ABC may have canned Pushing Daisies, but we haven’t heard the last from its imaginative creator, Bryan Fuller. Sources confirm that he’s about to close a two-year deal with NBC/Universal to develop new shows and — most importantly — make a much-anticipated comeback to Heroes. The news should come as great relief to fans of the struggling NBC series; Fuller wrote for the show during its first season, including the critically beloved “Company Man,” an episode with a streamlined, single-character focus that is often cited as a model the jam-packed ensemble show should follow moving forward. In fact, Fuller made a promise to EW.com exclusively that if Daisies wasn’t renewed, he’d “definitely be going back to play with my friends at Heroes.”
If there’s ever a show in need of a creative kick in the pants, its Heroes — the mythological drama that’s suffered both a ratings decline and some troublesome turnover in the writers room of late. As complaints from fans and critics began to hit a fever pitch last month, saying that the once-popular show was losing its zeitgeist-capturing appeal, NBC-Universal decided to can co-exec producers Jeph Loeb and Jesse Alexander — celebrities in their own right among the fanboys.
It’s unclear how long — or in what capacity — Fuller would serve on Heroes, though his tour of duty likely won’t extend beyond this season, as NBC Universal will surely want the popular writer to create more buzzworthy shows in the vein of Daisies and his old cult hit Wonderfalls.
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Heroes had it’s chance with Fuller. If I can’t have Daisies, than Fuller should create a new show for me to watch! He is truly a unique voice and Heroes is an over wrought, over worked mess.
I think Bryan Fuller should not help Heroes out, but have NBC pick up Pushing Daisies, and make my life complete again.
SCREW HEROES. That show can go choke on its on bile for all I care. As if that makes up in any way at all for the loss of Pushing Daisies? Bryan Fuller should’ve fought harder for the show. He seems pretty happy to just run off to that other show. Hmmph.
As someone who actually LIKES this season of Heroes and LOVED Daisies, I do think Fuller can be a help but the show is nowhere near the death watch so many people subscribe to.
Pushing Daisies blows. It’s the most pretentious show on television. I’d rather see Fuller resurrect Heroes than continue with that clap trap.
Pushing Daises was lame, y’all. Interesting idea, c r a p execution. It blew, and deserved to be cancelled. Hope he can do his best to fix Heroes.
it’s too late. heroes is BROKEN dudes. kill the cheerleader. just wrap her in a tarp, shove her in the trunk, and drive the car over a cliff already.
Wow, what’s with the Pushing Daisies hate?
After Heroes Season 1 (the only season that counts in my book) and Pushing Daisies, I recently checked out Wonderfalls and I have to say that I’ve become a huge fan of Bryan Fuller.
I’ll watch anything he makes. If NBC has one last shred of intelligence, then it would give this guy free reigns to make anything in the future.
everything bryan fuller touches turns to gold. i’m interested to see what new and creative show he’ll come up with next. as for heroes, unfortunately i gave up on the show three episodes ago. bryan’s return won’t get me back onto the series.
While it’s great that Brian Fuller is getting work, I don’t think it’ll make much difference if Tim Kring is still plaguing Heroes. He is the real problem–NOT Loeb or Alexander. And the fact that NBC is being totally mis-run by Ben Silverman and his glorified assistant Teri Weinberg doesn’t bode very well for any series he develops in the future for the network. If anyone can do it, it’s him, as he has one of the most imaginative minds in TV. Josh Schwartz was able to pull it off, maybe Fuller can take Heroes’ Mo/9 timeslot when it gets canceled.
Here’s the plan: fire Kring and replace him with Fuller. Ta da!
Why doesn’t NBC just pick up Pushing Daisies?? It has nothing lose! It’s already the lowest rated network.
Come on NBC, give Pushing Daisies a chance! ABC took Scrubs, now you take their show!!
I don’t think Fuller will be writing very long for Heroes. It better get with it if it’s going to come back next year. This show may go down as the biggest drop off for a show since it’s first season ever. Really, has there ever been a more ridiculous story line than Hiro’s on anything not named Twin Peaks? I truly hope they can salvage this show, the first season was one of the best seasons of sci-fi television that I can remember.
P.S. In regards to Hiro, stop making him the comic foil and start showing us how he becomes the Bad-”A” we saw from the future in season one.
I would like Bryan Fuller to get started on a new show…not try to resuscitate a dead one.
Also, Lee Pace needs a starring role, ASAP!
It’s obvious that Bryan isn’t even bothering to fight for Pushing Daisies. Isn’t he even going to try another station or possibility for critically-acclaimed show? I respect him, but, as a fan, this is really disheartening that he could so easily walk away.
Someone PLEASE explain to me how Pushing Daisies could be described as pretentious. Because it’s different? Seriously, why?
Vic Nardozza, I’m talking to you.
Unless this new show is *exactly* like Pushing Daisies, I am unimpressed with Bryan Fuller. I mean surely he could’ve actually tried to get the show picked up. Pushing Daisies was so great, and it would be such a shame to let it die.
I don’t care about Heroes. I love Pushing Daisies. Last night’s episode was great, and it annoys me no end that this wonderfully imaginative and entertaining show will just end without any kind of wrap up. He should try to find somewhere else for Daisies to air.
I don’t know why everyone’s criticizing Heroes. I’ve found every episode exciting with interesting and unexpected plot twists. I think people loved it so much the 1st season because it was something new and different on TV. But now that the novelty has worn off, people are criticizing it because it’s not new. It hasn’t lost any of the excitement. We’re all just used to it now.
Why do you all assume Fuller just dropped Pushing Daisies and didn’t fight for it? Do you have any idea what it takes to keep a show on the air? The creator has nothing to do with it, unless he has a few million dollars to give the network to keep the show running. It’s a shame, because I do like the show, even though it can be Seussian at times, but unfortunately the decision was made not to renew it. Sadly enough, it looks like it was done without even giving them a chance to bring the show to an end, so we will be left wondering on a lot of points. Now…can he save Heroes? Honestly, if Pushing Daisies can be cancelled, I don’t see why this show shouldn’t be. I somehow still love it, despite the horrible writing of late, but I think it had its run in Season One and should’ve been left at that.
Heroes is already pushing daisies at this point and not even the Pie Man’s touch can save it. That show is just over, and yet inventive and amazing shows like Daisies get canceled. There is no justice in this world – only money.
What is it with Bryan Fuller and great series being cancelled? He had pushing daises, wonderfalls, and my favorite – Dead Like Me.
The reason this show has lost it’s quality is because they are writing it as it goes along with no clear direction. The characters have no clear motivation for their actions, and some things just plain don’t make sense. I’m sorry, and I do love the show, but you cannot for one second tell me that Noah waiting for Elle and Sylar to finish having relations before he shoots at them with the sniper rifle was a good idea. For what little good parts (Noah stalking S & E, Hiro getting rid of the “Bad Man”), there are far too many bad parts (waiting for post-coital sniping, leaving his glasses in the supermarket after “killing” Sylar, Sylar killing Elle for no reason). It just needs focus, and maybe hopefully Bryan Fuller can give it that.
Well maybe heroes will be watchable again. I hope whatever show Bryan comes up with next will be more like Dead Like Me, a little more grounded so it’ll help bring in viewer who were scared off by the fairytale non-template following pushing daisies. I love love his stuff, but every time something of his gets cancelled for not getting enough viewers, it breaks my heart. I’d rather he tone down his genius if that means his shows last longer.
I can’t stand people bashing on Hero’s this season. It’s fun, exciting, unexpected, campy when it needs to be, creates just as many questions as it does answers, keeps every character involved in the storyline although they are all in their own places. Does the show seem blurred and unfocused? To anyone just tuning in for the first time, probably, but it does have a destination and the characters do have purpose. Watch the show to enjoy it, not critique it. The plot twists and turns are surprising and definitely leave you expecting the unexpected. This show is great and I haven’t notice anything different from the first season till now. You all just sound bitter because last season was cut short. I know I’ll enjoy it this coming Monday.
“NBC Universal will surely want the popular writer to create more buzzworthy shows in the vein of Daisies and his old cult hit Wonderfalls.”
You mean wonderful, witty and unique shows it just can’t WAIT to cancel?! If so, then we have our long-awaited (if inadvertant) honesty from a network.
I don’t have necessarily have a problem in the direction Heroes is going in, but it’s definitely a mess in certain respects–Gaping plot holes, inconsistencies, deus-ex-machina usage of time travel like I’ve never seen before. Maybe Fuller can whip it back into shape; he’s a master storyteller.
To The Listener:
I would buy your theory, if 24 and Lost went downhill equally quickly, but they didn’t. Even though both shows had inventive, groundbreaking first seasons, the creators for both shows found many different ways to keep audiences invested, thanks to involving storylines and increasingly complex characters. Even years later, many viewers consider Lost season 4 and 24 season 5 to be the greatest offerings in both series’ runs, and both haven’t hit their last legs quite yet. Heroes, I admit, is entertaining on the surface, but lately, the plot’s misdirection and its wildly inconsistent character motivations don’t display a show that’s constantly evolving. Instead, it shows one that’s barely hanging on by a thread.
It’s not uncommon for shows to have a drop in quality occasionally (e.g., the meandering pacing of Lost season 2, the Tritter arc in House season 3, most of 24 season 6), but Heroes lost its footing since the end of season 1 and hasn’t regained it since.
Bryan Fuller is so awesome. He’s really going to do well in helping out heroes. I hope Fugitives goes well this february because it premieres the day after the superbowl!