We’re less than a week away from the Season 2 premiere of Supergirl on The CW, which also means we’re only a few days away from the audience really “meeting” Tyler Hoechlin‘s version of Supergirl’s famous cousin, Superman. As mentioned in our advance review, Hoechlin fits in on the show seamlessly, and is “with it” on his first try in a very similar way to how Grant Gustin was when he appeared in two episodes of Arrow’s second season. Within seconds Hoechlin immediately seems like a worthy successor to folks named Reeves, Reeve, Newton, Christopher, Cain, Welling, Routh, and Cavill.
We can also say with absolute certainty that once you see Hoechlin’s take on both Clark Kent and Superman, you’ll want to see more. While he’s very careful not to overshadow Kara – it’s her show, after all – it is her show, and the constant presence of her cousin might get a little distracting, especially as that person in the ship from last year’s cliffhanger combined with J’Onn J’Onzz might already give the Supergirl an overabundance of aliens as it is.
But we know what happens when a breakout character is “loaned” to a DC Comics superhero series for “an appearance or two.” Justin Hartley’s Green Arrow on Smallville became a role that went from a half-season arc to five years on the show, three as a series regular. Erica Durance was originally to just appear at the start of Smallville Season 4; the “start” became four episodes, which became thirteen, and eventually, Erica had second billing on the show once Allison Mack went part-time for Season 10. There’s a good chance that people will tune in to these first two episodes of Supergirl Season 2, fall in love with the character, and demand more… which could also distract from what a great show Supergirl itself is.
So, what to do? Continue to have Superman returning every Sweeps period, which would keep Supergirl from taking off on her own, or… something else?
I’ll be the first to admit that I’d have reservations about Superman in his own TV series again at this time. On the one hand, I’d love to see it. I want to meet this version’s Lois; his Perry; his other friends. I am certain that a Superman show on The CW at this time could give the network their highest ratings — yes, even bigger than The Flash. Since 1988 TV has rarely gone more than 5 years without a Superman TV show, so now would be a good time, even with the movies doing their own thing, which is great, and hey, if TV can have a Flash and the movies can too, there’s no trouble with two Supermen. But…
….having a Superman series on the air at the same time as Supergirl might damage the value of the parent series, if not handled carefully. Supergirl as a series is a chance for a new take on the Super-saga through a female lens, and for young girls to have a hero to look up to is an awesome thing. Melissa Benoist has earned and is deserving of all of the praise she has gotten for the character. Part of Supergirl’s journey is escaping the shadow of her cousin’s cape. If a Superman series were to air at the same time, that might get in the way of that. Unless!
What if a Superman spinoff series ran through the summer?
Crazy idea, right? High-profile show to burn off at a time the audience might not be there? I’d actually think it would be brilliant though. It wouldn’t be competing with Supergirl for attention, nor would it compete with The Flash, Arrow, Legends of Tomorrow and who knows what else is coming from the DC universe in the October-to-May months. It could give The CW their “summer blockbuster” and in doing so it would bolster all of their other summer programming, meaning those Reign Season 4 episodes wouldn’t just sit in a wilderness of randomly-scheduled episodes of Whose Line. It would mean we, as DC fans, would have something beyond big-screen movies; entertainment we can watch and enjoy in our own homes. Superman would return to TV again, where he belongs. And, Tyler Hoechlin would get the leading-man role he deserves, without taking any attention away from the great work Melissa Benoist is doing on Supergirl.
What does Tyler Hoechlin say about the whole idea?
Speaking with Entertainment Weekly recently, Tyler Hoechlin sounds open to it. “Those are decisions of people in a much different place than I,” he said. “It’s been a few years since Superman’s really been sticking around on TV for a long time, and who knows what they’ll end up doing and what they’ll want to do. There’s obviously so much going on with this Superman character in the world of DC and the films, and so who knows what they’ll want to do. But it’s fun to be doing it for what it is right now, and if something else comes out of it in the future, then that’s something they’ll let us know down the road. I’m just very excited for what the situation is at the moment.”
Would you watch a Superman spinoff with Tyler Hoechlin? Let your feelings be heard on the KryptonSite Forum!
Victoria
October 4, 2016 at 1:54 pm
OMG YES! PLEASE DO IT
Bob Marshall
October 4, 2016 at 2:56 pm
I think it’s simple, do a mini series anything from 4-10 episodes. Legends isn’t a full 22 episode season do just end that earlier and have a new Superman show plug the gap. I do think even if he doesn’t get his own series we will see him again on Supergirl and hopefully in the Flash, Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow at somepoint.
Craig Byrne
October 4, 2016 at 8:41 pm
Also a great idea Bob!
Captain Untouchable
October 4, 2016 at 2:58 pm
I think there’s a danger that a stand-alone episodic Superman series might encroach on Supergirl a little too much. There’s only so much story to work with, and every foe/concept/etc that the Superman series deals with is one that Supergirl can’t use.
What might work though is something similar to Marvel-on-Netflix (or Vixen on CW Seed): one big story, told over the course of several episodes. Picking an arbitrary number: The CW could take a single well-known storyline (like they’ve done for the Dominators crossover this year), and adapt it into a six-part story, to be broadcast over the summer. That event could be a stand-alone Superman story, a Justice League style team-up, or anything in between (the Justice League Detroit line-up, only the aliens, only the sneaky people, only the non-powered people, etc). It could even take the place of the existing all-series crossover that usually happens in December. A show like that would be a lot easier for The CW to hype over the summer… and anyone who misses it when it’s broadcast can take advantage of CW Seed instead, so the show is potentially getting the views either way.
There are other things that might work pretty well in that format, too. Constantine might thrive pretty well in that sort of approach: a few more episodes to complete the Rising Darkness storyline, with a little help from Oliver and/or Sara, perhaps? A Birds of Prey storyline that brings back the Huntress and pairs her with Sara, Evelyn, Kendra, etc? A Green Lantern storyline, either introducing the Green Lantern Corps or Alan Scott, with appearances as appropriate from Oliver, Barry, and his Justice League compatriots? A series that takes place entirely on Earth-2, or Earth-3, or that stars the Justice Society back in the 1940s…
So many options. Since The CW is running out of weeknights for new shows, this might be a great option to keep expanding the Arrowverse to include more of what the fans want to see.
xeph
October 4, 2016 at 7:59 pm
A bit premature at this time, but he still kind of looks more like a superboy than a superman to me. We’ll have to see how it pans out.
SVIlleGal03
October 4, 2016 at 8:36 pm
I would. But not if it means “Supergirl” gets cancelled.
Craig Byrne
October 4, 2016 at 8:40 pm
Of course. An option that includes “Supergirl cancelled” is not welcome to me.
Kenny Kraly Jr.
October 4, 2016 at 10:10 pm
Yes without question!!! And fans need to get over Tom Welling not being Superman in Supergirl it was never going to happen it is what it is
Mike
October 5, 2016 at 4:45 am
Great idea of a summer show. You are correct on many ends. Will not compete with Supergirl or the other hero shows, gives CW a summer show (hit), and puts Superman back on TV.
Joshua La Rue
October 6, 2016 at 9:15 am
Or retool the Supergirl series as a Supergirl/superman series and for every like three episodes of Supergirl we get 1 superman centric episode and occasionally two partners or mash up episodes ala law & order criminal intent I recall that show had two sets of main detectives and sometimes episodes would center around one team of 2 sometimes the other, so why not just have Supergirl and superman share a series, it wouldn’t be impossible and there would be no competing and no oversaturation of Kryptonian tv series on same network…..
Joshua La Rue
October 6, 2016 at 9:17 am
Two PARTERS or mashup episodes is what I meant to say early in my comment
Adriana
October 14, 2016 at 3:49 am
If the world has more than one Flash why can’t it have more than one Superman, bring it on
Adriana
October 14, 2016 at 6:55 pm
If we have The Winchesters, Salvatores and Mikahleson on a weekly bases, I see no harm in seeing the Super Cousins saving the world
mae
October 11, 2016 at 4:23 am
CW will never waste that much money on Summer. Only CBS produced duds and excess episodes of Midseason shows will be scheduled on Summer. Berlanti has Black Lightning pilot on FOX. If FOX passes on it, CW will save it. Also brings Akils back with the network.