Late last week, Deadline broke the news that Eric Kripke, creator of 'Supernatural,' was developing a small-screen adaptation of the comic book 'Deadman' for The CW, presumably to fill the Superman-sized gap left by 'Smallville' after the show wrapped its 10th and final season this May.

Over the course of the last decade, many successors to 'Smallville' have been mooted for the network (and its predecessor, The WB), from a rumored "young Batman" series to a failed 'Aquaman' pilot, the short-lived 'Birds of Prey' series and the more recent 'Raven,' which has seemingly stalled in development hell. Another iconic DC property, 'Wonder Woman,' just crashed and burned at NBC after the cheesetastic pilot stripped everything likable from the character, which further illustrates that name-recognition alone is not enough to sustain a show.

On the surface, 'Deadman' seems like a curious choice for a standalone series -- the character is little-known outside fan circles, and the storyline (murdered circus performer possesses others' bodies to bring his killers to justice, while helping those he inhabits to solve problems in their own lives) has already drawn inevitable comparisons to 'Quantum Leap'.

But a lack of brand awareness can sometimes be a blessing instead of a curse, allowing producers to forge their own path in shaping a character, rather than being married to fans' expectations as 'Smallville' was. In my mind, there are numerous other DC properties perfectly suited for a CW adaptation -- read on for my top five suggestions.

Watching American Idol this season, I've come to the not-so-astute realization that we can't all like everyone who makes it to the top ten each season. There are different musical styles, personalities and, let's face it, some pretty crappy singers who make it through.

So I've begun to fantasize about an all-star AI top ten. Imagine if everyone that you really liked from the top ten of all the past seasons of AI were in the top ten together. I know the top ten can't be all the handsome rocker men I so adore, but it can be a good mix of good music, memorable personalities, and lasting talent.

If memory serves me correctly (and we all know it probably doesn't), these are the contestants that I'd pick, in no particular order:

1. Brooke White, season seven, fifth place
No, I'm not a sucker for a crier. I simply love her singer/songwriter style, something we really haven't ever seen in Idol and something I hope we see more of. When AI started, it was the boy-band voice, then it moved to the rockers; hopefully Brooke has started a new force of no-nonsense talent coming through.

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In the DNA of all soaps is the idea that every story reflects the morality of the times. There are lessons to be learned from both the good characters as well as the villains. This is Soap Opera 101. Lately, though, I've noticed a nasty streak of overt righteousness and insufferable superiority creeping into some of the most complex, morally challenged characters ever on The Bold & the Beautiful – Brooke and Ridge. It's gotten so bad that I've had to wonder, what's going on with Bradley Bell and his staff of scribes? Is this the residual effects of the Writer's Strike because a few of the core elements of B&B are out of whack and need to be addressed?

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I guess it says something about the power of American Idol and how much it has seeped into our culture that I can just mention the first names of two contestants (one from the past) and everyone knows who I am talking about. US Weekly says that Kellie Pickler met Constantine at an Idol party last month and are now dating. For the record, Pickler says that they aren't dating, and that she's still "on the market."

I love it when a woman refers to herself as being "on the market," like she's a sack of oranges. If I used that phrase I'd get slapped.

Oh, and please, please, please let this be the first and only time that someone refers to her popularity as "Picklermania." Jeez.

I liked Bo and Constantine. They brought a rock element to American Idol, and I dug it. Little did I know that their success would bring an onslaught of rock n' rollers/out of controllers auditioning for AI. Awesome. Now, instead of simply listening to wannabes slaughter great pop songs, we're also treated to the torture of rock hits as well. I use to like Bo and Constantine. I now love them. It's because of them that I got to see a punk kid breakdance tonight...and I think he meant it. Plus, we got the satisfaction of seeing Seacrest flash the rock sign. But instead of flashing devil horns, he actually said 'I love you' in sign language. Amateur mistake, but appreciated nevertheless.