I wrote this after hearing about the casting of Brandon Routh in the new Superman movie. Interesting how things have changed since then and having seen the actual film.
We have a new Superman!
Warner Brothers has announced its choice to play Superman in its reboot of the Superman movie franchise. “Superman Returns” is slated to begin production in 2005, with Brandon Routh as the Supes-du-jour.
So who is Brandon Routh?
The 25-year old actor is best known for his work on the soap opera “One Life to Live”. He also did a one-year stint on the MTV short-soap “Undressed”. Other than that, Brandon Routh has a few television appearances on series like “Will and Grace”, “Cold Case” and “Gilmore Girls”. Other than that, there is not much there.
I like that the studio got a no-name for the part. You can get big name actors to play Luthor and Lois, if you need star power. Get Brando to redo Jor-El, if you like. But I don’t want to see Nicholas Cage or Tom Cruise in the red cape. That would have killed the movie’s whole ambience. “Superman Returns” would have been another vehicle for Nicholas Cage…like the world needs another one of those. So I’m giving Warner Brothers points for courage.
Beyond that, I will wait to see the finished product. Since I have never seen Mr. Routh act, I can’t comment on whether he has the chops. His resume shows us a soap opera actor, which usually means someone who looks good delivering bad lines in a bad fashion. From the few photos I’ve seen, Brandon Routh looks like a young Tom Cruise. While it’s hard to tell from a headshot, he hardly looks like an imposing figure. Hopefully, Routh will fill out the costume of Superman. Perhaps it’s time to hit the gym.
As for his acting ability, how bad can it be? God love him, but Christopher Reeve was about as wooden as the Floronic Man. So it’s not as if Brandon Routh needs to be the next Olivier. Mostly, he needs to be believable and likable. Routh can stand aside for the villain to chew up scenery and deliver most of the good lines. If these prerequisites are met, I can live with the new choice. And the studio can take comfort that, if the moviemakers do their job, when it comes time for “Superman Returns 2″ (or is that Superman 6?), Brandon Routh will be a household name.
The #1 Nielsen rated program from 1971 to 1976, All In The Family is quite simply one of the greatest television programs in history. Inspired by The Honeymooners and The Flintstones, All In The Family features its own loud-mouthed, opinionated blowhard sporting a hidden soft and sensitive side. Like Ralph Kramden and Fred Flintstone, Archie Bunker fulfills his role to absolute perfection, and the result is TV magic. Well-written and outright hilarious, All In The Family broke ground in the 70’s with its willingness to tackle all the social issues and societal taboos of its day. Topics included racism, bigotry, sexism, homosexuality, death, and other namby-pam, socialist and liberal-feminist ideals (or at least that’s how Archie would put it!) A titan among television sitcoms, All In The Family spawned a pair of shows which topped the ratings in their own right - Maude and The Jeffersons…
The All In The Family (Season 2) DVD offers a number of hilarious episodes including the season premiere “The Saga of Cousin Oscar” in which Archie’s Cousin Oscar arrives in Queens for a visit. Considering him a lazy, do-nothing, Archie isn’t pleased to be playing host to Oscar (whom we never actually see), and the irritation is further amplified when Oscar dies in the upstairs bedroom. Now mourners fill Archie’s house, and he must decide whether or not to plan a funeral… Other notable episodes from Season 2 include “Edith Writes A Song” in which Archie purchases a handgun for protection only to have two robbers use it against him, and “The Election Story” in which Mike and Gloria vociferously campaign for the liberal candidate while Archie throws his hat in with the opposition candidate…
Below is a list of episodes included on the All In The Family (Season 2) DVD:
Episode 14 (The Saga of Cousin Oscar) Air Date: 09-18-1971
Episode 15 (Gloria Poses in the Nude) Air Date: 09-25-1971
Episode 16 (Archie and the Lock-Up) Air Date: 10-02-1971
Episode 17 (Edith Writes a Song) Air Date: 10-09-1971
Episode 18 (Flashback: Mike Meets Archie) Air Date: 10-16-1971
Episode 19 (The Election Story) Air Date: 10-30-1971
Episode 20 (Edith’s Accident) Air Date: 11-06-1971
Episode 21 (The Blockbuster) Air Date: 11-13-1971
Episode 22 (Mike’s Problem) Air Date: 11-20-1971
Episode 23 (The Insurance is Cancelled) Air Date: 11-27-1971
Episode 24 (The Man in the Street) Air Date: 12-04-1971
Episode 25 (Cousin Maude’s Visit) Air Date: 12-11-1971
Episode 26 (Christmas Day at the Bunkers’) Air Date: 12-18-1971
Episode 27 (The Elevator Story) Air Date: 01-01-1972
Episode 28 (Edith’s Problem) Air Date: 01-08-1972
Episode 29 (Archie and the FBI) Air Date: 01-15-1972
Episode 30 (Mike’s Mysterious Son) Air Date: 01-22-1972
Episode 31 (Archie Sees a Mugging) Air Date: 01-29-1972
Episode 32 (Archie and Edith Alone) Air Date: 02-05-1972
Episode 33 (Edith Gets a Mink) Air Date: 02-12-1972
Episode 34 (Sammy’s Visit) Air Date: 02-19-1972
Episode 35 (Edith, the Judge) Air Date: 02-26-1972
Episode 36 (Archie is Jealous) Air Date: 03-04-1972
Episode 37 (Maude) Air Date: 03-11-1972
About the Author
Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a blog where you can find more reviews like this one of the All In The Family (Season 2) DVD.
