Julie Benz And Michael Chiklis Starred In A Forgotten Superhero Series

In 2010, ABC aired a sci-fi dramedy called No Ordinary Family, a one-season series that combined elements of Heroes, The Incredibles, and The Fantastic Four. Starring Julie Benz and Michael Chiklis as Stephanie and Jim Powell, the show followed the story of a suburban family who gained superpowers after surviving a plane crash in the Amazon.

Jim gained super-strength and near-invincibility, while his wife Stephanie acquired super-speed. Their teenage children, Daphne and JJ, developed telepathy and super-intelligence, respectively.

The show premiered in September 2010, with a modest 3.2 rating in the 18-to-49 demographic and 10.69 million viewers. It received a 73% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and was ranked as the No. 3 new show of the fall by E! News, praising its action, humor, and charming cast. Vulture described it as a lively action-comedy that cleverly blended the premise of Pixar's The Incredibles with the tone of The Greatest American Hero.

However, the show's positive reception was short-lived. Entertainment Weekly criticized it in its finale review, stating that the series declined once it moved away from its family-focused roots and focused on bland villains. The show's viewership also declined, with ratings dropping after the promising start. ABC reduced the 22-episode order to 20 before canceling the series in May 2011, just after the Season 1 finale aired.

Despite the show's cancellation, Julie Benz expressed her satisfaction with the series in a candid interview with NY Daily News. She acknowledged the tough competition the show faced, including American Idol, The Biggest Loser, and NCIS. Benz remained Zen about the show's fate, emphasizing that she could not control the decisions made. No Ordinary Family is not currently available on subscription platforms, and fans will need to purchase the DVD or stream it digitally on Prime Video or Apple TV.