David Kronke was appointed Mayor of Television after a bloodless coup in 2000. Since then, he has improved infrastructure, championed greater educational opportunities and fought for reforms that have utterly erased corruption and incompetence from the television industry. Since Mr. Kronke has ascended to power, Television is a far better place. “Heroes”’ villains: NBC
Meet the first casualty of the writers strike: Citing the potential walkout, NBC has put the kibosh on “Heroes: Origins,” the series of free-standing episodes that were to place-hold for the show in lieu of repeats during the season. Part of the problem may have been that the show itself has introduced so many new characters this season, so creating episodes that would factor in yet more seemed a little redundant.
But that’s scarcely good news for “Heroes,” which has hardly been the phenomenon it was in its first season (on Monday, less than 10 and a half million watched, way down from its peak of 16 million last season). (Separating Hiro from the rest of the action clearly wasn’t the inspired gambit everyone was hoping for.) NBC seems not to mind that the show faces further drops: It lost a lot of steam ratingswise when it took breaks last season and went into rerun mode.
Meanwhile, only five new shows have not received any vote of confidence, either in full-season pickups or additional scripts or episodes being ordered. Of course, since those shows are “Cavemen,” “Kid Nation,” “CW Now,” “Life is Wild” and “Big Shots,” that should come as a surprise to no one. Expect “Cavemen” and “Big Shots” to be cancelled as soon as the strike begins, but for the remaining episodes that have been shot to air.