Essentially, those characters go from adding value to the series to severely impacting the quality of a show that we otherwise know and love.

We compiled a list of television characters whose shows didn’t have the good sense to get rid of soon enough. Check it out!

The Faks – The Bear

Seriously, what the fak is up with the Fak obsession on The Bear?

They add some levity to situations when you have a bunch of high-strung and emotional chefs and characters with a wide array of mental health issues or trauma trying to navigate the same space.

A little of the Faks could go a long way toward lightening the series’ tone and sometimes breaking up tension.

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But it was painfully evident during the polarizing third season of The Bear that the series dished up a heaping dose of the Faks, and it was too much for many of us to bear.

When the palate cleanser requires its own palate cleanser, it’s no longer effective, right?

Kim Bauer – 24

Good grief, Kim Bauer was such a nuisance on 24.

No one managed to detract from Jack Bauer and whatever more compelling storylines he had going on than his trouble-magnet daughter.

Her side plots were like side quests that ultimately derailed the series, often throughout her reign.

Her presence often felt forced, and nothing was more grating than hearing Jack call her name because of yet another predicament she had thrown herself into.

Owen Hunt- Grey’s Anatomy

It’s not exactly an unpopular Grey’s Anatomy opinion that Owen Hunt is either one of the worst, most annoying characters or should’ve been gone long ago.

But some of us don’t have that much of an issue with Owen any more than we do with other characters in the series.

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However, while Grey’s Anatomy excels with Kevin McKidd behind-the-camera directing, as he’s often responsible for directing some of the later seasons’ best episodes, there’s not much going for Owen Hunt on camera.

It feels like they don’t know what to do with the guy and have long since run out of storylines for him.

Noreen Fitzgibbons – Sweet Magnolias

It’s quite apparent that the Magnolia triad is the heart of the series, and others must operate as supporting characters to them.

Frankly, anyone remotely close to an adversary of these ladies often posed a problem amongst fans. But if we’re being honest, Noreen overstayed her welcome after the initial drama of the first season.

Sure, she returned to the series during Sweet Magnolias Season 2 because Maddie felt Kyle needed some help.

However, the storyline felt forced, as did Noreen’s general presence overall.

The series already had a bloated cast, and there’s very little they can do with Noreen anymore, so there’s no real reason for her to be around.

It’s not even that she’s dislikable anymore, as opposed to how she may have come across in the first season, but it’s more so that the series could use any of the screentime they devote to her to focus on so many other characters who deserve it.

Stingray – Cobra Kai

It’s all fun and games until it stops being fun.

Stingray was already an acquired taste and was a character who catered more towards those who appreciated the “cringe dude humor” that Cobra Kai can do so well.

He’s an overgrown man obsessed with all things Cobra Kai and essentially made the dojo his entire personality instead of getting anything that resembles an actual life.

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But then the series quickly elevated his shtick to another level, and the frequency with which he appeared throughout the seasons became overkill.

They treated him like a fan favorite that the audience couldn’t wait to see again, shoehorning him into scenes like the bad habit he is and incorporating him in some of the most absurdly ridiculous ways that made you roll your eyes.

Seriously, why is a grown-ass man at a high school fighting teenagers? Enough!

Ani – 13 Reasons Why

Given the 13 Reason Why‘s nature, Ani’s serving as a narrator for the fourth season made little sense.

Ani was a confounding character who didn’t feel adequately written out from the beginning and had shoddy motivations for most of the season when not totally nonexistent.

She dominated a lot of the third season for a character who lacked depth and wasn’t sympathetic in the least.

And she was meddlesome and messy but not in a way that enhanced the plot.

Topper – Outer Banks

Sure, he may or may not be nice to look at for some people, but does Topper add any real value to Outer Banks outside of that?

Nope!

Drew already serves as an antagonist, and Kook will wreak havoc on the Pogues, so they stopped needing Topper to contribute that aspect to the series.

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But then they attempted to do this redemption for the character, and he became a begrudging ally for the Pogues sometimes, while also coming across as pathetic for consistently allowing Sara to manipulate and use him or take advantage of his feelings for her.

At this point, there’s no real reason for Topper to be around anymore, and it’s doubtful they’ll find anything worthwhile to do with his character.

Paige Lassiter- Virgin River

It’s not so much that Paige herself has stuck around on Virgin River longer than necessary.

It’s the impact of his presence on the series, specifically Preacher’s story arc.

She was such a non-starter and a love interest for Preacher that it was frustrating to see the tease of something more for him not come to fruition.

But then Preacher had to take care of the child while she was on the run, and he covered for her when she killed her abusive ex. Now, Paige is long gone, and Preacher is facing the possibility of this murder investigation leading back to him and all types of consequences.

Paige’s presence has severely impacted Preacher’s love life, whether it was with Julia or now with Kaia.

We still know very little about Preacher as a character because his entire storyline during the series revolved around Paige.

Elias Voit – Criminal Minds: Evolution

We can’t help but reiterate that Voit’s presence on Criminal Minds: Evolution has become overkill.

Voit is not a bad villain or anything; he’s certainly interesting in his own right, and he’s provided a lot of content and tension.

Of course, Zach Gilford is great in the role.

However, the series stalls a great deal because this single character monopolizes so much time and space in the narrative at the expense of other great characters.

Maggie MacPherson – The Lincoln Lawyer

Of all Mickey’s ex-wives with whom he has to cross paths, Maggie continues to be the most frustrating.

Outside of serving as their daughter’s mother, Maggie didn’t offer anything of interest to the series, and it was difficult to connect with or care about her when she felt more adversarial to Mickey than an actual antagonist.

Maggie just doesn’t standout on a series full of interesting and charismatic characters. The love story between Mickey and Maggie is stale, and the show has struggled to incorporate her character in a way that makes her feel overly important.

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Even when she was involved more in the first season of The Lincoln Lawyer, she still felt disconnected from everything. And it only got worse in season 2. 

It doesn’t help that her character is kind of snooze in general. If the series decided to write her out completely, nothing would really change. 

Maggie never should’ve had a significant role in the series in the first place.

Rumplestiltskin – Once Upon a Time

Throughout the Once Upon a Time, Rumplestiltskin evolved from a multidimensional villain to a one-dimensional hero and steadily switched between those roles and everything in between until the end.

While Robert Carlyle was absolutely fantastic in the role, it became evident over time that the desire to keep such a talent on the series surpassed the plot and the necessity of his presence.

After an incredibly long and complicated journey, there was little for the series to do for Rumplestiltskin after he found his son.

Sylar – Heroes

Sylar was one of the most fascinating and entertaining villains during the first season of Heroes.

Frankly, Zachary Quinto could do no wrong in the role, and in many ways, the series thrived because of his portrayal of this character.

But it still doesn’t change the fact that Sylar stuck around much longer than necessary.

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The mark of a great villain is knowing when to call it quits and maybe even sticking to that original premise in the first place.

Trying to add too much depth to Sylar and having him flip-flop between villain and hero didn’t serve the character or the series well, and it was clear the writers lost sight of what to do with him.

Felicity Smoak – Arrow

Once upon a time, Felicity was a decent character who added value to the Arrow and the Arrowverse and the plot.

But then she became a perfect example of what happens when the fans have too much say in a “favorite” character and when a relationship starts to overshadow the rest of the series.

Felicity was shoehorned into way too many plots beyond reason, which began to sour viewers’ experience of the series, even for those who may have once enjoyed the character.

And if it wasn’t enough that she had that effect on Arrow, the issue with her spilled into other series, like The Flash, as well.

Over to you, TV Fanatics! Do you agree with our list? Who do you feel is missing? Hit the comments.

The post From Favorite to Frustrating: TV Characters Who Overstayed Their Welcome appeared first on TV Fanatic.

The Heroes star issued an apology on Wednesday after her former co-star Leonard Roberts came forward with allegations of mistreatment on the show, which he says led to his dismissal from the NBC drama. 

In a statement to TV Line, Larter said the following:

“I am deeply saddened to hear about Leonard Roberts’ experience on Heroes and I am heartbroken reading his perception of our relationship, which absolutely doesn’t match my memory nor experience on the show," she told the outlet.

"I respect Leonard as an artist and I applaud him or anyone using their voice and platform. I am truly sorry for any role I may have played in his painful experience during that time and I wish him and his family the very best.”

Roberts penned an essay for Variety, which went public earlier on Wednesday, which found Roberts recalling his experience of working on the show. 

“The script suggested D.L. and Niki had a volatile relationship — and it wasn’t long before art was imitating life,” Roberts writes, before opening up about times the two actors clashed.

“I later gave her a bottle of wine with a note affirming what I believed to be mutual respect and a shared commitment to doing exceptional work,” he explains.

“Neither the gift nor the note was ever acknowledged.”

Another incident involved Larter allegedly refusing to bare her shoulders during a bedroom scene between their characters.

She “expressed she had never been so disrespected — as an actress, a woman or a human being,” Roberts writes.

But he notes that Larter had no problem shooting a scene that called for her character to seduce Adrian Pasdar’s character, Nathan Petrelli.

Roberts says he “pondered why my co-star had exuberantly played a different scene with the Petrelli character involving overt sexuality while wearing lingerie, but found aspects of one involving love and intimacy expressed through dialogue with my character, her husband, disrespectful to her core. I couldn’t help wondering whether race was a factor.”

Roberts then spoke about a blind item about co-stars on an unidentified hit series found in exec producer Dennis Hammer's office.

“Hammer told me not to worry, as the matter was ‘being handled internally,’ and to continue being the professional I had proven myself to be,” Roberts writes.

“I quickly learned, though, that while the acting was the vacation, the vocation was being a team player and towing the positive party line in press interviews and media events."

"I was only interested in dealing with drama that was on the page, but that goal would prove to be elusive.”

Roberts says series creator Tim Kring informed him that, “due to ‘the Ali Larter situation,'” he was being killed off at the start of the sophomore season.

Said the actor:

“Kring said he felt my character had been painted into a corner, due to the fact that ‘we’ didn’t have ‘chemistry,’ and that any attempt to create a new storyline for D.L. just felt like ‘the tail wagging the dog.’ I replied that I found it interesting he had created a world where people flew, painted the future, bent time and space, read minds, erased minds and were indestructible, yet somehow the potential story solution of my character getting divorced left him utterly confounded. I also questioned how a ‘we’ issue could be cited as justification for the firing of ‘me.'”

Roberts says Hammer then said to him, “Don’t think of this as a situation where the Black man loses and the white woman wins.”

The actor said that, “was the first time my race was ever acknowledged while I was a part of the show: not for any creative contribution I could make, but for what I believed was the fear of me becoming litigious.”

If you watch Heroes online, you know the series had Black series regulars, but Roberts notes, "There were no Black writers on staff."

In a statement to Variety, Kring said, “Looking back now, 14 years later, given the very different lens that I view the world through today, I acknowledge that a lack of diversity at the upper levels of the staff may have contributed to Leonard experiencing the lack of sensitivity that he describes."

"I have been committed to improving upon this issue with every project I pursue. I remember Leonard fondly and wish him well.”

“Fourteen years is a long time ago, but I remember clearly that Leonard was a great guy and a total pro,” said Hammer. 

The post Ali Larter Responds to Fired Heroes Co-Star’s Allegations: ‘I Am Truly Sorry’ appeared first on TV Fanatic.

But not every date has to be at that fancy French restaurant with the super pricey snails. 

The whole point of a date is to spend time with someone and get to know them better. This is true in television too. 

Some of the best television dates involved someone getting a little creative. Okay, so sometimes they had to break the bank, but not always. In any case, some of these dates would be very fun.

So let's take a cue from the couples of television and see what some of the most creative dates they've gone on were.

1) Puck and Quinn – Glee – Babysitting

When a pregnant Quinn invited Puck to babysit with her on Glee Season 1 Episode 11, she was testing whether or not he was daddy material. This is something that a lot of couples (or almost couples) think about.

And even if having a baby is so far from what you're thinking about right now, there is no better way to test the teamwork dynamic than trapping yourself in a house of little monsters.

Or, if you already have some monsters of your own, staying in together and singing a song to them might be all the bonding you need. Scratch that. Parents need date night away from the kids.

But those in pre-parent bliss might enjoy playing family for a night. If nothing else, you'll learn a little about your partner and yourself.

And the best part, if the kids really are monsters, is that when the night is over, you get to hand them off to someone else.

2) Rose and Fredrick Dean – Hart of Dixie – Bluebell Battle

Babysitting isn't the only way to test teamwork. Getting together for a competition can be a fun way to bond. It's a low-key way to get to know somebody.

Hart of Dixie Season 1 Episode 20 introduced fans to the Bluebell Battle: a wacky townwide race with various challenges and obstacles. Rose's Hattenbarger's first date with her crush Frederick Dean had them teaming up and competting together.

It was tame enough for her mom to approve of, but as Zoe tried to convince Rose, a lot can happen in the heat of the moment when you're trying to win a game.

The adrenaline rush that comes with trying to win can lead to another kind of adrenaline rush. And if you want to leave early and find a quiet spot together like Rose and Frederick Dean did, that's an option too.

3) Rory and Jess – Gilmore Girls – Basket Bid

Bluebell isn't the only town with wacky traditions that lead to great first dates. Rory and Jess (and Luke and Lorelai) went on a picnic on Gilmore Girls Season 2 Episode 13. But the fun part was that the picnic basket was one Rory filled with "food" and that Jess bid money on.

So, the idea of purchasing a date is a little antiquated. But a harmless picnic auction can be fun if you don't take it too seriously.

Rory and Jess ate their meal on the bridge. Then they went for pizza because the picnic lunch was disgusting. They ended their date shopping for books, which is a good date for anybody.

(I feel compelled to mention that Hart of Dixie Season 2 Episode 9 also featured a basket auction, pairing up Zoe and Wade, Lavon and Lemon, Shelby and Brick, and George and Tansy. If you want to take Tansy and George's lead, you can complete your meal by stealing a dog.)

4) Alison and Scott – Teen Wolf – The Woods

If you're willing to steal a dog, maybe you'd be up for ditching school? I'm kidding, of course; I would never advocate ditching. But on a serious show like Teen Wolf where everything is life and death, it was nice to see the teens blow off some steam.

They ditched and headed to the woods for Alison's birthday on Teen Wolf Season 1 Episode 5. I don't know why the woods, but surprisingly, nothing sinister happens to them there. They just goof off and have fun.

So, this date isn't really good if you are one for creature comforts, but if you like nature, by all means, adjourn to the woods.

5) Alex and Marissa – The O.C. – The Tide Changing/The Beach

If you're into those nature dates, how about something on the beach? Alex has a tradition of going to watch the tide change to signal a major change in her life. On The O.C. Season 2 Episode 12, that change was Marissa Cooper.

I don't think anyone was surprised when Marissa and Alex's first date wound up being on Valentine's Day, despite Alex's earlier protests. Including Marissa in her ritual was the perfect way to start off this relationship.

It was a big change for both of them and they marked it by kissing on the beach just as the tide changed. 

Nightime beaching could be romantic, but even a fun beach day could be a nice day. Do it O.C. style!

6) Catherine and Vincent – Beauty and the Beast – Hotel Pool

If you aren't one for the outdoors but you like to swim, maybe go to a local pool for a date.This is what Vincent and Catherine did on Beauty and the Beast Season 1 Episode 21.

Somehow, on television, people seem to get the pool more or less all to themselves. I don't know how they do this, but going to a hotel pool instead of a public one might help a little.

Funnily enough, the whole point was to be out in the world like a normal couple 000instead of the anti-social couple they have to be due to Vincent's secret. Still, once they got in the water, it was clear these two didn't have eyes for anyone but each other.

7) Lucy and Wyatt – Timeless – Undercover Double Date

Sometimes you want other people there with you for a date, hence the famous double date. A double date has a little less pressure.

At least it would if you weren't doubling with a dynamic duo of infamous bank robbers. Then again, maybe those bank robbers are the very reason for this date. Lucy and Wyatt found themselves doubling with Bonnie and Clyde as they tried to maintain their cover as a couple on Timeless Season 1 Episode 9.

Of course, not everybody has a time machine. Not everybody can go on a double date with Bonnie and Clyde. (Incidentally, if you do have a time machine, going on a double date in the past might risk the timeline)

But if your life involves some undercover craziness, doubling with some criminals might be right up your alley.

It worked out pretty well for Lucy and Wyatt, after all. I mean, being married was all kinds of fake at the time, but the sparks from that kiss were pretty real.

8) Lois and Clark – Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman – Cabin Stakeout

Even if you are on an undercover type mission, sometimes the date is real.

Nothing says "Let's get to know each other better," like a good old fashioned stakeout.

Lois and Clark's first date plans fall through when they are stuck staking out a person of interest on Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Season 2 Episode 13. That does not stop them from getting cosey with a little wine as they watch the POI from a cabin.

The thrill of a stakeout mixed with the coziness of a cabin, plus your date takes off his shirt? What could be better? 

9) Buffy and Spike- Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Car Stakeout and a Flask

Stakeouts don't always work out. Sometimes you're trapped in a car with a vampire who has the hots for you.

What was worse for Spike's idea of a date on Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 5 Episode 14? Him singing a Ramones hit, or offering her a flask of bourbon?

But if it isn't an obsessed vampire and is, in fact, someone you can actually stand, using a stakeout as a way to bond can be good.

Sure, it's no cosey cabin, but people can get plenty cosey in a car. After you chase down your perp, you can make-out a little bit.

10) Neal and Emma – Once Upon A Time – Breaking into An Amusement Park

Cops and reporters and bringers of justice can stakeout until the cows come home, but criminals need love too. How about a date that involves breaking in somewhere?

Hear me out. I'm not suggesting breaking windows and making off with merchandise. While I imagine that would have its thrill, I'm thinking a more low-key crime like Neal and Emma committed in a flashback on Once Upon a Time Season 3 Episode 22. Breaking into an amusement park. Picking a lock and turning on the lights.

You'd have to know how to get the lights on, but just hanging out on a carousel drinking coffee with your date could be really chill with a side of thrill.

It's how Emma and Neal started, and look where they ended up? Okay, bad example.

11) Charles and Liza – Younger – Riding a Carousel

If you're a stickler for the rules, come to the amusement park during opening hours and pay for it. In this case, not only do you get to sit on the pretty ponies, you get to ride them.

If you want something exceptional, you can go to the Seaglass Carousel in Battery Park. That's fish instead of horses. They look like they are made of Seaglass, shimmering as they do.

Riding the Seaglass Carousel is described as an under-the-sea garden experience. But the real experience? Holding hands with your date under the table like Charles and Liza when they went on this beautiful ride on Younger Season 5 Episode 8.

12) The Doctor and Rose – Doctor Who – The End Of The World … From A Distance

Again, unless you have a time machine, this one is kind of hard. You can't exactly go five billion years in the future and watch the world be consumed by the sun safely from a space station platform as Rose and The Doctor did on Doctor Who Season 1 Episode 2..

However, there's a lot in the universe that we can see here and now. If you can go to a space station and observe a major event from a safe distance, that would be a pretty cool date, time travel or no.

And afterward, you can get french fries. Or chips, as Rose would say.

13) Eleanor and Chidi – The Good Place – A Mailroom Outside The Good Place

You what's harder to get to than the future? The Good Place.

Having a picnic outside The Good Place s pretty unlikely as long as we're alive (and possibly even after we're dead). That's all theology though, and that is not why we're here. We're here for dates, even impossible ones, apparently.

Chidi and Eleanor try to find a distraction on The Good Place Season 3 Episode 11. They enjoy each other while waiting things out in the mailroom outside The Good Place. So we have something impromptu and a mailroom while awaiting a major life-changing ruling.

If you have a major legal decision coming up, a nice picnic in a waiting area might help to ease your nerves. Making the best of a bad situation is part of why creative dates exist.

14) Lorelai and Jason – Gilmore Girls – The Supermarket

Speaking of making the best of a bad situation, if a fancy restaurant doesn't work out, and takeout is rejected, you may find yourself hungry on a date. This is unacceptable.

When faced with this very situation on Gilmore Girls Season 4 Episode 9, Jason and Lorelai dashed into a supermarket and assembled a variety of prepared and pre-packaged foods. Then they settled down to eat them.

We may not ship Lorelai with Jason (because who does?) but you can't deny that this date was a creative and clever solution and adorable to boot.

It isn't the sort of thing one would plan, but sometimes ending up at a store in the middle of the night can be just the whimsical sort of date you need.

15) Kat and Adena – The Bold Type – The Airport

When it comes to impromptu dates, this was one of the better ones. Because being stuck somewhere with someone can be a blessing in disguise. And aren't airports fun?

You have gift shops and food, and you can make a pillow fort. I repeat, A PILLOW FORT! Does it get better than a pillow fort?

Hopefully, visa problems never force you into the situation Adena's was in on The Bold Type Season 1 Episode 9, but if you have a night before you leave the country, what better way to spend that time than on a date? And if it's stuck at the airport, so be it.

16) West and Claire – Heroes – Sitting on The Hollywood Sign

If your life is a little more science-fiction than you're willing to admit to us, then a plane isn't the only way to fly.

West flew Claire up onto the Hollywood Sign for their first date on Heroes Season 2 Episode 4. Can you imagine being up high like that and looking down on everything? And to get to be up there and just hang out with a cute boy?

In the real world, touching the Hollywood Sign is not allowed, but you can take a nice hike in Griffin Park and find yourself up and above that location.

It's hard not to be jealous that Claire got to do this off-limits thing. I guess if your boyfriend can fly, the sky is literally the limit, but there is something to be said for high-up, off-limits spaces. Maybe a nice rooftop could do the trick.

17) Nathan and Haley – One Tree Hill – Lingerie Shopping

It isn't only boys with superpowers who can pull out all the stops. Okay, so technically, Brooke was the one who planned the whole thing for Nathan and Haley on One Tree Hill Season 1 Episode 8. Go Brooke!

Having a friend plan a scavenger hunt date could be great. It can encourage you to spend time sharing secrets and having a romantic dinner.

Or it could be awkward because the most creative part of this date was buying sexy clothing for your date at a lingerie store. 

Depending on what kind of couple you are, this can turn out kinky or adorkable. (It's adorkable because you feel awkward and buy socks).

There is nothing wrong with getting a little kinky and no reason not to do so proudly. Buying clothing and sharing secrets are great ways to express that you care about someone. Not to mention, get to know someone. Isn't that what dating is all about?

18) Jane and Ryan – The Bold Type – Sex Club

Buying lingerie might be a little on the kinky side, but going to a sex club? That brings the kink up to an 11!

Going somewhere that takes you out of your comfort zone can be scary. If you have to do it, what better way to do it than with a partner? Especially if partnering is the whole point.

Jane and Ryan both felt awkward about the whole thing on The Bold Type Season 4 Episode 4, though their reasons were different. They made it work for them though.

And hey, you don't have to do anything you don't want to do. But nobody can deny this was a creative date night for Janestripe.

19) Rachel and Ross- Friends – The Laundremat

Sometimes it isn't about buying clothes or taking them off. Sometimes it's about washing them.

It doesn't get more low-key than going to do your laundry together. If you are either half of Roschel on Friends Season 1 Episode 5, you might not even know that it is a date … at least until Chandler points it out. 

Still, there is something sweetly domestic about it. Doing laundry can be such a chore, but if you go with someone who you like to talk to then it can be a great time.

And if you're lucky like Ross, it might end in a first kiss. And, you know, a headache.

20) Ted and Stella – How I Met Your Mother – 2 Minute Date

If you have trouble even finding time to do your laundry, you probably don't have time for dinner and a movie. Unless you plan it just right the way Ted did on How I Met Your Mother Season 3 Episode 13.

And by plan it just right, we mean pay a waitress to set up a table and bite-sized snacks outside your date's work. Then set television in a store window with a highlight reel for a movie less than a block away. Or something like that.

Keep it short and sweet, fitting in little samples of all the best date cliches. It won't be much, but if someone only has two minutes for lunch …

21) Catherine and Gabe – Beauty and the Beast – Cake Decorating

If you have more than five minutes, you might have time to plan something elaborate. And if your date is stuck on a gift for a friend, this date will be perfect for you.

It isn't dinner, but you can eat it. It's fun and creative and let's you be artistic for the night. And who doesn't love cake?

If you can find a place near you that'll let you decorate a cake, I'd say that sounds like a pretty fun date.

And hopefully, you aren't faking the whole thing like Catherine was with Gabe on Beauty and the Beast Season 2 Episode 21, not that we can blame her given the circumstances.

22) Leonard and Penny – The Big Bang Theory – Shooting Range

Another great place to go to is a shooting range. You have to be sure you know how to shoot a gun as it is no joke, but tons of people enjoy the experience.

Part of what made this date so great was that Leonard went out of his way to find out what Penny likes on The Big Bang Theory Season 5 Episode 14. It wasn't something he would do on his own, but he knew doing something she liked would make her happy. And as it turns out, Penny likes guns!

Presumably, they make sure that it's safe, though feel free to check out the particulars before booking some time.

23) August and Emma – Once Upon A Time – Watering Hole

This one is completely free but may take a fair bit of planning. Find a watering hole like August did on Once Upon A Time Season 1 Episode 13.

That's right, an actual watering hole; you might also call it a well. How's that for creative?

Again, do your research. Make sure the water is safe and scope out the spot.

But if you ask a girl to get a drink and then take her to a well, you can't deny she'll be surprised and perhaps even charmed.

So, we have a lot of different ideas here, but I think the main thing is finding a fun way to spend some time together. Are there any you want to try? Are there any we didn't think of? Let us know in the comments.

31 Couples Who Inspired Each Other’s Inner Comedian

Open List

The post Unique and Creative Date Ideas From Some Of Our Favorite TV Couples appeared first on TV Fanatic.

We've all had that one show in which we were invested… that stuck with for a terrific opening season season… and which we then shook our head over as the quality waned in Season 2.

It has got to be one of the most frustrating things about being a TV Fanatic. Some of us find it difficult to admit to the flaws in our favorite programs, but deep down we know they are there.

Here's a look at our gallery of 13 programs that bottomed out creatively during their sophomore runs:

13 TV Shows That Suffered a Sophomore Slump

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Remember when Revenge was a glorious soap during the first season, but then Revenge Season 2 introduced us to The Initiative and it was like a completely different series?

Some shows never recover from a sophomore slump and are swiftly canceled, but some manage to defy the odds against it and pick up the pace for future seasons.

What do you think fanatics? Any other shows that would fit the bill? Let us know in the comments.

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Dare we say the news of Zachary Levi joining the reboot mini-series Heroes Reborn tops any announcement of returning stars? Yes, we dare. NBC boss Bob Greenblatt made the announcement at the Television Critics Association Press Tour today.

This is Levi's first major acting gig since the end of Chuck, but we won't know for a while exactly what his role will be. “We’re still keeping Zac’s role under wraps because everything is shrouded in mystery for this miniseries, but we’re very excited he’s been cast,” Greenblatt shared.

Levi joined in by stating, “One of my first, and fondest, memories of joining the NBC family in 2007 was having the pleasure of getting to know Tim Kring, and the cast of Heroes. I was a fan of their collective work and always thought it was such a fantastic and fun world they got to play in. With Heroes: Reborn, I’m honored to have the opportunity to bring more of that world to life, and excited to help in offering the fans of the franchise an epic new installation of a series that made such a huge impact on entertainment.”

Right now, the only original Heroes cast member is Jack Coleman, who played Noah Bennett, but others could be on the way. Greenblatt noted more castings would be named in coming weeks, including other possible returnees.

Does this announcement bring back memories of super powers and cheerleaders, giving you the urge to save her to save the world? Hit the comments with your thoughts!

Quotables from Week Ending Jan 15, 2015

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The post Zachary Levi Set for Key Role in NBC’s Heroes Reborn appeared first on TV Fanatic.

The network confirmed today that Jack Coleman will reprise his role on Heroes Reborn as Noah Bennett, the father of cheerleader Claire Bennett, who played a beloved/shady role on the original drama.

The character worked as an agent with The Company on Heroes.

Heroes Reborn will be comprised of 13 episodes and premiere in the summer of 2015. 

Coleman – who has appeared in everything from The Vampire Diaries to Scandal to Castle since the series concluded – is the first original cast member to sign back on for the reboot.

It is expected to follow a new set of storylines and, mostly, a new set of characters.

The post Jack Coleman Signs on for Heroes Reborn appeared first on TV Fanatic.

The network announced yesterday that Heroes Reborn: Digital Series – described as an online prequel – will be among the first programs to debut on NBC.com as part of the company’s new original video initiative confirmed yesterday.

The Digital Series will be in conjunction with the previously announced Heroes reboot from executive producer Tim Kring that will hit small screens some time in 2015.

"It’s exciting to bring original content to the forefront on all of our digital platforms, “ said Robert Hayes, Executive Vice President, Digital Media, NBC Entertainment. “We are lucky to once again be in business with some of the top producers in Hollywood making new content to further engage fans."

This digital content will be promoted across the NBC’s bevy of networks and will air initially on digital platforms including channel websites, Hulu, and video-on-demand.

It will include a series about the mega fans who wait in the Saturday Night Live standby line, Saturday Night Line.

Little is known about Kring's upcoming reboot, though it is expected to follow new characters and new stories.

Original cast members may appear, but Hayden Panettiere recently came out and said she had no idea about the project prior to its announcement in February.

Are you excited for the return of Heroes?

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The network confirmed via promo (below) last night that "Heroes Reborn" will air 13 episodes in 2015, telling a standalone story that will once again be written by Heroes creator Tim Kring.

No details regarding the plot or characters have been released, but a Web series will precede the television series and give us an idea of what to expect.

The idea of Heroes being revived was first broached about a year ago but not taken too seriously because… come on. Few shows on TV history have burned out as quickly and terribly as this one.

“The enormous impact Heroes had on the television landscape when it first launched in 2006 was eye-opening,” NBC Entertainment President Jennifer Salke said in announcing the project. “Shows with that kind of resonance don’t come around often and we thought it was time for another installment.

“Until we get closer to air in 2015, the show will be appropriately shrouded in secrecy, but we won’t rule out the possibility of some of the show’s original cast members popping back in.”

Check out some other planned spinoff ideas below and then sound off…

Upcoming Spinoffs: Which Has You Most Excited?

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… are you excited for Heroes Reborn?

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Sources tell TV Line that the companies may resurrect Heroes as part of their original programming plans.

Yes, the same Heroes that died a slow and very painful death on NBC many years ago, finally going off the air in February 2010.

Talks are in the very early stages and any resurrection would involve new characters and new stories, with former cast members – such as Jack Coleman and Masi Oka – stopping by for cameos if their schedules permitted.

What do you think, TV Fanatics? Would you want to see a new version of Heroes?

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But talk of a movie – meant to wrap the series up to the satisfaction of fans – continues to persist. Might this actually come to fruition? Entertainment Weekly posed this question to creator Tim Kring. He replied:

No decision has been made. But the Heroes brand is an extremely broad premise. It was a premise about ordinary people, an undisclosed number of people all over the world, who were waking up to these extraordinary abilities. Any number of stories could happen around that. We never posited a single ending or a single premise.  It wasn’t about getting off of an island or stopping something from happening.

We told stories in volumes that had a beginning, a middle, and an end. Those volumes could go on and on and on with many different characters. As a result, that Heroes universe is something that can be tapped into again in many ways. Certainly, a movie is a way to do that and clearly, there is an entire world and a number of platforms that this property could live in. Movies sometimes need a little distance from the television show.

Do you wanna see Claire and company in a Heroes TV movie?

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