TV Chatting

NBC entertainment president Angela Bromstad said the network is planning to bring Heroes back for a fourth season, adding that plans are to order 18-20 episodes of the show for next season.

Despite a drop in ratings this season, the show is still tied with The Office as the network’s top-rated series among adults 18-49 this season. 

The network is also considering Jesse Alexander’s pilot project Day One, about a group of survivors in the wake of a catastrophic global event, as a companion piece to Heroes. They are hoping the popularity of Heroes could help a new series like Day One find an audience, especially if it airs as part of the same Monday night block.

"Day One is a big event and we’re looking at that to come into the Heroes spot," Bromstad said. "It’s right now being looked at as a 13-episode run — something people could commit to and we could make a big splash with."

Bromstad also cited the show’s global popularity as working in Heroes favor.  "Every single place you go has heard about Heroes — whether you’re in China or Japan or Russia," she said. "And to me, that is global content."

The network has privately discussed setting a series end date for Heroes, which has worked in the favor of the quality of shows like Lost and Battlestar Galactica. But even if NBC ever made such a move, Bromstad said, they wouldn’t want to make next season the conclusion.

Of course, this is not yet an “official” renewal, but barring any drastic ratings drop, the show seems safe for renewal at this point.

For all of the latest on Heroes, check out Watching Heroes.

If you are one of those who couldn’t care less about the big game on Sunday, but you would like to see the commercials, you don’t necessarily have to sit through the football to catch the ads.  NBC will make the spots available on NBC.com, SuperBowl.com and Hulu.com immediately after they air on television.  NBC.com and Hulu.com will have ads available for posting on blogs or web pages.  At Hulu.com, viewers will be able to vote for their favorite ads.

I’m not sure if this will also include some of the highly anticipated spots for NBC shows like the 3D Chuck commerical or the Heroes football spot, but I suspect it will.  We’ll post some of the favorites here!

The big game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals will kick off at 6:18 p.m. ET.  Coverage begins on NBC at 4:30 pm.  The halftime show will feature Bruce Springsteen (sometime around the 8 p.m. hour).

A Pushing Daisies reunion (of sorts) is in the making at Heroes as Swoosie Kurtz has signed a deal to guest star in an April episode which was written by Daisies creator Bryan Fuller.

Kurtz will play an old society friend of Angela Petrelli’s.  A source tells EW’s Michael Ausiello that Fuller wrote the part specifically for Kurtz.  At this time the role is only slated for one episode but it would have recurring potential, particularly if the show is picked up for a fourth season.  (Don’t worry!  Given that it is NBC’s highest rated scripted program, a renewal is expected).

Fuller, who worked on Season 1 of Heroes, returned to the show late last year after ABC canceled Pushing Daisies and Heroes executive producers Jeph Loeb and Jesse Alexander were given the heave-ho.

If you haven’t already heard, a big shakeup has taken place at Heroes.  Co-executive producers/writers Jesse Alexander and Jeph Loeb were let go from the show.

Both Loeb and Alexander have been with the show since the first season and have basically led the day-to-day production operation under the direction of creator/executive producer Tim Kring.  Apparently the network executives have been frustrated with the creative direction of the show and large budget overruns this season, and had to place blame somewhere…unfortunately that fell with Loeb and Alexander. 

An insider says the firings came as a "big shock" and "surprise" to the cast and crew.  "Someone had to take the fall, " says a "reliable inside source" at Heroes. "NBC is not happy with the current status of the show, and there had to be a visual and tangible change in the course of action."

The final blow was apparently last week’s Entertainment Weekly cover.  The story was done under the guise of a promotional story for the series and when it turned out to be a giant criticism of the show, the network executives were not at all happy. 

Jesse Alexander wrote on his blog: "I write this with a heavy heart. As of today I am no longer a writer/producer on HEROES. I could not be prouder of all the work I did on the show and wish all my Heroic Scribbler pals the very best. I will certainly continue to blog at GLOBAL COUCH."

Jeph Loeb responded via CBR: “As of today, Jesse Alexander and I have left Heroes. I’m incredibly proud to have been a big part of the success a show with eight Emmy nods and a win this year for NBC.com. I will miss the superb cast and writing staff and wish everyone the best.”

For more about the firings and all the other Heroes news that’s fit to print, check out my other blog, Watching Heroes.

Former Moonlighting star and four-time Emmy nominee Cybill Shepherd will guest on the season premiere of  Samantha Who? on Monday, Oct. 13. Also on the episode will be Dancing with the Stars pro Mark Ballas. Sam ( Christina Applegate) enters a dance competition with her mom, Regina (Jean Smart), in hopes of beating Regina’s rival Paula, played by Shepherd. Paula, however, has hired a ringer (Ballas) to help her win.

Grey’s Anatomy is adding several new recurring players. L Word alum Janina Gavankar will join the cast as a new intern and Journeyman star Kevin McKidd will play a former Iraq doctor and love interest for Cristina. Also cast is Brandon Scott who will play a "junior McDreamy," according to EW’s Ausiello.

Former LOST actress Tania Raymonde, who played Ben’s dearly departed daughter, Alex, is joining the cast of Cold Case as a lab tech and potential love interest for Danny Pino.

Another Olympian is trying her hand at acting. Gymnast Nastia Lukin will guest on an episode of Gossip Girl. She is set to begin filming in mid-October. 

Gary Cole (Desperate Housewives) has been cast as the Sarah’s con-man father on Chuck. His guest spot will air during November sweeps.

Breckin Meyer will guest star on House later this season as a struggling artist whose disease causes him to get wildly aggressive. Of course, House and his crew set out to solve his medical mystery. Meyer and his buddy Seth Green will also guest star on Heroes as a couple of comic book geeks. They started filming this week.

NBC will debut the season premieres of some of its shows on the online streaming service Hulu one week before they air on television.

Knight Rider and Lipstick Jungle, which will premiere on NBC on September 24 will be available on Hulu on Wednesday September 17; Chuck and Life, which premiere September 29, will debut on Hulu September 22; and 30 Rock, which will premiere on October 30, will be available October 23 on Hulu.

Unfortunately, fans will have to wait to see favorites like Heroes, The Office, and My Name is Earl and the new shows My Own Worst Enemy and Crusoe.  They will debut on the network as scheduled and then be available on Hulu within a few days, usually the next day.

For the full schedule, see Hulu’s Fall Premiere Lineup.