…and neither can we. I was lucky enough to see an early screener of tonight’s fall finale episode (the show returns on Jan. 22) and I can easily say that it will rock you like a hurricane. Indeed, as the ads have promised, a Hero will fall. But, even better, to hold your mind and your nervous system hostage until it comes back, tonight’s episode features not one, but FOUR cliffhangers. Catch my last TV Watch of the year tomorrow morning.
Not as exciting, however, is the news that, in another sign of Studio 60 sinking deeper and deeper into its increasingly meta-tastic rabbit hole, the show has recruited Heroes‘ Masi Oka (pictured) — who plays the hit show’s lovable time/space traveler Hiro — to appear as himself as host of the terminally unfunny show within the show. Seems to me to be a cynical attempt to keep even a small fragment of the approximately five million viewers that change their channels come 10 p.m. every Monday night.
Still, after listening to Oka talk in subtitled Japanese and jabberin pidgin American for 11 episodes, I would like to see him speak inthe stone-cold, Brown University-educatedEnglish that is his everyday voice. I sorta hope he plays himself as ajerk, which would be funny and completely antithetical to what we’vecome to expect from his geeky persona. What this news really instilledin me, however, is a nostalgia for the days of character crossovers,like those couple of ones they did way back when with Law & Order and Homicide, or when Hanna-Barbera made that Flintstones/Jetsons movie. Studio 60 and Heroes, however, might not be the best pair of NBC shows to experiment with (I would rather see The Office take a field trip up to the city and run into some 30 Rock people on a tour). Are any of you Heroes fans actually going to watch this particular episode of Studio 60?
In other Heroes news (collected by TVTattle): Seems like NBC is finally, FINALLY, retiring the whole, "Save the Cheerleader, Save the World" ad campaign.Obviously, since Claire was saved in a hyped, but ultimatelydisappointing episode, there’s no more need for it. Still, we wouldalso like to point to this.Now, I love Family Guy more than most here at EW do, but once you’vebeen spoofed on Family Guy, you’re pretty much five minutes ago.
And apparently, the more successful the show gets, the more it mighthave to pull its punches. Remember those first few episodes, whereClaire mangled her hand in a garbage disposal (resulting in a lawsuit) or found herself sliced open from chin to bellybutton on an autopsytable? We might be seeing less of those moments, as show creator TimKring remarks, "I feel like we have to back off some of the very graphic stuff." Sad. Can we be adults here, people?
Most heart-warming, however, is Zachary Quinto (Sylar) finding time for an interview with his hometown newspaper,in which he admits that even he’s not sure whether his character eatshis victims’ brains or not. Whatever the answer, it can’t be as bad as having to be attacked by a group of cats on Charmed or playing Tori Spelling’s best friend on So NoTORIous. I think I’d rather eat my ownbrain instead.
In the past week I have seen Masi Oka on re-runs or Gilmore Girls and Scrubs! He really is everywhere!
The thing I like best about Heroes is that they wrap up stories – you know – ok let’s move on from the save the cheerleader thing and it’s good to see that we will be after tonight. The writers of LOST should really check out this show!
Speaking of Zachary Quinto, am I mistaken–or wasn’t he the personal assistant to that crazy Princess who wanted to be a country singer… The show was on E! and called ‘Love is in the Heir’ (and was awful, in case that synopsis didn’t clue you in!)
Did anyone else watch that/remember him on it?
I don’t appreciate the graphic violence as much as I do the rest of “Heroes,” and I think there’s nothing juvenile or immature about that opinion. I can’t imagine why it is that not preferring “the very graphic stuff” gets equated with not being adult. Adults can have their preferences, can’t they?
Count me as one of the few people who don’t watch Heroes, but tunes in for Studio 60. I picked two or three new shows to invest my time in and most have gone away(Kidnapped?). So I missed Heroes at the beginning.
NBC revives its cross-appearence bit from the 90s Thursday Night Line-up. They did a Mad About You/Friends gag, Is it Phoebe or Ursela, the waitress?
i saw masi oka on an episode of reno 911 and he was too funny. don’t know if i’m willing to watch studio 60 just to see him. i tried in the beginning because of perry, peet, and paulson but was disappointed quickly. maybe i’ll just wait for the repeat of conan. as for the graphic injuries they haven’t bothered me in the slightest and i am the queen of queasy.
Love Masi Oka, but I promised myself many weeks ago that I would staple my ear to my lip if I ever deigned to watch Studio 60 again. I plan to have all my facial parts in the appropriate place tomorrow. They could get Osama Bin Laden to guest host and I still would not watch. So sorry Studio 60, but you’ve lost me forever.
Crossovers didn’t exactly die out at NBC; witness “Crossing Jordan” and “Las Vegas.”
That said, “The Office” / “30 Rock” idea must happen!
I watch both shows and can appreciate them both for what they are. Heroes rocks, and it’s appointment television at my house. I do have to admit to a little frustration with those who keep banging on Studio 60 because they think it’s not funny enough. Funny show about late night = Thirty Rock. Ironic wordy “Sorkinesque” show about late night = Studio 60. Get over it!
A little SPOLIER alert! I heard that at least one character might die or go away on tonight’s episode after the producers f**ked up the contract negotiations with an actor and they wanted more money. My money is either on Ali Larter or Milo Vilo (too lazy figure out how to spell his name). Now, don’t those two kind of remind you of thoes actors who always thinks they’re the reason the show is a hit? Look at the David Caurso. He did it with NYPD Blue and now the horrible actor came crawling back to TV in even worse form. Don’t you love karma? Oooh, I just can’t wait until tonight’s episode!
Won’t watch Studio 60, WILL watch Heroes!!!
I love Hiro, and Masi Oka is equally adorable in real life. But I simply can’t bring myself to watch Studio 60 again. I’d just spend the whole hour yelling at the TV. And besides, the whole “Get the Star of the Popular Show” thing reeks of desperation.
But an Office/30 Rock cross-over would be killer! Can you imagine Michael Scott and Jack Donaghy together? Comic gold.
According to People Magizine, Santiago Cabraro was suppose to be in Heroes, what happened?
While it disappoints me a little to hear that Studio 60 is doing this, I can’t help but think that it might not have been entirely their idea. This seems exactly like something NBC brass might have “suggested” they do to beef up ratings. That said, I still expect better from Aaron Sorkin…
LOVE the Flintstones/Jetsons movie!
I love Masi Oka, but I hate Studio 60!!!