Beaming Beeman: BEEMAN’S BLOG - SEASON 3

Monday, September 15, 2008

BEEMAN’S BLOG - SEASON 3 - PRE-SEASON ENTRY

(AS ALWAYS SPOILERS APPEAR IN WHAT FOLLOWS – FOREWARNED IS FORE-ARMED!!!)

Hello HEROES fans… The new season begins next week and it’s time, finally, to start up the blog again. As you may know, we have been back to work since April, and we’ve been shooting episodes since May 1st. At this moment episodes ten and eleven are being filmed.

People have been asking me for months when I’m going to start the blog up again – but, to me, it seems that there’s really nothing to say until we get close to airing. I suppose every week I could come online and say, “We’re still filming – it’s all top secret so I can’t say much but it’s really going well!”

Anyway – one big difference between season 3 and season 2 is that we came back rested. Between season 1 and 2 we all had, at most, two weeks off. We made the best of it, but in retrospect we were tired right from the get go. The writer’s strike was certainly no fun, and it was a bummer to all of us that season 2 was so shortened… but Tim Kring and the writer’s and all of us in production came back fresh and with a clearer perspective.

Another advantage we have had in coming back so far ahead of the air dates is that we will be able to get nicely ahead with episodes. We start with two hours of HEROES on September 22 – and then we will be airing new episodes every Monday for 11 straight weeks. It is very important to Tim that this first volume of thirteen, which we’re calling “VILLIANS” is a distinct storyline that begins, builds and concludes.

In this volume a key new idea is introduced into the mythology – an idea which will divide our characters. They will be divided not just by “Hero” and “Villain” but also by the radical new idea of --- well… I can’t say. Watch September 22 to find out!

The last season ended with much acclaim and despair as both Niki Sanders and Nathan Petrelli were apparently killed. If you’ve watched the promos or seen the numerous promotional billboards then you’ve seen Adrian Pasdar and Ali Larter in them. But let me assure you – at least one of those characters is definitely dead and gone.

The cast has been very excited and happy this year. All of them have great stuff to do this year, and a few have whole new powers, storylines and/or characters to play. (Again I can’t say much – just watch!)

The Petrelli brothers are re-united for a big story arc. Matt Parkman goes on a great adventure where he meets a new prophet (and eventually develops a new power.) Someone new takes over the company. And Claire’s father (HRG) gets perhaps the most surprising new partner you can imagine.

While on the one hand it’s great to start shooting 4 months before you begin airing – it’s also nerve wracking because you don’t get any real-world feedback from the fans. One of the most satisfying moments we’ve had so far was when we premiered the first episode at Comic-Con in San Diego. We went to Comic-Con last year (in Season Two) and had an amazing panel where we filled a room with 2000 people. I didn’t think we could top that experience. But this year we filled the biggest hall with, what I heard was, about 7000 fans. It was absolutely insane! I don’t know if you’ve ever been to Comic-Con. I’ve gone off and on a few times since the early 90’s. It seems to get bigger and crazier every year. Well, my understanding is that Hall “H”, which we were in, is usually just for big movie premieres. There were giant screens everywhere and (again from what I was told) numerous fans spent the night outside the venue to get in line. I saw the line and it wrapped way around the block. As I say - it was madness!!!

But, if I do say so myself, I think we gave the fans a great show. One thing I love about HEROES is that – I truly believe – the people who make the show behind the scenes have a real, true respect for our fans. The entire cast, without exception, came to San Diego. Tim Kring and Jeph Loeb walked on stage ahead of them and the crowd went CRAZY! You couldn’t hear for about a minute above the screaming. Then Tim revealed the surprise that we would be screening the first episode in its entirety.

Well, to make a long story short, the screening went over pretty well. On our best days HEROES looks and plays like a feature film and I think we achieved that with this first one. The online critique was pretty positive and I hope and believe we are going to give you, our fans, a great season this year.

So -- Even if you were at Comic-Con or somehow saw episode 3.1 already – or even if you read every available spoiler online – still – make sure to tune in next week because episode 3.1 rolls right into 3.2 without a break. In my humble opinion, it’s a real rollercoaster ride for two solid hours.

Next week the blog begins in earnest….

Until then… PICTURES!!!!