Favorite live-action Lana Lang?

[Utility Belt]

Of all the women who have portrayed Clark / Superboy's hometown girlfriend, who was your fave.

[eggie]

I am a big fan of Kristin Kreuk...she has played Lana the longest and she is Lana to me.

[WorstThingUS]

Of all the women who have portrayed Clark / Superboy's hometown girlfriend, who was your fave.

I'm gonna go with Annette O'Toole because she looks like the small town girl-next-door, though Kristin Kreuk is the most beautiful.

[milosimpkin]

Annette O'toole for me. She's the Lana I greq up with and therefore the person I always see when someone mentions LL to me. Although now confusingly she's also my impression of Martha as well.

Ah well, she's stunning in both roles :)

[dancj]

The only ones I know are Christine Kreuk and Annette O'Toole and considering that Christine Kreuk's Lana is simpering, wet and irritating, my vote went to Annette O'Toole

[The Confessor]

I voted for Annette O'Toole. Of the actresses in this poll that I actually know, she's the superior Lana Lang as far as I'm concerned.

[Spiffy]

The only ones I know are Christine Kreuk and Annette O'Toole and considering that Christine Kreuk's Lana is simpering, wet and irritating, my vote went to Annette O'Toole
As my jive talkin' uncle used to say...

Gimme five!

Exactly. Kreuk may be Lana to a generation, but if so she's a simpery pretty little pony, who ain't nuthin' like I want Lana to be. Lana is wholesome as a teen, and only a little bit crazy later as an adult. Kruek's version was never believably sweet, and brought the crazy WAY too early.

Annette O'Toole made an impression on me--one of the few good ones from Superman III, so I'll go with her. Although I have to admit, Stacy Haiduk wasn't that bad (even if the show she was on WAS).

[Solaris01]

Annette, by far.

[Augusto]

Annete O'toole was gorgeous in Superman III.

[J. Robb]

Stacy Haiduk was the only good thing about the Superboy series.

[cpahl2000]

I voted for Annette O'Toole. Of the actresses in this poll that I actually know, she's the superior Lana Lang as far as I'm concerned.


I agree with you. She portrayed a very accurate and vivid Lana Lang.

[Utility Belt]

Stacy Haiduk was the only good thing about the Superboy series.

You got that right!

[marshal99]

Stacy Haiduk has aged pretty well over the years , will be curious how Kristin Kreuk will look like in 20 years time.

[Spiffy]

Stacy Haiduk has aged pretty well over the years , will be curious how Kristin Kreuk will look like in 20 years time.
Apparently, according to Wikipedia, she's currently on both All My Children and Prison Break. Not watching the first ever puts me at a disadvantage, but I used to watch P.B. Not lately though. Can't remember her off-hand.

[Pinnacle]

Annette O'Toole is the only one I can remember other than Kreuk who is just plain awful. I don't remember her as it's been too long since I saw the Superboy series but I bet Haiduk was pretty good. I voted for O'Toole since she portrayed what I think Lana should be.

[marshal99]

Apparently, according to Wikipedia, she's currently on both All My Children and Prison Break. Not watching the first ever puts me at a disadvantage, but I used to watch P.B. Not lately though. Can't remember her off-hand.

She's pretty prominent in the current season of PB. She's only been on this season.

[The Joker]

Annette O'Toole would be my favourite Lana.

On occasion I watched the live action Superboy series when it was on the air, and the same goes for Smallville. But I've seen the Reeve Superman films numerous times growing up, and yeah .... for me Annette wins this one easily.

[Zod-20186]

Annette O'toole for me. Kristin is a stunner though she tends to be a little "whiny". Annette played the "country" girl angle very well.

[kalorama]

Stacey Haiduk is the only thing I can remember from the Superboy series.

She also recently appeared on an episode of Life.

[cpahl2000]

Annette O'toole for me. Kristin is a stunner though she tends to be a little "whiny". Annette played the "country" girl angle very well.



Totally true about Annette.

[Daybreak_st]

I have to go with Stacy Haduik, I loved her on Superboy! I wish they based Smallville's lana more on her. she was great :smile:

[Adekis]

Gotta go with Stacy Haiduk here.
I thought she was pretty good.
Second place, Annette O'toole

[stk]

O'Toole. She was just about the only great thing about Superman 3. Come to think of it, she was also one of the best parts of Smallville, too.

[Toy Collector]

Annette O'Toole for me, too.

Loved her in Superman III!

[liheibao]

Kristen. Too fine to be anything but number 1.

[Toreador]

Stacy is my pick, fitted the small town girl perfectly. Annette is the grown-up version of Stacy. Kristen looked to prissy on Smallville. Reminded me too much of Veronica Lodge.

[NotSuper]

Stacy Haiduk. But only because she was Lana as a teen (which is the age when Lana works best). O'Toole is a close second (and she's also the best Ma Kent).

[Litgeek]

Exactly. Kreuk may be Lana to a generation, but if so she's a simpery pretty little pony, who ain't nuthin' like I want Lana to be.

A "simpery pretty little pony"???

You know, I can totally appreciate if have a different vision of who Lana Lang should be...but I find your statement to be more than a little offensive.

Kristin is a lovely young woman. And I think there is a way to talk about what you dislike about her portrayal with disrespecting her and comparing her to an animal.

As a woman, I can pretty much guarantee you that you won't find too many women who would be ok with that kind of description.

Lana is wholesome as a teen, and only a little bit crazy later as an adult. Kruek's version was never believably sweet, and brought the crazy WAY too early.

Oh, I disagree that Kristin's Lana was not believably sweet.

I think she was very sweet natured in the early seasons and though I'm not the biggest fan of the Clark/Lana relationship in the later years on Smallville as I think it became extremely unhealthy and damaging...I do think it was a lovely representation of young love in the beginning and that the feelings between them were genuine and innocent.

I also don't think that Kristin's LAna was crazy as much as she was insecure and searching for an identity. I think she often looked to others to define her or tried to define herself through the roles that people put her in and along the way lost sight of who she truly was.

I think that Lana sought power in the wrong places and that she made some poor choices. But I don't think she was crazy. I think she was misguided and at times....lost. I always felt she was a rather tragic character and one of my deepest regrets about the end of Smallville was that I, as a viewer, truly didn't know if Lana was happy or had been able to find a sense of self or happiness somewhere in the world. I always knew that Clark would move on. The minute Lois came on the show it seemed obvious that he was drawn to her---even before he realized it. When Lois and Clark started to get closer it was clear that their relationship was healthy and that it brought Clark much joy. But Lana's future was always a bit...uncertain. I was never positive that Lana could be happy either with or without Clark.

Annette O'Toole made an impression on me--one of the few good ones from Superman III, so I'll go with her. Although I have to admit, Stacy Haiduk wasn't that bad (even if the show she was on WAS).

Annette O'Toole is a lovely woman and I always enjoy her. I loved her as both Lana Lang and as Martha Kent.

[stk]

A "simpery pretty little pony"???

You know, I can totally appreciate if have a different vision of who Lana Lang should be...but I find your statement to be more than a little offensive.

Oh boy, here we go.

[Litgeek]

Oh boy, here we go.

Gee, I'm so sorry that it's such a problem for you that I prefer for men to treat women with respect and not make derogatory statements.

Oh boy, here we go! Here comes one of those women again to ask us not to degrade them! Why can't they just be quiet? Can't they take a joke?

Just because that kind of immature behavior has become the norm and acceptable on this site doesn't mean that the few of us that don't appreciate it have to shut up about it.

So feel free to say, "Oh boy, here we go" to me all you want.

[stk]

Oh boy, here we go! Here comes one of those women again to ask us not to degrade them!FYI my "oh boy" had nothing to do with your gender. What I was oh boy-ing about is here comes another hyper-defensive Smallville Lana Lang fan. An attack on Smallville Lana Lang is NOT an attack on women. It's an attack on the most poorly-written, poorly acted element of a show I did and do enjoy. But how dare anyone point that out or not think she was the greatest thing ever. After all, she was so lovely. But yes, "Oh boy, here we go," because whenever this show gets talked about, you're sure to get at least a few obsessive fans of whichever character, ready to be outraged and defend their favorite character's/actor's honor against any perceived threat.

And seriously, "Comparing her to an animal"?

[Litgeek]

FYI my "oh boy" had nothing to do with your gender. What I was oh boy-ing about is here comes another hyper-defensive Smallville Lana Lang fan. An attack on Smallville Lana Lang is NOT an attack on women. It's an attack on the most poorly-written, poorly acted element of a show I did and do enjoy. But how dare anyone point that out or not think she was the greatest thing ever. After all, she was so lovely. But yes, "Oh boy, here we go," because whenever this show gets talked about, you're sure to get at least a few obsessive fans of whichever character, ready to be outraged and defend their favorite character's/actor's honor against any perceived threat.

And seriously, "Comparing her to an animal"?

For the record, I'm not a huge fan of Lana Lang.

I agree with you that she was poorly written on the series. I thought she was a weak link for many years.

I just think there is a way to discuss her that is a bit more appropriate. I don't think calling her a "pony" is a constructive comment. I think there are ways to talk about why she was a weak character that don't feel as offensive or gender specific.

As for the "obsessed fans"....I don't think that's a bad thing. I think it's fantastic that there are passionate fans out there for Smallville and every other genre show. The passionate fans of those shows keep the genre alive for all of us and I appreciate that.

[liheibao]

I hope everyone knows that there is really no fair criteria to judge these actresses. Annette O'Toole played Lana Lang once. Haidak and Kreuk's Lana's were written totally different. One of the reasons Kreuk left the show was because of how Lana was written. It's telling that she didn't return for the series finale. Polls like this can be fun, but they're strictly subjective. I lean towards Kreuk because of her last appearance.

[dancj]

Gee, I'm so sorry that it's such a problem for you that I prefer for men to treat women with respect and not make derogatory statements.
All women? That's crazy - and sexist unless you think we should treat all men with respect as well.

Kreuk delivered an incredibly irritating simpering performance as Lana Lang, and it's nothing to do with her being a woman. It's to do with here delivering an incredibly irritating simpering performance.

I just think there is a way to discuss her that is a bit more appropriate. I don't think calling her a "pony" is a constructive comment. I think there are ways to talk about why she was a weak character that don't feel as offensive or gender specific.
Is "pony" gender specific? That's the first I've heard of it.

TBH, you come across as someone with an axe to grind about sexism looking for it where it doesn't exist - which is a shame because genuine sexism does exist and people getting too touchy about imagined cases makes the genuine ones harder to deal with.

[Litgeek]

All women? That's crazy - and sexist unless you think we should treat all men with respect as well.

I think we should all aim to treat each other with respect period no matter our gender.

In this particular instance, it was a man making a statement about a woman.

If I saw those kinds of gender specific insults made about men I would speak up.

I have routinely objected to men being called "pussies" for example for not living up to the predisposed expectations of what means to be "masculine" that society has set.

On the whole, however, men are not the victims of sexist language in this genre. Women are.

Kreuk delivered an incredibly irritating simpering performance as Lana Lang, and it's nothing to do with her being a woman. It's to do with here delivering an incredibly irritating simpering performance.

You're right. It has nothing to do with her being a woman.

So why did a description criticizing her performance have to include reference to her being "pretty" "little" and "pony." Those are all gender specific descriptions.

I would have had no issue with someone just saying that they found her irritating. I find her irritating too on many occasions.

TBH, you come across as someone with an axe to grind about sexism looking for it where it doesn't exist - which is a shame because genuine sexism does exist and people getting too touchy about imagined cases makes the genuine ones harder to deal with.

Do you know how patronizing and rude it is to assume that just because you don't see something the way someone else does that that means that they "imagined" it?

I don't have an axe to grind about sexism. Sexism is present on this board and in this genre.

I understand and respect that you don't see it. But the fact that you don't see it does not mean that I am imagining it or that I'm some kind of femnazi with an axe to grind.

It's not your right to tell me that I'm being "too touchy" or that I'm "imagining" anything. My feelings are valid and worthy whether you validate them or not.

Look, for the record, I agree that in this case it's a minor thing.

But I also think that the culture that we create in conversations is often defined by our choice of words.

And I don't think it would kill people to stop and think if our choice of words when we are talking about a specific gender or a people of another race are necessary to get our point across.

Taking the time to think about those things can make a culture and a genre more welcoming to different kinds of people.

You may not think that your words are hurtful. Others may disagree. And that doesn't make them too touchy or crazy or delusional.

In this case, I personally agree that the female character in question was not a well written character and I agree that she often harmed the narrative. I actually have major issues with the way the message that this particular female character gave about female empowerment and strength. I think Lana's final arc on Smallville sent an incredibly dangerous message and it honestly made my stomach turn to hear Allison Mack and Kristin Kruek (both of whom I do like and respect) talk about the arc as being representative of "girl power" on the DVD's. As a girl myself...I'd love to tell them why I think that's not the kind of message about "girl power" that we should be sending to other women. I just think that it wouldn't kill all of us to discuss that sort of thing in language that talks about the character as a whole and leaves out descriptions that are gender specific.

If you think that makes me crazy or delusional or some kind of person that you think has an axe to grind...well...frankly, I can live with that. I'd rather you think I'm crazy or have you laugh at me then be too intimidated to speak up when something makes me uncomfortable.

[paulski]

Man, they've had some pretty hot ladies in the role, huh?

I'm not sure I can choose between Stacy and Kristin (sorry Annette), but I'll try and will say Kristin. I think. Maybe.

Ah jeez, I'm really not sure.

[dancj]

I think we should all aim to treat each other with respect period no matter our gender.
I personally start out respecting everyone until they do something to lose it. I dare say Kristin Kreuk is a nice person, but she lost my respect as an actor with her terrible performance as Lana Lang.

In this particular instance, it was a man making a statement about a woman.

If I saw those kinds of gender specific insults made about men I would speak up.
[snip]
So why did a description criticizing her performance have to include reference to her being "pretty" "little" and "pony." Those are all gender specific descriptions.
I'll grant you that "pretty" is usually but not always used to describe women. I find that "little" is generally used to describe little people regardless of sex and I'm not aware of "pony" having anything to do with gender.

Even if all (or any) of these terms were exclusively used to describe women that doesn't automatically make it sexist - any more than when a man is described as a "thug" or "mummyfunster" (edited for the family friendly board). The words had specific meanings that were relevant to why she is so irritating. If we all have to start tiptoeing around any phrase which anyone might consider gender specific it's going to get really silly

Do you know how patronizing and rude it is to assume that just because you don't see something the way someone else does that that means that they "imagined" it?
It's "patronizing and rude" to disagree with someone?

I don't have an axe to grind about sexism. Sexism is present on this board and in this genre.
I agree. I just didn't see it in the comment you objected to.

It's not your right to tell me that I'm being "too touchy" or that I'm "imagining" anything. My feelings are valid and worthy whether you validate them or not.

It's anyone's right to tell anyone anything they want.

Look, for the record, I agree that in this case it's a minor thing.

But I also think that the culture that we create in conversations is often defined by our choice of words.

And I don't think it would kill people to stop and think if our choice of words when we are talking about a specific gender or a people of another race are necessary to get our point across.

Taking the time to think about those things can make a culture and a genre more welcoming to different kinds of people.
I do actually agree with that. I also think you can take it too far. I'd never consider insulting a woman for something that's actually considered a virtue in a man (such as sl*t vs stud) but conversely if we start avoiding using less than complimentary words that are generally used for only one gender then it gets silly.