The Flash (1990 TV series)

The Flash
Genre
Based on Characters appearing in DC Comics
Developed by
Written by
Starring
Theme music composer Danny Elfman
Composer(s) Shirley Walker
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 22 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)
  • Danny Bilson
  • Paul De Meo
Producer(s)
Camera setup Multi-camera
Running time
  • 93 minutes (pilot)
  • 44-48 minutes
Production company(s)
Distributor Warner Bros. Television Distribution
Release
Original network CBS
Picture format 4:3 Standard
Original release September 20, 1990 (1990-09-20) – May 18, 1991 (1991-05-18)

The Flash is a 1990 American television series developed by the writing team of Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo that aired on CBS. It is based on the DC Comics character Barry Allen / Flash, a costumed superhero crime-fighter with the power to move at superhuman speeds. The Flash starred John Wesley Shipp as Allen, along with Amanda Pays, Alex Désert, and Paula Marshall.

Production

Development for the series began in 1988 when Warner Bros. Television tried to develop television films based on some DC Comics characters for CBS. Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo conceived one that featured several superheroes, including the Flash, though their project was not made. In January 1990, new CBS Entertainment president Jeff Sagansky expressed interest in creating a series featuring the Flash, and The Flash was announced a few months after.[1]

Bilson and De Meo were tapped to write the pilot episode, which they completed in January 1990. Filming for the episode took six weeks, from May through June 1990.[1][2] The final effects for the pilot were completed a week before airing in September 1990. Bilson said, "There are 125 special effects. It's done on a grand scale."[1] The 2-hour pilot cost $6 million, and each subsequent episode of The Flash cost around $1.6 million to produce.[1][3]

Costumes

The four Flash suits made for the series for John Wesley Shipp cost a total of $100,000.[1][3][4][5] On the suit, De Meo said, "John had to have his entire body cast. The suit is made out of latex. It was quite a process getting it." Bilson added, "The suit was critical. You can't, after Batman, have a guy running around in tights."[1] The Flash's costume was designed and created by Robert Short, and built by Stan Winston Studios.[4][6] Short said the latex suits were specially treated to disguise their rubber surface so they would look like basic stretch unitards, and Shipp wore a water-cooled undergarment to combat the heat of the suits.[4] Bob Miller, costumer on the series, gave Amanda Pays "unaggressive clothing" though she is "an aggressive career woman," with retro 1930s and '40s long tapered skirts, pleated slacks and vests.[4]

Music

Danny Elfman composed the series' title theme,[6] and Shirley Walker composed each episode score for a full orchestra.[2] In 2010, a limited-edition two-disc soundtrack was released by La-La Land Records, featuring Elfman's theme and the scores by Walker for the pilot and the episodes "Captain Cold", "The Trickster", "Watching the Detectives", "Ghost in the Machine", "Done With Mirrors", "Fast Forward" and "Trial of the Trickster".

Cast and characters

Main

Recurring roles

Guest stars

Other guest stars in minor roles include Jonathan Brandis as Terry Cohan, Bryan Cranston as Phillip Moses, Mark Dacascos as Osako, Robert O'Reilly as Victor Kelso, and Sven-Ole Thorsen as the android assassin Omega.

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"Pilot"Robert IscoveDanny Bilson & Paul De MeoSeptember 20, 1990 (1990-09-20)
Forensic scientist Barry Allen is struck by lightning and doused in chemical products that afford him superhuman speed, which he learns to control with help from Tina McGee, a scientist from S.T.A.R. Labs. When Barry's brother, policeman Jay Allen, is murdered by his corrupt ex-partner, Nicholas Pike, the leader of a vicious motorcycle gang of criminals, Barry uses his newfound abilities to bring Pike and his men to justice and decides to continue protecting Central City as "The Flash".
2"Out of Control"Mario AzzopardiGail Morgan HickmanSeptember 27, 1990 (1990-09-27)
While Barry and his colleague Julio Mendez investigate the murders of several homeless people whose bodies are being stolen from the crime scenes, Tina reconnects with an old friend, Dr. Carl Tanner, who has recently returned to Central City to retrieve Tina's late husband's research on genetic engineering. Barry and Tina learn that Tanner is using the vagrants in his illegal experiments to create mutations, and upon being confronted, Tanner injects himself with the unfinished serum, turning into a man monster that only the Flash manages to defeat.
3"Watching the Detectives"Guy TrikonisHoward Chaykin & John Francis MooreOctober 18, 1990 (1990-10-18)
Barry's secret identity is uncovered by Megan Lockhart, a private investigator employed by corrupt District Attorney Thomas Castillo, whose collaborator, mobster Arthur Simonson, has hired an arsonist to torch buildings in the waterfront area as part of Castillo's efforts to bring legalized gambling into Central City on behalf of the organized crime. Castillo blackmails Barry into becoming his secret accomplice, enabling Barry to acquire evidence of Castillo's crimes, including his plans to control the mob bosses and seize control of their business. Upon learning of this, Simonson rigs a bomb in Castillo's car and Castillo is subsequently assassinated when he turns the ignition. Lockhart, having grown attracted to Barry, surrenders the evidence to Barry she had compiled in order to protect his secret.
4"Honor Among Thieves"Francis KennyHoward Chaykin & John Francis MooreOctober 25, 1990 (1990-10-25)
Master thief Stan Kovacs assembles a team of criminals, which the police believes intends to steal the Mask of Rasputin from the museum of natural history. While they are distracted guarding it, Kovacs masterminds a string of robberies across Central City, which are foiled by the Flash, and in the process Barry learns that Kovacs is using the other criminals as a diversion so his accomplice Celia Wayne can steal the relic from the museum's curator and Barry's mentor, Ted Preminger. The Flash catches up to Kovacs and Celia before they escape with the artifact and brings them to justice, insuring that Preminger can finance the museum with the Rasputin Mask exhibit.
5"Double Vision"Guy TrikonisJim TrombettaNovember 1, 1990 (1990-11-01)
Barry attempts to foil the kidnapping of Paloma Aguilar, daughter of DEA agent Peter Paul Aguilar, who is scheduled to testify against drug lord Reuben Calderon. However, Calderon's enforcer, Marcos Trachman, utilizes advanced microscopic devices to control Barry's nervous system and force him to help them kidnap Paloma before Tina manages to jam the devices' signal. Barry and Tina then race against time to prevent a brainwashed Paloma from murdering her father while under Trachman's control, and once he's defeated, he agrees to testify against Calderon, leading to Calderon's conviction.
6"Sins of the Father"Jonathan SangerStephen HattmanNovember 8, 1990 (1990-11-08)
Barry attempts to protect his father, veteran policeman Henry Allen, from Johnny Ray Hix, a dangerous criminal that Henry arrested 15 years prior and who has escaped from prison to enact revenge. Henry is initially dismissive of Barry's attempts to use forensic science, which Henry rejects, to locate Hix, but they prove vital when Hix murders Henry's old partner Pete Donello and hires a hitman who nearly kills Henry. The Flash rescues him and brings Hix to justice, while Barry and Henry finally make amends.
7"Child's Play"Danny BilsonStephen Hattman & Gail Morgan HickmanNovember 15, 1990 (1990-11-15)

Barry shelters street orphans Terry and Cory Cohan, who have stolen the knapsack of a recently murdered journalist, Philip Sullivan, containing Sullivan's research on a highly addictive synthetic drug known as "Blue Paradise", developed by notorious drug designer Beauregarde Lesko. Terry is nearly murdered while meeting Lesko to exchange the briefcase for $1 million dollars, and Barry subsequently defeats Lesko and dismantles his operation before Blue Paradise can be unleashed in Central City, while Terry and Cory are adopted by Sullivan's widow, Joan.

Guest star: Adam West (from Batman) as a hippy
8"Shroud of Death"Mario AzzopardiHoward Chaykin & John Francis MooreNovember 29, 1990 (1990-11-29)
Lieutenant Warren Garfield stonewalls Barry and Julio's efforts to locate a cloaked figure who is targeting individuals connected to the arrest of notorious anarchist Jefferson Zacharias, who was executed after having been given the death penalty. Barry realizes Garfield was the arresting officer just as Garfield's fiancée, Mavis, is critically injured by the killer, revealed to be Zacharias' daughter, Angel, who then lures Garfield into a trap. The Flash intervenes, saves Garfield's fiancée and then prevents Garfield from killing her in revenge. Garfield then marries Mavis.
9"Ghost in the Machine"Bruce BilsonJohn Francis Moore & Howard ChaykinDecember 13, 1990 (1990-12-13)
In 1955, Central City's guardian was Desmond Powell, who fought crime as "the Nightshade". His nemesis, a criminal mastermind known as "The Ghost", is believed to have died after a confrontation, causing a guilt-stricken Powell to retire. However, the Ghost has in fact preserved himself in cryogenic suspended animation and resurfaces in 1990, where he hijacks Central City's power grids and holds the city for ransom, forcing Powell to return to action and join forces with the Flash. Together, the defeat the Ghost, who had wired himself into the city's electrical network, and save the city.
10"Sight Unseen"Christopher LeitchGail Morgan Hickman & John VorhausJanuary 10, 1991 (1991-01-10)
Brian Gideon, a disturbed chemical engineer, learns that S.T.A.R. Labs is producing nerve toxins based on his research for the United States government and uses an stealth device to infiltrate S.T.A.R. Labs and retrieve the toxins. His plan traps Tina and her employer Ruth Wenerke in the lab, where they are exposed to a deadly neurotoxin. While attempting to locate both Gideon and a cure, Barry clashes with federal agent Jack Quinn, who is trying to cover up his own involvement in the crisis. Barry confronts Gideon, who injects him with the toxin in order to escape, but Barry is able to burn it off his body, and use his blood to inoculate Tina and Ruth. Gideon is then arrested, while Ruth cuts ties with Quinn, who is suspended when the activities he illegally sanctioned for Gideon are exposed.
11"Beat the Clock"Mario AzzopardiJim TrombettaJanuary 31, 1991 (1991-01-31)
Barry and Julio are tipped off that Wayne Contrell, a famous Jazz saxophonist on the death row for the murder of his wife, lounge singer Linda Lake, is innocent, and they have less than an hour to find evidence to acquit him. They ultimately learn that Linda was kidnapped by Wayne's brother, Elliott Contrell, who wanted to ruin his brother's life out of jealousy, and that his enforcer, a hitman nicknamed "Whisper", murdered another woman, who was then put in Linda's place in a fixed car accident designed to lead back to Wayne. After incapacitating Whisper, Barry carries Linda to the execution chamber. They arrive in the very moment the switch of the electric chair is flicked, so Barry unties Wayne just in time before the current would electrocute him. Wayne is reunited with Linda, while Elliott is arrested.
12"The Trickster"Danny BilsonHoward Chaykin & John Francis MooreFebruary 7, 1991 (1991-02-07)
James Jesse, a serial killer with multiple personalities, becomes obsessed with Megan Lockhart, who had been investigating his activities, and attempts to kidnap her, but she is rescued by the Flash. Believing them to be romantically involved, Jesse adopts the identity of the Trickster and begins tormenting the Flash, who ultimately lures Jesse into a fight at the police's costume ball, where he is arrested. Despite Barry and Megan becoming involved, she decides to leave Central City and ends their relationship.
13"Tina, Is That You?"William A FrakerChad Hayes, Carey Hayes & David L NewmanFebruary 14, 1991 (1991-02-14)
Barry becomes plagued with nightmares due to his double life as The Flash. In an attempt to help Barry sleep again, a bio-feedback experiment gone awry causes Tina to develop a malevolent personality, and after the accidental death of the leader of a all-female gang, called the Black Rose, she seizes control of the gang. When Barry foils their latest robbery, Tina decides to lure Barry into a trap and kill him, but Barry manages to escape, prevent Tina from leaving town with the gang and leaving the Black Rose and a tattoo parlor owner known as "Big Ed", who was hiding them, for the police before taking Tina back to S.T.A.R. Labs, using the bio-feedback device to restore her to normal.
14"Be My Baby"Bruce BilsonJule SelboFebruary 21, 1991 (1991-02-21)
Barry crosses paths with Stacy Doubek, the daughter of Nobel prize winning academics, and her young daughter, Lily, who are fleeing Lily's father, mobster Philip Moses, who wants the child as his heir. After the Flash prevents Moses from kidnapping Lily, Garfield attempts to use her in a sting operation to lure Moses into a trap, but Moses is tipped off by his men and manages to escape with Lily. The Flash chases him to an abandoned airfield and prevents him from leaving Central City, and Moses is arrested while Stacy and Lily are reunited and decide to stay in Central City.
15"Fast Forward"Guy TrikonisGail Morgan HickmanFebruary 27, 1991 (1991-02-27)
Nicholas Pike is released from prison on a technicality and attempts to use a missile to kill the Flash, instead transporting him 10 years into the future, where Barry's secret identity has been exposed and Pike has conquered the now dystopian city. Aided by his old friends, Barry regains his speed and manages to return to the past, capturing Pike once again and saving the city.
16"Deadly Nightshade"Bruce BilsonJohn Francis Moore & Howard ChaykinMarch 30, 1991 (1991-03-30)
Philanthropist Curtis Bohannan, son of Derek Bohannan, a mobster fought by the Nightshade in the 1950s, becomes a copycat vigilante known as "The Deadly Nightshade", who employs lethal force in his crusade against crime. Garfield is sent evidence that Powell, an old friend of his, is the Nightshade and arrests him, only for Powell to be kidnapped by Bohannan, who wants Powell to join him. Barry locates them and defeats Bohannan with Powell's help. Powell then decides to reveal his secret identity to the world.
17"Captain Cold"Gilbert ShiltonPaul de Meo & Gail Morgan HickmanApril 6, 1991 (1991-04-06)
Mobster Jimmy Swain employs hitman Leonard Wynters, also known as "Captain Cold" for his weapon of choice, a nuclear-powered freeze ray, to eliminate his competitors and then the Flash. Barry's investigation is hampered by Terri Kronenberg, a tabloid reporter for the National Inquisitor. After killing Swain for firing him after his failure to kill The Flash in the first attempt, Wynters nearly kills Barry after Kronenberg gets in the middle of them during a confrontation. Wynters is caught by The Flash after he attempts to kill her in her apartment. Wynters later escapes prison and lures the Flash into a trap, hellbent on completing his contract out of honor, but Barry outsmarts him due to a device that preserves his body heat, and diverts Wynters' beam against him, encasing Wynters in ice.
18"Twin Streaks"James A ContnerStephen HattmanApril 13, 1991 (1991-04-13)
Barry is cloned by Dr. Jason Brassel, who names the clone "Pollux". Upon learning that he is a clone and not a real person, Pollux goes on a rampage and comes into conflict with the Flash, who is currently suffering symptoms of stress and fatigue. Brassel attempts to kill Barry after Pollux throws a bullet into him, but Pollux takes the bullet and dies in Barry's arms, while Brassel succumbs from the injuries Pollux had earlier inflicted on him.
19"Done with Mirrors"Danny BilsonHoward Chaykin & John Francis MooreApril 27, 1991 (1991-04-27)
Sam Scudder, a criminal mastermind who uses mirrors and holograms to commit his crimes, steals an advanced battery from S.T.A.R Labs Silicon Valley division, which is then stolen from him by his partner, Stacia Masters, who flees to Central City and seduces her former classmate Barry into sheltering her at his apartment. Scudder kidnaps both Barry and Tina's mother Jocelyn Weller, whom he mistakes for Stacia's buyer, to force Stacia to deliver the battery, and Barry ultimately realizes Stacia is manipulating him. He rescues Tina, who had been lured to the station where Stacia was trying to sell the battery, pummels Scudder and arrests Stacia, returning the battery to S.T.A.R Labs.
20"Good Night, Central City"Mario AzzopardiJim TrombettaMay 4, 1991 (1991-05-04)
Petty crook Harry Milgrim and his cousin, scientist Roger Braintree, plan to use a soundwave device developed by Braintree, which places people in an induced slumber, to rob Central City. Milgrim fakes his death during a test run, then pins the blame for a robbery on Barry, who races against time to both prove his innocence and prevent Milgrim, Braintree and a group of professional gangsters from conducting a citywide robbery. In the end, Barry triumphs, with Milgrim, who had killed Braintree in an argument about using weapons, is arrested, clearing his name.
21"Alpha"Bruce BilsonGail Morgan Hickman & Denise SkinnerMay 11, 1991 (1991-05-11)
Barry and Tina befriend Alpha, an android assassin developed by the United States government who refuses to kill, and protect her from another assassin, Omega, send to destroy her. The Flash ultimately destroys Omega and helps Alpha evade the government and escape Central City to start her life anew.
22"The Trial of the Trickster"Danny BilsonHoward Chaykin & John Francis MooreMay 18, 1991 (1991-05-18)
James Jesse is brought to trial for his previous rampage in Central City. Jesse later escapes from the courtroom with help from an obsessive fan, Zoey Clark, and becomes the Trickster once again, with Clark as his assistant, Prank. They brainwash the Flash into joining them in wreaking havoc, damaging the Flash's public image, but Jesse ultimately betrays Clark and leaves her to the police. Tina and Megan join forces and manage to break Barry free in time to prevent Jesse from executing the lawyers involved in his prosecution and defense. Jesse is then found criminally insane and incarcerated in a psychiatric hospital, while the Flash is embraced as a hero by the people of Central City. Barry turns down an offer to move to San Francisco with Megan because he is not ready to say goodbye to Central City.

Release

The Flash was originally scheduled to debut on CBS in the 8 pm (EST) slot on Thursday, to go against The Cosby Show on NBC, in an attempt to attract younger viewers, before Fox moved The Simpsons from Sunday to the Thursday 8 pm slot for the same reason. After debuting on September 20, 1990, at 8 pm, CBS moved the series to 8:30 pm with its second episode, in an attempt to broadcast opposite less formidable competition in Fox's Babes, NBC's A Different World and the second half-hour of ABC's Father Dowling Mysteries.[1] Eventually, CBS moved the series off Thursdays entirely.[2] Had the show continued, it was revealed the second season would have opened with the Flash's rogues teaming up to take down the hero.[2][7]

Marketing

Warner Bros. Television and CBS began its promotion of the series in July 1990 during the 1990 NBA All-Star Game. It also had ad campaigns on radio and cable television during "wresting matches on USA Cable and during [Batman airings] on the Family Channel", as well as ads in The Flash comic book and posters for the series in malls and Kmarts across the country. Four-minute promos of the series aired at all Six Flags amusement parks and a few weeks before the pilot's debut, Warner Bros. flew banners over beaches on both coasts. Describing the marketing, George Schweitzer, senior vice president of communications at the CBS Broadcast Group said, "It's not being sold as a comic book. It's being sold like Batman [the 1989 film] – dark and mysterious and exciting. The promos have a theatrical quality." The pilot debuted on July 15, 1990 at a "big bash" at the Warner Bros. Burbank lot.[1]

Home media

The Flash was released on DVD in January 2006.[2]

Several episodes were edited as three TV movies and released on VHS:

Other media

Comic book

A comic book tie-in special based on the TV series was published by DC Comics in 1991 titled The Flash TV Special #1, running at 76 pages. It features two stories, one written by John Byrne with art by Javier Saltares, and the second written by then-writer of the ongoing Flash (vol. 2) title, Mark Waid featuring a thief Kid Flash; plus a behind-the-scenes look on the making of the TV series with photos.

Video game

A video game was released for Game Boy in 1991 by THQ, and was based on the TV series. It was released in the US and had a password system. A second game was programmed by Probe and released only in Europe for the Master System in 1993.

The Flash (2014 TV series)

The 2014 television series, The Flash, features several references to the 1990 series. John Wesley Shipp plays the recurring role of Barry Allen's father, Henry Allen,[8] and Amanda Pays once again portrays a character named Dr. Tina McGee.[9] In the episode "Tricksters", Mark Hamill returns as James Jesse / Trickster and Vito D'Ambrosio plays Mayor Anthony Bellows (a character he played in 1991, but as a police officer), with images of Hamill as Trickster from the 1990 TV series being used in a police report;[10][11] 2014 series composer Blake Neely incorporated Walker's theme for the Trickster in the episode.[12] In "Welcome to Earth-2", as Barry, Cisco and Wells are traveling to Earth-2, glimpses of the multiverse are seen, including an image of Shipp as the Flash from the 1990 series, implying that the series was retroactively being added to the Arrowverse-multiverse.[13] Shipp eventually portrays the Earth-3 version of Henry Allen, Jay Garrick / Flash. Regarding the difference in his portrayal of Garrick over Allen, Shipp "figured Jay is my version of Barry" from the 1990 series, adding, "I went back and I watched a couple of episodes of the 1990/91 version to kind of remind myself what I did. [Jay] is much more reminiscent of my Barry Allen from 25 years ago than my Henry Allen. I went back and I was amazed how much attitude my Barry Allen had in some situations. I went back and I picked up that thread and I brought it forward 25 years, and tried to weave it in."[14] Alex Désert portrays Julio Mendez again in the series' season three episode, "Flashpoint", where he is the captain of the Central City Police Department in the Flashpoint timeline.[15]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 King, Susan (September 19, 1990). "'Flash' Suits Up for a Sizzling TV Ratings Race". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Schweier, Philip (September 16, 2007). "The Flash: The Fastest Show On Television". Comic Book Bin. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  3. 1 2 Dawson, Greg (July 19, 1990). "'The Flash' Is Sizzling". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Martin, Sue (November 7, 1990). "High-Tech Flash-Forward". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Miller, Ron (August 30, 1990). "Superchallenge: On CBS, The Flash Faces Toughest Foes Yet: 'Cosby' And 'Simpsons'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  6. 1 2 Goldman, Eric (September 18, 2014). "The History Of DC Comics On TV". IGN. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  7. ↑ Hofius, Jason; George Khoury (2010). Age Of TV Heroes: The Live-Action Adventures Of Your Favorite Comic Book Characters. TwoMorrows Publishing. ISBN 1-60549-010-5.
  8. ↑ Ng, Philiana (May 27, 2014). "'Flash': John Wesley Shipp's Secret Character Revealed". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  9. ↑ Ng, Philiana (September 15, 2014). "The CW's 'The Flash' Recruits Original Star for Flashy Reunion". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 15, 2014.
  10. ↑ Sepinwall, Alan (December 8, 2014). "Exclusive: Mark Hamill to play the Trickster again on 'The Flash'". Hitfix.
  11. ↑ Chan, Robert (March 31, 2015). "'The Flash' Recap: At Last… the Joker". Yahoo!. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  12. ↑ Neely, Blake (March 31, 2015). "It was an honor and great fun to use the great Shirley Walker's "Trickster" theme tonight! Also a life-long dream to score @HamillHimself.". Twitter. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  13. ↑ Couto, Anthony (February 9, 2016). ""Flash" Teases DC TV Future, Retro Continuity With Multiple Surprise Cameos". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  14. ↑ Burlingame, Russ (October 2, 2016). "The Flash's John Wesley Shipp: "Jay Is My Version of Barry, 25 Years Later"". Comicbook.com. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  15. ↑ Saclao, Christian (October 6, 2016). "'The Flash' Star Alex Désert On Playing Captain Julio Mendez In Season 3 Premiere, 'Flashpoint'". International Business Times. Retrieved October 9, 2016.
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