The Detroit News takes a look at the increasing presence, and popularity, of superpowered heroes on primetime television, from Smallville to Who Wants to Be a Superhero? to Heroes to even Grey’s Anatomy.
“In times of uncertainty, such as now, the powerless, odd and outcast, no matter the age, can look to caped crusaders and make sense of an often-nonsensical world,” TV reporter Mekeisha Madden Toby writes. “After all, Superman came to be in the 1930s, during one of America’s darkest economic and social eras. The universal and timeless need in us for archetypes is fulfilled even in TV with popular shows such as The CW’s Smallville and NBC’s new comic-book drama Heroes. In the latter, everyday people of varying races and backgrounds wake to find they have extraordinary super-human powers.”
Related: People names Heroes among “The 5 Best New Fall Shows”
October 12th, 2006 at 10:32 am
I clicked on that link and that’s the first I’ve heard of Dexter. Anyone else seen it? I’m gonna check it out.
October 12th, 2006 at 10:57 am
So far I’ve only seen the first episode — I think maybe two have aired — but I liked what I saw. It’s extremely dark, though, as the subject would suggest.
October 12th, 2006 at 12:08 pm
I saw the first episode during Showtime’s “freebie weekend.” It’s pretty good, but like Kevin said, it’s very dark. Between it and Weeds, I almost wished I had Showtime.
October 12th, 2006 at 2:52 pm
Has anyone here ever tried watching Who Wants To Be A Superhero? Unwatchable.
October 12th, 2006 at 4:06 pm
Who Wants To Be A Superhero was cheesy, but the last three contestants Fat Mama, Feedback, and Maj. Victory were actually people of good character.