‘Supergirl’ is a bright light for CBS

Tribune News Service

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.

It’s a fairly dismal fall season on broadcast TV, judging by the pilot episodes of new series, but one of the bright spots is CBS’s “Supergirl” (8:30 p.m. Oct. 26; regular 8 p.m. Monday time period begins Nov. 5).

That’s due in large part to star Melissa Benoist (“Glee”) and her optimistic, adorkable take on Kara Zor-El, Superman’s cousin who was sent to Earth to protect him but got waylaid, and by the time she arrived, Superman was all grown up and not in need of protecting.

Kara works in National City for media mogul Cat Grant (Calista Flockhart, “Ally McBeal”), has a strained relationship with her sister (Chyler Leigh, “Grey’s Anatomy”) and romantic suitors at the office, including photographer James Olsen (Mehcad Brooks, “Necessary Roughness”).

The show’s tone is meant to evoke the Christopher Reeve-starring “Superman” films directed by Richard Donner.

“I grew up worshipping the Donner films, their magic, their wonder, their joy and their fun,” said “Supergirl” executive producer Greg Berlanti (“Everwood”). “Our real hope was bringing just a smidgen of that magic those films have.”

And while the shadow of Superman looms in “Supergirl” – he’s name-checked multiple times in the pilot episode – executive producers said he won’t visit this series.

“He will be a factor in her life, but you won’t see him exactly on screen,” said DC Entertainment chief content officer Geoff Johns. “He does play a part in her evolution of becoming a superhero.”

“This series is very much the adventures of Supergirl, and though we’re respectful of history, it’s very much her point of view,” added executive producer Ali Adler (“The New Normal”).