“Save the Cheerleader, Save the World.” On the surface it makes no sense, and if you told someone at a party the tagline for NBC’s new TV show Heroes you’d be laughed right off the bean dip line. I assume they still have bean dip lines at parties; I’m not really invited to a ton of them. Anyway, I’m an unabashed fan of both the tagline and the show because I think they are playing with a fairly large tongue-in-cheek vibe (or at least I hope so). The show is great for a couple of reasons, one being the epic and winding tale. There are weak parts, sure, but the cheerleader storyline in particular is captivating. For one thing, it’s a teenager playing *gasp* a teenager (unlike the 28-year-old Ryan playing 19 on The O.C.). Hayden Panettiere is a 17-year-old dynamo of an actor, and she’s carrying the show on her tiny cheerleader back. I don’t think anyone in the country (besides the writers) has any idea how her mutant healing powers will save the world, but I’m captivated to see how they’ll get there.

That said, this fun can’t possibly last. Any time you build the drama this fast this soon you risk losing all hope of a decent second season. What, are they going to save the world again? How much sillier could they go? Maybe “Save the bill collector, save Idaho?” I don’t know, I’m just brainstorming because I think only 24 has worked the “save the world from destruction” storyline every year to success. Frankly, Heroes, I met 24 and you’re no 24. Regardless, I’m riding this wave while I can, cheering the cheerleader all the way.

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Laremy Legel

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