CBS WATCH MAGAZINE: Smallville’s Big Finish
by Matt Mitovich
As the longest-running superhero series in television history comes to an end, we give it a huge, Daily Planet-sized send-off
“WE DIDN’T FIND YOU, CLARK. YOU FOUND US.” With those words, spoken by Jonathan Kent in the Smallville pilot, a new take on the Superman saga found a home that would last for 10 years.
Developed for TV by Al Gough and Miles Millar, Smallville —which follows the adventures of Clark Kent in the fictional town of Smallville, Kan., before Clark becomes Superman—made its debut Oct. 16, 2001, on The WB. Fronted by Tom Welling and also starring Allison Mack (as Clark’s BFF Chloe Sullivan), Kristin Kreuk (Lana Lang), Michael Rosenbaum (Lex Luthor) and John Schneider and Annette O’Toole (as Clark’s parents, Jonathan and Martha Kent), the first episode drew 8.4 million viewers—breaking the record for a bow on the 6-year-old netlet and proving that no amount of previous adaptations had quelled our fascination with Clark Kent’s story.
“It’s wish fulfillment for every ‘kid’ out there,” offers Kelly Souders, who since Season 8 has served as showrunner with fellow executive producer Brian Peterson. (Both joined Smallville as writers in Season 2.) “So many heroes in mythology are gods or characters that are hard for the everyday person to connect with, but Clark is someone we can all relate to. We want to believe that heroes are made out of people like us.”
With Smallville set to end its decade-long saga this May on The CW, we spoke with many of those involved in getting the young man-who-would-be-Superman off the ground. Herewith, our Kryptonite-free tribute to one of the greatest superhero series in TV history...
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