Chuck, Heroes hit ratings lows

[SerenityValley]

I could care less about Heroes, but I love Chuck.  If they'd move it to Wednesday I think it would get much better ratings.  As it is Both of my DVRs are rockin' on Mondays to catch all of my shows...  (Oh, and stupid frakkin writers' strike!)
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http://www.tv.com/story/11705.html?ref_story_id=11705&ref_type=1101&ref_name=story

Once-promising Monday lineup of Chuck, Heroes getting pummeled in the ratings department; critics slam Heroes.
Remember last year when NBC touted Monday nights as "Bionic Mondays"? The network had a can't-miss evening of entertainment--at least according to the advertising--anchored by new series Chuck, the sophomore season of the smash hit Heroes, and the super revved-up Bionic Woman remake. It was the night that would help bring NBC back up from the bottom of the pile, regain some swagger, and usher in a new era.

Well, maybe not so much.


What happened?
Bionic Woman was canceled after tanking with viewers and critics, Heroes redefined "sophomore slump" and then some, and Chuck, as lovable as he is, was hit hard by the writers strike. Flashing forward to this season, things don't appear to be much better for NBC's Mondays.

Heroes and Chuck hit all-time lows for ratings this past Monday (8.2 million, 4.0/9 for Heroes and 5.8 million, 2.3/8 for Chuck), according to The Hollywood Reporter, which should be a red flag for NBC. (Heroes averaged more than 11 million last season.) And before you point out that both Monday Night Football and Major League Baseball playoff games were also on that evening, it should be noted that CBS' comedy block of Two and a Half Men, How I Met Your Mother, and The Big Bang Theory were all up over the previous week and all outperformed Heroes.

The real shocker of NBC's Monday nights is the continuing slide of Heroes. This past Monday's episode seems to have been the last straw for many critics, who are jumping ship as if the superhero drama has "Titanic" written on its side. Says The Chicago Tribune: "That's it, Heroes, I'm done" (and that's just the headline). The New York Post: "I fear that Heroes has traveled beyond the point of redemption." And Time: "I may be on the verge of giving up on Heroes, if I haven't already given up on it somewhere deep inside."

It appears as if many Heroes faithful are doing the same. Heroes is consistently one of TV.com's top shows (it's number one again today), but seeing this precipitous drop-off for what was supposed to be the drama's rejuvenating season can't really be blamed on digital video recorders, live sports broadcasts, or a conspiracy that goes all the way to the top.

We desperately want Heroes to find its way back to season-one quality, but we're getting a bit frustrated, too. That scene where future Sylar's son dies is the most unintentionally funny bit of television in recent memory (oh little boy, we hardly knew ye). Cheese factor 10, captain. And don't get us started on Maya, the new Mohinder, and Matt Parkman's spirit trip. Where are you guys in your Heroes watching?

[TinkTanker]

I used to love Heroes, but now I only like it. Thing is, they are [spoiler]doing time travel AGAIN and alternate timelines AGAIN and damn near everyone is related to everyone AGAIN.[/spoiler]

[Spooky]

I am done with Heroes. Luckily Chuck has a full season order. I know that's not a guarantee it won't be axed, but it's better that not having the full season order.

[Eric]

Yeah, yeah... blame the strike when it's likely more due to short mini-seasons and long breaks, as well as other factors such as crappy writing on some shows, or bad ideas (like Bionic Woman's angst-ridden man-hating theme).

[SerenityValley]

Yeah, yeah... blame the strike when it's likely more due to short mini-seasons and long breaks, as well as other factors such as crappy writing on some shows, or bad ideas (like Bionic Woman's angst-ridden man-hating theme).

Oh, I definately blame the writers' strike for screwing up the second half of Chuck.  (If I was a big 24 fan, I'd be really ticked off).  What I see as the problem is alot of shows brought in new writers and the shows just aren't consistantly good.  Life, otoh, probably caught a break from the strike.  I don't think it was gonna get renewed for season 2 before the strike, then all of a sudden NBC needed SOMETHING to keep viewers.  Thank goodness they didn't just start a new reality show!

BTW, I liked Bionic Woman and I'm in now way, shape or form a "man-hater"!  Without men, who'd take out the trash?   

[Eric]

Well, I was talking about the article's blaming it on the strike.

I do agree the strike affected Chuck.  However, it seems a scapegoat for a lot of Hollywood's problems.

Bionic Woman, IMHO, was all "Girl Power" and how men are inept and/or cause of all the problems of the world... or something like that.  I've blocked most of it from my memory. 

Lindsay Wagner thought the BW rehash was "very much like what the shows are today - kind of dark and broody and violent."

[Spooky]

Well, I was talking about the article's blaming it on the strike.

I do agree the strike affected Chuck.  However, it seems a scapegoat for a lot of Hollywood's problems.

Bionic Woman, IMHO, was all "Girl Power" and how men are inept and/or cause of all the problems of the world... or something like that.  I've blocked most of it from my memory. 

But you take out the the trash? Right?

[SerenityValley]

Well, I was talking about the article's blaming it on the strike.

I do agree the strike affected Chuck.  However, it seems a scapegoat for a lot of Hollywood's problems.

Bionic Woman, IMHO, was all "Girl Power" and how men are inept and/or cause of all the problems of the world... or something like that.  I've blocked most of it from my memory. 

Lindsay Wagner thought the BW rehash was "very much like what the shows are today - kind of dark and broody and violent."

I knew that, no really, I did!  My Mulder would NEVER say something mean to me!   

Being a female type person, I probably did not pick up on the "man-hating" aspect of BW.  Of course you guys had to explain to me the correlation between Iraq and the BSG webisodes, so there ya go!  Guess I'm not one for subtelty.

[Eric]

Well the anti-men (or dumb) meme in so many shows is a big pet peeve, so it could just be me being overly-sensitive.  I honestly don't remember much of the episodes I watched, any more.

[SerenityValley]

  I honestly don't remember much of the episodes I watched, any more.

That'd be why it didn't make it.  Except for the scenes with Starbuck, I don't think it made a big impression on folks.