Superman Through the Ages! Forum

Hi Everyone:

My name is Jennifer and I’m working on a brand new documentary television series called “Fanatical” about fans of TV shows.  I’m researching an episode on Smallville and I’m posting here in the hopes of contacting some big fans that may be interested in participating in our program.  Here’s a little about our show:
 
“Fanatical” is a 26 part documentary series which explores popular TV shows through the eyes of fans.  Each episode will focus on a different program - everything from Knight Rider to I Love Lucy, and of course Smallville - and will feature 2-3 fans of the program from Canada and the US.  The series will unearth: why the fans love the show, how watching the show and collecting memorabilia makes them feel, what their friends and family think of their love for the show, and the culture of their particular fandom (individual shows express their fandom differently – look at Sex & the City fans compared to Star Trek fans).  “Fanatical” is currently airing in Canada on TVtropolis, a new Canadian Network devoted to airing re-runs of classic TV shows.  You can catch “Fanatical” Tuesdays at 7 pm and 11:30 pm ET/PT.  More information about our series can be found at our company’s website at http://www.peacepoint.tv/pr/ABOUTFANatical.pdf
 
If you’re interested in participating or may be able to offer assistance please drop me a line at jennifer@peacepoint.tv
 
I look forward to hearing from you!
Jennifer

Hey, isn't this the show Telle linked to when they did Batman? Why are they doing Smallville? Aren't there more important Superman shows to cover?

Actually, aren't there more REAL Superman shows to report on??  Even Lois and Clark would be a better choice to do a story about!

Sadly, the ratings demographics for "Smallville" among teens and young adults make it a natural for a story...also, its generally more interesting to the general public to read about a show that's currently airing new episodes.

Yeah, but they did 1960s Batman, for Pete's sake... Can't they do Reeves Superman?

Well, Batman was a big "camp" classic that says a lot about the times in the US, it was also very different...I lived through it.

Unfortunately, I think Smallville says a lot about the modern teen audience that likes the OC and Dawson's Creek.

Hey, I like The Adventures of Superman too, but it looks like they have I Love Lucy and might throw in a variety show, The Honeymooners, or Howdy Doody for the 50s.  Of course, no program without The Untouchables or Hawaii Five-O means anything to me... ;D

It's true George Reeves' show was more popular (in its day) than "Smallville", and it's true the latter has a much more narrow audience (I suppose), but why are you guys so down on it?

As far as taking the basic mythos in a slightly different direction, I think they did a good job and gave us some good characters. I'm on record somewhere here saying I like the portrayal of Luthor in particular. As far as I can remember I've seen only three seasons (or maybe two), and yes, shows usually deteriorate in later seasons, so if "Smallville" went downhill later on, that's nothing unusual.

I enjoyed most of the "Smallville" I've seen. I can easily understand why some people REALLY like it. And, David, I believe it is a "real" Superman show, and an interesting interpretation of the basic character.

Sorry, Smallville is a soap opera that uses names of folks in the Superman mythos... that doesn't make it Superman in my book!  I can't watch it.. I've tried and it holds no interest for me...

Same here; I've watched a few episodes thanks to the magic of the internet and thought they were awful. I have to admit that this is in no small part due to the fact that I am middle-aged and grumpy.

I think the real question is, does Smallville have the same kind of hardcore, "Fandom Is A Way Of Life" fans that Star Trek, Adventures of Superman, and Lois and Clark have?  By that I mean people who are so into the show, that they collect every tie-product, write and read fan fiction, go to conventions, etc.

If not, then there's really nothing to show on Fanatical.

Collecting the tie-in products, writing the fan-fiction, attending conventions.... all of that I can tolerate; but nothing whacky like starting fan websites.