Is Smallville the most successful superhero show?

[DarthRageFist]

I was thinking about all of the other superhero shows that have come and gone over the past few decades and Smallville seems to be the most successful of them all. Isn't it true that Smallville has been on for more seasons than any other comic book superhero show?

The Flash only lasted 1 season, Superboy lasted 4 seasons, Lois & Clark lasted 4 seasons, and didn't the Adam West/Burt Ward Batman show only last a few seasons?

If so, Smallville is the most (or at least one of the most) successful comic book based shows of all time! Congrats to Smallville!

If I'm wrong what other superhero shows aired longer than Smallville has so far?

[greengoose]

Would you consider Buffy the Vampire Slayer a Superhero? What about the Incredible Hulk. I can't remember how many seasons that lasted, but after it was over, there were a few television movies based off of it. Not sure how long Wonder Woman was on the air either.

[DarthRageFist]

I was just talking about comic book based superheros. Is Buffy based on a comic book? If it is than I guess that counts too. I totally forgot about the Hulk. Does anybody know how many seasons that went on for?

[greengoose]

According to the internet, the Hulk lasted for four seasons with 7 unaired episodes for the cancelled Season 5. So I guess Smallville has it beat by about 4 episodes.

[SuperVan]

Buffy was created entirely by Joss Whedon as a movie first, then came the TV show followed by a line of comics.

[Slickz0r]

i dont really concider smallville a 100% superhero show, since clark hasn't become superman yet.

[LexLuthorMetropolis]

Originally posted by Slickz0r
i dont really concider smallville a 100% superhero show, since clark hasn't become superman yet.

I agree, it's more of an explanation show of a guy that's trying to be a superhero but hasn't accepted it as of yet.

[Coyote]

The most successful superhero show by far in terms of numbers of viewers, cultural impact, and massive amounts of money made was the 1960s Batman. It had awesome ratings of between 25 and 30 compared to Smallville's 4 to 5, so it had over 6 times as many viewers and it did this for two! new episodes every week. Although it was on only 2 years, it also had more episodes than Smallville, with a total of 120. (they made more new eps per year and had fewer reruns back then) If Smallville runs it's expected 7 years it will beat that number of episodes, but it will never come close to Batman's mega-ratings.

Interesting to note that John Schneider hit his peak early, since the Dukes Of Hazard had about 4 times the ratings of Smallville.

[ajax]

what about
wonder woman
justice league/jlu
batman:tas
superman:tas
batman beyond
the batman
birds of prey
x men
x men evolution
mutant x
spiderman
spiderman unlimited
static shock
f4
the hulk: animated

[saveme]

kEEP IN MINE THAT EVEN THOGH THESE EARLIER SHOWS MAY HAVE HAD BIGGER SHARE, THIS WAS AT A TIME WHEN THERE WERE ONLY 3 MAJOR NETWORKS AND A COUPLE OF SYNDICATED CHANNELS. UNLIKE TODAY WHERE AS YOU HAVE CABLE, SATELITE
AND SIX NETWORK CHANNELS.

SO GIVEN ALL OF THIS COMPETITION, FOR SMALLVILLE TO BE WELL INTO IT'S 5TH SEASON, MAY VERY WELL MAKE IT THE MOST SUCCESSFUL COMIC BASED TV SERIES.

[loisnlana]

Sucessful is a debatable term. Maybe "longest running". BatmanTAS had a long run but I don't think it was 100+ episodes. Interesting..

[TMLS]

In terms of success, how are you defining that?

I'd base it on how the show has entered the general public conciousness as opposed to just the fans. In which case, I'd consider the 60s Batman show or the 70s Incredible Hulk or Wonder Woman shows to be more successful. Their influences are still being felt in other shows today, something we can't actually work out for Smallville with its' lesser longevity.

Plus as stated, Smallville's not really a superhero show.

[Dannyblue1]

Originally posted by DarthRageFist
I was just talking about comic book based superheros. Is Buffy based on a comic book? If it is than I guess that counts too. I totally forgot about the Hulk. Does anybody know how many seasons that went on for?

A super hero doesn't have to have started in comics. A super hero is largely defined by three factors.

First, they battle bad guys. That's a definite must.

Secondly, they have special powers or skills, and can do things most people couldn't. (Batman doesn't have special powers, but his money and training certainly allows him to do things others can't.)

The third requirement is kind of iffy. Back in the day, in order to be considered a super hero, the character absolutely had to wear a costume. (Or had to go through some kind of transformation that made them look different from usual.) It was a must. But, recently, the definition of "super hero" has gotten broader for some, who insist that a costume is not necessary.

Anyway, some do consider Buffy a super hero. However, if you think a super hero must wear some kind of costume, and Buffy doesn't qualify for that reason, then neither does SV's Clark, who also doesn't wear a costume, and pretty much does what Buffy did. (Using his extraordinary abilities to save lives and fight whatever baddies start wreaking havok in their town.)

[SuperStrength]

I think this is the most successful ever! Because, i dont remember any other tv shows have this kind of forum that so many people talk in :)

Smallville rox! :)

[UpandAtom]

It depends on what you mean by "superhero." Do you consider Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to be superheroes? They were based on a comic book and lasted ten seasons.

[Actor]

I think the most successful super hero show ever was the original ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN with George Reeves. Starting in 1953, it ran six seasons and would have had a seventh except for the death of Reeves. The show has been in continuous syndication ever since.

It might possibly have even made the most money, especially if you adjust for inflation.

[HalJordan4184]

Smallville is far from the most successful, in a lot of ways. But it all depends how you define it.

Lois and Clark was more successful than Smallville in terms of ratings, and sticking to it's premise. And this was while cable was out there. also it succeeded in being mostly about Lois and Clark. Smallville has, as time has gone by, CHANGED what it's supposed premise is. So in that respect it's failed.

The george reeve Superman show, is still loved by audiences everywhere today, and was a huge ratings success.

The Incredible Hulk still holds a place in many fans hearts. Including die hard Hulk fans.

Batman, though campy, and downright silly, was still a huge hit, and is better known than smallville.

Smallville has a very small share of the TV market. And it's not very well known outside of it's core audience. A lot of fans of Superman have been turned off by teh show.

[clois1938]

yeah I rate Lois and Clark as more successful than Smallville. Lois and Clark ranked in the top 10 (ratings at one point 20 million) where as Smallville is on a niche network and is only a timeslot success some of the time. I don't think it would make it far on one of the big networks. It would have been canned after the first few episodes or told to go back to the drawing board. The pilot of Lois and Clark was well done where as I remember being disappointed after watching the Smallville pilot. I liked the basic concept of Smallville (how Clark and Lex became friends in the beginning) better but Lois and Clark's pilot had more meat to it and much better execution.

For most successful superhero show, if BTVS is counted as a superhero show, then that would be my pick. BTVS was successful with the fans and with the critics.

[Martin le Magicien]

Originally posted by SuperStrength
I think this is the most successful ever! Because, i dont remember any other tv shows have this kind of forum that so many people talk in :)

Smallville rox! :)

You have to remember that most of the past super-hero show never had the chance to have a board like this :p

[zanos]

Smallville has the ratings but nowhere near the kind of rabid fanbase of Lois and Clark or Batman.

[Welling Is Hot]

Smallville has to be the best Superhero show as far as 1 hour dramas are concerned I have watched a few others (there aren't many) and most of them died pretty much as quickly as they started and those that didn't just didn't have the diversity that could keep my attention for more than a season. In smallville there is a discrete preiod of time that can be turned into an ongoing plot with other shows lets take for instance its predecessor Lois and Clark, Clark's story has already been established there isn't much left to tell or learn.

[t.ko]

I wonder if Angel qualifies to be a Superhero show... i mean hes a good vampire saving the world. in essence his nature is good but what he is is evil but that is contained by his soul. one more mind boggling question is that they talk about hell and heaven in Buffy and Angel....if thats true then when they become a vampire and they die, do they go to hell or heaven? if they do then who is Spike and Angel? because it is stated that they have their souls back but that they already died and had their souls originally taken away when they first became vampires....or is that once they become vampires...all their bodily functions are dead but they are still alive because they can still go to heaven or hell i mean remember episode where spike almost went to hell. it is kinda strange. so possibly they have no soul, they are dead but they still go to hell when they become dusted. so in essence the vampires with a soul will still go to hell because they are creatures of hell and of their evil. however upon fufilling the shanshu prophecy, one becomes human and has redemption than dies and goes to heaven, while the other vampire with the soul continues to fight evil for more generations to come. whoa i wrote a whole crapload sorry. if anybody actually read this i congratulate you because you would have had to have seen Buffy and Angel enough to know what the hell im talking about.

[superhippie2000]

this is what i have found for the live action superhero shows and their seasons and episodes


Batman: 3 seasons 120 episodes

Smallville: 5 seasons and going 103 aired 110 by the end of this season

The Flash: 1 season 23 episodes

Incredible Hulk: 5 seasons 85 episodes

Wonderwoman: 3 seasons 59 episodes

Superboy: 4 seasons 100 episodes

Lois and Clark: 4 seasons 88 episodes

Birds of Prey(if you want to count it): 1 season 13 episodes


so to answer the question almost yes smallville is the most successful. tying for most seasons( as of now) with the hulk and 10 episodes (by the end of this season) behind batman. By season 6 it would have beaten everyone in every situation.

[cayayofm]

The Batman show was a half-hour or a full hour show? Beause 120 episodes for 3 seasons is a lot.

[Timester]

The most sucessful was the 1960's Batman. It became part of the pop-culture. Who doesn't remember the "Holy (whatever), Batman!", or the "Bang!", "Crash", "Tung"?

Smallville... No. Even Lois & Clark, after 10 years, has a bigger fan cult then Smallville. Teri Hatcher was the most downloaded woman in 1996. That shows the success of a show. Just because Smallville has more episodes, it doesn't make it more succesfull then the others. I don't see a fan cult around Smallville.

[myankskent]

Originally posted by Timester
The most sucessful was the 1960's Batman. It became part of the pop-culture. Who doesn't remember the "Holy (whatever), Batman!", or the "Bang!", "Crash", "Tung"?

Smallville... No. Even Lois & Clark, after 10 years, has a bigger fan cult then Smallville. Teri Hatcher was the most downloaded woman in 1996. That shows the success of a show. Just because Smallville has more episodes, it doesn't make it more succesfull then the others. I don't see a fan cult around Smallville.

Big difference between the 1960's batman shows(which I love) and Lois & Clark compared to Smallville. Lois & Clark and Batman were on the big networks, I think Lois and Clark was on nbc am I correct? And Batman was even on cbs or one of those big networks. Smallville is on the WB. That's why there isn't as big of a fan cult for Smallville. Unfortunately, Smallville will always suffer because of the network that it is on. The WB just doesn't attract as many viewers as those other networks.

[Timester]

Originally posted by myankskent
Big difference between the 1960's batman shows(which I love) and Lois & Clark compared to Smallville. Lois & Clark and Batman were on the big networks, I think Lois and Clark was on nbc am I correct? And Batman was even on cbs or one of those big networks. Smallville is on the WB. That's why there isn't as big of a fan cult for Smallville. Unfortunately, Smallville will always suffer because of the network that it is on. The WB just doesn't attract as many viewers as those other networks.

Smallville would be already cancelled if was on other network. We have to accept that Smallville is not a big ratings show, it doesn't appeal more than the already viewing target. Smallville is lucky to be on TheWB (and surviving season 4 ratings).

[superhippie2000]

Originally posted by cayayofm
The Batman show was a half-hour or a full hour show? Beause 120 episodes for 3 seasons is a lot.


i think it was half hour but back then when it first came out there were like maybe 5 channels altogether so they were constintly making new episodes. i guess it would have been consider 6 seasons if it were now adays.

[Summers]

Originally posted by myankskent
Smallville is on the WB. That's why there isn't as big of a fan cult for Smallville. Unfortunately, Smallville will always suffer because of the network that it is on. The WB just doesn't attract as many viewers as those other networks.

What?! :lol: Buffy and Angel were on the WB, and those two shows have one of most noteable fan-cult followings ever next to Star Trek and Star Wars. The Buffyverse fanbase is quite huge, and has been noted by many media outlets(by credible networks and magazines) and academics professors for having one of the most strongest, solid fanbase followings on tv since Star Trek. WB network has nothing to do with it except for being the reason they haven't been cancelled yet. The show itself is the reason not the network for having a lack-luster fanbase following. Heck, Dawson's Creek had a bigger following than SV does :\.

[LexLuthorMetropolis]

SV has the same potential as Buffy and Angel. It's just the network has no idea how to keep this show up to the standard, that Buffy and Angel maintained. In fact, SV is their initially tied to their attempt to catch lighting in the bottle again except this time it's just with Superman and Dawson's Creek kind of elements mixed in.

It's a loooong way away from catching up to either Buffy or Angel in the ratings and in other forms.

[bluegayle]

Originally posted by SuperStrength
I think this is the most successful ever! Because, i dont remember any other tv shows have this kind of forum that so many people talk in :)


Same argument about how the 1960s batman was so popular because there were only a few stations.

The Internet has really boomed, and 5 years ago when Smallville first started, the Internet wasn't even as big as it is now. I love being able to find big sites like this, as well as small fan sites, about shows like Smallville.

I was thinking about the Hulk series also from the 70s, but someone already explained that one.

There seem to be less reruns around nowadays on regular TV, but if you just think about how many years the 60s Batman and 70s Hulk ran for in re-run, I think those should be considered when talking about "popularity" also.

Originally posted by Timester

Smallville... No. Even Lois & Clark, after 10 years, has a bigger fan cult then Smallville. Teri Hatcher was the most downloaded woman in 1996. That shows the success of a show. Just because Smallville has more episodes, it doesn't make it more succesfull then the others. I don't see a fan cult around Smallville.

This is another factor I think we should consider in success. the 60s Batman show affected an entire culture and we still see evidence of it today.

Teri Hatcher also changed everyone's idea of what Lois Lane could look like. Margot Kidder was not a bombshell Lois Lane, and if you see the Superman movies today, you'll wonder why Clark has some attraction for her, no offense.

When I rewatch the Lois and Clark episodes, I see the "bad guy of the week" story line too. Episodes were enjoyable, but something they did, made it really popular. And I really think it had a lot to do with Teri Hatcher in the first season when she garnered all that support and Internet boom of downloading her pictures.

[red-K glory]

right now Smallville is the most successful Superman related show. It has more episodes than any other superman show(minus the cartoon series).
The George Reeves Superman show ran 6 seasons and had 104 episodes total.
Superboy from the 80's lasted 4 seasons and had 100 episodes(i think)
lois and Clark ran 4 seasons and had a total of 88 episodes
and so far Smallville has total of 104 episodes so it is tied w/ the george reeves show...at least until Void airs tonight then Smallville will be #1!!!

[Timester]

Originally posted by red-K glory
right now Smallville is the most successful Superman related show. It has more episodes than any other superman show(minus the cartoon series).
The George Reeves Superman show ran 6 seasons and had 104 episodes total.
Superboy from the 80's lasted 4 seasons and had 100 episodes(i think)
lois and Clark ran 4 seasons and had a total of 88 episodes
and so far Smallville has total of 104 episodes so it is tied w/ the george reeves show...at least until Void airs tonight then Smallville will be #1!!!

Having the most number of episodes doesn't mean it's the most successful. Lois & Clark still sells greatly today. Will Smallville do the same thing in 10 years?

[jpfort1957]

Smallville is better than any other Superman related show period!!!!