'Supergirl': How superheroine shows changed the TV landscape
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Molly Driscoll Staff writer
The cast and crew of the superhero program 鈥淪upergirl鈥� were part of a panel recently at the TV event PaleyFest, and the discussion was dominated by the show's status as one of a few female-led superhero projects at the moment.聽
鈥淪upergirl鈥� stars Melissa Benoist as Kara Zor-El, Superman鈥檚 cousin who comes to Earth. The program co-stars Jeremy Jordan, Calista Flockhart, Chyler Leigh, and David Harewood.
The program debuted this past fall, and there is no official word on whether the show will get a second season. Les Moonves, CEO of CBS, that 鈥淲e have about five new shows on this year. Of those five, I believe all five of them will be renewed.鈥� If 鈥淪upergirl鈥� is counted in that group 鈥� and it was a new show 鈥� then one could assume it will come back next year.聽
There are several shows centering on superheroes on TV right now, and 鈥淪upergirl鈥� is one of a few that has a female lead. Three recently debuted with ABC鈥檚 鈥淎gent Carter鈥� coming on the air in January 2015, 鈥淪upergirl鈥� having arrived last September, and Netflix鈥檚 鈥淢arvel鈥檚 Jessica Jones鈥� debuting this past November. This was a big surge for female-led superhero stories.聽
Ms. Leigh, who portrays Kara鈥檚 sister, said during PaleyFest that she was encouraged to take the part because of her daughters.聽
鈥淩ight before taking this job, my husband was really challenging me in the sense of 鈥� 鈥楾hink about what this opportunity is and think about what it means to you and look at our little girls and ,'鈥� the actress said, according to Variety.聽鈥淔or little girls, there鈥檚 so much on TV that is influential, especially towards the younger ages. To be a part of something that鈥檚 telling a very powerful story in many different ways from many different perspectives, especially from a women鈥檚 standpoint but also from [a] little girl鈥檚 standpoint, is rewarding.鈥澛�
Meanwhile, , co-creator Ali Adler said, 鈥淎nd that鈥檚 not just confined to little girls or women. I think the most exciting thing for me is the feeling that everyone [is] feeling the strength of Supergirl regardless of gender.鈥�
鈥淎gent Carter鈥� network ABC recently renewed many shows but 鈥淐arter鈥� was not one of them. It has not yet been canceled, either. However, the Netflix show 鈥淛essica鈥� has already been renewed for a second season, although an air date has not yet been set.
