The Official Tom Welling Thread

[Pickle-El]

(continued from Aquaman thread)

Aight, I could have gotten all crazy with this, but two panels should do the trick. I had to find images that have similar poses, camera angles, and clothing - or lack thereof LOL. I could post caps from Spell and Transference (again LOL), but Welling was *clearly* flexing in those scenes, the latter ep of which was actually written into the script (the mirror scenes.)

What people are seeing as muscle loss is probably just slightly more mass (read: fat LOL). Tom has gained a few pounds (very minor), which is smoothing out his definition. Technically, he's bigger! Look at his traps, forearms and neck.

Also gotta remember that all sorts of strange and bizarre things (LOL!) start to happen when you look at Welling in profile...

He's all chest.

Furthermore, the actor playing Aquaman is *clearly* more cut - those shots of him pulling Lois out of the drink were quite impressive - but lookie what happens when you stand him next to Mr. W. In profile, no less...

Who's the bigger guy again?

Can we put this to bed now?

That other kid (based on those other photos in the water) probably has just as much mass and is more cut than Welling this season. They look to be equally as tall....

 

[Pickle-El]

Before everyone comes in and starts bashing me for what I just wrote.....

We'll find out for sure soon enough...(As if it ever mattered in the first place)

 

[jas01724]

Just to play Devil's thingummy AGAIN...

lookie what happens when you stand him next to Mr. W. In profile, no less...

No fair! You know all too well that a profile shot makes Mr. W.'s chest look like an over-inflated Zeppelin! That's like standing Tom next to warehouse and asking which is bigger ... Tom still might win, but I digress.

 

[AgentPat]

Pat, as you know, there is a whole thread in the "other" forum about size/mass, and it was actually quite a polite discussion about Routh and Welling (shocking, I know). Your post explains perfectly what I didn't know how to express on that thread. Welling IS a very big guy. There are PLENTY of pictures to support this fact, including all of the ones you posted above. You also point out things that I might never have noticed, especially your reference to the two side by side, shirtless pictures of TW. You're right. He's definitely added mass. I think he looks much better, personally. I think you can always add definition (maybe I'm wrong). I mean, Tom looks huge in those "Fog" photos, and those pictures are from just a few months ago.

I kinda gave up posting over yonder on that issue. The comparisons got ridiculous when somebody posted the latest Aqua photo in contrast with a production photo of Routh fully clothed - from the BACK. Jeeze!

I don't have too many shots of Welling's back, but this one is a good start...

Just to play devil's advocate a little though, Pat, some of your comparisons are comparing Tom Welling Apples to Tom Welling Oranges ... erm, no euphemism intended.

They're the closest pics I could find comparing similarly posed and framed shots. If you got better examples, we're all eyes.

The Labrat!Clark is cradled, and his shoulders etc. fall back. That has the effect of making him look slightly slimmer. Injured!Clark is fully supported and by the bed, and his already-large shoulders are pushed forward slightly ... presto chango, he looks even bigger. It doesn't make that much difference, but still. In the name of fair comparison, the fairest comparisons are definitely the ones where he's stood up and you eliminate the variables.

Regardless, you can still see that he was more cut in Memoria than he is now, and that was the intent of comparing those two shots.

And that's just unfair, one of those was taken 26 months before the other! We all know he's bigger than he was then ...

Question is, is he much (if any) bigger than LAST year? He became a fatty over *that* summer.

Then post a shot from last year in a similar pose. I'm getting a little frustrated doing all the work here. I thought these were excellent examples of Welling's physique change over the last three years. There's literally thousands of shots to choose from, but it's not easy finding two within a year of each other that can be used as unequivocal comparison shots. This isn't an ad for Muscle Fitness Magazine; he's not posing year to year with that intent.

As to the shot next to Aquaman (can't remember the actor's name for the life of me), it's the ONLY shot we have with the two actors in the same photo. AC's actual height can NOT be determined from that photo since we don't see his feet. Welling could be in flip flops and AC could be standing on a board or something. That said, their relative arm length IS obvious, as is their thickness. And I simply find it hard to believe AC is also 6'3 1/2". That's pretty freakin' TALL!!

Back to the original point, it appears (to me) that Tom has cut back on his cardio. If it's intentional or just a consequence of being more busy is anybody's guess, but when you limit your cardio, you're going to lose definition. The muscle is still there, perhaps even more of it. But muscle with a layer of fat over it is just visual bulk, and Welling has more of that now than he ever did before. And I don't need to post pictures to prove that; it's painfully obvious.

 

[jas01724]

They're the closest pics I could find comparing similarly posed and framed shots. If you got better examples, we're all eyes.

Not sure.

Regardless, you can still see that he was more cut in Memoria than he is now, and that was the intent of comparing those two shots.

He was, but you usually post that picture to show how much bigger he is now, not how much less ripped he is. Pardon my confusion when you don't point out that you're using it to make a different point this time.

Then post a shot from last year in a similar pose. I'm getting a little frustrated doing all the work here.

I liked the way he was back in 2002 so I'm not much help. And I don't care enough to go searching out pictures.

I thought these were excellent examples of Welling's physique change over the last three years.

Sure, over three years. I'm getting confused though, because I thought you brought this over from the Aqua thread ... where I'm pretty sure the argument was about whether he's lost a little muscle mass recently? And whether he's bigger than Aquadude? To prove some nit wrong about whether he's recently lost some mass again, you need to compare more recent shots. Of course he's not smaller or more ripped than he was in 2003 ...

Back to the original point, it appears (to me) that Tom has cut back on his cardio.

THAT is where I got lost. I thought the point of bringing this over from the other thread was to prove someone wrong about how big he is, and how he hasn't lost any muscle mass, not prove to them that he's become addicted to KFC.

The muscle is still there, perhaps even more of it. But muscle with a layer of fat over it is just visual bulk, and Welling has more of that now than he ever did before. And I don't need to post pictures to prove that; it's painfully obvious.

I'm sure I've argued this point before, and you've disagreed with me. This time last year, around Crusade, I said he was definitely bigger, but that I wasn't sure how much of it was "new" muscle; I called him tubby. *ahem*

 

[Scooter]

What does any of this matter, he's still bigger than Brandon Routh. ( )

 

[Serene]

IThen post a shot from last year in a similar pose. I'm getting a little frustrated doing all the work here. I thought these were excellent examples of Welling's physique change over the last three years.

Aww, Pat. Anything reason that gets you posting Welling pics is appreciated by me.. and a few others, I suspect.

Back to the original point, it appears (to me) that Tom has cut back on his cardio. If it's intentional or just a consequence of being more busy is anybody's guess, but when you limit your cardio, you're going to lose definition. The muscle is still there, perhaps even more of it. But muscle with a layer of fat over it is just visual bulk, and Welling has more of that now than he ever did before. And I don't need to post pictures to prove that; it's painfully obvious.

The guy is a brickhouse. He's a BIG MAN. He's not as "cut" as Aquadude.. but he's definitely bigger. My take on TW's shape? He's getting older, and from what he's said, because of his crazy work hours he doesn't get a lot of time to work out. And yet he's still in incredible shape, just not shape of a young man who works out constantly. I can only imagine what he'd look like if he did spend hours in the gym...I'd be afraid he'd get too muscular with that already giant chest and those huge arms of his.

 

[Max]

I think we've crossed over into nitpicking the obvious.

The bottom line for this entire discussion, in my opinion. Welling is bigger - in height, in muscle mass (weight), his arm size, chest size, ect. Period. It is CLEARLY visible in every one of the photos that have been posted. Frankly, if anyone can post some of the pictures from last night's "Mortal," it would be even more obvious, but to debate the obvious is becoming tedious. The only point of contention or debate that anyone can possibly state is whether or not Welling is "as cut" as other actors. At the moment, it would appear not, but that could be easily remedied with trips to a gym, which Welling doesn't have time for at the moment. I don't think Welling has ever been especially ripped - I mean body builder type abs, but his size has always been big, and it has definitely increased over the years. I think the "Fog" photo is the best one to demonstrate his gained bulk/mass. Just look at his chest/arm size. He looks huge in that picture.

In a nutshell: Welling IS bigger than Aquaman and Routh.

 

[avidreader]

I think we've crossed over into nitpicking the obvious.

The bottom line for this entire discussion, in my opinion. Welling is bigger - in height, in muscle mass (weight), his arm size, chest size, ect. Period. It is CLEARLY visible in every one of the photos that have been posted. Frankly, if anyone can post some of the pictures from last night's "Mortal," it would be even more obvious, but to debate the obvious is becoming tedious. The only point of contention or debate that anyone can possibly state is whether or not Welling is "as cut" as other actors. At the moment, it would appear not, but that could be easily remedied with trips to a gym, which Welling doesn't have time for at the moment. I don't think Welling has ever been especially ripped - I mean body builder type abs, but his size has always been big, and it has definitely increased over the years. I think the "Fog" photo is the best one to demonstrate his gained bulk/mass. Just look at his chest/arm size. He looks huge in that picture.

In a nutshell: Welling IS bigger than Aquaman and Routh.

...and more importantly he has an extremely beautiful looking face, and hair to die for.

 

[AgentPat]

He was, but you usually post that picture to show how much bigger he is now, not how much less ripped he is.

Which picture? The one from Memoria? I haven't posted that shot in quite a while. In fact, the last time I think I used that was over at The Planet when Kal_El was arguing physique symmetry between Welling and Rufus. I made the actual panel when the S5 trailers started airing.

Pardon my confusion when you don't point out that you're using it to make a different point this time.

Same or similar pictures can be used to make different points. That new Aqua shot for example, particularly as maniped by Dark, could be used as a nice reference for Tom's hand size.

I liked the way he was back in 2002 so I'm not much help. And I don't care enough to go searching out pictures.

Well geeze Louise, stop complaining about the photos I post then. I've got a pretty large collection of pics, but I'm quite sure it's nowhere near the library of reference shots you have access to.

Sure, over three years. I'm getting confused though, because I thought you brought this over from the Aqua thread ... where I'm pretty sure the argument was about whether he's lost a little muscle mass recently?

Yes. That was the intent. The whole "debate" started with that Aqua pic with him holding the suntan lotion. I thought the most unassailable way of making a point would be to find a pic that showed him in a similar pose, camera angle, clothing, and most importantly, without flexing.

And whether he's bigger than Aquadude?

I'm fairly certain he's taller and more heavy than Aquadude. Clearly, Welling isn't as ripped or defined as Ritchson. That's never been in debate. I honestly don't think Welling has the TIME to devote to maintaining that kind of physique, but he'd be a monster if he did. If Tom was just doing films now, particularly pics where it was important for the lead to be built *ahem*, I think people's jaws would drop. There would be very little pissing and moaning from the fish bowls of him physically not meeting the requirements of the character. [Clears throat again *ahem.*]

To prove some nit wrong about whether he's recently lost some mass again, you need to compare more recent shots. Of course he's not smaller or more ripped than he was in 2003 ...

Recent pics don't help if it can be argued he's in a different pose, the lighting is not the same, or he was flexing in the shot. But this one from The Fog is pretty recent...

THAT is where I got lost. I thought the point of bringing this over from the other thread was to prove someone wrong about how big he is, and how he hasn't lost any muscle mass, not prove to them that he's become addicted to KFC.

A. I brought the conversation over here to keep things on topic. I didn't want to go on about TW in a thread about Aquaman.
B. I added my opinion of Welling's apparent de-emphasis on cardio as a means of further explanation of why people may *think* he's lost muscle mass. You simply don't see it as well if it's camouflaged under a layer of fat. You've made this point yourself on numerous occasions, no?

I'm sure I've argued this point before, and you've disagreed with me.

I'm not sure what I specifically disagreed with you on, though I know we've had our playful debates on the matter LOL.

This time last year, around Crusade, I said he was definitely bigger, but that I wasn't sure how much of it was "new" muscle; I called him tubby. *ahem*

Well, if that's what "tubby" means, bring it on. I love big, beefy men, and Tom has a level of attractiveness and virility in his whole appearance that's off the charts. He really is quite a super MAN...

 

[rumpuso]

Tom is taller than Aquadude. Melly looked it up. Aquadude is listed as 6'2".

Oh and incidentally, I apparently love "tubby" men.

 

[jas01724]

Which picture? The one from Memoria?

The comparison of Memoria to Hidden. I've only ever seen you post that to point out how much bigger he is now.

Same or similar pictures can be used to make different points.

No argument there. But I don't know what point you're making if you don't tell me.

Well geeze Louise, stop complaining about the photos I post then.

Hehe, but whhhhyyyyy???

Yes. That was the intent. The whole "debate" started with that Aqua pic with him holding the suntan lotion. I thought the most unassailable way of making a point would be to find a pic that showed him in a similar pose, camera angle, clothing, and most importantly, without flexing.

But was (boyscouT, I think) saying he's smaller now than he was a few months ago, or smaller now than he was two years ago? I thought he meant Tom's lost muscle mass recently in comparison to what he had, for instance, at the end of last season. In that case you need to compare two much more recent shots.

Recent pics don't help if it can be argued he's in a different pose, the lighting is not the same, or he was flexing in the shot. But this one from The Fog is pretty recent...

If he's just stood there, I won't be arguing over lighting.

You've made this point yourself on numerous occasions, no?

Many times. And I distinctly remember it aways generating an argument of disagreement. Which segues into ...

I'm not sure what I specifically disagreed with you on ...

I said he might not have put on quite as much more muscle as he appeared to have done. He was obviously much bigger, but I thought a lot of it was just extra "padding." You didn't. Now you do ... I think. See, I'm easily confused.

 

[Zing79]

I know this is off topic, but someone brought up the "Build Thread" from on yonder in this thread.

Officially this has become my new pet-peeve from that board: "teeny-bopper show"

I can deal with the horse comments, I can deal with the secrets and lies of him not wanting the role, and I can even deal with attacks on his acting. But God damn-it: stop calling it a "teeny-bopper show".

The #1 demographic of Smallville is 18-34 males. So either I (and millions of other mean ‘round the world) turned into a teeny-bopper and didn't know it, or anyone who calls it a teeny-bopper show in an ignorant pleeb.

I'll take the statistically significant number of x-million 18-34 yr old males over the criminally stupid bunch that wants it to be a "teeny-bopper show" thank you very much.

 

[The Incredible Hulk]

I'm not really sure why anyway still cares whats said about Tom or the show by the mental midgets "over yonder". If Welling was the non-issue they claim, they wouldnt even humor a debate about the guy. The fact that they keep using him as a comparison shows he's set the current standard. Their just pissed off because there's not a god dman thing they cant point to about the "interloper" and say it's superior. Everything is "wait and see", or "the lighting's off", or "thats not a production photo" when meanwhile you could have a picture of Welling on the toilet in a pink tutu and it'd still scream Superman...

Let them call the show a "teeny bopper" show or whatever, obviously they dont have a clue. Just sit back, nod your head, and smile, and watch them scramble to justify things come next June when they get served a big stinking pile of crap...

 

[green]

I'm not really sure why anyway still cares whats said about Tom or the show by the mental midgets "over yonder". If Welling was the non-issue they claim, they wouldnt even humor a debate about the guy. The fact that they keep using him as a comparison shows he's set the current standard. Their just pissed off because there's not a god dman thing they cant point to about the "interloper" and say it's superior. Everything is "wait and see", or "the lighting's off", or "thats not a production photo" when meanwhile you could have a picture of Welling on the toilet in a pink tutu and it'd still scream Superman...

Let them call the show a "teeny bopper" show or whatever, obviously they dont have a clue. Just sit back, nod your head, and smile, and watch them scramble to justify things come next June when they get served a big stinking pile of crap...

And posting something like this is any better than what gets posted over there?
You know there are people that are happy with both versions we are getting.

 

[Pickle-El]

And posting something like this is any better than what gets posted over there?
You know there are people that are happy with both versions we are getting.

Agreed, Green.

 

[The Incredible Hulk]

And posting something like this is any better than what gets posted over there?

Honestly I could care friggen less if it's "better" or not. My post was in response to their idiocy, and I dont see why anyone here gives a rat's ass what people in that toilet of a forum think? Since most people with the IQ of a doorknob from when it was actually a fun forum, left that place long ago and went to places like BT. I dont bring up Ruth anymore because I just dont care, the only time I even mention the name is when some nitwit feels the need to come here and talk down to us. Then it's just all to easy to point out they dont have a leg to stand on at the moment.

You know there are people that are happy with both versions we are getting.

And great for them, their not the ones my post was directed at. Question though, are you posting this same retort over there when their ripping into Smallville/Welling? I hope so..

 

[green]

Honestly I could care friggen less if it's "better" or not. My post was in response to their idiocy, and I dont see why anyone here gives a rat's ass what people in that toilet of a forum think? Since most people with the IQ of a doorknob from when it was actually a fun forum, left that place long ago and went to places like BT. I dont bring up Ruth anymore because I just dont care, the only time I even mention the name is when some nitwit feels the need to come here and talk down to us. Then it's just all to easy to point out they dont have a leg to stand on at the moment.



And great for them, their not the ones my post was directed at. Question though, are you posting this same retort over there when their ripping into Smallville/Welling? I hope so..

*smiles and nods*-for the sake of this forum

 

[Max]

The fact that they keep using him as a comparison shows he's set the current standard.

I agree on this point. I only read in the 'supes' forum. I never post in there because I don't want to be accused of trolling. If I'm going to bring down the other posters by deliberately putting down an actor or anything else that they are rooting for then I feel that I'm just being spiteful. I don't like when other posters do it here in the Smallville forum, and I'm certainly not going to do it to anyone else. However, it would appear to me that you can talk about ANY actor in the other forum (Reeve, Cain, O'Hearn, Bale, Cage) - anyone EXCEPT Welling. Even the moderators come into the thread to chastise posters if Welling's name is mentioned. Which then begs the question of "why." I'm sorry, I just don't understand it unless what Hulk is saying is partly true. For me (and for many others), Welling is the current standard, and like it or not, he succeeds on every level: size/mass, height, eye color, acting, appearance, etc.

Having said all that, no one can state for certain, one way or the other, that Routh will not be superb in the role of Superman Returns. No one will know until the movie is seen, but to deny "polite" debates and discussions regarding all actors in both forums is frustrating sometimes. Unfortunately, I am well aware that there are many immature posters, in both forums. It's just unfortunate.

I find the discussions that are well thought out, well supported by facts/pictures, and the insight of long-time Superman fans as one of the reasons I enjoy reading in these forums. Much of what I am learning about Superman mythology is from the posters who have been longtime Supes fans as I admit, my knowledge of Superman for the most part is based solely on Smallville, even though I was "young" enough to have seen Superman the Movie when it first came out.

It's just sad that I can't ask questions about anything or anyone regardless of the forum I happen to be perusing. I am very much aware of where the 'red lights' are and what questions can and can't be asked and where. Oh well, rules are rules.

 

[The Incredible Hulk]

*smiles and nods*-for the sake of this forum

How diplomatic of you... so I'll take that as a "no" to my last question then?

 

[The Incredible Hulk]

I agree on this point. I only read in the 'supes' forum. I never post in there because I don't want to be accused of trolling. If I'm going to bring down the other posters by deliberately putting down an actor or anything else that they are rooting for then I feel that I'm just being spiteful. I don't like when other posters do it here in the Smallville forum, and I'm certainly not going to do it to anyone else. However, it would appear to me that you can talk about ANY actor in the other forum (Reeve, Cain, O'Hearn, Bale, Cage) - anyone EXCEPT Welling. Even the moderators come into the thread to chastise posters if Welling's name is mentioned. Which then begs the question of "why." I'm sorry, I just don't understand it unless what Hulk is saying is partly true. For me (and for many others), Welling is the current standard, and like it or not, he succeeds on every level: size/mass, height, eye color, acting, appearance, etc.

Having said all that, no one can state for certain, one way or the other, that Routh will not be superb in the role of Superman Returns. No one will know until the movie is seen, but to deny "polite" debates and discussions regarding all actors in both forums is frustrating sometimes. Unfortunately, I am well aware that there are many immature posters, in both forums. It's just unfortunate.

I find the discussions that are well thought out, well supported by facts/pictures, and the insight of long-time Superman fans as one of the reasons I enjoy reading in these forums. Much of what I am learning about Superman mythology is from the posters who have been longtime Supes fans as I admit, my knowledge of Superman for the most part is based solely on Smallville, even though I was "young" enough to have seen Superman the Movie when it first came out.

It's just sad that I can't ask questions about anything or anyone regardless of the forum I happen to be perusing. I am very much aware of where the 'red lights' are and what questions can and can't be asked and where. Oh well, rules are rules.

I agree completely, it is a total shame. A year and a half ago, the majority of posters here were also active posters in the Superman movie forum and it was filled with great people and everyday was a blast, but then after casting the parade of trolls and idiots came into those forums. Those of us that also enjoyed Smallville stayed on the site but came over here full time, because we got tired of personal insults due to our feelings for who should've had the role. The people who were really into the movie and had more than a handful of brain cells that could carry on an intelligent, insult-free conversation went to places like Superman Homepage or Blue Tights.

I've been a Superman fan since I was 3 yrs old sitting in a theater watching Superman the movie, and have read a decent amount of comics going back to the 1940's. I have a good knowledge of every incarnation of the character over the past 70 years, and what was added/changed when. I went to Metropolis, IL to go to the Superman festival. Hell I even wrote a thesis paper on the character. I used to bartend and give anyone with the "S" shield on something free drinks, "just because" .. but I've begun to hate certain sects of the fanbase due to their ignorance of the character thats been displayed on the Net, and thats something I'd NEVER thought I'd say.

 

[green]

How diplomatic of you... so I'll take that as a "no" to my last question then?

Seeing as you are just going to assume something if I dont answer you, I guess I will. Yeah, I have defended Welling in the Returns forums. Have I done it in awhile? No, what would be the point? It would only add fuel to the fire and you know how uncivilized that forum is. The funny thing is, the regular Returns forum posters(the few that remain) dont really bring up Welling anymore, the regular Smallville forum posters dont bring him up over there either. It's random people who stop by and post stuff just to cause a stir in the forum(and I know theres a few people that post over here for god knows what reason, other than to cause trouble), its frustrating, saddening and quite honestly disappointing of Superman fans in general. After all these years of waiting and the hell this production has gone thru to see people behave in such childish, selfish and impatient ways blows my mind.
When I first starting posting here Welling was my top chioce for the role. Once Singer got attached and we starting hearing what he had in mind it was obvious Welling wasnt the right actor for the direction he wanted to take the franchise. Heh, o.k. after thinking about it, it made sense to me. Personally I like the idea of two Superman incarnations at the same time, the more the better and his comeback has been long over due.

 

[KalKai]

here's a new interview with Tom, i'm sure the ladies will love this 1 lol

http://video.ktla.com/global/video/...pID1=547964&h1=Sam Rubin Talks to Tom Welling

 

[AgentPat]

Edit. Question answered.

 

[KalKai]

yeah it is, didn't see the other 1.