I, too, found it impossible to give a damn about the plot of "No Ordinary Family". I gave up after totally failing not to zone out while watching the first 3 episodes.

As for "The Cape", I think it may be the worst thing I've seen in a while. That lead actor can't, for one thing, and yes, the plot seems to be written by and for idiots. But I hear Summer Glau has been cast along with David Tennant in an HBO series adapted from The Golden Compass by Joss Whedon, so it's not like she doesn't have much better places to be soon.

I clearly gave "No Ordinary Family" much more of a chance, simply because the actors were all so very engaging. The kids are doing a great job while mired in standard tropes, I've always liked Chiklis, seeing "Darla" as the mom is just amazing, both sidekicks are wonderfully charming, and Stephen "7th Heaven's Eric Camden" Collins is the bad guy, bwah! I liked, too, that the mother was the scientist/office workaholic while the dad has been the part-time worker with more family duties; they didn't even make a big deal out of that but just put it out there, which was cool. And I just kept waiting for any kind of plot or arc to kick in, and while technically one is there, it doesn't feel like anything at all ... and there's only so long the acting can hold my attention. Pity.

With "The Cape" ... I don't know how much is the lead actor not succeeding and how much is the role being crap, but yeah, doesn't work at all. And it's just so badly paced — tin-eared throughout.

Is that Glau/Tennant/Whedon prospect real? I had heard it, but when I tried to find it later, all I found were quotes of someone stating it and then immediately saying it wasn't true but was meant only to grab attention. Which is a real pity, because damn would that rock.

I don't know whether I ever commented on your post about your car; hope things are going better on that front ....

That is definitely much more of a chance than I gave "No Ordinary Family". I liked the actors too, but being so terribly short on time means that I'm pretty unforgiving about cutting shows that don't engage me after a couple of tries.

I have heard the Glau/Tennant/Whedon thing reported in a few places, so I figured it was probably legit, but I couldn't swear to it or anything. If it turns out to be just a rumor, I am going to be seriously annoyed with the cruelty of the rumor mill.

And thanks; things are looking a little brighter today, thank goodness.