Supergirl

[jgsugden]

They've cast the Supergirl in this CBS show with a pre-pilot season order that may or may not be in the same universe as the CO Arrow and Flash shows. They come from the same crew, so this is a real possibility.

Melissa Benoist from Glee has been cast as the lead. Not so sure on that as she seems a bit mousy to be invulnerable. Physically she is not a great match either.  Even with hair dye, her frame is all wrong.  I'm also not sure how they'plan to give us a Supergirl level of powers on a TV budget.  I'mean very curious...

[Khaldun]

The early scripts they're releasing seem to suggest that Superman exists in the same world that Supergirl is operating in.

That really seems hard to relate to Arrow and Flash, where there's a clear sense that Arrow more or less created the concept of the masked vigilante, where guys with super-strength and earthquake machines first appeared to the world in Starling City, and where the Flash is the "next stage" of superhero evolution--the cops in Central City have just reacted like they're the first people who have ever seen a "superhero battle". You don't get any sense that they're all going, "Oh, yeah, that's like that guy in Metropolis who flies around".

[Evildrider]

They stated that this will not have ties to Arrow and Flash now.  It is also going to be another procedural drama.  I have no faith in the project at this point.  They are also comparing how the show is going to be to the Good Wife and Madam Secretary.

[HaemishM]

It's going to be on CBS. That right there gives me skepticism.

[jgsugden]

They stated that this will not have ties to Arrow and Flash now.  It is also going to be another procedural drama.  I have no faith in the project at this point.  They are also comparing how the show is going to be to the Good Wife and Madam Secretary.

As of yesterday this was not true - what did you see?  The only thing stating that was a bit inconsistent as it noted sources on both sides: http://www.newsarama.com/23198-cbs-talks-supergirl-casting-crossing-over-with-arrow-the-flash.html

As for the script leaks: There is no guarantee the scripts from the casting have any intended use in the show.  They often write scripts to show range from the actors on TV rather than have scripts that they'd actually use...

[Evildrider]

Huh that article you linked even said don't expect to see crossovers with Arrow and Flash and then the journalist threw in that oh but CW and CBS are owned by the same parent company so it could happen.

[jgsugden]

Huh that article you linked even said don't expect to see crossovers with Arrow and Flash and then the journalist threw in that oh but CW and CBS are owned by the same parent company so it could happen.

... and a bit more.  If you go to the internet and other articles, there are more comments by the team that put the show together saying that it is their desire to make it one universe.  Those statements come before and after this article from a few weeks ago.

One article, one comment by an executive, etc... does not prove anything.  After all, Sony execs flatly and 100% denied that there were any talks about Spider-man going to the MCU... 2 weeks after emails showed those individuals participating in the discussions.

[Threash]

But it's already not one universe unless there is an in universe superman which is not the current movie superman.

[jgsugden]

But it's already not one universe unless there is an in universe superman which is not the current movie superman.

If I'm following you, the point you raise is an issue, but not determinative.  The series could start out with Superman's first signs of action as a costumed hero and Kara being shocked to see someone else with powers like hers... and then discovering that they might be family.  DC put handcuffs on the Flash/Arrow continutity (No Gotham, Batman, Superman, Metropolis, Wonder Woman, etc...) that have been slightly lifted over time.  Now that they seem comfortable with a TV and a movie continuity existing with the same characters, they may lift those restraints entirely. 

Who knows? 

All I know is this: One of the big draws in comics that gets people to try new shows is crossovers.  They're idiots to pass up any chance to crossover, especially when CW and CBS feed the same coffers.

[HaemishM]

All I know is this: One of the big draws in comics that gets people to try new shows is crossovers.  They're idiots to pass up any chance to crossover, especially when CW and CBS feed the same coffers.

This is Warner Bros. we're talking about. Their history with the movie properties shows they are fucking idiots.

[Evildrider]

All I know is this: One of the big draws in comics that gets people to try new shows is crossovers.  They're idiots to pass up any chance to crossover, especially when CW and CBS feed the same coffers.

This is Warner Bros. we're talking about. Their history with the movie properties shows they are fucking idiots.

Even with them being the same company, there is way different politics and differences to how the two channels run.  Arrow and Flash would have been cancelled by now on network tv.

[jgsugden]

True.  However, irrelevant.  The question is not about whether Arrow/Flash fit on CBS.  It is whether the people that own the networks can be convinced that the three shows created by Berlanti from DC universe properties can mutually benefit from crossover.  Supergirl can be run very differently, and still take place in the same continuity as Arrow/Flash and cross over.  Heck, it could take place in a different universe and cross over given the way the DC universe(s) have been handled in the comics...

[Lakov_Sanite]

Yes, the idea of multiple universes crossing over is in no way crazy. 

[jgsugden]

Yes, the idea of multiple universes crossing over is in no way crazy. 

... and yet is a core aspect of many DC storylines.  Including, in a way, one that is being worked into Flash...

Nothing is guaranteed ... or off the table ... as long as the money be there.

[Nevermore]

Yes, the idea of multiple universes crossing over is in no way crazy. 

... and yet is a core aspect of many DC storylines.  Including, in a way, one that is being worked into Flash...

Nothing is guaranteed ... or off the table ... as long as the money be there.

Which makes it no less crazy. 

[Velorath]

Nothing is guaranteed ... or off the table ... as long as the money be there.

Yep, there's nothing like that sweet, sweet money CBS will get by tying their show into the 128th most watched show on network television last season.

[Lakov_Sanite]

DC tries so hard, it's really cute.

[jgsugden]

Nothing is guaranteed ... or off the table ... as long as the money be there.

Yep, there's nothing like that sweet, sweet money CBS will get by tying their show into the 128th most watched show on network television last season.

You're ignoring that the ownership goes both ways - if Supergirl is expected to have higher ratings, crossing it with Arrow and Flash can bring them - and the CW in general - more viewers.  CBS owns half of the CW.

Honestly, I think there are very few people watching Arrow and Flash that will not give Supergirl a try regardless of whether it is a shared universe or not.  They may have lower expectations - perhaps only giving it a half episode to lure them in - but I think the vast majority of us will give it a try.  To that end, I do not think that a shared universe will give Supergirl the same boost it would give to Flash/Arrow.

However, 'events' in TV stories typically give higher ratings than typical episodes, whether it is opening a hatch on Lost, the crash of SD6 on Alias, or Arrow crossing over to Flash - and crossovers with Arrow and Flash onto Supergirl would likely be events with higher ratings.  Further, it allows them to spend less time 'universe building' and establishing rules for their world.  So there is *some* direct benefit to CBS... although there is no doubt that CW would get more out of the deal.

[jgsugden]

The pilot's description indicates that Superman is an established character in the Supergirl world. That means no shared universe unless we get Supes into A/F soon or there is a time jump. One theory out there that seems to be clinging to a shared universe is that Flash's season ends with a Flashpoint type reset that adds Supes to the universe. That seems like a huge stretch.

[angry.bob]

I'm bored to death of Superman and Supergirl in TV shows.

I want a Power Girl show starring Samantha Wright. I don't care if she's too short. everything else is perfect. Make it happen Hollywood, or wherever the fuck they make TV shows. Vancouver or whatever.

[HaemishM]

And the costume has been revealed.

 

[tazelbain]

I like that Clark being older and conservative would dress something traditional Kyptonian in style. But I think Kara being a female teen would dress in a flashy modern style.

[Evildrider]

Should have been Power Girl.   

[Bunk]

Interesting casting and congrats to a Canadian actress, but yea, not exactly the physical match I would have made for Supergirl. I mean she's certainly fit (seen it all - Homeland, season one, I think episode 4 or 5?) but not really the superhero type.

Just realized this thread was a few months old - went looking for the updated post and saw the costume shot. Wow, um, yea.  indeed.

[jgsugden]

She looks so uncomfortable in that costume.  And it just seems to be missing a couple things...

[tazelbain]

Her camel toe goes all the way up to her boobs.

[Cyrrex]

The costume is fine.  The human in the costume is a total miss.  Again.  Why can nobody figure out how to cast these female superheroes?  It really shouldn't be that hard.

[MediumHigh]

Knee length skirt? Ha ain't watching.

[Chimpy]

Knee length skirt? Ha ain't watching.

You have a terrible understanding of anatomy if you think that skirt was knee length. 

[Teleku]

The costume is fine.  The human in the costume is a total miss.  Again.  Why can nobody figure out how to cast these female superheroes?  It really shouldn't be that hard.

Far as I can tell, just like with the wonder woman casting, the only problem is she doesn't have big enough tits to pull off the character.  Hell, this is even more accurate than the wonder woman casting.  Pretty much every incarnation of supergirl I've ever seen is waif thin with a nice stomach and huge boobs.  Which is normally how wonder woman is also potrayed, but at least she is often drawn as having some big thighs, and (rarely) being more muscular.

So as far as being true to the character, other than her chest, its pretty spot on.

But supergirl is an even more fuck stupid superhero than wonderwoman, so who cares.

Edit:  Actually, looking at some pictures from the web now, shes usually isn't drawn with a chest the likes of wonderwoman or power girl.  So, even more accurate!

[Cyrrex]

Except that Supergirl is usually blonde, blue eyed and really good looking.  Sometimes with a nice rack to go along with it.  This girl barely checks two of those boxes.  I never thought Helen Slater was all that great, but she was much closer to the mark than this.

[Teleku]

Ah, fair enough on that then, I agree.  I thought you were just complaining about them not casting women who actually look like they could punch holes in concrete again.   

Maybe DC will give the rights to a Power Girl series to Cinemax HBO and finally have a hit.

[Khaldun]

Not to interfere with your priorities or anything, but until relatively recent times, Supergirl wasn't particularly drawn like Power Girl. That's the result of a fairly wretched Jeph Loeb reboot a ways back, and there have been other attempts to re-teenagerize her and leave Power Girl as the boobed-up version of the character. I get why you'd need that to want to watch the show, given how hard it is to see some tits online.

[Cyrrex]

I am not at all into comic books and have no idea when or what Jeph Loeb's reboot is all about.  I am just thinking of my hazy childhood memories, and have certain mental images of what these characters look like.  Quick google searches tend to completely reinforce those memories.

Don't get me wrong - I love tits like a madman.  But that isn't what this is about, not for me.  Some of these characters are so iconic, they need to fit into a certain mold, or at least come close.  If they do not, then I do not find them credible.  I am not alone in this.  It is no different than if we were talking about casting superman.  I have no sexual interest in that whatsoever, but I still expect him to fit a certain type.  Black hair, blue eyes, sturdy chin, reasonably muscular build.  Miss on those things, I am not buying it.  For what it's worth, the last supes was cast perfectly from that pov.  So yeah, not about tits.

[Khaldun]

Supergirl in the Silver Age was basically a blonde, rather prim teenager who looked like a young Doris Day. Costume for a long time was a skirt with blouse that had no cleavage or neck exposed, then around 1980s the outfit started showing cleavage and she became a bit bustier. The Doris Day look was her iconic look for about 25 years, though near the end she started wearing a headband because, you know, 1980s. Then Crisis on Infinite Earths, then some weird reboots where she was a bunch of plasma from another dimension and other stuff, then the cousin-of-Superman came back but she started wearing midriff-baring shirts, got drawn by Michael Turner as if she were a porn star, etc.  But she's never been the most over-sexualized of superheroines, compared to Wonder Woman (or even Batgirl, with all the bondage in the '66 series).