After watching Power I'm beginning to agree with you. TPTB seem determined to ruin the character of Clark Kent which is a shame since TW is doing the best he can with craptastic material. Run Tom run!

As soon as I read "Lana has powers" I knew there'd be supersex. Clark seems to be able to live without it but I'm sure Lana was just busting to suggest it.



See, I sincerely doubt it. He hasn't looked twice at Lois all year. If he does, it's a total rebound.

It's interesting, because no matter what happens with Clois, Nois gets lied to. Chloe and Lana are the only two people who can know why Clana truly break up (assuming Spec is accurate). Nois will not. She'll think that either A. Clark actively CHOSE to break up with Lana, either for Nois, or because he just felt that their relationship was over or B. Lana ended it with Clark for whatever reason. She'll not have the full disclosure, and I think to deal with her feelings for Clark properly, she needs to know what happened with the long-term relationship that's now over.

They should have used clips of MR's voice, like Chef on South Park.

"Hello, Clark. I want to. Make love."

Requiem stills are out. Justin's shirtless again. I'll probably get lambasted for this, but I think that fills our quota. Let's let the boys keep their shirts on now, hmm?

Also, I don't really know what I was expecting Toyman to look like, but... that wasn't it.

Necklace!

OK, you're lambasted. The pretty boys are all I have left to look forward to.

I for one am incredibly angry. This is just terrible and I really cannot believe it. I want it to be a cruel, cruel joke. I would rather it be a cruel joke. :(

Yeah, seriously. Oliver needs to STFU.

I can understand that, even if I'm not much of a Lex fan. I'd be pissed off if Chloe got recast. The pain is rational and perfectly understandable.

I am hoping for a fake out, or just a temporary fix.

The Toyman might not be what I envisoned, but I, as a big girl, am glad to finally see a fat person on this show. I'm trying to remember if there was ever one before... that spoke.

(Psst! Show! Half of America is in the double digits. You might show one of us once in a while.)

He puts me in mind of a poor man's Penn Jillette. I wonder if that's what they were going for.

There was Craving, but I'm not sure how much that would actually count, since Amy Adams was wearing a suit to make her look bigger in the beginning.


I got that, too. I'm perfectly okay with how he looks because my only exposure to Toyman was on one of the various animated series and he was actually a toy, so I had no idea what direction they'd go in.

Okay, so I googled him out of curiousity and it yielded some interesting results. Chris Gauthier has been on Supernatural, Eureka, and was in both The Butterfly Effect 2, which starred ED, and the EarthSea mini series which starred KK. And, finally, he was a LuthorCorp Technician in Delete.

Doesn't count for me. But she would be SV's only Oscar nom. Fat people just don't exist on this show. Crazy to me. You'd think at least in Smallville itself there'd be a big lady, walking around in stereotypical curlers and a flowered blouse and complaining about the quality of the creamed corn nowadays (and I am available).


I'm calling that he will absolutely be a poor man's Penn and have that same weird, hyper energy.

And she was nominated again this year. I'd say she set the bar pretty high for the Class of Smallville.

Now I'm imagining a Bullshit episode about a "Super man."

marikology:



And it seems that they can only have sex when he has no powers or she does. Despite the fact that Jor-El had no problems in that deartment with her aunt(?). It looks like they have problems not associated to the possession or non-possession of powers.



I agree that it would be rebound. But he has looked at Nois. Or at least glanced. But at that point she was really the only available female in his life at that time who also wasn't his boss. The main triangle has always been between Chlarkana. To even get him to show any interest in her you needed to get rid of Lana and get rid of Chloe. That doesn't say a lot about Cnois' future.


Dread:



*snerk*

But that reminded me of something. If they had really wanted to mess with people's head, they could've gotten nerdcore rapper MC Hawking.


PolarB:



Weird. I'm pretty sure in the animated DCU he was a real person. He just wore a creepy mask. Anyway, I was looking at the stills and his appearance is a bit reminiscent of the pre-Crisis Toyman.

Since the CW appears to love ED/Lois based on how they promote the show, if they think the ratings are holding steady because of her (i.e. the whole "mythos" aspect"), I doubt very much that they will be willing to let her go. I suspect ED will be resigned for her usual contract at least, if not more. They could drop/reduce the appearance of JH, AA, SW, and/or CF to ensure that ED stays for the last season. The network has a lot of say in matters of whom to keep as I understand it. Take for instance what happened with the last season of Angel. The WB said there would only be a season 5 if James Marsters was brought on the show. So, not only was he brought on full-time, but he got second billing too, I think.

Well they promoted the hell out of Kara too and look how thougful they were to LV after they decided to try the best next hot thing so don't count on promotion as a sign of someone not leaving the show abruptly. Heck I think JH is safer than ED since they made more effort and had praised the actor a lot more than they did her, IMO.

Yes, but Kara was a one-season deal. It was less risky to let her go. Letting ED go is a completely different deal. She's been on the show for 4 years now. Also, I think few would argue that Kara/Supergirl supercedes (hee!) Lois Lane in terms of popularity and recognition.

Ratings have remained steady with her gone. Of course you can argue that might be an influx of Clana fans, or comics fans in the case of "Legion." Regardless, the argument that the ratings are holding steady because of her has been undercut pretty plainly in the last few weeks. Makes me wonder if that was in fact the intention of the producers, to demonstrate to the network that the ratings truck along just fine without her. I do agree the CW has some say in the matter, and I don't know if they'd be willing to let her go, or if they really care all that much about any given actor in the series beyond TW.

Well Kara/Supergirl is a mythos character, they organized the season around her coming and advertise it as such. That means they invested a lot of money on her still got dropped like a hot potatoe and I think the ratings show that ED makes not real diference on the numbers since she left they didn't got hurted and in fact improved not to mention that this show survived 3 years without ED and then the rest of it with her only on half of the seasons usually disapearing with no explanation no to mention that there has been a lot of criticism for her character and the way is portrayed on the show (not by fandom but by media writers that are not Matt).

So again I don't think her place on this show is secure at all. I mean personally I think ED is smart enough not to ask too much just she can get a new contract on CW that could not only work for SV next season (bites tongue) but maybe let her land another roles once this show ends but I don't think the network is going to go great lengths to keep her. In other words if she were try to pull an AM and try to presure for more money I'm sure she will find herself reading casting sides for the next lifetime movie the week after it, YMMV.

New Trailer for Requiem

Thoughts on the clip:

Did anyone else get kind of uncomfortable when Clana rushed in together? So it's not a merger, Oliver bought out LuthorCorp. When Clark said "Lex" I really wanted Oliver to say "you like saying the obvious don't you." And I was...I don't want to say glad... not upset that the reason Oliver said Lana got "under his skin" was because of the suit, not because he loves her so much. But still, it makes Lex's return about Lana, which really bothers me.

Yes. But Oliver's obvious disdain for Lana made up for it.

And I don't think Oliver necessarily bought LuthorCorp out - he said he has a controlling share. It sounds to me like Tess sold him just enough that it's not technically Lex's anymore, which was probably the point; better to taunt Lex by making him secondary to Oliver rather than dump the company altogether.

Made me laugh when Oliver said here comes Metropolis' "latest power couple."

I'm not really surprised Lex is pissed with Oliver owning his company and majority shareholder means it's now Oliver's in all the ways that matter and about Lana. He needed that suit to survive and she screwed him to. As lame as Faux!Lex is (and he blows), I'm glad Lex isn't taking Lana and Oliver just ruining his life lying down. I like multilayered woobie!Lex, but I would feel let down if Lex were just letting it all go, but YMMV.

WHY or WHY they couldn't do it with Toyman getting texts or emails from Lex or something, I don't know. Because that gets the same point across without, IMHO, insulting the actor, his legacy and the audience's intelligence.

As for Durance - MR was the second lead of the series. He had more screentime last year than anyone but Tom. The show was billed as the Clark and Lex show originally. They didn't meet his price so he walked. If they let Lex Luthor leave the Superman show, they'll let anyone go, IMHO. It might not happen. I think if there's a magical season nine then Durance will still be on it because I'm not that lucky. However, promotion (Kara) or fan following and DC mythos status (Lex) or overall popularity (Lionel) doesn't stop one from being written off necessarily. If Miss Naner Naner demands a massive raise, I assume they'd prefer to work to keep Welling's demands and then deal with Durance or let her walk.

As for Marsters - he got second billing and Denisof got the honorary "and" since he was the only remaining cast member from season one along with Boreanaz. The "and" for ME stuff was valued. Hannigan had it after Head left on Buffy, making Willow second to Buffy. Interesting is that AM is second billed her and then JH is in the honorary position of the final credit that used to go to John Glover and before that other "adults' on SV. JH and AM seem then to be bigger priorities along with Welling, but YMMV.

Except I feel that price can be relative. The CW is losing money, the shows ratings are down, the country's in a recession. They were able to make season eight for a season one budget cause Tom was under an old contract. Now their budget will increase with Tom's salary being increased and he's going to ask for a substantial raise, I'd think. Durance has been on for five years, she's done her time and I wouldn't be surprised or begrudge her if she asked to be paid something close to what Mack has now and to be upped to 22. Dawn's already hemming and hawing on keeping a guy-themed show. The one thing making SV more innocuous to her is that this year it didn't cost more than 90210 after the cuts and cast being let go. Upping Welling and then having to up Durance also leads to a higher price tag that Dawn is willing to pay.

That said, if Slavkin and Swimmer do leave, then they'll have the money to pay Durance and Welling both, I should think and she'd be back.

Just because the CW loves Erica doesn't mean they won't opt to cut her from the show. I'm sure they would love to use Erica in the new MP which would be a perfect fit for Erica. She could get a leading role and appear in all 20-22 episodes.

The director's cuts are considered spoilers here. I think I deleted all the posts about it, but if not, let me know.

Erica wouldn't be able to command what AM makes now. Granted she's been on the show for five years but she's only been a part timer. If they get a ninth season, I could see them cutting her in order to get the extra funds needed to get TW back. They were willing to lose Lex I honestly don't see them being scared of losing EDLois. She really isn't that important. The only person that they absolutely have to get back if they want a another season is Welling.

I agree that if Slavkin and Swimmer leave then they'd have enough funds to up both Welling and Durance but thats if they in fact decide to leave.

I'm always afraid to be optimistic when it comes to anything concerning this show, but why exactly is ED still a part-timer in the first place? Especially now that Lex and Lana are both gone, if her character really is the Iconic Lois Lane, shouldn't she be one of the leads by now?

Budget, most likely. They have an option to use her for more, but they'd have to pay extra.

ILL should, but Nois is very far from being ILL. Her hijinks are always peripheral to the main storyline and when something important is going to happen she's conveniently absent. Plus, ED can't act. JMHO.

I'm going with that too.

Kryptonsite is reporting the rumour that a spin-off is being considered for next year if Tom Welling hangs up his red and blues.

Green Arrow and his Amazing Friends anyone?

I could really only see that working if they'd kept Kara around, and had her hookup with the Justice League, to provide the Kryptonian powers and connection. Otherwise it's really a very different, more action oriented, type of show, with little connection to Clark or Smallville proper (depending on which cast they bring across. But I can't see them getting Chloe).

Ie: Not the kind of show Dawn Ostroff is interested in for her network.

Perhaps it'll be something more like Superman's ICONIC Girlfriend, Lois Lane and HER Amazing Friends (And By Friends We Mean Huge Rack). That seems more CW friendly.

I think it will be more Lois Lane focus and be like a Science Fiction Gossip Girl.

Somehow, after "Requiem," I don't see a GA show working. IMO, Ollie's way too gone to carry a superhero show.

Lanaville anyone? In Legion they setup the idea that she has her own destiny.

I think Lana as the new supergirl is the show they were expecting to do.

They will just need to had her always in love with Clark to preserve her pureness but of course fucking every man in love with her because she needs to give a chance to a new love.../sarcasm.

I posted this Variety Article on "Vampire Diaries" in the media thread.

So... out on a limb here and adding up tidbits:

- This is a sci-fi genre show FOR TEENAGE GIRLS (ala Twighlight).
- Thursday is the sci-fi night it seems.
- Supernatural is potentially in better shape because I suspect it's cheaper due to less FX and fewer seasons.

Add in:

- Silence since TW apparently was "close to sealing a deal" and Dawn appeared to be publically negotiating the cost of the show in the trades with her direction to make the finale go either way (season or series)
- Craig talking "spin off" and hedging his bets when he mentions the May14th as either season or series finale
- AM being completely hintless in her NY article (which I realize could be nothing but I suspect she's smart enough to provide ZERO fuel to any rumor fire if things are not looking good)

I just think that they are gearing for a series finish and the indicators of S9 are vaporizing the more time passes since that TW is "close" leak.

I think the vampire show is definitely being done as a replacement for SV.
However, SV brings in guaranteed ratings.
It'd be smarter to launch the Vampire show, see if it floats, and if it does, then replace SV the next season with an established show. If it fails, then...well, then they have a little more time to come up with something else to replace what they'd lose with SV which is still a lot in S8. Season 9? Maybe not as much if ratings go down thereby making the decision to cancel it easier to justify to people who already think Dawn is incompetent.

As for AM's interview, I'm taking from it that TW has signed and that's why she didn't mention his continuation as being an issue. Even if they are taking spinoffs without TW, I think AM would know that continuing on without TW is likely to be a big failure and would have some negative opinion about even attempting it. Notice how she says she and Tom are enjoying being more creatively involved in the show? To me she's implying they're both committed to the show equally at this point.

I'd say it all depends on the ratings. If they stay steady, there will be a S9. The CW issuing a press release for SV's good ratings last week is not something I think they'd do if they were planning on cancelling it. They only make themselves look more foolish by boasting about good ratings on SV to their customers (the ad buyers) and then pulling the plug on the show.

More S8 promo shots came out today. Nothing terribly new in the sense of style, but everyone still looks great. Even CF this time around. And yes, there's a Clois pic now.

I like CF and AM's second pics more than the first released. The TW one is great too.

The Clois looks manipped to me, it's the lighting that doesn't make sense. I know someone else'd give it more attention to confirm or deny. I hate having to look at the ED side of it.

Well, they "killed off" Lex Luthor is there any reason to think they couldn't just kill off Lois as well, I mean before I would have said canon, but if Lex can die then why couldn't they just have Lois get killed in a fiery crash?

Dear God, Slavkin and Swimmer left. That means they can have enough money now for Tom and Erica to come back.

Oh hell no.

Can anyone post a link to these shots?

I think it's more in regards for Tom.
This does leave money for Erica, or they could save it for MR's return or KK's, or If Doomsday is a one season deal, and with Tess going for Redemption, then there must be an actual villain of the series.

Not to mention, if CW is helping paying for JH to be on the show, with the 2 of the EP's gone they may want the production company to pick up the tab with the extra money.

If it were me, I'd use the money from S2 to ensure TW's return, and then keep the money for Set building, new wardrobe, and SFX, and money on actual guest stars who can act. Maybe hire some better writers.

This show, honestly is better off with a smaller cast now.

I really don't see how with S&S leaving that leaves enough money to up TW and ED. One, the budget for the show might get cut even more because it's going on 9 scenes.

I would think they would want to say money for any major guest stars since I'm sure S9 would be it.

Plus there's the SFX, I think they would use some of that money to go into that department since they're already strapped for cash there.

Well, I'm just going to throw all my hopes into them not having enough money for ED. The knowledge that she'll be back soon is like a constant squealing noise in my head and I just can't take it anymore.

I think if ED was coming back, we would have heard about it by now.

I doubt it, actually. They need to nail down TW first.