Happy Peacock Day! I'm here at the TCA (Television Critics Association) Winter Press Tour in Pasadena, California, and it's the big-bird network's turn to schmooze the TV critics and roll out all their stars and shows for midseason. Read on for scoop about series pickups, the future of Scrubs and the Heroes death toll!

5:15 p.m.: Executive producer Tim Kring was asked if he listens to the fans and directs the storylines according to what they like or dislike. He said that he does pay attention to the way the show is "trending" but that, thankfully, the hard-core fans have so far have been "pretty happy." (We have, haven't we?)

When asked about the "overpopulation" of the cast, Kring said: "The truth is we've all talked about it, and people will come and go...We've been able to bring in some characters that are Heroes, but don't have the size of the storyline up here. So, it has been working for us."

5:30 p.m.: Death seems to be the topic of the day here. A reporter just asked how the cast feels about the fact that people will die on this show.

"I feel like Kenny in South Park!" Hayden cracked, referring to getting killed in almost every episode.

Milo was more serious: "You have to pay attention to the work on the page and make it as good as possible because it could be your last." Gulp.

Sweet little Micah on his crazy parents: "I think he knows something's funky going on with his mom. And he's pretty scared of her now. But like any kid he wants his parents together." Adds Daddy Dearest (D.L.): "We're like Kramer vs. Kramer on crack."

Kring: "The characters who have been disconnected from Sylar will be connected in coming episodes. We're really ratcheting it up and bringing those connections together in the next few episodes."

5:45 p.m.: Bonus! There will be 23 eps instead of usual 22. Kring is planning a "really fun, exciting cliffhanger" for the season finale. Of course.

Regarding the new 24 competition: Kring is friends with the 24 guys and he thinks there's "room for both." Yawn. I want Kring and Brian Grazer totally just biting each other. (Is that wrong?)

Ooh. Episode 20 is a "very future" episode and has answers to things we've been dying to discover.

Ali says of the acting demands of her character: "If by chance it doesn't work, it's not gonna make it on the air." So, yep, there are definitely post-script changes on this show! (Making my spoiler-ific job all the more interesting.)