The Flash Joins The Flash

[Earth 2 Chris]

I could see the pilot being the most expensive ever at that time, because all the producton costs would be wrapped into that first principle budget. And it was easily the most expensive effects-based show for network television, but not the most expensive in total. Cosby, Cheers, LA Law, Roseanne, Married w/Children and even Thirtysomething by that point cost more due to actor salaries. Batman Animated and Trek TNG cost as much as Flash. I mean, Trek:TNG was in it's fourth season by that point, and that's when they started dumping real dollars into it because syndication was exploding. "Best of Both Worlds" was not cheap, and that was also 1990.

But remove the effects and Flash was barebones. A small cast of nobodies who cost nothing. No new construction costs. That first season cheapness is what killed them in the ratings, because it became boring to see the same effects show after show while movies were entering the first run of CGI-based movie effects. So they tried to reverse course in the second season, but it was too late.

Nope, nope and nope. Flash was expensive, throughout it's season. The ratings weren't great, but decent. Had WB/Pet Fly been able to make the show cheaper, CBS would have kept it on the schedule. But it was just too high. This is covered in every history on the series. And there was no second season.

This is much the same reason Star Trek got axed in the 60s. Ratings were not horrible, and it had a loyal following, but it proved too expensive for the ratings it was getting, especially before NBC learned about demographics, and Trek getting the young numbers they'd soon be going after.

Chris

[Nostalgiabuff]

sites still a little wonky I guess, double post

[Nostalgiabuff]

So they tried to reverse course in the second season, but it was too late.

there was no second season, unfortunately.

I was thinking he will either be Jay Garret, or will play Barry's father

[Operation:Mego]

Wouldn't it be fun if they made him Professor Zoom?

Zoom's been cast, Rick Cosnett is playing him:


His offical description:
A recent transfer to the Central City Police Department, Thawne's past is a mystery and harbors a dark secret.

[Operation:Mego]

Who else could he be playing?

[jds1911a1]

Wouldn't it be fun if they made him Professor Zoom?

why not he voiced Zoom in the Batman brave and the bold Requien for a Scarlet Speedster

[libby 1957dog]

not sure how true this is but i heard cbs canned the show not due to poor ratings but the cost slash overspend on coverage of the gulf war ,and they needed to cut back on there spending for the future and with the flash show being a perceived as a expensive to produce show ,thats why it was axed ,as i say i have no proof to back this up just my memory of great disappointment when it didn't make a second season and this was the reason given ,back in those days i would get a friend to tape it in the states and send it to me in the uk ,even bought a ntsc video player to watch them ,primitive times lol

[mego maniac mark]

Jay Garrick anyone?

[hedrap]

I could see the pilot being the most expensive ever at that time, because all the producton costs would be wrapped into that first principle budget. And it was easily the most expensive effects-based show for network television, but not the most expensive in total. Cosby, Cheers, LA Law, Roseanne, Married w/Children and even Thirtysomething by that point cost more due to actor salaries. Batman Animated and Trek TNG cost as much as Flash. I mean, Trek:TNG was in it's fourth season by that point, and that's when they started dumping real dollars into it because syndication was exploding. "Best of Both Worlds" was not cheap, and that was also 1990.

But remove the effects and Flash was barebones. A small cast of nobodies who cost nothing. No new construction costs. That first season cheapness is what killed them in the ratings, because it became boring to see the same effects show after show while movies were entering the first run of CGI-based movie effects. So they tried to reverse course in the second season, but it was too late.

[MIB41]

^Shipp's costume also remains my favorite live action attempt at a superhero ever. He may have been a tad over-muscled, but man did he look badazz in that thing.

Yep! I like it too. Clearly they were pulling influence from the recently released Batman movie and the newly conceived muscle suit. Even the soundtrack was Danny Elfman, so it was dripping Batman at every corner. But it certainly made the series it's own and did the hero proud. Fingers crossed that will happen again.

[enyawd72]

^Shipp's costume also remains my favorite live action attempt at a superhero ever. He may have been a tad over-muscled, but man did he look badazz in that thing.

[MIB41]

You're kidding right? The Flash was hardly weak, and definitely not cheap. It was one of if not THE most expensive TV series ever made at the time. Some of the effects are still amazing to look at even today. Don't know what show YOU were watching...

It was actually getting excellent when they pulled the plug. Given the period it was made, that was an exceptional show. Very well cast too. I enjoyed it immensely. It will be fun to see old "scarlet" with the new.

[enyawd72]

It's Garrick. I think it's awesome. Shipp was a fantastic choice on a weak-***, cheaply produced show that could have been much better.

You're kidding right? The Flash was hardly weak, and definitely not cheap. It was one of if not THE most expensive TV series ever made at the time. Some of the effects are still amazing to look at even today. Don't know what show YOU were watching...

[MIB41]

Wouldn't it be fun if they made him Professor Zoom?

[hedrap]

It's Garrick. I think it's awesome. Shipp was a fantastic choice on a weak-***, cheaply produced show that could have been much better.

This actually guarantees I'll tune in.

Crazy thing to me, is he now looks like a Timm depiction of an old-school superhero.