When season eight began last year without Michael Rosenbaum, I had doubts that Smallville would survive. It just felt so weird not to have Luthor in Clark Kent’s life. But Tess Mercer (Cassidy Freeman) lived up to her role as the female Luthor and so many other things happened in Kent’s life that by mid-season 2008 we didn’t miss Luthor so much.

BUT… Michael Rosenbaum is still the best villain on television (IMHO) and his take on Luthor is unparalleled. So it’s really no surprise that Smallville executive producer Brian Peterson wants him back. Says he to Michael Ausiello’s question - 

“We would love to have him back. But there’s no movement on that.”

What? What are they waiting for! This is the same thing they said last year. Smallville execs, please create “some movement” in that direction.

C’mon Smallville fans, let’s let Michael Rosenbaum and Brian Peterson know what we think.

Image: Newscom

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And just randomly, Tom spotted Michael and gave him a manhug! Watch this video. You’ll have to be patient; but start watching the far left side of the screen below the ring (around 0:53). You will see Tom point to Michael to get his attention. He’ll go over and they give a man-hug. They probably haven’t seen each other in ages!

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Justin Hartley and Phil Morris (Martian Manhunter) will be at the Superman Celebration Event in Metropolis, Illinois on June 11-14, so get your tickets early coz that’s only three weeks away! If you want to meet them for autographs be sure to be at the Metropolis Chamber of Commerce on June 13, at 3:30p!

I wonder if Phil Morris is returning for Smallville season nine? That’s a question I’d like to ask him.

Also appearing are Noel Neill from "The Adventures of Superman", and Beverly Washburn from "Superman and the Mole Men".

Sam Witwer is still very much part of Smallville and we want to know everything he knows while a member of the cast for season eight!

Yep, Sam will be at the Screaming Tiki SuperCon in Cleveland, Ohio! This year, the event honors Superman and celebrates the 71st anniversary of the release of "Action Comics" No. 1, which introduced Superman in a story in 1938.

The Superman event will be held on July 10-12, 2009 so there’s still time to get tickets and all. SupermanLand mentioned that Michael Rosenbaum is also part of the special guest list, but his name doesn’t appear on the Screaming Tiki website, I’m not sure if Michael will be coming. BUT, Helen Slater (Supergirl and Lara-El of Smallville) is a definite yes, so that makes for quite a number of Smallville stars!

Images: Newscom

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  You’re about to see Lex Luthor alive and to his face!

The last time Lex Luthor was seen alive was at the Fortress of Solitude when he intended to kill Clark Kent (Tom Welling). But of course we all know that the enigmatic character of Lex Luthor can not possibly die on Smallville! Not when he still has to become Superman’s adversary down the years.

So, is Lex really back this time? A Lex Luthor appears in this trailer for this Thursday’s “Requiem” but does it look like Michael Rosenbaum to you? Michael did say he might return to Smallville if…

Lex’s face is all red and scarred, he is strapped to a machine, but he can talk! Lex is also under the Prometheus machine so he might get the same suit that Lana has now. And he can threaten Clark Kent. Now that Lex knows Clark’s secret, there is no end to what he will do to destroy the Man of Steel. The trailer shows a bomb filled with Kryptonite liquid that can blow off half of Metropolis. Who can stop Lex?  Watch the video closely.

image: Newscom

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Uhm… That was not Michael Rosenbaum.

Sorry to disappoint all the fans who might have thought Michael was playing cameos on Smallville, but that was just a body double, so says the man himself.

In an interview with an old friend from The Windy City Times, Michael Rosenbaum remarked that he feels it unfair to the fans that they’re not seeing the real thing.

“People think they have seen me on the show since then (when he left) but I found out they have been using body doubles to pretend that it’s me. I don’t know how fair that is to the fans.”

The big question on my mind, as on others too, is – is Michael ever going to come back to Smallville… (please, even for just an episode)?

Michael’s answer was both sad and funny.

WCT: So you don’t think you will ever come back?

Michael: No. I told the producers that I would only come back for the last episode or two if they let me wear a bald cap. I just grew my hair out.

I guess he’s had enough of being bald! It turns out, Michael had to be on set two hours before everyone, everyday, to get his head shaved. And he couldn’t even wear a hat, poor thing.

It wore out its welcome. Seven years everyday, filming in Vancouver, freezing my ass off. I couldn’t even wear a hat because my makeup would get ruined. I had to be there two hours before the crew got there to shave my head. The makeup girl was like my therapist. She knew everything about me and knew I wasn’t coming back. I am truly grateful to the show. It put me on the map. It gave me financial stability. I am able to take care of my mother’s gambling problem!

So that’s it? No cameos, no closures? Smallville producers, if you’re reading this, it is soo easy to give Michael a bald cap, so please let the man have his way and get him to say a proper goodbye to Lex Luthor.

Meantime, Michael moves on to other projects and you can read all about that and others, in the rest of the interview.

image: Newscom

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From Ausiello’s Files –

Although there are no firm plans for Michael Rosenbaum to return as Lex this season, if producers have their way, you’ll likely be hearing him long before seeing him.

Hear him before seeing him? I’m OK with that, but I really want him to return. So, Michael R, please come back to make hell in Metropolis!

image used with permission by Newscom

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Great White Shark posted short videos of Lex Luthor and his “ridiculous history of violent injuries.” The list goes on forever, but check out the Bad Boy Lex’s supposedly fatal injuries (and can you remember the episode these happened?) –

• (1 time) shot in the head
• (2) shot in the chest
• (1) shot in the chest by an arrow
• (1) caught in explosion
• (1) drowned
• (1) plane crash
• (3) stabbed (once in the gut, twice in the chest)
• (1) zapped by a lab experiment gone awry
• (3) stuck in the neck by a syringe filled with a knock-out toxin
• (2) electro-shock / electric torture
• (1) drop Fortress of Solitude on him

He survived everything, except the last one. Well… I take that back. Lex Luthor survives even this one. So even if we don’t see him in Smallville anymore, well, you can’t kill this villain off.

Theories about Lex Luthor’s resilience:

1. He’s the Traveler (according to Lionel Luthor)
2. Bah! It’s sheer will (according to Lex himself)

image used with permission by Newscom

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The trailer is weird enough.

Watch the full movie at Shearlovemovie.com

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Although both Michael and Laura are not coming back to Smallville, the duo gamely fielded fan questions about the show, their experiences and future projects they’re in. As expected, Michael stole the ’show’ with his hilarious spontaneity. He called Superman’s dog “Lassie” instead of “Shelby”! Michael also impersonated a British accent “I have a booger in my nose. I’m going to pick it! Lovely!”

Spoilers!!! Laura revealed that she’s coming back for an episode in October to tie up her storyline.

Operation Save Clark Kent (OSCK) hinted that might be “Legion”. More of the funny panelists in this video, including a reference to Michael’s “sheep” (but more on that in another post).

Earlier in the panel, Michael was also asked about playing “Lex Luthor” in Brian Singer’s movie “Superman Returns” but he said he was too young for the role. “It would have been cool,” was his reply when one fan asked about bringing Gene Hackman and Kevin Spacey as guests in Smallville.

The pair also auctioned off several Smallville memorabilia, including an autographed red jacket worn by Tom Welling. The proceeds for the charity auction went to a children’s hospital that Laura supports.

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• Instead of Smallville, the Choice TV show for Action Adventure went to Heroes.
• Instead of Kristin Kreuk, the Choice TV Actress for Action/Adventure was Hayden Panettiere of “Heroes”.
• Instead of Michael Rosenbaum, Choice TV Villain went to Ed Westwick of “Gossip Girls”.

Now what’s weird was there was no winner announced for Choice TV Actor for Action/Adventure in which Tom Welling was nominated.

This doesn’t bode very well for Smallville, which is on its last season this year.

POLL:

Just Jared has the list of winners.

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