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Heroes: New Ways to Survive the Superpower Outage

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Heroes: Saving Charlie courtesy NBC
Heroes may be sidelined by the writers' strike, but desperate fans still have a few options for keeping the story alive during this hiatus. On sale today is Heroes: Saving Charlie, a novelization that chronicles Hiro's relationship with Charlie, the waitress he met during Season 1's "Save the Cheerleader, Save the World" arc. The book fleshes out a six-month chunk of time — only hinted at on TV — that Hiro spent with Charlie when he teleported into the past in an attempt to save her from Sylar's murder spree. Though viewers know how the story ends, the book paints a more vivid tale of their courtship and puts aside any questions of Mr. Nakamura's asexuality.

In addition, NBC's Heroes 360 site will be up and running at full force for at least the next three months, even if the strike soldiers on. Weekly graphic-novel chapters, posted on Tuesdays, will continue to tell stories of the various characters. "January is a big month for us," says Joe Tolerico, producer/project manager for Heroes 360. "A couple of heroes finally get together. And they're making some plans to take down the Company." In addition, various offshoot sites (such as PrimatechPaper.com, YamagatoFellowship.org and "Wireless" Hana's blog) will be updated throughout the winter. "Our goal right now, in the situation we're in, is to bridge the gap between Volume 2 and Volume 3," Tolerico says. "We're not working without a net. We are working with the show; it's all show-approved." — Rich Sands


Posted by TV Guide News
Dec 26, 2007 10:18 AM
Speaking for myself, I have no interest in all of these "side projects" for "my shows." I find them a waste of time and they very seldom shed much light on the "main story" (which is as is should be since many people don't have the time or resources to keep up with that "extra" stuff). I'm content with waiting until the strike is over and new episodes are written, shot and broadcast to get my Heroes fix. (The one exception: I did buy the graphic novel compilation book.)
"Lost" tried (and is still trying) this same tactic; I started trying to follow that stuff back in the "Hanso" days, but got truly lost and frustrated and eventually stopped.
But I have to ask: if the networks are going to such lengths to foist this "writer-less" content on us, they have to be making money from it... (Someone must be writing this stuff, just not WGA members, I guess.) Just proves what the writers are trying to get their fair share of (assuming they would be contributing to the "new media" content if they weren't on strike)...
Posted by t75jjs1
Dec 26, 2007 2:56 PM
I couldn't say if the network is making money directly off of the Heroes 360 material. I would guess they are but it probably isn't much. It does provide interesting content for a number of "die-hard" fans of the show. In addition, NBC has been providing this content to one extent or another since Heroes premiered.

As for shedding light to the on screen story, there have been several instances of the "background" material filling in gaps that the show just didn't have time to cover. This book is a prime example. It was in the planning stages long before there were any hints of the strike.

Obviously, I enjoy the additional content, but as I've told any number of people, you don't have to pay attention to it to follow the show.
Posted by wolfbro7
Dec 26, 2007 4:08 PM
You know, all this online web stuff that the network--and TV GUIDE--are promoting here is EXACTLY what the writers are STRIKING OVER!!!!!!!!!!

Let me just suggest that if this audiences wants Heroes back any time soon, STOP WATCHING ANYTHING ON THE INTERNET!!!!! From what I've been able to glean, advertisers are paying the studios for this kind of thing based on the number of hits the site gets. And the writers are getting NOTHING--or next to it--from the online revenue stream.

That's just not right.

If we, the audience, want our shows back, instead of all this crappy reality junk, then I think that WE have to take part in this scenario as well. We have to bite the bullet and turn off our TVs until the AMPTP gets its ass back to the table and does the right thing by the entire creative side of the industry.

Viewing audience numbers are down significantly, according to many press reports--there are even reports that the networks are going to have to provide some kind of refund to advertisers because the actual audience numbers are so far below the expected number. It looks like as much as 20% of the audience has turned off their television sets, at least part of the time. THE REST OF YOU NEED TO JOIN US.

I've turned my TV off almost entirely. The only current show I'm watching now is The Amazing Race (I was watching Life, until the episodes ran out) and the local news.

Anything else I'm watching is from a VHS tape or a DVD that I already owned before Nov. 1. I haven't bought anything new since the writer's strike started--not even Lost Season 3--and I haven't seen a single movie. And I REALLY wanted to see No Country for Old Men and Atonement.
Posted by bossysheryl
Dec 27, 2007 4:20 AM
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