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Happy Flash-iversary!

Today marks 26 years since the series premiere of the original Flash TV series on CBS.

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26 years ago, a scarlet speedster ran onto TV screens with his first TV series, eventually dodging Bill Cosby and The Simpsons with a strange 8:30 timeslot. The show featured a handsome fellow named Barry Allen who looks a lot like Barry’s dad (and Jay Garrick) on the new show. There’s a good reason for that: Barry Allen in the 1990 Flash TV series was played by John Wesley Shipp.

the-flash-classicThis Flash didn’t have a team of Caitlin, Cisco, and company; instead, his main confidante at STAR Labs was Dr. Tina McGee, played by Amanda Pays, who played Dr. Christina McGee of Mercury Labs on the new Flash show. Iris West did show up, played by noted TV show killer Paula Marshall, but she didn’t stay long. There have been two other major nods to the original series in the new show, beyond a quick flash (pun intended) in “Welcome to Earth-2” – the Mayor of Central City, Anthony Bellows as played by Vito D’Ambrosio, was Officer Tony Bellows on the original show. And, of course, Mark Hamill played the Trickster so brilliantly on both series, with some photos from the earlier Flash appearances being seen in “Tricksters.”

We’re still waiting for Alex Desert to show up…

flashshippAnother connection you might not have known: The role of the Mirror Master on the original Flash was played by David Cassidy, father of Katie Cassidy, who played “Black Siren” in “Invincible.” Angela Bassett, who later played Amanda Waller in Green Lantern, appeared on the original Flash, as did Breaking Bad’s Bryan Cranston.

I myself was 12 years old when The Flash first aired. Because of this, I have always viewed John Wesley Shipp with a reverence like it’s meeting one of my childhood heroes. I get the feeling the Flash producers feel the same way.

The Flash is available on DVD; it’s highly recommended. And if you have seen the episodes already, definitely check out Derek B. Gayle’s flashback reviews to the original series – they’re a great read.

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Flash Cast Member Returns for the Superman & Lois Finale

A major actor from The Flash will be playing a role in the series finale of Superman & Lois.

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A major cast member from The Flash will be appearing in the series finale of Superman & Lois.

No, it’s not Grant Gustin, sadly… the actor in question is Tom Cavanagh, the actor who brought us infinite Wells variants. Cavanagh revealed this recently at a convention, where he talked about how he usually enjoyed directing season finales for the show, but was unable to in this case because Gregory Smith had already signed on to direct the Superman & Lois finale.

Superman & Lois showrunner Todd Helbing, who had also worked with Cavanagh before on The Flash and recruited him to direct the series’ 100th episode among others, instead suggested he has a role in the finale.

No word yet on what that role might be. As Superman & Lois is at a different spot in the multiverse, it doesn’t necessarily even have to be a version of Harrison Wells or Eobard Thawne. It could serve as a good closer, though, to the Arrowverse in general, as Superman & Lois is the last gasp for that world on The CW. In any event, you can see video of Cavanagh speaking about this (and more) at our Superman & Lois portal, KryptonSite.

The final season of Superman & Lois premieres this Fall on The CW.

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Flash Missing: Vanishes In Crisis, April 25, 2024

The “Flash Missing: Vanishes in Crisis” headline in the Flash TV series pilot was dated April 25, 2024.

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While events of the series would ultimately speed up the timeline, Flash fans surely remember the final moments of the pilot episode of the Grant Gustin-led series where we see a Central City Citizen newspaper graphic announcing “Flash Missing, Vanishes In Crisis.” The date of that article? April 25, 2024.

Which happens to be… today.

When The Flash premiered in 2014, one might have expected that April 25, 2024 might be the right time for the final episode of a 10-year run… of course, as we saw, the Crisis happened a few years earlier, The Flash ended in 2023 instead, and it all might have been a good thing, considering how strikes and pandemics got in the show’s way. Still, it’s fun to think about, and it’s fun to remember that fantastic rush we had after the end of watching such an excellent premiere. And hey – not only did we get nine seasons of the show, but we also had a bad Flash movie that the series was far superior to, even in its worst moments. Win-win!

Ride the lightning, everyone.

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The John Wesley Shipp Flash 1990 Series Blu-ray Pre-Orders Now Up!

The Flash TV series starring John Wesley Shipp is coming to Blu-ray on June 14.

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Some very exciting news came today courtesy of the Warner Archive… the 1990 Flash TV series starring John Wesley Shipp is coming to Blu-ray!

The six-disc set is expected to release on June 14 from the Warner Archive Collection and it will contain the entire first season with new 2024 1080p HD masters from 4K scans of the original camera negatives. Here’s how the set is described; the box art can be seen below. Hopefully, this means we’ll get remasters on other classic series in the future.

The pre-order link is now up! Order through our Amazon affiliate link HERE and support FlashTVNews!

Who-o-o-o-osh! The origins and exploits of the crimefighting DC Comics superhero come your way in this 22-episode live-action series, from the 1990-91 television season. John Wesley Shipp portrays Barry Allen, a police crime technologist endowed with sudden talents after a fluke lab accident. He pledges to use his new powers for good, powers that include ultra-speed reflexes and the ability to vibrate his molecules so rapidly he can pass through solid walls. Amanda Pays is medical researcher Tina McGee, who monitors Allen’s accelerated metabolism and guards his secret identity. The Tricksters, Captain Cold, the Ghost, mad inventors: Central City is rife with criminals. Now there’s a hero to keep pace with them. He’s called The Flash. And in our era of instant communications, he’s more in step with the times than ever.

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