The Official Tom Welling Thread

[Bad Superman]

BTW, today is my bday and I turn the same age as Superman.

Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ok, I brought a little something to get started. . .

 

[triplet]

BTW, today is my bday and I turn the same age as Superman.

Have a happy one!

 

[AgentPat]

We have Jana from DTS to thank for this one...

The version on the Dreamwatch cover (slightly different head tilt and expression) is even better. I'm surprised they didn't go with that one... not that this one is anything to sneeze at, mind you. LOL

 

[Serene]

BTW, today is my bday and I turn the same age as Superman.

Which Superman? "Our" Superman?

Have a great birthday, whichever it is.

 

[RakuMon]

Which Superman? "Our" Superman?

Have a great birthday, whichever it is.

Yep. I turn 27 today.

 

[sofiz]

We have Jana from DTS to thank for this one...

The version on the Dreamwatch cover (slightly different head tilt and expression) is even better. I'm surprised they didn't go with that one... not that this one is anything to sneeze at, mind you. LOL

He's so hoooot!!!!

 

[triplet]

We have Jana from DTS to thank for this one...

The version on the Dreamwatch cover (slightly different head tilt and expression) is even better. I'm surprised they didn't go with that one... not that this one is anything to sneeze at, mind you. LOL

Naw, I don't like this photo... too much make-up. You can almost see the contour make-up and the lip gloss. Yucky. I've seen him look better.

Show me one of him with a five-o'clock shadow, that would get me drooling...

 

[RakuMon]

Ouch. SV finally got beat by 70s show this season...

per K-site:
"Bound" Ratings!
The conclusion of the "Category 6: Day of Destruction" miniseries meant tougher competition for the night, and Smallville's numbers declined to the lowest of the season so far.

Here's the overnight ratings breakdown:

Timeslot Rank Show Network Overnight Rating (Last week's rating in parentheses)
#1 Lost ABC 12.3/18 (12.2/18)
#2 Category 6: Day of Destruction (Mini-Series Special) CBS 10.7/15 (N/A)
#3 LAX NBC 5.5/8 (5.9/9)
#4 That 70's Show (8-8:30) FOX 4.8/7 (4.7/7)
#5 Smallville WB 4.4/7 (4.8/7)
#6 America's Next Top Model UPN 4.2/6 (4.3/7)
#7 The Simple Life 2 (Special, 8:30-9) FOX 3.8/5 (N/A)

 

[newbrando]

Weird question. When did TW know that he wasn't going to be Superman? I wonder this each time I watch an episode. In the beginning of the season, Tom just seemed so excited in all his scenes and even at the MTV Teen choice awards, he just glowed like he was so happy. More recently, like last night, it seems as if he's a little, well, sedated in scenes. Not out of character, just not as bright and alert as he seems in say, Devoted for instance. I know this last episode was darker and more somber, but it really made me wonder when Tom started to have all the trouble with tptb over the movie situation.

I know that he's a professional and he wouldn't let other things interfere with his work. But does anybody know around which episode he KNEW he wouldn't be Superman. I always like to watch actors while they're going through significant times, just to see if it colors their acting at all.

 

[Lara]

Ouch. SV finally got beat by 70s show this season...

per K-site:
"Bound" Ratings!
The conclusion of the "Category 6: Day of Destruction" miniseries meant tougher competition for the night, and Smallville's numbers declined to the lowest of the season so far.

Here's the overnight ratings breakdown:

Timeslot Rank Show Network Overnight Rating (Last week's rating in parentheses)
#1 Lost ABC 12.3/18 (12.2/18)
#2 Category 6: Day of Destruction (Mini-Series Special) CBS 10.7/15 (N/A)
#3 LAX NBC 5.5/8 (5.9/9)
#4 That 70's Show (8-8:30) FOX 4.8/7 (4.7/7)
#5 Smallville WB 4.4/7 (4.8/7)
#6 America's Next Top Model UPN 4.2/6 (4.3/7)
#7 The Simple Life 2 (Special, 8:30-9) FOX 3.8/5 (N/A)

I know alot of people like Lex but a whole episode with him as the star may have been negative for the ratings also.

 

[triplet]

Weird question. When did TW know that he wasn't going to be Superman? I wonder this each time I watch an episode. In the beginning of the season, Tom just seemed so excited in all his scenes and even at the MTV Teen choice awards, he just glowed like he was so happy. More recently, like last night, it seems as if he's a little, well, sedated in scenes. Not out of character, just not as bright and alert as he seems in say, Devoted for instance. I know this last episode was darker and more somber, but it really made me wonder when Tom started to have all the trouble with tptb over the movie situation.

I know that he's a professional and he wouldn't let other things interfere with his work. But does anybody know around which episode he KNEW he wouldn't be Superman. I always like to watch actors while they're going through significant times, just to see if it colors their acting at all.

I would bet it was sometime after the MTV movie awards interview, casting call news time frame (mid-August) but maybe before Margot Kidder did her bit of filming a few weeks later in early September for Crusade and Transference....

Rumbles that Welling wasn't in were widely rumored by early Sept.

I looked SHP news archive and that was around the time (9-2) that Caviezel had been rumored to be signed and Loeb said that Tom wouldn't be Superman in an interview on 8-30.

If he didn't know for sure by the beginning or middle of September, I would bet he had known by the end of the month.

Singer had talked at NYU about casting an unknown by 9-26.

I don't know what ep was filming at the end of Sept, but each ep takes 10 days to film and they started filming around July 19th, I believe, so it must have been around episode 6 (Transference), which would be a little over 60 days past mid-July.

But I am majorly guessing...

Actually, in thinking about it: he'd canceled his interview on the View by early October because it had been on the schedule until about a week and a half before (he had been skedded on 10-11). It was probably just as well, since CR died the day before he was scheduled to appear...

He could have canceled knowing the question would come up and he didn't want to answer it... Could be a hint he knew by early Oct.

 

[Ardrhielle]

I don't know the exact day, but I'm thinking likely late August, early September by the latest. I only get that by putting 2 and 2 together, not because I'm on the inside track on anything. I've noticed a slight change in his acting, too, in a good way. He seems a lot more comfortable and sure of himself, and it comes across as just better acting all around. This could totally just be because of having more experience and natural progression. I do find myself wondering though, if, due to recent possible stresses, he's had more of the "don't give a crap" feeling. I mean, a person can only take so much stress.

Now, I'm NOT saying he actually doesn't care to do quality work, as I'm sure that'll always be a top priority for him. But I do know if you're in front of the camera trying REALLY hard to do everything right for everyone and everything, it can read worse than if you have a slightly blase (where's that accent key?) feeling towards it. (Didn't both Rosenbaum and Mack say that in the initial auditions they didn't really care if they got the part or not, and caring less made them less nervous, so they auditioned well and got the role? That's the line of thinking I'm on here.)

Anyway, I noticed on my season 3 DVD set last night that Gough and Millar wrote the booklet notes in August of 2004, which would mean that the movie stuff was swirling around as the DVD was being produced. Could that explain Tom's absence from any DVD extras.
This is all speculation of course, but if there was anything tense about contract negotiations between the tv show and the movie, I can see how it *might* translate into maybe not feeling committed to "going the extra mile" for the tv show. Hmmm.

 

[triplet]

I don't know the exact day, but I'm thinking likely late August, early September by the latest. I only get that by putting 2 and 2 together, not because I'm on the inside track on anything. I've noticed a slight change in his acting, too, in a good way. He seems a lot more comfortable and sure of himself, and it comes across as just better acting all around. This could totally just be because of having more experience and natural progression. I do find myself wondering though, if, due to recent possible stresses, he's had more of the "don't give a crap" feeling. I mean, a person can only take so much stress.

Now, I'm NOT saying he actually doesn't care to do quality work, as I'm sure that'll always be a top priority for him. But I do know if you're in front of the camera trying REALLY hard to do everything right for everyone and everything, it can read worse than if you have a slightly blase (where's that accent key?) feeling towards it. (Didn't both Rosenbaum and Mack say that in the initial auditions they didn't really care if they got the part or not, and caring less made them less nervous, so they auditioned well and got the role? That's the line of thinking I'm on here.)

Anyway, I noticed on my season 3 DVD set last night that Gough and Millar wrote the booklet notes in August of 2004, which would mean that the movie stuff was swirling around as the DVD was being produced. Could that explain Tom's absence from any DVD extras.
This is all speculation of course, but if there was anything tense about contract negotiations between the tv show and the movie, I can see how it *might* translate maybe not feeling committed to "going the extra mile" for the tv show. Hmmm.

Loeb's interview on Tom not being Superman was on 8/30... could be your theory is solid, but I'm thinking it was later. Right around the time he canceled the View appearance, which he did at the end of September/early Oct.

 

[RakuMon]

The commentary on Memoria features a discussion about how they couldn't show Krypton. Al Gough mentions that due to restrictions by Features, they weren't allowed to show aspects of Krypton. Now, the way G&M talk, it sounded as if the movie was still up in the air (at the time of the commentary, NOT the episode). At the time of the commentary recording, I'm assuming the news of Singer had yet to emerge. Anyway, it's cool to get a little insight as to how the spectre of the Superman movie loomed large over SV production.

 

[jas01724]

It definitely wasn't as late as the end of September - the end of August/early September sounds just about on the money.

You have to bear in mind that an appearance on a talk show would be planned weeks in advance - even though he was still listed at the end of September/early October, I think he'd technically already pulled out before it was ever publicised.

 

[triplet]

It definitely wasn't as late as the end of September - the end of August/early September sounds just about on the money.

You have to bear in mind that an appearance on a talk show would be planned weeks in advance - even though he was still listed at the end of September/early October, I think he'd technically already pulled out before it was ever publicised.

True... That's probably right then.

 

[newbrando]

I would bet it was sometime after the MTV movie awards interview, casting call news time frame (mid-August) but maybe before Margot Kidder did her bit of filming a few weeks later in early September for Crusade and Transference....

Ok, well if this is correct, I can't tell any difference in his acting. Transference he appeared focused and enthusiastic (and I didn't love that episode as much as others did, but I admit he was giving his all). Also in the episode with Mxyplz (or however you spell it) he seemed excited and bubbly. Looking back now, the scene in the locker room where he meditates on what his life choices will be seems really significant now. I'd be stretching it, though if I said I could tell where he started to realize he was losing the Superman role. This episode last night though, he seemed so, hmm, I can't say what it was. Both he and MR seemed disinterested.

I heard he was having much fun in Spell though. Didn't see that episode - but it appears he's doing fine. I just want to know what he thinks of all this. I'm grasping at straw trying to read it through his acting. LOL!

 

[The Navigator]

We have Jana from DTS to thank for this one...

The version on the Dreamwatch cover (slightly different head tilt and expression) is even better. I'm surprised they didn't go with that one... not that this one is anything to sneeze at, mind you. LOL

Check it out, he has no pores. Bad photo, IMO. :

 

[rumpuso]

Now *I'M* blushing. Thanks for the props, Rumpuso.

Oh, but you SHOULD. Don't worry, Alan Horn himself is not likely to actually open and read your letter, though I'm sure he's seen a few in his day. Writing letters about your entertainment preferences to those who provide it is the MOST direct way of telling them what you want and don't want to see. The fact that it is personal and specific to YOU is the best part.

With television, all the ratings in the world only tells the entertainment professionals what people are tuned into at any given moment. Big deal. It doesn't give them any feedback about how you feel about their programming, merely that your set is tuned in to it at the time. You could be in the kitchen making dinner when their show is on the air. They - and their advertisers - simply don't know.

Films have it even worse. There are only a few yardsticks that filmmakers can use to predict how an audience will - or won't - embrace a specific film. They look at what people have said about similar genre films in the past, but that doesn't say much. Posts like this one on I-Net message boards and newsgroups, focus groups, newspaper and magazine articles (supposedly written by "professionals" who should know what they're talking about, and therefore are respected more for their opinions), and finally "fan" letters, all contribute to the big picture.

Time was, one snail mail was considered representative of 1000 opinions. There are only 5000 Nielsen Families too, so their viewing habits are extrapolated into what an entire country's population thinks. I would venture a guess that at this early stage of production on Singer's film, ANY mail they get from "fans" would be appreciated. You are letting them know your feelings about what YOU enjoy. And by including demographic info (age, sex, amount of family members you take with you when you go to the movies, how often you go, geographic location, preferred genres, etc.), you're giving them marketing GOLD. Letters such as those, be they positive OR negative, ARE saved. They're NOT round filed.

Well, you said a lot of things I would have said - and will say. I'll word it a little differently and personalize it, but I STILL say you should send a letter. You're passionate enough about the topic. Why not tell them what you think? It's important to you, right?

I need about two hours of quiet time to compose one. I will likely be VERY direct and specific, and as such, don't think it a great idea to post publicly. I don't need or desire to be flamed by those who lurk here looking for an argument. That said, I'll be more than happy to forward you a copy when I collect my thoughts. They've been building for quite a while and I have a lot to say. LOL

This is definitely a good argument for writing that letter. Maybe when I get some undisturbed time (sans kids), I'll sit down and give it a shot. I would be very interested in reading your letter. Please pm me if you would still be interested in forwarding a copy to me. Thanks for the inspiration Pat!

 

[RakuMon]

NEWS from K-Site:
ABC Family Plans Dec. 31 Smallville Marathon
On New Year's Eve, the ABC Family cable channel plans to show eight back-to-back episodes of Smallville, each spotlighting a different character or actor. Here's the official release, straight from ABC Family:

ABC FAMILY RINGS IN THE NEW YEAR WITH THE CAST OF 'SMALLVILLE' AS THEY COUNTDOWN THEIR FAVORITE EPISODES

Eight Episodes Air Back-To-Back Friday, Dec. 31

Burbank, CA (November 19, 2004) - Join the cast of SMALLVILLE for a special countdown marathon, Friday, Dec. 31 (2:00 - 10:00 PM ET/PT) on ABC Family. Cast members will introduce and tell about their favorite episodes from the hit series.

Smallville Marathon
ABC Family Schedule Friday Dec. 31 (OTO)
All Times ET/PT

2:00 - 3:00 PM "Pilot" - Tom Welling/Clark Kent
3:00 - 4:00 PM "Rogue" - Allison Mack/Chloe Sullivan
4:00 - 5:00 PM "Zero" - Michael Rosenbaum/Lex Luthor
5:00 - 6:00 PM "Nicodemus" - John Schneider/Jonathan Kent
6:00 - 7:00 PM "Tempest" - John Glover/Lionel Luthor
7:00 - 8:00 PM "Accelerate" - Kristen Kreuk/Lana Lang
8:00 - 9:00 PM "Shattered" - Michael Rosenbaum/Lex Luthor
9:00 - 10:00 PM "Memoria" - Annette O'Toole/Martha Kent

 

[AgentPat]

The commentary on Memoria features a discussion about how they couldn't show Krypton. Al Gough mentions that due to restrictions by Features, they weren't allowed to show aspects of Krypton. Now, the way G&M talk, it sounded as if the movie was still up in the air (at the time of the commentary, NOT the episode). At the time of the commentary recording, I'm assuming the news of Singer had yet to emerge. Anyway, it's cool to get a little insight as to how the spectre of the Superman movie loomed large over SV production.

Finally got around to seeing this last night. I LMAO. There WAS a modicum of animosity in their comments, wasn't there?

You can really see how that 800lb gorilla has weighed them down over the last four years, and recent events must have driven it home. Makes ya wonder what we *might* have seen in the show had Features not butted their collective noses in at every turn of the way. I can understand needing to be guided about character motivation, syntax, and overall mythos, but being limited on a creative level must be maddening.

Features really is quite a mystery. They won't allow any images of Krypton on the show, yet they let them have Lois Lane? The mind TRULY boggles.

Anyhoo... from the 3rd issue of SV mag, compliments Maria of DTS...

 

[Serene]

Well, color me confused and slightly annoyed.

I just read (on DTS) that Jensen Ackles is in the new US magazine as one of TV's Hottest Men. I also recently saw People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive list for 2004, which, notably, doesn't include our favorite farmboy.

I'm glad to see Jensen getting some good publicity for the show, but COME ON! I'm sure there are lots of factors that go into who gets picked for these lists.. but I can't believe that Tom gets so little recognition by the press. I wonder if he even has a publicist that actively publicises him these days. Regardless of the Superman movie, you would think that there would have been something in the way of TV appearances to publicise the show this year, let alone his career. I know it's the "ahcting" that's important, but having a well known name and face can only help when it comes to be offered plum movie roles.

To veer a bit... I had two patients this week walk into my office and look at the TW picture (that my coworkers gave me as sort of a joke) and say "Why do you have a picture of Superman?"

 

[jas01724]

These "hottest" lists are always more a matter of who's "IT" at the moment more than anything else; Tom was all over the magazines when SV first aired, but it's now been around for over three years, and even though his star hasn't really faded, his cache as the star of a new show almost certainly has. Jensen is the new guy who was brought in to freshen up the series, and as such he's the guy that everyone is paying attention to right now.

People is a completely different story, in that an almost complete unknown can get on that list if their publicist wants it badly enough: simply put, if Tom wanted to be on that list, his publicist could get him on there. People is all about who can suck up to the editors and make it worth their while, and as we well know, Tom doesn't really do the whole "sucking up to the bigwigs" thing.

Besides, you don't have to be all over the magazines in order to be well known and accepted by the people who really matter; and the people who matter definitely know who Tom is, and what he's capable of.

 

[Serene]

Besides, you don't have to be all over the magazines in order to be well known and accepted by the people who really matter; and the people who matter definitely know who Tom is, and what he's capable of.

Well I certainly hope you're right. I can't help worrying about his career these days. I really hope to see him on the big screen when SV wraps up (or maybe even before).
Personally, I think he's sexier than anyone on the People list this year.. It's really aggravating that they didn't call me first.

 

[triplet]

Well I certainly hope you're right. I can't help worrying about his career these days. I really hope to see him on the big screen when SV wraps up (or maybe even before).
Personally, I think he's sexier than anyone on the People list this year.. It's really aggravating that they didn't call me first.

They should.