Millar and Gough are leaving the show!

[Serene]

There's a difference between making bad decisions, which I'm totally cool with, specially if you're 20 years old. But there are things that are just not right. Remember in Fracture, when Clark went to rescue Kara and Lois? He supersped right in front of the bad guy, and instead of just knocking him out easily, like he did with Lois (tap on the head?) a couple of seasons ago, nooooo, he had to go and toss him around pretty aggresively, and SMILE! And let's not forget about this:

It's funny how different things will bug the heck out of some people, and others find it no big deal. I guess it really goes to what you find most important in the show. I tend to find the occasional implausible character interactions and dialog to be a lot more disturbing that Clark tossing yet-another bad guy through the air. It's pretty much show canon that Clark tosses bad guys and they don't die from it (however they are usually stopped from doing whatever evilbadliness they are engaging in, which is the ultimate point).

There is a certain comic-book fantastical element that I allow for much for SV. How could you not? So scenes like this:




...don't seem that outrageous to me. I can *see* that in a comic book panel in the context that it was presented, and it doesn't seem that far out of line.

... he would have killed Lionel if MM wouldn't have shown up. I could expect this from the 15/16 yr old Clark (and not even then, really), but he should know better by now.

It's now an oooold argument, but I do not agree with that Clark would have killed Lionel had that scene played out without MM interceding. Come on, he was over-the-top FURIOUS, but he's still Clark Kent, and he's still not a murderer. That one scene doesn't negate his entire characterization of the past 6 season. They did later show Clark's guilt and re-examination of his actions towards Lionel - again: he lives, he learns. It's what the show's about.

Regarding all the Insiders - Haven't we all learned to take all of them with a ginormous grain of salt? I don't doubt that they all "hear" things, but those "things" don't always come to fruition, nor are they always true - in the sense of not being the party line.

It's become kind of a fun hobby to hear what they all say and argue/panic/sing praises about it.

 

[superboy13]

It's funny how different things will bug the heck out of some people, and others find it no big deal. I guess it really goes to what you find most important in the show. I tend to find the occasional implausible character interactions and dialog to be a lot more disturbing that Clark tossing yet-another bad guy through the air. It's pretty much show canon that Clark tosses bad guys and they don't die from it (however they are usually stopped from doing whatever evilbadliness they are engaging in, which is the ultimate point).

I'm not so much against Clark tossing the bad guys around, but this particular time, it felt off. It was much more aggresive than other times, and Clark looked actually proud afterwards.

There is a certain comic-book fantastical element that I allow for much for SV. How could you not? So scenes like this:




...don't seem that outrageous to me. I can *see* that in a comic book panel in the context that it was presented, and it doesn't seem that far out of line.

As a still image, sure, it's no biggie. But as a scene, it played completely different, imo. Clark was completely blinded by his rage, and he seemed to be ready to kill Lionel if MM hadn't shown up. IMO, of course.

It's now an oooold argument, but I do not agree with that Clark would have killed Lionel had that scene played out without MM interceding.

There are no old arguments, just new angles?

Come on, he was over-the-top FURIOUS, but he's still Clark Kent, and he's still not a murderer. That one scene doesn't negate his entire characterization of the past 6 season. They did later show Clark's guilt and re-examination of his actions towards Lionel - again: he lives, he learns. It's what the show's about.

Thing is, his characterization over the past 6 seasons hasn't been completely consistent. Overall, he is Clark Kent, and not a murderer. But you get certain times when he is convinced that he killed someone (Knox) and doesn't really seem that affected by it, or he has the chance to save someone, and doesn't do it, like when Lana and the stalker fell through the glass, and he only caught Lana. You could argue there that he didn't have time beacuse Lana could have fallen a split second after the other guy, but is that ambiguity really necessary? Another example that comes to mind right now, is when he saved Lex (I think it was in the Lynda Carter episode?). Clark Kent actually HESITATED to save a human being's life. That's just bad handling of the character, to me.

 

[Serene]

There are no old arguments, just new angles?

Ooh, good one! And very true.

Thing is, his characterization over the past 6 seasons hasn't been completely consistent. Overall, he is Clark Kent, and not a murderer. But you get certain times when he is convinced that he killed someone (Knox) and doesn't really seem that affected by it, or he has the chance to save someone, and doesn't do it, like when Lana and the stalker fell through the glass, and he only caught Lana. You could argue there that he didn't have time beacuse Lana could have fallen a split second after the other guy, but is that ambiguity really necessary? Another example that comes to mind right now, is when he saved Lex (I think it was in the Lynda Carter episode?). Clark Kent actually HESITATED to save a human being's life. That's just bad handling of the character, to me.

Fair enough. I can understand why you might feel that way. You expect more consistency in Clark making the right decisions all the time maybe?
My acceptance threshold for Clark making mistakes is a bit higher, particularly in the prior seasons. I do, however, hope to see a more mature and decisive Clark Kent in the final season we have coming up. I can still give them a leetle wiggle room for him not being perfect though - but I'd even give that to full-on Superman.

 

[AgentPat]

Agreed on Kreuk’s part. The only problem I see right now is the Us.dollar which is weak right now, when compared to other times. Even Steven DeKnight said in his myspace blog, back in the sixth season there were some budget difficulties considering the U.S dollar was losing its value.

Yup! I don't have a shred of doubt that the budget is being reduced yet again. CW is in trouble, and the exchange rate is still poor. And contract renewals for a show going into its eighth season are bloody expensive. LOL

I’m not sure why would Allison want to leave...

Gosh, who knows? But I don't recall hearing her say that she wanted to leave either - unlike Rosenbaum and Kreuk. Last bit of info from Mack was that she hadn't been approached about her S8 contract yet. That's a far cry from being "prepared to walk," though anything could have changed in recent weeks. Again, who knows? What does seem clear to me is that something BIG changed recently, and it was big enough for the showrunners to ankle.

Although I do believe CW wants to do some budget cuts

Financially, the network is in deep doodoo. They've got to do something, and quick. That said, the early renewal for SV still blows my mind.

I do believe they want to bring MR in some capacity, even if it is just 8 or 11 episodes.

He's the villain of the story, not to mention a big audience draw, so no mystery there.

Another thing was Gough and Millar always pushed for Smallville to have an eighth season, always saying, back in the sixth season, they still had ideas for two more years.

I think they were definitely kicked out when they presented the ideas for the eighth season, like Lori Lemaris…

Exactly! I don't know what went down - nobody does - but there's no WAY G&M left their own show in its last year on the air - when Clark is supposed to become Superman - just because CW wants another round of budget cuts. Come on. They've spent the last seven years building up to this moment. They've knocked heads with everybody from Warner Features, DC comics and network executive who wouldn't know Superman from a hole in the wall yet they've managed to pull it off just fine, IMHO. THAT is the big implausibility here.

Somebody didn't get what they wanted, and depending on that person or group, it became their way or the highway. That's Hollywood.

There's nothing implausible about what Supermanhomepage reported

I'm sorry Melly, but we're just going to have to agree to disagree on this. I don't believe Younis or Byrne know the whole story.

Craig pretty much backed them up, and since he has direct access to G&M he should probably know...

Yes, both Byrne and Younis have their sources, but I don't trust them. Sorry. SHP routinely takes pot shots at the show, and Craig has badmouthed members of the cast in the past, even Welling himself. Nothing wrong with having an opinion and posting it, but if he's getting his information from Gough, then that information is biased by default.

The only thing I take at face value is spoilers, because that kind of information is a lot more reliable than business negotiations and agreements held behind closed doors. Rumors abound, and you just have to go with personal experience and gut feelings.

I don't believe everything that SHH and Craig say. They are clearly biased when it comes to AG/MM. It's clear that Tom and AG were not exactly in the best of terms this year and there's more to AG/MM leaving the show than just budget issues, I'm sure of that.

 

[Prison Mike]

I guess we will never know what went down between CW/WB/DC and Gough and Millar. There will be biases no matter where you get your source information from.

 

[Mikelus]

Some people keep talking like they know what is going on "behind the scenes". Fact is we don't, some are just being biased or wishful thinking about this or that.
The bottom line is, all this situation is not good for the show, actors leaving or reducing their presence next season, now the creators leaving, it gives a very negative image and ratings could go way down, not a good way of ending the series. They should have ended Smallville this season, they blew it and now S8 could be awful, unless they really get some cool supervillains, but with a reduced budget, it doesn't look like it, hope I'm wrong though.

 

[b24]

I guess we will never know what went down between CW/WB/DC and Gough and Millar. There will be biases no matter where you get your source information from.

this REAL shame i mean we fans have been following this show for 7 yrs and now these network people, creator, writers or whoever are creating this whole new darama

we fanms derseve better i will really angry if they messed up ssesaon 8

 

[AgentPat]

Some people keep talking like they know what is going on "behind the scenes".

"Some people?" To whom are you referring, Mikelus? Steve Younis and Craig Byrne? Just wondering, 'cause everybody here including myself has said we don't know what went down.

Fact is we don't, some are just being biased or wishful thinking about this or that.

Wishful thinking? In what regard? Nothing about the current situation comes off as a good thing to me. Creaters/producers leaving a show in its final year, regardless of the reason(s) why, doesn't have a good ring to it. YMMV.

God, I *&%*ing hate this board these days. "Some people" can really be jerks.

Later taters.

 

[superboy13]

Ooh, good one! And very true.

Fair enough. I can understand why you might feel that way. You expect more consistency in Clark making the right decisions all the time maybe?
My acceptance threshold for Clark making mistakes is a bit higher, particularly in the prior seasons. I do, however, hope to see a more mature and decisive Clark Kent in the final season we have coming up. I can still give them a leetle wiggle room for him not being perfect though - but I'd even give that to full-on Superman.

That sounds fair. I guess the difference relies basically on the fact that we're (duh!) different people. My guess here is that you, for example, see Clark more through Martha's eyes, being a mother yourself, and you appreciate his growth as a person in a different way than me. In my case, I'm as old as Clark is on the show, so I have a different perspective. Neither is wrong, mind you.

 

[KalKai]

Question: We need scoop on why Al Gough and Miles Millar left Smallville! This is a complete shock. I know you can get us answers!— Jesse

Ausiello: Everyone I spoke to about this — and that includes sources at the CW, Warner Bros. and the show itself — tell me two key issues played a role in their departure: money and movies. Warner Bros. apparently wasn't offering enough of the former, and their Smallville duties weren't affording them enough time to do the latter. Now, these same sources stressed that the duo's exit should not be likened to the seismic event that was Team Palladino's exodus from Gilmore Girls two years ago. Whereas Amy and Dan pretty much wrote and/or directed every episode of GG right up to the day they packed up and left, Al and Miles have been relatively hands-off in recent years, leaving much of the work to Darren Swimmer, Todd Slavkin, Kelly Souders and Brian Peterson. And since the four of them will now be running the show together, the transition will be a seamless one.

 

[Mikelus]

Now Ausiello confirms the information from Superman Homepage, so we have three good sources telling the same: Craig Byrne from K-Site, Superman Homepage and Ausiello. As always in the business, is mainly about money.

 

[Kalleo]

Well IMHO I think they could reintroduce the glasses as having Clark have a eye sight problem like he did seasons ago. But him all of a sudden acting goofy just would not work. I mean no matter which way it will go we are all going to have to use a stretch of our imaginations. Me I have really enjoyed watching Smallville and I am not a writer nor claim to be one but I think if they brought SDK back he could come up with a damn good idea on how to work SV mythos into a secret ident for Clark on SV.

 

[Whiteflag]

Question: We need scoop on why Al Gough and Miles Millar left Smallville! This is a complete shock. I know you can get us answers!— Jesse

Ausiello: Everyone I spoke to about this — and that includes sources at the CW, Warner Bros. and the show itself — tell me two key issues played a role in their departure: money and movies. Warner Bros. apparently wasn't offering enough of the former, and their Smallville duties weren't affording them enough time to do the latter. Now, these same sources stressed that the duo's exit should not be likened to the seismic event that was Team Palladino's exodus from Gilmore Girls two years ago. Whereas Amy and Dan pretty much wrote and/or directed every episode of GG right up to the day they packed up and left, Al and Miles have been relatively hands-off in recent years, leaving much of the work to Darren Swimmer, Todd Slavkin, Kelly Souders and Brian Peterson. And since the four of them will now be running the show together, the transition will be a seamless one.

There's a clear contradiction there. If AG/MM have been relatively hands-off in regard to the show, why couldn't they be doing movies? In fact, they have, even at a time when they apparently were more involved in the show.

Of course everyone: TPTB, WB, CW... will stick to those official statements. We may never know the real reasons, or all the reasons, behind AG/MM's departure.

 

[Mikelus]

Well, is quite simple, the CW wants to reduce costs and Gough and Millar wanted more money. Now they will have more time to work on movies and earn more.

 

[mellyM]

There's a clear contradiction there. If AG/MM have been relatively hands-off in regard to the show, why couldn't they be doing movies? In fact, they have, even at a time when they apparently were more involved in the show.

Of course everyone: TPTB, WB, CW... will stick to those official statements. We may never know the real reasons, or all the reasons, behind AG/MM's departure.

I think when they say hands off they mean they weren't really writing for the show, but they still had to oversee the stories and the production. Now they are free of obligations and to make deals elsewhere. It usually comes down to money in the end. I guess they felt the show would be left in capable hands and wouldn't suffer any if they left.

 

[Captivated]

God, I *&%*ing hate this board these days. "Some people" can really be jerks.

Later taters.

Touchy much?

I must have missed something... All I see are the usual annoyances... I mean, when you are talking superheroes, there is bound to be some age-related immaturity to deal with. Is there a "better" Smallville forum I don't know about?

I don't know what happened to get some of you regulars off in a SNIT, but (as an older fan) I for one MISS your comments and point of view!

 

[RaZaTrOn]

I don't know if anyones said this but they always said they knew how Clark was going to get his disguise and have people forget him so he can be supes right? What if leaving the show was their sneaky way??

Doubt it but just a wild thought.

Does this mean their rule of No tights. No flights no longer exists??? So season 8 means we may get flights and tights?

 

[zerohour films]

I don't know if anyones said this but they always said they knew how Clark was going to get his disguise and have people forget him so he can be supes right? What if leaving the show was their sneaky way??

Doubt it but just a wild thought.

Does this mean their rule of No tights. No flights no longer exists??? So season 8 means we may get flights and tights?

I don't see the rule being lifted myself.
I would think it's going to be business as usual for the most part. Unless the new showrunners have always had other plans and are now free to explore those--or if it is some mandate that's handed down from higher ups.

I would think the flights rule is naturally going to start being bent, and would've been under AL/Miles as well. Just a natural progression at this point in the story. But the tights are still out at least until the series finale. Just my humble opinion though...

Maybe Jack Mercy's cryptic \8/ 's that he left a long time ago meant not only that there would be a season 8---but a SUPER season 8??

 

[zerohour films]

I don't know what happened to get some of you regulars off in a SNIT, but (as an older fan) I for one MISS your comments and point of view!

I know I'm relatively new around here but....ditto

 

[Prison Mike]

I'm pretty sure everything will stay the same in terms of writing and season arcs. The people who developed them are the ones taking over. I think everything will be the same minus a character or two or three.

 

[Syncos]

I'm pretty sure everything will stay the same in terms of writing and season arcs. The people who developed them are the ones taking over. I think everything will be the same minus a character or two or three.

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not.

A character driven drama can't be the same minus half it's characters.

 

[Captivated]

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not.

A character driven drama can't be the same minus half it's characters.

Exactly. This is what has me worried.

 

[Prison Mike]

I was being...semi-sarcastic. I really do think the show will be the same in terms of writing and story development. They will most likely spread out Lex and Lana's episodes like they do with Lois. I don't think it will be that big of a deal if they do it right.

 

[Mikelus]

^ I agree, but we need Lex to be half of the season minimum, even if they bring some cool supervillains, is not the same.

 

[Prison Mike]

it all depends on how much Michael wants to move on. I hope he does at least 11 episodes.