I would like to preface this post by saying that this is one site saying this, and it is not someone who is known to have a stranglehold on Heroes inside dish in the past. I.e. it’s not Kristin over at E! Online, Michael Ausiello over at Entertainment Weekly, or someone over at TVGuide. This is one genre website (in this case, Airlock Alpha) saying this, and I cannot vouch for them, nor can I deny their report. As evidence, they site a “source” within NBC for their story, but that’s about it. So, having said that, here’s what Airlock Alpha says:
Sources at NBC have told Airlock Alpha that the inevitable is finally happening: Networks executives will ask “Heroes” producers to wind the series down, possibly with an overall finale by May.
“There isn’t much happening with this show in terms of audience, and giving it a ‘final chapter’ feel is something the network is considering to help allow the show to go out with a bang,” said the source, who asked not to be identified.
They add:
“To keep a show like this going despite its numbers requires some nostalgic connection to it, and while there are a lot of people here who were part of bringing ‘Heroes’ to the air, they are not in the decision-making capacities,” the source said.
One thing to stress, however, is that no final decision has been made yet, and likely won’t be made until closer to mid-season. The source was not even clear if a wrap-up directive had been issued to “Heroes” quite yet. If it hasn’t, it will.
Let me once again stress that this is just one website saying this. I’ve been covering Heroes for the last four years, and of all the sites, I wouldn’t say that Airlock Alpha necessarily has the “inside track” on all things Heroes. For that, you would usually go to the usual suspects of Ausiello or Kristin over at E! Online. But, having said that, I am in no way dismissing their report outright, because Airlock Alpha has always been credible on other genre news that they’ve written about in the past.
And while this isn’t the first time we’ve heard rumors of Heroes’ demise, unlike all those other times when the rumor proved false, the show hasn’t really been under this type of ratings slump before, so whose to say? Certainly, it would suck if the show is canceled, but on the bright side, it does seem as if NBC is willing to give Tim Kring and company the heads up to go out with a bang. Best-case scenario, of course, would be a fifth season.
Meanwhile, one thing is for certain: Heroes will return next week with episode 4.08, “Once Upon a Time in Texas”.
