This week’s Clicker has been temporarily handed off to fellow Cinema Blend writer, Steve West, an avid Smallville fan. The What-To-Watch portion of this week’s column was brought to you by myself. – Kelly West
Greetings to all the Smallville fans out there. I have missed sharing the joys of Smallville Medical and angsty Lana with everyone since moving away from TV Blend. But I’m here, guesting as Mr. Clicker, to talk about the tripe this show has really become at the beginning of the current season. Sure, I whined about some horrific episodes last season. And Lana/Clark never really came together like the writers probably imagined. This season so far has been overrun with Dawson’s Creek teen crapfare, and let’s not forget blatant pandering to horny teenage boys. Of which I am one, if only in spirit.
What happened to the plot? The little that was left at the end of last season has been traded in for the trite story points of a horrible evening soap. Names like Martian Manhunter and Supergirl only serve to make us believe this is still a story about Superman as a youngin’. Smallville works when it exists in the world of the DC comics universe, and we fans make exceptions because we know it’s a TV show that needs to keep the attention of the ADD infested viewer.
Everything about that aspect has been thrown out the window in favor of parading extremely hot women around in underwear. Oh how I hate writing that Supergirl walking around in her unmentionables is ridiculous. It is still sad that so far this season that is the highlight of my viewing experience. And it showcases the exact problem the show is now having. It would be one thing if this were just a random occurrence that gets the attention of young males. But with the fake death of Lana and her twisted form of revenge on Lex, the angsty change to Chloe and Jimmy’s relationship, and Clark’s incredibly increased naivety there is no lower point the show can go.
OK, so far there have been no babies born in an elevator. But the season has just started, give it time. I’m not saying this show belongs only to Superman fans, but it is a show about him. This past week the series finally came back to the middle ground, but up against some of the best episodes of the past it was woefully inadequate.
I’m not asking for much here. Smallville has become so far removed from the show it should be, and at one time was, that I’ve started losing interest. The story of Clark’s transformation into Superman has taken a backseat in the face of a network that is having trouble snagging the audience it so desires. When you only have one or two “hits,” it seems it would be better to devolve one in order to make it even more consumable to the mass market. I never tuned in each week to see whether or not Chloe would get over her cocaine addiction, or if Lois would survive her breast cancer scare. Things aren’t that dire, but the path is there. And I’m afraid no superhero can save this thing.
The unfortunate final season of Veronica Mars ran into the same network issues. Rather than let the show be exactly what it was, The CW came in and tried to teenify it. And we all know how that ended. One thing I’ve learned in years of watching television is that when the suits get involved they miss the entire point of a good show. I’m currently sitting in a Scranton, PA hotel where I spent the morning listening to Kevin from The Office speak on Internet fans. That show too almost suffered from NBC hovering over Greg Daniels and the crew of the show. But you’ll notice that once we all spoke out and NBC let them run with the concept it became a monumental hit that warrants a fan convention. Smallville only warrants the same on the basis of the Superman name, and it’s losing that as it delves into such horrible tripe.
So, with that I bid you adieu. I’ll continue catching Smallville when I can on the DVR, but I doubt I’ll focus on watching it live Thursday evenings. Unless the network suits back off Alfred Gough and let Smallville return to the story of a superhero coming into his own. Right now, this is just Dawson’s Creek if Dawson could shoot heat rays out of his eyes instead of making silly films that only his parents could care about.
Life is Wild (The CW) 8:00 pm
Heritage Day - (New!) Tumelo invites Katie to the township’s annual Heritage Day but she’d rather go to a party at the Mara Lodge with Oliver and Emily. A monkey steals Jesse’s shaving kit. Drama in Africa!
Desperate Housewives (ABC) 9:00 pm
Art Isn’t Easy - (New!) Wisteria Lane’s newest residents set up a water sculpture on their front lawn that sparks controversy in the neighborhood. Meanwhile, Gaby’s former fling, John shows up, which displeases Carlos and Edie finds out about the Carlos/Gaby affair.
Chuck (NBC) 8:00 pm
Chuck Versus the Sandworm (New!) – Chuck meets an agent who is in a similar situation to his own and considers helping him escape his handlers. And Morgan is starting to feel like he’s no longer a priority in Chuck’s life.
How I Met Your Mother (CBS) 8:00 pm
I’m Not That Guy (New!) – Marshall always intended to use his law degree to save the world but in this episode, he considers selling out and taking a job at a slick law firm instead.
Heroes (NBC) 9:00 pm
The Line (New!) – West tries to get Claire to teach the mean cheerleader a lesson. Hiro deals with his feelings for Yaeko.
Journeyman (NBC) 10:00 pm
The Keepers (New!) – Dan helps out two brothers who were abused. He and Livia listen in on a conversation between Jack and Katie.
House (Fox) 9:00 pm
Mirror Mirror (new!) – Cuddy sends someone to spy on House and the rest of the doctors are placing bets on who House decides to hire.
Reaper (CW) 9:00 pm
Leon (new!) – The DMV lady goes on vacation which causes Sam to get an extra tough assignment.
Pushing Daisies (ABC) 8:00 pm
Girth (New!) – Ned and Emerson investigate some mysterious deaths involving jockeys being trampled.
Kid Nation (CBS) 8:00 pm
The Root of all Evil (New!) – One of the kids is accused of bribing people to get support to win the gold star.
Bionic Woman (NBC) 9:00 pm
Not on this week because NBC has an extra long episode of their new reality show, Phenomenon, which starts at 8:00 pm.
Dirty Sexy Money (ABC) 10:00 pm
The Game (new!) – Karen’s wedding plans are put on hold because she still hasn’t finalized her divorce from her last marriage. Meanwhile, Tripp and Simon elder go head to head in a high stakes poker game.
My Name Is Earl (NBC) 8:00 pm
Our Other Cops is On (part 1 of 2) (New!) – In this special hour-long episode, the gang watches another episode of Cops, which features Camden County.
Ugly Betty (ABC) 8:00 pm
Something Wicked This Way Comes (New!) – Henry and Betty were supposed to go see Wicked on Broadway last season but their plans were spoiled when Henry’s girlfriend Charlie showed up. This week they’ll try and make up for the date but Daniel’s work problems make the secret date much more difficult to pull off.
The Office (NBC) 9:00 pm
Branch Wars (New!) Mindy Kaling (Kelly) wrote this episode and according to Greg Daniels, this is also the one that Joss Whedon directed. Karen returns and tries to get Stanley to transfer branches, causing Michael to go on the offensive.
Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) 9:00 pm
Kung Fu Fighting (New!) Cristina and Izzie compete for surgeries. The Chief spends an evening out with the guys in an effort to take his mind off his divorce.
Moonlight (CBS) 9:00 p.m.
B.C. (New!) Mick investigates a vampire who has ties to Josef’s past and is also involved in a story that Beth is working on.
Men in Trees (ABC) 8:00 p.m.
I Wood if I Could (New!) As the Maid of Honor and Best Man for their wedding, Marintries to organize separate parties for Annie and Patrick.
Final Destination (Scifi) 7:00 p.m.
The first in the trilogy, this movie centers on a group of kids who narrowly escape death and find themselves being pursued by “death” one by one.
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