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Smallville Scoop: Justice League Returns! Plus Clark Gets a Desk Job
Alan Ritchson and Justin Hartley in Smallville by Michael Courtney/The CW
Get ready for the return of the Justice League. When Smallville comes back in September, the Super Friends reunite to search for Clark Kent, who went missing in May's season finale after tussling with Lex Luthor at the Fortress of Solitude.
Smallville creators Al Gough and Miles Millar have departed (and are currently producing the Hannah Montana movie), so four of the series' longtime producers have taken over for Season 8. "Luckily [Al and Miles'] voices are still talking to us in our heads as we're breaking stories," says Kelly Souders, who is running the show with Brian Peterson, Todd Slavkin and Darren Swimmer. "Their visions come to us all the time, so I think they did a great job of preparing us for this day."
One of the first things the new quartet did was lock in Justin Hartley for at least 12 episodes as Green Arrow/Oliver Queen, a fan favorite who appeared frequently in Season 6 and once last season. He'll start this new chapter by gathering Aquaman and Black Canary to rescue Clark. Alan Ritchson and Alaina Huffman will reprise their roles, as will Phil Morris, whose Martian Manhunter also appears in the opener, titled "Odyssey."
This season's theme is "double identities," Souders says. "It's about the Superman identity emerging as Clark Kent tries to maintain a normal life — or the appearance of a normal life." To that end, he takes a job at the "Daily Planet," right across the desk from Lois Lane (Erica Durance).
"The camaraderie as they work side-by-side that everyone loves from the DC Comics and all the Superman lore is going to come to fruition this year," Souders says. "The two of them are thrown together in some unfortunate situations for Clark. She becomes a little bit of an obstacle to him saving the world, when he's on a deadline." — Rich Sands
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Jul 2, 2008 9:11 AM
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he takes a job at the Daily Planet, right across the desk from Lois Lane (Erica Durance)."
YES!!!! At least one good thing is coming out this!
I'm more optimistic about the new season after reading this article!
~Sangeeta
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Jul 2, 2008 9:36 AM
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BEST. SMALLVILLE. NEWS. EVER.
Not only will Oliver be back (YAY!) but Clark finally takes a job at the DP! Took long enough. I have such high hopes for the season now.
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Jul 2, 2008 10:21 AM
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I HATE this. Chloe gets fired for standing up to Lex, and Clark takes her job at the Daily Planet? Wonderful, thanks a bunch Smallville for that.
I can't think of a more horrible thought than Clark and this awful version of Lois Lane working together.
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Jul 2, 2008 10:22 AM
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Sounds great! Justin Hartley is fantastic--the guy deserves his own show, but I love having him on Smallville. And more Lois and Clark? Clark moving forward? Yes please!
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Jul 2, 2008 10:23 AM
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Will Clark EVER learn to fly???
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Jul 2, 2008 10:23 AM
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kchez: "BEST. SMALLVILLE. NEWS. EVER.
Not only will Oliver be back (YAY!) but Clark finally takes a job at the DP! Took long enough. I have such high hopes for the season now."
My sentiments exactly! If you recall, back when they were in high school and before Clark joined the Football team, he worked on the school paper. I'm glad they're getting rid of the wussy/whiny LanaLanaLana storyline. At least I hope they have. They needed him to do something. And I hope he flies next season too!
tig01: "Chloe gets fired for standing up to Lex, and Clark takes her job at the Daily Planet?"
Well, there is that little thing about her being in jail right now--because Jimmy refused to spy on his friends for Lex. And we don't know that after it's all cleared up that Chloe won't be back--remember, AM is slated to be on all 22 episodes, while ED is only slated for 12? 13?
And as much as I don't like ED's portrayal of Lois, there was an episode or two where she was tolerable when she and Clark were working together.
But I'm still sad that Michael Rosenbaum won't be there. And I really wish they had recast the actress who plays Black Canary, because Alaina Huffman was just horrible.
But that's a minor thing.
Hope we get to see Martha, too. It would make sense, with her son being "gone" no? And I wouldn't be averse to flashbacks of Jonathan--just to see John Schneider again. ![]<img border=](http://community.tvguide.com/images/emoticons/devil.gif) ">
~Sangeeta
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Jul 2, 2008 10:31 AM
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This news makes me very happy.
From everything I'm reading, it sounds like this is everything that I thought should have happened LAST season. I know I've said it here before, but I'll say it again - they totally bunked up with the transition from Oliver urging Clark to take on a global approach to Clark...hanging out in Smallville with Lana. Wrong response, Clark, way to waste a year.
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Jul 2, 2008 10:44 AM
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Dianora: "This news makes me very happy."
Yeah? Then where's your happy smilie, Di? 
~Sangeeta
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Jul 2, 2008 10:55 AM
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Why don't you just come right out and say "SCREW YOU CHLARK/CHLOE FANS" for god sakes why the hell did you even bring AM back if you basically written her out of the story? You just lost a freaking fan.
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Jul 2, 2008 11:05 AM
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Wait... people are really upset that Clark takes a job with Lois at the Planet?
You have seen the comic books, right? The movies? The other tv shows? The cartoons? The action figures? The chewy fruit snacks? Everything else that's been in place for the last 70 years?
I'm guessing that Chloe will have a part to play, since she's pretty much the female lead on the show. I'm also guessing that Lex isn't running the Planet, so someone else will come in.
Personally, I'd like to see Perry by the end of the season.
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Jul 2, 2008 11:18 AM
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Wow, I didn't think it was possible for them to screw Chloe fans over any more. Now Clark is working for LuthorCorp, who still owns the DP, btw. I thought I was watching Smallville, not a rehashed version of Lois and Clark. ::eyeroll::
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Jul 2, 2008 11:27 AM
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Informant: "Wait... people are really upset that Clark takes a job with Lois at the Planet?"
Not me! I'm pleased about this (even though he pretty much dropped out of college after his first year, lol).
Informant: "I'd like to see Perry by the end of the season."
YES! As long as he's sober and IS "Chief". Wonder if George Dzundza is a available?
~Sangeeta
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Jul 2, 2008 11:29 AM
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What about the rest of the "Justice League"? Flash and Cyborg should return too. Maybe they'll return later this season. 
I can't wait for Smallville to return for a new season!
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Jul 2, 2008 11:36 AM
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It's shocking that I am disappointed in the news that Clark will be working across the desk from Lois. Smallville has so totally undermined the Lois character that it looks like "boobs over brains" is the show motto.
This isn't the mythos except only to the most superficial. This Lois is not iconic. She didn't graduate high school. She got thrown out of college for drinking too much. She got into the Daily Planet because she offered an alien story with no proof. She SLEPT with her EDITOR as a rebound fling. Pairing up Clark with this Lois undermines him in so many ways.
And of course this all came on the back of the loyal, smart Chloe. Who was fired from her dream job at the Daily Planet by the villain and is now rotting in jail while Lois and Clark sit at her old position.
Smallville likes to take the mythos and provide a twist.
This is twisted alright. Count me out.
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Jul 2, 2008 11:43 AM
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