2002 TV News Archives
August 22, 2002: Jeph Loebs Talks Smallville
The Superman Homepage caught up with Jeph Loeb to talk about his new position as writer on the hit TV show "Smallville". Jeph is well known to Superman fans as the writer of the "Superman" comic book title over the past couple of years, and the writer about to take on the new "Superman and Batman" comic book.I'd like to thank Jeph for taking time out of his busy schedule to answer these questions about his work on "Smallville"...
Q: How different have you found writing about Clark Kent for "Smallville" compared to writing for the Superman comics?
A: Well, the obvious answer is that Clark in the comics is a grown up. If we were to write about ourselves in high school, the cares and concerns compared to an adult are radical to say the least. The joy, however, is that in the character who was reinvented by Executive Producers Al Gough and Miles Millar, Clark is still working on not only being someone with powers; he's still working on being a young man, too. His concerns about what others think of him; his secrets; his loves. All of that is brimming. Later in life, he'll find happiness with Lois and stability with the Daily Planet, so his concerns are more on the Superman side of things.
Q: Will we see any correlation between your view of Smallville from your comic series "Superman For All Seasons"?
A: Al and Miles have been very generous in saying that FOR ALL SEASONS helped them conceptualize a view of Smallville that didn't require tights or flights. If my work had any impact on the show, I'm thrilled because I'm such a big fan. Specifically to my episode? I think only as far as the show has shadings from the book.
Q: Do find it hard to separate your thoughts on Superman between the comics and the TV show?
A: Not really. Am I tempted to bring in things from the comics that might not otherwise be there? Sure. But, that's on a day to day basis and the guys (Al and Miles) are VERY aware of what works for the show and what doesn't. I'm delighted when Al will turn to me and ask what the origin of "this" or "that" is; or "how do they deal with this in the comics?" because at the end of the day they are very respectful of the fans and of DC proper and want to do right by them -- IF it works for the show and the legend that they are telling. I don't know if my presence in the room actually contributes more "comic book" lore; but I'll bring it up -- and we'll give it a good chase. Please remember I'm part of an amazingly talented writing staff, so my contributions are only part of a whole. All in all, great fun, though.
Q: It's well known your a big fan of "Superman: The Movie" starring Christopher Reeve, and we've already heard the line "do you believe a man can fly?" in the pilot episode of "Smallville"... will you personally be writing in any references to the movie in future episodes?
A: That'll be on a "wait and see" list of things to do. It's funny, when I do it in the comics, the fans love to bust me on it; we'll see if they are equally vocal on the show. As we've long agreed, Superman fans are the most rightheaded, wronghead, outspoken, softspoken folks I've ever encountered -- comics, movies and television combined. But, they are also the greatest fans I've ever encountered because they LOVE the character. He's the best and so, he deserves the best.
Q: What's been the hardest thing about writing for "Smallville"?
A: Wanting to make it better. I've long been the person who says "I just try and tell the best story I can and hope folks like it." Since joining the show, I try harder, I think because the guys who created the show have such a wondrous vision -- I want to touch that. But, I've been doing this long enough that I know that it's a learning curve. I'd like to think that my early comic work -- which I still enjoy -- isn't as good as what I'm doing today, but that's natural in any job. It's the challenge that makes the work not only better, it makes the days better.
Q: Have you put any storyline proposals forward for the show that were knocked back? Ideas that you were really hoping to be able to examine but that were refused?
A: One outweighs the other. Like I said, it's a team, so I'll see a bit of me in that show or a bit of someone else in my episode; it just depends. We "break" (meaning line up the scenes in a detailed outline) each episode in a huge writer's room and the best stuff comes from the group. We ALL contribute. So, are there stories that get kicked back? Sure. But, sometimes that leads to more interesting stories later on. There are always going to be wonderful ideas and concepts that get kicked around in any creative environment and in television in particular, we have to remember that we have a season of 22 episodes. If each writer has ten ideas, then there's 100 ideas right there. I choose to look at it as this show is going to run at least 100 episodes and if I'm along for the ride, those stories will get told, one way or another. Interestingly enough, I fight hardest for other people's ideas because I KNOW those are good!
Q: How long have you been working on "Smallville" now?
A: The season 2 staff started in late April, early May. We came to work the first week of June. The friendships we've formed seem a lot longer -- but that's the nature of the show. Bond or break. We've chosen big time bond.
Q: Has working on "Smallville" met your expectations? If so, how? If not, why not?
A: Beyond. Coming from Buffy, which was a real family environment, I knew this was going to be different and it is. It's more like what I remember of college. Sort of an academic party, whatever that means! We laugh hard, we work hard and the end results are hopefully as good or better than the first season of SMALLVILLE -- no easy task because there were some superb episodes. Folks at the network and studio seem very, very happy. Now, it's up to the fans and viewers in September!
See ya on Tuesday nights at Nine!
2002 Television News
Listed below are all the Television News items archived for 2002 organized into 4 categories:Smallville News:
- January 1, 2002: Tom Welling - Best Boy Wonder
- January 9, 2002: Future Smallville Episode Information
- January 10, 2002: Tom Welling in E! Online's Sizzlin' 16
- January 11, 2002: Rogue Images from Smallville
- January 13, 2002: Shimmer-ing Smallville Episode
- January 13, 2002: Kristin Kreuk on YM Prom Magazine Cover
- January 13, 2002: Tom Welling at the Golden Globe Awards
- January 15, 2002: National Review on Smallville
- January 16, 2002: Smallville - Season 2 Announced!
- January 17, 2002: Calendar Live Interview with Kristin Kreuk
- January 17, 2002: Smallville Nominated in ASC TV Competition
- January 18, 2002: A Look Ahead at Smallville
- January 20, 2002: SciFi Wire Interview Michael Rosenbaum
- January 21, 2002: Tom Welling Getting Married!
- January 21, 2002: E! Online Interviews Kelly Brook
- January 26, 2002: Smallville on Monday and Beyond
- January 26, 2002: Teen Hollywood Interview Michael Rosenbaum
- January 28, 2002: Smallville on TV Guide in Canada
- January 29, 2002: Sam Jones III Talks Smallville
- January 31, 2002: Smallville in SciFi and Wizard Magazines
- February 1, 2002: Next New Smallville Episode: Hug
- February 6, 2002: Next New Smallville Episode - Leech
- February 8, 2002: Canadian TV Guide Smallville Details
- February 8, 2002: Smallville Nominated for Publicist Award
- February 20, 2002: Smallville and Justice League Airing Schedules
- February 22, 2002: Fresno Bee Smallville Article
- February 22, 2002: Annette O'Toole on Lana Lang in Smallville
- February 25, 2002: Boston Globe Interviews Sam Jones III
- February 26, 2002: Next New Smallville Episode - Kinetic
- March 2, 2002: Smallville DVD in Europe and U.K.
- March 3, 2002: Next New Smallville Episode - Zero
- March 6, 2002: Rolling Stone Smallville Feature
- March 7, 2002: Will Smallville Move to Wednesday Night?
- March 7, 2002: Vancouver Sun Smallville Article
- March 7, 2002: SCI FI Wire Chat with Kristin Kreuk
- March 8, 2002: Globe and Mail Talks With Kristin Kreuk
- March 11, 2002: Next New Smallville Episode - Zero
- March 11, 2002: Australian Fans Made to Wait for Smallville
- March 12, 2002: Behind-The-Scenes Smallville Special in the UK
- March 19, 2002: Next New Smallville Episode - Nicodemus
- March 21, 2002: Smallville Magazine Articles
- March 21, 2002: Smallville Now on Thursdays in Canada
- March 21, 2002: Smallville in Latin America - Update
- April 6, 2002: Smallville DVD Coming in June? - Update
- April 14, 2002: Next New Smallville Episode - Stray
- April 20, 2002: Smallville Premiere in Latin America
- April 22, 2002: Next New Smallville Episode - Reaper
- April 28, 2002: Next New Smallville Episode - Drone
- April 30, 2002: Kristin Kreuk Featured in 25 Hottest Stars Under 25
- May 5, 2002: Chat Live with Kristin Kreuk
- May 7, 2002: Next New Smallville Episode - Crush
- May 7, 2002: Another Al Gough Smallville Interview
- May 10, 2002: Smallville Season Finale Spoilers
- May 13, 2002: Next New Smallville Episode - Obscura
- May 13, 2002: E! Online Al Gough Interview
- May 15, 2002: Smallville Season Two Stays on Tuesdays
- May 15, 2002: Michael Rosenbaum Live Chat Transcript
- May 20, 2002: Smallville Season Finale - Tempest
- May 22, 2002: Sam Jones Talks Smallville
- May 23, 2002: Pre-Order Your Smallville DVD - Today!
- June 6, 2002: Smallville Season 2 Promo
- June 6, 2002: Jeph Loeb Writing For Smallville
- June 8, 2002: Loeb Talks Smallville
- June 9, 2002: Smallville Season 2 Spoilers
- June 11, 2002: Michael Rosenbaum Wins a Saturn Award
- June 12, 2002: Smallville's Sexy Women
- June 16, 2002: Smallville Finally Comes to Australia
- June 19, 2002: Amazon.com Cancels Smallville DVD Orders
- June 19, 2002: Smallville High School - Behind the Scenes
- June 20, 2002: Smallville DVD - Pre-Order Update!
- June 21, 2002: Smallville - Clark's Clothes and Backpacks
- June 21, 2002: Smallville: The Soundtrack
- June 27, 2002: VideoFlicks Ships Smallville DVD
- June 27, 2002: Michael Rosenbaum in TV Zone Magazine
- July 1, 2002: Australian Premiere of Smallville
- July 2, 2002: Smallville in the Philippines
- July 4, 2002: Hang With Smallville Stars
- July 8, 2002: Michael Rosenbaum Interview
- July 17, 2002: Allison Mack Talks Smallville
- July 21, 2002: Two Emmy Nominations for Smallville
- July 28, 2002: Date Set for Smallville Season 2
- July 30, 2002: Show Business Weekly Interviews Michael Rosenbaum
- August 4, 2002: Al Gough Talks Smallville at San Diego Comic Con
- August 5, 2002: Smallville DVD Arrives in the Philippines
- August 11, 2002: Smallville DVD Coming to Australia
- August 14, 2002: Zap2it Smallville Interview
- August 17, 2002: Smallville - Season 2, Episode 1 Images
- August 22, 2002: Jeph Loebs Talks Smallville
- August 23, 2002: Tom Welling Wins at Teen Choice Awards 2002
- August 25, 2002: Smallville to Pioneer WB's HDTV
- August 29, 2002: Gough & Millar Talk Smallville Season 2
- September 1, 2002: Australian TV Hits Magazine Smallville Feature
- September 5, 2002: Smallville Season Two in Canada
- September 7, 2002: Smallville Season 2 - Trailer
- September 8, 2002: Kristin Kreuk in FHM magazine
- September 10, 2002: Smallville & Justice League DVDs in Australia
- September 11, 2002: Smallville Season Two, Episode One - Vortex
- September 19, 2002: Smallville - Season Two, Episode One
- September 28, 2002: Smallville Season 2 Premiere Breaks Record
- September 29, 2002: Up-Coming Smallville Episodes
- October 2, 2002: Smallville - Season 2 Episode 3: Duplicity
- October 5, 2002: Smallville Season 2 Photo Gallery
- October 5, 2002: Smallville and Justice League Airing Schedule
- October 7, 2002: Smallville to Premiere in the Philippines
- October 10, 2002: Smallville - Season 2, Episode 4: Red
- October 18, 2002: Wall of Weird Website Launch!
- October 18, 2002: Smallville - Season 2, Episode 5: Nocturne
- October 19, 2002: Big Ratings for Smallville
- October 24, 2002: Smallville - Season 2, Episode 6: Redux
- October 29, 2002: Meet the Mayor of Smallville
- October 30, 2002: Boxing Day Smallville Marathon
- November 2, 2002: Smallville - Season 2, Episode 7: Lineage
- November 8, 2002: Loeb Talks Smallville
- November 8, 2002: Smallville - Seaon 2, Episode 8: Ryan
- November 11, 2002: Smallville in Xpose & Seventeen Magazines
- November 14, 2002: Smallville - Season 2, Episode 8: Dichotic
- November 20, 2002: Smallville Soundtrack
- November 24, 2002: Smallville - Season 2, Episode 10: Skinwalkers
- November 27, 2002: Smallville is Super for WB
- December 2, 2002: EW Looks at the Success of Smallville
- December 5, 2002: Smallville Charity Auction
- December 9, 2002: Zap2It Talks with Allison Mack
- December 10, 2002: Jeph Loeb Talks Insurgence
- December 15, 2002: Around the World with Smallville Season 2
- December 21, 2002: Smallville Season 1 in France
- December 29, 2002: An Interview with Smallville's Stunt Coordinator
- January 3, 2002: Details on WB's Animated DVDs Revealed!
- January 4, 2002: Cartoon Network Press Release: Toonami: Batman vs. Superman
- January 4, 2002: Fans Petition for WB Animation DVDs
- January 15, 2002: Updated Cartoon Network Schedule
- January 20, 2002: Batman vs. Superman on Toonami
- January 21, 2002: Animated Airing Schedule Update
- January 28, 2002: Superman is the Winner!
- January 31, 2002: Michael Rosenbaum Talks Justice League
- February 1, 2002: Bruce Timm Talks Justice League Color
- February 2, 2002: Complete Justice League TV Airing Schedule
- February 8, 2002: More Justice League and Batman/Superman DVD Images
- February 20, 2002: Smallville and Justice League Airing Schedules
- February 25, 2002: Justice League and Superman Animated Airing Schedule
- March 8, 2002: Justice League Season Two Confirmed!
- March 12, 2002: Justice League and Superman Animated Episode Schedule
- March 13, 2002: Rich Fogel Talks Justice League Season Two
- March 19, 2002: Justice League and Superman Animated Airing Schedule
- March 20, 2002: Corey Burton Talks Animated Brainiac
- March 24, 2002: Animated TV Airing Schedule
- March 26, 2002: New Justice League Episodes Announced
- April 5, 2002: Justice League and Batman/Superman Animated Trailers
- April 13, 2002: Justice League Episode Schedule
- May 8, 2002: Cartoon Network Animated TV Schedule
- May 20, 2002: Justice League DVD Mini-Site
- May 22, 2002: Animated Schedule on Cartoon Network
- May 28, 2002: Justice League Arrives in the U.K.
- May 30, 2002: Justice League Around the World - Update
- June 2, 2002: Animated Schedule on Cartoon Network
- June 6, 2002: Bruce Timm Talks Justice League Season 2
- June 11, 2002: Animated Airing Schedule
- June 13, 2002: Justice League Around the World
- June 19, 2002: Justice League and Superman Animated Airing Schedule
- July 1, 2002: Cartoon Network Animated Schedule
- July 8, 2002: Cartoon Network Animated Schedule
- July 14, 2002: Cartoon Network Animated Schedule
- July 23, 2002: Justice League in the Philippines
- July 25, 2002: New Justice League Episodes Coming in September
- August 13, 2002: Cartoon Network Animated Schedule
- September 1, 2002: Justice League - New Episodes Airing Soon!
- September 10, 2002: Smallville & Justice League DVDs in Australia
- September 23, 2002: Justice League: The Savage Time
- September 25, 2002: Kristin Kreuk in Vancouver Magazine
- September 25, 2002: Justice League in Canada
- October 5, 2002: Smallville and Justice League Airing Schedule
- October 10, 2002: Justice League in the Philippines
- November 8, 2002: Rich Fogel Talks Justice League Finale
- November 15, 2002: Superman: The Animated Series & Justice League DVDs in 2003
- January 11, 2002: SuperMuseum on Would You Believe It?
- February 14, 2002: TV Road Trip Visits Metropolis, Illinois
- February 19, 2002: Pulino Premiers New Lex Luthor Film
- March 3, 2002: Superman TV Schedule: March 3-19
- March 16, 2002: Superman-related Saturn Award Nominations
- April 5, 2002: Notable Superman TV Appearances
- July 1, 2002: Super Friends on Australian Television
- July 28, 2002: Superman on Television
- August 29, 2002: Noel Neill and Jack Larson in Burbank, CA
- September 7, 2002: Superman Actor Gets Second Look
- November 15, 2002: George Reeves Article in Playboy Magazine
- December 14, 2002: SuperFriends DVD Release Date Announced
- December 23, 2002: Superman Holiday Television Viewing
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