But If YOU are going to do a comic book show, though, either stay away from the Smallville formula (which is basically X-Files meets Dawson Creek) and do a something like Deadman (a supernatural Fugitive) or the Demon (a supernatural Incredible Hulk) which follows a different plot outline; or find one of the better known heroes and figure a way to explore him in a new and interesting way. However, very few of the heroes in DC are as well known but have such potential for a different direction as Superman is. Smallville works because while everyone is familiar with Superman, a lot of people are not familiar with the Superboy legend or his teen years. It is something that has been hinted at but not seen often on television or in the movies. Plus, it is a superhero show without a lot of the trappings of a superhero to bog it down – no costume or alter ego, and no costumed villains (usually).

That is why I think something like Gotham Central could work. Everyone is familiar with the Batman and Gotham City, why not do a Hill Street Blues or NYPD Blue of a comic book city and have references to many of the comic book stories while still retaining some sort of “realism”. It could even take place years ago and star a young Detective Gordon. The big arc of the entire series could be revision of the entire comic book Batman legend: Gordon is the investigating officer in the murders of Thomas and Martha Wayne and is looking for the killer, Joe Chill and the man who hired him, Lew Moxon, while at the same time he deals with corruption and the strange criminals who stalk the city. The show practically writes itself (ok, maybe not but you can see the potential!

I see lots of potential to get many different wild versions of characters from DCU here. Maybe we'll see a version of GL (Please not Kyle, Garner would be awesome though) or Huntress, Question, I would love to see Ray Palmer, THE TORNADO. Lots of potential. Financial backing from Wayne (who remains a silent partner) or go crazy and bring Hartley back to bankroll the Justice League of sorts.

I say calling it JLA or Justice would be pretty sweet. I do agree that it needs to be a spinoff. Don't bring back the name Smallville without Supes.

On the upside, a Martian Manhunter TV show would certainly persuade DC to bring J'onn back to life in the comics far quicker than anticipated.

That is why I think a show like Gotham Central would work. First step, throw out the comic Gotham Central. As much as I think it is a great comic, fanboys are going to complain it doesn’t follow the comic closely enough and whine every time it goes against modern comic continuity. In fact, don’t even call it Gotham Central. Call it Gotham Blues or Gotham City Homicide or Gotham: Special Crimes Unit or anything you want, or just Gotham. But MAKE it your own!

Now make the show about something besides following a superhero around. Smallville works because like I said before it follows a period that is somewhat known by the fans, that Clark Kent grew up in Smallville where he learned how to use his powers, but it is something that hasn’t been covered much in film or television. It allows us to explore a new chapter in Clark Kent life and allows us to see Superman in a completely new and original way – as a teenager trying to find his way in the world.

So how do you do a show based in Gotham? First off, don’t have it be about Batman (at least not directly) but instead have it be about the city that needs him and why they need him. Have it about a young homicide detective named James Gordon trying to learn the ropes in Gotham City. Have it be about Gordon’s friends, a philanthropist doctor and his wife named Dr. Thomas and Martha Wayne, and their son Bruce. Have it be about the people Wayne has crossed, Lew Maxton, Joe Chill and Boss Thorne. Have it be about the strange, psychotic-criminals that seemed to flock to Gotham that the police are forced to try to handle. Have it be about the corruption that permeates the force, etc.

DON”T have it be about current comic continuity and storylines, unless they are great stories. There is 70 years of Batman plots, you don’t have to just do the ones that were done in the last 5 years. DON’T have it linked with the Batman movies, Nolan’s or Burton’s. Create your own mythology and versions of the characters.

The reason I think this show could work, it shows how despite the actions of good cops, like Gordon, Gotham really needs a unique protector and why he is so essential when he arrives. Plus, you can have a a myriad of stories involving the Batman mythos unfold before our eyes: a story involving a young Selina Kyle; a young criminal who earns the nickname the Penguin; the murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne; the investigation into Joe Chill and Lew Maxton; Harvey Dent’s fist case for the DA office; the story of a criminal who forges the identity of the Red Hood; the origin of Joker Venom; etc. And the series can finally lead up to a big climax where the now teenage Bruce Wayne has a gun on Joe Chill (or Maxton) and is about to kill them when he is talked out of it by Det. Gordon, planting the seeds of the Batman identity.

I’m not saying they should follow verbatim what I just said (but if they do I expect a check), but I was just giving you some examples of how many potential stories there are about a Gotham police station.

Another genre besides the superhero genre: One of the factors for Smallville and some other super-hero shows success has been that the show itself usually fits into another genre. As I mentioned above, Smallville is basically a teen drama like Dawson Creek or the OC; the Incredible Hulk was the Fugitive; and even Lois & Clark figured out a new spin of the Superman mythos by making the show part romantic comedy/adventure, alá Moonlighting. Whatever show they do next should be able to fit into one of the better established TV genres, such a detective show, policier, hospital drama, courtroom drama, family drama, etc.

Big mythos to draw from: The truth of the matter is that very few properties in DC – or comics in general – have enough audience awareness and history to make people interested in following it. I mean, everyone is aware of Superman and has at least a passing knowledge of his mythos: Daily Planet, Lex Luthor, Lois Lane, Krypton, Jor-El, Ma & Pa Kent, Smallville, Jimmy Olsen, Perry White, and maybe even Lana Lang and Krypto the Super-Dog. Same with Batman. But how many people know anything about Green Arrow, or Aquaman, or Martian Manhunter. Hell, I am a comic book fan and I can’t name more than maybe two or three supporting characters for those guys combined. So that leaves you with doing a show connected to the Superman mythos, the Batman mythos, or some sort of show that explores the DC universe’s mythos in a whole.

When all of these things are taken in consideration that is why I think a Gotham Central-like show would be the best. But there are plenty of other shows they could make by following these three guidelines. They could try to do that Super-Max idea about a super villain prison (prison uniforms instead of costumes; basically Oz and Prison Break for super villains; and the ability to tap into the entire DC universe), a Legion of Superheroes show (futuristic uniforms instead of costumes; space opera like Battlestar Galatica and Star Trek; and be able to tap into the Superman myths and the rest of the DC universe), and even try to do a Birds of Prey-like show again (Huntress can wear a standard outfit but it doesn’t have to be a costume; any good Batman story is also a classic detective story; and she would be tied into the Batman mythos – she is Bruce Wayne and Catwoman’s daughter!).