From 1993 to 1997, ABC’s Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman kept the Superman mythos alive when the comics were floundering financially and creatively. It starred Dean Cain as the titular Man of Steel/reporter Clark Kent and Teri Hatcher as intrepid co-worker and romantic interest Lois Lane.
The show was a huge hit. But most importantly, it understood Superman’s everlasting appeal was due to the cheery romance inherent in the character. And if you don’t believe me, ask yourself: Is this current big-screen Man of Steel, mired in muck and angst, winning hearts and minds? Today, Lois and Clark still has a respectable number of adoring fans; that is, if the crowd present at the Teri Hatcher/Dean Cain panel is anything to go by.
Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher walked onto the stage to rapturous applause and cheers. They made for an appealing duo, with their easy banter and good humour. And it’s still so apparent just what a stroke of genius their casting was. Dean Cain exudes that humble “Aw, shucks” vibe despite possessing a smile that if properly harnessed could power Krypton’s red sun. And Teri Hatcher embodies Lois Lane’s finest qualities: toughness, thoughtfulness, and compassion.
Without preamble, they jumped straight into the Q&As. So, here are the six most interesting things we learned from these two charmers!
- Lois and Clark – Season 5?
Teri Hatcher has met with a couple of writers and producers to discuss possible story ideas for a Lois and Clark revival. Hey, in a time where we’re seeing Gilmore Girls, X-Files, and Twin Peaks returning, this certainly isn’t out of the realm of possibility, right? The idea is that a 5th season would acknowledge the passage of time through giving Lois and Clark a grown-up child, and maybe exploring the ramifications of that for Lois’ reporting career and Clark’s responsibilities as Superman. Of course the road from “in talks” to “it’s happening” is long and arduous, but nonetheless Dean Cain urged us all to “make some noise online” about it. Ahem. Well, you heard the Man of Steel.
- Neither of Dean Cain’s or Teri Hatcher’s Parents Wanted Them in Showbiz
Despite coming from vastly different backgrounds – Dean Cain grew up on movie sets, Teri Hatcher didn’t – neither’s folks were keen on them becoming actors. They didn’t expound on that, but Cain and Hatcher added that being an actor, even a successful one, is a nothing if not an eternal struggle to stay employed.
- Teri Hatcher is a Superwoman
A superfan (around 18, 20, something like that) approached Teri Hatcher with a pretty heavy question: Having gone through a lot, how do you deal when it gets to be too much? She said, in between sobs and hurried intakes of breath, that she suffered from depression and has been bullied and that she really looks up to her, really admires her. It was…a lot at once, to say the least. But without the slightest hint of bewilderment or hesitation, Hatcher went right up and hugged her. Her answer to that question was that she finds gratitude wherever she can, especially in insignificant things because when seen through consciously grateful eyes, they are not insignificant things, and added several times, directly to her, that she’s not alone.
- Dean Cain is Going to Start His Own Podcast
Dean Cain is not just a pretty fella who was a Superman one time – he’s got strong political opinions too. So many political opinions that in fact he wants to start his own podcast to presumably talk about such matters. He asked, “Wouldn’t it be great to be a little more to the centre, to tone down the rhetoric, just a little?” Hardcore applause to this, cheers too. “I don’t know, just a thought, just a thought” he added boyishly. “Tone down the rhetoric”? In this economy? Good luck, buddy!
5. Moulded Physique – or Pure Cain?
It’s a known fact that superhero costumes, despite being worn by actors whose level of fitness defies comprehension, come with certain…uh…enhancements. But wait, rewind a little. The first quote lobbied at Teri Hatcher was the infamous one from Seinfeld, in reference to her breasts, “They’re real and they’re spectacular!”. So anyway, the topic of Dean Cain’s Superman suit came up. Teri Hatcher said, with genuine semi-amazement, that there were no fake muscles or enhancements on the suit. She danced right on the edge of what we were all a few seconds away from thinking. But then Cain’s timing proved impeccable. “Oh, it’s real…and it’s spectacular!”
- Terri Hatcher is an Honest-to-Goodness Comic Book Nerd
You could hardly blame Hatcher for wanting nothing to do with the funny books after playing funny book icon Lois Lane nearly every day for four years straight. But that ain’t the case! When asked if she reads any of the current Superman stories she said she hasn’t kept up to date, but she loves comic books. Not content to leave it there, she asked us “Do any of you guys know about Saga? Anybody here read that?” The response to this was, most dishearteningly, crickets. Crickets! To Saga! What kinda room full of pop culture nerds…? She could have easily left it at “Sure, I read comic books. Whatever. Next.” But only a true comic book nerd would eagerly bring up a title that like two people in the whole room have ever heard of.
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