Well, well, well ... what a difference a season makes for The CW?
The network's longtime collaborator Greg Berlanti -- he's the TV wunderkind behind The Arrow and The Flash -- tried to branch out with his programming to CBS last season with the debut of Supergirl. While the program performed admirably for (A) a superhero show in (B) it's freshman season, the CBS suits passed on it -- largely a decision due to marketing constraints, I've read -- and this allowed The CW to soar in and pick it up. It's doing well in its Monday night time slot (though I did opine just a bit about its obvious narrative shift in my column right here) ... so the network brass did the same recently in picking up Berlanti's Black Lightning which Fox TV declined.
For a few of the particulars, you can check out the announcement via reportage on The Hollywood Reporter right here. The piece also cites that actor Cress Williams has been signed to play the hero who was, incidentally, one of the first major African-American superstars to appear in the greater DC Comics universe.
While I'm thinking this is pretty fabulous news for the network, things are certainly looking very superhero-heavy in the programming schedule. Presently, The CW boasts Arrow, Flash, Supergirl, and the cast-heavy Legends of Tomorrow; so this gives the channel a powerhouse line-up indeed. Also, as sexuality always figures prominently into Berlanti's TV works (one of my chief complaints against his storytelling), it'll be interesting to see what options are left for his staff to explore.
As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!
The network's longtime collaborator Greg Berlanti -- he's the TV wunderkind behind The Arrow and The Flash -- tried to branch out with his programming to CBS last season with the debut of Supergirl. While the program performed admirably for (A) a superhero show in (B) it's freshman season, the CBS suits passed on it -- largely a decision due to marketing constraints, I've read -- and this allowed The CW to soar in and pick it up. It's doing well in its Monday night time slot (though I did opine just a bit about its obvious narrative shift in my column right here) ... so the network brass did the same recently in picking up Berlanti's Black Lightning which Fox TV declined.
For a few of the particulars, you can check out the announcement via reportage on The Hollywood Reporter right here. The piece also cites that actor Cress Williams has been signed to play the hero who was, incidentally, one of the first major African-American superstars to appear in the greater DC Comics universe.
While I'm thinking this is pretty fabulous news for the network, things are certainly looking very superhero-heavy in the programming schedule. Presently, The CW boasts Arrow, Flash, Supergirl, and the cast-heavy Legends of Tomorrow; so this gives the channel a powerhouse line-up indeed. Also, as sexuality always figures prominently into Berlanti's TV works (one of my chief complaints against his storytelling), it'll be interesting to see what options are left for his staff to explore.
As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!
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