Syfy has had an interesting history with scripted shows. They have run the gamut from dark dense mythology (Battlestar Galactica, Caprica) to sci-fi lite (Eureka, Warehouse 13). Where will the new show Alphas fall in that continuum? Creator/Writer Zak Penn (The Incredible Hulk, X-Men: The Last Stand) had some – well, confusing things to say about that recently in an interview with SFX.

Penn told SFX:

In most superhero shows – like Heroes or The Cape – the everyday life of it, the naturalism – that kind of stuff doesn’t happen, at least as far as I can see. The X-Men never cancel a trip on the X-Jet because someone got sick with the flu. It just doesn’t happen. The naturalism definitely separates it from those other science fiction shows, and the way that it’s a far more humorous take than you normally see in science fiction. I’ve seen the pilot for Heroes, and Alphas doesn’t feel anything like Heroes to me. Heroes feels a lot like X-Men to me. Those two things feel of a piece. An episode of House feels like it overlaps more with our show than Heroes would.

Oh. Kay. Alphas is not like THE PILOT for Heroes, which he felt was like X-Men. He thinks those two shows didn’t portray “the everyday life” of those with superpowers. Well okay. But House shows everyday life? Has he seen House? And do we think he knows about No Ordinary Family?

I always look forward with interest and a fair amount of hope to any new scripted series on Syfy, and I am still looking forward to checking out this show – starring David Strathairn! (Good Night, and Good Luck). I am, however, now ever-so-slightly concerned. How about we check out a clip?

 

I feel somewhat better now. How about you? Here’s the best news of all: DIRECTED  BY JACK BENDER (LOST)! NOW I’m ready, bring it on! Alphas, starring David Strathairn (Temple Grandin/Good Night, and Good Luck), Warren Christie (October Road), Malik Yoba (New York Undercover), Laura Mennell (Watchmen), Ryan Cartwright (Bones) and Azita Ghanizada (Castle), with guest star Callum Keith Rennie (Battlestar Galactica/24), premieres on Monday, July 11 at 10 pm, following the season premieres of Eureka and Warehouse 13, on Syfy.