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Smallville Creators Exit "After Much Heartache"; New Bosses Named
Smallville by Lorenzo Agius/The CW
Color us super-shocked. Smallville creators Al Gough and Miles Millar have announced their exit from the series, effective at the end of this season.
Marveling at "seven amazing years," the exec producers "look back knowing that the show will continue into Season 8 without us," they say in an open letter. "After much heartache and debate, we have decided it is time for us to move on."
Giving props to the CW series' "remarkable" production team and "a wonderful cast who we have watched mature with admiration and affection," the duo say, "We have been rewarded with a fan base that is as loyal as it is vocal. We are incredibly proud of our work on this show. We achieved what we set out to do. We never compromised our vision. We leave knowing that Smallville is the longest-running comic-book-based series of all time [and] was featured on the covers of Rolling Stone, MAD Magazine, TV Guide and Entertainment Weekly. The pilot had the highest-rated premiere in the history of the WB [where it originated]. Even in its seventh year, it is still the No. 1 scripted show on the network."
In a joint statement, the CW and Warner Bros. TV say, "Al Gough and Miles Millar have been great partners and instrumental in the development and success of Smallville. While we are sad to see them go, we are very excited to announce that executive producers Darren Swimmer, Todd Slavkin, Kelly Souders and Brian Peterson will helm the show next season. [They] have been writing for the show for the past six seasons, and as producers for the last four years, they have played an integral role in the ongoing creative evolution of the series. As showrunners, they will continue to deliver the compelling storytelling that Smallville fans have come to expect and love."
What brought on Goughlar's abrupt exodus? Their letter offers no details, although one section singles out some peers, saying of one, "When the knives were out, you always had our backs." In closing, the pair say, "To the fans who have stuck with us through the highs and the lows, know this — we never stopped fighting to make this show great."
For those who specialize in reading between the lines, the entire letter is posted in comments.
What's your take on this unanticipated exit? Did the boys simply deem it time to move on (there is a reference to being able to now focus on feature projects), or...? — With additional reporting by Rich Sands
POLL: Does this news have you concerned about Smallville's future?
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Apr 3, 2008 8:50 AM
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An open letter from Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, creators and executive producers of Smallville.
As the creators of Smallville we look back at 7 amazing years. We look back at 152 episodes. We look back knowing that the show will continue into Season 8 without us. After much heartache and debate we have decided it is time for us to move on.
Over the last 7 years we have had the honor of working with a remarkable team of people here in Los Angeles and in Vancouver. We have been blessed with a wonderful cast who we have watched mature with admiration and affection. We have been rewarded with a fan base that is as loyal as it is vocal.
We are incredibly proud of our work on this show. We achieved what we set out to do. We never compromised our vision. We leave knowing that Smallville is the longest — running comic book based series of all — time. The show was featured on the covers of Rolling Stone, MAD magazine, TV Guide and Entertainment Weekly. The pilot had the highest — rated premiere in the history of the WB. Even in its seventh year it is still the #1 scripted show on the network. Smallville is watched by millions of people in hundreds of countries and in dozens of languages around the world.
The show's success is a credit to a fantastically talented group of people.
We wanted to take this chance to single some of them out:
Our writers — your work speaks for itself.
James, Jae, Rob, David — the backbone of our team in Vancouver.
Joe Davola, Chris and Shelly — remember those Friday night brainstorming sessions?
Len Goldstein and Steve Pearlman — thanks for believing we could do this. David Nutter — for giving the show your magic touch.
John Litvack — when the knives were out, you always had our backs.
Ken Horton — our Yoda.
Peter Roth — Smallville's biggest fan.
Melinda, Michael R., Paul M., Susan and Suzanne — for steering us through 152 episodes.
Greg Beeman — your passion is an inspiration.
Jordan, David, Garth, Carolyn, Bob & Lew — and everyone at the much — missed WB.
Paul Levitz, Greg Noveck and the guys at DC Comics.
Lisa Lewis — our very own soccer mom/mafia accountant.
Michael Gendler — aka mega — counsel.
David Lubliner — we can finally focus on features now.
And last but in no way the least, Renee Kurtz — the smartest TV agent in town, we would be nowhere without you!
Finally, to the fans who have stuck with us through the highs and the lows:
know this — we never stopped fighting to make this show great. Thanks for watching.
Alfred Gough & Miles Millar
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Apr 3, 2008 8:54 AM
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Holy CRAP!
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Apr 3, 2008 8:56 AM
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Color me shocked!
Reading between the lines, Mr. Gough praised the former WB execs for their support. They also talked about not compromising their vision of SV while they were at the helm.
CW might have insisted on making changes to the show that Gough and Miller disagreed with. So they decided get out instead of giving into CW's demands.
For myself, once KK leaves the show for her limited run next season, I'm turning off SV as well.
Good luck Mr. Gough and Millar! It's been a good run!
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Apr 3, 2008 9:37 AM
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Oh. 
Well, I'm in it until the end, so I hope whoever takes over makes it worth my while.
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Apr 3, 2008 9:44 AM
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What are the chances that the CW didn't care for the "no flight no tight" rule and were finally pushing them to get Clark in the air as it appears Kara already has plans to do just that for Clark....
On a side note to that. Did anyone else find it funny that Clark was worried about jumping out the barn door in his attempt to fly. Was he worried he was going to break the ground or something? 
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Apr 3, 2008 9:48 AM
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Hmmm, in pure speculation mode:
The loss of one creator/exec producer would signal a restlessness, need to move on, try other things. The loss of both signals that this has something to do with their dissastisfaction with The CW.
One striking element of Smallville this past season has been the relentless product placement and the focus on Stride gum and certain cars and whatnot. I can easily see this kind direction being difficult for creators to handle, especially when they are trying to tell their own story without increasingly having to shoehorn in shots of characters using Verizon VCast or Sprint multimedia features.
There might also be economic, budgetary and other pressures involved with bringing the show back for an 8th season without two of its signature stars on full-time, Rosenbaum & Kreuk.
I would not be surprised if a combination of these factors are what led to their leaving the show. I hesitate to use the word "resigned".....
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Apr 3, 2008 10:13 AM
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Does this mean the show has a chance to become watchable again? No more cramming Saint Lana the Mindnumbing down viewers' throats? No more characters walking in tiny circles, never developing or learning anything?
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Apr 3, 2008 10:17 AM
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This is my favorite show on the air right now. And yet I had noticed that much like season 6, the storyline direction has taken this weird turn. A sudden new storyline has been introduced that makes no sense whatsoever. And that almost always happens when a show is near the end of it's series run.
I don't like guessing about anything. I wish Mr. Gough and Mr. Millar had just come right out with whatever they were unhappy about. And I find this whole development odd after all the strife during the Writer's Strike.
I have never watched a program yet, where new writers ever made anything better. And there were so many storylines I was looking forward to seeing being carried out. I will watch this show until the end, but I have a bad feeling that without the direction of Mr. Gough and Mr. Millar, 'Smallville Season Eight' will be one hot mess!
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Apr 3, 2008 10:18 AM
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Does this mean the show has a chance to become watchable again? No more cramming Saint Lana the Mindnumbing down viewers' throats? No more characters walking in tiny circles, never developing or learning anything?
Thanks, you just said everything I wanted to say. While it's not usually a good sign when creators leave, I'm hoping that it will make it watchable again. Also, once I heard Kreuk was leaving, it gave me hope that I could bare watching it again.
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Apr 3, 2008 10:24 AM
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Good. I will continue to watch the show, as I've become invested in it. However, either the creators or the network have ruined the show over the last couple of seasons. One of the things that I thought was so great was how this Superman history connected to what we already know from pre-existing mythology from the comic and movies. But the show began to diverge and create too much of its own history. Introducing Lois, was an initial ratings boost but also ruined the show. Then Lionel's character became to ambiguious and they destroyed the Lana character by giving her powers and a dark side. I think the creators and network realize the disasterous direction the show has gone, and with rumors of cast members leaving....lets hope they'll be able to wrap the show up right...
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Apr 3, 2008 10:28 AM
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I can't believe this. What the hell is going on with this show? After loosing the wrestling, and after the fiasco with Gilmore Girls, why in the world is the CW renewing the show but apparently NONE of the people that made sure that it - y'know, actually DID all of the thing that it has DONE?
If the CW didn't want to fold up within the next year, it would shell out the money for Al, Miles, Michael, Allison, and whomever else they are apparently trying to shove out the door.
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Apr 3, 2008 10:28 AM
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For those of you who are blaming Lana again for everything wrong on Smallville, please get a life! If you don't like the direction of this show, shut your tv off! It's that simple.
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Apr 3, 2008 10:35 AM
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This is awful! Please don't leave Al & Miles.
I wanted to see their vision of the show, This show is their baby. I know they have fought hard to maintain that vision. I am worried that whoever takes over the show will fold to the CW's micromanaging and Smallville will become a show I no longer recognize. This has Gilmore Girls written all over it.
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Apr 3, 2008 10:37 AM
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It's a shame that Al Gough and Miles Millar won't see the show that they created to it's end. That said, and I may be in the minority here, but the last few seasons have had their problems story wise. Weak writing, bizarre plot devices introduced to move the story along (see: Lana Clone), lack of story continuity and I could go on. I sometimes felt the creators/writers took advantage of the fans knowing they would always come back for more even if they came up with some of these confusing storylines. They always said they had a master plan for the show, but the fact they just introduced yet another major plot element (Veritas) and never mentioned it at all leading up to this point, makes me think they are making things up as they go along. Don't get me started about this 'no flights-no tights rule' - I get the 'no tights' but the 'no flights'?? that one if just too bizzare. This is one of my most favorite shows, but I am actually look forward to see what new creators can inject into the show.
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Apr 3, 2008 10:42 AM
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