Powerless EPs Reflect on the Show’s Unique DC Legacy

Powerless EPs Reflect on the Show's Unique DC Legacy

As a seasoned gamer and DC Universe enthusiast who has witnessed the rise and fall of numerous series, I can confidently say that Justin Halpern and Patrick Schumacker have a knack for creating shows that may not always pull in major ratings but certainly resonate with fans. Their journey with DC started with the underrated gem, Powerless, a sitcom that was ahead of its time.


As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but reflect on my favorite DC shows, currently being the animated “Harley Quinn” and the recently premiered “Kite Man: Hell Yeah!” on Max. With the fifth season of “Harley Quinn” set for November, and “Kite Man” having graced our screens in July, it’s easy to forget that these aren’t Justin Halpern and Patrick Schumacker’s first ventures into the DC realm. In fact, way back in 2016, they were instrumental in creating NBC’s “Powerless,” a sitcom that offered a fresh, hilarious take on ordinary people navigating life in a universe filled with superheroes. Although it didn’t garner massive viewership, the show has remained close to fans’ hearts, many of whom believe it was before its time. Now, as I look back, I can’t help but appreciate the unique mark “Powerless” left on DC.

In an interview with ComicBook, Schumacker shared that our arrival at that show was incredibly fortunate for multiple reasons. One key aspect was it served as our debut in the world of DC, essentially introducing us as a part of their universe. Initially, we were consulting producers on the series, but later assumed the role of showrunners. This transition allowed us to modify certain elements of the show, making it more reminiscent of the Silver Age’s quirky, zany style.

When we took over as showrunners, we significantly transformed the series. Initially, it was like an insurance company dealing with aftermath of superhero battles, but it evolved into a more “Better Off Ted” style, focusing on technology and gadgets. Our intention, at least, was to incorporate a Silver Age-like absurdity. He explained that this shift could be seen as a metaphor for TV, where success or failure often boils down to the concept that the network might have eventually decided not to commission more episodes, though they didn’t outright cancel it. Instead, they seemed less enthusiastic about prioritizing the show and adopted a hands-off approach, allowing us to explore the show’s zaniness without restraint.

He added, “We really did have to kind of thread a needle. There would be a lot of questions asked by us as in can we use this person or this gadget or whatever and we would have to go through a lot of executive emails because they had a lot of stuff going on in the live action world and even though we took place on our own Earth, we called it Earth-P, it was still, by virtue of being a live action show in a sea of DC live action shows with the whole Arrowverse and all that stuff, dealing with portals to other dimensions… So yeah, it’s funny to, you know, anecdotally, you’ll occasionally see somebody tweet about missing Powerless and it’s cool to remember but that was a tough one, too. It was a puzzle figuring out that show and I don’t know. Maybe it was a head of its time.

Halpern simply put it this way: “When our ratings dropped, they stopped bothering us since they no longer cared. So, we were free to create the show as we desired.

Regarding the popular show “Harley Quinn”, it will return to HBO Max next November. This much-loved series received an official renewal back in November 2023.

The skilled Harley Quinn crew has done it again, creating a season that expands upon previous episodes while maintaining an original and innovative feel, according to Suzanna Makkos, Executive Vice President of Original Comedy and Adult Animation at Max and Adult Swim. They never fail to amuse us with their unique blend of humor, heart, and madness as they continue telling captivating tales about our endearing band of DC outcasts. We can’t wait for fans to enjoy the fantastic work they’ve done in Season 5!

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2024-09-14 03:09