Super Heroes Returning to Big Screen So Why Not TV?

[Mark Giardina]

How many remember back in the early 1990s The Flash on television? I always thought it was a decent show with great special effects (for that time) yet it lasted just one season. BTW what ever happened to the lead actor? He disappeared from sight.

Then there was The Green Hornet back in the 1960s. Unfortunately the same people who gave us the campy Batman were also behind the Green Hornet series. Hey at least Bruce Lee became famous.

Now I see where a number of movies are coming out in the near future featuring The Green Lantern, Thor, and Captain America. Of course Superman is supposed to return in 2012 with a new actor portraying the man of steel. (Apparently Brandon Routh didn't cut it with audiences, or the producers, as Superman.)

The point I'm trying to get to is I wonder if these superhero movies make money at the box office if television will follow suit and start featuring these types of shows. God knows we have enough cops and lawyers programs, along with reality shows on television, so how about something different?

 

[landtuna]

Most of these "super hero's" got their start in the 1930's and 40's - a very dark period in our history for several reasons. In addition to being crime fighters the hero's were also very science fiction in nature.

I'm not sure either attraction would work today. The last serious super hero was Superman in the 50's. Since then they seem to have been played more for laughs.

 

[ricksegers]

Let's not forget "The Adventures of Lois and Clark" and Superboy was around in "Smallville". The incredible Hulk was around back with the Bill Bixby series. With you already mentioning The Flash that's four in the last 30 years so they really haven't gone anywhere. The actor on The Flash was John Wesley Shipp. He was on Guiding Light before Flash. He did more soaps as well as a recurring role in Dawson's Creek afterwards.

 

[TexasTom]

Most of these "super hero's" got their start in the 1930's and 40's - a very dark period in our history for several reasons. In addition to being crime fighters the hero's were also very science fiction in nature.

I'm not sure either attraction would work today. The last serious super hero was Superman in the 50's. Since then they seem to have been played more for laughs.

This is not correct. Some of the big superheroes do go back to the 30s and 40s -- most notably, Superman and Batman. The Flash, Green Lantern, Captain America, and the Sub Mariner were also creations of the 40s. That era can be thought of as the first golden age of superhero comics. But there was a second golden age that started twenty years later, in the early sixties.

But Spiderman and the X-Men are both creations of the sixties, and I would hardly describe either of those creations as being "played more for laughs". The Hulk, Iron Man, Daredevil, and 3/4 of the Fantastic Four (the Human Torch was a recreation of a 40s hero) also date date back to the sixties.

 

[landtuna]

Most of these "super hero's" got their start in the 1930's and 40's - a very dark period in our history for several reasons. In addition to being crime fighters the hero's were also very science fiction in nature.

I'm not sure either attraction would work today. The last serious super hero was Superman in the 50's. Since then they seem to have been played more for laughs.

This is not correct. Some of the big superheroes do go back to the 30s and 40s -- most notably, Superman and Batman. The Flash, Green Lantern, Captain America, and the Sub Mariner were also creations of the 40s. That era can be thought of as the first golden age of superhero comics. But there was a second golden age that started twenty years later, in the early sixties.

But Spiderman and the X-Men are both creations of the sixties, and I would hardly describe either of those creations as being "played more for laughs". The Hulk, Iron Man, Daredevil, and 3/4 of the Fantastic Four (the Human Torch was a recreation of a 40s hero) also date date back to the sixties.

Perhaps I should have said "popular" instead of "most". And I thought we were considering TV or film exposure and not comic books or Japanese animation.

 

[RALfan]

I wonder if they're planning a big screen remake of Wonder Woman (or even considering such an idea). Maybe someone like Lucy Lawless would take the role.

 

[Mark Giardina]

I wonder if they're planning a big screen remake of Wonder Woman (or even considering such an idea). Maybe someone like Lucy Lawless would take the role.

Lawless is too old to play Wonder Woman; besides I think she's moved on from the Zena Warrior Princess role and won't play another amazon maiden.

I thought there are plans to remake Wonder Woman into a new movie.

 

[tlyle]

I wonder if they're planning a big screen remake of Wonder Woman (or even considering such an idea). Maybe someone like Lucy Lawless would take the role.

Lawless is too old to play Wonder Woman; besides I think she's moved on from the Zena Warrior Princess role and won't play another amazon maiden.

I thought there are plans to remake Wonder Woman into a new movie.

Heard that NBC is currently shooting a pilot similar to Bionic Woman from 3 years ago. They are looking for an actress now to play Diana Prince.

 

[Mark Giardina]

Heard that NBC is currently shooting a pilot similar to Bionic Woman from 3 years ago. They are looking for an actress now to play Diana Prince.

If memory serves me correct, didn't that remake of the Bionic Woman bomb in the ratings and was cancelled after just a few episodes? If so, then why would NBC want to air that remake of a remake series again?

 

[flashback]

Most of these "super hero's" got their start in the 1930's and 40's - a very dark period in our history for several reasons. In addition to being crime fighters the hero's were also very science fiction in nature.

I'm not sure either attraction would work today. The last serious super hero was Superman in the 50's. Since then they seem to have been played more for laughs.

smallville is not played for laughs.it is on i believe its 10 season.so a serious approach must be workable.

actually besides captian nice , mr. terriffic and batman in the 60`s i cant think of any superhero show played for laughs.

 

[Obtuse1]

.

actually besides captian nice , mr. terriffic and batman in the 60`s i cant think of any superhero show played for laughs.

If we are only talking established characters, there's also "Shazam!". If we add new superhero characters there's
"The Greatest American Hero" and the recent "No Ordinary Family" (as well as others, I'm sure...)

 

[landtuna]

That wasn't my quote.

 

[TexasTom]

This is not correct. Some of the big superheroes do go back to the 30s and 40s -- most notably, Superman and Batman. The Flash, Green Lantern, Captain America, and the Sub Mariner were also creations of the 40s. That era can be thought of as the first golden age of superhero comics. But there was a second golden age that started twenty years later, in the early sixties.

But Spiderman and the X-Men are both creations of the sixties, and I would hardly describe either of those creations as being "played more for laughs". The Hulk, Iron Man, Daredevil, and 3/4 of the Fantastic Four (the Human Torch was a recreation of a 40s hero) also date date back to the sixties.

Perhaps I should have said "popular" instead of "most". And I thought we were considering TV or film exposure and not comic books or Japanese animation.

Spiderman and X-Men are both amongst the most popular and enduring of superhero franchises --on TV, in movies, and in the original comic books. And as for where they first appeared -- since pretty much all of the popular superheroes originated in comic books, I don't see how you can ignore those comic books when looking at the time line of when these heroes were created.

 

[Obtuse1]

That wasn't my quote.

Oops...cut and paste fail. This one's yours, right?