Heroes
Given An Early Renewal For Season 2
In news that should shock no one, Heroes has
officially been renewed for a second season to go through
the 2007-2008 year.
The
show has been a big success for NBC and a vital part of
their line-up.
Here's
the press release:
NBC
RENEWS HIT SERIES 'THE OFFICE,' 'MY NAME IS EARL,' 'HEROES'
AND 'LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT' FOR FULL SEASON
OF EPISODES IN 2007-08
BURBANK - January 17, 2007 - NBC has ordered early full-season
pickups for the 2007-08 season for four hit series --
the comedies "The Office" and "My Name
Is Earl," and dramas "Heroes" and "Law
& Order: Special Victims Unit, " it was announced
today by Kevin Reilly, President, NBC Entertainment.
"These
four series represent some of the best of what we consider
to be the 'NBC brand' of quality shows," said Reilly.
"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."
"The
Office" is delivering a 4.2 rating, 11 share in 18-49
and 8.7 million viewers through the first 16 weeks of
the 2006-07 season and has matched or built on its 18-49
lead-in from "The Office" with every original
telecast this season. "The Office" has improved
the Thursday 8:30-9 half-hour for NBC this season by 20
percent versus year-ago averages in 18-49. "The Office"
is network television's most upscale comedy, delivering
primetime's #1 concentration of adults 18-49 living in
homes with $100,000-plus incomes.
From
Reveille and NBC Universal Television Studio comes the
Emmy Award-winning "The Office" (Thursdays,
8:30-9 p.m. ET), a documentary-style look into the sometimes
poignant foolishness that plagues the world of 9-to-5,
based on the award-winning BBC hit. "The Office"
delves into the lives of the workers at Dunder Mifflin
paper supply company in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Regional
manager Michael Scott (Golden Globe winner and Emmy nominee
Steve Carell, "The 40-Year-Old Virgin") is a
single, middle-aged man who is the boastful tour guide
for the documentary.
Pam
Beesly (Jenna Fischer, "Slither") is the friendly
office receptionist who bears the brunt of Michael's routines.
The bright spots in Pam's day are her conversations with
Jim Halpert (John Krasinski, "Jarhead," "Kinsey"),
a likable sales rep. Jim shares his working space with
Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson, "Six Feet Under"),
the arrogant assistant to the regional manager. Ryan Howard
(B.J. Novak, "Punk'd") is a young, smart temp
who quickly figures out the real office politics.
Also
starring are Melora Hardin ("Monk") as Jan Levinson,
David Denman ("When A Stranger Calls") as Roy,
Leslie David Baker ("Malcolm in the Middle")
as Stanley Hudson, Brian Baumgartner ("Arrested Development")
as Kevin Malone, Kate Flannery ("The Heir Apparent")
as Meredith Palmer, Angela Kinsey ("Tripping Forward")
as Angela Martin, Oscar Nuñez ("Halfway Home")
as Oscar Martinez, Phyllis Smith ("Arrested Development")
as Phyllis Lapin, Mindy Kaling ("The 40-Year-Old
Virgin") as Kelly Kapour and Paul Lieberstein (writer,
"King of the Hill") as Toby.
"The
Office" is executive-produced by Ben Silverman, Greg
Daniels, who developed the series for American audiences,
Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant and Howard Klein.
"My
Names Is Earl" is averaging a 4.0 rating, 11 share
in 18-49 and 9.5 million viewers through the opening 16
weeks of the 2006-07 television season. "Earl"
has improved the Thursday 8-8:30 p.m. half-hour for NBC
this season by 38 percent versus year-ago results in 18-49.
In
"My Name Is Earl" (Thursdays, 8-8:30 p.m. ET),
Earl (Jason Lee, "Almost Famous") has taken
one too many wrong turns on the highway of life. However,
a twist of fate turns his life into a tailspin of life-renewing
events when after winning a small lottery, Earl has an
epiphany and is determined to transform his good fortune
into a life-changing event as he sets out to right all
the wrongs from his past.
In
its inaugural season last year, the show received the
People's Choice Award, two Television Critics Awards,
a SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble
in a Comedy Series and Emmys for executive producers Greg
Garcia and Marc Buckland for writing and directing, respectively.
Joining
Earl along his quest to cleanse his karma are his hapless
brother Randy (Ethan Suplee, "Cold Mountain")
and the very sexy Catalina (Nadine Velazquez, "The
Bold and the Beautiful"). Even Darnell (Eddie Steeples,
"Torque"), the owner of the Crab Shack where
Earl drinks beer, offers his support. But it's Earl's
ex-wife Joy (Jaime Pressly, "Not Another Teen Movie")
who won't help him unless there's something in it for
her.
Created and written by Garcia ("Yes, Dear"),
"My Name Is Earl" is executive-produced by Garcia,
Buckland ("Medical Investigation," "Ed")
and Bobby Bowman ("Yes, Dear"). The series is
produced by Amigos de Garcia and Twentieth Century Fox
Television.
"Heroes"
is the #1 new series of the season in adults 18-49, total
viewers and other key categories and, through 16 weeks
of the season, is tied for the #3 ranking among all shows
in 18-49. "Heroes" is NBC's highest-rated first-year
drama in 18-49 in 12 years, since "ER" debuted
in Fall 1994. Through January 7, "Heroes" was
averaging a 6.8 rating, 16 share in adults 18-49 and 15.3
million viewers overall.
From
creator-executive producer Tim Kring (NBC's "Crossing
Jordan") comes "Heroes" (Mondays, 9-10
p.m. ET) - recently named the winner of the People's Choice
Award for Favorite New TV Drama - is an epic drama that
chronicles the lives of ordinary people who discover they
possess extraordinary abilities - and a destiny to save
the world.
They
include a genetics professor (Sendhil Ramamurthy, "Blind
Guy Driving") in India who is led by his father's
disappearance to uncover a secret theory - that there
are people with super powers living among us. Also featured
are a young dreamer (Milo Ventimiglia, "Gilmore Girls")
tries to convince his politician brother (Adrian Pasdar,
"Judging Amy") that he can fly. A high school
cheerleader (Hayden Panettiere, "Ice Princess")
learns that she is totally indestructible while trying
to relate to her father (Jack Coleman, "Dynasty")
who has a keen interest in people with special abilities.
A Las Vegas single mother (Ali Larter, "Final Destination")
struggles to make ends meet to support her young son (Noah
Gray-Cabey, "My Wife & Kids") and discovers
that her mirror image has a secret.
In
addition, a fugitive from justice (Leonard Roberts, "Buffy
the Vampire Slayer") continues to baffle authorities.
A gifted artist (Santiago Cabrera, "Empire"),
whose drug addiction is destroying his life and relationship
with his girlfriend (Tawny Cypress, "Third Watch"),
can paint the future. A down-on-his-luck Los Angeles beat
cop (Greg Grunberg, "Alias") can hear people's
thoughts, which puts him on the trail of an elusive serial
killer. In Japan, a young man (Masi Oka, NBC's "Scrubs")
develops a way to stop time through sheer will power.
Joining
Kring as executive producer are Dennis Hammer (NBC's "Crossing
Jordan") and Allan Arkush (NBC's "Crossing Jordan").
The drama is produced by NBC Universal Television Studio.
"Law
& Order: Special Victims Unit" (Tuesdays, 10-11
p.m. ET) is averaging a 4.3 rating, 12 share in adults
18-49 and 12.9 million viewers overall through the first
16 weeks of the 2006-07 television season, making it NBC's
#2 drama in total viewers. "SVU" remains in
control of the Tuesday 10 p.m. hour, where an original
episode hasn't lost the time period to regular competition
in adults 18-49 in more than two and a half years. "SVU's"
18-49 margin of victory this season is nearly 50 percent.
"Law & Order" Special Victims Unit"
is a hard-hitting and emotional series from NBC's "Law
& Order" brand that chronicles the life and crimes
of the Special Victims Unit of the New York Police Department,
the elite squad of detectives who investigate sexually
based crimes. Created by Emmy Award-winning producer Dick
Wolf, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"
is now in its eighth season.
The
drama follows Detective Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni),
a seasoned veteran of the unit who has seen it all, and
his partner, Detective Olivia Benson (Emmy and Golden
Globe winner Mariska Hargitay), whose difficult past -
a child of rape - prompted her career move to the unit.
Captain
Donald Cragen (Dann Florek) oversees the unit with his
tough but supportive approach to the team's complex cases.
Detective John Munch, (Richard Belzer, "Homicide:
Life on the Street") brings his acerbic wit and street-honed
investigative skills to the team. His partner, Detective
Odafin "Fin" Tutuola (Ice-T), adds his unique
sense of humor and investigative experience, making him
a formidable match for Munch. Assistant District Attorney
Casey Novak (Diane Neal) brings closure to the intense
investigations with her legal expertise. Forensic psychiatrist,
George Huang (B.D. Wong) often provides significant clues
that lead to the resolution of a case, and Medical Examiner
Melinda Warner (Tamara Tunie), uncovers more forensic
evidence.
"Law
& Order: Special Victims Unit" is a Wolf Films
production in association with NBC Universal Television
Studio. Wolf, is creator and executive producer, Neal
Baer (NBC's "ER", "China Beach"),
Ted Kotcheff ("Fun with Dick and Jane," "Weekend
at Bernie's") and Peter Jankowski are executive producers.
