JOHN WESLEY SHIPP on the Reasons Why the Flash Failed Early on

[@RossIsFine]

The show really honored John. He wasn't just a cameo, he IS the Flash too.

[@geckosethpe]

I was turned into a little kid all over again when he came back as Jay and was giving Barry some lessons on the speedforce and how the multiverse worked.

[@woodrobin]

He got to be Barry Allen's father, Earth-2's Jay Garrick, and his original character -- Earth-90's Flash.

[@davenierop1540]

I love this guy like he is like a living legend in The Flash franchise he went from Barry Allen from the original series to Henry Allen and finally Jay Garrick

[@Jetthawkunlimited]

Then back to Barry Allen in the current series

[@nicwinsteadart5330]

Dude was made for Jay Garrick

[@14DaveHunter]

Came back in CW's crisis and finished out, his FLASH-90.

[@Isaac_Clarke]

He has so many roles he was: Barry, Jay, Henry. He is a legend to everyone

[@bfan82]

@@14DaveHunter not trying to sound soft, but when he ran out of existence and they showed a clip from the old show, I almost teared up a little.

[@CraziBastid]

As a fan of the 90s show, I honestly appreciate how proud John seems to be of his involvement with the character.

[@Onshore_Turn3]

I feel like I missed out on the old flash show I rlly want to watch it but I don’t know where to watch it

[@GlitterBull]

​@@Onshore_Turn3dude. LOOK ON THE INTERNET! I was going to look for you to be nice. I changed my mind when I remembered you can just do that yourself. You're likely going to have to rent it. If not, pirate it(not advised). Don't tell me social media made you forget Google is a SEARCH ENGINE.

[@Kyexle]

@@Onshore_Turn3 prime video or apple tv

[@MrHousecup]

I was so glad John Wesley Shipp and Mark Hamil were involved in the new Flash TV show!

[@shel0016]

Yep awesome. Also the Barry's love interest from the original flash as well

[@ziejackson6236]

Amanda pays was also in both

[@Deuteromis]

Mark Hamil was in the CW Flash show? I only started watching the later seasons, which episode was he in?

[@davidm4566]

@@shel0016 they also had Julio in another timeline episode.

[@davidm4566]

@@Deuteromis he played the same character- not sure which episode.

[@kopkiwi08]

Love how Michael just lets guests talk, couple of big name interviewers could learn a thing or two from him and Hot Ones style about not fecking interrupting.

[@discover6396]

The primary reason why a lot of other interviewers reign in on the conversations is because of time. They only have so much allocated time and most guests are their promote their current projects, so whenever they stray to far off course they get 'adjusted'. Although, some interviewers such as Howard Stern love the sound of their own voice. The 30 or 60 minute format doesn't apply to KZbin or podcasts in general so you get more conversational style interview.

[@oldhollywoodfan8009]

In all fairness, this was an unusual example of him allowing the guest to talk. I couldn’t help but notice that while watching. Usually he always cuts them off and makes the current topic about himself. I really like the guy but my gosh he really can suck the oxygen out of the room.

[@SupermanKent]

It’s funny cuz both Michael and John played the flash😂

[@ChrisAssassin]

@@discover6396 preach. Plus it's important to have a personality during the interview. Otherwise you're not giving anything to bounce off of and it becomes stale or even worse- no one cares who you are enough to watch you again

[@spp202]

It's so refreshing to hear Michael Rosenbaum's voice... His voice was the main reason why people loved Wally West so much in Justice League animated series. :-)

[@uncannydcmarvelous5732]

Michael deserves to play an adult seasoned Wally West Flash in live action.

[@14DaveHunter]

Didn't know that was him, until reading your post. Looks different with hair and beard stubble.

[@mew10521]

I didn't know that was him

[@AHTOtv]

I disagree. Didn’t give a damn about Wally West in the show but go ahead, keep assuming you know what everyone feels. That’s very American of you

[@daemonspade8316]

@@AHTOtv Well he said people. That doesn't have to mean every person.

[@jdhobbes]

When they cast Shipp as Barry's father, and I watched their scenes together, it always brought a tear to my eye. I love how they tied both shows together by bringing the 90s cast into the modern day. Also, is anyone else enjoying that, in this interview, the 90s Flash is being interviewed by the animated series Flash?

[@Mythowars]

Rosenbaum still to the day my favorite flash.. Wally west baby! Him dying is what made their supes lose it back in the justice league show. LOVE IT!

[@myobfool]

What a professional John Wesley Shipp is. Upbeat, positive about his co-workers and the work. Great job guys.

[@gerarduspoppel2831]

A lot of overrated actors can learn alot of him

[@WritersOnTheWall]

this dude is a legend to every kid who remembers, this came out right on the heels of batman 89

[@nublafiednubbie]

I grew up watching John he was the man...flash didn't fail.. We failed the flash back then...mere mortals couldn't handle the Awesomeness of the show back then...it was 2 advanced for the 90's... Im a guy an Im proud 2 say I love u John u were my hero

[@frankcoley1537]

Wait...WE Failed this city?! 😲

[@msarek4100]

What killed the show was the cost vs the ratings as it steadily dropped over the season. Networks were very, very cost conscious as the production model for the Big 3 had a quality threshold to meet. That's what Shipp is referring to with the suit - it was designed by the team behind Keaton's Batsuit. No one did anything like that for a weekly sci-fi/fantasy show before that. As for the ratings drop, the show couldn't afford to go all out on supervillains, so it became very minimal in its approach. Smallville was such a success because the premise was minimal to start with, so the audience wasn't expecting giant superheroics. The Flash was build as DC's followup to Batman, and that was just too big a leap

[@mrp9597]

Quality comment. Interesting view and prob right. Cheers.

[@pferreira1983]

I still struggle to understand how Smallville last one season let alone 10.

[@Madbandit77]

@@pferreira1983 It came out a few weeks after the Sept. 11 attacks. So the national TV audience was looking for an uplifting series. Plus, non-comic book readers knew who Superman was, not The Flash.

[@johnnyskinwalker4095]

It would have survived if had been on a smaller network. But on a bigger network, you had to have a bigger budget and bigger ratings. On the CW you don't have to have blockbuster ratings to survive. Look at Bat Woman.

[@pferreira1983]

@@johnnyskinwalker4095 I agree, From what I understand Smallville never did great ratings but never did terrible so it found its safety compared to something like Lois & Clark which had a bigger budget and was on a bigger network.

[@vincem2320]

Simple answer: back then 30 years ago, the majority of audiences thought superheroes were lame, stupid, and irrelevant. You were basically a loser for liking it. That’s how cruel people were back then. Even, today there are still people that won’t give a superhero film a chance because they think it’s stupid and a waste of their time. They’re just missing out on life changing fun inspirations.

[@catsend]

I grew up a Star Trek fan. I was already a loser for a lifetime by 1990.

[@brianinglis3805]

32 years ago BATMAN was the biggest movie on the planet.

[@vincem2320]

@@brianinglis3805 Adam West or Michael Keaton lol Because even back then with Adam West, Batman was lame to casual viewers until Tim Burton Directed his film.

[@brianinglis3805]

@@vincem2320 The Batman TV show starring Adam West & Burt Ward ran for 3 seasons from 1966 to 1968 (53 to 55 years ago) and was hugely popular at the time. The Batman movie starring Michael Keaton & Jack Nicholson was the highest grossing movie of 1989 (32 years ago).

[@vincem2320]

@@brianinglis3805 Yes but that’s bc it’s Batman lol I can say WW, Superman, or Spider-Man was popular 50 years ago too, it’s pretty obvious

[@classiccomicarcs]

I still think his Flash suit is the best live-action Flash suit we've had!

[@CoolCATs2814]

By far.

[@imveritasproductions]

I liked the season 4 suit from the tv show a bit better

[@HansCholo619]

Totally agree

[@robd1329]

Yup

[@817DOUUG11]

Facts!!

[@im2hastyle]

Man, I LOVED watching the 90s FLASH show on tv back in the day!! When it got suddenly cancelled, I was in shock because it was such a great show to me!

[@trhansen3244]

I think it is the best live action superhero tv series ever made.

[@ZakEmber]

God, I loved that show! And I thought he and Amanda Pays were AMAZING. I still have the box set DVD's, and still think the theme from the opener is one of the best super hero themes ever made. (Thank you, Danny Elfman!) The show was a great mix of a daytime hero, (which the Flash is in the comics) and elements of night time heroes, (like Batman). Each episode had a great mix of showing off a hero who was in between both worlds, visually and thematically. Not as dark and grim as Batman, but not fully bright and charismatic like Superman. It was a great show with a lots of action, humor, and real human drama. John will always be my Barry Allen!

[@killwalker]

Amanda Pays is in a really gorey horror flick about genetic experimentation. She's the only good actor aside from a familiar cameo as the mad scientist. This movie is still a creepy special effects gem. The Kindred. It's awesome.

[@absabs129]

nice observation....never saw it liked that...thanks

[@pauld6967]

I too have the box set from way back and my friends & I would have watch parties when it aired on television. I like the continuity. First only the crooks and one police office knew The Flash was real. Then the neighborhood folks acknowledge him. Then the rags, i.e. tabloids like National Enquirer start reporting on him. Then the respectable news. Then fully acknowledged publicly with the icing on the cake, which I won't spoil, being seen onscreen at the end of the series. That last bit thanks to the network letting them know in time that the show wasn't going to get another season, thus they could write the later scripts with that in mind and come up with the closing shot.

[@MrJohnnyArcher]

I was a fan of that show. It never crossed my mind that “it failed”. I’m glad that he is now part of the CW Flash series.

[@TheRadioAteMyTV]

So true. It didn't fail at all for me, and I have the box set to prove it!

[@smartchai]

Same thing for me ! I never thought for one second that it was a "failed TV series" or some other nonsensical crap like that ! It just tossed aside by all of the ignorant & close-minded fools at the time ! Things have changed somewhat considerably since then ! A lot more people understand & appreciate comic book superheroes these days !

[@ryuugaminemikado8186]

Found this at a dvd store in the past and got curious and when i watched it i was hooked😁 watched till i got to the end but then i found out it was cancelled😔

[@waelliam1179]

@@TheRadioAteMyTV the first 3 seasons were great, after that is just carbage

[@TheRadioAteMyTV]

@@waelliam1179 There is only one season of the original Flash. It was fun beginning to end. Though the one with the homeless people was really preachy.

[@JasonBBell]

Great interview. He's smart, has the perspective of time, and has the sense to connect those experiences in a meaningful way to make the performance yet better. The reason comic book shows didn't work until now-ish is because only now-ish do they have the technology for the visuals to at least rhyme with the imagination of the comic book fans.

[@simonbutterfield4860]

But Wonder Woman and The Incredible Hulk worked back in 70/80s although Spider-Man was really naff and they didn't have the rights to the villains I guess but certainly enjoyed them at the time and I have the complete DVDs of Hulk.

[@TheRadioAteMyTV]

Where I lived the show was pre-empted all season long by the Gulf War so we barely ever got any episodes. That could not have been good for the ratings and had nothing to do with the quality of the show it was by far my favourite show and I was heart broken we won the war and lost the Flash.

[@commandercaptain4664]

Also the sub-cinematic tech is cheaper to mass produce, thus giving more leeway for shows to fail while the genre remains.

[@dcsc4895]

You were a WAAY better Flash. I wish your show had been given more of a chance. Its was my favorite show when I was 9-10. The music was incredible, the writing, the suit.. Just amazing.

[@mageprostudios4334]

Not only is John an amazing actor, but his stamina and patience must be astronomical! He will always be my Barry Allen/The Flash! He is a living legend and will always get my attention is what-ever he is playing in.

[@cgsweat]

John Wesley Shipp is like the dad we all wish we had.

[@MrFawiggles]

He is honestly the most wonderful man. Inspirational both as an actor and an actor who played an iconic superhero. I met him at a con once and he was just as fantastic. Even for just that moment. So earnest and sincere and full of energy and joy. John Schneider was the same way. Love this guy!

[@kirkharles4303]

Really wana see a justice league series to be honest with all the hero's and not just individual story's an actual JL series then you can do seprate characters spin of mini series of the show in between kinda thing instead. That would be my way of doing it.you can run a season of JL then say batman and sups go in to a little mini series after that links back to the main series and then at the end of the next series do a flash lantern mini one that connects in to the next series and so forth getting them all involved in the main story and then do it again with some diffrent charictors till they all have there liitle seprate solo or duo kinda story s that reconnect back in the main bring in new charictor s through the arcs.

[@AdmrlLocke]

John Wesley Shipp is so cool. I'm sorry that his Flash didn't do better, but he was so terrific as Henry Allen and then as Jay Garrick. The Berlanti Flash really, really honored John!

[@MatthiasPowerbomb]

As a kid in 1990, I LOVED The Flash, and I was gutted that it didn't go past one season. John was great in it, and then when he came back as Henry Allen in the Arrowverse Flash, he brought such emotion and gravitas to it. He's right that the scenes between him and Grant were the best of the show. Then when he appeared as Jay Garrick, him playing that role elevated it so much. Then when he reprised his role as the 1990 Barry Allen, that took me right back to my childhood, which made it so much more emotional. The Arrowverse gets a lot of crap, and it's certainly had its ups and downs, and has hit some definite lows, but the things it did right, such as bringing John on as Henry, Jay and alternate-Barry, it did REALLY right.

[@krane15]

That reboot formula is what made the 2000s Flash such a success. All the new characters, the old characters. The Trickster, and many others. They brought back the entire cast from the original Flash.

[@ObservantPiratePlus]

Got to meet and chat with him at a SuperCon back in the day in San Jose. Coolest, most friendly guy ever. We chatted about how the character of Nightshade was a mentor for The Flash, and he mentioned how Mark Hamill, who he knows, is a total comics and sci-fi geek himself, in a cool way. If you get a chance to meet JWS, do it.

[@MegaMagicdog]

I watched the Flash during its original run and enjoyed it! I was bummed when the show was cancelled after just a season. I really was looking forward to see where the storylines were going to go. John looked awesome in the suit (still does based on his recent appearances!) and was everything Barry Allen was supposed to be. I was happy that he and other actors who portrayed these super characters were not forgotten when these new shows were revived by the CW.

[@t-virusterrance4734]

It was a different time and it was hard for comic book shows to succeed. However, I think the show is awesome. The fan base for the show, is bigger now, than it was back then, which is amazing. TERRANCE OUT

[@Tizzo1982]

I used to watch his show with my Pops. Good memories, we used to live behind a McDonald's, a 2 bedroom 1 bathroom house on The North Shore of O'ahu, Hawaii. His show brings me back to those wonderful days.

[@808sirenz9]

I was so hype when they announced The Flash as a kid. That was back when superhero movies and shows were rare

[@tothra]

JWS is a legend among older fans. Now he's a legend for all fans. And the respect the recent Flash show showed him was wonderful. Imagine being JWS in 1992 and thinking Flash was behind him, only decades later for him to be an integral part of the new show

[@TheEternalSentry]

I actually got to meet him several years ago and he was one of the nicest people I've met. He happy to talk to us about his time in both of the flash shows and answer any questions people had.

[@theoutsiderjess1869]

When I found out he was the Original Flash on tv I was in shock and awe. I Became a bigger fan of his work on the Cw flash. All of the character's he played on the show was brilliant I really loved his performance as Jay Garrick and Henry Allen(Joe as well) was the best father I have ever seen on a tv show ever

[@MAXXWORX]

The Flash from the 90s was great. Love it to this day, my wife and son do as well, we watched the show last year for the first time with our son, and he was.. flashed and flash became his favorite superhero. Granted, he doesn't know that many, but still, was great seeing him enjoy it. And Mr Shipp will always be my Flash, he is was great in it, and i enjoyed seeing him in the new show and was looking forward seeing him again.

[@cainabel2009]

I love how Michael rephrased the question after hearing how passionate and the work that crew put into the original Flash. Back in those days there were no CGI for TV or if there were it might have been very expensive to do for TV because it was in its earliest stage

[@thatHARVguy]

Shipp had no CGI speed double, it was all him. Especially the scene where he ate that big bowl of cereal. 🤢

[@WestMichiganTransformers]

My opinion is that the current show’s biggest error was killing off Henry Allen at the end of season 2. So much of the heart of the show got lost; seeing his Dad free was what drove Barry in the first season-and yeah, those scenes between the two of them were what anchored the stakes and the emotion of the show. I feel like there could have been so much more explored for those two characters once Henry Allen *was* free in season 2, but the show didn’t seem to know what to do with his character.

[@mattb6369]

Honestly at that time there were some shows way ahead of their time and various circumstances led to their ends, The Flash and revived Dark Shadows being the most heartbreaking examples IMO.

[@johnnyskinwalker4095]

OMG I thought I was the only one on liking those! lol After a while I began to wonder if I was cursed. Every shows I liked started to get cancelled everytime. The cancellation of Dark Shadows was so heart breaking to me. It was my favorite show. Every week I would passionaly watch it. It got cancelled just as Barnabas had returned from the past knowing Angelique was responsible for him becoming a vampire. People were far less patient on Networks back in the day. Since then I have seen genre shows on these networks starting with bad ratings but they were patient with them and it got better, they became a success.

[@jasonelliott7977]

@@johnnyskinwalker4095 Cheers was 82 out of 100 and NBC stuck with it and it became a hit.

[@johnnyskinwalker4095]

@@jasonelliott7977 yea I meant Genre shows specifically like horror, fantasy, etc....Seems like back then they were soon as this odd thing.

[@re575817]

I loved Mr. Shipp's Flash. He was awesome and I was so happy he came back.

[@sonofhamp]

Part of the reason the OG Flash failed was because it kept getting pre-empted for Persian Gulf coverage.

[@petewillson205]

That and time slot changes, they even tried 830, an oddity for an hour long show, hoping to get around, Cosby and simpsons. It had several time slots and pre-emptions in a 4 network world.

[@TheRadioAteMyTV]

EXACTLY! We got maybe 4 shows that actually aired where I lived. I went bought a VCR just for that show, and I was in college so I needed to study/work, and the money for the VCR was a LOT on my budget, but for the Flash I did it, and what did I get? A bunch of Dan Rather. We won the war but lost the Flash.

[@TheRadioAteMyTV]

@@petewillson205 I don't remember the 8:30 thing, but where I lived it didn't matter since they rarely aired at all.

[@petewillson205]

@@TheRadioAteMyTV yeah they were trying anything to keep get eyeballs, fox had simpsons, whatever they aired at 830 always bombed, Cosby and all of nbc was hit lineup...solid strategy. Aired after top cops. Then they tried Saturdays as a last resort. The show was to expensive for Saturdays. It had to be a hit. Cosby was showing his age, A Different World needed Cosby to prop it up. CBS was probably 2 seasons to soon. But Bat-mania was all over the country every mid had 4 Different batman t-shirts so they launched it as a Batman sequel, even premiering it in movie theaters, it was a huge launch

[@jasonelliott7977]

They should have put it on either Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday.

[@carl_anderson9315]

I loved every time Barry entered Tina’s lab and the air blew her hair. She looked so beautiful. And the lab design was so cool.

[@christophergarrett7082]

Love seeing him back as 90s flash in crisis and elseworld. Can't wait to see him on Stargirl

[@Leadeshipcoach]

Same 😊

[@Awestefeld6612]

Agreed.

[@Cafeman_2D]

I was about 20 years old when it debuted, and remember the pilot blowing me away. I taped them all on VHS. IIRC, CBS put Flash up against Simpsons and Bill Cosby, then after it inevitably didn't do well in the ratings, pre-empted and moved the show constantly. At least later I got them all on the DVD set! Nice interview John!

[@LibraGamesUnlimited]

I'm just starting the video but I can one thing was when they put it on Saturdays. I remember having to set my VCR to record it while I was out doing things, as a high school kid. Would watch it Sunday afternoons, after I got back from my friend's house. I am glad he got the chance to come back and even have a nice ending.

[@jC-kc4si]

For some reason my VCR usually recorded the Flash in Black and WHITE, but the show was in color when I watched it live over the antenna.

[@LibraGamesUnlimited]

@@jC-kc4si That's weird. Reminds me of a funny story. Back when we were kids, this friend of mine's mother took in an injured squirrel and had it as a pet for a while. At one point it peed in their TV and the TV would only play in black and white until the pee evaporated and the color returned.

[@commandercaptain4664]

And back then, Nielsens didn't rate VCR recordings as streaming services (conveniently) do for themselves now.

[@LibraGamesUnlimited]

@@commandercaptain4664 Its good they changed that.

[@greggeer6231]

John is the nicest guy. My son and I met him in CT at comicon. He took the time to chat and answer any questions we had. Such a gentleman.

[@tod3msn]

Sometime having a dream team of talent on a show can bog the show down. Like a bunch of all stars does not always translate to a winning team or cast. Always liked John Wesley Shipp and recall him from his soap opera days on “Guiding Light.”

[@karaokekingskingdom]

I think having john in this as both barry's dad an the jay garrick was the greatest casting choice they coul do, he is the soul of this show

[@absabs129]

in the early 90's ( very early), there were a few shows that enchanted/captured me. 'The flash' was one, and the other was 'Mann & Machine', and maybe also the kids show 'My Secret Identity' - mind you i was only about 10/11 at the time.

[@steve9473]

This show was amazing and still holds up pretty well. Really bummed out when it got cancelled.

[@matthewronsson]

I was a life long comic nerd and thought that as far as TV adaptions, both the Hulk and the Flash were very good productions with well crafted stories. I thought the Flash would have lasted longer.

[@krane15]

The Hulk did very well. Any kid that grew up during the 80s will know the Hulk. Wonder Women, though slightly less successful, still held on 3x longer than the Flash.

[@sebastiancamacho55]

I’m so glad that he was willing to go on the show. My father and I loved the 90s flash and watched every episode. I was glad they was willing to have him on the show

[@TheeSinnerman]

He's talking about old 90s Flash. That scene where He flashes back in Crisis was so good.

[@rodney2134]

I'm Australian but I was in LA when it was first screened on TV. Can't remember if it started with a double episode but I was there long enough to see the next episode. At the time I thought it was the greatest TV ever made. LOL. Good memories.

[@maximusprime3459]

I remember back then, in a way, the show was trying to emulate Batman 89 a lot with the neo-noir look and the Danny Elfman/Shirley Walker music scores. The Superboy tv series on at the time was the same way with similar styling.

[@willchurch8376]

...I do not remember Superboy emulating Batman 89 the same way Flash did. At all. Superboy felt like a low budget version of the Reeve movies, emphasis on low, once Lois and Clark came out.

[@maximusprime3459]

@@willchurch8376 The later episodes of Superboy had kind of a darker tone than the first couple seasons.

[@derekhughes8318]

This guy is the real deal! I loved this show back in 1990,and still love it now! When he came back in Grant's,I almost got teary eyed,lol.John Shipp is the OG legend! ❤

[@tauhid9983]

I quite litterally thought they would be talking about how the CW's Flash failed lol

[@gilbertmillers4865]

Haha 😂 I know me too🤣

[@computerboy2k]

Failed, how can 8 seasons of show be a failure?

[@tauhid9983]

@@computerboy2k bro....it's still making money cuz die hard fans won't let the show go but the show in terms of quality is a total failure.

[@jamesrobinson2086]

This.. I clicked to hear how the writing and plots devolved into ridiculous, woke bullshit

[@a.b.2405]

@@tauhid9983 yes I still watch it even though I’m rolling my eyes the whole time.

[@MikeLinPA]

I met John at a small con and got to talk to him for about 10 minutes. He's a genuinely nice man, and I am glad I got to meet him.

[@hurdyb1]

One of my fav shows growing up. John Wesley Shipp is still my Barry Allen!

[@Skipray_Blastboat]

The original Flash show is soooo underrated and ahead of its time. Easily better than any of the modern CW DC shows.

[@anionhero]

I loved the original Flash TV series from the 90's. I watched it every chance I got and even bought the DVD set when the series came out on DVD. I believe the reason the series failed was due to the time slot they put it on at back then. It was always being preempted by basketball games. So much so that I think anyone who would have become a fan of the show simply gave up trying to watch it because it was just going to be preempted once again.

[@clintbrew]

The fact if it weren't for the 90s flash show mark hamill wouldnt have got the gig for the joker in BTAS since tim curry had to pull out for health reasons

[@Redhead155]

I am an almost 70 yr old who has never seen any Flash incarnation but lovingly remember JWS in The Guiding Light and As The World Turns which is why I just watched this interview.

[@EClark-nu5nr]

IIRC, part of the reason I had to stop watching the show was primarily the scheduling was terrible. It was on Thursday nights, and up against The Cosby Show and The Simpsons. Then some network bright guy decided to start playing Find the Flash on what ever night we put it on.

[@navbuoy]

Your memory serves you well I recall that too. That was a usual network tactic to bury a show...or it is a clear indication the show is in trouble.

[@Madbandit77]

There was also the Gulf War reports that interrupted the show. It found a home on Saturdays at 10pm, but that was the end.

[@cScottD]

I watched it right up until it stopped airing, although I did miss several episodes when they started moving it around without warning. In those days, it was hard to follow a show, if you didn't know exactly what day and time it was going to air, and they would often move it AFTER the TV Guides went to print, so finding it was a big guessing game (no Internet, as it exists to day, to just look it up).

[@gomikmay]

Yeah. That was a royal pain. I may be wrong but i think the World Series was playing around that time frame.

[@maximusprime3459]

They were wrong when they put it on Saturday night when it stood no chance.

[@Dr0p0fahat]

1990's Flash TV show was ahead of its time.

[@BronzeAgeBryon]

Years ago JWS was one of the first notable people to respond to me on Twitter. That was a thrill. I actually had to do a double take on Rosenbaum hosting. We're a long way from Smallville Lex.

[@StalKalle]

I've always liked John Wesley Shipp and I loved him as the Flash. I loved that show so much and it broke my heart that it was cancelled. I have it on DVD. I always wondered why it failed. I think one reason might have been that the show didn't have a thread to follow and that became a problem later in the season. The characters were kind of stuck and not developing. That was standard at that time and that is how comics also usually were but this show needed character progression. The beginning of the show was so well written in such a way that it made it feel like it would be that kind of show. Another problem was the villains the show most often had. They tried to keep the show grounded by staying away from the comic book villains. When they realized their mistake and started to introduce Flash villains like the Trickster, Captain Cold, Mirror Master and their version of the Reverse-Falsh (here called Pollux) it was already too late. I also know that the show was heavily inspired by Tim Burton's Batman and some people, especially Flash fans, did not like that. Personally, I loved that about the show.

[@michaelsasylum]

John Wesley Shipp added a real depth to the new Flash show.

[@entertainingCed]

Mr Shipp is one of the most amazing, down to earth guys i've ever met at a convention. my daughter and i were both nervous since we watched him on the original Flash. he came from around the table and welcomed us. had a blast getting to talk to him in Albuquerque.

[@brianegendorf2023]

It weird, I remember watching the first season (I was in college at the time), but some reason I thought there was a second season. As campy as that show was, I actually like it better than the current flash. It was pretty true to the comicbook. And there was a lot less angst on that show. JWS was perfect as Barry Allen. And at the time I was pretty infatuated with Amanda Pays, so that didn't hurt . I loved the effects, the costume, and the villains. It really is a shame the show didn't catch on. But I was also thrilled to see JWS show up on the new flash shows. And its been cool to see him play Jay Garrick! How often do you get to play two variants of cool super heroes? I'd LOVE to see them do a JSA episode with him..

[@thatHARVguy]

He did play JSA Jay Garrick during a flashback episode of Stargirl (S2E9).

[@IamDeathIncarnate1337]

lovely chap. was lucky enough to meet him once. that was a great show, it's a shame it never took off the way I wanted. it was so cool to bring him into the more recent show, and honour that earlier work, in a way. it's nice to know that the sacrifice was worth it all in the end.

[@Rorshach1004]

It didn't fail for me. I was a kid, and thought the entire show was absolutely fantastic. Super cool costume as well.

[@bigguy130]

I have the same opinion. I loved the show and hoped there would be a season 2. Sadly, there wasn't. But I was glad to see Shipp(and other characters from the original flash show) return in the new Flash series. I also enjoyed seeing him as the Dad in one of the Neverending story movies.

[@frostysnowman6173]

Agreed I was 7 yrs old and it was the best thing I had ever seen!

[@fsandoval60]

As a 6th grader in 1990 I loved this show. It was one of my favorites.

[@BronzeAgeBryon]

Agreed. This show got me collecting the Wally West monthly comic, and I even wrote a letter (Ha! Letters) to CBS asking them to save the show as part of a campaign.

[@petewillson205]

@@BronzeAgeBryon yeah I remeber being so confused as a kid that Wally West was the comic flash, and Barry Allen was tv flash, was young and didn't have the knowledge, that he was the original and had got killed off in crisis, just was at the grocery store picking up latest issues, that bragged on cover to watch his live action tv show, looking inside was a blond guy named wally, that was a practical jocker with the flash suit on. Very strange decision on DCs end, I guess cw flash did same thing, but people are more into comic book history now

[@TheRadioAteMyTV]

I will say this as a HUGE fan of the original show and bought a VCR just for the show, when I really didn't have the money for a VCR, since I was in college, but here is why the show didn't take off. It was constantly pre-empted by Gulf War coverage and those episodes never got shown or were shown weeks to month later. My VCR kept recording Dan Rather standing in the dark waiting for tanks to arrive instead of The Flash. That's how I remember it. I was so happy New Flash brought back Old Flash and the rest, that was a good feeling. I do have the original show on DVD so I finally got to see all the episodes, at last.

[@brendonkevinpitt9625]

The Flash interviewing The Flash. Multiverse confirmed.

[@jonathansoko1085]

Except this isnt that. Its lex interviewing the flash

[@brendonkevinpitt9625]

@@jonathansoko1085 Michael Rosenbaum voiced Wally West/The Flash in the Justice League animated series.

[@twk8520]

Loved this show as a kid still love it. He still is the best flash to play the role. Dude looked like a tank no f/x needed. Show was just before it's time

[@nicwinsteadart5330]

Credit to Berlanti giving that great nod to 90's Flash with all those callbacks.

[@MikeB12800]

I LOVED the Flash show in the 90’s!!! Was a Marvel fan and hated DC, but John Wesley Shipp actually made me like the Flash!!!!

[@erichutton3669]

Loved the 90's Flash! Shame CBS bailed on it

[@Burger-h1j]

34 years later and he is still the only person I think of.When I think of the Flash. He was too good for words. Just seeing his character crying on Dawson's Creek. Just tells you that he is insanely talented. Sad how all the ULTRA best actors in history are old or passed away now. The 1990s FLASH always felt like a movie. So sad he couldn't stay young😊 I will love him forever

[@GaryZenkerStoryteller]

He sounds like a great guy and even knows the comics perspective. Wow, smart also. See the Jay Garrick sketch in the background? And love that they use him in the current Flash.

[@CNormanHocker]

When they brought back the original 1990's suit, the original actor, and incorporated it all in the new Flash, was magic. It was great to see Ship come back in the CW Flash. I enjoy seeing classic characters being honored in the new productions.

[@RiplashII]

Yeah, but it helped pave the way for what we have today.

[@JamesHowlettii]

That man and that show was my first ever introduction to the *_Flash!_* I remember being a small kid watching it with excitement every Friday night on Sky One, here in the UK. I wouldn't find out about superhero "shared universes" till years later when I was a teen and I saw Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman (all shows/movies I'd seen as a child) along with the Flash on the front cover of a Justice League book called Secret Origins by Grant Morrison. My mind exploded 😁 Micheal Rosenbaums take on the character was refreshing.. Wide-eyed, optimistic, wise cracking and loveable and, obviously, Grant Gustin's take was a masterpiece as well. These three men are the reasons why I adore the character so much!

[@Don2Rich]

I saw this show before the reboot and I thought it was fantastic. This version of the Flash looked like it could've been part of the Burtonverse.

[@LMB925]

I was a kid when the original flash aired and I loved it. Big networks never give those shows a chance.

[@gilbertmillers4865]

It is so weird Roseburn has played kid flash/adult Wally west and Lex Luthor like wow 🤩 he’s a good actor

[@maximusprime3459]

He's also voiced Barry once. For some reason the Flash in the animated movie Justice League Doom is referred to as Barry instead of Wally.

[@gilbertmillers4865]

@@maximusprime3459 whoa 😳 really?! Because I think I forgot

[@willchurch8376]

@@maximusprime3459 That is weird. Doom was based on a literal Wally West era JL story.

[@maximusprime3459]

@@willchurch8376 Ok. I thought it was weird too but...

[@willchurch8376]

@@maximusprime3459 Yeah, I'm not saying you were off, just that it was a strange decision to make. While DC makes some sweet animated projects, their 'rules' for characters and such based on other projects that aren't operating in the same canon are stupid. Like making Arrow kill off Deadshot and Waller because of the Suicide Squad movie coming out at the time. Or when they told Timm's JL/JLU series that they couldn't use Bat-villains because of The Batman animated series that was out. The executives make really asinine calls.

[@powergirl7619]

John your Flash never failed. It was still good. You are a Legend! ! The original Flash. You did that!! It was ahead of it's time.❤❤❤🙌🙌🙌

[@mrbeans2425]

LOL i NO JOKE Thought he was talking about CW Flash Failure.... lol

[@albertsteele8644]

In my humble opinion this show did not fail or dissapoint. I still watch nit on dvd and enjoy the hell out of it. i also watched every episode as it aired. Still good stuff a a great memory. I also loved seeing the old cast members show up in the new show. You guys f'ing rock.

[@The8BitIdiot]

Almost every episode of OG flash was interrupted by Gulf War coverage. I never knew what was happening in any episode.

[@mardukmd6729]

Christopher Reeves. Lynda Carter. Adam West. John Wesley Shipp. greatest versions of all time!

[@david10006]

Still the coolest looking, most comic accurate Flash there's been.

[@duberdurm]

Shipp made Flash my favorite superhero and got me into comics. It made me so happy to see him and Pays in the CW version.

[@dannyr2976]

To be fair TV shows based upon a comic book character were seen as 'camp' specifically aimed at a younger demographic. _The Flash_ 1990 had taken a more serious tone (feeling a little slapstick at times) but much like _2001: A Space Odyssey_ in the late 60s, too far ahead of it's time.

[@dannyr2976]

@Will N Lol! Set my self up good n' proper there!

[@theaudiblecollective4491]

I loved this show when it came out, thanks for this interview.

[@MythopoeicNavid]

I don't think it "failed" long-term speaking -- it certainly made a lot of us true fans of the character, and it still looks awesome. I'd say it succeeded.

[@steveeverett1736]

I'd fine tune that thought, the 'idea' succeeded BUT most weren't ready for the show, it was too new and inventive at the time and it's time slot kept getting moved around. I remember a few times having to look at a TV guide to see when it was on and oh yeah, wasn't there also a major Earthquake in SF? I loved the show

[@MythopoeicNavid]

@@steveeverett1736 Man this brings back very, very vague memories for me -- I never saw it on TV but on later home media? So I don't recall the stuff. BUT I do remember it being splashed around on a lot of comics and pop-culture magazines at the time. I feel like a lot of excellent shows were ahead of their time -- like even something as widely disliked as the 2011 David E. Kelley Wonder Woman pilot starring Adrian Palicki. Rewatching the leaked pilot I can say that it would've been amazing had it gotten a few more episodes and a little more tweak here and there -- almost bordering on a 'war crimes tribunal' show for superheroes and mythical beings, and even had ol' Pedro Pascal in it. But I'll nerd less now lol. With the Flash I loved how utterly grounded those first few episodes were. Not only did it make Barry's constant need for eating such a fun superhero quirk, but his time at Star Labs, with Tina Greer, all those speed-freak villains, and even a blink-and-you'll-miss early appearance from Mark Dacascos (Crying Freeman, Drive, The Crow series, John Wick, Mortal Kombat Legacy so many else) in one of the episodes. (as an aside: the other day my 5yo niece was telling me over the phone what a magazine was, to her it's this groovy new thing that only a few cool people know about lol. I was like "it is child, it is." )

[@MythopoeicNavid]

​@Will N Agreed with almost all of this! A few notes -- the Marston Estate never imposed that embargo, it was this extremely weird thing where Wonder Girl (Cassie or Donna) was placed under a 'Teen Titans' brand and even in the comics they wouldn't let WW writers do what they want to with Donna. Which is absurd because we've seen how wonderful (no pun intended) the sidekicks have been with Bats & Supes. I feel like for all of Bruce Timm's work he just doesn't understand what made WW so popular. It just isn't a character or mindset he's good with, and he's constantly just playing it safe and weird. The 2009 film dir. by Lauren Montogmerry is a classic. As for which runs to adapt -- it shouldn't even be a question, look at how popular the first WW movie was and it didn't really need any DKR-like graphic novel source material (something Whedon was crying about back in the day when he was in charge of writing the script. He's another writer who just doesn't seem to grasp the character). But if you ask me, GAIL SIMONE. Just friggin' turn her books into direct-to-video adaptations! The Circle, Ends of the Earth, etc. etc. These are just so well done. Gail was also supposed to do a JLU episode featuring the Queen of Fables, whose own origin is a terrific WW story and movie just waiting to be made. What else? Hmmm... Villainy Inc? The first ever supervillain team up at DC for a solo hero if you don't count Shazam. Honestly, the Marston run is gold. The Denny O'Neil stuff is underrated. People also seem to really love the Greg Rucka stuff. DC in the late 40s was running purely on sales and the only reason WW, Supes, and Bats became a trinity in the Silver Age was because their comics just simply lasted while the others didn't. Aquaman is this weird outlier where he was still making back-up features and lasted through the Golden Age and Silver Age before the JLA came out -- I feel that Bruce Timm's art, as heavily enamored as it is to the art of Frank Frazetta, plus given Timm's own work on He-Man, he was a natural fit for a high-fantasy Aquaman TAS once GL wrapped. But yes, WB ultimately didn't care about WW as much. Even the recent Steve Orlando run is a hit. And heck, if no one else, I'm a screenwriter myself -- I'LL DO IT. I'll adapt those and make it a hit xD and the endless (Vertigo) spinoffs.

[@MythopoeicNavid]

@Will N Haha, I hear you! The recent story/Infinite Frontier, ehh. There's a ton of potential out of this, I'm particularly enjoying Yara Flor and how they're using a WW title to explore other parts of mythology (was sad to see that the WG series pilot didn't even get made, I would've undoubtedly loved that, but apparently the adaptation was putting restrictions on what could or could not be done in the comics and the writer for Yara currently seems at peace and quite loving the freedom she got out of NOT having to cross-check everything with the TV show). Was also quite fond of how they reintroduced Nubia, even if the details are a bit... well let's just say that nothing will ever satisfy a die-hard fan here haha. But I loved that they were threading in Nubia with mythical figures like Aunt Nancy (Anansi!) so there was that. Hippolyta, I feel, is one of the best and most underrated characters that DC has with them, but ever since John Byrne's atrocious run they keep wanting to plug her in as a Golden Age WW which I've never liked. Honestly, Phil Jimenez did such a phenomenal work with that status quo it's astounding, but I just think that the Queen of the Amazons has so much potential in her own Marstonian incarnation (yes, even tho she did appear as WW in ONE issue of Marston but that was more of an experiment -- and heck she has better stories as her own self rather than as WW). For animated shows and Donna, I hear you. Donna has so much potential and like the rest of WW fam, is hardly utilised. Which brings me back to Michael's show -- I really want to see a one-on-one with Susan Eisenberg!!! And maybe Adriane Palicki, and of course if you can get Lynda Carter that'd surely be the stuff of headlines. Still love that episode on Smallville where Lynda appeared and with Truth-giving powers to boot!

[@jmorlar2852]

The time has been kind on him, he looks awsome for a nearly 70-years-old!

[@wmlau69]

Another reason for the show’s failure is lack of promotion plus it went head to head with the number one show of the time, “Cosby” on Thursday nights at 8pm.

[@CyGea]

The death slot for any new show.

[@GingyandTheCrew]

inside of you has honestly changed my life i listen to every pod cast and i have to say thank you.

[@MugenLord]

Still the best live action Barry Alen till this day.

[@dwainpannell4931]

Grant is better when written better

[@Johnny-dz6vl]

I'm glad that JOHN is included in the current series of the Flash,his legacy will always be respected 🕶️

[@johnnyskinwalker4095]

I much prefered his Flash than the new one. He was closer to the comic Flash and I loved the noirish aspect of the show. It had a Burton Batman vibe.

[@TF80s]

👍👍

[@14DaveHunter]

Show should've been brought into the Batman 89 universe. The theme, the scenery and character looked like a Tim Burton production.

[@TF80s]

@@14DaveHunter yeah deffo..the only thing The Flash was missing was a cameo from Michael Keaton's Batman.

[@typeouetco1626]

how can you even think that he was closer to comics flash? Like he said, totally different backstories, pre crisis on infinite earth barry was an archetypal silver age characters, flash rebirth completely rebuilt the myth of the flash

[@johnnyskinwalker4095]

@@typeouetco1626 Yes I'm not talking about current comics Flash, I'm talking about Silver Age Barry

[@overdressed]

I remember this scene. I didn´t know that John played The Flash in the 1990s. I just thought, how touching and well acted the scene was. Afterwards I was told and that John played The Flash and I think, ah that was two leading man beeing great.

[@shiningnight12]

What John said is the reason season 1 and 2 of the flash was freaking GOD tier dctv

[@uosdwiSrdewoH]

It's really too bad. I was a huge fan of that show. For the time they really did the source material justice. I love the old school effects. His running was so much fun. Mark Hamill as The Trickster. Danny Elfman's theme was a little Batman lite but it did get one prepared for what was to come. There are some things they did better in the 1990 show to be honest. It deserved at least a second season. It's great to see John Wesley Shipp playing Flash again and I'll always give the new show credit for such a smart decision.