Smallville

For exclusive on-set videos and hot features on the new TV season, check out BuddyTV's Fall 2008 Preview.

Network: CW

Premiere: Thursday, September 18, 8pm

Cast: Tom Welling, Allison Mack, Erica Durance, Aaron Ashmore, Justin Hartley, Sam Witwer, Cassidy Freeman

Previously on Smallville: Jimmy proposed to Chloe, Chloe was arrested by the government, Lana left town, Kara was trapped in the Phantom Zone, and Lex and Clark were buried within the Fortress of Solitude.


Smallville is undergoing numerous changes in its eighth season.  Michael Rosenbaum, Kristin Kreuk and Annette O'Toole are no longer series regulars, and creators Al Gough and Miles Millar have moved on from behind the scenes, leaving the show in the hands of four longtime producers.  To make up for the missing cast members, Justin Hartley is coming on board full-time as Green Arrow, and Sam Witwer and Cassidy Freeman will be playing new villains Doomsday and Tess, respectively.

Despite all the shake-ups, the new showrunners promise a fantastic season that will finally find Clark (Tom Welling) taking on a duel identity and moving closer to accepting his destiny as Superman.  After he's rescued from the Arctic by members of the Justice League, Clark will take a job at the Daily Planet alongside Lois Lane (Erica Durance).  As their chemistry heats up during Lana's absence, fans can also expect big changes in the romance between Chloe (Allison Mack) and Jimmy (Aaron Ashmore).  Could wedding bells be in the future following Jimmy's proposal last season?

Much of Smallville's eighth season will focus on characters played by new regulars Hartley, Witwer and Freeman.  The origins of Green Arrow will be explored as he begins to question his destiny, and his presence will also allow for appearances from various Justice League members.  As for the villains, Doomsday will start out as charming Metropolis paramedic Davis Bloome, who soon starts to discover that he has an evil past full of bloody destruction.  Freeman's character, Tess Mercer, is a sexy, seductive femme fatale-type who comes in to take care of LuthorCorp while Lex is missing in action.  With her great looks and ice-cold personality, she's bound to stir up trouble for Clark.

While fans are bound to miss Lana Lang and Lex Luthor, the producers promise that both characters will be back.  There's no word on when Michael Rosenbaum will return, but Kristin Kreuk is signed on for five episodes that will likely air during a sweeps month.  Smallville's eighth season will also feature an episode introducing the Legion of Superheroes, another directed by actress Allison Mack, and at least one that finally sees Clark take to the skies.

How will Smallville fare with several cast changes and new creative minds behind the scenes?  Find out when season 8 kicks off on September 18.


- Don Williams, BuddyTV Staff Writer
(Image courtesy of the CW)