Cool News
Hercules Says No To ABC’s Crappy New Superhero Dramedy NO ORDINARY FAMILY!!
SPOILER ALERT !!
I am – Hercules!!
Yet another unfunny hourlong greenlit by (thankfully) departed longtime ABC entertainment chief Stephen McPherson, “No Ordinary Family,” is a soft, banal and imagination-starved new superhero dramedy created by veteran dramedy writer-producer Greg Berlanti (“Dawson’s Creek,” “Jack & Bobby,” “Everwood,” “Young Americans,” “Eli Stone,” “Brothers & Sisters”). It follows a family of four that gains superpowers after its tiny vacation plane crashes into a unusually glow-y section of the Amazon.
It feels like a hundred other screen superhero stories, if more obvious and ham-fisted than most. The dad (Michael Chiklis, back in “Daddio” mode) is as happy as a Hiro Nakamura when he discovers his new powers. The teen daughter (Kay Panabaker) is as (inexplicably) horrified as a Claire Bennet when she discovers her own useful new ability. The big difference is I found reasons to follow Hiro and Claire. The "No Ordinary" family members are more broad, dull archetypes than characters; it’s difficult to muster much concern for or interest in any of them.
The pilot jumps from scene to scene with an unusual rapidity, yet I always felt I was at least three steps ahead of the story. Even children, weaned on so many years of big screen super-, spider-, bat- and x-men, are likely to find themselves wishing the storytellers would just skip over a few of the clichés already.
Digression. The scariest thing? The ever-underwhelming Berlanti was once hired to write the screenplay for the big-screen superhero saga “Green Lantern” (happily, director Martin Campbell subsequently ordered it rewritten by a better writer with more big-screen experience). Berlanti was also recently hired to script a movie based on The Flash, another iconic DC superhero.
I can’t say I care much what Berlanti does to an ABC dramedy that “Glee,” “NCIS” and “The Biggest Loser” should obliterate with little effort. But the idea of him penning the big-screen adventures of beloved DC Comics characters leaves me queasy. End digression.
The “No Ordinary” pilot was screened at Comic Con and then online this summer, so I feel like I’ve already talked about it way too much. But I’ll add this.
If you’re going to satirize superhero conventions, kindly try to find a route that offers at least a tiny chunk of new. The scene in which a “lair” is created for the Michael Chiklis character was far more entertaining, original and effective when Hiro and Ando did it on “Heroes” two years ago. Poking fun at the word “lair,” candidly, has been fucked-out for decades thanks to “The Tick,” “The Venture Bros.” and a legion of actual comic-book writers.
Like “Defying Gravity,” an ABC sci-fi dramedy from a summer or two ago, “Ordinary” seems destined to repel the viewers most likely to seek it out.
USA Today says:
… an as-yet clumsy hybrid that wants us to follow its battle of good vs. evil while worrying about the parents' estrangement, the daughter's boyfriend problems and son's self-esteem issues. Granted, that's a mix Buffy pulled off brilliantly, but Buffy generally avoided piling adult problems on top of high school traumas and had a slashing wit tonight's premiere can't match.… if you're looking for incredible, you'll have to rent the cartoon.
The New York Times says:
… it’s not clear whether this series — a hybrid of family drama and graphic novel — can sustain interest once the premise is fully established. Tim Kring, the creator of “Heroes,” set his show in the modern world but used the stylized aesthetic and imaginative sweep of graphic novels to create his own universe. “No Ordinary Family” tries to insert comic-book characters and predicaments into everyday Los Angeles. Yet its social structure is closer to Batman’s Gotham: the bad guys are not insurance executives or pension fund managers; they are fiendish supervillains who use their paranormal gifts to rob banks and kill people.
The Los Angeles Times says:
… Some scenes are not quite thought through (Jim jumping off a skyscraper to see whether he can fly), some of the dialogue too stale to be emotionally convincing. ("I missed … us"), but the show does have possibilities. Still, if it's going to work as a family drama, the characters are going to have to show themselves to be more than just poster children for depression, overwork and teenage anomie. …
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says:
… disappoints with its slow-moving plot and whiny characters. By now, viewers have seen enough superhero origin stories that they don't need everything spelled out, and yet that's exactly what "No Ordinary Family" does. … after the pilot, some viewers may be hard-pressed to give this less-than-super "Family" another chance.
The San Francisco Chronicle says:
… If it all seems a little silly and light, well, that's because it is. But there are very few series that families can watch together these days and "No Ordinary Family" looks like it can be one of them. …
HitFix says:
… seems to be testing its limits just as much as Chiklis and Benz are, and there are definitely weaknesses that creators Greg Berlanti and Jon Harmon Feldman will need to be careful of getting hurt by. … Berlanti and Feldman have for some reason chosen to over-explain everything … It’s all very redundant (if ABC had to ditch the talk-to-the-camera gimmick from one of its new dramas, I’d rather it had been this than “Detroit 1-8-7”), as these two good actors have to repeatedly come right out and tell the audience about feelings that they’ve just portrayed within the flow of the story. Everything in the family stories are underlined and in bold face, and the focus of the pilot is so heavily on the parents that the kids barely register as more than types. … Obviously, a high-concept show like this has to get a lot of exposition out of the way early, and it’s not a surprise that the creative team would lean on their two adult stars at the beginning. But if we get a few weeks in and the balance continues to be off - both between the hero and family parts of the show, and between the adults and kids - then that’s a problem super strength or speed may not be able to fix.
TV Squad says:
… The show's blandness is a disappointment, given that its premise seems sturdy enough. … 'No Ordinary Family' gives the proceedings an almost therapeutic air, and the ABC show also presumes that we'll care about whether these characters reconnect. But it's hard to buy into the origin stories of four almost-superheroes when the characters are vague types, not specific people. … 'No Ordinary Family' may yet soar, but viewers might need to call on their super-patience before the promising concept behind this disappointing drama begins to pay off.
The Washington Post says:
… cheesy but likable … But why must the "real-life" superhero story adhere to that demand for special effects, archenemies, laboratories and dark alleys? I'd be more content to watch the Powells figure out ways to help the middle class, defy recessionary economics and kick The Man in the pants. Turns out they're too white bread for that.
The Boston Herald says:
… super at capturing a middle-class family suffering from self-imposed Kryptonite poisoning. … In “No Ordinary Family,” you’ll find folks who need the crisis of superpowers to discover how extraordinary they are to each other.
The Boston Globe says:
… pleasant … The pilot is entertainingly lighthearted, but in a twist that I won’t spoil here, a serialized back story begins to surface that could push the show down a more convoluted path. I’m thinking of the ugly specter of “Heroes,’’ and the way its writers strained to create a Big Mythology and wound up with a meandering jumble. …
The Hollywood Reporter says:
… For Chiklis, the role is a neat blend of previous roles in "The Commish" and "Daddio." Viewers who know him mainly as crooked cop Vic Mackey from "The Shield" will marvel at how adroitly he reveals his softer side. The other roles are more one-dimensional, though that might simply be the result of constraints placed on a pilot that bears the burden of explaining the premise. …
Variety says:
… has fun with its premise but unevenly blends family drama with adventure. Fertile as the concept might be, then, the first tall building to leap will involve motivating enough viewers to keep the show airborne. … doesn't completely burst out of a dramatic mold that ABC has almost single-handedly overdone, and the shadow of "Heroes" lingers uncomfortably over the whole affair. So is it super? Not yet. But there's enough spinning around these extraordinary visitors to at least provoke a second visit.
8 p.m. Tuesday. ABC.
Follow Herc on Twitter!!
Follow Evil Herc on Twitter!!
Today!!
Soon!!
126 Blu-rays Under $10!!
Follow Evil Herc on Twitter!!
-
+ Expand All
-
dude. I had hopes for this.
-
I was really hoping it was going to be some good tv time.
-
to the big time networks...and this is what she gets. And Chicklits better be happy he had a run with The Shield, because I doubt he'll get something of that calibur again.
-
Sep 28, 2010 2:35:20 PM CDT
You mean to tell me that Incredibles:The Series doesn't work?
by gruntybear
Shocker, there. Saw this sex bob-omb coming from 10,000 miles away.
-
it was pretty crappy. i was excited by the previews, but after seeing the pilot i'm not really interested anymore.
chik just needs to go back to the shield, i'd watch that any day. -
So can I really take his word on anything :) .. Prediction: The Event WILL be canceled!
-
however, that show is kick ass..Prediction: Hawaii 5-0 will be renewed for another season!
-
Sep 28, 2010 2:48:05 PM CDT
notice how Herc only posted the negative stuff in Hitfix's revie
by itrainmonkeys
while there are a lot of positive things that the review mentions....Herc decided to only put the negative ones that agree with what he said. The Hitfix review also says: Benz and (specially) Chiklis are so good at playing the thrill of suddenly having super powers, and they’ve been given a pair of entertaining sidekicks in Autumn Reeser and Romany Malco, who get to live vicariously through their friends and marvel at how cool this all is. (Malco gets the pilot’s best lines and develops a great rapport with Chiklis.) “Heroes” very quickly made getting super powers seem like an affliction, but at least for the adults in this extraordinary family, it’s a lot of fun.The action scenes and FX shots aren’t fancy enough that anyone will mistake them for scenes from the trailer for “Green Lantern” (which Berlanti co-wrote), but they’re snazzy enough, and one fight scene in particular is better-staged than most of the comparable “Heroes” scenes. As a show about average people who become superheroes, “No Ordinary Family” is very promising.So what's up....why only post the stuff supporting your views?
-
Sep 28, 2010 2:50:57 PM CDT
Hey Herc, instead of taking an instant shit on a new series...
by the_maltese_vulcan
Why not give it a few episodes to flesh itself out and then decide? It's critics like you that get promising shows canned after just a couple episodes. The pilot wasn't bad for what it was....a pilot. I suppose if it was "Obama - The Series" you'd still be cleaning the jizz off your flatscreen before the opening credits were done rolling.
-
There's nothing else on at 8:00, so I'll give it a whirl.
-
pilot was OK and definitely has potential...I liked the parking garage fight FX...I agree that shows should not be reviewed until at least 3 episodes in...not fair to rip a show after only 1 episode...especially since they shot the pilot months ago and have done some major re-tooling since (got rid of the Tate Donovan and asian female cop characters)...give shows a chance to suceed!!
-
While Herc may not have cared for much of the show, there is a great deal to enjoy.
The origin story does seem fairly stock, but is different enough from things that we've seen recently in film and television that its not jarringly so. If anything, it leans more toward the old-school pulp origins than it does the modern "science-experiment-gone-wrong" approach that seems to be the genesis of a large number of characters.
With regards to the story: There were some pacing issues and the inevitable angst at wondering exactly when as opposed to if the others' powers will emerge.
I do have to say, however, that the reveal on JJ (Jimmy Bennett) with regards to his powerset was pretty well done, as you almost get through the episode thinking that he's going to be the shows version of Seth Green's "Wannabe".
The potential for this show to deal with real teen issues is very strong. While having telepathy as a high schooler might sound like the bee's knees to start, take a moment and contemplate the unrelenting, withering comments that you kept to yourself in those hormonal years. Now imagine what others thought of you. Now imagine that you can hear what even high-schoolers deem inappropriate for conversation. Doesn't sound fun to me.
To wit, Herc's review seems to lambast the show for doing what others have done successfully and doing it with slightly less panache. That much is fair. What remains to be seen is whether No Ordinary Family takes the time to tend what are, arguably, the seeds of a very good show, or lets them wither and die on the vine a la Heroes.
The supporting cast is absolutely stellar. -
the reviewers on this site are so damn negative, nearly every new show you guys say no to ive found somewhat decent, you guys really need some new reviewers, everyone is like a broken record with nothing new to say. i swear if it isnt reality tv they automaticly hate it, herc and hercules are so lame get someone else. they just parrot the other reviews, especially if theres other reviews in the same article from legit places. Running wilde, lonestar, raising hope, better with you, my generation. i think they dont even watch supernatural, so that automaticly throws out all credibility. (for me at least)
-
Running wilde, lonestar, raising hope, better with you, my generation. all shows i thought were decent
-
So this is a show that families can actually sit down and watch together? Yeah, sounds absolutely terrible.
-
Sep 28, 2010 3:36:13 PM CDT
Is there really a need to deconstruct superheroes anymore?
by ronald raygun
I think The Tick, Watchmen and The Incredibles have said it all.
-
I don't think that's what this show is after. If they were trying to deconstruct the genre, then these characters might not be quite so homespun and genuine-seeming.
I think its more likely that this show will look to capitalize on the current super-hero mania, with a decided ABC flavor. By that, I mean that they will spend a great deal of time on "personal" stories, with superheroics providing the backdrop, as opposed to the other way around, which was where Heroes failed. -
Just asking?
-
Defying Gravity wasn't a dramedy
I hate the word dramedy being used at all but goddammit at least if you're going to use it, use it properly. There was no comic element to DG so why use dramedy? I mean what's wrong with using the word 'drama'?
If anything, DG was a melodrama, that's the reason I lost interest in it: all the fucking talk about feelings and all that soapy bullshit, Jesus Christ what a snoozefest. -
Have become so over populated that Tuesday and Wednesday have been abandoned it seems. So I'll watch. Oh and to everyone who hated on "Hawaii Five-0", the ratings in the 18-49 demo only dropped 10% in episode 2. But with the Live + 7 data for the premiere, it went up considerably. CBS will definitely renew it, especially since it only lost 1 million viewers from episode 1 to 2... Meanwhile, The Event dropped a lot in total viewers. And Lone Star? Canceled as of today...
-
I'm rooting for her to get a big breakout roll. seems like she always gets secondary rolls on pretty good shows. she needs to be a leading lady.
-
What have I got to lose? I lost 6 shows last season that I regularly watched (24, Lost, Heroes, Mercy, Flash Forward and Dollhouse). No new drama has yet to compel me enough to watch regularly except Lone Star, which got canceled, and The Whole Truth, which will probably soon follow. Crappy new shows have been getting great ratings this fall, so who knows? Worst case scenario, I watch a lot less TV this season.
It worries me that I will watch even less a year from now. Smallville is on its final season, Fringe is in danger, and House ratings are dropping with Hugh Laurie's contract being up at the end of the year. -
Dude, you're like a broken record.
-
cuz we all saw the pilot onlineand benz did her best acting lying dead in that bathtub
-
Kinda generic but has potential. I'm glad they're not sticking with the "mockumentary"/"talking to the camera" thing as a regular gimmick. However, I was kinda liking the idea of the son not having a power, would have added an interesting twist. Instead, it was the one power I saw coming a mile away. The pilot had opportunities to surprise but didn't take them. I hope the series doesn't make the same mistakes.
-
Not nearly as crappy as Herc and the other reviews have said. People expect way too fucking much
-
Too many cliches, and too many haters to last. It's cool but a little stale. A disney owned network should have marvel characters on it, like The Time/warner cbs owned CW with Smallville. Smallville set the standard (10 years on tv for a superhero show) that will never be beat!
-
crappy reviews in a pilot means advertisers will avoid this, which means cancellation!
-
I am recording it for later. From what I saw it wasn't as bad as the EV3NT but, it seems to pretty much be for kids. Like something that was origionally pitched to ABCFamily but turned out a little better than expected and got bumped to network.
Given that it airs at 8 I think it will stay geared to 12 yearolds but, it doesn't speak to my inner 12 yearold. One more episode and I'm probably out. -
Had fun watching it with my 10 year old. Much better than I expected based on Herc's review.
-
premier this the same day IM2 comes out on DVD. A big chunk of your core audience may forget to tune in.
-
That Buffy: Season 8 motion comic you've got advertised at the bottom there... any of the original cast return to voice it? I'm assuming you would know (already checked amazon...zero help there). Anyway, sorry to interrupt the flow, here.
-
No Ordinary Family drops a "dumb@$$" in the first 30 seconds. Why? Was it lacking credibility without it? Did it need to be that edgy? So much for a return to some wholesome prime time TV. Dang shame really.
-
You missed that daughter calling the other girl a "Whore" and implying that she was a slut. Family hour indeed.
-
Didn't send you a big enough paycheck to promote this one? They can't all be made by millionaires. Oh well, will still be a good show, will continue to watch and laugh at you for being a greedy little fuckwit.
-
- if you really like a boy in high school and want to keep him, you better get on that dick.
-
If he doesn't like the first episode, then the rest must be garbage right? It seems that every talkbacker knows this. The only one who doesn't is Herc himself.
-
when I saw this the first thing that popped into my mind was Daddio.
-
Can't believe something with an Angel tie in offends Herc. He's loved far, far ,far worse.I'll give it another few weeks at least, I liked the Nightcrawler villain, curious to see where they go with it
-
It's no more or less ham-fisted than Modern Family. ABC family shows all have that sort of wholesome/corny quality to it. I'm okay with that though. ABC/Disney has never been known to produce family shows that are anything other than cheesy & shallow. If you can accept that.... The show is enjoyable enough for what it is.
BAD:
- ABC/Disney cribs a bit too much off of its Pixar & Marvel properties. From the Frozone wannabe black guy sidekick to the Kitty Pryde references, you can feel the corporate hands at play here.
- ABC gave away far too much of the show in that earlier promo teaser
- (Mostly) Predictable & not too deep
- Boo to ABC for scheduling this against tween girl friendly Glee.
GOOD:
- Stephen Collins turn as the evil corporate douche did surprise me a bit. Having seen him on 7th Heaven for so long, I was fooled into thinking that he only played good guys. Should've seen these twist and the teleporter one coming, but I didn't. Kudos to ABC for keeping some of its cards hidden & out of the teasers.
- Smart move by ABC in keeping the powers fairly budget friendly. Superhero movies are expensive enough. Trying to bring that to TV.... Near impossible. Thankfully, TV has been doing stuff like super strength, speed, & telepathy long enough that VFX studios can do it all for a cost effective amount.
- Smarter move by having it as a lead in for Dancing with the Stars. I can't expect that any unexpected viewership that it gains would last beyond DwtS' finale, but it at least has that tween boy, "I hate Glee" market locked.
- Some occasionally fun & funny bits that hit when you don't expect them.
- A solid, if not spectacular, cast. Chiklis is in his element here. He's doing his Fantastic Four thing, which he was decent enough at, on the network that first gave him a chance in the criminally underappreciated "The Commish." Benz isn't too bad here. I actually buy her as an intellectual type now more than I would have 10 years ago. It would've been nice to see her strip down again, as she did on Desperate Housewives last year, but any Julie Benz is better than none. As for the kids.... Kay Pannabaker is okay. I still think that her sister Danielle is a bit more likeable and photogenic, but that's just me. The brother.... sucks. Kinda worthless on this show, atm. I hope that he goes the way of that other daughter, turned porn star, from Family matters. Just let him go away... NOW. The back guy? He is what he is. He's doing the same character that he does in every other TV and movie appearance. Can't blame him for sticking to what works.
- Room for growth. That the writers actually have some direction for the show, based on the last scenes, is encouraging enough for me to tune in again.
- Smartest move? Filling that genre void. Heroes is gone. Smallville is ending. The superhero genre may be played out, but it still has its fans. With now other show to fill the gap, it's nice to see that at least somebody is making an attempt - even if its ABC.
ABC used to produce this sort of formulaic, but enjoyable family stuff for years. Recently, that has kinda tapered off thanks to procedurals and "reality" shows. "The Commish" was cheesy, to be sure, and nowhere near as deep or enduring as "NYPD Blue", but it still had its redeeming qualities. That's what I'm seeing here. Is this going to be THE superhero show we want? No. Is it the one we need? Maybe. It's harmless & wholesome fun. Seeing as how everything is so grim & darm, at both the movies and in real life, I'm willing to accept a phone in live action Incredibles than another Heroes-level disaster.
Take it for what it is. No Ordinary Family is sorbette. It's tasty, but not designed to be anything more than a sweet palette cleanser. -
I bet you a dollar this is gone before Smallville.
-
from the previews but wouldn't it have been neat if the younger kid spent some time exploring the "dark side" of his powers and evidence budding supervillain tendencies while the older kid sometimes helps him, othertimes the parents depending on what's in it for her. Life becomes one big game of keeping each other and themselves human and in check.
-
good tonight as well. Maybe I'm just in a good mood today or something. Who knows. I'm sure I'll be taking a liquid shit on all of these shows by Thanksgiving.
-
Hercules hated it. If he hates it it usually means its not centered around his demographic.... shows for pre-teen girls so he'll have something to talk with them about.
-
Yeah that was fun to watch with the kids.
-
The teleporter fight scene. That's what Hiro should have been doing for five damn years. For what it was, a relatively low-budget TV fight between two guys, it was on a par with the Nightcrawler scene in X-Men 2.
-
Julie benz damn id like to smash that, she is super hot. chiklis is one of my favorite actors and is totally convincing as the father. The sons powers at first seemed corny but then i remembered that in theory alot of things have mathimatical proofs and designs. I mean science, trajectories, stocks, robotics, engineering, computer technologies? I mean he could be rich if he played his card right. I know i would use that ability for! lol. Counting cards in vegas would be a snap!
I did like the teleporter villan, so it shows that they have a group of bad guys out there. but i dont understand something the bullets was they hollow point or diamond tipped. it seemed that from a distance he seemed invulnerable but yet up close the bullet made him bleed. i dont get it.
You give them powers but there is a limit but you dont exactly explain it in the first show? why not? Saving that for sweeps ABC. you bastards. this better not crash like heroes. -
Not everything has to be some moody depressing overly intense self-flagellating drama stocked with 'flawed' characters with situational ethics.
-
Sure it wasn't Heroes season 1, but was still better or just as good as 90% of 2010's best. Definitely better than Chase and The Event so far.
-
However, that Pittsburgh reviewer who said it was too slow is on crack. The beginning, especially, was too quick. Needs a good deal of polishing, but having Chiklis and Benz to anchor the cast (plus the two sidekicks) is a huge advantage.
Oh, and Lone Star? Sucks. Completely. -
Marvel for Fantastic Four or the creators of The Incredibles should sue the creators of this show.
-
I'm sorry, but NO ORDINARY FAMILY seems like a perfectly decent show. Not groundbreaking, but at least there's finally something to watch on Tuesday nights.
-
I thought I had read that somewhere.I generally don't care for voice overs, so if they abandon that, and can go beyond the typical clichés, it might be fine. Chiklis, and esp. Benz are very watchable, and the Collins twist bought it some additional time.
-
There's a reason Superman wasn't titled "Not Your Average Reporter".
-
rising from his watery "grave" as some mutated super-powered monster.The show has it's problems. Found it to be dumbed down with the narration (hopefully that won't continue) and stuff like Julie Benz being a "research scientist". Seems kind of vague, like it was a placeholder until they could figure out the exact, and correct, title for the job she does. Also thought Chiklis' character was kind of dumb. Testing powers can be done without putting your life on the line. Gradually work your way up to jumping off buildings and having your buddy shoot you. Maybe start with jumping off a flight of stairs, or having Romany Malco shoot you with a slingshot - if it fails, it hurst but isn't fatal.The show isn't as bad as Hercules claims (nor is it a "dramedy", but I think he does that just to wind us up). Unlike Herc, I can see potential here. Whether they capitalize on that potential, or squander it, remains to be seen.
-
Aren't bitching about them and are in awe of themselves.
-
While the show isn't perfect with all the cliches especially when they were getting their powers, it did have some good moments.
Give it a few episodes before saying how bad/good it is. It has potential, just have to wait to see where they go with it. -
Show, don't tell.
-
Sep 29, 2010 11:05:46 AM CDT
TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM
by president baltar
TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!TEAM D.VADER!!!
-
Not to bad for going up against Glee and NCIS. It was able to soundly beat the Biggest Loser reality show.
-
Fast paced story with good action and drama. It had generic stuff but it was still fun.
-
Didn't say that it wouldn't be gone before the end of S1. What I did suggest is that NOF is harmless genre fun. It doesn't take any bold risks, but it doesn't offend the senses either. This is generally the sort of middle of the road approach that most ABC shows have taken in the past.
TBH, this is generally the sort of show that ABC would premiere on the ABC Family network. There, it would stand a chance of lasting at least 3 or 4 seasons. Here, on ABC proper and against Glee, NOF was dead long before it hit the air.
And, if we're taking bets, how about we wager whether or not NOF outlasts the critically acclaimed failure Lone Star? Can't do much worse than gone after 2, right? =)
I'm not defending a show whose pilot doesn't strive to be anything more than average and derivative. However, given the current state of genre programming on network TV, and what passes for dramedy, NOF is harmless.
Better suited toward ABC Family? Sure. Destroying modern TV as we know it? Hardly.
Wanna know how bad it could get, Herc? I suggest you go back into your video vault and watch stuff like Night Man, Witchblade, Heroes S4, MANTIS, Misfits of Science, or Mutant X?
No Ordinary Family may itself be a bit ordinary, but it is certainly no Mutant X. -
ABC is owned by Disney. Disney owns Marvel. Disney owns Pixar. Lawsuit? Try PROFIT! =)
-
OK start. If it doesn't erode then it will last longer than "Smallville".
-
I have to say I enjoyed it and plan to watch it next week.
-
I'm shocked to see that someone could say something bad about this show. It has a shit-ton of potential. It's easily the best new pilot of the season (Shit my Dad says was a disappointment, The Event was uneventful, and Undercovers was...ok)
My whole family really enjhoyed it, and it's been getting great buzz on the various podcasts I listen to and all my co-workers who saw it liked it, too. This review is the first I've heard anyone say anything negative about it.
And the complaint that "it's not funny" ---- so what? It's not a comedy. Shows like this and Heroes, and Buffy, and Lost, and Flashforward, etc may have humerous moments and laughs thrown in here and there,but they aren't sitcoms. They aren't there to make us laugh. I go in for the stories. If I get a chuckle on top of it, so much the better.
-
...enjoyed it, particularly Chiklis and Benz. The potential is there for a good show.
-
Sure it clunks in spots but damn near every pilot does (not you my dear departed Lost, not you). I smell some haterade on your breath Herc.....
-
'No Ordinary Family'? It's like calling The Incredibles, 'A Family That Can Do Kinda' Neat Stuff'.
Off topic, but this brings to mind a neat animated show from when I was a kid (or maybe it's just nostalgia and it was really bad), The Bionic Six, about a family of, well, you know...
Now THAT'S a title. -
10.5 million viewers.
by Mr. Profit Sep 29th, 2010
12:31:18 PM
OK start. If it doesn't erode then it will last longer than "Smallville". lol -
And screw the reviewers, period! What's not to like in this show? Julie Benz (Great) George Chiklis (Great), Superpowers (Great), Supervillains (great), Drama, Obstacles, Conflicts, Love, responsibility, coming of age, Deception, Loyalty and secrets to be revealed.. sounds promising to me! Add some pretty cool Special Effects shots and the best Superhero fight on TV since scarfaced Peter Petrelli, serious sword weilding Hiro and Sylar disguised as President Nathan Petrelli went at it in the alternate future from season 1 of Heroes! Not sure we all saw the same version of the pilot but what I saw was well entertaining and had barrel loads of potential despite the origin cliches! Look forward to seeing this as much as the next Supernatural and Fringe!
Readers Talkback
User Login
Top Talkbacks
- Two new Avengers photos for you to ogle! -- 250 total posts 228 posts
- It's A GOOD DAY TO DIE HARD If You're Jai Courtney! -- 143 total posts 143 posts
- A New Shot Of Hulk From THE AVENGERS Movie!! -- 128 total posts 128 posts
- Edgar Wright And Johnny Depp Summon KOLCHAK: THE NIGHT STALKER To The Big Screen! -- 97 total posts 97 posts
- Behold These Lovely HD Reconstructions Of STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE TV Spots!! -- 296 total posts 87 posts
- This International BATTLESHIP Poster Is Kinda Kitschy!! -- 66 total posts 66 posts
- Darabont Casts L.A. NOIR Pilot!! Spoilers For WALKING DEAD!! -- 88 total posts 64 posts
- A Fan-Made Trailer For JOHN CARTER Sells The Movie Better Than Any Other Trailer So Far... -- 191 total posts 63 posts
- Director Sam Mendes Talks New BOND Movie Via Videoblog!! -- 51 total posts 51 posts
- New AMERICAN REUNION Trailer! -- 49 total posts 47 posts