TVSquad

And yes, you'll be laughing at it, not with it. Mostly because it's awfully unoriginal, unfunny, and it revolves around two of the most useless characters in the Heroes universe -- Eric Doyle (aka "The Puppetmaster"), and that d-bag who used to be HRG's boss at Copy Kingdom (who reminds you that he used to be the boss at Copy Kingdom two seconds after he shows up).

OK, maybe someone could make a good web series about The Puppetmaster (David H. Lawrence XVII is a good actor), but this ain't it. The five-and-a half minute opener, which premiered Monday, is mostly laughably bad, forgettable and uninspired.

Nowhere Man, that's what they call it, chronicles Doyle's attempt to go straight and work an office job. Copy Kingdom guy is his sleazy jerk boss who just happens to be dating the object of his affection.

(S03E19) The hunter storyline reached a pivotal climax tonight, and there were lots of twists and turns along the way. The bottom line: Heroes produced another excellent chapter in this volume, and I'm sure we'll be reading soon about how horrible the ratings are and how the show is on the bubble for renewal. Honestly, I'm not sure if the sour taste of two bad volumes in a row has rendered the improvements irrelevant. Perhaps the show is doomed.

I'd hate to think so because it really is as sharp and exciting as it was during its inaugural season. The problem is figuring out how to lure those viewers back who've given up on the show. A guest appearance by John Glover, above, would be nice but it didn't seem to be too highly promoted. I get that it was an important plot twist, but still. NBC renewing and heavily promoting the fact of that renewal could help. We all know how quick people are to jump off of a dying show. If NBC shows some real faith in the show, it at least couldn't hurt it. Maybe, too, they should consider moving it from the Monday night logjam.