Kryptonite, Lex Luthor and Doomsday have yet to fell the “Boy of Steel” (funny, for a lead actor in his 30s now), but finally something may be too deadly for Clark Kent/Kal-El/Superman to overcome: A new Friday night timeslot.
Making the rounds in entertainment trades is news that The CW network has laid out their Fall 2009 schedule, and while Smallville managed to survive (news known for weeks, actually), the show looks like odd man out in terms of its choice time of the week. Making way for a new program (The Vampire Diaries) to be paired Thursday nights with the thriving Supernatural, Smallville has been moved to Fridays and given a mere repeat of America’s Top Model (I just threw up a little in my mouth) to carry the night for the network. Gotta love, also, how CW has put together a night devoted to Aaron Spelling material from days of old, 90210 and Melrose Place. I can assure you what network I will NOT be watching on Tuesday nights come September.
Terminator fans know all too well how toxic Friday night prime time can be with the recent cancellation of Fox’s Sarah Connor Chronicles. And despite being touched by an angel with Dollhouse, Joss Whedon fans were infamously burned with the short shrift given to cult classic Firefly. But despite the fact that I am sure Smallville’s move to Fridays is the first step in The CW clearing it off the books a year from now, I really can’t complain about the show’s treatment dating back to its origins on The WB in 2001. Nine seasons for any show in this day and age is remarkable, and in spite of creative ups and downs over the years, there is no denying that Smallville cemented its status in Superman lore years ago.
Ultimately my biggest hope is that the show producers develop a season from beginning to end that’ll make some sort of historical sense in Man of Steel mythology and not make it up as they go along, unsure of the promise of a tenth season. And I know everyone who follows the show has an idea in their head on how the eventual series finale should play out, but I for one would like them to simply end Season 9, regardless of the show’s fate, on a note that gives fans a sense of hope, if not closure. Stay tuned.
May 21st, 2009 at 11:55 am
The article I read on Yahoo this morning said the upcoming season will be Smallville‘s final one. Given that, the move to Fridays isn’t surprising.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090521/tv_nm/us_cw_2
May 21st, 2009 at 1:57 pm
I’m fine with the move. Thursdays at prime time are too crowded as it is and if I were going to move a show, Smallville’s the one I’d move.
May 21st, 2009 at 2:07 pm
IS it the president of the CW a female if so that maybe why the network going down hill
May 21st, 2009 at 2:10 pm
The big problem is that when the show ends after next season, people will blame this move as the reason. The truth is, they’ve been saying for a long time next season will probably be the end. It sucks that they move it in the last season to a slot when ratings will surely slip. Already it only gets about 3.5 million viewers, so it can’t lose too many.
May 21st, 2009 at 2:22 pm
I agree that Thursdays are really crowded, so now my DVR will rest a bit easier with only this and Dollhouse to Tivo on Fridays.
Yeah, Friday’s are kind of a wasteland, but I think those of us who are around still after eight years will follow it to Fridays and although Tom Welling is signed for two more years, I hope that next year is the final year and they send this show off in a manner that it deserves and honors the Superman legacy.
May 21st, 2009 at 2:30 pm
I find Smallville incredibly boring and painful to watch and Zod knows I tried, many many time I might add.
Frankly, Reaper and Supernatural are better and deserving more publicity and support from the CW. I’m not sure about Reaper but I think Supernatural will mostly return next season. Hopefully, both will return next season!
May 21st, 2009 at 2:36 pm
At last! It’s time for this Dawson’s Creek with superpowers to end…
May 21st, 2009 at 2:36 pm
at least now I can watch Bones with no regrets…..unless they bump up Supernatural to 8pm then ugh..I’ll be right where I started…
As far as Smallville goes..it would have been interesting if they ended the season mid-fight with Doomsday….giving the fans a whole summer to anticipate how Clark would overcome it…o well generating buzz for Sci-Fi shows has never been TV’s strong suit. RIP Reaper!
May 21st, 2009 at 2:39 pm
Well, I was amazed that Dollhouse survived the Friday time slot, but that’s traditionally where shows are sent to die.
May 21st, 2009 at 2:53 pm
>>Michael Says:
May 21st, 2009 at 2:07 pm
IS it the president of the CW a female if so that maybe why the network going down hill<<
Well, thank Zod someone came along with a stupid sexist comment. Thanks for playing.
But, yeah, the pairing of Smallville and ANTM repeats is…weird. But ANTM is good TV. And Smallville is meandering. OOOO! There’s your link! Both Smallville AND Tyra Banks are meandering and random! THERE’S YOUR FRIDAY NIGHT PROGRAMMING BLOCK THEME!
May 21st, 2009 at 3:02 pm
The fact that this show has managed to survive this long whilst being utterly terrible for its entire run is crazy enough. Let it die.
May 21st, 2009 at 3:14 pm
With all the possibilities that this show has going into next year I believe this was a show of a lack of faith from CW. Ghost Whisperer is a strong program but this next year could be the after they jumped the shark with that Jim Reborn storyline. I think the move to Friday is not a gamble but a nod that it is over from CW. Even if the show was to succeed how wise would it be to expect Tom Welling to stay on without tapping Fort Know to keep him. Truely, it’s now up to the producers to either take this as a challenge or a swan song. The fans deserve more than this an acknowledgment it is over. The deserve to be left with the feeling of wanting more.
May 21st, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Smallville’s finale was one of the weaker shows of the season. That thing with Jimmy? The one minute fight with Doomsday? WTF?
I hope they introduce Superman, get rid of the “red-blue blur” crap, and get Lex back at the end of the season to send the series off correctly.
May 21st, 2009 at 5:44 pm
Michael said, “IS it the president of the CW a female if so that maybe why the network going down hill”
Comments like that just make you look ignorant. Really, it’s the 21st century, but some of us seem to be stuck in the 19th.
May 21st, 2009 at 5:48 pm
Why won’t this show just die!?
May 21st, 2009 at 6:19 pm
Doesn’t matter what night it’s on, it’s the last season, the core audience will follow it.
I would watch it, but if will be up against the far superior Batman: The Brave & the Bold.
May 21st, 2009 at 6:22 pm
Ah who cares? It’s ratings are poor and they need to let poor Clark go out with some dignity.If he has any left. Season 8 was rubbish most of the time.
May 21st, 2009 at 7:16 pm
Lets face it people…the first two seasons were Great! The 2nd being the BEST! But come on! If you are still watching this show You need a mental examine!
May 21st, 2009 at 7:25 pm
Even though an episode of “Smallville” gets fewer than 4 million viewers these days, isn’t it still the CW’s highest rated show? In spite of all the buzz that “Gossip Girl” gets from magazines, doesn’t the show get about 1/2 of Smallville’s audience?
I understand that Smallville is an aging show, but none of their more recent shows are doing any better. I guess network execs feel that Friday is a good geek night for scifi stuff. Besides Fox putting Sarah Connor and Dollhouse there, SciFi uses it to run their new series.
Still, I wonder if splitting up the Smallville-Supernatural combo will hurt both shows. Does TV need yet another vampire series? I’m guessing that greenlighting “Vampire Diaries” is, how shall we say, “inspired” by the recent hit movie, Twilight. I suppose the target demo of the CW will eat up the “pretty young vampires with problems” premise with a spoon.
May 21st, 2009 at 7:36 pm
where is the replacement DC universe show.. Green Arrow.. Justice League.. john jones..
also, Why is Marvel not pursuing a similar show, about the early years of some of their superheroes.. this needs to be developed, and fast..
May 21st, 2009 at 9:15 pm
I really hate these losers who are always talking about how they want the show to end. If you don’t like it, then don’t watch it – it’s as simple as that. Why do you have to try to ruin it for the people who might still like watching a show?
Guys like that last post … some people actually like the show. It’s not standing in your way , so go watch whatever it is that gets you off.
Losers.
May 22nd, 2009 at 1:06 am
this show needs to end anyway, that finale was garbage! it built up the doomsday storyline then spit in our face! the “battle” was over in 2 seconds….they could have done the death of superman storyline and actually made the show interesting. they could have had superboy, the cyborg, the eradicator and steel. instead we get “clark kent is dead” and ZOD…AGAIN! tom welling is such a terrible actor, they killed jimmy olsen who was the only cool character left with a personality besides chloe. i agree with the guy before whiny boy mark, we need another DC character show that doesn’t cop out with “the red blue blur”. he should already be superman by now and flying!!!
May 22nd, 2009 at 3:41 am
yes the show needs to end. This should def. be the last season, PLEASE
May 22nd, 2009 at 6:33 am
Friday nights are usually the death slot, but after thinking about this, I don’t think Smallville ratings will slip too much. After all, it’s not like the average comic book fan has anything else to do on a Friday night. LOL!
May 22nd, 2009 at 6:49 am
“IS it the president of the CW a female if so that maybe why the network going down hill”
—————————–
Haha… Sexism at its finest; because only a woman could produce such an awful lineup of TV shows. Does Smallville even have a woman on production staff, I doubt it.
May 22nd, 2009 at 7:37 am
Been watching since the beginning and love every season and own them all on dvd. Tom Welling is signed through season 10 so hopefully it goes that long. Not too happy about not getting my Smallville/Supernatural night anymore though.
May 22nd, 2009 at 11:52 am
Friday is fine! There are just too many shows my wife & I watch on Thursday, and the DVR can only handle so many at a time!
I’ll be MORE than happy to watch on Friday.
May 22nd, 2009 at 3:41 pm
I don’t think anyone had plans for the show to go past next year anyway.
May 22nd, 2009 at 5:01 pm
“Does Smallville even have a woman on production staff, I doubt it.”
Actually, one of the executive producers is a woman and a very smart one at that.
May 22nd, 2009 at 9:06 pm
The only thing I truly hate is the show that follows SMALLVILLE in this new timeslot (Top Model repeats). I mean, it’s nothing new, original or innovative, and it would’ve been great to see REAPER get another chance here.
May 24th, 2009 at 5:56 am
Please, let Clark show what he’s got in season 10 (attention: CW). A lot of people outside the U.S. are watching it and I prefer to let Clark, Lex, Oliver and Lois (CLOIS) be the main character in the next season.
May 24th, 2009 at 8:01 am
yeah I mean how stupid is CW Reaper is the best most under-rated show in the whole line-up, I would have preferred a third season of reaper to them Top Model repeats (barf).
If they can supernatural and smallville its going to make it impossible for anybody without a vag to enjoy this channel. As it is their getting to be the network equivalent of Oxygen the women’s channel. At this point they might as well remake party of 5 then I can stop watching the CW as a whole.
June 1st, 2009 at 12:46 am
I think that the 9th season will be better and hopefully we wont have to wait 5 weeks in between shows. The 8th show was not planned very well. I want to see the Lois and Clark relationship spark the writers have messed around long enough. Lex needs to come back and we need the final real characters to take the stage. I think they need to go to the 10th season because the 9th season should build Lois and Clarks relationship and the 10th should lead to the real movies.
June 1st, 2009 at 8:42 am
I don’t have the CW but a local channel broadcasts Smallville on Friday night so the move will only bother me if I can’t get the new episode the same week. I’m hoping this Friday spot isn’t an attempt to challenge Dollhouse. I like them both.
If the stats from the following sites are any indication, Smallville is doing definitely better- considering it’s unlikely Gossip Girl will ever get a season 7- much less a season 9.
Smallville ratings – http://www.tvscorecard.com/Ratings-SV.htm
Gossip Girl ratings – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gossip_Girl_(TV_series)#U.S._Nielsen_Ratings
I like Gossip Girl too but unless New York has some awesome tax credit and the clothes are supplied free of charge and the actors are all taking paycuts, Smallville’s seeming low(er) budget must be subsidizing GG.
June 3rd, 2009 at 8:07 am
hey guys im fed up trying to find out if series 9 is going ahead as keep finding dead ends. can someone please tell me if there will be or not ? rkwmoneypit@aol.com
June 7th, 2009 at 9:34 am
First….I agree with Mark. Smallville is a great show. It’s going for it’s 9th season. The CW knows what it is doing. I have
no problem watching it on Friday. And for those that don’t like
the show change the channel and stop complaining. There will be
enough followers to keep Smallville going. Tom Welling has signed
on for a 10th season. Tom Welling and the other actors have all
done a great job in making this a world wide watched series. I
wouldn’t mind seeing Tom Welling as Superman and Michael Rosenbaum as Lex Luthor in the Justice League movie. Rosenbaum
was definitely the villian of the story…right along with
Doomsday.
June 8th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
doesn’t the fact that it’s going into a ninth season prove that it’s a good show. if you don’t like it, don’t watch it. it’s that easy. so stop complaining about how the show should end when it most certainly shouldn’t
June 9th, 2009 at 10:14 am
How can Superman appear without a hood or a mask? The only way is to have Jor’el fix things up for Clark so people can think that Clark and Superman don’t look alike!
June 15th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
Smallville is the best show EVER!!!
June 16th, 2009 at 12:37 am
o my God…this show is getting worse..!!! wanna make it better?? get clark up in the sky….!!!and by that i meant flying,not leaping..!!!
June 16th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
True….but still a great show !
July 7th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
I agree with some of the people on this site. It seems like the only people that are whining are the people on this site complaining about it to end. Vampire shows never work and they only last for a season or two. This show is going on its 9th season and yeah sometimes I am like wth is going on and why did that happen but I end up still liking what happens. So those of you who “whining” go do it somewhere else and stop ruining it for those of us who actually like the show.
July 14th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
I am truly upset that they’re breaking up the Smallville/Supernatural thursday night tag team. But my DVR won’t care since it is basically recording two channels at a time for 3 hours on thursday nights. It’s sad to see that they’re trying to wind down Smallville (even though the past couple of seasons were kind of weak) in the Friday night death slot even though every other show on the CW is absolute garbage (except Supernatural). I’d rather see it go out with a bang on the Thursday night time slot alongside Supernatural. Guess this is for the best since CBS moved The Mentalist to Thursday nights as well. Can’t believe the show I’ve been watching for nine seasons is gonna end.
July 21st, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Now I can’t really watch smallville Friday’s because my stupid boyfriend has to come over and he hates Smallville. Did anyone else feel that Smallville Season 8 was seriously lacking? The CW sucks for me right now!
July 28th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
smallville is one of the shows me and my family watches we love smallivlle clark is wonderful lana amd the whole group please keep it on telvision as long as you can cant watch to many other show but this one is good can’t wait for ext season to start hurry up
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