116 - What do you think is so bad about "Girl"?

[captain_slinky]

By now you've probably seen the "Extended Trailer" for the new Supergirl TV show, but if not, go ahead and watch it right now because that's what this post is about. Or, if you're not in to Nerd Ramblings, then scroll past this.

Ready? Good. This trailer was a great big emotional rollercoaster for me, that left me a blubbering snotty mess whimpering to myself about how much in love with it I am.

I started out hopeful thanks to the sci-fi opening. Then my hopes were crushed by the straight-out-of-The-One-Note-Sexist-Playbook part where she's getting coffee for her Devil-Wears-Prada bitch-boss. "Oh no, another 'Shy girl in the big city is looking for a man to define who she is' story.

It was *thisclose* to being Cecily Strong’s ‘One-Dimensional Female Character’ from Saturday Night Live.

...And then it all CHANGED. It turned into an optimistic take on Super Heroes. Instead of the standard DC Comics "We're Super and we hate being super but somebody has to do it and we don't care if anybody likes us or not" dirge, here's a Supergirl who is ENJOYING being a Super Hero!

THIS is what I wanted from the new Superman movie! THIS is the optimism that would balance and vindicate the darkness of the Batman franchise!

THIS is the show for next season that I am most excited for! I just wish it were on a different network - CBS isn't exactly known for their genre shows. Matter of fact, I think (and correct me if I'm wrong), the last time they had any sci-fi/fantasy offerings was in the early 80's wasn't it?

Comments

CBS Superhero shows

[aquatwo.livejournal.com]

Wonder Woman ran until '79
The Incredible Hulk ran until '82
The Flash was their most recent, '90-91

Re: CBS Superhero shows

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

Yeah, and they really dicked The Flash over - Cancelled episodes for sporting event coverage, moved timeslots all over the place... cancelled after one season :( No other sci-fi or Fantasy I can think of except for in the early 80's - they did all sorts of crazy stuff back then - Wizards & Warriors, The Wizard...

[lynna12000.livejournal.com]

The Flash had excellent reviews. What killed it was the revelation that the star wasn't as 'straight' as the character he portrayed on television. At the time, CBS was a LOT more conservative that it is now. (granted, that isn't saying much)

[lynna12000.livejournal.com]

While it wasn't comic book related, Threshold certainly qualified as 'sci-fi'. Problem was that it was a few years ahead of it's time. It only had 1 season, back in 2005. But it was on CBS.

[snarky-imp.livejournal.com]

Well, you said sci-fi/fantasy and some might consider a girl talking to God as falling under that umbrella, but CBS was pretty awful to Joan of Arcadia, too and that's still a big stretch. (One day I will be over this, CBS. Today just ain't that day.)

I might've teared up watching this earlier. It starts off pretty similar to the Black Widow SNL sketch and then, y'know, gets better. I loved the Supergirl movie when I was little to the point that I suspect my mother probably called ahead and had the video store hide it when we were coming. I haven't worked up the courage to watch as an adult but this? This looks fun.

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

YES! That was the vibe - very "Black Widow Sketch"! I think it all started becoming "real" when her boss did the whole "What's your problem with 'Girl'?" speech. Then it went down again when the Military Dude said "Go get me some coffee".

CBS has always been okay with "Spiritual Fantasy" - Touched By An Angel, Ghost Whisperer, stuff like that. As much as I loathe to say it, we may owe this to The Big Bang Theory (ugh) proving that they *can* have a cut of the "Youth Market" rather than just catering to The Retirement Crowd with fantasy that focuses on The Afterlife?

[aurora77]

I am looking forward to this one. It has a nice feel to it. Not all superhero shows have to have gritty dark sides. They can actually be fun! I hope it goes well.