ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: What was specifically the hardest thing about making this show?
So just the pressure of that, I think, was felt by everyone, on every level.
Its an expensive city to shoot in.
Credit: CBS
What was your take on that?
BERLANTI: Its on us to make a great show.
So Ive definitely noticed a real desire for that when weve been doing.
And thats where the pressureshouldbe.
And I watched in testing, people in the audience really became uncomfortable by the fisticuffs and the action.
But then, they were elated and cheering at the end.
And you cant have one without the other.
We make a run at be extra vigilant about it.
Also, the majority of the executives on the project are women.
At the same time, is there a certain amount of pressure?
Nobody wants to screw up a Supergirl or a Superman show.
You start watching it like its a female superhero, and then shes just a powerful person.
BERLANTI: Im anxious for the day when there isnt any unfair scrutiny.
But we welcome any kind of conversation anybody wants to have about the characters.
Thats true, on our end, its true of any TV show we do.
ADLER: I think theres going to be our learning curve and then a teaching curve.
We cant just paint with two colors.
I think Kara is very dimensional, which is exciting for us.
Somebody told meSupergirlwas Warner Bros. most expensive TV pilot ever?
BERLANTI: I dont know.
Its the equivalent of after you have a baby, not remembering how hard the birth was.
We definitely felt supported throughout.
Is there any concern in terms of keeping the high production values beyond the pilot?
So I dont necessarily think money always translates to the largeness.
What was the hesitation that she had to overcome?
BERLANTI: It wasnt so much a hesitation as much as it was everyone wanting to…
The studio, the internet, asked for Melissa to do multiple scenes because they wanted to be sure.
But the second everybody was sure, everybody was ecstatic.
You reclaimed the issue and reframed it.
BERLANTI: That was my idea even before the pitch.
That speech was in our pitch for the show.
I want it to be what it.
Another step was the costume, which is sort of a trap.
If its sexy, thats bad.
But if its unattractive, thats bad too.
What were some of the thoughts being thrown around the room when you were trying to figure it out?
She talked about being inspired by Kryptonian wear.
The belt that Kara wears is the same as her mothers.
Then theres this modern thumb-strap to tamp down the sleeves.
There was this functional quality that the boots are flats.
With other female superheroes you cant run down the street and punch someone if youre holding up your top.
So there absolutely was this functional quality.
Was this a strategy?
BERLANTI: Oh my God, no, no, no it wasnt.
Im pretty open-book about that stuff.
What was your reaction when you saw that it leaked?
Its no small deed.
We so closely guarded with the script.
People in the auditioning process had to come to our office to read it.
We try and do stuff like that.
Another thing beyond your control wasSNLs Black Widow parody that came out the same time as the trailer.
What was your reaction to seeing that, and the romcomcomparisons being made?
BERLANTI: I think it had come out a week or two before.
Clearly people are wanting to talk about why theres not more female heroes represented.
ADLER: Theyre in an upcoming episode and we hope to do more with them.
I was wondering: Why does Kara feel the need to have a day job?
ADLER: I dont know if the other job pays the rent, for one.
Also, Kara thrives on being around people.
Superman was before a time when everybody carried a camera in their phone and before facial recognition software.
Will it be tougher to explain why nobody recognizes Kara as Supergirl?
ADLER: We actually address that in an upcoming episodes.
Do we always see the heroes amongst us?
you’re free to be looking right at a person and not really see them.
Its about seeing someone for who they are.
Every reporter asks ifSupergirlwill crossover with your CW shows.
Ours is a different Superman.
