SMALLVILLE'S 15TH ANNIVERSARY

THE CAST OF SMALLVILLE

Fifteen years ago Smallville debuted on the WB (now the CW network) in the fall of 2001. The producers of the show turned the town of Smallville into a character unto itself. Clark Kent's arrival in a rocket ship caused a meteor shower and changed everyone's lives. Today there is an explosion of superhero movies and TV shows on every channel but in 2001 that was not the case. In syndication you had Hercules and Xena but they were starting to wind down their runs.  Most networks were focusing on teen dramas once the WB network found success with Dawson's Creek. 

The genius of Smallville was that it was a superhero show mixed with teen drama featuring a young Clark Kent who is 16, in high school, and finds out that he is an alien. In Smallville Clark Kent (Tom Welling) was a nerd, an outsider who never fit in. He was in love with his best friend Lana Lang (Kristin Kreuk) but he couldn't say anything because she was in a relationship with the football captain. Like any regular teenager that deals with puberty, Clark's powers would manifest themselves at awkward times. All these things made Superman who has been portrayed as so perfect since the end of World War Two, more relatable to the audience. 

One of the biggest reasons that Smallville succeeded was because of the relationship between Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum) and Clark Kent. As fans we not only got to see the evolution of Clark Kent into Superman but we also see how Lex Luthor becomes the man he is. Through the machinations of his father Lionel Luthor (John Glover), Lex becomes the tyrant we know him to be. Clark and Lex start as friends but over 7 seasons Clark and Lex become enemies as they both embrace their destinies. 

As Smallville moved on they introduced new characters and other heroes into the show. Characters like Lois Lane (Erica Durance) and Green Arrow (Justin Hartley) entered Smallville. When Kristin Kreuk and Michael Rosenbaum left the show in season 8, the relationship between Clark and Lois became the centerpiece of the show until its end in season 10. 

TOM WELLING AS CLARK KENT/THE BLUR IN SMALLVILLE

In Season 8 Clark moved to Metropolis and embraced his superhero identity known as "The Blur". As a fan I always wanted to see Tom Welling in the classic Superman suit and I always thought it was wrong that he never wore it on the show. In hindsight, Clark never needed the classic suit and his "blur" costumes were very modern and would fit well in today's superhero culture.  

Since it ended in 2010, superheroes have become big business in movies and television with Marvel and DC battling for supremacy. The CW network has garnered big ratings with shows like Arrow, Flash, Supergirl, and Legends of Tomorrow on its programming slate. Today, Warner Brothers has struggled to make Superman relevant with movies like Man of Steel and Batman vs. Superman being critically panned. Its possible that if they stayed with the formula that Smallville started they might be more successful. 

Smallville was one of the most successful TV shows ever, airing for 10 seasons. It introduced Clark Kent and Superman to a new generation of fans and delighted longtime fans. 15 years after its debut, it is still fondly remembered as a precursor to what we see now.

Thank you Smallville. 

THE PROFESSOR

A DYNASTY REBOOT IS COMING TO THE CW

DYNASTY

Dynasty, the hit prime time soap from the 1980's is being rebooted for the CW. TVLine reports that Gossip Girl creators Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage are writing the pilot for the reboot. The original show centered around a young secretary, Krystle Jennings (Linda Evans) who falls in love and marries her rich boss Blake Carrington (John Forsythe). The show also featured Joan Collins as Alexis Carrington who came in as Blake's ex-wife and was the main cause of conflict on the show. The show ran from 1981-1989 and helped launch the career of Heather Locklear.

TVLine reports that one of the new ideas that Schwartz and Savage plan to introduce include changing Krystle Jennings ethnicity from a Caucasian woman to a Hispanic woman. This isn't the first reboot that the CW has done as they've done reboots on Melrose Place and Beverly Hills 90210.




Lucas Till as MacGyver

Bringing back old shows from decades past seems to be a staple in today's TV landscape. The new MacGyver reboot starring Lucas Till garnered over 10 million viewers on its premiere two weeks ago and had over 9 million viewers last week according to Variety. Now ABC is planning on doing a reboot on Magnum P.I. focusing on Magnum's daughter Tommy and Netflix is doing a reboot of the old 60's TV show Lost In Space according to TVLine. All of these networks are hoping for the successful launch that MacGyver has had. 

Hopefully Dynasty will enjoy the same success as MacGyver when it debuts on the CW. I'm sure CW will capitalize on the producers connection to Gossip Girl to form a loyal fanbase. The question is: how many of those fans will care about the show and how many fans who loved the original series will want to watch this show? Only time will tell. 

Class Dismissed, 
The Professor

RANDOM THOUGHTS ON WRESTLING....

A.J. STYLES AS IWGP CHAMPION


A.J. Styles won the WWE World title at Backlash last week at Backlash. A.J. has won world titles in multiple organizations including TNA, IWGP, and many other organizations. A.J. Styles is truly a character that no matter where he goes, he can connect with the fans and make them believe in wrestling. He reminds me of Bret Hart in that Bret was so good and he could sell wrestling to the masses. A.J. fits into that mold as well. He can wrestle and he's very exciting to watch with his high-flying skills. Congratulations A.J. You deserve it!


Bobby Lashley as the TNA World Champion

On October 2nd Bobby Lashley will defend the TNA World title against EC3 (Ethan Carter III). 


Ethan Carter III


Lashley has been one of the most dominant champions in the history of the business. Lashley is one of the greatest athletes in wrestling. He is a former amateur wrestler, a former member of the U.S. Military, and an MMA fighter. 

Currently Lashley is in a feud with EC3 and EC3 doesn't have any of the credentials of Lashley. Now with the popularity of MMA, TNA Wrestling will have to explain how a "wrestler" like EC3 can beat a man with the credentials of  Lashley. 

My answer: Make it a Fatal Fourway elimination match. TNA should add Mike Bennett and Moose to the match. 




Moose and Mike Bennett


Moose and Lashley have bad blood so they can eliminate each other leaving Carter and Bennett to fight it out for the title. This way Lashley remains strong and Carter can win the belt. 


Anyway these are just my thoughts on wrestling. Until next time...

THE PROFESSOR

R.I.P. GENE WILDER

Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka

Gene Wilder, the legendary actor who played Willy Wonka passed away last night at the age of 83. Wilder was known as a comic genius who came to prominence in the 1970's appearing in many movies by Mel Brooks including, The Producers, Young Frankenstein, and Blazing Saddles. Wilder was nominated for an Oscar twice for his role in The Producers and for co-writing Young Frankenstein with Mel Brooks. 


Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder

In the late 70's and early 80's Gene Wilder teamed up with Richard Pryor and did two of his biggest movies Silver Streak and Stir Crazy. In 1974 Wilder portrayed his most beloved character, Willy Wonka in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. The movie was entertaining and taught many lessons to children all around the world with Wilder leading the charge as the zany Willy Wonka.

Nothing I write here can really do justice to the career of Gene Wilder but I had to write something. Gene Wilder in my opinion was one of the greatest actors I've ever seen. His timing was impeccable and there will never be anyone like him again. 

Rest in Peace Mr. Wilder and Thank You. 

THE PROFESSOR

KEVIN OWENS BECOMES THE NEW WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPION

Kevin Owens

On RAW last night Kevin Owens became the new WWE Universal champion. The match was a fatal 4-way elimination match between Kevin Owens, Big Cass, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns. The big story came at the end of the match when Triple H  returned and took out Roman Reigns. Triple H then rolled Reigns in and Rollins pinned him. In a surprise move Triple H turned on former protege Seth Rollins and allowed Kevin Owens to pin him to become the new champion. 

This was something that shocked me as a fan. I never expected Kevin Owens to become champion because of his look. Owens isn't the typical WWE superstar but it was a great surprise and it adds a fresh wrinkle to the main event. Now Owens can take on former champions Rollins and Reigns or even his current tag-team partner Chris Jericho. These matches will be 5-star matches.

Owens is beloved by the Internet Wrestling Community and you could hear the fans chanting "You Deserve It!!" as RAW went off the air. Kevin Owens (aka Kevin Steen) has been in Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG) and Ring of Honor (ROH). Owens is one of the best wrestlers in the world and has a great personality that bleeds through on interviews and on his twitter account. 

Congratulations Kevin Owens. You definitely deserve it. 

Class Dismissed
The Professor

SUMMERSLAM IS NXT

FINN BALOR VS. SETH ROLLINS

On August 21, 2016, wrestling history will be made when  Seth Rollins faces Finn Balor to crown the first WWE Universal Champion at Summerslam. In many ways this is the culmination of something that started in 2012 when NXT, WWE's developmental program began. 

Seth Rollins and Finn Balor are both former NXT champions and in fact Rollins was the first champion of the promotion. The late, great, Dusty Rhodes and Triple H  declared him one of the future superstars of the business. Rollins had been wrestling on the independent scene for a few years including wrestling for ROH (Ring of Honor)  before being brought into WWE in 2010. 

Finn Balor is an international superstar who has wrestled in the US, UK, Ireland, and Japan. He has had his greatest success in Japan where he wrestled in IWGP (International Wrestling Grand Prix) where he was a 3-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion and a 6-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag-Team Champion. Balor arrived in NXT in 2014 and defeated Kevin Owens on July 4, 2015 to win his first NXT Championship. He would hold the title for 292 days and become the longest reigning champion in the company's history. 

This match at Summerslam could set off one of the best feuds in wrestling history. Longtime fans may talk about Seth Rollins and Finn Balor in the same breath as Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat one day. Not to mention WWE will have events Saturday, Sunday, and Monday in the Barclays Center with stars from NXT and WWE being featured. 

I'm sure that when WWE started the NXT program in 2012  they knew that the stars they created would main event a pay-per-view but I don't think they thought it would happen this soon. NXT's motto has always been, "The Future is Now". I think that expression will be proven true when Rollins and Balor meet at Summerslam. 

THE PROFESSOR

R.I.P. GARRY MARSHALL

Garry Marshall passed away at the age of 81 this past week. Mr. Marshall produced many hit movies and TV shows including Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley, Mork and Mindy, and Pretty Woman. Mr. Marshall helped launch the careers of many including Henry Winkler, Julia Roberts, and the late, great Robin Williams. 

Many other sites will cover the death of Mr. Marshall with more depth and eloquence than I can write here. As someone who aspires to work in TV, I can only hope to have a career in TV that has half of the influence that Mr. Marshall's has had. I remember watching a documentary on PBS entitled, Make'em Laugh where Garry Marshall talked about how he was influenced by comedians such as Jack Benny and Phil Silvers. Mr. Marshall has certainly influenced countless generations with his work.

Rest in Peace, Mr. Marshall. Your contributions will never be forgotten. 

THE PROFESSOR