The Starling City Times: News and Media about Arrow

[Mellowyellow]

@bijoux was he talking about an Olicitot with Felicity specifically or Oliver's kid in general?

Haha I can choke down the bad name as long as I get an Olicitot!

[bijoux]

He was talking about their kid. Aside from William, he's never spoken of any kids of Oliver's that aren't Felicity's as well.

ETA: @Mellowyellow, I checked, and the panel was in November of 2015.  The question is at minute 24, and SA's answer is at minute 25.

Edited June 11, 2017 by bijoux

[Mellowyellow]

 Ahh thanks! I thought it was this year. 

Boo *slinks off and tempers excitement*

[LeighAn]

42 minutes ago, bijoux said:

This isn't new, it's from a while back. If you want to look for good signs now, he spoke of them having a girl and naming her Moira recently. Which I think is a bad idea.

I like Mia because it's sort of like a mesh of Moira and Thea. 

[bijoux]

Sure, and it plays with the comic canon as well.

[LeighAn]

Just now, bijoux said:

Sure, and it plays with the comic canon as well.

Does it?

[Mellowyellow]

Isn't MG quite deadset on Moira and Robert for names?

They could nickname her something else I suppose. 

[bijoux]

1 minute ago, LeighAn said:

Does it?

There's no Thea in the comics, but the show's Thea is an adaptation of the comics' Mia Dearden, Speedy. So, it could be a cool nod there, the possibility of Oliver and Felicity's daughter suiting up in the future. Dig's son does in one possible timeline, so this would make sense as well.

[LeighAn]

Just now, bijoux said:

There's no Thea in the comics, but the show's Thea is an adaptation of the comics' Mia Dearden, Speedy. So, it could be a cool nod there, the possibility of Oliver and Felicity's daughter suiting up in the future. Dig's son does in one possible timeline, so this would make sense as well.

Oh cool! So it fits. 

Moira is too old fashion now and I feel like regardless of the sex. Mia sounds unique and individual enough while having the hidden shoutout to her grand mother and aunt.

Plus I feel like Robert and Moira as baby names kind of feel like they exclude Felicity. 

[Midnight Lullaby]

Mia was also the alias Thea was using in Corto Maltese..a nod to the comics..

[leopardprint]

Maybe it's just me, but I think it would be weird for Felicity to name her kid Moira since they didn't even like each other. Of course, on Arrow, only fathers matter so why would Felicity get a say? I would also think Oliver who has spent years trying to get out from under his parents' clouded legacies wouldn't turn around and then saddle his kids with their names. 

Unless she names her Moira as a dig at Samantha, that's the kind of next level petty I can get behind. ?

Edited June 11, 2017 by leopardprint

[tv echo]

Only quoted part of interview (you may wish to read the rest)...

Interview with Lord Mesa at HVFF London
Posted by Froggy On June 02, 2017
http://thegeekiary.com/interview-lord-mesa-hvff-london/44062

Quote

The Geekiary: You’ve drawn so many characters; do you have a favorite fandom?
Lord Mesa: It’s hard because there is so much and it feels like every other year, they keep adding to it, like Black Lightning is being added to the line-up. But I still stay true to the ones that helped me grow and helped become what it is that people are coming to the shows to see. That’s pretty much Arrow. Arrow will forever have my support and my backing. From there, it’s The Flash, it’s Supergirl… All the actors and everyone have been so great and so kind that I just want to keep going and support them.

The Geekiary: You were name-dropped in a recent episode of Arrow, how did that feel?
Lord Mesa: That was an amazing, unexpected experience. I was commissioned to do the artwork back in March so I knew it was coming. But I was not aware and did not know that the name-drop was gonna happen when it did. It was so exciting. I’m still, to this day, geeking out about it.

Edited June 12, 2017 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Here's two Australian interviews with Colin Donnell...

INTERVIEW: SUPANOVA GUEST COLIN DONNELL TALKS CHICAGO MED, THE DEATH OF TOMMY MERLYN & ARM WRESTLING CHRIS HEMSWORTH
JUNE 13, 2017 DAVID HUNTER
http://iris.theaureview.com/interview-supanova-guest-colin-donnell-talks-chicago-med-the-death-of-tommy-merlyn-arm-wrestling-chris-hemsworth/

Quote

We wait patiently to welcome Colin to Australia and Supanova Comic and Gaming Expo in the coming weeks, until then, I got the chance to have a chat and a catch up with Colin Donnell while he was still in Chicago before the big trip down under.
*  *  *
You just mentioned that it’s the longest you have stayed with a character on a show and I must ask, as many others probably have, other than a few flashback cameos, why did they get rid of Tommy so damn early in Arrow? Was this a writer’s choice or did you have something better planned?
In hindsight, it was one of the best things that ever happened to me because I ended up being able to go back to New York and do ‘Shakespeare in The Park’ there, where I re-connected with my now wife (Actress Patti Murin), so we started dating when we were doing that show. But when it happened (Tommy Merlyn’s death in Arrow) it was a decision which they came to in the writer’s room somewhere along the line of the first season. They had this idea that they wanted to really do something major at the end of the first season and the best way to accomplish that and the character that would have the most impact across the board, would be to give Tommy the axe!

So, I mean, it took me by surprise certainly, but the way they gave him such an exit is pretty cool for me, especially now, almost 5 going on 6 years later people are still remembering it.

Superman and Arrow star visiting Australia 
Written by bay 93.9.   June 6, 2017
http://www.bay939.com.au/entertainment/81181-superman-and-arrow-star-visiting-australia

Quote

Colin Donnell, best known for playing Tommy Merlyn on the television show Arrow, and now with a role on Chicago Med, will also attend Supanova. 

He said he was open to returning to Arrow, perhaps in an alternate reality as a villain. 

"I never say never to making more appearances with my friends on Arrow," he said. 

"I think he's got to be a bad guy ... I have a thing for wanting to play villains." 

* Supanova will be in Sydney, June 16-18 and Perth, June 24-25.

Edited June 16, 2017 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Morning show interview with JB today...

Quote

John Barrowman MBE was live.
56 mins · Facebook Mentions
Live right now in DC for Awesome Con JB

-- JB said that he and his sister don't have any plans to write any more Malcolm Merlyn comics for DC. However, he then said that they will be making a "big announcement on Saturday for something else" and that it'll be with a "company called Legendary."

-- JB said that he'll be doing a version of his autobiography for the U.S. market (his two prior autobiographies were for the U.K./Europe market and they were best sellers). JB: "And there will be a chapter on Arrow and everything that I've done in the States for the last five years. It will be written for the U.S. market."

-- JB: "When Merlyn looks at you and smiles, something bad is about to happen."

Edited June 16, 2017 by tv echo

[tv echo]

JOHN BARROWMAN ANNOUNCES CURSED FROM LEGENDARY COMICS (EXCLUSIVE)
POSTED BY KYLE ANDERSON ON JUNE 17, 2017
http://nerdist.com/john-barrowman-announces-cursed-from-legendary-comics-exclusive/

Quote

I can’t think of anything John Barrowman can’t do. He sings, he dances, he is an integral figure in both DC Comics TV continuity and Doctor Who continuity, and he also finds time to write amazing stories for comic books. On Saturday during the Legendary Comics panel at Awesome Con in Washington, DC, a brand new Barrowman project was announced, which sounds like yet another in a long line of creative titles perfectly suited to his sensibilities. Cursed will bring folklore, legend, and modern day anti-heroics together, in an ongoing series along with his sister and writing partner Carole Barrowman and Firebrand writer Erika Lewis.
*  *  *
The story of Cursed will follow Charlie Stewart, a successful lawyer with a family, house, the whole nine years. Until his 40th birthday, however; that’s when he suddenly falls victim to a centuries-old family curse, dating back to his distant ancestor, Bonnie Prince Charlie, who angered the sisters of the Celtic god of war. Every decision Charlie makes, every relationship he has, every choice he’s given is doomed to fail spectacularly, no matter what he does. So he must travel to Scotland and get caught up in the petty squabbles of the gods in order to set his life back on track, and maybe learn not to be a jerk in the process. “Humbling,” they call it.

“We’ve always wanted to write a story that pulls together our love of history, our Scottish heritage, and our love of sci-fi and the supernatural. Mix these all together and Cursed was born,” said John Barrowman.

Edited June 18, 2017 by tv echo

[tv echo]

I disagree with this writer in that I think the biggest problems with S4 included the magic/nukes storyline. I could also argue that S2 also started off really well but fell flat after its mid-season finale and didn't get good again until the end. I also disagree with his statements about the new recruits...

Star City Miracle: 15 Reasons You NEED To Start Watching Arrow Again
06.16.2017 by Joshua Olivieri
http://www.cbr.com/star-city-miracle-15-reasons-you-need-to-start-watching-arrow-again/

Quote

As a fan of Arrow, I’ll be the first person to tell you that it has seen some bad days. Both seasons 3 and 4 started off really well but fell flat after their respective mid-season finales. Because of this, the show essentially killed off a lot of its fan base and has struggled to try and win them back.
*  *  *
While it’s by no means a perfect product, Arrow gets pretty darn close during the latter half of season 5. For the first time in a while, people are excited by the show again and anxious to see what the writers come up with next when season 6 premieres in the fall. There are crazy plot threads to tie up and questions about what’s next for the Green Arrow and his team.
*  *  *
12. NO OLICITY DRAMA
.  .  .
While I won’t say that season 4 was excellent, I genuinely feel that the two problems there stemmed from the flashbacks not being very exciting and the terrible Olicity drama. Apart from that, I felt that the season was fine. That being said, the writers of Arrow were determined not to fall into the same traps as before, and one step they took toward it was eliminating the Olicity drama altogether.

There were moments where their relationship is discussed, but it’s always in the context of the narrative and overstays stays its welcome. Furthermore, Felicity even gets another boyfriend, and instead of making it a source of conflict between her and Oliver, it’s used to further the story and give depth to multiple characters. No unnecessary plots are present here.

15. FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHY
14. PROMETHEUS
13. ACTING
12. NO OLICITY DRAMA
11. REAL CONSEQUENCES
10. TIED UP THE FLASHBACKS
9. REMINISCENT OF SEASONS 1 AND 2
8. DEATHSTROKE RETURNS
7. THE NEW TEAM ARROW
6. AWESOME TRICK ARROWS
5. WELL-DIRECTED EPISODES
4. ENDS WITH A BANG
3. THE INVASION CROSSOVER
2. DOWN WITH MAGIC
1. OLLIE’S DOUBLE LIFE

Edited June 18, 2017 by tv echo

[LeighAn]

I guess he missed that part where Olicity reunited. Oh well. I'm sure he will decide season 6 is terrible as a result.

[statsgirl]

Thank you @tv echo for taking the hit so I don't have to give the article clicks.

I think he was watching a different show than I was.  I don't remember any "awesome trick arrows" except a ridiculous one when Oliver was forcing Diggle to break out of prison, I have no idea what "Ollie's double life" refers to (it was a much better double life in s1 and 2 when most people didn't know Oliver was the Arrow) and as for Team Wannabees, enough said about them.

It's funny how people who don't like Olicity refer to it as "Olicity drama" while those who like Olicity call it "Baby Mama Drama".  Naturally I think the second reflects the situation better.

[Primal Slayer]

I never saw magic as a bad thing for Arrow and it wasn't even the main problem in S4 for me, they just wrote a bad season just as they wrote a bad Ra's Al Ghul in S3. 

[BkWurm1]

50 minutes ago, Primal Slayer said:

I never saw magic as a bad thing for Arrow and it wasn't even the main problem in S4 for me, they just wrote a bad season just as they wrote a bad Ra's Al Ghul in S3. 

I tend to agree, but think they were so wary of magic on Arrow that they didn't lean into it early enough on Oliver's side and squandered the set up on Thea's end.  It left the team so thoroughly out of their depth that it wasn't entertaining.  DD was too powerful and they had no way to personally fight him so the team just ended up looking stupid when they pulled the same old tricks and naturally had the same old results.  It got interesting when DD had that really negative reaction to Thea when he tried to use his magic on her and I would have happily spent more time on Oliver working with funny magic lady and Felicity trying to channel his inner light to use his magically tattoo.  But that was left as a last resort and instead of letting Thea find something useful in her side effects, they dangled that thread and then  handed the resolution of her arc off to Oliver and Malcolm to fight over.  How much better would it have been if her pit blood lust was snuffed out in combating DD's magic?  (And then at that point, she'd be vulnerable again so the team would have to scramble for new solutions, cue Oliver) 

In the end, it wasn't so much the magic (which I agree was mishandled but had potential) that IMO ruined things but the HUGE scope of Dark's plan with Hive.  In never really made to destroy the world when so many of Hive's believers could have just moved to a gated community, lol.   And it made no sense that no one but Team Arrow was working on this problem when it involved the world.    And that somehow becoming Mayor of Star City should make a lick of difference when they already had built a vast underground world (but it still took til 509 to figure out how to create oxygen down there?  Did the construction workers where oxygen tanks the whole time?  And where did they get construction workers?)  Toss in the the BMD and the season was just waiting to implode under the weight of its stupidity.   

Edited June 18, 2017 by BkWurm1

[Primal Slayer]

I was so let down with the whole DD/Thea plot and they were so hellbent on having Oliver having to be the savior that the whole magic tattoo thing was stupid. They had plenty of interesting plots started but for some reason didnt really follow them through.

[tv echo]

No actual spoilers...

Cody Rhodes Ready to Make History in Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro Wrestling
June 21, 2017 Scott Fishman
https://www.channelguidemag.com/tv-news/2017/06/21/164890/

Quote

Outside the ring Rhodes is also adding acting credits to his impressive resume with appearances on Arrow under his belt. Will we see Derek Sampson again?

“For a fan form [sic] the start, the Arrow season finale was so satisfying. I’m looking forward to what’s next,” Rhodes said. “There was discussions for me to come back. Although I’m not privy to any behind the scenes discussions of Arrow, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Derek Sampson returns in some fashion. I think they were very happy with me. I know I was happy. What a team with Greg Berlanti[,] Marc Guggenheim and everyone else there. Stephen Amell works so hard. He and I have built a friendship based on Stardust. So I hope to return. I took it very seriously and tried my best and hope people enjoyed it.”

With Amell known to have attended multiple WWE shows, will we ever see the actor ringside at a ROH event?

“He always asks about dates,” Rhodes said. “He is starting to become Reese Bobby, Ricky Bobby’s dad in Talladega Nights: [The Ballad of Ricky Bobby]. I feel like I leave a ticket at every show, and every show he doesn’t come. He is my Reese Bobby. He’ll make it eventually.”

Edited June 22, 2017 by tv echo

[bethy]

Interview with MG - http://ew.com/tv/2017/06/22/arrow-season-6-who-died-guggenheim-spoilers/amp/. The link says "spoilers," but I don't see them? Be careful, I guess.

Quote

“There are other consequences that can come out of what happened at the end of [episode] 523. While everyone is focused on one thing, you know us on Arrow, we may be doing something else.”

Hahaha! Yes, Marc, you and the writers are always so tricky.

Unless, of course, he means all those times when what they think they're doing on-screen doesn't match with what actually shows up on-screen. 

[tv echo]

SA's interview starts at around the 48:15 mark...

Outta The Park with Barry Davis - Ep. 12 - June 25, 2017

-- SA talked about being born in Toronto in 1981 and living there until late 2009, and about shooting Code 8 in Toronto. He then talked about working with his cousin. SA: "Robbie and I got into the industry in very different ways but at roughly the same time, which means that our sort of path of development, despite the fact that I'm seven years older than him, has been sorta similar. Uh, and it's great working with him. I mean, there are ways that he's different than me, there are ways that we are very similar, um, but when we're different, like so spectrally opposite that you still see the similarities." He gave the plot synopsis for Code 8 (previously reported in the media).

-- He talked about taking batting practice with the Toronto Blue Jays recently. Although he played a little baseball growing up, he never played sports seriously beyond high school and he never had a dream of playing sports professionally. He got into acting school right out of high school. He's always been athletic though. When he was 29 about to turn 30, he booked Arrow and then "got to try all these new things."

-- When asked about new scars since shooting Arrow, SA said that he "broke his nose twice this year" and has "little bumps and bruises here and there." He also said that he got "a big scar on his leg from when he was a kid." 

-- SA: "The majority of my physical issues these days - I just turned 36 - are from, uh, swinging punches at stunt men and purposely missing, but having to swing as hard as I possibly can. It'd be like if, you know - it'd be like if, instead of going in and taking BP against a live pitcher, you just went in there and swung 25 times as hard as you can and didn't hit anything. Right? It causes all sorts of weird, muscular problems in your back. I know this is very boring - those are the majority of my physical issues and those you can't see." 

-- However, he agreed with the interviewer that he'll take the bumps and bruises for what he gets to do every day. SA: "There are elements of filming Arrow that have always been very frustrating, but I think that's just part of any job. You know, not every day is going to be fantastic, but, you know... We shoot 23 episodes a year and I feel like from a creative, for me not aging rapidly standpoint, maybe that number would be closer to 12. But the point is that I do try to remind myself all the time that I wouldn't trade this job for anything. And when I got it, I would've given up anything to keep it. So, um, you know, now that we're getting into our sixth year, I'm able to put it a bit more into perspective. Yeah, I've got the best job on TV."

-- On Arrow going into Season 6, SA: "Well, it's incredible. And it's strange because, you know, I've always been somewhat closely tied with Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki of Supernatural, who are going into their 13th season. So whenever we talk about going into our 6th season, it always seems like, you know - it always seems like it pales in comparison. But in actuality, it's a real accomplishment. You know, when I look back on, uh, the broadcast pilot season from 2012, you know, of the five major networks - NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox and CW - um, I believe it's just us and Chicago Fire that remains. If you think about the number of projects that are commissioned in a pilot season and that actually go to air, to still be around - and not only to be around, but to be the, um, you know, one of the catalysts for, um, you know, three other DC shows on our network and, I personally think, a lot of other comic book shows that you see, you know, on Fox or ABC or Netflix, um, it's a real, real honor."

-- On a big screen Arrow movie, SA: "Sure, we could do an Arrow movie... They kicked around the idea of doing one a couple years ago, and it didn't come to fruition for a variety of reasons that are not super important. But, um, it would be great because - I mean, selfishly, it would be tremendous to take the amount of money that we get to spend as a show for an entire season and put that into 95 minutes of screen time."

-- They then returned to talking about the Toronto Blue Jays (bunch of stuff). SA: "Being a professional athlete is harder than being an actor. This is a given. I mean, the number of people who are professional athletes is much, much smaller. That being said, being an actor isn't necessarily easy. And to that, I always point to, you know, certain athlete cameos and stuff or athletes doing commercials where I'll be like, 'see, it's not that easy.'" 

Edited June 26, 2017 by tv echo

[tv echo]

From Alamo City Comic Con on May 27...

ACCC '17 Interview with Katrina Law
Published on Jun 21, 2017, by GVTV: GeekVengers Television

-- Interviewer commented on how her voice on Arrow is so different from her real life voice. KL: "I just think back to my super angry childhood and I just channel that."

-- Interviewer asked if she was returning to Arrow next season. KL joked that, no, everyone's dead, but then "spoiled" that everyone's coming back as zombies.

-- They then talked about Spartacus and Training Day, including working with Bill Paxton.

Edited June 26, 2017 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Red hot new baby name is revealed and you'll never guess what it is
BY ZARA WHELAN RUKI SAYID   27 JUN 2017
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/whats-on/top-baby-names-uk-2017-13244535

Quote

Superhero names have also seen a rise in numbers including Kara from Supergirl, Harley (and Quinn) from Suicide Squad and Felicity (Smoak), from the smash hit comic book series Arrow all seeing an increase. Star Wars names such as Leia, Kylo, and Finn have also had a boost, with the name Ezra featuring in the top 100 names for the first time last year.

[SmallScreenDiva]

That's pretty cool.

[tv echo]

Lots of MG quotes (this article is very long and I only quoted portions of it)...

The pros and cons of social media, according to TV's top showrunners
BY LAURA PRUDOM   June 28, 2017
http://mashable.com/2017/06/28/pretty-little-liars-twitter-showrunner-social-media-tv/?utm_cid=hp-n-2#Rs3taZn6JiqB

Quote

In addition to [Pretty Little Liars showrunner Marlene] King, Mashable talked with Bryan Fuller, showrunner of NBC's canceled (but still beloved) Hannibal and Starz's new hit drama American Gods; Marc Guggenheim, executive producer of The CW's Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow; and Ron Moore, who helmed Syfy's fan-favorite Battlestar Galactica reboot and currently runs Starz's Outlander, to get their take on how social media has made their jobs simultaneously easier and so much harder over the past few years.
*  *  *
Pro: Instant Feedback
.  .  .
All four executive producers agreed that the ability to take the temperature of their audience is one of the most positive aspects of social media they've encountered since Twitter and Facebook gained popularity.
*  *  *
Con: Instant Feedback
.  .  .
But, as Guggenheim points out, instant feedback can be as negative as it is positive. As an executive producer on both Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow — two superhero shows with avid fanbases — he has firsthand experience with the contrasting ways that viewers can react to a show, depending on whether or not a storyline is fitting their preferred narrative.

"Legends is so much less controversial online than Arrow is. The experience in terms of dealing with the fans on those two shows is night and day," he admits. "With respect to Legends, I never think about social media. There's a lot of social media engagement with the show, but the content of it doesn't really require me to think about, 'Well, what are the fans going to think?' Arrow is a much more complex circumstance."   

While Arrow stirs up a lot of emotions among its fans, Guggenheim and Fuller both agree that there's a troubling amount of cruelty and vitriol inherent in online interaction — at least when users are able to comment anonymously.

"My Twitter feeds into my Instagram, and my daughter will read my Instagram feed, and she'll read the comments," Guggenheim says. "[Recently] she came up to me and she's like, 'Daddy, why do people want you fired?' I'm like, 'They don't want daddy fired. They just want daddy to have a vacation.' It's like, you want me fired. You want me dead. You want me to kill myself. I read all of that. It's a TV show. Let's put it all in some kind of perspective."
*  *  *
Pro: Promotion
. . .
Thanks to social media, we now have a better sense of what's going on behind the scenes of our favorite shows than ever before, mostly due to posts from the cast and crew. For shows like Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead, every new image, trailer, behind-the-scenes video and official Tweet could contain clues for the upcoming season, and fans scrutinize them carefully. 
*  *  *
Con: Spoilers
.  .  .
"I think the spoiler factor is huge," Guggenheim says. "In fact, I see a lot of people tweeting out, 'Okay, I'm going offline, because I don't want things spoiled tonight.'"
*  *  *
Pro: Community
.  .  .
Beyond giving them a channel for immediate feedback, all four showrunners emphasized the value of social media as a way of creating bonds between audience members, allowing fans to find a community of like-minded souls.
*  *  *
Guggenheim agrees, "I've had a lot of really positive fan interactions on Twitter ... I grew up reading comic books where your fan interactions were going to a convention or writing a letter. This is wonderful. This is instantaneous, and it's bilateral. I can talk to fans, and fans can talk to me."
*  *  *
Con: Ownership
.  .  .
As much as showrunners recognize and appreciate that their projects wouldn't be on the air without their fans, there is a dark side to that dedication, when love morphs into possessiveness, prompting fans to attack a show's cast or writers over narrative choices that they don't agree with. 

All four producers emphasized that they don't let fan reaction — especially negative feedback — affect their storytelling, no matter how eager some fans are to claim credit when a show seems to pivot in a direction they prefer. 

This is an issue that Guggenheim has struggled with as Arrow has progressed, and he's candid in explaining why it's a losing battle to try and satisfy one subset of the overall audience, no matter how loud they might seem online.

"I'm always saying, and I think the show proves, we really don't write with social media in mind, for a few different reasons. First of all, as a matter of principle I don't agree with that. I write for the kind of audience that I am. The way I watch television, and movies, and read comics, is: I consume entertainment to be entertained. I may have an opinion, I may want to see a certain result, but at the end of the day I've never been the kind of fan that needs to see something happen a certain way, or see a certain couple get together; I'm not outraged about a certain plot twist," he says. 

"I understand and respect the fact that there's a lot of members of the audience out there that feel like, 'Well, we watch your show. Therefore, you're the reason we're a hit. Therefore, we should have a vote.' I can track the logic of that, but I'm not their showrunner. That's just not me. Also, the other thing that I have to keep in mind is Twitter is a certain self-selecting audience," he points out. "Just with respect to Arrow, the views reflected on Twitter are different from the views reflected on Facebook, which are different from the views reflected on Reddit, just to take three very specific platforms that I know have very specific points of view. Even if I were inclined to listen to social media, the next question would be, well, which social media do I listen to? I can tell you, and I think logic would tell you, there is no making all three of the people on those platforms happy. It's kind of a sucker's bet to change your show based upon social media."
*  *  *
"The other thing that I think social media completely misses," Guggenheim adds, "is we write so far ahead of broadcast, to the point where the things that people are complaining about, that die is cast, for better or for worse. It's very nice to get feedback, but the truth of the matter is that there's really no way to turn the oil tanker. The show is what the show is by the time people are watching it." 

Ultimately, there's a covenant between TV shows and viewers: Showrunners are entitled to produce and write a series however they see fit, and viewers are entitled to stop watching if the show stops being enjoyable for them. 
*  *  *
Petitions and social campaigns may have an impact when it comes to saving a bubble show, if enough fans can demonstrate that there's a bankable interest in the series moving forward, but like it or not, the TV business is indeed a business. Short of advertisers pulling out of the show or viewership declining dramatically and consistently over the course of a season, it's hard to prove that a disagreeable storytelling choice is having an adverse effect on a show's quality or durability.
*  *  *
"I think access is wonderful. The vast majority of writers and showrunners that I know, they love it. They love interacting with fans," Guggenheim says. "Where it starts to come off the rails is when the people who have access to you are abusing that access and just acting rude. I think the one thing I would love to see us do as a society is strip away the distinction between in real life, 'IRL,' and online when it comes to social mores. If you've been raised properly, you know something about manners. You know the right way to treat people. Don't say something online that you wouldn't say to someone else's face."  
*  *  *
Pro: Hope
.  .  .
Social media may breed contempt when antagonistic voices are caught in an echo chamber, but it also encourages creativity, friendship, discussion and, hopefully, a sense of opportunity for fans who aspire to launch their own dream project someday.

Edited June 28, 2017 by tv echo

[BkWurm1]

32 minutes ago, tv echo said:

or viewership declining dramatically and consistently over the course of a season, it's hard to prove that a disagreeable storytelling choice is having an adverse effect on a show's quality or durability.

Plus the showrunner has to stop denying there is a steady decline. And then they have to pick the right reason for the decline to fix.

[tv echo]

In the category of surprising Felicity references, here's an article comparing Felicity Smoak to Han Solo...

MARK HUGHES COBB: A big crash while flying Solo
June 28, 2017
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/news/20170628/mark-hughes-cobb-big-crash-while-flying-solo

Quote

Everyone understands Han Solo. Except Lucas, Lucasfilm and all the hell that rides with them. Han is the grace of “Star Wars,” the only thing that kept them from descending into “Krull” territory. Why? Because Han was, plainly, fun. Snarky, bordering on mean; driven by a kind of ugly self-preservation that had the effect of well, leaving him alive, et voila, and thus successful in his chosen field.

Luke Skywalker was designed to be the hero, just as Dinah Lance was meant to be the girlfriend in “Arrow.” But just as Felicity Smoak ran away with the pointy green guy from her first appearance, thus did Han embody the soul of the tale. Everyone else’s cardboard: Pure good, or pure evil. Vanilla or chocolate. They’re figurines to be pushed around a map, deployed to add fire or cover or, I don’t know, Jabba-burgers?

Han is -- I’m repeating -- the only human in the whole frakkin’ series. Everyone else is a type, a stiff, so two-dimensional they’d have to spin like a dervish to get damp in a shower. Dimensions are key: Han’s crafty, but plays dumb when it suits him. He’s dang good at what he does -- smuggling and flying -- but isn’t terrifically interested in whatever repercussions occur, politically, financially or socially, via redistribution of goods. Just wants to keep flying. He shoots first, why? Because the guy who shoots second doesn’t get a sequel. He can’t tell his tale, become interesting the more you peel him back; he can’t remain complicated and ornery yet still draw out a kind of charm that can override all manner of badness, because he shot second, aka last, aka one too late.

Edited June 29, 2017 by tv echo

[Starfish35]

2 hours ago, tv echo said:

In the category of surprising Felicity references, here's an article comparing Felicity Smoak to Han Solo.

Lol.  I wouldn't have seen that coming.

[Soulfire]

Quote

 

Star-Studded Arrow Panel Set For Comic-Con 2017

5:50–6:30 p.m. Arrow Special Video Presentation and Q&A — With the future of the team left hanging in the balance, Arrow gave new definition to the phrase “blowing up the show.” The emotional showdown between Oliver Queen and Adrian Chase was the perfect conclusion to a stellar fifth season of The CW’s gritty DC Super Hero series. Now, the focus shifts to uncovering the fate of each and every member of Team Arrow. Could anyone have possibly survived an island-wide explosion, or has the book closed on them, as it has on Oliver’s five-year flashback story? Returning to San Diego Comic-Con for a sixth consecutive year, cast members Stephen Amell, David Ramsey, Willa Holland, Emily Bett Rickards, Paul Blackthorne, Katie Cassidy, Echo Kellum, Juliana Harkavy, Rick Gonzalez and producers will be on-hand for an eye-opening conversation about the upcoming season. From Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television, Arrow’s season six premiere moves to its new night on  Thursday, October 12, at 9/8c on The CW.

 

[way2interested]

Wow, that will be a packed panel

[BkWurm1]

Excluding a couple from the list really would be more trouble than it's worth when they can just take everyone.

[way2interested]

4 minutes ago, BkWurm1 said:

Excluding a couple from the list really would be more trouble than it's worth when they can just take everyone.

I get that, but it is a shame that pretty much each cast member will get like 30s to answer, ha

[leopardprint]

57 minutes ago, Soulfire said:

Could anyone have possibly survived an island-wide explosion, or has the book closed on them, as it has on Oliver’s five-year flashback story? Returning to San Diego Comic-Con for a sixth consecutive year, cast members Stephen Amell, David Ramsey, Willa Holland, Emily Bett Rickards, Paul Blackthorne, Katie Cassidy, Echo Kellum, Juliana Harkavy, Rick Gonzalez and producers will be on-hand for an eye-opening conversation about the upcoming season

Poor blurb writer, hard to make that one work. 

They could have just brought SA and the producers but I guess it's good that they aren't pretending everyone is dead. 

Typically, do the lead and the producers get more time to speak at these things?

Edited June 29, 2017 by leopardprint

[wonderwall]

22 minutes ago, BkWurm1 said:

Excluding a couple from the list really would be more trouble than it's worth when they can just take everyone.

This is why it should've just been Stephen, Emily, Willa, David. 

Including 1 newbie that means you'd have to include all of them including KC. 

And I'm sure PB wouldn't mind not going. He was so miserable last year

[Starfish35]

They've always taken all the main cast members to SDCC, haven't they?  Don't they usually have those huge combined cast panels?  

It seems like most of the info comes from the cast members doing those round table talks with the various press people.  Other than big announcements of course. 

[BkWurm1]

8 minutes ago, wonderwall said:

This is why it should've just been Stephen, Emily, Willa, David. 

Including 1 newbie that means you'd have to include all of them including KC. 

And I'm sure PB wouldn't mind not going. He was so miserable last year

I feel with what little they gave him to work with for the first half of the season, he had good reason not to seem thrilled.  I'll be watching him closely again.

[insomniadreams88]

I just hope there's a good moderator. With such a packed panel, they need one. 

[wonderwall]

The only acceptable mods: Jarrett & Aisha

[Morrigan2575]

2 hours ago, Starfish35 said:

They've always taken all the main cast members to SDCC, haven't they?  Don't they usually have those huge combined cast panels?  

It seems like most of the info comes from the cast members doing those round table talks with the various press people.  Other than big announcements of course. 

Not always no, they only started taking all of the Series Regulars in S3.

Edited June 29, 2017 by Morrigan2575

[Guest]

Meh. Nothing will top SDCC 2016 for me. The cast looked like they were having so much fun and it was contagious. I even managed to forget all the crappy stuff they were saying about Felicity's boyfriend and moving away from Olicity. Haha.

Edited June 29, 2017 by Guest

[way2interested]

13 minutes ago, Angel12d said:

I even managed to forget all the crappy stuff they were saying about Felicity's boyfriend and moving away from Olicity. Haha.

It was hard to get mad while they were making jokes about Russian vodka and mistakes and the bf getting shot with an arrow in Act 4, ha.

[lemotomato]

^^ Same.

Although if everyone listed shows up for SDCC 2017, we'll get to see JH officially introduced as Black Canary and take questions about the role with KC sitting right there, which could be entertaining.

Edited June 29, 2017 by lemotomato

[Primal Slayer]

Glad to see KC will be there with everyone. She already faced a question regarding JH so I don't think a bigger format will change anything. If anything I see JH praising KCs work in the role and being honored to take it up to which KC will talk about how great JH is and she is so happy for her to take on the role which will cue moans and groans.

[Starfish35]

2 hours ago, Morrigan2575 said:

Not always no, they only started taking all of the Series Regulars in S3.

Ah ok.  That was the year they brought Caity Lotz too, wasn't it?

[Morrigan2575]

19 minutes ago, Starfish35 said:

Ah ok.  That was the year they brought Caity Lotz too, wasn't it?

Yes and I'm still angry at them for that.

[Starfish35]

9 minutes ago, Morrigan2575 said:

Yes and I'm still angry at them for that.

For bringing her at all, or for the fakeout of bringing her when they'd already filmed her death scene?

[wonderwall]

2 hours ago, lemotomato said:

^^ Same.

Although if everyone listed shows up for SDCC 2017, we'll get to see JH officially introduced as Black Canary and take questions about the role with KC sitting right there, which could be entertaining.

KC really is a masochist isn't she lol. She goes back to a show that didn't respect her at all (where the crew allegedly hates her according to the paps) and she goes to SDCC where the person who replaced her will be thus making it more obvious how much of a decline her career has taken.

Yikes.