Inside Scoop on ‘Heroes’ Firings
E! Online’s Kristin Dos Santos has posted more info about what went down to cause the dismissal of Heroes Co-executive Producers/Writers Jeph Loeb and Jesse Alexander.
An insider tells her that the firings came as a "big shock" and "surprise" to the cast and crew. "Someone had to take the fall, " says her "reliable inside source" at Heroes. "NBC is not happy with the current status of the show, and there had to be a visual and tangible change in the course of action."
Heroes‘ ratings are down this season, and there has been a growing backlash from many fans and press. Expenses are up as well, with each episode costing over $4 million to produce (Greg Grunberg said Saturday they were just shooting a "massive" scene in which Parkman was involved in a helicopter chase).
The final blow was apparently last week’s Entertainment Weekly cover. Kristin reports that the story was done under the guise of a promotional story for the series and when it turned out to be a giant criticism of the show, the network executives were not at all happy.
At Saturday night’s Hollywood Legacy Awards in Hollywood, Tim Kring said there are a couple more deaths planned before the end of the season. "Someone you have come to know will not make it to the end of the season." (For speculation on who it might be, check out this unconfirmed story from The ODI)
Jeph and Jesse seem to be taking it all in stride though. Jesse Alexander posted this photo via Flickr this morning, calling it "Breakfast of Champions!":
How I’ll miss Jesse’s spoilery Flickr photos!
Edited to add Jesse’s latest Flickr photo - "Lunch of Champions!"
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:45 pm
Nice pic tribute.
November 4th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
The pics are nice but I was sorry to see these two go and I am so mad with EW that I can’t tell you.