November 5th, 2008
Speak Out: How Would YOU Solve Heroes’ Problems?
In the aftermath of the firing of Heroes producers/writers Jeph Loeb and Jesse Alexander (it has now been revealed that Tim Kring himself did the firing, albeit at the pressuring of NBC), Tim Kring has once again been forced to publicly bow down to criticism concerning his show in the face of declining ratings. (FYI: Heroes is averaging 10.4 million viewers for its third season, even taking into account delayed DVR numbers, compared to 14.3 million for its first year, and 13.1 million in its second, strike-shortened season.) Much of the “problem”, it’s been said, rests in the season’s storylines, which according to general consensus have become too complex and the twists and turns too convoluted for your average viewer. Along the way, the main characters seem to have gotten lost or inexplicably altered amidst all the changing allegiances, new bad guys, and new world-saving drama that seems to show up every episode.
In response to all the criticism, Variety reports that Tim Kring has promised to simply the show by taking a more active hand in the plotting and writing aspects:
Kring has assured NBC and Universal Media Studios brass that he intends to focus on simplifying what’s been criticized, even by ardent fans, as an overly complex storytelling structure to get back to the show’s comicbookish good vs. evil themes and to emphasize character development more than plot twists.
Insiders close to the situation emphasize that Kring has been a hands-on and diligent showrunner. The big problem is that the show’s large ensemble cast and intense f/x and post-production requirements suck up a lot of his time. And “Heroes,” already one of primetime’s priciest hours at $4 million-plus per seg, has been grappling with budget overruns.
Now, the thinking is that his focus is needed most in breaking stories and refining the tone of the show for the remainder of its third season.
But for now, put yourself in Tim Kring’s shoes: if you were Tim Kring, what would YOU do to solve the show’s deficiencies (perceived or otherwise)? Let’s hear your thoughts on the matter. Maybe someone at NBC will be reading what the REAL fans of the show thinks, besides what some fly-by-nighters on a TV Guide or an Entertainment Weekly article thinks.
Let’s hear your 2 cents, Heroes fans!
