Big-screen for Smallville hero and Bayside kids?
Monday, January 4th, 2010
Nostalgia and superheroes appear to be fertile fodder for Hollywood studios in search of their next breakout film. Now comes word via Pajiba that two projects with ties to WBNX are on the production assembly line. Saved by the Bell debuted two decades ago, introducing tweens to Zack, Slater, Screech and a cache of Bayside High issues comically solved within a half-hour. Stars Mario Lopez and Mark-Paul Gosselaar parlayed their roles into steady careers, while outcast Dustin Diamond took the tell-all route. It’s a kitschy show which may turn campy—similar to The Brady Bunch movies—on the big-screen. Producers of the Steve Carell comedy Dan in Real Life have secured the rights and are shopping for writers. Meanwhile, Warner Bros. has sudden interest in periphery D.C. Comics characters. Superman and Batman are one thing…but Jonah Hex? And now Hawkman! Yes, the same winged member of the Justice Society who’ll fly into Smallville for the Feb. 5 two-hour event. “WB is looking to make Hawkman a tentpole franchise, and describes the movie as part Indiana Jones, part DaVinci Code and part Ghost,” the story notes. Go figure. One thing is certain, Smallville provides the studio a great vehicle to test-market many of the heroic figures, from Aquaman and Green Arrow…to Zatanna and Green Lantern—who is rumored to be a surprise JSA guest. Would either of these films be on your date night agenda?
Posted in Save By The Bell, Smallville | 1 Comment 
Almost seven years before Paul Wesley found his niche as brooding Stefan on The Vampire Diaries, the actor yanked some chains as sociopathic Lucas Luthor on one episode of Smallville. To recap, billionaire Lionel had an affair with his sickly wife’s nurse, Rachel Dunleavy (played by Blair Brown), who gave birth to Lucas. Since Rachel was unstable herself, Lionel had her institutionalized and placed the child in foster care. Eighteen years later, Lex rescued his newfound half-brother in Edge City, intending to use Lucas in a covert takeover of LuthorCorp. From there, the double-crosses came fast and furious, ending with a not-really-blind Lionel forced to shoot Lex or be killed himself. Clark’s heat-vision saved the day, and Lex was restored to his place in the company…safely hiding Lucas away under his protection. It seems odd that the (supposedly) sole surviving heir to a $42-billion fortune would remain overlooked much longer. Lex, of course, shoved his father out the window to his death two seasons ago, and Oliver allegedly destroyed Lex with one of his own bombs last year. All of which leaves the door perfectly ajar for a surprise visit by Lucas. And why stop there? His mother, Rachel, is still roaming the infamous Belle Reve psycho ward—so there’s a wealth of Luthor backstory material to explore while we await Michael Rosenbaum’s eventual expected return. Think of the great cross-promotional opportunities, as well, with The Vampire Diaries fans following their favorite Salvatore for a stint in Metropolis. It’s time to make this story happen. 
Growing up with Barnabas Collins on Dark Shadows, and later Angel and Spike on Buffy, we knew these undead dudes had otherworldly abilities, but nothing like their kindred on The Vampire Diaries. There are actually some eerie similarities between the Salvatore brothers—especially Damon (Ian Somerhalder)—and the young Man of Steel, Clark Kent (Tom Welling) on Smallville. 
Here’s an awesome casting update that hits close to home…as in Cleveland. Parma Padua grad Sean Faris is in Atlanta today to begin filming (at least) a multiple-episode arc on The Vampire Diaries. He’ll play a former high school football buddy of Matt (Zack Roerig), with both guys employed at the Mystic Grill hangout. And, of course, we fully expect Sean’s entanglement with the freaky town’s supernatural entities and eligible bachelorettes. Often compared looks-wise to Tom Cruise and Travis Van Winkle (Jamie on 90210), Sean’s kept busy in film work since the conclusion of his two TV series, Life As We Know It and Reunion. The Bruins’ four-sport HS star (soccer, basketball, baseball, diving) put his natural athleticism to work in Forever Strong—where he played rugby opposite Penn Badgley (Dan on Gossip Girl)—and in Never Back Down, a mixed martial arts fight club drama. Smallville fans might also remember Sean’s appearance as one of LuthorCorp’s “experiments gone wrong” in season two. With two vampires and a rising death toll in Mystic Falls, nobody’s neck is safe for very long. But we can’t wait to see how our charismatic hometown star shakes up the dynamics on The CW’s biggest hit series ever.
Over the course of nine action-packed seasons, Smallville has offered dozens of memorable climactic scenes. But an upcoming installment is so colossal, it’s been expanded into the first two-part episode in series history. As writer Geoff Johns tweets, the tale “is actually an insane, D.C. Universe-infused epic.” The story will lure members of the Justice Society of America from retirement to give the shaky new Justice League a pointed wake-up call. Stargate favorite Michael Shanks (pictured) will appear as Hawkman, along with Dr. Fate (Brent Stait) and Stargirl (Britt Irvin). New generation heroes include Clark Kent (The Blur), Green Arrow and the return of Martian Manhunter. Johns said the producers “wanted it to be HUGE and wanted the guest characters done right.” As such, Shanks maintains Smallville is “breaking new ground with Hawkman and the logistics of it. The character will fly,” he tells the Huffington Post. And while the winged icon is strangely antagonistic toward Green Arrow, Hawkman and Dr. Fate have a “really neat relationship that makes the first hour quite heart-wrenching.” Tom Welling will direct part two, with the episodes tentatively slated to air Jan. 22 and 29. Exec Brian Peterson suggests that guidance from the costumed JSA members could edge Clark away from his black outfit and closer to Superman’s classic red-and-blue suit as the season progresses.
Awards Season is fast approaching and the one ceremony which relies on fan balloting needs our early input. The 36th annual People’s Choice Awards want to condense their list of potential nominees in each category from a dozen to the top five. There are ten television-related groups, plus 12 for movies and nine for music. If your favorite is not already listed, voters can also write in their own choices. Here are the current WBNX-related names which appear on the ballot: 
There’s something peculiar about cheerleading. Something that drove a Texas mom to hire a hitman to knock off her daughter’s pom-pom rival. Something that compelled a 31-year-old woman to steal a teen’s identity so she could make the pep squad. Something that’s triggered hazing videos and Mardi Gras behavior. It’s an unexplored competitive subculture—and Tom Welling says: “Bring it on!” The Smallville star has launched his own production company, with his first project to adapt an acclaimed exposé into a CW series. Cheer: Inside The Secret World of College Cheerleaders is the real-life account of three teams’ yearlong odyssey from tryouts to the national championships. These are extreme athletes who fly 30 feet in the air, build dangerous human pyramids, battle daily injuries, eating disorders and steroid use…all to be judged by hundredths of a point. Turns out, there’s more edge and intrigue to the cheerleading sect than pleated skirts and “Gimme a ‘V!’” Assisting Tom on the series will be Emmy-winning writer/producer Kevin Murphy (Desperate Housewives, Reaper). The book itself is quite the page-turner, Murphy gushes. In fact, the Dallas Morning News reviewed it as “an engaging, voyeuristic narrative that suggests college cheerleaders are as close to real-life superheroes as exist.” Hmm, we’ll see how Clark Kent interprets that.
Tom Welling doesn’t talk much to the media, so when he opens up, it’s pretty newsworthy stuff. As Smallville begins its 9th season this Friday, the 32-year-old star outlined his new roles—in front of and behind the camera. Tom is now listed as a producer, though he’s contributed in that capacity for several years. “I’ve always tried to be open and collaborative and make the show better,” he tells TV Guide Magazine. Case in point: Last year he walked in on a meeting in which the discussion was about how much Clark was in love with Lois. “I sat there and said, ‘Wait a minute, Clark’s in love with Lois? When did this happen? Clark doesn’t know he has feelings for her. If he does and people see it, that’s one thing, but he doesn’t know.’” Tom also had to know where the story was heading before he signed on. “You can definitely see that it’s a new era for the show. Every year is a new show, (but) especially this year. Even thinking about last year, it’s night and day.” Events of the past decade, together with Jimmy’s death, have pushed Clark Kent into embracing his destiny as Superman. He will immediately encounter two familiar D.C. Comics characters, Metallo (Brian Austin Green) and Zod (Callum Blue); and in November, we learn that a young Jor-El (to be played by Julian Sands) has arrived on Earth with Zod. Smallville will reach the milestone of 200 episodes later this season, and its leading man won’t settle for the show losing credibility. “I think this season, if anything, we’ve re-energized it.” 
