographs and quality coverage, Entertainment Weekly has really been screwing the pooch with its latest string of bizarrely airbrushed covers. Last month, their Grindhouse issue featured an extremely un-Rose-McGowan-looking Rose McGowan – about 15-pounds shy of her actual weight and with a face significantly more ethnic than her own. You could still tell it was her, but it was surprisingly distorted to have made it onto such a highly circulating publication.
When it was announced last week that the current issue would feature five different covers highlighting the bulk of the cast of Heroes, I was hoping that the one in my mailbox would include Adrian Pasdar. Adrian plays my favorite character, Nathan Petrelli. Adrian starred in Near Dark, one of my five favorite vampire movies of the 80s. Adrian is married to one of the Dixie Chicks. Adrian is great. But despite being credited on the magazine as one of the two people on the cover, I refuse to accept that the man pictured is actually Adrian.
This isn’t just airbrushing someone beyond recognition. I’m convinced this is just a different person. With the simian brow, scruffy face and menacingly wide gap between his eyes, it could possibly be co-star, and arch nemesis, Zachary Quinto, but I’m more inclined to believe it’s CGI or a hobo in a suit. Even last week’s portrait of Adrian five-years into the dark, dark future wasn’t this unflattering.
This evening’s episode sees the cast back in the present day… or last November or whenever the story is supposedly taking place. And with just three left this season, there’s apparently more death, more heroes and a final scene of cinematic proportions. Though none of that may actually be taking place tonight, at least we can count on seeing Adrian in all of his non-creepy, non-photo-shopped splendor.
Air Guitar Heroes
Apr 24th
After so many weeks without Heroes, I was growing concerned that excitement had deteriorated into estrangement. Every Monday without it seemed easier to handle, and the quivering anticipation for this last night’s return was barely a tremor by the time 9:00pm Eastern rolled around. But that was until a very special cameo.
Message boards and IMBD could not yet confirm it (and I deleted the show before it occurred to me to watch the credits), but I would bet my very life that the role of “super-enthusiastic bike messenger” was played by Air Guitar Nation star, and former Air Guitar World Champion, David “C-Diddy” Jung. Though he could only stick around for a minute, and no one gave him the opportunity to totally rock out, C-Diddy did share a lovely moment with one of Heroes’ less exciting characters before he bit the dust. I was a little confused at first because the film lent the impression that David had given up his acting career to sell pooper-scoopers with his father, but I never forget a face – even an Asian one.
Obviously, the awesome was just starting. Heroes was, is and will likely continue to be the most entertaining thing on television this year. They treat every episode like a season finale, and despite the constant distraction of absurdly large The Real Wedding Crashers promos flashing across the screen, last night was no exception. Characters who we’ve long been waiting to cross paths, finally did; Adrian Pasdar inched closer to becoming the darling we know he can be; Linderman and old lady Petrelli filled us in that the Hero situation goes back longer than we’d imagined; and Greg Grunberg maintained his status as the biggest dufus ever, with the most undeserved luck at winding up on successful shows.
Before the last three episodes of the season, next week get to see what happens to the heroes (the ones who lived!) if they don’t save the world. A flash-forward to the year 2012 finds the cheerleader as a brunette, Adrian as El Presidente and Milo Ventimiglia bumpin’ uglies with the last person you’d expect him to. That latter bit doesn’t look too pretty, neither.