BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JULY 18: CW’s ‘Supernatural’ actors Jared Padalecki (L) and Jensen Ackles pose for a portrait during the CW and Showtime’s 2014 Summer TCA Tour at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on July 18, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images)
Last week I discussed the main themes of the TV show Supernatural and how they’ve helped keep
the show on air for 12 Seasons. Today I’m digging a little deeper and talking about the cast themselves and the supportive fan culture they’ve shaped.
What sets Supernatural apart from most television shows is the way it’s brought fans and the cast together as a big extended family. Charity and supporting one another define the community. There are so many great actors and actresses that have contributed to Supernatural throughout the past 11 years, and it’s virtually impossible for me to give everyone their due. Because of them the show is filled with compelling stories and common ground that connects fans across the globe. Next time the spotlight will be turned on the fanbase and their role in supporting the show. They’ve helped shape an inclusive community that has defined the fandom.
Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki are the foundation of the show’s family. In many ways there is no Supernatural without them. We’ve watched them grow up before our very eyes and as an audience we have all grown alongside them. They began the show as young men and are now married with families of their own. Jared and Jensen are great friends in real life and it shines through on screen.
Off-screen the pair are gracious and good-humored with fans. They’ve created a genuine rapport that you rarely see in entertainment. The duo have left a lasting impact with the campaign Jared started called, “Always Keep Fighting.” This campaign in particular was created to support To Write Love On Her Arms (TWLOHA), a non-profit organization that supports sufferers of depression, suicidal thoughts, self-harm, and addiction. Most recently this has included a t-shirt campaign called “Family Always Has Your Back.” It’s amazing to me that they chose to use their fame to make a real difference in the world. They’re the founding members of the Supernatural family, and the vibrant fan community wouldn’t have been possible without them.
Recommended by Forbes
Speaking of family, take Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Jim Beaver for example. The two ‘patriarchs’ of the Winchester clan left an impact that’s felt long after they’re gone. Jeffrey Dean Morgan has been off the show (mostly) since Season 2 and fans still clamor for his reappearance. Though he’s since moved on to The Good Wife and The Walking Dead, his charismatic presence is missed. His character John shaped the boys into the hunters we’ve grown to love. He’s still a fan-favorite at every appearance he makes, and takes the time to answer questions with humor and humility.
Jim Beaver’s character Bobby guided the boys after John was gone. He’s perfected the role of father figure, and I for one am genuinely fond of him. Like Jensen and Jared, he’s become a staple of conventions. Fans regularly request to have him back on the show – so much so that his character was brought out of retirement in Heaven to bail the brothers out one more time. Seeing Mr. Beaver on screen was a definite bright spot in a room already filled with stars.
…Stars like Misha Collins and Mark Sheppard, both of which are now series regulars after stints in multi-season recurring roles. Misha is involved in many charities and is the co-founder and board president of Random Acts, a non-profit organization with a deep connection to the Supernatural community. The purpose of Random Acts is in its namesake: to make the world a better place by encouraging others and providing them with random acts of kindness. He spearheaded fundraisers in 2009 (raising over $30k) in support of UNICEF’s Haiti relief efforts and in 2010 to raise money for Pakistan and Haiti (raising an estimated $94,700). In 2011 he led a forty-person trip to Haiti to build a community center alongside Random Acts staff members.
“It brings a lot of people together in a lot of very, very positive ways,” he said. “…I’m really proud to be a part of that – that there’s somewhere in this bloody awful world most of the time that fans — for want of a better word — come together and help each other…and have used our banners to do so, which I love.”
Everyone is welcome in the fandom. Felicia Day is a standout when it comes to Supernatural’s unique brand of inclusiveness. She is beloved by fans for the way she embraces her nerd culture interests on and off screen. Felicia is also notable for playing the most prominent LGBT character on the show: Charlie Bradbury. Her role helped open the show to an even wider audience. My fingers are crossed that she’ll somehow make an appearance in Season 12.
Supernatural’s lasting success is a perfect storm that can’t be duplicated or understated. It’s amazing to me that the show has spawned an international community of support and acceptance. Each member of the show past and present was a part of that. More than this, Supernatural is a great example of the positive effects embracing your fans can have. It’s a fantastic show because of the combined contributions of all of these people as well as the crew, writers, and other members of the team. In many ways the family they’ve helped create is the most important achievement of the show, and they continue to inspire fans around the globe. If being a part of the Supernatural community has changed your life for the better, please share your stories in the comments section or via Twitter.
Supernatural returns to the CW on Oct 13, 2016.
(Author’s Note: A previous version of this article did not credit Misha Collins as a founder of Random Acts. This has been clarified and expanded.)
0 comments:
Post a Comment