Television Show "Heroes" Enticing BettorsPlus: Bob Barker betting?
Heroes is an American science fiction drama television series, created by Tim Kring, which premiered on NBC on September 25, 2006. Its success has led one online gambling outfit to offer betting on the show.
Bodog.com (see website here) was offering the following betting odds as of April 21, 2007:
Bet On: Will Peter Petrelli (Milo Ventimiglia) die and not come back to life in the final 5 episodes of Heroes season 1?
Bet On: Will Sylar (Zachary Quinto) die and not come back to life in the final 5 episodes of Heroes season 1?
Bet On: Will Niki Sanders (Ali Larter) overthrow Jessica and regain control of her body in the final 5 episodes of Heroes season 1?
Bet On: Will Hiro Nakamura (Masi Oka) and Sylar (Zachary Quinto) battle to the death in the final 5 episodes of Heroes season 1?
Bet On: If Heroes characters Hiro Nakamura (Masi Oka) and Sylar (Zachary Quinto) battle to the death, who will win?
The show tells the story of several people who "thought they were like everyone else... until they woke with incredible abilities" such as telepathy, time travel and flight. These people soon realize they have a role in preventing a catastrophe and saving mankind.
The series follows the writing style of American comics by doing short, multi-episode story arcs that build upon a larger, more encompassing arc. Even with small story arcs that move the story forward, Kring said "we have talked about where the show goes up to five seasons".
When the series premiered in the United States, it was the night's most-watched program among adults aged 18-49, attracting 14.3 million viewers overall and receiving the highest rating for any NBC drama premiere in five years.
On October 6, 2006, NBC Entertainment President Kevin Reilly announced Heroes had been picked up for a full season. On January 17, 2007, Reilly announced Heroes had been picked up for a second season.
At the end of episode 18, "Parasite", the series went on hiatus until April 23, 2007.
Another fun bet being offered by Bodog.com: Who will replace Bob Barker on The Price is Right?
Barker has hosted the show since 1972, giving him the longest tenure of any game show host in history. Barker announced this past year he would be retiring in June.
Barker has been in television for 50 years. His last episode of The Price Is Right is set to air on June 15, 2007.
Barker has revealed that Fremantle Media, the company that owns the show, has been looking for a successor in the last two to three years, and also that he had considered retirement for a while, but he had so much fun that he continued to do the show. As for a replacement host, no names have been mentioned as of April 2007.
On December 8, 2006, CBS began official host auditions, as CBS weatherman Dave Price from The Early Show became the first candidate auditioned. Two additional sessions were held in January 2007, with one hosted alternately by Todd Newton and John O'Hurley and the other emceed by Doug Davidson (who hosted the 1994 syndicated version). Former Beauty and the Geek host Mike Richards, George Hamilton, Mario Lopez, and Entertainment Tonight host Mark Steines auditioned in March 2007, with Steines being the most recent, after the March 27 taping. Hamilton, Steines, and Newton are reportedly the finalists to be the successor to Barker's position.
