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NEW YORK - After “Heroes” unexpectedly turned into one of its few successes this year, NBC said Monday it was betting on new fall series about a bionic woman, a time-traveling newspaper reporter and a computer geek with spy secrets embedded in his brain.
The struggling network will also try to stretch “Heroes” by spinning off a related six-episode “Heroes: Origins” series that lets the audience choose a new cast member.
The six-episode “Heroes: Origins” series is a novel way for a network to address one of its chief unpleasant lessons this season: viewers are impatient when their favorite serials disappear into reruns for a huge chunk of the year. Each episode will introduce a potential new character, and the most popular chosen by fans will join the “Heroes” cast full time.
The struggling network will also try to stretch “Heroes” by spinning off a related six-episode “Heroes: Origins” series that lets the audience choose a new cast member.
The six-episode “Heroes: Origins” series is a novel way for a network to address one of its chief unpleasant lessons this season: viewers are impatient when their favorite serials disappear into reruns for a huge chunk of the year. Each episode will introduce a potential new character, and the most popular chosen by fans will join the “Heroes” cast full time.
MSNBC article
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NEW YORK -- While the focus this spring centered on ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" spinoff, NBC was quietly developing one of its own. The Peacock confirmed Monday morning that frosh drama hit "Heroes" has spawned a second series.
"Heroes: Origins" will air in "Heroes'" Monday night timeslot, most likely after the original completes its season run (but possibly when it takes a hiatus). The net has ordered six segs of "Origins," which combined with "Heroes" makes for 30 hours.
NBC Entertainment prexy Kevin Reilly said "Heroes: Origins" will allow the regular show to air virtually uninterrupted through the season.
"I'm calling it the 'Bulk-Up Challenge,' " Reilly said. "We're trying to stay more consistent in the scheduling for our audience ... so we'll fill out the year, with not a lot of repeats or a long hiatus. We'll keep the pedal to the metal next year on 'Heroes.'"
Reilly credited "Heroes" creator-exec producer Tim Kring with pitching the spinoff. Kring will oversee a second crew that will write and produce the episodes simultaneously with the original skein.
"Heroes: Origins" will air as stand-alone episodes that center each week on a different character not yet seen on the original show. Peacock has also added an interactive element to the show: Viewers will be asked to pick their favorite character from "Origins," who will then join the cast of the full-blown "Heroes" skein the following year.
With repeats dipping to record lows on all five nets -- and long hiatuses on hits like "Lost" killing those shows' ratings momentum -- reruns are fast becoming a thing of the past. Besides the 30-seg "Heroes" and "Heroes: Origins" stretch, Peacock is picking up 30 eps of "The Office" -- including five hourlongs (Daily Variety, May 14) -- and 25 segs of "My Name is Earl."
"Heroes: Origins" will air in "Heroes'" Monday night timeslot, most likely after the original completes its season run (but possibly when it takes a hiatus). The net has ordered six segs of "Origins," which combined with "Heroes" makes for 30 hours.
NBC Entertainment prexy Kevin Reilly said "Heroes: Origins" will allow the regular show to air virtually uninterrupted through the season.
"I'm calling it the 'Bulk-Up Challenge,' " Reilly said. "We're trying to stay more consistent in the scheduling for our audience ... so we'll fill out the year, with not a lot of repeats or a long hiatus. We'll keep the pedal to the metal next year on 'Heroes.'"
Reilly credited "Heroes" creator-exec producer Tim Kring with pitching the spinoff. Kring will oversee a second crew that will write and produce the episodes simultaneously with the original skein.
"Heroes: Origins" will air as stand-alone episodes that center each week on a different character not yet seen on the original show. Peacock has also added an interactive element to the show: Viewers will be asked to pick their favorite character from "Origins," who will then join the cast of the full-blown "Heroes" skein the following year.
With repeats dipping to record lows on all five nets -- and long hiatuses on hits like "Lost" killing those shows' ratings momentum -- reruns are fast becoming a thing of the past. Besides the 30-seg "Heroes" and "Heroes: Origins" stretch, Peacock is picking up 30 eps of "The Office" -- including five hourlongs (Daily Variety, May 14) -- and 25 segs of "My Name is Earl."
Variety article
What do you all think about the idea of a spinoff, especially one so interactive?