One of the new shows I’m most looking forward to this fall is ABC’s drama No Ordinary Family, which follows a family as they deal with suddenly acquiring super powers.
NOF follows a typical American family of four, slightly distanced from one another and each struggling with their own personal issues. In an attempt to have some family bonding time, Jim and Stephanie bring their two teenage kids on a work trip to South America. When their plane crashes, they think they’re lucky enough just to have survived but find out soon after that each of them has acquired some kind of super-power.
What’s not to look forward to about this show? For one thing, the super-family aspect is very Incredibles-like, which is a plus on its own. Then add on The Shield’s Michael Chiklis, Dexter’s Julie Benz, and Weeds’s Romany Malco. I only just started watching The Shield, but it’s evident from Episode 1 that Chiklis is fantastic in it. I’ve seen quite of few of Benz’ small screen works (Buffy/Angel, Desperate Housewives and Dexter among them). And I’ve been hoping Malco would find a new starring (or at the very least, recurring) role in a TV show since Conrad was phased out of Weeds. Needless to say, my expectations are high with this one.
If the premise and the fact that three people from some of the best shows in recent TV are involved in No Ordinary Family isn’t enough to sell the show to you, check out the sneak peeks below ABC’s full synopsis of the show below.
The Powells are about to go from ordinary to extraordinary. After 16 years of marriage, Jim (Michael Chiklis, The Shield, Fantastic Four) feels disconnected from his workaholic wife, Stephanie (Julie Benz, Dexter), and two teenage children, Daphne (Kay Panabaker, Summerland) and JJ (Jimmy Bennett, Star Trek). To encourage family bonding time, Jim decides the family will join Stephanie on her business trip to South America. When their plane crashes into the Amazon River, they barely enjoy a moment to celebrate their survival before returning to the grind of everyday life. But they will soon realize that their lives have been forever changed. Each member of the family starts to show signs of new, unique and distinct super powers. Will their newfound abilities finally bring them together or push them further apart?Jim feels powerless as he realizes his life is not turning out the way he planned. His children are growing more independent, and his wife spends more time at the office than home as she rockets up the corporate ladder. His job as a police sketch artist only furthers his insecurities as he watches his peers fight crime and catch criminals. However, when Jim discovers that the plane crash left him with the power of super strength, he immediately feels a new sense of purpose and empowerment. With the aid of his best friend and confidant, George (Romany Malco, The 40 Year Old Virgin, Weeds), he sets his sights on becoming a hero.Stephanie struggles to balance her family life with working 80 hours a week as an award-winning scientist. Her boss and mentor, Dr. Dayton King (Stephen Collins, 7th Heaven), continues to guide and challenge Stephanie's research in the lab. While fearful of never finding balance in her life, something remarkable happens. After the crash, she develops the power of speed, which allows her to move effortlessly through her daily responsibilities. Always the scientist, Stephanie immediately questions the phenomenon and demands answers. She entrusts her lab tech, Katie (Autumn Reeser, The OC), with her secret, and the two begin to research the mystery behind the powers.For 16-year-old Daphne and 14-year-old JJ, adolescence is hard enough. Daphne dreads distraction from her own fabulousness, but that's exactly what happens when she turns telepathic. Daphne hears other people's hopes, dreams, fears and joys, whether she cares to or not. Younger brother JJ struggles constantly to satisfy his parents and teachers as he grapples with a learning disability and bad grades. Already feeling inferior to his popular sister and brilliant mom, JJ hits a new low when everyone acquires powers except him - until suddenly JJ's mental abilities strengthen to a super genius level.For the Powells, embarking on a mission to understand their new abilities becomes the key to rebuilding their family life, as they learn what defines and unifies them. Despite the fact they can collectively lift a car, run at lightning speed, read your mind and calculate the dimensions of the Eiffel Tower -- all before you say "superhero" - they are first and foremost an average family with everyday problems.No Ordinary Family stars Michael Chiklis as Jim Powell, Julie Benz as Stephanie Powell, Romany Malco as George St. Cloud, Autumn Reeser as Katie Andrews, Kay Panabaker as Daphne Powell, Jimmy Bennett as JJ Powell and Stephen Collins as Dr. Dayton King.No Ordinary Family was co-created by Greg Berlanti (the upcoming film Green Lantern, Brothers & Sisters) and Jon Harmon Feldman (Dawson's Creek, Dirty Sexy Money). Berlanti, Feldman, David Semel (Heroes, House M.D.) and Morgan Wandell serve as executive producers. The series is from ABC Studios.
No Ordinary Family premieres Tuesday, September 28, 8:00-9:00 p.m., ET on ABC.
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