Remember No Ordinary Family, the TV pilot featuring a super-powered family headed by brick Michael Chiklis and speedster Julie Benz? Deadline Hollywood reports that ABC has picked up the Greg Berlanti-produced show. Marc Guggenheim (Flash: The Fastest Man Alive – Full Throttle) executive-produced the pilot and will remain “in consulting capacity.”
So even if Heroes doesn’t come back, there will still be at least one live-action speedster on the air this fall.
Update: The Hollywood Reporter has more, including the official description of the show (via @SpeedsterSite):
The Powells are about to go from ordinary to extraordinary. After 16 years of marriage, Jim and Stephanie’s relationship lacked the spark it once had, and their family life now consists of balancing work and their two children; leaving little time for family bonding. During a family vacation set up by Jim in an attempt to reconnect, their plane crashes into the Amazon River. But this is where the fun starts for the Powells as they soon discover that something’s not quite right. Each of them now possesses unique and distinct super powers. But saving and savoring their family life will be equally important as they try to find purpose for their new power and embark on a journey to find out what defines and unifies them. The Powells are a totally relatable family that happens to be a little bit amazing.
The quality of Heroes really fell off this past season. I felt it was rather tedious to watch. I don’t think I’ll miss it if it doesn’t come back. I’m looking forward to this No Ordinary Family show. Hopefully the writing will be a bit better but I’ve never been disappointed with any Greg Berlanti produced shows. I was sad to see the last Eli Stone/Marc Guggenheim collaboration, Eli Stone get the axe after only 2 seasons. Hopefully No Ordinary Family will fare better.
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I actually gave up on Heroes mid-way through season three. The “Villains” arc just infuriated me. I was watching it for the Hiro-Ando-Daphne show, but everything else was extremely annoying. I gave each of the next two arcs a shot, but “Fugitives” bugged me and “Redemption” just didn’t grab me.
HEROES committed the cardinal sin of creativity.
They listened to Focus Groups. Focus Groups told them they wanted more Hiro, more Claire, more Peter and more Sylar. And that’s what we got.
The creative team was forced to abandon their original direction because of “marketing notes.”
I hate FGDs. Every commercial you see that is condescending and talks down to you and is downright irritating is there because an FGD of people who had nothing better to do that afternoon said THAT is a good commercial.
Every sequel that tries to rehash everything that worked well
Next time you are invited to an FGD, and you want good work… I suggest you just go there and tell everyone “Hey, if you like what they did the first time around. then trust them instead of trying to do their jobs for them. If you knew so much, then why aren’t you producing good TV shows.”
There’s something to be said for Joss Whedon’s mantra, “Don’t give people what they want, give them what they need.”
On the other hand, sometimes trusting the artist leaves you with The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones.