Heroes Ratings Slide | Pajiba - Scathing Reviews for Bitchy People

Not Fast Enough / Dustin Rowles

Trade News | October 8, 2008 | Comments (56)

Fans of NBC’s Monday night block of hero dramas have reason to be concerned, after ratings plummeted to series’ lows this week. “Chuck” fell 15 percent from its low-rated season premiere, and “Heroes” dropped 11 percent, and is now in a tie with the perpetually ratings-challenged “How I Met Your Mother.” It was “Heroes” third week of decline in a row, and considering that it’s ratings are even lower than last year’s awful half-season, who knows how much longer NBC will hang on to the show. Oh, wait: It’s NBC. It has nothing else.

Actually, I’ll tell you what the problem is, and it’s a concern Seth shared with me a few weeks ago when I asked him if I should even bother watching the season debut. It’s those damn subtitles — “Heroes” isn’t good enough a show anymore to warrant your full attention, but it’s still a show that requires it. And if you’re watching it in the background, you’re losing 20 percent of the show every time Hiro speaks in his native language. That, and the season premiere was two hours long. I never found time to devote two hours to the season premiere, and now I’ve got four hours of “Heroes” sitting on my DVR. I’m actually hoping that NBC cancels the damn show so I can let them go in peace, because until then, I suspect they’re just going to pile up until December, when the election is over and reruns are in full force.

That said, I’m more bummed about the weak performance of “Chuck” so far, because it is a show that you can watch comfortably while writing a trade news item about it (as I am right now). And goddamnit, “Chuck” is a good, fun show, and one that’s actually getting better, unlike “Heroes” which is just getting denser. And Yvonne Strahovski — good fucking Lord. It’s hard not to pay attention when she’s onscreen.

For those interested, CBS is winning Monday nights with its comedy block, which includes “How I Met Your Mother” (still great in its fourth season) and three other sitcoms that blow. “Dancing with the Stars” is holding on to the second spot for ABC, while “Boston Legal,” in yet another time slot, continues to fare well. I’m a huge fan of “Boston Legal,” and I’m sad to see it go mid-season. I might just cry if David Kelley kills off Denny Crane in the series finale, which I expect.

“Prison Break” and the probably soon-to-be-cancelled “Sarah Connor Chronicles” are sitting in the fourth place dumpster over on Fox.

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Comments

Heroes?

That's the one with the cheerleader that looks like a young midget boy?

That shit's still on?

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at October 8, 2008 2:10 PM

You're dead-on about the subtitle problem. I actually found myself getting annoyed the other night that I had to stop what I was doing on the computer and actually watch the tv screen when Hiro was on. Of course, Hiro himself is pretty annoying, but it was being forced to look at the screen that got to me.

Chuck totally deserves better ratings. How can you not love Charles Carmichael??

Posted by: Melissa at October 8, 2008 2:13 PM

OH MY GOD, you guys. Did you know Hayden Panettiere is short?! You know what else is short? Midgets!! LOLZ
She also has a small bust! You know who else generally have small busts? Little boys!! Get it? ROFLLLLLLLLLL

Posted by: serena at October 8, 2008 2:16 PM

ROFLMAO indeed.

*HI FIVE*

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at October 8, 2008 2:19 PM

I should care about Heroes getting crap ratings, but Nathan is boring, Mohinder isn't shirtless anymore, and Mr. Muggles has barely gotten any screentime. The one bright spot so far is that Lyle got three whole lines in one episode.

And the turtle. Can't forget the turtle.

Other than that? STOP CONFUSING ME SO FUCKING MUCH, HEROES.

Posted by: Sabrina at October 8, 2008 2:19 PM

Another problem with Heroes -- the 20 characters you're forced to try to follow around every week. It's way too many to keep up with. Now they all have present and future versions for each character, and characters we thought had finally been killed off keep returning. Enough already!

And as a side note -- Jamie Hector's cred took a major hit when he accepted his Heroes role (as insignificant as it is).

Posted by: Weck at October 8, 2008 2:20 PM

I have such a crush on Zachary Levi from Chuck so I hope it does well.

I never got into Heroes but Ms. Panettiere rubs me the wrong way for some reason... Maybe it's the Skechers ad... Maybe it's the fact that she's banging Milo.

The world may never know.

Posted by: Kayanne at October 8, 2008 2:27 PM

I can't believe a show that was so compelling its first season has turned to repetitious crap. Every episode of Heroes feels like a different version of something we've already seen. As for Hiro, I find his comedic adventures the highlights of the show.

Please don't make me cry Fox - Terminator is just hitting its stride. Summer Glau blew me away last week, and this is the first show to let us see Brian Austin Greene act.

Posted by: Cindy at October 8, 2008 2:41 PM

Whatever happened to that Irish chick that Peter teleports into the future (the dire plague-infected-everybody-dying future) with and then abandons? Anybody else think that's kinda harsh?

I was just thinking about that the other night when I got really confused by the random jaunts into the future and my brain sought some way to distract itself from trying to untie the knot that Heroes has become.

Also what my brain was doing during that period: thinking the Latino chick with the crazy plague power has really tramped it up this season.

Hey, I'm a guy and she's hot. You do the math.

Posted by: ASterisk at October 8, 2008 2:45 PM

"... the first show to let us see Brian Austin Greene act..."

Posted by: Cindy at October 8, 2008 2:41 PM

I never thought I would remotely agree with that statement, but homeboy is gettin' it done. In fact everybody is doing good work in that show. That chick from Garbage is rockin' it too. Which can only mean that FOX will soon dispose of it.

Just please, give us some closure assholes.

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at October 8, 2008 2:46 PM

Heroes never made any sense - but during the first season it was OK because it was a new show, and there was plenty of time for it to make sense later. Now we know that'll never happen.

I'm sorry Chuck isn't doing better, because frankly, Zachary Levi won the bare-chest war with Lee Pace last week.

Posted by: Three-nineteen at October 8, 2008 2:53 PM

Heroes is turning real comic booky. That goes over fine with nerds like me, but not the general public.

Posted by: Lucas at October 8, 2008 2:54 PM

Mohinder isn't shirtless anymore

And when he is he's all gross and stuff. I'm not liking the new season because they're trying too hard to toss all the established characterizations out the window. Claire's an assassin, Sylar's a concerned dad, Mohinder's crazy and freaky, Noah's back at the company, Peter's getting steadily less skilled with his powers, Nathan's ~~gone crazy~~ found religion, yada yada yada. It's just too much.

I am finally getting on the Brian Austin Green train over on "Terminator," though. I wasn't too enthusiastic about him, but in the last episode, with the military academy, he was pretty badass.

Posted by: Todd at October 8, 2008 3:02 PM

I have been following Heroes this season and the only conclusion I've come to is that Peter Petrelli is the downfall of humanity. I'm trying to figure out if this was planned or if the producers are pissed at him for getting very publicly and creepily involved with the 18 year old who plays his niece on the show.

Posted by: Genny (also Rusty) at October 8, 2008 3:03 PM

Yeah, Heroes would be a much better show if they had like half or a third as many characters, and some decent writers. The whole "20 different characters we don't have the balls to kill off get 5 minutes of screen time each" thing they're going with really isn't working.

Posted by: Joe at October 8, 2008 3:09 PM

It's really not the show it used to be. I can't quite put my finger on it. Too much of the same old crap.

Posted by: Optimus Rhyme at October 8, 2008 3:29 PM

I didn't start watching "Heroes" until this summer and I thought Season One was pretty damn good. I forced my way through Season Two (even though I heard less than great things about it) in anticipation of Season Three. It's getting tough to keep myself focused and not get lost by all of the space/time continuum jumps and character reversals.

What I keep wondering is why Hiro doesn't go back in time and just leave his half of the damn formula in the safe in the first place? Or did I miss something (very possible) whereby it would have been stolen anyway?

ASterisk, I was thinking the same thing the other day regarding Peter's Irish lass. My take: their relationship was unbelievable, viewers didn't care, so they just pretend like we never met her so they can take the story in a new direction.

I hope they can make the coming episodes less convoluted. I think they're trying to hard to complicate it all.

Posted by: prairiegirl at October 8, 2008 3:35 PM

I kept hearing that the third season of Heroes was getting off to a strong start, so I made time to watch it. About 20 minutes into the premiere and realized that I don't remember what happened last season (I was wondering about the Irish girl, too, ASterisk!) and also that I really didn't care anymore.

I'm relieved to find that I'm not the only one feeling this way. I was thinking that I'm A) a moron for being so confused about what was going on, and B) possessing the attention span on an eight-year-old because I was bored senseless.

Posted by: MN_Jen at October 8, 2008 3:38 PM

What I was hoping for was an awesome season focused on a sylar and peter face-off where they blast the holy hell out of each other with their powers in a special effects and explosion orgas... err... extravaganza.

What we ended up getting was a fucking televised version of "opposite day" that annoying game we all played in grade school. Up is down, black is white and south is north. Sylar is good, peter is bad, nathan has no ego and claire is a killer bitch with no feelings any more. This show sucks balls.

My only hope is that I'll suffer through this season and be rewarded with a badass fourth season where they get back to their roots and start doing things right again. (A la "Lost.")

Posted by: Roaddog at October 8, 2008 3:39 PM

One more thought - to me it seems like the producers/writers are trying to make "Heroes" be like "LOST". Big cast, lots of complex twists and turns, big mysteries and unknowns, people not being quite what you thought they were. Unfortunately, they are lacking the fabulous characters that drive "LOST". I don't feel invested in the "Heroes" cast and what happens to them.

Man, I really can't wait for "LOST" to come back.

Posted by: prairiegirl at October 8, 2008 3:41 PM

you know what could help Heroes? A new cast. Not that I totally hate the regular cast (although Milo whatsisname and Dot from A Bug's Life are obnoxious frakers, aren't they?), but their arcs were finished back in season one. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't that season END? I mean, with a double bar, closed ending, change the subject kind of end? There was nowhere else for those guys to go as characters! Why not, then, focus each season on a different group of people.

Only, you know, not annoying, unlike those South American twins from last season, one of whom refuses to let go and now inexplicably speaks in perfect English.

And yet, I'm finding this season a general improvement over last season, but that's not saying much now, is it?

Posted by: Armando at October 8, 2008 3:44 PM

Fuck, double post. Sorry. Guess I have the super ability to be a jackass. Think Sylar wants to eat my brain, too?

Posted by: MN_Jen at October 8, 2008 3:44 PM

Isn't anybody else more worried about the state of Christian Slater's face? I mean I will always love him for Harry Hard On, but he kind of scares me now...
As for Heroes, I would hope the fact that they are making us READ is not really a cause of the show's problem.

Posted by: VeinsRHiways at October 8, 2008 3:52 PM

don't cancel sarah connor chr, please don't. the last episode was really good.

Posted by: kerimcan at October 8, 2008 4:26 PM

I was totally swept up in season 1 of Heroes, but season 3 is just a schizophrenic version of season 2. What a shame to squander Adrian Pasdar AND the chance to bring Claude/CE back at the expense of pandering to Milofiles.

Posted by: Gib at October 8, 2008 4:35 PM

I think the writer's strike blew Heroes chances for getting any story arc making sense. The second season had so many places to go, (and was rightly faulted for taking its sweet time) then...interruptus, and a shit, forced, closure. Now it's 'try too hard to capture your audience back by throwing in all these wild-idea-tm perks way too soon at the cost of reasonable characterization people actually liked'. I want so very much for it to be good.

*defensive posture allowable seeing as how I'm an inked and committed comic geek. I'm kinda stuck here, guys.

Posted by: replica at October 8, 2008 4:38 PM

I'm one of those people who got sucked into heroes three episodes into the first season and then spent the rest of the series burning and reburning dvd's for all my friends so that they could fall in love with and discover this great new show. Then last season, I started having to make excuses for the show. "Don't worry," I say, "they'll get better. The writers will shape up and we'll get what we're hoping for... I KNOW it."

I'm the EXACT fucking way..except for LOST.

Am I the only one that is actually enjoying this season of Heroes? I'm excited to see where they are going to take the show. Hopefully not to the shitter.

Posted by: shige! at October 8, 2008 4:44 PM

Thanks for making Ali Larter the picture. I keep telling people she's hotter than the obnoxiously over-rated and -exposed Hayden, but no one listens, dammit.

Also, Heroes stop with the time travel already. I have a headache.

Posted by: CurlieQt at October 8, 2008 4:47 PM

One word for the sudden, inexplicable morphing of Claire from sweet cheerleader to heartless, brunette dominatrix assassin: FANSERVICE. (is that two words? I never know these things!)

Call her a stubby dwarf all you want, and I happen to agree, but there's a legion of fans out there who'd eagerly (salad)toss that midget! Har har.

Anyways, I'm disappointed. I was obsessed with Heroes during Season 1, faithful and hopeful with it Season 2.. and now, I'm decidedly meh. It sucks. Lucky for me there were double Peters (one in leather) for a few episodes, but I think that came to an end.

The crappy thing is, what made Heroes exponentially better than Lost for so long, and what it's now lost, was the absence of total "WTF?! YOU STUPID BITCH!" moments. Rarely in Season 1 were there scenes where the problem could be easily solved by a character just doing one simple thing. You never said to yourself, "Say this! Just DO THAT! C'MONNNNN URRGGHHHHH." Also, unlike Lost, people didn't do things wildly out of character that you suspect were written in just for the shock factor. But those days are gone. *sob*

Posted by: monkey_b at October 8, 2008 4:48 PM

I certainly hope Chuck isn't canceled! Zachary Levi has a smile that can melt the panties off of most women, and by most women, I mean me.

Plus, his character is the everyman hero! Who couldn't love a guy who could fix your computer, save you from evil Russian spies and still wants to pilot the Millenium Falcon when he grows up? No one, that's who!

NBC, please don't make me come out there and cut a bitch to keep it on the air.

Posted by: Tae at October 8, 2008 5:01 PM

monkey-

It's one, you had it right.

Posted by: CurlieQt at October 8, 2008 5:14 PM

Shig! I'm not really hating this season either. It's not as great as the first, but it's definitely better than the second. My gripes:

1. Micah is now an orphan, yet there's another version of Ali Larter on the show?
2. Hayden cannot pull off "evil". Her performance was laughable.
3. Too much time travel; I can't keep up.
4. Maya sucks. Honestly, she's useless.

However, I do think that Zachary Quinto, Jack Coleman, & Cristine Rose turn in excellent performances every week. It's not enough to keep the show afloat, but that's why I watch. It may have been for ratings, but Sylar's "meltdown" on Monday was unbelievable.

Posted by: Brie at October 8, 2008 5:20 PM

Chuck has been getting steadily better and I've really been enjoying it. But I don't understand the heroes hate. I always play videogames when watching TV Shows, and I've never missed a beat with the subtitles (I do watch alot of anime, so I have some practise). Also I don't see the problem with the current arcs. Sylar's redemption has been obvious (and unusually for me, something I've been hoping for) since they showed his mother in the first season. Nathan Petrelli going crazy is annoying but not unexpected, as that's basically his job (also if he didn't how could he ever believably be elected president?). I don't quite understand the hate for Peter (apart from some really shocking acting from old Peter in the latest episode) and I'm curious to see what Sylar meant about Claire.
I for one am still thoroughly enjoying the show.

Posted by: Chugga at October 8, 2008 5:38 PM

Why you Chuck apologists continue to defend a stale, trite, mediocre piece of geek-masturbational-escapist-family is beyond me. The show isn't good. It's the Gilligan's Island of spy shows.

Please die of cancellation.

Posted by: drew at October 8, 2008 5:55 PM

"Am I the only one that is actually enjoying this season of Heroes? I'm excited to see where they are going to take the show. Hopefully not to the shitter."

Posted by: shige! at October 8, 2008 4:44 PM

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one! I will admit that they seem to have too many hens in the pot, or too many chefs in the kitchen, or whatever the hell saying fits...but I'm willing to give them time to get their shit straight.

One thing I'm relieved to read is that I'm not the only one annoyed by Hiro's subtitles. At first I felt kind of guilty, but now I feel comforted knowing that others are equally annoyed. I love a foreign language film with subtitles, but for prime-time tv, I really don't want to have to work my brain that hard.

My last comment, then I swear I'll shut the hell up: if one more variation of Ali Larter, a.k.a. Jessica/Niki/whatever-the-fuck she is now pops up, I may literally go insane. Her character was never that interesting to begin with, and each version gets more and more lame.

Posted by: Teri at October 8, 2008 6:11 PM

i'm with shige!, Brie and Chugga, I am enjoying this season

my time as a comic book nerd (no longer) has left me with a patience for the 'too many characters/storylines' that throw ppl off. I understand LOST, which my heroes buddies are convincing me to start watching, is the same way.

The writers strike fucked things up a bit, but I'm okay as long as they settle in to some good arcs soon here.

Hiro is annoying the SHIT outta me, tho! When did he turn into an impetuous, stupid teenager? thats the one thing thats really turning me off.

The time travel needs to settle down a bit. And they are seeming to pretend that certain characters never got introduced

That Being Said...

please don't cancel. we get together and eat chinese food every other week for this shit (yes. we know)

Posted by: VinKong at October 8, 2008 6:31 PM

"Call her a stubby dwarf all you want..."
Posted by: monkey_b at October 8, 2008 4:48 PM

That Mexican chick, Maya, gives me a stubby dwarf.

Posted by: JP at October 8, 2008 7:40 PM

Heroes would be a MUCH better show if they kill off at least 6 characters including Maya and the blond chick that goes places fast. Ugh. DON'T ADD ANYMORE, kill some for fucks sake.

And the whole everything in the future is opposite is not only annoying but leaves us with no characters to root for, besides Milo who is SO FUCKING annoying, and Hiro who was being a pit of a pansy and ass to his friend. I know I shouldn't care but still, minor things like that make a good show suck ass.

I want the Heroes from season one... Please.

Posted by: Virenda at October 8, 2008 7:55 PM

Teri,

AHH, HELL to the YES on the Ali Larter incarnations. Each one is successively more annoying, and if I see her make that scared/confused/bewildered face one more time after she uses some latent power or longingly stare in the mirror as she tries to figure out who she is... I'm going to pop out a tiny turd from sheer frustration.

That Mexican chick, Maya, gives me a stubby dwarf.

I'll never watch LOTR the same way again.

P.S. I actually don't mind the subtitles at all. Do they really bother people that much? I think I prefer them!

Posted by: monkey_b at October 8, 2008 8:14 PM

The only reason I won't totally give up for Heroes is the continued presence of Jeph Loeb. I fell in love with comics reading X-Men, X-Force, Cable, Generation X and the like in the early nineties, and Jeph Loeb wrote my favourite issues. He, Scott Lobdell and Fabian Nicieza ruled!

Posted by: millie at October 8, 2008 9:55 PM

I can't enjoy "Heroes" anymore. Even without the annoying characters from the second season (the twins, the girl that copied movements, etc.), there's a bunch of new annoying characters (fast girl, spiritual dude who paints to justify Tim Sale's involvement), and of course, the new characterizations for old characters are shit.

And it looks like there's a competition between Sylar and Claire to see who bores me to death first. Neither of them can die now, to make matters worse.

The new storyline? Pfff. I just don't care anymore. I don't even know why I keep on watching it. I don't know why I'm not following HIMYM now, Cobie Smulders is just too lovely to ignore.

Posted by: JC at October 8, 2008 11:26 PM

I can't say that I don't agree with everyone about Heroes. That show has gone way downhill. But, I can disagree with Dustin on "How I Met Your Mother". How can you say that it is still great? Did you not see the bullshit episode about the hamburgers??
Really?...... Hamburgers?

Posted by: kevin at October 8, 2008 11:40 PM

That killing off point is a good idea, too bad so many shows have no balls when it comes to that, except Lost.

Heroes writers, if you are reading this, please kill off the following people, and if you bring in any new characters that you do not immediately kill off, you are so fucking dead:
1) Maya
2) Tracy
3) Knox
4) Meredith
5) Elle

For fucks sake, stop with all the time traveling, it's too fucking confusing, bring in some more focus. However, your new season is much better than your last season. Remember though, your not Lost, they have infinitely more talent than 99 percent of the people who have ever been on television, and are the only people who can deal with an ensemble cast of that magnitude, and they have the balls to kill people off, even if we care about them, for the sake of a better story and tearing at peoples heartstings. Follow that example, you assholes.

Posted by: George at October 8, 2008 11:56 PM

On another note, I am glad that they cut out Claires boyfriend, and they did seem to get rid of Elle for this season. Plus, bob was killed off, thanks for that Heroes writers. Also, I've noticed lately the episodes have been focusing on only 3 characters at a time, which makes it less of an embarassing clusterfuck. Now just kill of Mohinder, who I forgot on the above list, and the show will have been perfectly trimmed. Also, stop the Milo Hayden relationship, intervene somehow. It's creepy, and your losing viewers. Just find some broad for Milo to stick his dick in, and seperate him and Hayden for as much as possible. Please, for the love of god.

Posted by: George at October 9, 2008 12:08 AM

I find myself fast forwarding through a lot of Heroes. It's probably not going to last much longer, especially when I also have to get through Chuck, Big Bang Theory, and How I Met Your Mother.

Posted by: Dave at October 9, 2008 12:21 AM

Just find some broad for Milo to stick his dick in

*raises hand so fast and hard I dislocate my shoulder*

Posted by: monkey_b at October 9, 2008 12:21 AM

What a clever rejoinder.

Posted by: serena at October 9, 2008 1:29 AM

"I never thought I would remotely agree with that statement, but homeboy is gettin' it done. In fact everybody is doing good work in that show. That chick from Garbage is rockin' it too. Which can only mean that FOX will soon dispose of it.

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at October 8, 2008 2:46 PM"

Has BSlim ever been positive about ANYTHING before? Oh, look, it's raining frogs...

Posted by: Irina at October 9, 2008 3:13 AM

"This happens. This is something that happens. . . . You need to be nicer to me."

PTA / Smith '08

Posted by: BierceAmbrose at October 9, 2008 3:56 AM

I'm still watching Heroes, but must admit there are characters I'd like to see less of. Or none of. It would make things simpler and easier to follow.
Maya is pointless, Parkman seems to have no purpose either, and making Mohinder into a Goldblum-in-The-Fly clone... jeezus. Do they think their viewers are all too young to have seen that movie? And lose Fast Girl, pronto. (I could look up her character name, but I'm paralysed with not caring very much). She seems to have wandered in from Smallville. And that is NOT a good show to start borrowing from. Not at all.
The characters I prefer are the older generation - HRG, Mama Petrelli, Lindeman. They have layers. I miss Hiro's dad, though. And Claude.

Has anybody else noticed that Prison Break has become all 'caper of the week'? Ok, it was always a bit like that, but now it's just fucking boring and contrived. A waste of good actors.

Posted by: Tarn at October 9, 2008 10:34 AM

Wake up people!!!!
The show was never going to work because Tim Kring stole it and now two artists are suing Tim and NBC in a NYC Appellate court, because of copyright infringement.
This lawsuit controls the story lines on Heroes.
The artist that can paint the future in real life and fiction was first written about August 5, 2004 in THE NY DAILY NEWS by Vanity Fair magazine writer Lloyd Grove.
The artist name is Enjai Eele.
Enjai's family has a long history of painting the future, they've been documented by western scholars since the early 16th century and their tribe's art is part of the permanent collection at the Met museum in NYC, it's called Luba Divination Art and it's the story line for the African artist that can paint the future on Heroes season 3 and it was the story line for Isaac Mendez.

Tim Kring is a hack writer that should go to jail, and there's a movement that has started worldwide to bring this fact to the public and tv industry's attention.

What a loser.

Posted by: TV CRITIC at October 9, 2008 11:44 PM

That's quite possibly the stupidest story I've ever heard. Next, the Vatican will sue on St. Joseph of Cupertino's behalf for "stealing" the power of flight for Nathan Petrelli.

For the record, people can't really fly. And psychic phenomena are bullshit.

Posted by: Craig at October 15, 2008 11:59 PM

Craig, your mother's birth is the stupidest story you ever heard of and would you please ask her to take my dick out of her mouth.
you're the dumbest motherfucker to ever use a computer.
for the record, your mother is a stinking slut and her mouth smells like the cum of 12 street bums..

Posted by: PIMP at October 22, 2008 3:48 PM

Posted by: PIMP at October 22, 2008 3:49 PM

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