ClayGilbert's Journal

Well, although it pales next to the economic crisis or the current events surrounding the election process, I came across this item about a new TV show which seems pretty pointless to me:

CW Develops Robin Pre-Batman Series

By Garth FranklinWednesday, October 1st 2008 12:06am

With its flagship series "Smallville" likely in its final season, The CW is developing a new show entitled "The Graysons" based on the early days of Batman sidekick Robin reports IGN.

Just as "Smallville" focuses on Clark Kent in the years before he became Superman, "The Graysons" will follow the world of Dick "DJ" Grayson before he takes on the iconic Robin identity and aligns himself with Batman.

In the one-hour "Graysons," which will be set in modern times, young DJ will face challenges involving first loves, young rivals and his family as he grows up.

"Smallville" executive producers Kelly Souders and Brian Peterson have come up with an original take on the character and will steer the series alongside "Supernatural" executive producer McG.

.....So...do the producers of this show realize that pretty much Dick Grayson's entire life in the comics prior to his parents' death and his being taken in by Bruce Wayne consisted of being a circus acrobat..because that's what the Graysons were..a family of circus acrobats. No, I get it..they don't care. This reminds me why I have never watched Smallville (i.e. disrespect for DC Comics continuity), but hell, at least Clark Kent's origin involved something exciting like, oh, COMING FROM ANOTHER PLANET and HAVING SUPERPOWERS. Before being Robin, Dick Grayson isn't a particularly interesting character (and hell, he was a TINY KID before then, anyway).

I'm reminded of the "Bruce Wayne" show the Smallville folks thought briefly about doing a few years ago, which would have been about the years between the death of Wayne's parents and his taking up his career as Batman. The difference is--that, like "Smallville", could have been a decent idea for a series, full (in this case) of opportunities to explore loss, the desire for revenge, and the ethics of justice and personal achievement.

...Oh well, enough fanboy griping. I don't know why someone doesn't just convince Warner Bros. to finance a new live-action "Batman" TV series, done seriously this time. Make Batman young, at the start of his career (similar to the two recent films). It would work. But television execs just must be stupid.

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