As fans of Heroes from the first season, a tiny piece of our soul is lost with each new, depressing, illogical, awful episode.

Therefore, it's with a heavy heart - and very low expectations - that we pass along the news of this struggling series somehow being picked up for a fourth season.

The prognosis for Heroes is surprisingly strong.

NBC will 18-20 episodes of a fourth season, according to entertainment president Angela Bromstad. She says Heroes is tied with The Office as the network's top-rated show in the vital 18-49 year-old demographic.

"Every single place you go has heard about Heroes - whether you’re in China or Japan or Russia," Bromstad said. "And to me, that is global content."

Every single place has heard about Osama bin Laden, too, but would you greenlight a reality show about him, Angela?

Actually, don't answer that.

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.