Hero Salad

Recipe for a genre television high concept series.

(Note: 20 year-old recipe, previously deemed "unfit for science", remixed for modern palates.)

Serve over: scrolling text that "a seemingly random group of individuals has emerged with what can only be described as 'special' abilities."

Appetizer: Earth from space, merging into eyeball of guy standing on a New York rooftop. Include side of pretentious voice-over (not from guy on rooftop).

Mix together in equal portions: parallel storylines, family angst, mysterious shadow groups, and destiny-talk. Flavor with dollop of X-men, dash of Lost, spice of The 4400; sprinkle with hot chicks (one cheerleader; one Internet porn queen.)

Dessert: More pretentious voice-over.

Serves: Several million.

Nutritional content: nil.

airs Mondays on NBC. Pilot available at NBC.com.