TVSquad

Alphas -- a science fiction/action pilot that certainly has nothing to do with Heroes on NBC -- just got picked up by Syfy. The network would also like to assure you that their new show has nothing to do with Heroes.

The 90-minute adventure has been kicking around Hollywood for a couple years now. Alphas tells the story of "a team of ordinary citizens who possess hyperdeveloped neurological abilities."

That sounds nothing like Heroes at all -- which is fortunate because Syfy is a member of the NBC/Universal family of networks.

The show originated with writers Zak Penn and Michael Karnow with BermanBraun Television. It was originally called Section 8, but NBC passed. ABC soon snatched it up, but something more powerful than telekinetics or mathematical geniuses destroyed it: The Writers Strike.

The show sat in limbo like so many post-strike projects until Syfy redeveloped and decided to air it. There's no word yet on whether the pilot will roll into a full series order.