Smallville 200th in Variety...
200 episodes is quite the achievement. I have to say I never thought when I would look dimissively at the image of Clark as the scarecrow all those years ago that one) I would watch it and two) that it would last ten seasons. I am supremely happy it did and I think back with gratitude to the ones who were there at the start: Al Gough, Miles Millar, Jeph Loeb and Greg Beeman.
Variety ran articles about SV's 200th episode, though the show didn't get a special cover like they did when it hit 100, but
I was really hoping for a revamp of the 100th one-sheet listing all of the episodes. I guess the font would have to be miniscule to list all 200 eps.
100 eps
~Variety is a long and wide periodical, so I can't fit it on the flatbad of my scanner, hence the two halves.
Picture accompanying the article below
'Smallville' has big legacy ahead of it
Showrunners understand what awaits in series finale
By THOMAS J. MCLEAN
It's been apparent from the first episode of "Smallville" that the final episode would see Tom Welling's Clark Kent don the familiar red cape and blue tights, soar off into the sky and complete his transformation into the modern legend that is Superman.
Despite being a foregone conclusion, there are many details to manage on the way to that ending, and it's a responsibility that exec producers and showrunners Brian Peterson and Kelly Souders take very seriously.
"There have been a lot of restless nights of sleep this year," says Peterson, who along with writing partner Souders joined the series during its second season. "I think we collectively -- with the ideas Al (Gough) and Miles (Millar) had back when they created the show -- have come up with ideas that will be really satisfying."
Adding a twist to planning the show's final year is the landmark 200th episode of the series, which airs tonight and sees Clark attend his five-year high school reunion.
"At first, it seemed like a bit of a challenge, to be honest, because it's the 200th episode and it really needs some kind of a big mile marker in it," says Peterson. "We were a little concerned about where you go after that. But then once we embraced that it really is part of the launch of the final season and part of the first run of episodes, it was great way to look back at the series and pay homage to everything that has come before and also push off and launch the rest of the whole 10th season."
Making the final season a satisfying one for the cast, crew and fans is a balancing act. While Clark becoming Superman is a given, there is a lot of wiggle room in the specifics of how he gets there and what happens to the large cast of supporting characters.
"The No. 1 thing people want to see (in the final episode) is him be Superman," says Souders. "Outside of that I think everybody has very different opinions about what that final episode should include and what the conclusions for our show should be for each character."
Peterson says DC Comics has given the show a lot of freedom to include characters from its superhero universe and to find conclusions for each that works best within the context of the show.
"That's not saying there's not a lot of pressure on us to end them right, but we have quite a bit of latitude," he says.
The final season will see several former cast members return to the series, including Annette O'Toole, John Glover and Michael McKean. Souders and Peterson say they hope to see more familiar faces return -- both to wrap up individual characters' storylines and to have one last chance to work with them on the show.
"(It) is not only the fans having the chance to see some of those familiar faces that they love once more, but for us to write and create stories for them again," says Souders.
There also will be guest stars, with Teri Hatcher set to follow in the footsteps of such other Superman franchise alumni as her "Lois & Clark" co-star Dean Cain and movie series stars Margot Kidder and the late Christopher Reeve.
Yet, Peterson says the final season will be more than a series of encores and guest appearances, and will focus the most on Clark and the final, emotional and intellectual steps of his journey.
"Clark has really taken on a lot of the traits of a hero, so we have a lot of people asking 'Why isn't he flying?,' 'Why isn't he Superman yet?'," says Peterson. "A lot of that is internal, and so this year has been really rich with great character moments, but as any writer will tell you, it's very challenging to play a lot of internal turmoil."
Having run the show for its final two seasons -- they worked with Todd Slavkin and Darren Swimmer on season seven after Gough and Millar departed the show -- Peterson and Souders say they have come to love and appreciate the comic-book mythos of Superman and are proud to have contributed to it.
"It drives you crazy on the one hand because on most shows they can go to a shop and get any prop they need, and we're poring over details about Kryptonian scripture on the side of some Kryptonian box," says Souders. "It's enough to drive you completely mad but it also makes the job insanely fun."
"For us, it's been a dream to enter that world every day with all the crew and cast and it's going to be very sad to leave all that behind and step back into reality," says Peterson.
/end
Welling thinks big on 'Smallville'
Star also exec produces and directs
By GLENN WHIPP
Not long after Brian Peterson and Kelly Souders joined the "Smallville" writing staff in the show's second season, they began noticing an unexpected participant in their weekly video meetings with the Vancouver production staff.
Series lead Tom Welling turned up one day unannounced and, afterward, just kept coming back for more.
"We'd be in our windowless room in Los Angeles, look up and notice Tom sitting in the back of the production office in Vancouver," says Souders, who now, with Peterson, acts as the series' producer and showrunner. "It'd be like a wardrobe meeting, something he didn't need to attend. And after that, he was there all the time, no matter what the meeting was about. His interest was piqued."
Welling has played Clark Kent on "Smallville" for 200 episodes, surviving a network merger, a move to Metropolis and numerous threats from a revolving carousel of villains. During his decade on the show, Welling has done no other TV work and acted in just three movies -- the two "Cheaper by the Dozen" comedies and the 2005 remake of John Carpenter's "The Fog."
Instead, Welling has devoted his time and energy to behind-the-scenes aspects of "Smallville," directing episodes and, since season nine, serving as an exec producer.
"The most rewarding aspect of my time on the show has been the opportunity to learn about and experience storytelling," the interview-shy Welling says. "The opportunity to direct has provided valuable insight into the process."
Says Souders: "It sounds odd, but Tom has a great gut. He understands story. He has directed some big episodes for us, but even when he's not directing, we'll often get a phone call from him, either discussing his character or the general concept of an episode. As the season goes along, we sit down with him every quarter and discuss what's coming up, just so that, in his mind, he's able to start prepping for what's going on down the road."
"He loves the prep work," adds Peterson.
So much so that, in addition to his acting, producing and occasional directing duties on "Smallville," Welling is also an exec producer on the CW cheerleading dramedy "Hellcats," currently in its first full season. Welling helped develop the show through his shingle, Tom Welling Prods., and sold it to Warner Bros. Television, the home of "Smallville."
What Welling is sacrificing, apart from sleep, isn't clear.
"I want to do it all -- act, produce and direct," Welling told fans at this year's Comic-Con in San Diego.
Observes Souders: "When you're wearing a lot of different hats, it's hard to keep every aspect of what you're doing fresh. It's really easy to think about one thing -- producing, directing, acting -- and worry about that. But to keep everything in mind at the same time is a real skill set, and Tom has it."
There's also the physicality of the role, Peterson adds, saying Welling always has been willing to do whatever's needed in terms of stunt work.
"You put Tom in the mud, water, flames, harnesses, freezing rain," Peterson says, laughing as he ticking off the list of elements. "He's an absolute trooper to be the single lead of a show where, for 200 episodes, he has done all this gritty stuff."
From Welling, you get the sense of determination and duty, but also an appreciation that he has been able to do it for the past decade.
"Season 10 is a great number," Welling told reporters at the summer TCA tour in Beverly Hills. "I wouldn't have even known what that number meant in season one. (Warner Bros. TV president) Peter Roth told us that this show would go 10 seasons, so he had the vision. Ten is a great number. I will miss everything about being on 'Smallville.' "
/end
~Here's an IGN article where Tommy Tights talks about S10 and his unending woeing of Michael Rosenbuam
Speaking of Tom, here are pics from Just Jared of Tom on the set of IIRC "Patriot".
I love his messenger bag. If he were a messenger, he'd be the most beautiful messenger of all times. I'd eagerly await his packages.
"What's this?"
::peers inside and sees Rosenbaum's briefs:: closes it
You know, I'm a little tired. Oh man, I'm so sorry to say little, I wasn't thinking about you when I said it. Honest. I'm beat.
I'm just going to take a nap. Don't come in without knocking. And bring me some lotion in case I...I..well it's just really dry in here.
Look at Tom, he's the star and the producer and he carries his own umbrella.
Unlike lazy Chace
Variety ran articles about SV's 200th episode, though the show didn't get a special cover like they did when it hit 100, but
I was really hoping for a revamp of the 100th one-sheet listing all of the episodes. I guess the font would have to be miniscule to list all 200 eps.
100 eps
~Variety is a long and wide periodical, so I can't fit it on the flatbad of my scanner, hence the two halves.
Picture accompanying the article below
'Smallville' has big legacy ahead of it
Showrunners understand what awaits in series finale
By THOMAS J. MCLEAN
It's been apparent from the first episode of "Smallville" that the final episode would see Tom Welling's Clark Kent don the familiar red cape and blue tights, soar off into the sky and complete his transformation into the modern legend that is Superman.
Despite being a foregone conclusion, there are many details to manage on the way to that ending, and it's a responsibility that exec producers and showrunners Brian Peterson and Kelly Souders take very seriously.
"There have been a lot of restless nights of sleep this year," says Peterson, who along with writing partner Souders joined the series during its second season. "I think we collectively -- with the ideas Al (Gough) and Miles (Millar) had back when they created the show -- have come up with ideas that will be really satisfying."
Adding a twist to planning the show's final year is the landmark 200th episode of the series, which airs tonight and sees Clark attend his five-year high school reunion.
"At first, it seemed like a bit of a challenge, to be honest, because it's the 200th episode and it really needs some kind of a big mile marker in it," says Peterson. "We were a little concerned about where you go after that. But then once we embraced that it really is part of the launch of the final season and part of the first run of episodes, it was great way to look back at the series and pay homage to everything that has come before and also push off and launch the rest of the whole 10th season."
Making the final season a satisfying one for the cast, crew and fans is a balancing act. While Clark becoming Superman is a given, there is a lot of wiggle room in the specifics of how he gets there and what happens to the large cast of supporting characters.
"The No. 1 thing people want to see (in the final episode) is him be Superman," says Souders. "Outside of that I think everybody has very different opinions about what that final episode should include and what the conclusions for our show should be for each character."
Peterson says DC Comics has given the show a lot of freedom to include characters from its superhero universe and to find conclusions for each that works best within the context of the show.
"That's not saying there's not a lot of pressure on us to end them right, but we have quite a bit of latitude," he says.
The final season will see several former cast members return to the series, including Annette O'Toole, John Glover and Michael McKean. Souders and Peterson say they hope to see more familiar faces return -- both to wrap up individual characters' storylines and to have one last chance to work with them on the show.
"(It) is not only the fans having the chance to see some of those familiar faces that they love once more, but for us to write and create stories for them again," says Souders.
There also will be guest stars, with Teri Hatcher set to follow in the footsteps of such other Superman franchise alumni as her "Lois & Clark" co-star Dean Cain and movie series stars Margot Kidder and the late Christopher Reeve.
Yet, Peterson says the final season will be more than a series of encores and guest appearances, and will focus the most on Clark and the final, emotional and intellectual steps of his journey.
"Clark has really taken on a lot of the traits of a hero, so we have a lot of people asking 'Why isn't he flying?,' 'Why isn't he Superman yet?'," says Peterson. "A lot of that is internal, and so this year has been really rich with great character moments, but as any writer will tell you, it's very challenging to play a lot of internal turmoil."
Having run the show for its final two seasons -- they worked with Todd Slavkin and Darren Swimmer on season seven after Gough and Millar departed the show -- Peterson and Souders say they have come to love and appreciate the comic-book mythos of Superman and are proud to have contributed to it.
"It drives you crazy on the one hand because on most shows they can go to a shop and get any prop they need, and we're poring over details about Kryptonian scripture on the side of some Kryptonian box," says Souders. "It's enough to drive you completely mad but it also makes the job insanely fun."
"For us, it's been a dream to enter that world every day with all the crew and cast and it's going to be very sad to leave all that behind and step back into reality," says Peterson.
/end
Welling thinks big on 'Smallville'
Star also exec produces and directs
By GLENN WHIPP
Not long after Brian Peterson and Kelly Souders joined the "Smallville" writing staff in the show's second season, they began noticing an unexpected participant in their weekly video meetings with the Vancouver production staff.
Series lead Tom Welling turned up one day unannounced and, afterward, just kept coming back for more.
"We'd be in our windowless room in Los Angeles, look up and notice Tom sitting in the back of the production office in Vancouver," says Souders, who now, with Peterson, acts as the series' producer and showrunner. "It'd be like a wardrobe meeting, something he didn't need to attend. And after that, he was there all the time, no matter what the meeting was about. His interest was piqued."
Welling has played Clark Kent on "Smallville" for 200 episodes, surviving a network merger, a move to Metropolis and numerous threats from a revolving carousel of villains. During his decade on the show, Welling has done no other TV work and acted in just three movies -- the two "Cheaper by the Dozen" comedies and the 2005 remake of John Carpenter's "The Fog."
Instead, Welling has devoted his time and energy to behind-the-scenes aspects of "Smallville," directing episodes and, since season nine, serving as an exec producer.
"The most rewarding aspect of my time on the show has been the opportunity to learn about and experience storytelling," the interview-shy Welling says. "The opportunity to direct has provided valuable insight into the process."
Says Souders: "It sounds odd, but Tom has a great gut. He understands story. He has directed some big episodes for us, but even when he's not directing, we'll often get a phone call from him, either discussing his character or the general concept of an episode. As the season goes along, we sit down with him every quarter and discuss what's coming up, just so that, in his mind, he's able to start prepping for what's going on down the road."
"He loves the prep work," adds Peterson.
So much so that, in addition to his acting, producing and occasional directing duties on "Smallville," Welling is also an exec producer on the CW cheerleading dramedy "Hellcats," currently in its first full season. Welling helped develop the show through his shingle, Tom Welling Prods., and sold it to Warner Bros. Television, the home of "Smallville."
What Welling is sacrificing, apart from sleep, isn't clear.
"I want to do it all -- act, produce and direct," Welling told fans at this year's Comic-Con in San Diego.
Observes Souders: "When you're wearing a lot of different hats, it's hard to keep every aspect of what you're doing fresh. It's really easy to think about one thing -- producing, directing, acting -- and worry about that. But to keep everything in mind at the same time is a real skill set, and Tom has it."
There's also the physicality of the role, Peterson adds, saying Welling always has been willing to do whatever's needed in terms of stunt work.
"You put Tom in the mud, water, flames, harnesses, freezing rain," Peterson says, laughing as he ticking off the list of elements. "He's an absolute trooper to be the single lead of a show where, for 200 episodes, he has done all this gritty stuff."
From Welling, you get the sense of determination and duty, but also an appreciation that he has been able to do it for the past decade.
"Season 10 is a great number," Welling told reporters at the summer TCA tour in Beverly Hills. "I wouldn't have even known what that number meant in season one. (Warner Bros. TV president) Peter Roth told us that this show would go 10 seasons, so he had the vision. Ten is a great number. I will miss everything about being on 'Smallville.' "
/end
~Here's an IGN article where Tommy Tights talks about S10 and his unending woeing of Michael Rosenbuam
Speaking of Tom, here are pics from Just Jared of Tom on the set of IIRC "Patriot".
I love his messenger bag. If he were a messenger, he'd be the most beautiful messenger of all times. I'd eagerly await his packages.
"What's this?"
::peers inside and sees Rosenbaum's briefs:: closes it
You know, I'm a little tired. Oh man, I'm so sorry to say little, I wasn't thinking about you when I said it. Honest. I'm beat.
I'm just going to take a nap. Don't come in without knocking. And bring me some lotion in case I...I..well it's just really dry in here.
Look at Tom, he's the star and the producer and he carries his own umbrella.
Unlike lazy Chace
