Tugging on superman's cape
November 11, 2007
BY DOUG ELFMAN Television Critic
What happened to "Heroes?" This season, it's kinda dumb, ploddingly paced and testing viewers' patience by delaying good action and storylines, other than some flying boy zipping through the sky with Claire in his arms, a la "Superman." Yuck.
Yet it's still getting good ratings. But so does terrible "Desperate Housewives." Quality-wise, "Heroes" had better get over its sophomore slump or it could be eclipsed as the go-to superhero show.
There is certainly a better choice for your comic-book fix. The CW's "Reaper" is the most consistently entertaining and funny new show of 2007. It's about a guy who works, against his will, as a bounty hunter for the devil, capturing escaped demons on Earth.
Of course, whenever I tell people they should watch "Reaper" on the CW, some say, "C-What now? Is that the country-western station?" No, it's the network (on WGN-Channel 9) that merged both the WB and UPN.
All that being said, "Heroes" remains one of TV's better hours. Or maybe I'm just a fan who won't give up.
It was certainly a mistake to resurrect Sylar. Keeping the villain alive took all the wind out of last season's finale when Sylar "died." Why watch "Heroes" if it's going to pull the rug out from under me again?
Also, Peter, the show's central dude, did almost nothing in Ireland -- for weeks.
The only cool character is Monica, the "copycat" girl. She can intuitively and immediately imitate anything she sees, such as playing the piano and kicking people's arses as if she's Bruce Lee.
But if you want to check out new entries in the comic-book hero genre, here's what's been happening with the other superpeople shows brought to air after "Heroes" became a hit last year:
'Reaper' (8 p.m. Tue., CW)
"Reaper's" ratings keep climbing, but not as much as it deserves. The stars -- Bret Harrison (Sam), Tyler Labine (Sock) and Ray Wise (the devil) -- have made me laugh every week with droll and silly-smart humor.
A few weeks ago, Sam was smarting off at the devil, and Wise (known earlier for being the evil guy on "Twin Peaks") got this hurt look on his face and slouched disapprovingly: "Sam. Sarcasm is the lowest form of social interaction."
The brains behind the comedy are Tara Butters and Michele Fazekas. They wrote a bunch for "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," and Butters spent some time at "The X-Files." Their steady hands are clearly assured.
It's great, great, great.
'Bionic Woman' (8 p.m. Wed., NBC)
"Bionic Woman" writers know they face an uphill struggle to survive a first year on the air. So they're packing scripts with plenty of action and quick dialogue. It's not a great drama, but it's moderately entertaining, with promise for growth.
Jaime Sommers (Michelle Ryan) faces a new challenge every week, and her long-term character arc is being fitted into her adventures, instead of the other way around.
The best little jolts of fun come from Molly Price as Ruth Treadwell, one of Jaime's spy bosses; she brings lighter moments of much-needed deadpan humor.
'Journeyman' (9:01 p.m. Mon., NBC)
"Journeyman" is trying to make headway into its premise of a San Francisco newspaperman who travels back in time to do good deeds. It's not totally clicking, but it's not horrible.
In a perfect world, NBC would be able to let this drama run for a long time so it can continue to improve. It doesn't look like it'll ever be a "Heroes" or a "Quantum Leap," but who knows.
'Chuck' (7 p.m. Mon., NBC)
"Chuck" began very promising, yet has settled into a routine of OK-ness. After becoming an accidental spy equipped with a head full of super knowledge, Chuck is tracking down bad guys once a week.
That's dandy, but Chuck and the lady spy he likes and works with, Sarah, are doing one of those excruciating will-they/won't-they dances, and it's getting on my last nerve. Do it already, Chuck and Sarah, or do it with someone else.
'Pushing Daisies' (7 p.m. Wed., ABC)
"Pushing Daisies" is not as stellar as it started this fall. But it is quite lovely, and Ned's power to bring people back to life -- to find out who killed them -- is being explored creatively.
But like "Chuck," it's romantically frustrating. Ned and his lady, Chuck, can never touch, or else his power will kill her.
It's been cool watching them dance in bee suits and hold hands in gloves. But maybe they can figure out how to use gloves more seductively.
On the horizon
Come 2008, a few new superpeople shows come to your rescue. Fox is slated to debut a "Terminator" show (the title always seems to be in flux). Fox allowed critics to view the first episode -- loved it.
CBS is going with "New Amsterdam," a romantic show about a guy who's been living for centuries. He's not a vampire. He just rolls that way, or something. I liked the first episode. But will the will-they/won't-they romance become annoying?
And in the spring, NBC was supposed to spin off "Heroes," a plan now put in limbo by the TV writers' strike. If it happens, the six-episode "Heroes: Origins" will show us non-"Heroes" superpeople as they find out they're special. Any who seems great could be exported to the "Heroes" mothership.
Stay tuned for "Heroes: Special Victims Unit?"
delfman@suntimes.com
BY DOUG ELFMAN Television Critic
What happened to "Heroes?" This season, it's kinda dumb, ploddingly paced and testing viewers' patience by delaying good action and storylines, other than some flying boy zipping through the sky with Claire in his arms, a la "Superman." Yuck.
Yet it's still getting good ratings. But so does terrible "Desperate Housewives." Quality-wise, "Heroes" had better get over its sophomore slump or it could be eclipsed as the go-to superhero show.
There is certainly a better choice for your comic-book fix. The CW's "Reaper" is the most consistently entertaining and funny new show of 2007. It's about a guy who works, against his will, as a bounty hunter for the devil, capturing escaped demons on Earth.
Of course, whenever I tell people they should watch "Reaper" on the CW, some say, "C-What now? Is that the country-western station?" No, it's the network (on WGN-Channel 9) that merged both the WB and UPN.
All that being said, "Heroes" remains one of TV's better hours. Or maybe I'm just a fan who won't give up.
It was certainly a mistake to resurrect Sylar. Keeping the villain alive took all the wind out of last season's finale when Sylar "died." Why watch "Heroes" if it's going to pull the rug out from under me again?
Also, Peter, the show's central dude, did almost nothing in Ireland -- for weeks.
The only cool character is Monica, the "copycat" girl. She can intuitively and immediately imitate anything she sees, such as playing the piano and kicking people's arses as if she's Bruce Lee.
But if you want to check out new entries in the comic-book hero genre, here's what's been happening with the other superpeople shows brought to air after "Heroes" became a hit last year:
'Reaper' (8 p.m. Tue., CW)
"Reaper's" ratings keep climbing, but not as much as it deserves. The stars -- Bret Harrison (Sam), Tyler Labine (Sock) and Ray Wise (the devil) -- have made me laugh every week with droll and silly-smart humor.
A few weeks ago, Sam was smarting off at the devil, and Wise (known earlier for being the evil guy on "Twin Peaks") got this hurt look on his face and slouched disapprovingly: "Sam. Sarcasm is the lowest form of social interaction."
The brains behind the comedy are Tara Butters and Michele Fazekas. They wrote a bunch for "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," and Butters spent some time at "The X-Files." Their steady hands are clearly assured.
It's great, great, great.
'Bionic Woman' (8 p.m. Wed., NBC)
"Bionic Woman" writers know they face an uphill struggle to survive a first year on the air. So they're packing scripts with plenty of action and quick dialogue. It's not a great drama, but it's moderately entertaining, with promise for growth.
Jaime Sommers (Michelle Ryan) faces a new challenge every week, and her long-term character arc is being fitted into her adventures, instead of the other way around.
The best little jolts of fun come from Molly Price as Ruth Treadwell, one of Jaime's spy bosses; she brings lighter moments of much-needed deadpan humor.
'Journeyman' (9:01 p.m. Mon., NBC)
"Journeyman" is trying to make headway into its premise of a San Francisco newspaperman who travels back in time to do good deeds. It's not totally clicking, but it's not horrible.
In a perfect world, NBC would be able to let this drama run for a long time so it can continue to improve. It doesn't look like it'll ever be a "Heroes" or a "Quantum Leap," but who knows.
'Chuck' (7 p.m. Mon., NBC)
"Chuck" began very promising, yet has settled into a routine of OK-ness. After becoming an accidental spy equipped with a head full of super knowledge, Chuck is tracking down bad guys once a week.
That's dandy, but Chuck and the lady spy he likes and works with, Sarah, are doing one of those excruciating will-they/won't-they dances, and it's getting on my last nerve. Do it already, Chuck and Sarah, or do it with someone else.
'Pushing Daisies' (7 p.m. Wed., ABC)
"Pushing Daisies" is not as stellar as it started this fall. But it is quite lovely, and Ned's power to bring people back to life -- to find out who killed them -- is being explored creatively.
But like "Chuck," it's romantically frustrating. Ned and his lady, Chuck, can never touch, or else his power will kill her.
It's been cool watching them dance in bee suits and hold hands in gloves. But maybe they can figure out how to use gloves more seductively.
On the horizon
Come 2008, a few new superpeople shows come to your rescue. Fox is slated to debut a "Terminator" show (the title always seems to be in flux). Fox allowed critics to view the first episode -- loved it.
CBS is going with "New Amsterdam," a romantic show about a guy who's been living for centuries. He's not a vampire. He just rolls that way, or something. I liked the first episode. But will the will-they/won't-they romance become annoying?
And in the spring, NBC was supposed to spin off "Heroes," a plan now put in limbo by the TV writers' strike. If it happens, the six-episode "Heroes: Origins" will show us non-"Heroes" superpeople as they find out they're special. Any who seems great could be exported to the "Heroes" mothership.
Stay tuned for "Heroes: Special Victims Unit?"
delfman@suntimes.com
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