TV Guide Magazine Comic-Con Special 2017

behind the scenes

Wednesdays, 8/7c, The CW Stuck in the middle with who? “This photo is almost like a nod to the origin story of Betty, Archie and Veronica,” says executive producer and creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, who’s proud to have altered the dynamic of the 75-year-old love triangle, played on the show by Lili Reinhart (Betty), KJ Apa (Archie) and Camila Mendes (Veronica). “Now it’s more than just mean girls being awful to each other over Archie. They are actually friends.” To keep Josie and the Pussycats’ on-screen performances purr-fect, Hayley Law, Ashleigh Murray and Asha Bromfield spent extra time in the studio laying down tracks. “But sometimes what we recorded doesn’t quite fit the blocking for the scene,” Murray says. “That tends to throw a hitch in things.” “These guys bring it,” Luke Perry (Archie’s…

who’s who in riverdale

Archie Andrews played by KJ Apa For more than 75 years, the redheaded favorite was the poster boy for all- American awww-shucks. But over the last five or six years, “Archie’s gone through a creative renaissance,” says executive producer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, who also works on the comic books. And look for him to change even more, thanks to the shocking events in the finale. “Goodbye happy-go-lucky Archie,” says Aguirre- Sacasa. Betty Cooper played by Lili Reinhart She’s been one of America’s sweethearts for almost eight decades, and Lili Reinhart’s rendition is just as beloved. Only now, the character has evolved into a more liberated Betty who was bold enough to start the series “no longer satisfied just being Archie’s friend,” Aguirre- Sacasa says. And let’s not forget her lingerie-clad hot tub assault on Chuck Clayton…

they said what?

1 “The Blossoms and the Coopers in our prewar apartment? It will be a bloodbath! They have been the Hatfields and McCoys since long before Polly was pregnant.” 2 “I’m going now. My claustrophobia acts up in small houses.” 3 “I know her brother died and everything, but Cheryl Blossom truly is the Antichrist.” 4 “Slut-shaming. It’s what they call it when sluts get shamed.” 5 “You’re hot. Yes. My type? Definitely. But you’ve got more demons than The Exorcist. We are all on the spectrum, but my gay-o-meter says you should stick with what you know best…girls.” 6 “You are irreplaceable. Everyone else is… disposable.” Answers: 1. C 2. B 3. E 4. A 5. F 6. D FROM TOP: KATIE YU/THE CW; BETTINA STRAUSS/THE CW; DEAN BUSCHER/THE CW; KATIE YU/THE CW; CHRISTOPHER FRAGAPANE/THE CW; ART…

burning questions

The CW’s update of the squeaky-clean Archie Comics surprised fans with a sexier—and hot for teacher!— Archie, a townwide scandal (yep, that was heroin, not maple syrup, in those Blossom barrels), a shocking murder and then a shocking second death. According to Riverdale executive producer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, all of this mayhem is just the beginning! Is Fred really dead? It sure looks like it. In the season finale’s final, um, shot (too soon?), Archie’s dad (Luke Perry) seemed to be bleeding out big-time in his son’s arms after being gunned down by a masked man in a Serpents jacket at Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe. “This is a universe where the most awful things can happen,” Aguirre- Sacasa says. “A father can kill his son, and a stand-up guy like Fred can be shot…

behind the scenes

Tuesdays, 8/7c, The CW Grant Gustin (Barry Allen) and Melissa Benoist (Kara Danvers) didn’t need S.T.A.R. Labs to create sparks for the Flash/Supergirl musical episode. “The best part about working with Melissa was our easy chemistry,” Gustin says, though he admits to some nerves about the song and dance of it all. “Still, we had so much fun playing around with the script and finding little moments here and there.” “We love what Tom Felton brought to the story as Julian,” Kreisberg says of the Harry Potter vet (front, with Carlos Valdes as Cisco). The executive producer also reveals there were hints to the season’s big twist—that villain Savitar was actually a future version of Barry— when crime scene investigator Julian channeled Savitar via an electrode halo. “Go back and watch those…

faces of the flash

GRANT GUSTIN • Barry Allen/The Flash (right) • Earth-2’s nerdy Barry (below left) • Future Barry with a burnt face/Savitar (below right) THE MORE THE BARRY-ER “The Barry I had the most fun playing was Barry from Earth-2,” Gustin says. “He had all the qualities we love about Barry Allen but none of the stress we see with regular Barry every week.” Executive producer Andrew Kreisberg loves Gustin’s evil Savitar and notes the actor’s exceptional work in the Season 3 episode “Cause and Effect.” Kreisberg says: “He played three versions of Barry, and they all feel distinctive.” CARLOS VALDES • Heroic quipster Cisco Ramon/Vibe (below and above) • Earth-2’s evil Francisco Ramon/Reverb • Pablo the Waiter in the musical episode FUNNY BUSINESS “When Carlos played Reverb, he was scary,” Kreisberg says. “And that could have been a disaster, taking…