SUPERMAN SPOOF TO AIR, FEATURING LOCAL SIGHTS.

Byline: Amy Raisin Staff Writer

VALENCIA - Trade Metropolis for Valencia and the heroic Man of Steel for the inebriated curmudgeon with a cape and get ready for ``Manic-Depressive Superman,'' debuting this month on cable station TNN.

The National Network returns with the spoof series ``Small Shots'' at 4:30 p.m. July 20, featuring such Valencia landmarks as the Town Center and the Hyatt.

Gone are Superman's famous muscles and do-gooder dedication in this comical sendup of the popular superhero, replaced by a less-than-fit version who spends his days on a bar stool railing against the 911 emergency system that, he insists, has stolen his heroic duties.

In keeping with the everyman charm of ``Small Shots,'' all of the actors are regular people from the community.

``I had to wear tights, which was not my favorite thing,'' said Sean Tucker, a database designer who won the part of the ill-tempered, caped has- been. ``(My wife) laughed, then she was strangely intrigued.

``But it was a once-in-a-lifetime thing. It was great fun.''

His wife, Anne, had a small part in the production but was quick to warn her husband not to quit his day job.

``During the auditions he was playing Mr. Straight,'' said the Valencia resident. ``I was keeping quiet, but when he had to get up on a table and pretend he was flying, I just couldn't help it. I just burst out laughing.''

``Manic-Depressive Superman'' will air before TNN broadcasts the feature film ``Superman IV: The Quest for Peace.'' The 30-minute program, however, consists mostly of filmmakers Chris Cox and Matt Sloan traveling Valencia in their beat-up Winnebago, casting local residents for the sketch.

While shot and edited to appear less than polished, the program is a seamless ode to silliness. It's hard not to laugh at the onlookers on the street staring at the filmmakers as they traverse Valencia, bullhorn in hand.

Without giving too much away, highlights include the disgruntled star's superhuman, drunken strength, his reluctance to help a boy find his puppy and a licensed therapist's medical answer to the grouchy hero's problems.

``Manic-Depressive Superman'' is the first of four ``Small Shots'' episodes scheduled to air on TNN. Others include ``Blind Durham,'' ``Teen Kong'' and ``Ferris Bueller's 10,000th Day Off.''

For information, log on to www.thenewtnn.com.

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(color in SAC edition only) The TNN spoof ``Manic-Depressive Superman'' was filmed in Valencia and will air later this month. In keeping with the production's charm, all of the actors are regular people from the community. Sean Tucker won the part of the ill-tempered, caped has-been.