Casting "Society": Who I'd Like To See
Written by Craig Byrne - KryptonSite Webmaster
Inspiration for this column goes to "Kryppy" on the KryptonSite Forum who originally suggested Adam West here.
One of the most highly-anticipated episodes of Smallville Season 9 is the episode "Society," written by a fan favorite from the comic book world, Geoff Johns. The show is said to bring in characters from the legendary Justice Society of America - DC Comics' first super-team - and have them see how the current generation operates.
With this description in mind, it is to be assumed these characters will be older - and not "Earth-2 counterparts" as they were in the early Silver Age comic books. That notion suggests that these retired heroes could possibly be familiar faces.
I know Smallville's budget isn't what it used to be, when they could get actors like Christopher Reeve and Lynda Carter in for guest spots. Though, I'm hopeful that this show will have a mixture of not-as-well-known talent with some familiar actors. Case in point...
We've had two Supermen (Reeve and Dean Cain) and a Wonder Woman (Lynda Carter) on the show. But one major veteran of comic book TV hasn't been on - and that is 1960's "Batman" Adam West. How cool would it be if he was playing Alan Scott (the original Green Lantern) or even Hourman? Heck, even Doctor Mid-Nite would be cool. An Adam West appearance may be expensive, but he does have that pop-culture "cool" (see all of his Family Guy appearances as "himself, the mayor")... and an appearance by Adam West would get the show the much-needed publicity to get people tuning in to the show whenever it airs on Friday in the Spring.
West isn't the only one who it would be cool to see, as several KryptonSite readers on Twitter have noted. What about John Wesley Shipp (The Flash) as Jay Garrick? And surely there'd be something for former Superboy Gerard Christopher as well... Iron Munro maybe? How would "Greatest American Hero" William Katt look in a bowtie as Johnny Thunder? Each of these actors have their respective fan bases who would love to see them return to heroic mantles. This is a perfect chance.
There are other characters that I do hope to see in "Society," even in small parts. Wesley Dodds, the Sandman is one; Black Canary's mother - the original Black Canary - is another. (Too bad Lori Loughlin is busy with 90210 and also not old enough to play a much-older Canary.). With Geoff Johns writing I would not be all that shocked or surprised if a teenage girl named Courtney is part of the story. Of course, any tie-in to the Starman legacy will just make me wish again for a Starman TV series, and the last time that was tried, it didn't end up getting past the script stage. :(
Even though the hopes of this column might go beyond the Smallville budget, I hope some of these casting choices are considered when the time comes for "Society." Whatever is done, it should prove to be one of the best episodes of Season 9.
Who would you like to see in "Society?" Talk about it on our forum!
Read some Season 9 spoilers!
