The Flash (1990–1991)

A police forensic scientist battles crimes as a superfast superhero.

Stars:

John Wesley Shipp, Amanda Pays, Alex Désert

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 2 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
John Wesley Shipp	...	Barry Allen (22 episodes, 1990-1991)
Amanda Pays	...	Christina 'Tina' McGee (22 episodes, 1990-1991)
Alex Désert	...	Julio Mendez (22 episodes, 1990-1991)
Vito D'Ambrosio	...	Officer Tony Bellows (17 episodes, 1990-1991)
Biff Manard	...	Officer Michael Murphy (17 episodes, 1990-1991)
Mike Genovese	...	Lt. Warren Garfield (17 episodes, 1990-1991)
Richard Belzer	...	Joe Kline (10 episodes, 1990-1991)

Storyline

In a freak accident, police scientist Barry Allen is struck by lightning and doused in chemicals. Barry discovers that this accident has made him the fastest man alive, able to move at nearly the speed of sound. With the help of STAR Labs scientist Tina McGee, he learns to control his powers...but when his older brother Jay (a motorcycle cop) is killed in the line of duty, Barry asks Tina to make him a special costume that can withstand the rigors of hyperspeed travel. He sets forth to clean up the streets of Central City as The Flash.

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Plot Keywords:

flash | superhero | imaginary town | hyper speed | based on comic | 

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Taglines:

Wipes Out Scum In Seconds

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 September 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Flash

Filming Locations:

Stage 14, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Pet Fly Productions, Warner Bros. Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min 60 min (21 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to exec producers Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo in their DVD commentary, if the show was picked up for a second season, the premiere would have featured the Trickster, Captain Cold, and Mirror Master teaming-up to take on the Flash.

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Connections

Referenced in Daddy Day Care (2003)

User Reviews

Network bumbling ruined an otherwise FUN show!

This was a "cute and fun" show which stands out in my mind as one of the first and most unfortunate examples of network mismanagement I'd seen.

I recall The Flash being bounced around the schedule more than a superball without advance warning. If I recall correctly, the third or fourth week it aired it was already a rerun! To make matters worse, the show was often not aired in the slot advertised in the TV schedules (which, in 1990/91, before the net, was pretty much the only way to know what would be on). The worst example was once when I tuned in to see The Flash, I was just in time to see it going OFF! I called the local TV station about this who informed me that "it was moved an hour earlier at the last minute by the network". No new show could have survived this kind of treatment.

Oh, well. It was a show that was genuinely fun to watch and captured a true "comic book" feel. It died far too early.