The Nickscast discuss why a show targeted towards men became unexpectedly popular with women and has continued to grow in popularity: We're talking about the SPNFamily (Supernatural fans!). How is the show so popular after even after twelve seasons? How does it differ from its peers? What keeps its fans going? We're going to eat some pie and find out on this week's episode of Fanthropological!
Next week, we’ll be talking about fans of Sherlock Holmes (BBC Sherlock, Elementary, classic; we're talking it all). Stay tuned!
## Episode outline
### [Last episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/26-whovians/) Famous Last Words
**Z:** Who is the fan favourite character and why?
**G:** In canon, who is born first and why do fans think it is one way or the other?
**T:** Is it just because its two hot people? Will any show about two hot people succeed?
**Alex:** How much slash fiction is there?
### Fandom facts
**Origins:**
An American fantasy horror series that was first broadcast in September of 2005. It follows the nomadic lives of brothers Sam and Dean Winchester, travelling the US and hunting down supernatural foes (as their father did, who spent years seeking revenge against the demon responsible for his wife’s death). It just ended its 12th season, as of this recording, and is renewed for a 13th.
**Fandom origins:**
Largely Livejournal ([supernatural_tv](http://supernatural-tv.livejournal.com/))
**Names:**
Supernatural Family / SPNFamily
**Size of fandom:**
The TV series pilot has 5.6 million viewers, and episodes regularly have about 3 million viewers.
**Fanfics:**
Archive of our own: Over 92000 (January 2015); Over 60000 (February 2014); Over 27500 (December 2012)
### What did we discuss?
A brief history of strikethrough and splintering of fandom from Livejournal ~ the Supernatural newsletter ~ Fan terms like imbroglio (vs fanwank) and real-person fiction (RPF) ~ Keeping a long running show like Supernatural fresh ~ changes in television and storytelling for long running shows ~ the cast, crew, and fandom as a tight knit family ~ charmingly flawed shows that keep trying (which is good) ~ character and fandom relationships: "Family don't end at blood" ~ Targeted at men (classic rock, killing monsters, cars) but women as biggest fans ~ Z's Supernatural boyfriend
### Are you in, or out?
> Z, so now that you're romantically involved with one of the Winchester brothers, are you going to continue things further?
>
> — G
**Z is in.**
> ...As part of my research, I have to watch the first episode of this to see if its any good, to see if it holds up. And, after seeing that first episode, I can definitely say that I am in for the first five seasons.
>
> — Z
- T briefly explains the cosmology of our universe compared to that of Supernatural's
**T is out.**
> Z, I'm going to take your 'in', I'm going to take it, and carefully toss it into the trash because I am out. I don't care if that metaphor works!
>
> — T
- At 12 seasons and still going, media fandom is too big
- **But** T is committed to watching the pilot and the fanfiction episode. Hold him to that!
**G is out.**
> I want to try and find these more experimental episodes and watch those. Like *The French Mistake*, as I mentioned, the fanfic episode, the one from the perspective of the car. *LARP and the real girl* ... There are few that have piqued my interest.
>
> — G
### Fans of the week
No fans of the week this week, sorry :(
### This week's spotlights
[Random Acts](http://randomacts.org)
Started with Misha Collins (Castiel, on Supernatural) in 2009 asking his "minions" on Twitter to come up with ideas for a "minion stimulus" project (during the economic recession). Has since grown and and changed, but is set up to encourage folks to conduct random acts of kindness in their communities, and holds different fundraisers. In 2014, spent over $47000 USD to fund different acts of kindness around the world. Even deve...
