Yeah, Tim Kring we're talking to you.

When Heroes launched, we were very excited for some interesting, maybe even innovative TV from Hollywood. The premise of the show was simple: superheroes lived among us, and they're testing the limits of their powers, discovering they're not alone. We were introduced to the Petrelli brothers, the cheerleader, Parkman and Dr. Suresh, who were the sorta good guys. Back then we knew that the horned-rimmed glasses guy and Sylar were the bad guys. Easy to follow, right? And with all those characters, and about a dozen more, you'd surely get enough fodder for storylines and character arcs.

But noooooo. This season of Heroes has become lost (pun intended). And here are five simple steps the show took to become the blubbering mess it is. If other show runners want to take their show on the Heroes track, then follow Kring's footsteps:

1. Have like a bajillion characters. Last night we were introduced to at least three new characters with superpowers: the puppetman, vortex guy and mind reader (old man Petrelli.) We may or may not see these characters ever again (see #2).

2. Introduce characters that will never really be used again. Remind us what happened to Nikki? (Not that we miss her that much.) Where's Noah Micah (her son) now? What's Parkman's shaman going to do once Parkman leave the desert? And did that Irish family get killed off last year? It was so long between seasons that we've forgotten.

3. Bring back obscure characters to play bigger roles. The English dude Adam Monroe? Do we really really need him?

4. Twins and triplets. While we thought Nikki's superpower was lame (the "ooh, I get scared cause I see someone else in the mirror!" power), we thought she got written off the show. Now we find out she has a couple sisters (from a doctor in Reseda, see step #2). And we get them all confused.

5. Switch all the heroes and villians. Who are the good guys now? Hiro kills his bff Ando; Claire is a bounty hunter who's pissed off at her uncles; Peter Petrelli is just plain old schitzo, and Mohinder is turning into the evil scientist a la The Fly.

This show had so much promise. But now, it's time to turn the dial to something else on Monday nights at 9. Jon and Kate Plus Eight anyone?

What's the deal with the Petrelli bros (Milo Ventimiglia and Adrian Pasdar)? / AP Photo/NBC, Chris Haston)