Alexander

I think this topic deserves it's own thread for right now, especially given the absence of new episode this week:

Again, for those who haven't heard/read about it:

Miles Millar and Al Gough, the creators of "Smallville", have released an open letter stating that they will no longer be working on the series as of next season:

TVGuide.com reports that the CW and Warner Bros. TV have issued a joint statement on who will now take the helm as executive producers of "Smallville"...


I encourage you to continue the discussion from the DP thread here How do you feel about this, what is your reaction, expectations for S8 now?

Wingster

i'm really reserving judgement right now...gough and millar made smallville- this includes lana AND chloe so in someone else's hands may not be as good (or bad)
however peterson and soulders, swimmer and slavkin are competent enough writers so maybe they'll be good as the creative heads

goodbreakingbad

After finding out about their departures, as well as the already known Michael and Kristin ones, it's really bittersweet thinking about all the ones leaving the show at the end of this season. I can't help but think that maybe S7 was initially going to be the final season, but the CW wasn't ready to let it go just yet...which is actually a nice compliment to the series. Once the creator(s) leave their series behind though, it's usually never the same, and not in a good way, at least that's what I've always found. So, here's hoping as different as the show is bound to be in S8, it will still maintain that something extra which has made it what it's been. I do like seeing regular writers of the series stepping up, so they're not bringing in an entirely new set of people to run the show. All the people leaving will be highly missed.

*Butterflies*

I'm happy the two Lana obsessed people are gone.

happy mom

I can hardly believe this news...I thought Gough/Millar would stay 'til the end of the series, to see it through from start to finish. I feel a bit sad that they'll no longer be involved in the show...they've been a constant presence behind-the-scenes, and I always enjoyed reading their interviews, plus their introductions in the DVD boxsets. They've done a phenomenal job with bringing the story of young Clark Kent to life, and they are rightfully proud of what they've accomplished on the show. Having said that, I'm excited for S8 to have a fresh set of executive producers, and I'm especially thrilled that it will be Slavkin/Swimmer/Souders/Petersen. I admire them as writers on the show, so I have faith in them to keep delivering the goods. Given this news, and the casting situation for S8, I'm optimistic that S8 will continue to be the Smallville that I love to watch.

blue4815162342

i was suprised when i read this, yesterday and of course sad. i got the same feeling that maybe season seven will end up being the last season. its going to be a really different show without them, but as long as smallville is on, i'll watch.

Ron_Beckett

I thought these two would stay to the end as well. Can only hope that the rumors are true (that DC is taking over because they didn't like their season 8 pitch).

I must admit that I was very disappointed with how season 7 had been going. Clark didn't grow at all this year and some of the episodes were very misleading.

I can only hope that with the new people in charge, Smallville will 'go forward' and that season 8 will be better than this year.

Had Al and Miles stayed, I would have watched season 8 anyways because of my devotion to Smallville but I would have been disappointed if season 8 turned out to be a repeat of season 7.

Looking forward to what the future has in store though.

Alexander

Something to keep in mind...

We don't have details about their departure however, apparently their contracts were indeed up at the end of season 7.. Although they envisioned SV as an 8 season long show, they assumed they would be back for S8 as executive producers but we see that's clearly not how things worked out.

Millar and Gough have some film projects they maybe working on, and it looks like they were more and more involved with that and other side projects.

Little_Stewie

Well, I guess all my complaining about Clark not behaving like a hero finally payed off.....

Alexander

I couldn't agree more. I don't want this to turn into a bashing thread, so keeping my comments civil and constructive, I'll just say I'm not sad about them going at all.

Whatever the reasons, it's done and I'm sure SV will be fine in the long run.

I look forward to the authority being more "spread out", as it's harder for one person to "enforce" their favorite couple/character on the show when you gotta share "power" with 3 others. For some reason I always felt that Al Gough pulled more strings than Miles, as far as creative decisions, etc. Now I'm sure we won't have that happening with the show's 4 new executive producers. It'll help if they have some on the set, and not all 4 are back in LA. I'm not sure how they'll do it, divide responsibility, but I feel it works best if executive producers visit the set more often, and one of them is pretty much always there in person. Case and point BSG, one of my favorite shows. Either Ron or David is pretty much always in Vancouver.

youandme1105

I have to admit that I was surprised at this news. However, I can't say that I'm unhappy with it. Smallville hasn't been wowing me lately and since Al & Miles were in control, I choose to blame them.

However, I've noticed that episodes written by Souders & Peterson are the best of the bunch. So hopefully with these two (along with Slavkin and Swimmer) running things, Smallville will get back on track. And by "on track" I mean making Clark the focus of the show!

goodbreakingbad

I went through and checked out the eps these writers have written in the past and I am definitely not worried, they really have written some of the best eps of Smallville. And personally, I like how many of them have been Lex, and Clark/Lois centric.

2old2care

Well I would like to thanks Al and Miles for bringing Smallville and the cast to our screens. They have certainly enriched our lives with the show. I don't know what to expect from the new folks in charge but if it means it's going to be less Clark and Lana centric (and no disrespect to their fans), I think we are in for a better season eight (mental note to oneself - KK is only in a small number of episode next season so of course it will be - duh).
On that topic, do we think that the changes at the top will cause some cast to reconsider their contract? Meaning that MR and perhaps KK will return for more episodes?

smoothaise

This is exactly like what happened with Gilmore Girls...

This royally sucks!

But, at the same time, I've felt SV has hit quite the creative slump. Maybe they will prove us wrong in S8 with a fresh start.

Alexander

Hi there Welcome to the board and to the site

As a superman fan, I am definitely thankful to Al and Miles for bringing SV to us fans. No question about that. I just feel that they took SV as far as they could possibly take it, and it was time for all parties to "part ways" and get a fresh start.

It is very much speculative to say how will this affect AM, KK or MR when signing on for another season of SV regardless of how many episodes some of them are contractually obligated to appear in.

Ken...I can't compare SV to GG since I've never seen it, but we have to give the new people in charge a fair chance next season. I'm taking an optimistic approach to it personally.

Anji

Yes, some of the better episodes of the show have been written by them, and they've been with SV for a while now, and are pretty familiar with the process (at least they should be).