Heroes officially renewed for a 2nd season!
OK, I probably missed this news earlier - but it makes my heart go Peter patter (bad pun?) to find that Heroes has officially been renewed for a 2nd season! This - for you folks unfamiliar with the US network schedule - means that we will not only see 12 new eps when S1 continues on Jan 22, but now have confirmation for at least 22-23 more until 2008! For details, read the original NBC press release, Ausiello's live blog from NBC's executive session and this SCI FI Wire article.
Highlights:
"In network TV you never take these things for granted," Kring said in an interview at the Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 17. "And while we're clearly a success, these things are always fabulous. And I think how early it was done is just a huge show of support for the show." Kring assured viewers that the storyline concerning the looming apocalypse will be wrapped up before the end of this season. Although some questions will be answered, he promised that others will be raised in the finale. "It's not necessarily a cliffhanger in terms of what has been set up so far, storywise," he said. "It's more of a cliffhanger as to the welfare and well-being of several of our characters.
Regarding Heroes (and other early renewals), NBC Entertainment President Reilly says, "These four series represent some of the best of what we consider to be the ‘NBC brand’ of quality shows." "It is a pleasure to give them an early renewal to develop more stories for next year since we know they will remain both critical and commercial successes for a long time to come." Also to Ausiello, "I [do know] where it's going, and it's going to be mind-blowing." [As for a] Heroes spin-off? "I think Tim Kring's head would explode."
Also in the same SCI FI Wire newsletter is an interview with George Takei who will be guest starring in several eps of Heroes. Full article here.
Excerpts:
Takei's character is a stern, traditional figure, who disapproves of his son's quest to become a hero, he said. "I'm a powerful industrialist. We come from a very distinguished family. And old-line family. I was brought up that way, and I thought I would bring up my son that way. But I'm discovering that there are strange things happening."
One of the biggest challenges, Takei said, is that he has had to perform all of his scenes in Japanese. Though he speaks the language fluently, it's the first time he's ever worked that way. "It's a commentary on the television viewing audience," he said. "Here it is, prime-time network popular television, and [we have] whole scenes being played in a foreign language with English subtitles. I think it's a great commentary on how sophisticated and how global our television-viewing audience has become. ... I haven't worked in Japan in Japanese. And here I am in the United States working in Japanese with English subtitles. So that's a delight, but it's also a challenge because it's not my first language."
So far, Takei has filmed three episodes, with the possibility of more if the story allows it. In addition to appearing in scenes with Oka, he has also had scenes with Jack Coleman, who plays the mysterious Mr. Bennet, also known as Horn-Rimmed Glasses. "My last scene was with Horn-Rimmed Glasses," Takei said. "Yesterday, as a matter of fact. And, let me tell you. As I said, all my scenes are in Japanese. I did a scene with Jack Coleman. You take it from there. That poor guy."
Lastly, Chris Eccleston gave an exclusive interview to HeroSite.net about his role on Heroes. I'd read this a while back, but am adding it here 'coz I like compiling this stuff!
Chris on Claude:
HS: Do you know if the writers intended any significance to the name "Claude," because of the name of the first actor to play an invisible man?
CE: The first time I appear as Claude, I make a joke about that, so it is a homage, I think, to Claude Raines.
HS: Does Claude have a last name?
CE: I don't know, no.
HS: What do you feel motivates Claude to do things or behave the way that he does?
CE: I think Claude has a conscience and a very good heart, and I think there is a kind of strain of psychology, almost, called the guilt of the survivor, and I think those three things are the main motivators for Claude.
HS: I believe I read in an early interview with Tim Kring, that Claude has been living with these powers for a while?
CE: That's right. I think it's reasonable to say that Claude belongs to a previous generation to our present heroes. He functions as a kind of paternal figure to Peter.
HS: Do you feel that his presence really helps Peter along in his journey?
CE: Yeah. That's very much the dynamic of their relationship.
HS: When you took the role, did the writers and producers lay out your character's general arc, or are you learning more as you go along?
CE: I knew that the role would be substantial and key. I had to have that up front. But obviously, details emerge as you shoot, which is the same for all of the ensemble cast.
HS: I've noticed in the trailer that Claude has a disheveled look. Is there a reason for this appearance, and as an actor, do you enjoy being able to change your appearance for a role?
CE: I think that it's something I bring naturally to the role. [Laughs] No, Claude lives a very solitary and marginal life, for very good reasons, so he doesn't have much time for facials and high fashion. But you may see a change.
PS: I may be experimenting with my LJ layout again. I'd like to keep this current one (I like it! I do!) but it's not downloading easily on my prototype mobile web browser while other sites work fine. Yes, my job lets me play with (I mean, test) devices not out in the market. Yet. And yes, I'm a geek.
Highlights:
"In network TV you never take these things for granted," Kring said in an interview at the Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 17. "And while we're clearly a success, these things are always fabulous. And I think how early it was done is just a huge show of support for the show." Kring assured viewers that the storyline concerning the looming apocalypse will be wrapped up before the end of this season. Although some questions will be answered, he promised that others will be raised in the finale. "It's not necessarily a cliffhanger in terms of what has been set up so far, storywise," he said. "It's more of a cliffhanger as to the welfare and well-being of several of our characters.
Regarding Heroes (and other early renewals), NBC Entertainment President Reilly says, "These four series represent some of the best of what we consider to be the ‘NBC brand’ of quality shows." "It is a pleasure to give them an early renewal to develop more stories for next year since we know they will remain both critical and commercial successes for a long time to come." Also to Ausiello, "I [do know] where it's going, and it's going to be mind-blowing." [As for a] Heroes spin-off? "I think Tim Kring's head would explode."
Also in the same SCI FI Wire newsletter is an interview with George Takei who will be guest starring in several eps of Heroes. Full article here.
Excerpts:
Takei's character is a stern, traditional figure, who disapproves of his son's quest to become a hero, he said. "I'm a powerful industrialist. We come from a very distinguished family. And old-line family. I was brought up that way, and I thought I would bring up my son that way. But I'm discovering that there are strange things happening."
One of the biggest challenges, Takei said, is that he has had to perform all of his scenes in Japanese. Though he speaks the language fluently, it's the first time he's ever worked that way. "It's a commentary on the television viewing audience," he said. "Here it is, prime-time network popular television, and [we have] whole scenes being played in a foreign language with English subtitles. I think it's a great commentary on how sophisticated and how global our television-viewing audience has become. ... I haven't worked in Japan in Japanese. And here I am in the United States working in Japanese with English subtitles. So that's a delight, but it's also a challenge because it's not my first language."
So far, Takei has filmed three episodes, with the possibility of more if the story allows it. In addition to appearing in scenes with Oka, he has also had scenes with Jack Coleman, who plays the mysterious Mr. Bennet, also known as Horn-Rimmed Glasses. "My last scene was with Horn-Rimmed Glasses," Takei said. "Yesterday, as a matter of fact. And, let me tell you. As I said, all my scenes are in Japanese. I did a scene with Jack Coleman. You take it from there. That poor guy."
Lastly, Chris Eccleston gave an exclusive interview to HeroSite.net about his role on Heroes. I'd read this a while back, but am adding it here 'coz I like compiling this stuff!
Chris on Claude:
HS: Do you know if the writers intended any significance to the name "Claude," because of the name of the first actor to play an invisible man?
CE: The first time I appear as Claude, I make a joke about that, so it is a homage, I think, to Claude Raines.
HS: Does Claude have a last name?
CE: I don't know, no.
HS: What do you feel motivates Claude to do things or behave the way that he does?
CE: I think Claude has a conscience and a very good heart, and I think there is a kind of strain of psychology, almost, called the guilt of the survivor, and I think those three things are the main motivators for Claude.
HS: I believe I read in an early interview with Tim Kring, that Claude has been living with these powers for a while?
CE: That's right. I think it's reasonable to say that Claude belongs to a previous generation to our present heroes. He functions as a kind of paternal figure to Peter.
HS: Do you feel that his presence really helps Peter along in his journey?
CE: Yeah. That's very much the dynamic of their relationship.
HS: When you took the role, did the writers and producers lay out your character's general arc, or are you learning more as you go along?
CE: I knew that the role would be substantial and key. I had to have that up front. But obviously, details emerge as you shoot, which is the same for all of the ensemble cast.
HS: I've noticed in the trailer that Claude has a disheveled look. Is there a reason for this appearance, and as an actor, do you enjoy being able to change your appearance for a role?
CE: I think that it's something I bring naturally to the role. [Laughs] No, Claude lives a very solitary and marginal life, for very good reasons, so he doesn't have much time for facials and high fashion. But you may see a change.
PS: I may be experimenting with my LJ layout again. I'd like to keep this current one (I like it! I do!) but it's not downloading easily on my prototype mobile web browser while other sites work fine. Yes, my job lets me play with (I mean, test) devices not out in the market. Yet. And yes, I'm a geek.