Superboy TV series

[Brue]

I bought a dozen episodes from Gerard Christopher at a comic con on studio quality VHS a few years ago. They are pretty good especially considering budget and the fact that by the time that aired Superboy didn't exist in the DC Universe.

Yesterday I got season one (John Haymes Newton) on DVD off Amazon. These are far inferior to the Christopher ones. Most episodes are not watchable. They are in order of airdate but for some reason they aired the first episode 4th so it is weird to see Lana and TJ (jimmy type) surprised to see Supes as he introduces himself. This episode also shares the low budget opening credit sequence that the first 2 aired episodes have. Later episodes have a different opening.

I have found 3 decent episodes

The one I just mentioned.
The one where Lex loses his hair
The Mxysptlk episode.

Had this aired before Mego released their toy I would tell you without a doubt this is the reason they made him look like he did and even the reason for making him at all. - Of course since that isn't the case ????????????

[Airdave817]

This was pure '80's schlock at first. I read somewhere that John Haymes Newton got busted for a DUI or DWI or something like that and was gone. TJ White was just a slacker type kinda like that Dooley from Riptide.

I watched a few episodes including the ones where Luthor kidnapped Lana and was trying to marry her...

Michael Kallan as Metallo, Michael J Pollard as Mxyzptlk and Gilbert Gottfried as Nick Nack were pretty cool. Stuart Whitman as Pa Kent was pretty cool. Stacy Haiduk really made the show, though. I guess the show moved on to a government paranormal agency that Clark and Lana interned at. I wasn't watching by that time.

Looking over at imdb, Ron Ely as Superman, George Lazenby as Jor-El and Britt Eckland as Lara? I might have to put this on my wish list!

I still have the comic companion that DC did. Only like 20 issues or so. Gilbert Gottfried wrote a Nick Nack two-parter...

[jds1911a1]

This was pure '80's schlock at first. I read somewhere that John Haymes Newton got busted for a DUI or DWI or something like that and was gone. TJ White was just a slacker type kinda like that Dooley from Riptide.

I watched a few episodes including the ones where Luthor kidnapped Lana and was trying to marry her...

Michael Kallan as Metallo, Michael J Pollard as Mxyzptlk and Gilbert Gottfried as Nick Nack were pretty cool. Stuart Whitman as Pa Kent was pretty cool. Stacy Haiduk really made the show, though. I guess the show moved on to a government paranormal agency that Clark and Lana interned at. I wasn't watching by that time.

Looking over at imdb, Ron Ely as Superman, George Lazenby as Jor-El and Britt Eckland as Lara? I might have to put this on my wish list!

I still have the comic companion that DC did. Only like 20 issues or so. Gilbert Gottfried wrote a Nick Nack two-parter...

The lasnenby portrayal was a poor man's Brando (right down to the white hair wig) and if I recall it was a con (they weren't really Jor el and lara)

I actually liked the first season when it aired and was bummed when Gerard replaced newton (newton was actually in his 20's christopher was nearer 30) but Chrstoper was a better looking superman and evoked a reeeves ness to him.

Haiduk was good and when you see Michael J Pollard as Myxie you can't help but think Mego

[Earth 2 Chris]

I got the 1st season mostly for my son, and the hope that good sales would warrant WB issuing the other seasons. This season is indeed, quite horrible. Physically, I prefer Newton (at least I did back then, haven't seen a Christopher episode since the show was cancelled), but the writing and production improved vastly by season 2. One thing that aggravates me to death was Newton's insistence on putting one arm in front of his face while flying, as if he was worried about running into birds or something.

I was also amazed by how much Pollard's suit looked like the Mego Mxy. And more shocked that Denny O'Neil (!) wrote that episode. No wonder it's one of the few watchable ones here.

Superboy season 2-4 is a much better Super-experience over all than Lois and Clark, I think.

Chris

[jds1911a1]

Agreed

Lois and Clark had ALOT of potential and the 1st few episodes were fun but I honestly think they dragged to show out too long and I preferred the deliquent Jimmy over the "pretty boy" long hair one. Also when the budget was cut and they started using cheats on the flight scenes it didn't help

so many of the "villians" were so hack in L&C especailly when compared to John Shea's Lex (which was brilliant expecially constrained by the Byrne era comics). It was like the parade of former 80's sitcom b listers
(actually that was my complaint for most of the Rogues when they appeared in Flash too - except Mark Hamill as the trickster)

[Brue]

Lois and Clark is WAAAAY better than superboy. Granted after the wedding (the real one not the crashed one) the show did a nose dive. It makes sense it would die then considering that the tension between lois and clark was the hook.

I Loved the first seson. I loved the second season - but a little less. I loved the third season - but a little less. I loved the fourth season - but a little less...

[jds1911a1]

Lois and Clark is WAAAAY better than superboy. Granted after the wedding (the real one not the crashed one) the show did a nose dive. It makes sense it would die then considering that the tension between lois and clark was the hook.

I Loved the first seson. I loved the second season - but a little less. I loved the third season - but a little less. I loved the fourth season - but a little less...

I gave up on lois and clark half way through. since the shows were only a few years apart I would think it's just our tastes differ slightly. I am not saying Superboy (either version of the show) was great I just like the end seasons of it better than L & C after the first season. I do think that Gerard Christopher would have made a better Superman than Dean Cain (Christopher actually audtioned for the role but was turned down because of Superboy) but Dean's Clark was spot on for the Byrne era (and George reeves portrayal too)

[Earth 2 Chris]

I liked Cain as Clark, but not as Superman. He always seemed too uncomfortable in the tights. That made sense in the first season for the character, but by season 2 he should have been up to speed. I had the hots for Terri Hatcher, and so that helped me with the series, but upon re-viewings it doesn't hold up too well. Way too much camp and too many lame villains. I did like the cast though, except for the Superman thing.

It's weird. L&C had the better cast, but inferior writing and overall direction of the series. Superoby had the writing, but lacked the casting overall.

That's my take, anyway.

Chris

[Brue]

I agree Cain never really sold teh Superman thing.
Christopher did look Supermanish - not good when playing Superboy and Not good if you want to play Superman in a totally different continuity of the character

[jds1911a1]

I agree Cain never really sold teh Superman thing.
Christopher did look Supermanish - not good when playing Superboy and Not good if you want to play Superman in a totally different continuity of the character

I think he looked supermanish because he was older. His face has already lenghtened with age. even when I look at myself at 20 versus my wedding day at 30(and my weight was about the same) the years really show. Same with the 90210 cast or most teen shows today the actors are already late teens early 20's when they play kids