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‘Heroes’ falls into line with ‘fall finale’

NBC’s “Heroes” bids farewell Dec. 4 as it takes a seven-week break in the latest example of TV’s “fall finale” phenomenon.

Most shows air repeats during Christmas and New Year’s weeks, but several serialized dramas last week started much longer winter vacations: “Prison Break,” like “Heroes,” won’t return until Jan. 22; “Veronica Mars” is vacationing until Jan. 23; “Lost” is off the island until Feb. 7; and “Jericho”’s next new episode airs Feb. 21.

The reason? These shows perform poorly in repeats, yet networks need to stretch out the usual 22 episodes over a 35-week season. So rather than stop and start series, they’re opting just to take them off altogether.

“This is just what we found to be the optimal way,” says CBS and CW scheduling chief Kelly Kahl. “People don’t want to watch repeats of these shows. I have to give props to Fox and ”24,“” which airs from January to May with non-stop new episodes. “That’s a great way to run a show.”

But most can’t afford to sit out fall entirely.

Instead, CBS’ “Jericho” split its season into 11-episode halves and will resume after a recap show Feb. 14. ABC’s “Lost” is resting, replaced by low-rated “Day Break,” in order to air all originals, “24”-style, from February to May. “Veronica Mars” wrapped up the first of two multi-episode mysteries last week and will take another break in March, says CW president Dawn Ostroff, with four stand-alone episodes likely for May.

Other producers are responding to the scheduling shifts by crafting story lines around them. “Lost”’s six fall episodes were designed as a self-contained look at the mysterious Others inhabiting the island. And the Dec. 4 episode of “Heroes” (9 p.m.) marks the end of the drama’s “Save the cheerleader, save the world” plotline. Seven consecutive episodes that start in January - and five more due in late April - will explore two more story arcs.

In heralding their departures, “we’re being honest with the audience; we’re not going to be snowing people,” says NBC scheduling chief Mitch Metcalf, noting that tonight’s midseason finale will include a mention of the delayed return date.

And some fall finales, with their big cliffhangers, provide ratings bounces: Veronica had its second-most-watched episode ever last week, and “Prison Break” tied its season high.

The challenge for networks is maintaining interest in the dramas during the long break.

“Jericho” has a new website, whodroppedthebomb.com, a “fan community” with commentaries and clips from upcoming episodes; free repeats are offered at cbs.com. NBC will continue posting “Heroes”’ companion graphic novel online and will repeat the five most recent episodes Jan. 1 and 8 and air others on Sci Fi Channel.

Gary Levin writes for USA Today.