“Heroes” or “24”? That is this winter’s dilemma.
Do you like your heroes super-powered or just incredibly lucky? Team players or solo acts?
Last week, in its first outing since early December, “Heroes” beat “24” in the ratings. The Monday-night showdown for the two suspense dramas is further proof that the DVR is the greatest invention since color TV.
NBC’s “Heroes” makes great use of its sprawling cast and comic-book sensibility. The actors may not be uniformly terrific, and there may be too many of them – but they’re fun to watch.
Fox’s “24” has perfected the real-time conceit, managed to reinvent itself in satisfying ways each season and continually upped the ante. This month’s premiere was in the top 10, not bad for “Day 6.” And while the cellphoning gets old (“Jack, it’s Chloe”), it’s fun to follow.
A heaping dose of that old standby, suspension of disbelief, is required for both serials, although only “Heroes” admits to being a stylized, graphic-novel adventure swathed in science fiction. “24” wants to be taken seriously.
Both revolve around mysteries, the solutions to which may or may not be as preposterous as the weekly story lines. Let’s not ruin the fun by scrutinizing.
Lately both series have resorted to unnerving digital depictions of nuclear explosions. New York City was reduced to ash in a dream of the imagined future in “Heroes.” Los Angeles was subjected to a terrorist’s mushroom cloud as Jack Bauer raced to prevent further mayhem in “24.” In both instances, as in “Jericho” last fall, the unthinkable is now TV-thinkable.
Having suggested such horror, both series must dig deep into character to remain compelling without resorting to a graphic suggestion of nuclear annhilation on a weekly basis.
Meanwhile, in the first ratings race that measured the hits head to head, “Heroes” cleaned “24’s” clock.
The superpowered folk ranked No. 1 in adults 18-49, the segment of the audience most prized by primetime advertisers. In that category, NBC’s “Heroes” dominated with a 6.6 rating, followed by Fox’s “24” with a 5.4 rating, and CBS’s comedies with a 4.5 rating.
NBC boasted that the “Heroes” victory among adults 18- 49 marked the first time a regular program has topped an original episode of “24” in this time period since the “Everybody Loves Raymond” finale in 2005.
The good news for broadcasters in general is that the Monday face-off seems to be drawing additional pairs of younger eyeballs to the set: Showing no signs of fading in its sixth season, this January’s “24” season premiere did even better than last year’s. And the CBS comedy block scored its best ratings since October.
Now, to the most asked
question from viewers: Why do the networks insist on putting two favorite shows on at the same time? No, it’s not an attempt to drive you insane – that’s merely an unintentional consequence. They’re simply in a dogfight.
“It’s unfortunate we’ve got two terrific programs in there with somewhat of the same profile,” NBC honcho Kevin Reilly told critics recently, “but we (NBC) have a younger show. We have a newer show. I’m very confident that – look, I think they’re both going to end up taking a haircut.”
The battle continues, at 8 p.m. Monday, when we learn about Hiro’s (Masi Oka) father and Jack’s (Keifer Sutherland) brother, on NBC and Fox, respectively. Note “24” is building toward a two-hour “event” Feb. 12 (during sweeps) with Chad Lowe and Powers Boothe taking on larger roles.
Viral video vanished
Something we won’t be seeing this week: Following a week’s worth of controversy about her onscreen behavior, Paula Abdul is no longer playing in endless, embarrassing clips on YouTube. Excerpts from television appearances by the “American Idol” judge were ordered removed from YouTube by Fox Broadcasting. Abdul could be seen swaying, appearing to nod off, and answering questions in what many thought was a nonsensical way.
Some observers questioned whether Fox’s yanking of the clips crossed the line between copyright infringement and censorship.
Abdul has insisted she doesn’t drink or take drugs.
TV critic Joanne Ostrow can be reached at 303-954-1830 or jostrow@denverpost.com.
