We’ve been reporting for some time now that Smallville was slated to run an end game in Season 8, making it their final season. Season 8 is moving along pretty well so far and as in some rare scenarios, the success of a final season can sometimes change the minds of network execs.
Face it, cash cows are hard to let go of sometimes.
Rumors or hopes have been floating around the internet that some folks would like to see the show continued. Some fans want to see a spin-off into a Green Arrow series, others want to see Batman and Wonder Woman breeze through the 9th season or various other scenarios.
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Of course we’ve all heard the news on how The CW is panhandling the DC universe to the max, hoping to extend its cash cow potential with an origin show of Dick Grayson called The Graysons. So far, no one I know is too enthused about this weak premise. But it is what it is and they will either create such a compelling show that we’ll like it, or we’ll be sending them lots of nasty letters in robin’s-egg-blue colored envelopes. Heh… not that I’m suggesting anything.
In the meantime, an offshoot site of the well known KryptonSite, got themselves a note from Smallville’s executive producers Brian Peterson and Kelly Souders where they intimate the possibility of a Smallville Season 9.
Yep, you read right. A 9th season.
They said that they are very committed to creating an origins story of Dick Grayson and they are equally committed to continuing the success of Smallville – seasons 8 and 9.
Right after that statement, they toss out that they are working on a story for Clark that allows for seasons of further trials and adventures. Ah, folks, you just brought in Doomsday (the character who in the comics killed Superman). I halfheartedly expect the show to end with Doomsday. But that’s just me.
So they got me to wondering and away I went, scouring the web and getting all tangled up in searches. And what did I find?
First off, they’ll have to juggle schedules since Erica Durance (Lois Lane) has at least two projects coming up, and Aaron Ashmore (Jimmy Olsen) has some upcoming work as well. Justin Hartley has two projects done and coming out, so I can surmise the possibility of future employment for him. Otherwise, the majority of the staff is free… for now.
Here’s my own predicament: I’ve seen a post that says: “The President of the CW Network has stated that Season 8 might not be the last season for Smallville” but their reference link does not point to anything that substantiates that statement.
In an interview over on Collider.com with Brian Wayne Peterson and Kelly Souders (two of the executive producers), they said that they and the cast would love a season 9 but are prepared to write an end story arc for the last several episodes of a season, if given enough of a heads up to be able to do it.
For me, I feel like I’ve just been tossed a red herring.
Not once have I seen a statement saying that season 9 is approved, hinted at, a go, nothing. It’s as if I was talking about winning the lottery, as if it’s going to happen. I feel like it’s a hopeful statement by the creative team of Smallville and nothing more. I came across one of the many Smallville bulletin boards out there, and almost to a tee, the sentiment on a 9th season is… let me paraphrase: “Noooo!”
Heck while the creative team keeps dropping bread crumbs about another season, some wonder if the CW is even going to around for another season itself. It probably will with shows like 90210 and such keeping it afloat.
Am I off the mark on this one, or am I just being my usual dour, suspicious self? What are your thoughts on the matter?
Sources: IMDB.com, KryptonSite
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168 Comments
Well, looks like we’re getting closer and closer to Clark becoming Superman. Last night, Olson took a picture with Clark saving Lois but the image of Clark was smudgy.
SPOILERS AHEAD! SPOILERS AHEAD!
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After investigating, Olson finally realizes Clark is the mystery man, to the dismay of Clark. Clark finally gets Oliver Queen (after he sobered up) to act like he was the hero while Clark is talking to Olson. Queen dresses up in a blue suit with a red cape and swoops down to save a hinchman of Tess Mercer from taking Olson. Clark had just saved Lois from a memory-stealing meteor freak who happened to steal Clarks memories. When Clark returned to Olson, he notices people starring at the caped crusader (with the American flag so obviously positioned) with awe and hope. He now realizes his destiny, but thinks the cape is dorky.
Also, Chloe visits the memory thief in the hospital and finds out he knows all about Clark. She then touches him and his brain gets fried. Is Chloe actually Brainiac? If so, where is the real Chloe?
I meant save Olson from a hinchman of Tess Mercer. Darn Skynet!!
Yeah, this season is really coming along nicely. VAST improvement over season 7.
Reminds me of the final season of “Star Trek: Enterprise” when Manny Coto came aboard and it improved big time.
Vic
Honestly I have been watching smallville since it started and it would be just wierd if this season ended the series, I know all about the comics n stuff, but it would be wierd not to have another season. Im so used to watching smallville thursday nights. I love it. My time to relax and watch an amazing story come to life. Im looking forward to another season!! But if it does come to an end. I will be satisfied enough of what a great job they’ve done, (except the doomsday part). Thats my opinion!! Smallville is a great show and has everlasting effects on my heart.
Poppinz
well my thoughts are… i think smallville is/could end(ing) a bit too soon. there are a good few directions this show could go since the CW has altered the story so much. granted that they’re really terrible at costume design & i could live without that. clark is still way too young (on the show) and i believe superman didn’t come around until his mid twenties or something like that.
i think they’re really showin’ their stuff in season 8 and even if i didn’t love smallville oh, so much.. i’d say let them run with the story,
& please, if you want it to end, you’re welcome to stop watching whenever you wish. =]
& i’m positive they’re not even done writing this season yet so there’s no way they even know if there’s a season 9.. if an ending will fit, i’m sure they’ll do it. but if there’s a season 9, that will most definately be the last.
oh! one more.
..when in the world are they gonna bring perry white back on? i like that crazy drunk son of a gun. that’s a must, & i don’t see him back for s8.
..sry.
Some seasons of Smallville were very boring (for me anyway) and I kind of hoped it to progress faster to the point where Clark is in Metropolis and accepting his fate (to become Superman). Luckily since Season 5 (i think) the story did come more alive even though it still played off in smallville with Clark junior. And Season 8 is EXCACTLY what I wanted to see (more Metropolis, Daily Planet, Lois & Clark moments, etc). And now the question remains: will there be a Season 9? I freakin’ hope so because season 8 is @55-kickin good. The fun just started, it can’t end now!!!!! If they don’t want to do a Smallville season 9, then rename the show and start with season 1 of say “The Justice league of Superman” or “The Superman Chronicles” or something but don’t stop the good stuff now!
It really has been a great season and the last two episodes have been outstanding. I don’t think we have a filler episode anytime soon which means just the main story arc. I hope they will have a 9th season since the ratings have always been good and are even up from last years average and this with the CW barely promoting the show. Here’s hoping the CW has some brains and gives us the 9th season.
I’ve said it before and agree with scott and the others that it would be great if smallville continued even just one more season and called it “metropolis” and really followed clark being superman. I love this season so far and I feel if it continues this way the producers will have no other option then to continue another season…..I also agree with someone that said if it goes to season 9 they will probably end the season finale with a battle between clark and doomsday and leave you thinking clark is dead…..I’m glad the episodes involve the superman mythology and the main story arc more than meteor freak of the week filler episodes……
I think they messed up smallville, during season 7 it got abit crap.. like all these unexplainable things just seemed to happen and all these objects did all these unexplainable things and the characters seemed to jst jump to a conclusion and no what was going on and things also got dragged on quite alot. I stopped watching it for months and months and then i decided to try and watch it again coz i was bored and when i got up to season 8 it wasnt so bad after all like lois and clark are starting to show that they like each other abit and he is working at daily planet and jimmy is their sidekick unlike in all the other seasons how they dragged on clark and lana hookin up dat took so long. Anyways because there not dragging everything on it may be a sign that the show is going to end? I hope thats not the case because they could keep it going and besides it started as a teen show and now its more like a young-adult show so why not put on the tights and cape? But ive read all over the net that Tom dsnt wanna wear that. And yeah as people have said turn it into a show called Metropolis, dat would be mad although the actors might not want to and who knows what the producers or watever will do, they just gotta be creative and stop thinking about the money. Some people just make useless story lines sometimes and don’t put much effort into it because all they think about is there next pay check and yeah hopefully it keeps a move on and continues to SURPRISE us with creativity.
It would be nice to see smallville’s fans work at letting CW know they want two more years with tom welling. What a nice christmas gift CW could Tom’s fans!!
i think they should have a season 9 because they have branched out on too many stories like clark lois, clark chloe,chloe davis,green arrow, justice league,etc. i think they would need another season just to clairfy and end every story they have!
Guys, guys, guys,
What has come of thee? Smallville is great! I’m totally gunning for a season 9 and even 10.
The ratings show that the show is consistently in the top 10 (actually top 7) since season 8 began.
As for the way the show is headed- its great. Here’s why:
- We get to see the evolution of doomsday (I love this character- the fact that’s he’s a good guy fighting inner darkness, and his relationship with clark)
-I LOVE what they’ve done with Chloe and her brainaic abilities
-The fact that Clark is now having to adjust to real ‘working life’ and the balance of trying to save the whole world. I find this dynamic really interesting.
-Tess running the planet: she’s a refreshing villain and I like how she’s grouping up all the meteor freaks to form a team.
…I could go on, but I’m hoping that you’ll see my point: there’s a lot going on with smallville.
Don’t forget – every year there will be a new audience of emerging teenagers / a young adult audience that will tune in and begin watching it.
CW should renew smallville for seasons 9 & 10 if they don’t want to loose the huge fan base for smallville and definitely tom welling. Give tom welling a contract that will keep him for 2 more seasons and also let tom direct more episodes. Fans unite and keep smallville on for 2 more seasons!!!!!
Smallville is and has been my favorite show for 8 seasons and as long as they can bring back Tom and Allison back I think everybody will be happy to see a 9th season. Smallville is my favorite show but I also really like Supernatural which has always averaged about a million less viewers and I worry that by taking Smallville away some of Supernatural viewers might go away since Smallville was it’s lead in. As I am writing this I just realized if Supernatural had a million less viewers it would still have around the same as 90210 and Gossip Girl. NO Promotions for their best shows and they still average more viewers than the weaker shows. Thursday is like the only day that the CW makes a dent in the ratings and it would be suicide for them to take these shows away. I think in the end it will be Tom’s choice if there will be a ninth season because he was only contracted through 8.
CW will be smart if they get tom welling to renew for 2 more seasons of smallville. smallville is one of the top shows that CW has with a HUGE following. The supposedly teenage sex soap operas aren’t cutting it!!! CW and its producers – give tom welling a very good contract and also let him direct more episodes of smallville.
The ratings (or lack of ratings) for The CW could be one big reason for renewing Smallville for at least another season.
Vic
Your right about having Tom Welling directing more because so far he has done a great job and the episode he did last year is a favorite of mine. Allison Mack is directing episode 13 this season I think and I’m sure she’ll do a good job. NO Smallville or Supernatural goodbye CW.
i think season eight of Smallville should be the last. I love smallville. But, its time for the show to end.. We don’t want to see superboy we would like to see superman.. I think the show should end. The CW has alot more shows on it to keep the rating up.. Like Supernaturel and reaper.
Well I just hope that whether it ends this or next season the network gives the Smallville producers enough time to give it a planned ending instead of a rushed one. I like Reaper but the ratings for it weren’t that great and other than Smallville and Supernatural the CW has almost nothing for scripted shows.
I have been a fan of smallville since it started. The show was amazing for the first 3 seasons and then began to head south, albeit slowly. The beauty of Smallville was seeing him being young and learn about the powers and his maturation. They got way into dumb side plots and just kept trying to keep the same stories going far too long. Last season began to bring it out of the darkness as more of the Superman myths came into the story ( thankyou to DC). This season has seemed to finally leave Smallville behind and let us see the transformation. The writing is perfect and the current crop of characters have fresh plots and stories. Even Doomsday! I was very very hesitant on them using this character. However, they have crafted a very interesting back story to him that rivals the original. The way i look at it this isn’t smallville anymore, but a completely new show. The ratings are really coming back and please let this show go on. Just leave Clana for dead!
hey bruce simmons wuz up. did you see the abyss episode this week? and also did you see the awesome trailer for next weeks episode. which we will see doomsday. is a good thing that alfred gough & miles millar left the show.
Hey John. I can’t argue that one John. I don’t think they’d have taken the show where it’s headed.
This IS NOT a SPOILER, just a guess, but I’m waiting for Chloe to “change”. She’s getting more and more Brainiac-ish every episode!
smallville should continue till season 10 , u cant just add two new series regulars who havent appeared in the series before and only last one season, also.
i think what would make a superb finale to season 8 is if lex returns in a dramatic fashion, then season 9 he will be back inhis commanding role, also i hope to see more of aquaman, the flash cyborg and martian manhunter, smallville, i also wouldnt mind seeing perry white again.
anyone agree?
This is the best season yet for Smallville. It is so fantastic that taking it on another season would carry good momentum. It’s not like Alias where the last season was a joke. The new producers and writers are brilliant! Speaking of new writers, it is a possibility that Clark will fly and take on a super hero identity. The old writers were the ones to say that Clark would never fly or be Superman, but not the new guys.
I would openly welcome a season 9!!!!!!! And the committed fan base of this show do to!
P.S. I thought the show was for sure going to die without Lex, but Merci was a great cast. She is evil!!
Yeah well the Old creators who still have some major say in what Happens had a strict policy for the show as they called it “NO FLIGHTS, NO TIGHTS” but over on buddytv they are planing to honor the no tights policy but the flight policy they are really considering and the black suit Clark Used before getting the Red and Blue down. So they could really pull a season out of this season this season leads up to his destiny he is saving people he is becoming the protector of earth his romance with Lois is starting to kindle so Next season could really be about the start of Superman Leading to the Superman we Know. Maybe a Half Season would work like 12 Episodes cause I don’t think they can really finish it up this year cause there is still some things that need to be revealed. The Writers Strike messed with the show it was down to 18 Episodes last Season and My other fav supernatural was cut to 16 so they both deserve some more creative room to grow. By the way The contracts where up at the end of season 7 from what I hear everyone signed a 3 year and possible tv movie Contract
Some posters are a bit misinformed. The “new producers” are simply old writers, and have really been helming the show since Season 4. AlMiles have been basically figureheads since then, so the “new direction” is really just them hurrying up their own stalling. AlMiles haven’t written an episode since “Crusade” and they didn’t tell the other guys what to write. It was just that the show kept getting renewed, so the story kept getting stretched out. Now with the real possibility that it is the last season, things are coming to fruition. It’s only a coincidence that it’s happening just as new producers took over.
Tom Welling’s contract is over at the end of this season, so he will have to re-sign if they want him next year. Re-signing almost guarantees a raise, so it’s unlikely the show can afford to keep him. (They can’t even afford real music anymore, and poor Ollie is living in his plane!) Allison Mack re-signed for two years, so she would be onboard, along with everyone else except for Erica Durance, whose contract is also up for renewal. (Source– Peterson interview on
Television witout Pity).
Also, not only was the “no tights, no flights” rule AlMiles, it is also Tom Welling’s– it’s in his contract that he refuses to wear the tights. (Allison Mack stated this in an interview with ComicCon this year).
Personally, I am ready to see the story conclude this year. But even if they continue, I’m sure everyone can agree that I hope they wrap it up properly. They should take a few notes from “ER”, which is celebrating its last year with a year-long tribute to old characters and storylines. The decent ratings this year would ensure that SV is finishing strong, not limping across the finish line.
@Brian
Somehow I doubt they’d go with a red “costume” since they’ve spent 8 seasons of Clark CONSTANTLY in red and blue.
@Mariko
Great info! However I have ALWAYS heard that it was Millar and Gough who were behind the no flights/no tights policy (not to say you’re wrong, it’s just the first I’ve heard of it coming from Welling – can’t blame him on the tights thing, btw).
Considering how radically different the tone of this season is, I find it difficult to believe that Millar and Gough were just figureheads up until now, not guiding the direction of the story arc.
Vic
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