Elseworlds Crossover: Stephen Amell and Grant Gustin on Their Superhero Suit Swap

Wait, what? Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) is the Flash and Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) is the Green Arrow? Unless you've been avoiding everything "Elseworlds" related, you know by now that the 2018 Arrowverse crossover involves a body-swapping situation of some sort. 

Last month, I spoke with Amell and Gustin about their roles in this year's sure-to-be epic crossover. Which suit do you think is more comfortable? I was surprised.

It's not a total personality swap though, "[Barry's Green Arrow] has my learned abilities, and I have his superpowers," Amell teased. "There are elements of each other’s personality that each of us have to embrace in order to be successful at the mission that’s in front of us."

Meanwhile, this new Oliver Queen may be more Barry than expected, "My Oliver Queen is still a little more animated than [Stephen Amell's] Oliver Queen. I'm also very aware that I'm Oliver Queen, I wasn't really playing Oliver Queen."

Check out the video interviews below for more on the crossover.

Stephen Amell Interview

Grant Gustin Interview

The Elseworlds crossover begins when The Flash airs on a special night, Sunday, December 9 on The CW.

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Arrow Interview: Stephen Amell on Post-Prison Oliver, What's Next for Olicity and More!

Oliver is out of prison. Finally. And it was worth the wait. Those fight scenes... WOW! "The Slabside Redemption" did not disappoint.

If I placed a bet on which Arrow episode Oliver would be freed, I don't think it would have been Episode 7. Oliver was locked up long enough for it to change him permanently. His imprisonment and ultimate freedom came at a high cost, and one that will have lingering effects on his philosophy going forward, relationship with Felicity, and even his appearance.

Earlier this month, I was in Vancouver with a group of reporters and we spoke with Stephen Amell (Oliver Queen/Green Arrow) about what's next for Oliver after all that he's been through. The changes will be apparent immediately, "The first time that you see Oliver, we came up with a really interesting way I think of showing what prison life did to him without really bashing people over the head with it," Amell teases.

Watch the Stephen Amell interview

While imprisoned, Oliver's head literally was messed with through shock therapy and psychological torture. This manipulation did alter his way of thinking, "It definitely teaches him something, and it’s addressed, I think, in the first episode after he leaves prison," Amell said, "and sort of what his new mantra is going to be, if and when, he puts the suit back on."

Amell didn't confirm he'd be donning the Green Arrow suit again soon, but he will have to deal with the New Green Arrow, "[He] runs into the New Green Arrow’s exploits pretty quickly. But coming out of prison, he gets asked that specific question very early on like, 'What are you going to do?' and he says, 'I’m going to try and do what you guys did, which is just find a different way to help the city,'" Amell revealed.

What will Oliver's new mantra be? How will he help the city? Amell teases, "We come up with that idea pretty quickly, but I think one of the fun things is it’s not Oliver who comes up with it."

This new Oliver Queen will have to find his new place in Star City, while also dealing with a new Felicity. While she wanted Diaz dead, Oliver left their tormentor alive in prison. Amell said that decision won't "influence" their relationship, but "it's going to have an incredibly impactful moment on another person that he’s very close with." Hmm... wonder who that will be?

The relationship between Oliver and Felicity won't be without challenges "I learn that a lot of the stuff that Diaz was saying about Felicity is true, and I thought the way that we worked it out – and we do work it out pretty quickly. We come to an understanding that nothing’s ever going to be perfect ... But nothing’s ever going to be perfect or normal about our relationship, and I think that the sooner that they move on with their lives."

Oliver returns to his friends, family and life in Arrow Season 7 Episode 8, "Unmasked," airing Monday, December 3, 2018 on The CW.

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TV Diehard Podcast is Back!

After a long break, the TV Diehard Podcast is back! What show propelled the return of the show? For those who follow me, it's probably not much of a surprise, but for others it may be. The show is the CW's The 100.

Yes, it's a show on the CW, yet that shouldn't and doesn't define the series. If anything, it defies the stereotype of the CW which really doesn't apply much now with shows like Arrow, The Flash and Jane the Virgin joining The 100 on the channel.

I've been joined by others to discuss three of the last four episodes of The 100 Season 2. The discussion on the devastating midseason finale will be recorded over the show's hiatus. 
Love the show? Check out our conversation!

The 100 Season 2 Episode 5, "Human Trials"

+Danielle Turchiano  (Freelancer, MTV News and Studio System News) and +Jason Griffin (TVaholic.com & TVtimesThree.com) joins TV Diehard host, +Carla Day  (TV Fanatic & BuddyTV).

Check Out Television Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with TV Diehard on BlogTalkRadio

The 100 Season 2 Episode 6, "Fog of War"

Danielle Turchiano (Freelancer at Hollywood Reporter, MTV News, and Studio System News) and Erin Brown (MythConception.net) joins TV Diehard host, Carla Day (TV Fanatic & BuddyTV).

Check Out Television Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with TV Diehard on BlogTalkRadio

The 100 Season 2 Episode 7, "Long Into an Abyss"

Danielle Turchiano (Freelancer at Hollywood Reporter, MTV News, and Studio System News) and +Laurel Brown (DocBrownTV.com) joins TV Diehard host, Carla Day (TV Fanatic & BuddyTV). 

We also discussed Arrow Season 2 Episode 9, "The Climb."

Check Out Television Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with TV Diehard on BlogTalkRadio

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Arrow Video Trailer: Felicity Meets Arrow, China White, and First Look at Roy Harper

Team Arrow is growing! From the above picture, Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) finally finds out the truth about Oliver (Stephen Amell) and his secret identity. How long until they land in bed together? I can dream, right? The two of them have such great rapport.

The CW has released an extended trailer for February sweeps. Some of the footage is from last week's episode, but it's an action-packed two minute video with clues about what's coming up on Arrow.



We know that Oliver makes it off the island alive, but from the flashbacks nothing in Starling City  so far even compares to the danger and life threatening situations he had to overcome there. He can't trust anyone. 

"The island, it changed me. The choices that I had to make still stick with me." -- Oliver

Back in Starling City, Diggle (David Ramsey) reminds Oliver he doesn't "see straight when it comes to Laurel." Which of course Oliver already knows. And ... we see Oliver and Laurel (Katie Cassidy) in bed! Though, based on Oliver's hair, it looks most likely to be a flashback. If not, watch out, because Tommy (Colin Donnell) isn't going to be happy ... at all.

Other surprises from the trailer:

• Arrow hides in the back seat of Felicity's car and scares here.
• China White (Kelly Hu) meets with Moira (Susanna Thompson). What?
• There's a motorcycle chase.
• Diggle tries to revive an unconscious Oliver.

Plus, there was a glimpse of Colton Haynes (Teen Wolf) as Roy Harper. Miss it? He was wearing a maroon hoodie behind a gate.

And, in a scene I could watch over and over again, Arrow breaks through the window to confront his mother: "Moira Queen, you have failed this city." -- Oliver

For more on that scene and last week's episode, check out the TV Fanatic Arrow Round Table that I facilitated. 

Arrow airs Wednesdays at 8 pm ET on the CW.

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Arrow Video Preview: Action, Villains, and Allies

Arrow premiered last Wednesday to a record audience on the CW with over 4 million viewers and another 2 million catching Friday's repeat airing.

It's a hit! 

And, it's no wonder why. It has an amazing cast, action, and intrigue. What more could you want?

Warner Bros. Television has released the sizzle reel that was shown during the panel at New York Comic Con and it is HOT!

Check it out!


The video provides exciting clues about what is coming up in the first 7 episodes of the season.  

A big one: Laurel meets Arrow!

Check out the characters that show up:

• The mysterious character played by John Barrowman. Who he is playing is one of the best kept secrets for this television season. No hints except he is a "Well Dressed Man." Perhaps the joke is on us and that's really his character! In the video, we see him meeting with Moira Queen. We know she is evil, so is WDM going to be a foe? We'll have to wait to see!
• China White (Kelly Hu) appears on the next episode, October 17th! 
• Deadshot (Michael Rowe) is coming. He's a deadly assassin from the DC Universe.
• Deathstroke (Jeffery Robinson), a masked terminator, who has a past with Oliver. 
• Helena "the Huntress" Bertinelli will show up in episode 7. Will sparks fly between Helena and Oliver? We have to wait a few weeks to find out!
• Royal Flush Gang shows up in episode 6.

Arrow airs on Wednesdays at 8 pm ET on the CW! Don't miss it!

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Fall Preview - New ABC and CW shows

On tonight's show, I was joined by Jim Halterman from JimHalterman.com and Laurel Brown from Buddy TV.

We discussed upcoming new fall shows from both ABC and the CW.

On ABC: 

• 666 Park Avenue
• Last Resort 
• Nashville 
• The Neighbors
  

 On the CW: 

• Arrow
• Beauty and the Beast
• Emily Owens, M.D.

We also talked a bit about NBC's The New Normal and Fox's The Mindy Project. 

As mentioned on the show, check out Jim's interview with Stephen Amell at AfterElton and Stephen Amell's Facebook page.

Have thoughts on what we discussed? Continue the conversation in the comments! 

You can listen via the player above, download the episode via iTunes, or subscribe via the RSS feed.

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