The Flash (1990 TV series)

The Flash
Genre	Action-adventure Science fiction Drama
Based on	Characters appearing in DC Comics
Developed by	Danny Bilson Paul De Meo
Written by	Steve Hattman Howard Chaykin John Francis Moore
Starring	John Wesley Shipp Amanda Pays Alex Désert Paula Marshall
Theme music composer	Danny Elfman
Composer	Shirley Walker
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	22 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers	Danny Bilson Paul De Meo
Producers	Don Kurt Gail Morgan Hickman
Camera setup	Multi-camera
Running time	44-48 minutes
Production companies	Pet Fly Productions Warner Bros. Television
Original release
Network	CBS
Release	September 20, 1990 (1990-09-20) – May 18, 1991 (1991-05-18)

The Flash is a 1990 American television series developed by the writing team of Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo that aired on CBS. It is based on the DC Comics character Barry Allen / Flash, a costumed superhero crime-fighter with the power to move at superhuman speeds. The Flash starred John Wesley Shipp as Allen, along with Amanda Pays, Alex Désert, and Paula Marshall.

Production

Development for the series began in 1988 when Warner Bros. Television tried to develop television films based on some DC Comics characters for CBS. Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo conceived one that featured several superheroes, including the Flash, though their project was not made. In January 1990, new CBS Entertainment president Jeff Sagansky expressed interest in creating a series featuring the Flash, and The Flash was announced a few months after.

Bilson and De Meo were tapped to write the pilot episode, which they completed in January 1990, with filming for the episode beginning in May 1990 and lasting for six weeks through June 1990. The final effects for the pilot were completed a week before its airing in September 1990, with Bilson saying, "There are 125 special effects. It's done on a grand scale." The 2-hour pilot cost $6 million, with each subsequent episode of The Flash costing around $1.6 million to produce.

Costumes

The four Flash suits made for the series for John Wesley Shipp cost a total of $100,000. On the suit, De Meo said, "John had to have his entire body cast. The suit is made out of latex. It was quite a process getting it." Bilson added, "The suit was critical. You can't, after Batman, have a guy running around in tights." The Flash's costume was designed and created by Robert Short, and built by Stan Winston Studios. Short said the latex suits were specially treated to play down their rubber surface so they would look like basic stretch unitards, with Shipp wearing a water cooled undergarment to combat the heat of the suits. Bob Miller, costumer on the series, gave Amanda Pays "unaggressive clothing" though she is "an aggressive career woman," with retro 1930s and '40s long tapered skirts, pleated slacks and vests.

Music

Danny Elfman composed the series' title theme, with Shirley Walker utilizing a full orchestra to compose the series each week. In 2010, a limited-edition two-disc soundtrack was released by La-La Land Records, featuring Elfman's theme and the scores by Walker for the pilot and the episodes "Captain Cold", "The Trickster", "Watching the Detectives", "Ghost in the Machine", "Done With Mirrors", "Fast Forward" and "Trial of the Trickster".

Cast

Main

• John Wesley Shipp as Barry Allen / Flash: A forensic scientist in the Central City Police Department (CCPD) who gains the power of super speed after being doused with chemicals in a lab accident. Shipp also portrayed the Flash's "evil" clone, Pollux.
• Amanda Pays as Christina "Tina" McGee: A scientist at S.T.A.R. Labs who provides the Flash with experimental inventions to adapt and overcome his enemies and learn about his powers. She is also a love interest of Barry.
• Alex Désert as Julio Mendez: A Central City Police Department scientist who is Barry Allen's co-worker and close friend.

Recurring roles and guest stars

• Richard Belzer as Joe Kline: WCCN TV news reporter, known as the "Voice of the City". Kline often does tabloid-style news stories about the Flash and his exploits.
• Jason Bernard as Dr. Desmond Powell/Nightshade: 1950s vigilante who captured criminals using tranquilizer darts. Blamed himself for the accidental "death" of the Ghost and gave up being a vigilante; later became a Doctor and Chief of Staff at Central City Hospital. When the Ghost reappears in 1990, Powell becomes Nightshade once again and teams up with the Flash to apprehend the Ghost. Later inspires the Deadly Nightshade; is framed for multiple counts of murder, but clears his name and captures the impostor. Makes his secret identity public and becomes a celebrity.
• Corinne Bohrer as Zoey Clark/Prank (2nd): Owner of Clarx Toys and a huge fan of the Trickster. Her obsession leads her to free him during his trial. Originally, the Trickster intends to retire his criminal life but Zoey seduces him back to his evil self and becomes the Trickster's true sidekick, Prank, which is what she always wanted. Prank uses her wealth to finance the Trickster's evil schemes, including the brainwashing of the Flash. The corrupted Flash becomes the Trickster's favored sidekick and she is locked out of her own toy store for complaining about it. Despite her best efforts, the Trickster has lost interest in Prank and ultimately boots her out of the getaway truck that they are in, resulting in Prank's arrest.
• Richard Burgi as Curtis Bohannan/Deadly Nightshade: Philanthropist and son of mob boss Derek Bohannan, an enemy of Nightshade; decides to atone for his father's sins by becoming a vigilante resembling Nightshade, except the Deadly Nightshade wears red-glowing goggles and uses real bullets. The Deadly Nightshade guns down a terrorist group and several of Derek Bohannan's former mob associates before the Flash confronts him. Due to their similar appearances, the real Nightshade is framed for the murders. Using his wealth, Bohannan builds a high-tech lair inside his mansion and an advanced cybernetic exoskeleton, which gives Bohannan super-speed similar to the Flash. Bohannan challenges the Flash to a duel, but is defeated when the Flash uses superior tactics to trap Bohannan, who is then tranquilized by the original Nightshade and arrested by the police.
• David Cassidy as Sam Scudder/Mirror Master: Professional thief who is an expert with mirrors and holography; steals a crystal from S.T.A.R. Labs and attempts to kill his ex-partner Stasia Masters, a high school girlfriend of Barry Allen. The Flash uses a high-powered spotlight to blind Scudder and drown out his illusions, allowing the Flash to capture him.
• Michael Champion as Leonard Wynters/Captain Cold: Infamous albino hitman known for freezing his victims to death with a nuclear-powered freeze gun. Captured by the Flash and arrested by CCPD pending trial, but later escapes using concealed freeze weapons. Killed by his own freeze ray when the Flash deflects the ray back at him.
• Jeffrey Combs as Jimmy Swain: Mob boss who hires Captain Cold to eliminate his enemies, including the Flash. Since Captain Cold initially failed to kill the Flash, Swain refuses to pay Cold, who kills Swain with a freeze bomb and takes his money.
• Denise Crosby as Dr. Rebecca Frost: A psychologist specializing in psychoanalyzing masked vigilantes such as the Flash, assigned to be Felicia Kane's psychiatrist. Briefly dated Barry Allen.
• Vito D'Ambrosio as Officer Tony Bellows: CCPD patrol officer, partner of Murphy; in the early episodes, Bellows notices whenever the Flash appears, Murphy is never around. Bellows accuses Murphy of being the Flash, until he sees Murphy and the Flash at the same time.
• Mike Genovese as Lt. Warren Garfield: Lieutenant, CCPD; Barry and Julio's supervisor. Despite his gruff demeanor, Garfield actually cares for his men. It was Lt. Garfield who deduced the true identity of the Nightshade, Dr. Desmond Powell (see below), who has been a friend of Garfield for more than 30 years.
• Mark Hamill as James Montgomery Jesse / The Trickster: Psychopathic and delusional mass murderer and con artist. Wanted for murder in six states. Obsessed with Megan Lockhart and kidnaps her to be his fantasy sidekick, Prank. Believing that Megan is under the influence of the Flash, the Trickster challenges him in order to be rid of his "evil spell". However, the Trickster fails and is arrested. He is sent to court, awaiting his verdict, when he is freed by Zoey Clark, who becomes the second Prank. As revenge, the Trickster captures the Flash and brainwashes him to do his bidding. The Trickster wreaks havoc upon Central City and puts the entire city on trial with the aid of his new partner. The Flash overcomes his programming and turns the tables on the Trickster, who is sent to an insane asylum.
• Joyce Hyser as Megan Lockhart/Prank (1st): Private investigator and repossession agent; becomes the Trickster's unwilling sidekick, Prank. Later helps Tina McGee stop the Trickster and the brainwashed Flash. Also becomes Barry Allen's love interest.
• Biff Manard as Officer Michael Francis Murphy: CCPD patrol officer, partner of Bellows; does not believe the Flash is real because he has never witnessed the Flash. Murphy has served the CCPD for many years and is considering retirement.
• Paula Marshall as Iris West: A computer graphics artist who is dating Barry Allen at the time he is transformed into the Flash without her knowledge. Barry wants to marry Iris, but she refuses, feeling that their relationship is moving too fast, and they break up. Iris later moves to Paris in order to make a new start in her life. She sends a letter to Barry in the second episode, but Barry doesn't want to see it, so Julio burns it to help Barry move on with his life. Even though Barry puts Iris behind him, he still keeps a family picture with her in it' that they took during his brother's birthday party. Marshall was credited as a principle character for the pilot episode, but was subsequently written out of the show with the second episode.
• Dick Miller as Fosnight: Police informant who provides Barry Allen with tips on criminals. Fosnight owes a "life debt" to Henry Allen, and extended that debt to his two sons as well.
• Bill Mumy as Roger Braintree: Eccentric but brilliant scientist who creates a sonic device capable of putting its targets into a deep slumber. Braintree's cousin, small-time hoodlum Harry Milgrim, steals the device and uses it in a crime spree until he is caught by the Flash.
• Michael Nader as Nicholas Pike: Disgraced former CCPD patrol officer who became a biker gang leader; in revenge, Pike murders Barry Allen's brother Jay Allen, who was once Pike's partner and the person who turned Pike in for corruption. Pike is captured by the Flash and put on trial, but is released on a technicality. Pike tries to kill the Flash, but his plan backfires and Pike is arrested again. In an alternate future timeline, Pike becomes the fascist Mayor of Central City, but is again defeated by the Flash before the hero returns to the present to avert Pike's younger counterpart's attempt for power.
• Lois Nettleton as Belle Crocker/The Ghostess: The Ghost's sidekick and girlfriend; is saved by the Nightshade after their hideout catches on fire. Thinking the Ghost has died, she gives up the life of crime and becomes a lounge singer. Thirty-five years later, she learns that the Ghost survived the fire and has not aged. While she initially welcomes him back into her life, she cannot handle the fact that he is still a young man and eventually leaves him, informing Nightshade of the Ghost's location. The young Belle Crocker is played by Sherrie Rose.
• Priscilla Pointer as Nora Allen: Mother of Barry and Jay Allen; volunteer at a shelter for single mothers.
• Gloria Reuben as Sabrina: Julio's girlfriend. Constantly trying to set up Barry with blind dates.
• Jeri Ryan as Felicia Kane: A wealthy heiress kidnapped and held for ransom by pro-Guevara Marxist revolutionaries; rescued by the Deadly Nightshade, who ruthlessly guns down Kane's kidnappers, then freed by the Flash. Severely traumatized by her ordeal, Kane's testimony nevertheless clears the original Nightshade of any wrongdoing.
• Robert Shayne as Reg the News Stand Vendor: Reg was the owner of a news stand whom Barry Allen buys his daily newspaper from.
• Anthony Starke as The Ghost: Megalomaniacal extortionist and electronics expert who uses television to eavesdrop on his victims and broadcast his demands. In 1955, Nightshade attempts to capture the Ghost, who threatened to blow up downtown Central City if he was not paid $1 million by the Mayor, but the Ghost fakes his death and seals himself in a "freeze chamber", set to awaken the Ghost in 1999. The equipment malfunctions and thaws out the Ghost in 1990; the Ghost and his crew steal electronics from a TV charity telethon and S.T.A.R. Labs, connect him to his computers, then threaten to shut down Central City's computer network, communications and power grid if he is not paid a $1 billion ransom, but he is captured by the Flash and Nightshade.
• Tim Thomerson as Jay Allen: The older brother of Barry Allen and head of the CCPD Motorcycle Patrol Division. He is killed by his former police partner, Nicholas Pike. His first name is a nod to Jay Garrick.
• Mariko Tse as Linda Park: A Central City news reporter, asking the Central City police department about their response in dealing with all the gang attacks in the city.
• M. Emmet Walsh as Henry Allen: Sergeant, CCPD (retired); father of Barry and Jay Allen. Inspired his sons to join the police force.

Other guest stars in minor roles include Jonathan Brandis as Terry Cohan, Bryan Cranston as Phillip Moses, Mark Dacascos as Osako, Robert O'Reilly as Victor Kelso, and Sven-Ole Thorsen as the android assassin Omega.

Episodes

No. in series	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date
1	"Pilot"	Robert Iscove	Danny Bilson & Paul De Meo	September 20, 1990 (1990-09-20)
The origin of the Flash. An accident gives police crime lab expert Barry Allen awesome powers of speed, and he vows to use them to bring his brother's murderer to justice. But first, Allen must learn to control his sudden, remarkable talents. Dr. Christina "Tina" McGee, who works for S.T.A.R. Labs, helps him with this.
2	"Out of Control"	Mario Azzopardi	Gail Morgan Hickman	September 27, 1990 (1990-09-27)
Tina's former colleague is the main suspect when the bodies of murdered homeless people mysteriously disappear from crime scenes. He needs subjects for genetic-engineering research.
3	"Watching the Detectives"	Unknown	Unknown	October 18, 1990 (1990-10-18)
A crooked D.A. discovers the Flash's civilian identity and uses that information to extort him into becoming his secret accomplice.
4	"Honor Among Thieves"	Unknown	Unknown	October 25, 1990 (1990-10-25)
Guarding a priceless exhibit has the police stretched thin, a situation which a criminal mastermind exploits citywide with several thefts.
5	"Double Vision"	Unknown	Unknown	November 1, 1990 (1990-11-01)
A mad scientist implants a device in the Flash's brain and gains remote control of his powers in order to stop a witness from testifying against a drug lord the scientist is working for.
6	"Sins of the Father"	Unknown	Unknown	November 8, 1990 (1990-11-08)
Ex-cop Henry Allen dismisses Barry's modern police techniques until his son captures an escaped con targeting Henry.
7	"Child's Play"	Unknown	Unknown	November 15, 1990 (1990-11-15)
A 1960s drug icon who faked his own death and went into hiding reasserts himself by unleashing a new addictive designer drug on the world. Guest star: Adam West (from Batman) as a hippy
8	"Shroud of Death"	Unknown	Unknown	November 29, 1990 (1990-11-29)
Barry puts together bits of metal found at crime scenes and discovers that they form a neo-fascist group's medallion, with Lt. Garfield as the group's next target.
9	"Ghost in the Machine"	Unknown	Unknown	December 13, 1990 (1990-12-13)
The Ghost controls the airwaves, tapping into video feeds just as he did back in 1955. The Nightshade, a crime-fighter of that era, resurfaces to fight him with the Flash joining him.
10	"Sight Unseen"	Unknown	Unknown	January 10, 1991 (1991-01-10)
A criminal who has developed a cloaking device renders himself invisible and establishes a deadly vendetta endangering S.T.A.R. Labs and Central City.
11	"Beat the Clock"	Unknown	Unknown	January 31, 1991 (1991-01-31)
The Flash must race against the clock and the electric chair in almost real time to prove the innocence of a jazz saxophonist who was convicted of murdering his famous wife.
12	"The Trickster"	Unknown	Unknown	February 7, 1991 (1991-02-07)
The hunter becomes the hunted as James Montgomery Jesse, a schizophrenic killer being pursued by Megan Lockhart, commences to stalk her instead. Inspired by the Flash, the criminal dons a flashy outfit and calls himself the Trickster.
13	"Tina, Is That You?"	Unknown	Unknown	February 14, 1991 (1991-02-14)
Tina embarks on a crime spree with an all-girl gang after a bio-feedback experiment yields disastrous results, and her first target is the Flash.
14	"Be My Baby"	Unknown	Unknown	February 21, 1991 (1991-02-21)
The Flash helps a mother protect her child against her dangerous husband, who wants the child only for its genetic potential.
15	"Fast Forward"	Unknown	Unknown	February 27, 1991 (1991-02-27)
While pursuing his brother's killer, the Flash is sent ten years into the future, where Nicholas Pike is the mayor of Central City and any mention of the Flash is against the law.
16	"Deadly Nightshade"	Unknown	Unknown	March 30, 1991 (1991-03-30)
The Flash and the Nightshade team up once again to stop a murderous vigilante who has taken the Nightshade's name.
17	"Captain Cold"	Unknown	Unknown	April 6, 1991 (1991-04-06)
On the hottest day of the year, four gangsters are found frozen to death. They are the victims of a notorious hitman known as Captain Cold, and his next target may be the Flash.
18	"Twin Streaks"	Unknown	Unknown	April 13, 1991 (1991-04-13)
A scientist uses the Flash's blood to clone Barry Allen, and the clone decides to assume Barry's identity. Wearing a Blue version of the Flash suit, the clone is named "Pollux" after the Greek deity from legend.
19	"Done with Mirrors"	Unknown	Unknown	April 27, 1991 (1991-04-27)
Sam Scudder, a criminal genius who uses mirrors and holograms to commit his crimes, hunts down his double-crossing partner, who has found refuge with one of her old high school friends — Barry Allen.
20	"Good Night, Central City"	Unknown	Unknown	May 4, 1991 (1991-05-04)
When bodies begin disappearing from the police morgue and a gang of thieves start putting people to sleep, it falls to the Flash to save the victims and clear Barry Allen's name at the same time.
21	"Alpha"	Unknown	Unknown	May 11, 1991 (1991-05-11)
A conscience-stricken android seeks the Flash's aid to avoid being programmed as the perfect assassin.
22	"The Trial of the Trickster"	Unknown	Unknown	May 18, 1991 (1991-05-18)
James Jesse is preparing to go on trial for the crimes of the Trickster, but with the help of his sidekick, Prank, and a brainwashing device, he soon enlists the Flash's assistance in passing judgment on Central City.

Release

The Flash was originally scheduled to debut on CBS in the 8 pm (EST) slot on Thursday, to go against The Cosby Show on NBC, in an attempt to attract younger viewers, before Fox moved The Simpsons from Sunday to the Thursday 8 pm slot for the same reason. After debuting on September 20, 1990, at 8 pm, CBS moved the series to 8:30 pm with its second episode, in an attempt to broadcast opposite less formidable competition in Fox's Babes, NBC's A Different World and the second half hour of ABC's Father Dowling Mysteries. Eventually, CBS moved the series off Thursdays entirely. Had the show continued, it was revealed the second season would have opened with the Flash's rogues teaming up to take down the hero.

Marketing

Warner Bros. Television and CBS began its promotion of the series in July 1990 during the 1990 NBA All-Star Game. It also had ad campaigns on radio and cable television during "wresting matches on USA Cable and during [Batman airings] on the Family Channel", as well as ads in The Flash comic book and posters for the series in malls and Kmarts across the country. Four-minute promos of the series aired at all Six Flags amusement parks and a few weeks before the pilot's debut, Warner Bros. flew banners over beaches on both coasts. Describing the marketing, George Schweitzer, senior vice president of communications at the CBS Broadcast Group said, "It's not being sold as a comic book. It's being sold like Batman [the 1989 film] – dark and mysterious and exciting. The promos have a theatrical quality." The pilot debuted on July 15, 1990 at a "big bash" at the Warner Bros. Burbank lot.

Home media

The Flash was released on DVD in January 2006.

Several episodes were edited as three TV movies and released on VHS:

• The Flash (1990). The 2-hour pilot episode.
• The Flash II: Revenge of the Trickster (1991). Formed by the episodes “The Trickster” and “The Trial of the Trickster”
• The Flash III: Deadly Nightshade (1991). Formed by the episodes “Ghost in the Machine” and “The Deadly Nightshade”.
• the flash 13 (1991)

Other media

Comic book

A comic book tie-in special based on the TV series was published by DC Comics in 1991 titled The Flash TV Special #1, running at 76 pages. It features two stories, one written by John Byrne with art by Javier Saltares, and the second written by then-writer of the ongoing Flash title, Mark Waid featuring a thief Kid Flash; plus a behind-the-scenes look on the making of the TV series with photos.

Video game

A video game was released for Game Boy in 1991 by THQ, and was based on the TV series. It was released in the US and had a password system. A second game was programmed by Probe and released only in Europe for the Master System in 1993.

The Flash (2014 TV series)

Main article: The Flash (2014 TV series)

The 2014 television series, The Flash, features several references to the 1990 series. John Wesley Shipp plays the recurring role of Barry Allen's father, Henry Allen, and Amanda Pays once again portrays Dr. Tina McGee. In the episode "Tricksters", Mark Hamill returns as James Jesse / Trickster and Vito D'Ambrosio plays Mayor Anthony Bellows; 2014 series composer Blake Neely incorporated Walker's theme for the Trickster in the episode.

See also

• Birds of Prey
• Justice League of America
• Aquaman
• Super Friends
• The Flash (2014 TV series)

External links

• The Flash at IMDb
• Template:Tv.com show
• The Flash II: Revenge of the Trickster at IMDb
• Flash III: Deadly Nightshade at IMDb
• Episode Guide from SciFi.com
• Crimson Lightning - A blog featuring regular reviews of The Flash television series.
• Interview about the series with lead actor John Wesley Shipp
• Pet Fly Podcast Page Including a downloadable commentary track in which series developers Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo discuss the "Trial of the Trickster" episode
• The TV series on Hyperborea