ABC order superhero series NO ORDINARY FAMILY

A new superhero TV series, starring Michael Chiklis and Julie Benz, is coming to ABC

By Dan Owen /

ABC have announced their intention to take No Ordinary Family to series for 2010/11. This superhero comedy-drama, created by Greg Berlanti (Dirty Sexy Money), stars Michael Chiklis (The Shield) as the patriarch of a family that develop superpowers. His co-stars are Julie Benz (Dexter) as his wife, Autumn Reeser (The OC), Romany Malco (Weeds), Kay Panabaker (CSI) and Christina Chang (CSI: Miami). The network's description of the series is as follows:
The Powells are about to go from ordinary to extraordinary. After 16 years of marriage, Jim and Stephanie's relationship lacked the spark it once had, and their family life now consists of balancing work and their two children; leaving little time for family bonding. During a family vacation set up by Jim in an attempt to reconnect, their plane crashes into the Amazon River. But this is where the fun starts for the Powells as they soon discover that something€™s not quite right. Each of them now possesses unique and distinct super powers. But saving and savoring their family life will be equally important as they try to find purpose for their new power and embark on a journey to find out what defines and unifies them. The Powells are a totally relatable family that happens to be a little bit amazing.
With NBC's poorly-rated Heroes on the cusp of cancellation (although there are still rumours it'll get a 13-episode pickup), ABC will be hoping this series becomes its spiritual replacement. But they may have competition from NBC's own potential replacement The Cape, a superhero pilot starring James Frain (The Tudors) and Summer Glau (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) that may also get picked up.