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« Ausiello Report
Supernatural Exec: "We Won't Be One Tree Hill with Monsters!"
Photo courtesy Michael Muller/The CW
All hell has broken loose in the Supernatural community. Ever since news leaked that the show was introducing two new shagadelic female series regulars this coming season, fans have inundated me with hundreds of angry e-mails. Their chief concern: In a bid to broaden the serial thriller's appeal, CW brass are forcing producers to bimbofy the show, hence the two new lady killers (played by Katie Cassidy and Lauren Cohan). In an exclusive interview, series creator Eric Kripke addressed the controversy head-on, clearing the air about the changes ahead and offering a preview of what he's calling "the best season of Supernatural yet."
Fans are in a bit of a tizzy.
Eric Kripke: First of all, I love our fans. I love them to death. I love how passionate they are. But they tend to worry unnecessarily. They tend to get stressed before they have a chance to judge the finished product. We are so conscious and aware of our fans. We're making the show for the fans; we're not making the show for the network. We would never do anything to betray them. I'm not saying we're perfect. I'm not saying we don't make mistakes. But we're very conscious and aware. And when we do make mistakes, we course-correct. So if I can get any message to them, it's, 'Don't worry. We're making choices based on what's best creatively for the show.'
Is it true that the CW asked you to introduce the two new females?
Kripke: The real, honest answer is, we knew we were going to introduce one female character, Ruby. And Dawn [Ostroff] said, 'Could you introduce two female characters.' We said, 'We've got this great female character — the Bela character — who we already had written a script for, who we love. And who we were going to bring back anyway. Let's make her a regular.' So, it was not thrust upon us. We were already introducing one. She wanted us to introduce two. And it's of the producers' own volition. We are not turning into One Tree Hill with monsters — I swear. I'd rather put a gun in my mouth. I understand everyone is nervous, but if they just hang in there, and watch the episodes, and watch how it turns out... we have not lost our head. We're delivering what we feel is the best season of Supernatural yet.
What specific misconceptions about the upcoming season would you like to clear up?
Kripke: First, the perception online, because I read online as much as anybody, that suddenly the show is going to be Scooby-Doo. And that it's going to be Sam and Dean with these two girls in the backseat of the Impala, and they're going to cruise from town to town, they're going to do a little go-go dancing, and then they're going to fight some monsters. That is not the case. The girls are recurring regulars, first of all, which means that our contracts with them, tops, puts them in 12 out of 22 episodes. That's tops. So there's no reformulation where it's the four of them together where they're in every episode. We're introducing them very carefully. We're not jamming them in every episode. They weave in and out of the story, like other hunters have on our show in the past. It's not the four of them in every episode. Bela shows up, and then Ruby shows up, and then the boys are alone.... So they're just interchanging as they're traveling around the country. They're just bumping into different characters. They're also bumping into Gordon, Agent Hendrickson, and Bobby and Ellen, because we're opening up the world of the show. We've always said we were going to expand the Supernatural universe. We always felt the show had the potential to have just as fleshed-out a universe as Star Wars or Lord of the Rings. And that involves introducing new characters. So, that's one.
And two?
Kripke: Two, there's a misconception online that they're being introduced as love interests. They're not being introduced as love interests; they're being introduced as antagonists. I know people weren't thrilled about Jo last season, but we feel we've learned from that mistake. I love the actress [Alona Tal], but the problem was, we conceived the character wrong. She was the girl next door, she was the little sister, and her attitude was, 'How can I help you?' And, [exec producer] Bob Singer and I always said to ourselves in Season 2, if we were to bring girls into the show, the way to bring them in is to make trouble for the guys, not to be helpful. To introduce them as their own fleshed-out characters in their own right, who are raging pains in the ass, and trouble, and dangerous, and then sort of see what happens. I've already broken the first 10 episodes, and, so far, there's nothing even close to romance. It's closer to they're going to come to blows with each other.
There's a thin line between love and hate....
Kripke: True. We're going to see how it goes. We're going to see, 'Is there chemistry? Are there sparks?' What we're trying to do is what shows that we admire tried to do, like The X-Files and Buffy. Yes, The X-Files is about Mulder and Scully, but Skinner grew to play a part. The Lone Gunmen grew to play a part. Buffy had other characters that were coming in and out of the story line, and they were fascinating characters. The trick is to not introduce them as love interests. The trick, we feel, is to introduce them as fleshed-out characters with their own inner lives, and then see what develops. And the other thing is, the girls are very separate and very different. And very rarely are they in the same episode, because they're each serving very different story lines. Ruby (Katie Cassidy) is this demon hunter, who is ruthless and a little crazy and rough around the edges, and doesn't share the same moral conscience that either of the boys share. A little unhinged in that way. There's going to be a big twist about Ruby very early on. As early as Episode 2 you're going to learn something very fascinating about Ruby.
And what about Bela?
Kripke: Bela (Lauren Cohan) is actually something we never presented on Supernatural before, which is someone who lives in this world who actually isn't a hunter. She's a thief and a mercenary. And all of these amulets and magical objects that the boys are always stealing and using to fight creatures are actually worth a lot of money. And there's someone to buy and sell them. And she's really not interested in the altruistic or obsessed or revenge-minded motives of hunting. She's interested in a free-market economy and making a buck. She's in it for herself. That's someone they've really never come across before. 'I don't really care if you stop that ghost, I want that amulet,' which if she disappears with it, the boys are screwed.
The love interest thing must be in the back of your head, right?
Kripke: Our fans are notoriously protective of our boys. If the chemistry is there, and we see the sparks, and we want it to happen, and the fans want it to happen, it'll happen. We're not planning for it at this point, because we just don't know. We don't know which girl is going to spark to which guy, we just don't know what's going to happen. We're just going to add the ingredients together and let them percolate, and then move from there. But honestly, I swear, at this point, I don't have plans for the girls to pair up with the guys. They might. But until I see who works best with whom, I'm just not going to pull that trigger.
What else can you tell me about Season 3?
Kripke: This is a season where war breaks out. And there's no longer any of this, 'Who's the psychic kid? And I should follow the yellow-eyed demon, what?' It's war. We're at war. Choose a side. It's the end of the world. We feel this is the most exciting season yet. We feel this is the season to join the party. I'm not promising that we're not going to make missteps, as any show does. But the difference between us and other shows is when they make missteps, they say, 'Go f--- yourself.' When we make missteps, we pay attention to the fans and we course-correct. So, fans, I love you all, but stop worrying.
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Jul 21, 2007 2:33 PM
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Thank you, Michael, for providing the one thing that will most calm the furor ... reassuring words from The Kripke.
Thank you. Seriously. Thank you!
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Jul 21, 2007 3:03 PM
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Thanks Michael! I wish Rob Thomas had employed the same philosophy on Veronica Mars last season. You can't force chemistry or love interests. I'm so excited to see what Kripke has in store for next year!
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Jul 21, 2007 3:15 PM
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Thanks so much, Michael! Maybe this will be the chill pill some of us have been trying desperately to get those freaked out fans to take. We all love and are passionate about SN, but no one more than The Kripke. He would never let us down, and Season 3 sounds more exciting than ever!
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Jul 21, 2007 3:35 PM
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Thank you, Michael.You're the best!
And thank you Mr. kripke.
Ok -- I'm officially not worrying anymore.
Now I'm officially excited for Season 3!! Is it Oct 4th yet?
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Jul 21, 2007 3:56 PM
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Dear Michael
Thank you so, so much for posting this report. What a tremendous relief! I've really been trying to keep calm, and frankly not doing well at it on some days, but I feel unbelievably back on solid ground now.
Dear Erik
Truly, thank you for getting the word out about this. There's been alot of mayhem on the boards and over water cooler conversations and I've sure been up and down myself alot over this and really worrying about how this was going to go down. So thank you, for getting this whole matter clarified. What a relief!
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Jul 21, 2007 4:06 PM
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Michael, thank you so much for posting this, this is just what the Supernatural doctor ordered! Things were starting to get a little crazy, but much of the community had the mantra "Trust the Kripke" playing on repeat, and this interview proves that our mantra was well-founded. People were jumping the gun and I hope this awesome, intelligent, respectful response from Kripke will be the thing that brings about a cease-fire. I fervently believe Kripke that we're about to see the best season yet, he's constantly raising the bar just when we think he can't raise it any higher, and I'm chomping at the bit to see what he has in store for us in Season 3!!!  Kripke, if you get to read this, thank you for your eloquent response and your dedication to this show and its fans. We appreciate the hard work and heart that you and your cast/crew pour into this journey and the characters we go on it with week after week. Even when some fans give less than their best to you, you always manage to give your best to the fans, as evidenced by your response to this issue. I hope that these fans will come to realize that you will always do what's best for the show and them, and that they will calm down and eagerly anticipate this season with open minds and clear heads. Again, thank you for all you do and the wonderful experience you've brought to our lives that is Supernatural. LONG MAY IT LIVE!!! 
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Jul 21, 2007 5:18 PM
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I really hope Jo won't disappear completely in favour of these girls. I couldn't help noticing the lack of her name in the list of people who the boys are going to bump into...
While I agree that Jo didn't hit it off as a love interest, I liked her as a character. It's a shame if we don't see her again. 
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Jul 21, 2007 5:20 PM
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Thank you for this interview. This was just what I'd been waiting to hear. Now, maybe everyone will stop complaining and just look forward to what I know will be another terrific season!
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Jul 21, 2007 6:03 PM
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I'm relieved to hear about the careful approach they're taking with the new characters, but I am MOST relieved to hear --
Don't worry. We're making choices based on what's best creatively for the show.
YES. Neither the network NOR the fans should dictate creative choices. I love that Eric listens, and that the show doesn't get made in a vacuum, but I hope that he never strays from a vision that he and his team truly believe in just because the most vocal amongst a large fanbase (and larger audience) lost their cool.
Thanks so much for the scoop, Michael!
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Jul 21, 2007 6:17 PM
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At last! Very interesting, almost as interesting for what he doesn't say ...
Not much mention of Sam and Dean (the heroes, remember?) and no mention at all of their relationship as the continuing core of the show.
As for 'fleshed-out' characters - bit of an unfortunate phrase given the bimbette accusations.
The only 'flesh' I want is on Sam and Dean, and I'm talking in-depth characterization, not any repeat of the truly awful 'love-scenes'.
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Jul 21, 2007 6:30 PM
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Michael Ausielo is the bestest poop collector ever! And Eric Kripke seriously gave the best answers he could possibly ever give.
I think all the concern in the first place was their actual status with the show. Series regulars are now infamous words in the Supernatural fandom... The way the characters and the roles were being described, it really did seem like the two were going to be riding in the back seat.
And whenever something sounds different, it is easy to blame the network (I wouldn't put it past them really) even if we have so much faith in Kripke and Co.
Even if we didn't know the whole story, there was still that uncertainty that was even scarier than 100 YEDs
Plus, most fans would rather see more Bobby and Ellen (hee... not Helen!).
Speaking of... I wonder if Kripke thinks Ellen is hot enough for the show.
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Jul 21, 2007 6:41 PM
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Sounds good! By the way, "One Tree Hill with monsters" already exists under the name Smallville.
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Jul 21, 2007 7:28 PM
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That makes me feel so much better ... I can't speak for everyone, but I trust Kripke and his team and vision - I don't trust the network. Bless you for getting the word out, Mr. Ausiello, and bless you, Mr. Kripke, for understanding and appreciating your fans so much!
In Kripke We Trust ... is it 10/4 yet?
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Jul 21, 2007 7:47 PM
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THANK YOU, ERIC KRIPKE!
i'm totally relieved and so happy! you could not have said it any better! *gives you big, big hugs*
i've never felt that much joy over a tv show before! the way sam and dean care for each other.. it makes me ridiculously happy! thank you for creating this wonderful series and for being your awesome self! <3
lots of love to you, robert, jensen and jared and everyone involved in production!
hiatus is officially saved! :D
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Jul 21, 2007 8:47 PM
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