Charlie and Hiro! Oh boy, if there’s a do-over for a Heroes romance this would be top-of-the-list. It was really just a sweet, love story that it was so tragic when it abruptly ended. The HEROES producers tried putting the story in a novel but it’s not as good as if the romance really took off. So now, Charlie (Jayma Mays) is back and Hiro (Masi Oka) will try to save her as he adds her name to his bucket-list.

So here are some promo pictures of “Once Upon a Time in Texas” when Hiro goes back in time to try to save Charlie from Sylar. Back in season 1 “Six months ago” at the Burnt Toast Diner, Hiro failed to save Charlie from being brained-sacked by Sylar. So in this new time-travel ep for “Once upon a Time in Texas” expect to see Hiro, Ando (James Kyson Lee), Charlie, Sylar (Zachary Quinto) and the present-day Hiro reunite at the diner. The thing is, there are some other suspicious characters added to the mix and I doubt it will be a quck-fix for Hiro.

Check out –

What in the world is Samuel (Robert Knepper) doing in Texas?! Did he travel back like Hiro did, or did he just happen to be there physically at that unfortunate time.

More intriguing photos after the cut! This episode gets better and better, just from the photos alone!

Look how obsessive Samuel’s eyes are! Is he checking out Charlie? Hiding from someone who’s after him? Did the present Hiro bring him back in time? So many questions!

And what are these two other extras doing here too?! Noah Bennet/H.R.G. (Jack Coleman) is with an old partner from the Company (Law & Order’s Elizabeth Rohm) who obviously will play as someone with abilities (remember the Company policy of “one of us, one of them” partnering?). What in the world are they doing in Texas? Just from checking out the pictures, those two don’t look like they’re working. Nope, it’s more like a date! But I could be wrong, since H.R.G. is great at making pretenses like these.

NBC Photos: Trae Patton

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James Kyson Lee is a regular actor on HEROES better known to fans as Ando, Hiro’s one-time sidekick now partner-in-crime, when he acquired powers last year. James recently worked on an independent film titled WHITE ON RICE (review here), and that’s what I talked to him about. In that movie, you’ll see a side to James that he hasn’t shown on HEROES yet. And of course, I wanted to get juice about HEROES and tonight’s premiere for season four.

So get a load of the interview, after the cut!

James had previously worked with both Hiroshi Watanabe and director David Boyle on BIG DREAMS, LITTLE TOKYO and so the reunion on WHITE ON RICE was a perfect for them. James described the movie as all about family relationships. He says it transcends ethnicity (all the actors/characters are Asian) because the conflicts are something that families can relate to. “It can be about anyone anywhere in the US and you can still relate to it.”

The character that James played in the movie, named Tim Kim, was very smooth and quite appealing. Is James like him in any way?

“I tried to bring a little of myself in the movie. [Tim] is a worker but trying to chase his own dreams – music. I love music myself so it was great to try that in the movie. I got to work with the real Tim that the character was based on.”

James also revealed that he bought his first acoustic guitar while filming in Utah.

“I even got to play in a band, and to sing, and and that will come out in the movie.”

Since I saw a screener of the movie, I know what he’s talking about and you will see a different side of James Kyson Lee in that scene. James adds that his song is part of the soundtrack, so if you want to hear more of James’ music, watch WHITE ON RICE and buy the soundtrack.

And then of course I asked about HEROES! Since Season 4 is upon us, I wanted to hear what Ando will be doing this time around – is he running toward trouble or becoming more heroic. “Hiro and I have a new business. Hiro is getting his bucket list going and I’m trying to help him deal with his terminal illness. I may also be linked romantically to someone unexpected this season!”

Is he going to make use of his powers? James told me he will, but we’ll have to wait and see!

We definitely won’t have to wait very long now, since HEROES comes back tonight on NBC for its fourth season. At 8pm ET, we will be treated to two episodes for its premiere – “Orientation” and “Jump, Push, Pull”.

And that photo on the left? We will know exactly what James is so shocked about!

Images: Newscom; NBC/Chris Haston

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On first pass, I can’t really describe what genre WHITE ON RICE falls into. It’s somewhere between light drama and comedy, with a touch of romance and an undercurrent of tragedy thrown in. And mind you, the storyline is not that complex, but the script and portrayal have a way of making you laugh at the hilarity of a serious moment, and punch Jimmy (the main character) and put some sense into him, and then lead you to a teary-eyed scene, all while watching characters with gloomy, sad, almost-expressionless faces. I can’t imagine how the cast even kept straight faces while they’re saying their lines.

WHITE ON RICE is about a 40-year old divorcee named Jimmy, who wants nothing more than find “someone better than” his ex-wife, whose photo he lovingly kisses every night and says “I’ll find someone better than you.” Jimmy is more immature than a ten year old and sees nothing wrong with it. I mean, his running shoes has velcro, and he still loves dinosaurs (like my 5-year old nephew) except Jimmy is 40. Jimmy is not dumb, because he aces a college-level geology class! But when the Professor talks about how he loves rocks, Jimmy becomes genuinely super-enthusiastic and proudly shouts, “So do we! Rocks are great!”

Straight out of Japan, Jimmy now lives with his sister Aiko (Nae), a lonely young wife married to a much older man Tak (Mio Takada) who used to be so fun and sweet. Aiko and Tak have a 10-year old son named Bob (played by aspiring filmmaker Justin Kwong  – is he older than he looks?!), who has an enterprising after-school career to pay for his piano lessons. After several unsuccessful dates set by his co-worker Tim (James Kyson Lee), Jimmy gets interested in his brother-in-law’s sister Ramona (Lynn Chen). It turns out that Ramona and Tim once dated and are re-kindling their romance, so Jimmy tries to compete for her affection, and dreams of getting back at Tim. At Tim and Ramona’s wedding, Jimmy approaches the groom and with all sincerity smiles “I had a dream that I killed you,” while handing out his congratulations.

But Jimmy gets his second chance, and you applaud that someone as childish and simple like Jimmy finally finds what he is looking for. Although the film has an Asian cast, and there are scenes that Asians would relate to better (and crack them up more), I really thought the film was able to transcend ethnicity. It’s a film about relationships and coming-of-age… in a 40-year old. And that’s what makes WHITE ON RICE very funny!

Hiroshi Watanabe was a genius at portraying Jimmy, and you feel for the character so much that you wonder if that look is all made up, because Jimmy can look so immature when he’s smiles, and how can you “scold” a big boy like him? The supporting cast was great at “telling the story”, including James Kyson Lee, my original reason for following the film. Fans of James will love one particular scene when the actor shows a talent that we haven’t seen on HEROES. But it’s Justin Kwong, who plays Bob the nephew that made me wonder the entire time. Is he really older than he looks… and have I said that before?! His bio says he is an
aspiring architect and film maker, and a talented pianist. So I guess that was really him playing and not some double. And on set, Justin served as 2nd Assistant Camera on many occasions. Maybe that’s why the character can look so mature for his age.

It’s definitely a film that is worth watching. The entire cast is Asian, directed by David Boyle of “Big Dreams, Little Tokyo”.  The film has been playing in the Asian Festivals, but it is moving through select theaters across the country. This week WHITE ON RICE is playing in San Francisco and San Jose, California and later in the month in Salt Late, Denver in Honolulu.

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It’s what we’ve been waiting for folks! We finally get photos of the premiere episode of HEROES Volume 5 (Redemption). And I’ve got to show these in two parts – the heroes and the Carnival, because there’s just so many of them it’ll be hard to load.

And you better be prepared for plenty of great SPOILERS in these images….

It looks like Hiro (Masi Oka) is in a bad shape. Ando (James Kyson Lee) is pulling him on a gurney so Hiro is either too sick to move or he is immovable in some kind of shock or time-trance. Danko the Hunter (Zeljko Ivanek) is not doing too well, and Tracy Strauss (Ali Larter) is in trouble too. What a way to start the new season! But Claire (Hayden Panettiere) is hoping for a more normal life in college as daddy Noah Benned (Jack Coleman) says goodbye to his Claire-bear. Noah is back to his old game, only this time he’s running the new Company with Angela Petrelli (Christine Rose) and Tracy.

But is mama Angela seeing double? First minute she’s talking to her son Nathan (Adrian Pasdar) and the next minute he becomes Sylar (Zachary Quinto)!

So check out the rest of the photos, and be sure to get to the next post for a look at the Carnival, past and present!

Definitely more photos after the cut!

Guest star Madeline Zima as Gretchen -

And of course, Milo Ventimiglia as Peter Petrelli… always broodingly handsome!

Images: NBC/Chris Haston

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And guess what spoilers James brought with him? (Beware…)

• James is going fall in love (surprise!) – as he does every season…
• He’s going to set up a business with Hiro and it’s going to keep them busy.
• He’s “ultimate goal” is to join the Carnivale… and a flashback will show him and Hiro going to a Carnival when they were kids! (and as you’ve seen from the trailer, the adult Hiro meets his younger self.)

.

Image credited to NBC/Chris Haston

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It’s the final showdown for Heroes! Next Monday, the final episode for the volume “Fugitives” pits the heroes against Sylar. Yet again! Sylar plans on becoming President and the Petrellis are bent on stopping him. The promo trailer showed Claire and Sylar sharing a moment, but that’s not gonna last once Sylar goes after Nathan and Peter. 

Meanwhile, Ando and Hiro are about to storm the Hunter’s lair in Building 26, and they’ll be surprised to find Mohinder victimized.

The photos below show a little bit of spoilers, so we can start talking about what might be going on.

Sylar against the Petrellis. Claire and Peter seek refuge in what looks like a hotel or a nice house, but Sylar is right behind them. Peter seems to have a cut above his eyes, so Sylar must have gotten to him. Did Claire stop Sylar from sawing off Peter’s head? A very frightened Claire closes the door to hide from Sylar, but that’s not really going to help is it?

Maybe, the last photo shows what I think is about to happen.

Images: NBC/ Trae Patton

Click on the images for higher resolution. Sorry, gotta do that, since there are 20 photos in this promo!

Who’s coming to the rescue? Matt, Nathan or Angela?

Raiding Building 26. Ando and Hiro get inside Building 26 attempting to bring down the Hunter. They find a roomful of surprise waiting for them! Ando and Hiro has just revive Mohinder, when someone (or something) startles them.

How will it end? The Hunter and HRG face off! The heroes look on as a something burns down. How will season 3 end? Greg Grunberg spoils that his character will do something “incredibly dark” that ends in someone’s death.

“It’s not expected. It’s pretty sick. Torture is involved. It’s someone we all know. It felt great to tap into my dark side."

Images: NBC/Trae Patton

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Don’t even ask if one enjoyed Heroes tonight! NBC wasn’t kidding when the ad said it was CLASSIC. It was the BEST of the season, no question about it. Nothing defined good TV better than this episode.  Humor, suspense, twists and a romance – episode 3.20 had it all. And the icing on the cake: everything fit together beautifully. Bryan Fuller wrote this ep, folks, and he brought down the house. Greg Yaitanes’ direction was excellent, and Grunny twitters it’s only getting better from hereon!

So, what went down?

A Wheelbarrow and a Baby Bjorn

Hiro and Ando get a message from Rebel to save Matt Parkman the second. They get to Janice Parkman’s home in Los Angeles and finds the little toddler with powers of his own. The little babe can make toys and electronics run without being hooked to any source of power, earning him the moniker “Toddler Touch and Go”. Janice comes home and find little Matt with the new babysitters, who explain what the government really wants with her child. When agents barge into her house, Ando gets heroic and knocks an agent off with his amped powers. But the baby saves the day! Lil’ Matt touches Hiro and get him back his time-space control! Hiro stops time and that part of his world froze.  But uh-oh, Hiro still can’t teleport himself and Ando away from the scene, so he does the funniest thing ever! Hiro carries Ando away from Janice house on a wheelbarrow! 

Ice Queen Meets the Rebel

Tracy Strauss gets a message from Rebel to hang on tight. Rebel helps Tracy break out of the heat lamps by turning off electricity from Building 26. Tracy gets Matt, Daphne and Suresh awake from their stupor but she runs ahead when she learns that Daphne is wounded and could slow them down. Matt does his mind control and they walk out of the building like know one saw them.

HRG tracks Tracy to a department store and offers her a deal – lead him to Rebel and she can go free. Rebel helps Tracy withdraw money from an ATM and gives instructions for her to go to Union Station. And whatyaknow! Micah shows up! A little grown now and not so cute anymore, but that’s all cool. He’s perfect as Rebel!

Micah follows Tracy to Union Station and reveals his identity to her. Tracy is crushed!

She wouldn’t have taken HRG’s offer had she known it would me Micah. You’d have to love what Micah did – rub in the guilt trip! “My mom may be an ordinary American, but she was hero. You’re just a…. politician!” Oooh. That definitely worked. Just as agents traced them to a parking garage of station, Tracy laid out her cold snap routine like the Ice Queen never existed! She had Micah open all the sprinklers, told the kid to run ahead of the ice, and froze the whole garage like a mean ice storm even Tracy froze. Danko and HRG got there too late, and to spite Tracy, he pulls the trigger on her frozen body and shatters her to a million icicles. Ah, but did Danko see her eyes blink? She’s not dead yet, Hunter.

Fly Me to Paris or the Moon

Unfortunately, a true hero bit the dust tonight. Matt brought a wounded Daphne to the hospital and manages to get her a nice room under the name “Gwen Stefani” (they do look alike). Daphne wakes up to flowers, balloons and cards wishing her well. But she says goodbye to Matt, with a half-convincing lie that their relationship was just all in his head. Daphne is next seen somewhere in Paris, France and Matt shows up there as well! How’d he do it? He flew. How did she get there? She ran over water. And just like a classic Superman tale, Matt offers a grand view of Paris. Daphne places her feet over Matt’s and they float above the city of lights. The romance would have been perfect except Daphne asks Matt if he would really do anything for her, as he promised. “Let me go,” was her painful request. No regrets, Daphne knows this is all in his head. In reality, they are still in the hospital and Matt is just inside her head. A teary Matt admits he really only wants her to be happy, and she asks that he fly her to the moon. Just like the comics, he does. And then Daphne’s monitors beep, and she is lying in the hospital bed, dead in Matt’s arms. My congratulations to Brea Grant for bringing Daphne to life and making us fall in love with her.

Angela gets wet

Out in rainy Manhattan, HRG meets Angela in her car and warns her that he is about to turn her in, as a sacrificial lamb, to make the Hunter trust him more. She wants HRG to give Danko someone bigger than her, like the Rebel. With her future-telling powers, Angela is able to get one step ahead of the agents hunting her down. She gets into an elevator just as agents corner her. Peter swoops in and flies away with mommy!

The last scene shows Peter and Angela inside the head of the Statue of Liberty. Peter asks his mom” what do you want to do now?”

What’s next is episode 3.21 “Into Asylum” next Monday March 30, 2009.

Images: NBC/Chris Haston

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But I did get a lot of goodies to pass on.

(UPDATED Feb. 27)

Heroes cast and crew members are on Twitter!

• Greg Grunberg – you should know this by now. He’s an avid Twitterer and very funny to follow! Oh, and yes, he can Tweet with his mind.
• Brea Grant – one of the first to set foot on Twitter; really nice to talk to!
• James Kyson Lee – none other than Ando the Supercharger!
• Wendy Lynn Allison – from Make-up; you will love her photos!
• James Clark – He is THE Props Master, after all.
• Jesse Alexander – Heroes exec alum, now working on “Day One”, a pilot to watch!
• DH Lawrence XVII – The PuppetMaster Eric Doyle!
• Divide Pictures – Milo Ventimiglia and the crew from Divide.
• Hayden Panettiere – now there was some hoopla about this early on. But it has been confirmed by Milo’s crew that HaydenP is a faker. In fact, Hayd_Panettiere is the one to follow! 

UPDATED Feb. 27: Both Greg and Wendi confirm that Hayden Panettiere is NOT on Twitter. Both users are fakes, and their pages were taken down.

@wendilynnmakeup Hayden has shown no interest in twitter when its been brought up, so unless she’s hiding something from us, which is doubtful..

@greggrunberg hayden P is NOT on Twitter. Anyone claiming to be her "is a fake and a phony and I never want to see them again".

Image: NBC / Trae Patton

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Matt Parkman (Greg Grunberg) prophetically drew that Hiro Nakamura (Masi Oka) is going to stop a wedding in India. How Hiro can get there is the big question, but he thinks it will help him get his powers back.

In this sneak peek of Heroes 3.16 (Building 26), Hiro and new-powered friend Ando Masahashi (James Kyson Lee) are in India, but what actually happened is quite different than what was prophesied.

It was Ando, not Hiro, who saved a beautiful Indian girl Anna from being married to Deepak, a gangster powerful man with ulterior motives for marrying her. She calls Ando “my hero”. And Hiro is pissed. Ando stole his chance to get his powers back. But Ando thinks Hiro is pissed because their roles of hero-sidekick have switched.

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Next on Heroes!

People with post-human abilities were herded into an airplane for an unknown destination. But the plane crashed just as Claire Bennet (Hayden Panettiere) and Peter Petrelli (Milo Ventimiglia) were rescuing their comrades.

Now the escapees are on the run as they are hunted down by the government! Nathan Petrelli is not about to give up, and the “prison break” may have given him more cause to mark the escapees as dangerous.

What happens now? Matt Parkman (Greg Grunberg) may have some clues, as he’s been given a new ability of drawing the future. Unfortunately, he’s not going to like what he sees. Daphne Millbrook (Brea Grant) and Ando Masahashi (James Kyson Lee) attempt to save their friends.

Here is the promo trailer for tonight’s episode – Heroes 3.15 "Trust and Blood”

[Description]
[Pictures]
[Sneak Peek]

Image: NBC / Adam Taylor

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