This thread will self destruct later today --

without going into any specifics, I'll just pose this question: if you were granted a phone interview with one of the executives of the show (the PS3 team), what one question would you ask? (And not anything that won't get a response like, "What's is WRONG with you guys!" or anything semi-abusive like that.)

My apologies to Tennison if this thread's not appropriate or duplicates the Open Letter to Powers that Be thread.

Only one? But there's so many! Oh well, debating between my questions on Chloe, Grant and Lionel I choose my Chloe question:

"While I understand Chloe not wanting to work at the DP because of it being Lex owned, does that mean she's done with journalism for good? If so, why, as it was such an important part of her character for seven seasons and counseling meteor freaks is not even close to the same thing."

Many times what is said on screen does not match the story that has been shown on screen. It seems deliberate. Why do you choose to tell the story this way?

Currently, the feeling among long term fans is that you are rebooting the series for season 8, especially in terms of Chloe's characterization ie, her focus on the meteor infected as opposed to her career in journalism, (something that fans feel the show has established as an integral part of her character over seven seasons). The same thinking exists for Lois' characterization as well ie that what you've established as part of her character is being changed drastically to suit the rebooted version of the show.

If so, can you explain why you have chosen this rebooted path for the show?

Can you give any hints as to what your endgame for the show is?

Black Panda -- I'm not sure I understand that question. Could you rephrase it or offer an example of what you mean?

There is very very little support for the Jimmy and Chloe relationship on-line, are you aware of this and if so why do you continue to make it central to the show?

1) Will the new 33.1 facility discovered in episode 2 lead Chloe to a new investigation?
2) Do you guys intend to acknowledge the current issues with Luthor corruption at the Planet i.e. will it be redeemed?
3) Do you still want AoT/Martha for a single episode in season 8?
4) Will you ever address the issue with the soulmate bracelet again?

1) Are you aware that Chloe's importance to the show was based around her being a role model for career-minded women? Lois has been portrayed as the roustabout slacker and Lana as the perpetual damsel in distress. In Chloe from seasons 1-5, especially, we were given a woman who was dedicated, intelligent and career minded and did not need a man in her life. We also had a mere mortal who kept up with Superman (or the future Supes) by sheer enthusiasm and force of will. When will we see that Chloe again? We would all like to see a Chloe focused on her career path and getting back to the Daily Planet instead of Mrs. Jimmy Olsen. We all appreciate that you resigned the delightful Miss Mack but focusing on Chloe who runs ISIS and worries about Jimmy is not the Chloe we'd like to see.

2) Is there going to be an elaboration of Bette's storyline? Will it tie into 33.1 and lead Chloe back to investigation?

3) Do you honestly think that Chimmy is a healthy relationship? Much lamenting has been made over Chloe in seasons 2 and 3 pining for Clark Kent, who at least grows into a superhero. Why is it considered better for her to constantly demean herself to take back a man who has belittled her, cheated on her, rebounded to other women, oggled her cousin, spied against her to the FBI, gone behing her back to the man who fired, is ragingly insecure about her one friendship and, as the piece de resistance, got her thrown into prison for treason? Do you honestly expect us to root for Chimmy?

4) How do you take it that Jimmy Olsen's reputation has been so besmirched in the Smallville Community because of his cheating habits and lying that people would rather see Chloe with Doomsday than with the vaunted "Superman's Pal"?

5) Why do you make Jimmy-centric episodes. After Noir was so poorly rated, did you stop and think about Sleeper and if the audience wanted to see Jimmy Bond? Also, do you believe that was a constructive use of one of MR's final episodes?

6) Can you explain the fake pregnancy? There is still massive confusion about if Lex faked it and why he faked it.

7) Can you explain the purpose of the Daily Planet arc in seasons seven and eight? It is unclear why Lex purchased it at all. Was this is plan B for Chloe as stated in Progeny?

8) Chloe was fired dramatically last season in Descent. It's an epic moment to have the heroine who we've watched struggle for her journalistic dream for seven years be fired for assisting the hero by the villain. Here vow to make Lex pay was powerful indeed. How are you following up with that scene and that problem this season?

9) Why was Grant introduced onto the show?

10) Why did Lois have an affair with her boss when she knew it would besmirch her reputation?

11) What was the purpose of Kara's bracelet? LV talked about it at length in her interviews, but some of the audience is still confused on the significance?

12) Is ANYONE going to follow up on connecting Lex to Patricia Swann and Lionel Luthor's murders?

13) Will we at least hear about Martha again and are you courting AoT to come back on the show?

14) What is Shelby's character arc for the season? Seriously, can we see him more than twice?

15) How do you respond to fans who feel like season eight is a retread of earlier moments in the show and, moreover, an imitation of Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.

16) Doomsday is a fearsome monster and his spiked appearance is well-known. Other shows like Buffy and Angel have made great use of prosthetics. Will Davis have a monstrous alter ego at some point in the show?

17) Will the Chloe/Jimmy relationship ever break up permanently and if it does, would it be because Chloe finally realizes she is better than such a disloyal, fickle womanizer?

18) Will we see Lois actually publish anything? Will we see her capable of following a lead without Chloe or Jimmy or Clark's assistance?

19) ISIS was originally established as a front for fraud and for spying illegally on Lex. Is that darker side forgotten or will we see some more unethical shades of that organization brought to light when Lana returns?

20) Will you please, after eight years and over 150 episodes, finally make Chloe and Clark an official couple?

Many of us started off as Superman fans but became Smallville fans. We love the stories being told in Smallville and want them to continue and progress organically as they should in any other story. My big concern is Chloe and journalism. If this were any other show I would get payoff for watching 8 years with her reaching her dreams of becoming an ace reporter for the DP. Instead, she was yanked out of her dream and replaced by a 2nd rate version of Chloe.

My question, are you trying to appease Superman fans more than Smallville fans?

As much as I am a Superman fan, Smallville is a whole other world that doesn't have to line up with the Superman world. I think it should end in the way in which it was set up in season one. It would make those of us that have been watching since the beginning, Smallville fans, happy.

My question.

"You guys came on board in season two and took on ever greater responsibilities as time went on. What are some of the elements of the stories over the past six years that you've added to the tapestry that is Smallville?"

Why is Clark Kent a second tier character on a show presumably about his life?

Thanks for giving us this opportunity, Omar G!

S7 did a lot to continue to connect Lana Lang with and as a Luthor. Did or do you have any intention to have Lana go back to Lex?

The past seven seasons have set SV up as it's own re-take on Superman, and in those seasons there has been a heavy push towards truth in journalism with Chloe as the forefront character learning about how to be an ethical reporter and standing up for ethical reporting; now in the story the Planet has become a mockery of itself and what it stood for -- my question is when are we going to see the DP saved from the tabloid trash it's become? If so, why explore the DP's down turn and who will save it? If not, why not, and why is this a 'good' direction for the DP (and it's "employees") this late in the show?

Since people have asked more than one question, I'll ask two more.

"A lot of people have issues with what we the posthumous sanctification of Lionel (e.g. "he died for [Clark's] sins") yet so many of his actions, even recently, can be considered criminal which he did not pay for. We never found out why he locked Clark in the box in Traveler, for instance. With Oliver coming back in Season 8 and Lionel having had caused Oliver's parents death, will he ever be held accountable/recognized for any his prior bad acts?"

"What was Lex's interest in Lois working at the DP/why was she hired at the DP in the first place?"

Black Panda already asked my ultimate question. Why does the writing of the show often emphasize the disconnect between what is shown (ie: Lex is conflicted and is truly trying to save the world; Lionel remained just as much a villain even after he was "redeemed"; Lois is unethical, sloppy, and just plain lucky) and what is told (Lex "only cares about himself" and "power and control"; Lionel "took moral responsibility" for his crimes; Lois is tenacious and has great instincts)? I agree with BP that it seems deliberate. So I guess my spin on her question is what is the point of crafting every character (even/especially the hero) as an unreliable narrator, even in situations wherein the truth should be highlighted?

Dudes. One question each. Not, like, 20.

Also, I'm ignoring any questions that are thinly veiled excuses to vent about Chimmy or whatever. This is supposed to be for an interview, not a therapy session or a public flogging.

For the past seven seasons, Chloe's passion, dreams, and ambitions has been to be the best reporter at the Daily Planet. She has never been shown to back away from a challenge (The Chloe/Lionel/Lex arc of season 3 where Chloe helps Lex take Lionel down despite threats to her life), she has been shown to be brave (willing to face Jor-El, Brainiac and so on to save Clark), to be smart and hardworking (working towards her dream to work at the Planet), but her personality seems to be changing for season eight. Are we still going to see the brave, spunky, hardworking, ambitious, emotional, down-to-earth, curious, Reporter!Chloe of season 1-5 that we loved so much, work towards redeeming the Daily Planet from the tabloidish rag (Grant hiring Lois based on unsupported UFO ranting (or because she was hot), hiring anyone (Clark) with no qualifications) that it seems to have become?

ps: Sorry Omar, it's a really long question.

Will Chloe ever return to the Daily Planet and become the big shot reporter that the audience has been told she's destined to become since season 1?

With Lex and Lana exiting stage left does Smallville essentially become the Clark and Chloe show? How has going from four full time cast members to two affected the dynamics of Smallville?

There have been recent spoilers indicating that S8 will explore certain elements of Smallville's history--e.g., "Fever" letter, Chloe and Clark's first kiss, etc. Is this being done to sustain the integrity of the series despite the departure of cast members Kristin Kreuk and Michael Rosenbaum by "going back to the beginning," or are we looking at a move to hush the buzz about a Chloe/Clark relationship and close the door on that possible pairing?

On the same subject, Lana's brief return to the canvas is promised to be "an awesome moment in the history of Smallville." Because we've been hearing that Clark will be reexamining his feelings for Chloe, does Lana's presence have anything to do with Chloe and Clark? Also, is Lois directly involved in this moment at all?

Will we see Perry White at all in S8?

*Waving my previously-retired big, sparkly sign*

Will Lois find out Chloe's secret this season?

That would be entertaining as well.

Q: Do you have anything big planned for Lois this season, and if so, will she get her episode number increased to cater to it?

In May you rehired Allison Mack for 22 episodes, the only full-time female on the series, yet almost all the interviews and spoilers have focused on the Lois and Clark relationship --- have you changed show direction since you re-signed Allison or is there some other motivation behind this apparent disconnect?


Omar: If I only get one question, I'd rather have this one than the Chimmy question.

I ship Clark and Chloe, so I want to know...will Clark and Chloe finally become an actual bona fide couple like Clark and Lana were? Thank you!

Omar, I was trying to get at what Eurybia said:

"Why do you choose to craft your characters into unreliable narrators in evaluating other characters and events on Smallville?"

I know you, Omar, should instantly understand that Lex's comment about Lois being a great investigator made little sense in the context of the story. That's pretty inflamatory though.

Perhaps Lionel would be the best example for clarification. Lionel abused Lex. Fracture, and Gina's remarks to Lex in Descent show the writer's haven't forgotten this. Clark's own remarks episodes earlier in Veritas emphasize this. Yet Clark talks to Lex as if the this were not the case in Descent. "They [Jonathan and Lionel] would have felt the same way about you Lex if you would have tried."

What is said about the characters just doesn't quite fit what is shown. Is that making more sense? To me other shows might go the route of saying, "I know Lionel abused Lex for years, but this has gone too far." Or to Lex, "I know you had reason to hate him, but..."

Perhaps a better question, "To what extent do you deconstruct the stories told in comic books?"

I tried. Sorry. There is a reason I am not a journalist, Omar.

I thought that Lois and Ollie had fantastic on-screen chemistry. Will those too be a couple again in s8?

Can you reveal if there were ever any further plans for Lexana in season 7? Some of us were pleasantly surprised at the kiss from Wrath, and certain quotes in that episode that seemed to foreshadow more. Only for that to be the last present-day scene for Lexana, and obviously closure is less than likely now with Michael Rosenbaum not returning. It was quite a frustrating place to leave them though! Were there ever plans to follow up on that Lexana scene?

It did seem earlier on in season 7 that Lana was being set up as more of a Luthor, Lionel and Lex even both compliment her on this, but ultimately Lana's storyline returned to her apparently happy baking pies on the farm for Clark. Was the kiss in Wrath always meant as a one-off, or did direction change somewhere along the line?

Thanks, Omar, for this opportunity. (BTW, miss you around the boards. Your little girl is like a year old now, isn’t she?)

I know we’re only supposed to ask one question, but I have two that I think need to be answered.


1.) If I was going to pick either Clark, Lex, Lana, Chloe or Lois to model my life after, who do you think I should most try to be like and why?


2.) Over the past seven seasons Chloe has had many, many different hairstyles. Which is your favorite and which one do you think made her the best reporter?

Thanks, Firebunny -- she's exactly 1 year old. Just had a birthday recently and she's doing great.

I'll probably be more active around here once the season starts -- I do plan on recapping Season 8 (knock on wood) as well as another project around here. I won't be weecapping "How I Met Your Mother" anymore for logistical/scheduling reasons.

Thanks for all the questions so far, everyone -- I know you all want very specific answers to very specific questions, but given the time constraints I'm opting to use questions about characters, direction of the show, endgame and casting, and behind the scenes stuff as opposed to, "What was up with x in y episode and will z episode address xyz?"

I know this will disappoint some people. but it's very easy to get off track when you try to pin someone down on specifics of something that happened on an episode from years back. I'll do my best to get some of those in, but they won't be the focus of the interview necessarily. You'll have to trust me on this one.

But, I really want to know what kind of drugs they pass around at the office. I also want to know if they plan to blackmail TW someway or how else they think they're going to do a S9? Is that not polite? Darn.

I guess I'd want to ask them about PodChloe and our perception tha Chloe no longer exhibits any of the drive, ambition, snark, humor, insatiable curiosity, love of journalism, faith in the 4th estate, resilience and fighting spirit that she had for the first 5+ seasons and if this is intentional on their part, what does it serve to do that to her?

As a follow up to that one, am I imagining it or are they dressing Chloe more subdued now? Because the Chloevage seems to have disappeared as they have taken away her hot pink pushups and replaced them with plain white bras. To me that is similar to what they've done to her character. She use to be a fiesty number and they've taken away her pizazz.

The other thing is what purpose does it serve to make Chloe be a meteor freak? Shouldn't Clark be actively trying to cure the meteor freaks in Smallville? They spent 5 seasons showing every week why humans should not have those powers so why are they reversing on that position?

What is your relationship with Tom Welling in general and in regard to his character's development?

We always do. And, like Firebunny said, thanks for the opportunity.

Omar - You're the man! You have no idea how much you've been missed. Your ears should be red, the regs talk about missing you all the time. The snark quota has gone down dramatically without you around.

Omar, I'm with the others in thanking you for the opportunity. It means a lot that you're taking the time to consider what we want to know. And I'm glad to hear you're planning on doing the S8 recaps! :D

First I want to say thank you, to have the chance to express what we want to know rocks :D, hugs!!!!!!

Second, my question:

Are we going to get out wishes and have Chloe back in the DP soon now that Lex is "missing"?? I miss my reporter.

Thank you and be well :D

Nobody belongs at the Daily Planet more than Chloe Sullivan, who is Smallville's real heroine - she *earned* that position legitimately. She was unjustly fired by Lex. When will Reporter Chloe return & we see the DP again as a place of Integrity?

What about Clark & Chloe? This show has shown me after 7 years, they do BELONG together. She is the girl of his dreams, masquarading as his best friend!

Thanks!

Part of it was that it's been almost four months since I've even thought about the show. I had to go back and look at the last recap. "Oh yeah! Fortress of Solitude fell. Lex died, sorta. Right... right..."

Will there be any character death(s) from among the regular cast this season?

Thanks Omar!

Are you going to explore the Jimmy and Clark relationship so it aligns itself more with the comics? Will you have more Lois and Jimmy working together as well like the comics? Any chance we see Perry White?

Thanks in advance Omar

So how long does is take to get to Metropolis from Smallville?

And in a less humourous vein.

Much has been made of Clark Kent becoming more pro-active on various fansites in the last couple of years - how do you plan to achieve this given the last couple of years of character stalling?

Which do you consider more important, Smallville fans, who follow Smallville Cannon, or Superman fans who follow Superman cannon? It's obvious Smallville is putting it's own spin on it, so I really like to know which fans you care about pleasing, the Smallville fans, or the Superman/Mythos fans?

Smallville was presented 7 years ago, as an original & new version of the Superman mythology. The show has created it's own canon & just as with Radio's contribution of the character, Jimmy Olson, Smallville's lasting legacy seems to be the "new" character of Chloe Sullivan, played by the award winning & very talented Miss Allison Mack. Many feel she epitomizes everything "Lois Lane" should be, with her journalistic career goal starting from Season 1, her integrity, passion for the truth, justice & unconditional love for Clark. Not to mention Allison Mack/Tom Welling share what has been critically lauded as the "best chemistry" on the show. I am livid at the way Chloe has been shoved aside to hand her "dreams" & everything she's worked for over to another character who didn't earn anything, but supposedly has the right "name."

Chloe is your lasting legacy, what do you think that will be in the end?

Thanks, folks. The person I interviewed had actually read the questions posted here right before, which was a little strange, but I thought it went well and many ideas here were used.

Thanks again. I'll let you know as soon as I have a transcribed version that's posted on the site.

1) Chloe vowed to take down Lex. Now that he's gone, will Chloe shift her focus onto Tess, the Lex replacement?

2) Progeny set up that at 8 years old, Chloe wanted to be a reporter from the start. Why show us this only to then later imply Chloe is no longer interested? When will Chloe get back on the reporter train and fight to get back into the DP after its no longer corrupted?

3) Will we being seeing more of the Chlark investigation team that worked for the last seven years?

4) What more can you tell us about the Clark/Chloe/Davis situation?

"Next... Next...Oh good a question where I can talk about Lana... Next."

Thanks! That should be interesting.

They had read this thread? I'm both pleased and horrified. Awkward much?

When I read that comment, I actually had an embarrassment blush.

Can't wait to read it Omar.

So I guess now we know that one of PS3 reads TWoP.

Thanks for the opportunity Omar! :D

Kaboom!

Looking forward to the end result, Omar.

Also, I'm closing the thread, but not deleting it, so people can have a record of which questions were asked here.