Hero's Hiro

As as been oft discussed, NBC's Heros is one of the few breakout hits of the season, and Hiro, played by Masi Oka, is the "unexpected " break out star. (The fact that people writing about the show comment on the unexpectedness of Oka's success serves as evidence that a lot of t.v. commentators don't know too much about people who watch tv--the same goes for Adam Brody being the "unexpected" break out star of the O.C. Is it surprising that viewers response to smart, interesting unusual characters? Give us some credit!) Anyway, yesterday the New York Times had a long profile of Oka, who proves to be every bit as interesting off screen. A Brown graduate, he is a computer whiz who had a previous career as a special effects artists. How cool! It is so nice when actors seem as fascinating as the beloved characters they play, unlike, say, Sarah Michelle Geller, who, honestly, played one of the smartest female characters on t.v, but comes across as a complete ditz in interviews. I am still reeling from her very unfortunate discussion of thong underwear with Conan O'Brian a few years ago.