Save the cheerleader, save the world

So I just got finished watching my favorite show on television right now: Heroes. Thanks to the internet, I was able to stream and watch all of last season's episodes over Winter break and I became addicted to the show.



For those who don't know, the show focuses on a group of people who have "special powers" (think X-MEN with a lot less special effects and action). They're extremely normal people who all happen to have a certain defect in their DNA that has given them some sort of abnormal ability. The show centers around the heroes' attempts to find themselves, and somehow prevent an explosion from destroying New York City. For more information, check out the Wikipedia entry.

So naturally, I check the website often.

I love shows like this. Their extensive advertising is epic. On the website you can watch videos, see extended clips, read an interactive comic (the same as the comic dawn by one of the characters), and (my favorite) even call up PrimaTech Paper, Inc. - a company from the show. From the NBC Heroes website, you can click a link to PrimaTech's website. It takes you to a pretty badly designed page, which enhances the reality of it. The teenage characters from the show even have MySpaces, which I don't think are linked to from the website, but are obviously set up by NBC.

"NBC has announced an alternate reality game for the Heroes series. The "Heroes 360 experience" will start on January 22nd. Viewers will investigate clues broadcasted on television and learn new infomation about the characters. Cell phones and a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) website will be a few of the mediums used. One of the characters will give viewers access to these features. Also, a special "two screen" application will be provided to simulate a real-time event. Viewers will also have access to the fictional Primatech Paper company's phone system and new content at NBC.com, including commentary from cast members added to streaming episodes. The game is sponsored by Nissan." - from Wikipedia

Over time, I've noticed more shows beginning to do this, and I seriously love it. I was checking out the website for another show, Ugly Betty (who's characters have been nominated for Golden Globes), and found that you can go so far as to watch entire seasons of the fictional soap operas that the main character watches.

Anyway, I get a real kick out of it. Things can only get better and better as time goes on. I can't wait to see what kind of interactivity is available five years from now. Or even one year!

Stuff like this is awesome because it enhances the reality of the show, you know? The entertainment doesn't have to stop after an hour. I can go online and pretend that up in New York, Isaac Mendez is really painting the future, Hiro Nakamura is really fighting Dinosaurs, and Peter Petrelli might go on a date with me if I can somehow get his phone number.