- No Heroics
-
No Heroics Genre - Situation comedy
- Superhero
Created by Drew Pearce Starring Country of origin United Kingdom No. of seasons 1 No. of episodes 6 Production Running time 30 minutes Production company(s) Tiger Aspect Productions Broadcast Original channel ITV2 Picture format 16:9 Original run 18 September 2008 – 23 October 2008 No Heroics is a British superhero-comedy television series, which began on 18 September 2008. The show is ITV2's first original sitcom.[1] It was nominated for Best New British TV Comedy of 2008 at the British Comedy Awards.[2]
Contents
Setting
No Heroics is set in modern-day Britain, in a world similar to ours but "with one small difference: there are superheroes." The superheroes of the world (colloquially referred to as "capes") are primarily modelled after those of the Golden Age of Comic Books, usually clad in brightly coloured outfits consisting of skin-tight materials such as Lycra or Spandex. The presence of superheroes in the world is commonplace, arriving not only to save people or avert disaster but also carrying out everyday tasks such as grocery shopping or taking a smoke break, all while in full costume. Other aspects of society relating to superheroes include:
- Sidekick taxes - all superheroes have to pay sidekick taxes even if they choose not to have a sidekick, these taxes are to compensate those affected when a sidekick makes a mistake such as blowing up a post office.
- The SPA - the Super Powers Authority deals with abuse of powers cases, dealing out punishments including community service, such as mentoring an unruly sidekick.
- Anti-cape leagues - parallel to neo-Nazi groups in the real world, anti-cape groups (such as the Cape Haters of Great Britain) are prejudiced against superheroes and tell "capeist" jokes, and sometimes go around "cape-bashing".
- The Fortress - the bar of choice for the protagonists where most of the show takes place, with three fundamental rules: "No Masks, No Powers and No Heroics".
- A superhero academy exists where the capes are trained.
- Cape rape - a term similar to Date rape, referring to superhero rapists.
- The Stronghold - the supervillain equivalent of The Fortress. A place for the villains to meet and show their battle and torture scars from their run-ins with heroes.
Characters
Primary characters
- Alex, "The Hotness" – Nicholas Burns
Alex controls heat and is desperate to be famous for saving the world (or at least someone), but somehow Excelsor always manages to save the day before him. His main work comes in winter when he fills in for the heaters at old peoples homes when they are broken.
- Sarah, "Electroclash" – Claire Keelan
Sarah can control machines with her voice. However she would rather steal a pack of cigarettes from a machine than help the ‘normal’ world with her power. Seen as the most rock ‘n’ roll of the bunch, Sarah is the daughter of famous superheroes "Rampart" and "Velvet Veil", described by Sarah as the "Torvill and Dean" or the "Richard and Judy" of the superhero world. She is Alex’s on-off love interest, having broken up with him some time prior to the start of the series. Sarah was a member of the short lived superhero team known as Lady Trouble, alongside Jenny (She-Force).
- Don, "Timebomb" – James Lance
Don can see sixty seconds into the future and is an expert in torture. However, these days the gay Spaniard only uses his abilities to his friends’ advantage, due to his retirement only taking on a few jobs to keep the cash rolling. He is also an ex-drug addict and frequently engages in sex with strangers. Don appears to be the only cape with a more modern-style costume, wearing a black leather suit of body armour in stark contrast to the brightly coloured outfits of his peers.
- Jenny, "She-Force" – Rebekah Staton
Jenny has super-strength and is the third strongest female in the world, but doesn't feel comfortable being a superhero. She would much rather spend her days at her desk, waiting for Mr Right to come along. Socially awkward, Jenny revels in having a secret identity as an office worker, a charade her friends find pointless. Jenny was a member of the short lived superhero team known as Lady Trouble, alongside Sarah (Electroclash).
- Devlin, "Excelsor" – Patrick Baladi
Devlin is the most successful cape in the United Kingdom; he is a "Rock Star" within the superhero world, with a high public profile and numerous commercial endorsement deals. Due to his immense success Devlin's attitude is highly egotistical and selfish, and he takes pleasure in reminding Alex and the other "lesser" superheroes of his superiority at every opportunity, often by bullying Alex. Devlin has a wide array of powers, which include but are not limited to: flight, laser eye beams, X-ray vision, super speed, force field creation and manipulation, super sensitive hearing, and mind control abilities.
Supporting characters
- Simon, "Thundermonkey" - Jim Howick
Simon worked in the Fortress as a bouncer, whose job it was to ensure that the regulars played by the rules. However the regulars treated him as a bit of a joke, particularly Sarah. He was allowed to use his powers in the fortress as part of his job. His power involved summoning monkeys; however, the monkeys did not simply appear, they had to physically travel from wherever they happened to be. Given that they took so long to respond to his calls, they were never seen on screen (although their coffins were present at Simon's funeral), even after relocating their home reduced their response time from 2 hours to 45 minutes. After Sarah taunted him about being a crap superhero he picked a fight with Slicefist (a known supervillain with razor blade fingers), both he and his monkeys were killed in the resulting fight.
- "Norse Dave" - Steve Spiers
The bartender for the Fortress who fought in the Falklands War, alongside Rampart, superhero who sports injuries from the Gulf conflict, his powers are as yet unknown. He is pictured in background art dressed as a stereotypical Viking, armed with an axe.[3]
- "Doomball" - Oliver Maltman
This villain's main feature is a huge black ball-like helmet over his head with a small slit to see out of. He wishes to be taken more seriously as a villain; in this regard he could be considered an evil foil to Alex, though his actual powers are unknown. He was captured and tortured by Don in episode 6, revealing the location of the villains' stronghold to enable the heroes to avenge the death of Simon.
Episodes
- "Supergroupie" (18 September 2008)
- "The Fantastic Chore" (25 September 2008)
- "Mean Gills" (2 October 2008)
- "Back Issues" (9 October 2008)
- "Origin And Tonic" (16 October 2008)
- "Monkey Gone To Heaven" (23 October 2008)
In-jokes
The Fortress is a take on the Fortress of Solitude and other such superhero residences, but rather than being actually a hideout it is simply a bar.
The Fortress serves "Green Lamp Ale" on tap, "Shazamstell", "Von Doomenbrau", "Bottled Beast" (a blue vodka look alike), "Grey Widow Vodka", "Gin City", "Little Jock", "V for Vodka" "Gamma-Meister" and "Logan's Rum", a reference to both Logan's Run and Wolverine.[4]
ATMs shown belong to "Stanlees Savings Bank".
The strip club visited by Don and Alex where the girls are wearing Wonder Woman costumes is called Paradise Island.
In the show's world, popular superheroes have comic books devoted to them, but the actual actions of all heroes are also reviewed by critics, exactly like comic books. Heroes are thus subject to criticism not only for incompetence, but also for being insufficiently entertaining.
Influences
The series contains a lot of references to comics in the props, touching on both American comic books as well as British comics like 2000 AD – the latter being the home of Grant Morrison's Zenith, which was "the germ of it", according to the writer Drew Pearce.[5]
Reception
The show has been well-received by the broadsheet and mainstream press. Stephen Armstrong of The Times thinks that No Heroics is "possibly the first genuinely amusing sitcom on any ITV outlet since, well — any suggestions?"[6] Also at The Times, Michael Moran expresses similar sentiments, suggesting that it "is edgier than My Hero though – closer perhaps to cult favourite Mystery Men" and that while "Episodes one and two might be a slow burn ... [b]y the third instalment though, the hapless heroes are established as a superior sitcom characters that deserve a spot in the pantheon of loveable loser comedy that stretches from Tony Hancock to David Brent."[7]
Jane Simon in The Mirror thought that "the affectionate yet satirical tone is gauged just right to appeal to super-nerds and regular viewers, and is packed with tiny details to reward aficionados."[8] "What's On TV" called the show "inspired"[9] whilst The Times continued their support of the show by saying "ITV2's new comedy No Heroics is fast, funny and a little ingenious. Drew Pearce, the creator/writer, established an engaging collection of pretenders to the throne: The Hotness, a sexually inadequate "cape" with a penchant for heat; Electroclash, who let a shop owner get shot and suffer from his injuries because he was sexist; Timebomb is Spanish, depressed, unhinged; She Force is a superhero with the twittering insecurities of Carrie Bradshaw."[10]
In addition, the influential British comic book creator Warren Ellis showed a warm display of support for the show on his blog by saying that "it’s funnier than a comedy show about superheroes has any right to be. It’s a miracle it got on the air at all. Full points to creator/writer Drew Pearce for coming up with something that should translate to a general audience because it’s black humour first and everything else second."[11]
However, comic book writer Steven Grant disagrees, saying "boy, does it suck. Nothing but mindless, pandering sex jokes (would-be jokes, anyway) and The Beano level schoolboy shenanigans."[12] Sentiments shared by Anna Lowman of TV Scoop, who thought that "[t]he main problem with this comedy is that the writers have apparently decided to replace the jokes with an unremitting coarseness ... and to produce characters that no-one in their right mind could give too (sic) hoots about" concluding that "No Heroics is just another reason why ITV is known as the graveyard of comedy."[13] Robert Hanks of The Independent also picks up on similar angles: "It is quite a nice idea, certainly a much better idea than My Hero ... but so far Drew Pearce's script is too ready to fall back on the drink and the sex every time it needs a laugh." [14]
American adaptation
ABC commissioned a pilot of No Heroics in the US, with Pearce being joined by Will and Grace writer Jeff Greenstein.[15] In March it was announced that Freddie Prinze, Jr. had been cast as Infinitum, the A-list superhero, and Paul Campbell, Eliza Coupe, Tom Riley and Arielle Kebbel are playing the B-listers.[16] Some scenes were filmed in the Gastown District in Vancouver, BC April 2009.
Josh Gad, best known for his role on the Fox comedy Back to You, played their former classmate from Superhero College, Horse Force, who can summon horses and works at a bar where the group hangs out.[17]
ABC declined to pick up the American adaptation of No Heroics.[18]
DIRECTV has exclusive rights to the British version of the series.
References
- ^ ITV2 to air superhero sitcom, The Guardian, August 8, 2007
- ^ "British Comedy Awards nominations announced". 16 November 2008. http://www.musosguide.com/?p=957. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
- ^ http://www.sam-gilbey.com/blog/2008/09/no-heroics-background-artwork-in.html
- ^ No Heroics - Drew Pearce Interview - British Comedy Guide, British Comedy Guide
- ^ The greatest cape, The Guardian, September 13, 2008
- ^ Is it a bird? Is it a plane? It's No Heroics, The Times, September 14, 2008
- ^ No Heroics: Slacker Supermen, The Times, September 16, 2008
- ^ Pick Of the Day, The Mirror, September 18, 2008
- ^ Episode 2 review, What's On TV, September 24, 2008
- ^ No Heroics Review, The Times, September 19, 2008
- ^ [1], Warren Ellis' blog, September 16, 2008
- ^ Permanent Damage, Comic Book Resources, September 24th, 2008
- ^ TV Review: No Heroics, ITV2, September 18 September, 10.30pm, TV Scoop, September 19, 2008
- ^ Last Night's TV: The Ambulance, Channel 4 Ann Widdecombe Versus Girl Gangs, ITV1 No Heroics, ITV2, The Independent, September 19, 2008
- ^ ABC picks up comedy pilot 'No Heroics', Hollywood Reporter, February 10, 2009
- ^ Freddie Prinze Jr. cast in 'No Heroics', Hollywood Reporter, March 18, 2009
- ^ [2], Hollywood Reporter, April 14, 2009
- ^ [3], IGN, May 14, 2009
Further reading
- Hall, Julian; (26 August 2008). "When the capes are off", The Independent. Retrieved on 30
- Pearce, Drew; (9 September 2008). "Eureka!: No Heroics", Broadcast Now, EMAP. Retrieved on 30
- Pearce, Drew; Ben Gregor (16 September 2008). "On location: No Heroics", Broadcast Now, EMAP. Retrieved on 18 September 2008.
- Scott Lewinski, John ; (26 September 2008). "No Heroics Plays Superheroes for Laughss", The Underwire. Retrieved on 30 September 2008.
External links
- No Heroics at itv.com
- No Heroics at the Internet Movie Database
- No Heroics at TV.com
- No Heroics at the British Comedy Guide
Categories:- 2000s British television series
- 2008 British television programme debuts
- ITV sitcoms
- British LGBT-related television programmes
- Superhero television programs
- Superhero comedy television series
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