Gough & Millar Leaving Smallville
 

From Comingsoon.net:

""Smallville" creators and executive producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar have announced they are not staying on for the eighth season of the show. They sent out the following open letter:

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"

Next season has me officially worried now.

This could actually be good news.

This whole paragraph is hilarious:

Really? With them gone, the "no flights, no tights" decree can finally be abolished. Sounds to me like the showrunner next season could send the series out with a bang by transitioning Smallville Clark Kent into Metropolis Superman... something that has LONG been overdue under Gough & Millar.

Yeah this could either be the worst or best thing to happen. Great, if it get Clark flying. Or bring in Legion ;)

With them leaving, as well as Lex and Lana, its definitely time to shake up the show, and evolve it. Clark, Kara, Chloe, and Lois in Metropolis, with some JLA appearances.

Now I have something in common with them. I left Smallville around S3.

:lol: Season 1 for me.

My first reaction was 'GOOD!' as well. I think these are talented guys, but Smallville has been jumping the shark on a weekly basis since the third season...just when I think it can't get any worse, it finds a way to. It used to be a show I looked forward to, now I just watch it because I feel obligated... so I'm hoping Season 8 can be the shake up and creative jolt that it's in dire need of.

I definitley see your point. But personally, I've always thought that the moment Clark dons the cape the show should end.

Good.

He doesnt have to put the suit on, but at least let him fly. Its done in Heroes, come on.

No Gough, no Millar? I might actually start watching it again.

But that's what I'm saying. Get him flying early next season then build up to converting him into the full-fledged Superman.

Exactly. Kara getting ready to teach him a few weeks back was a big fucking tease.

This could easily be great news for fans wanting the show to advance to the Superman/Metropolis/Justice League level, but it could just as easily turn into X-men 3.

Guess they lost that one script they've been using since s2...

I hope someone loses their memory before this season is over - just for old times sake.

:lol: Way to aim high, guys.

das

Give them some credit! It's not like they are Berman and Bragga. ;)

I think it is bound to happen to Lex and maybe even Lana. They know way too much.

Crossing my fingers Warner Brothers and the CW hires a showrunner who will finally make Clark Kent Superman.... -pray-

If anything this is a clear sign that season 8 will be the final season.

http://community.tvguide.com/blog-en...ries/800036775

According to TV Guide, Kelly Souders and Brian Peterson, and Todd Slavkin and Darren Swimmer have been named Showrunners for Season 8.

They are all currently on the writing staff.

That doesn't sound too bad. Souders and Peterson seem to work on the same episodes. The most recent being Veritas, Siren, Wrath, Bizarro, & Noir.

Slavkin and Swimmer appear to work together as well. Their recent ones consist of: Blue, Kara, Phantom, Freak & Rage.

They must have been offered a nice job at Stride gum.

I could never understand the logic of this rule. So, from the very beginning of your show, you limit yourself as to how much your character can develop? That's always a good idea.

Yeah, and it's not like they've broken it already anyway. Looked great too, when they did so they should just let it rip for the final season.

For some reason, I think Tom Welling was in favor of the "no tights, no flights" rule, so I don't know if new bosses would get him to do it or not.