News > "Heroes" gets a spin-off series
May 14, 2007
This one came out of left field. To satiate rabid fanboys during hiatus, NBC has put a "Heroes" spin-off called "Heroes: Origins" into production, reports . The six episode series will center on characters who won't be in the regular show and viewers will be able to go online to pick which characters should be integrated into the regular "Heroes" show.
I'm a fan of "Heroes" for sure, but doesn't this stink of overkill? With fans and the press praising "Lost" for scaling back its seasons and setting a definite end point, this spin off decision seems like a step backward for hour long dramas. But that's based on nothing but bitchy speculation.
The move was made because serialized dramas underperform like crazy in repeats. That's why networks moved away from them and towards "Law & Order" styled episodic shows. Yes, first run serial dramas do great...but they bomb in repeats and syndication. You're damned if you do, you're damned if you don't.
And that's when you get creative solutions like "Heroes: Origins."
