tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12464833.post5183726420392870552..comments2024-03-09T13:14:56.299-08:00Comments on Silver Age Comics: The Superboy TV Show SwipeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12464833.post-18607169284778742262011-05-25T08:09:21.590-07:002011-05-25T08:09:21.590-07:00Amazing World of DC Comics did a piece on this yea...Amazing World of DC Comics did a piece on this years ago (back when the chance of seeing it was nil). The writer of the article said that it was the comics borrowing from the TV show.<br />The article also suggested the problem with the episode was that it was very fifties teen-centric and that a more spy-oriented episode might have worked better.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12464833.post-55912047812791224332011-05-20T19:59:27.807-07:002011-05-20T19:59:27.807-07:00Steve, while researching this post, I heard about ...Steve, while researching this post, I heard about that pilot. But I didn't feel up to actually trying to find it. Sounds excruciating.Pathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05060349239296193385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12464833.post-23146115299691895482011-05-20T18:32:08.208-07:002011-05-20T18:32:08.208-07:00I hate to ask but if you hadn't heard of or se...I hate to ask but if you hadn't heard of or seen the SUPERBOY pilot, have you seen the SUPER-PUP pilot? <br /><br />Little people in animal heads and human clothes on the leftover sets from SUPERMAN. Stars Billy Curtis who was Mr Zero on the George Reeves series (as well as one of the Mole Men I think) as Bark Pant. I am NOT making this up.<br /><br />A few years back I saw an interview with Johnny Rockwell online. Probably still out there somewhere.Bookstevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09797445163866512849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12464833.post-11012970613170920332011-05-18T16:41:33.901-07:002011-05-18T16:41:33.901-07:00Tmdess is right.
"The Loneliest Boy in Town&...Tmdess is right.<br /><br />"The Loneliest Boy in Town" was reycled as "The Saddest Boy in Smallville" in <i>Superboy</i> # 88 (Apr., 1961). As with the television retread, some of the cosmetic details are changed--<i>e.g.</i>, in "The Saddest Boy", the father and son are James and Tommy Hunter.<br /><br />The crooks' "big caper" in "The Saddest Boy" is identical to the the television-show swipe; they rob the jewels on display in front of the theatre where James Hunter works as a doorman.Commander Bensonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12464833.post-73935442484356918982011-05-18T15:00:55.347-07:002011-05-18T15:00:55.347-07:00I think that doorman story was swiped in the early...I think that doorman story was swiped in the early '60s-- I think the robbers were going after the theater jewels...anyone else remember this?Tmdessnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12464833.post-22489100991359714532011-05-18T11:58:54.146-07:002011-05-18T11:58:54.146-07:00Maybe it was my imagination, but he seemed to have...Maybe it was my imagination, but he seemed to have picked up a few of George's mannerisms, which was nice. However, he had none of the charisma, despite being a pretty good actor. <br /><br />Not so sure the format was the sticking point, here. There were at least a handful of very popular half-hour dramas still around at the time. "Have Gun Will Travel" springs to mind, and "Dragnet." At the end of the decade, "Adam-12" was still at it.<br /><br />More likely, the tone of this pilot made it too hard to know what to do with it; it's not fun enough to pitch as a kid show, yet too outlandish to fly (ahem) with adults. And realistically, assuming no aliens or super-villains were in the cards, how many times could you really have gangsters and the like threatening a quiet little town like Smallville before it wore thin?<br /><br />Personally, I have a feeling nobody else in Hollywood was quite as gung-ho to keep the franchise going as Whit Ellsworth and his DC bosses. Most people probably figured the "Superman on TV" craze had run its course.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13840878272493564209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12464833.post-3044780665989648222011-05-18T10:36:32.959-07:002011-05-18T10:36:32.959-07:00BTW, although I agree with you about Rockwell look...BTW, although I agree with you about Rockwell looking older, Wikipedia indicates he was 17.Pathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05060349239296193385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12464833.post-17591337140712524382011-05-18T09:57:24.114-07:002011-05-18T09:57:24.114-07:00David, I wonder if the issue wasn't simply the...David, I wonder if the issue wasn't simply the format. By the 1960s it was pretty much ironclad that half-hour shows were comedy and dramas were hour-long. I did like the episode, aside from that oddball opening where the guy says "Superboy" in that mysterious, down in a tunnel voice.Pathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05060349239296193385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12464833.post-82043743856192060842011-05-18T05:22:28.474-07:002011-05-18T05:22:28.474-07:00I've seen pictures from this, but never the pi...I've seen pictures from this, but never the pilot itself until now. I have to say it's a lot better than I expected. In fact, with all the location shooting and the relatively involved special effects, it's actually got higher production standards than the last few seasons of the George Reeves show. The only let down is the theme music, which is pretty limp.<br /><br />What's really interesting is that it has a tougher edge to it than the Superman show; despite being about a "kid," it feels more grown up. That, and the fact that Rockwell looks about 25 years old, may have been what did it in. I know they were eager to keep milking the cash cow, but it would take another 20 years for the public to accept anyone but George in that suit.<br /><br />Oh, and with all due respect to the editor who wrote that note, wouldn't a "successful pilot" be one that sells a series? This one goes in the "failed pilot" file next to "Batgirl," "Dick Tracy" and now "Wonder Woman."Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13840878272493564209noreply@blogger.com