Tim Kring apologizes for calling fans 'dips***s'

"Heroes" creator Tim Kring apologized for calling his fans "saps and dipshits"  at the recent Screenwriting Expo panel for not using DVRs.

For those who have not followed this story in the blogsphere, it's been more entertaining than "Heroes" this season, with the NBC show's fans cast as offended victims and its creator in the role as the heartless villain (hey, he's got the goatee).

Here's Kring's original quote, first reported by IGN:

[Serialized storytelling is] a very flawed way of telling stories on network television right now, because of the advent of the DVR and online streaming. The engine that drove [serialized TV] was you had to be in front of the TV [when it aired]. Now you can watch it when you want, where you want, how you want to watch it, and almost all of those ways are superior to watching it on air. So [watching it] on air is related to the saps and the dips**s who can't figure out how to watch it in a superior way.

Time's blog did a detailed breakdown that enumerated all the ways this was a bone-headed statement, so I won't rehash them here. Basically, after weeks of "Heroes" losing ratings, a lingering hardcore group of viewers have stuck with the show, fans who are willing and able to keep track of "Heroes" confusing array of intertwining plots. The last thing NBC wants is for that remaining audience to feel insulted for watching the program live -- the primary manner tracked by advertisers.

Now an apologetic message from Kring (below) is making the rounds. NBC verifies its legitimacy but otherwise has no comment:

"I need to strongly apologize for the slightly mangled quote of mine that is making it’s way around the internet. It was made while trying to explain the rise in DVR and online audience for the show. I was making the point that these platforms now offer a superior way to watch the show (without commercials, with extra content, commentary, at the audience’s convenience, etc.) ... It was a boneheaded attempt at being 'cute' and making a point. Instead, it turned out to be just plain insulting and stupid."

One wishes to avoid piling on. Clearly Kring regrets what he said and anybody can slip up on a panel. But the matter has been lousy timing for the show, which has behaved in the ratings like a troubled freshman series rather than a third-year series. Ratings drain is common in returning programs, but the relentless plummet suffered by "Heroes" is unusual. The past few weeks seem to have bottomed out. If not, "Heroes" could go from NBC's top-rated drama to on-the-bubble for renewal by the end of the season.

On the heels of this news, Salon published a particularly brutal review, saying this about "Heroes" writing:

"Every other scene seems to boil down to the same arbitrary dramatic conflict: Two characters argue over what should happen next, even if they were assigned the exact opposite stances in the previous episode. It's just like debate club, only a little less interesting ... all any of these characters do is walk around, declaring their interest in saving the world over and over again."

Full Kring letter:

I need to strongly apologize for the slightly mangled quote of mine that is making it’s way around the internet. It was made while trying to explain the rise in DVR and online audience for the show. I was making the point that these platforms now offer a superior way to watch the show (without commercials, with extra content, commentary, at the audience’s convenience, etc.) And went on to say how it’s getting to the point where “watching the show on the air is relegated to the poor saps and dip****s who can’t figure out how to program their DVR’s”. (Or something close to that) It was a boneheaded attempt at being “cute” and making a point. Instead, it turned out to be just plain insulting and stupid. I know now how it sounded, but I truly never meant to suggest anything negative about our audience. No one cares more about the fans than we do at Heroes, and no one appreciates them more than me. We are grateful for whatever way people are finding our show. Now more than ever.

I want to take this opportunity to say that I’m very sorry for this careless, lame remark. The best way to make it up to you is to live up to my promise that the upcoming episodes of the show are fantastic. I think you’ll agree we’re really on a roll and we couldn’t be more excited about the last four episodes of “Villains” and the upcoming volume, “Fugitives”, which we feel will be a huge hit with the audience.

Thank you for hearing me out.

Humbly

Tim Kring