This Was Television On October 16
2001: Smallville debuts
One of the most venerable programs in the short histories of The WB and its successor The CW, Smallville kicked off a run that lasted ten seasons and more than 200 episodes. Blending comic book superheroics with the sort of teen angst in which those networks specialized, the drama followed the pre-Superman adventures of Clark Kent and his early, doomed friendship with a pre-evil Lex Luthor.
Longtime showrunners Alfred Gough and Miles Millar conceived the series with the mission statement “no tights, no flights,” though WB brass refused to promote the show under their original tagline, “You will believe a man can brood winsomely in a barn.” -A.D.
Today’s Birthdays: Angela Lansbury, sleuthing scribe (87); Kellie Martin, County General med student (37); Suzanne Somers, company keeper (66).
This Was Television 
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