'One Tree Hill': Creator Mark Schwahn on Season 7's cliffhangers, the last minute renewal and a 'Life Unexpected' rivalry
Last Tuesday (May 18), a day after the seventh season finale of "One Tree Hill" aired, The CW announced that the series will be back this fall for an eighth year. Though the show's cast and crew had the luxury of being renewed early over the last couple seasons, that was not the case this time around.
According to show creator Mark Schwahn, the decision really did come down to the last possible second and, though Monday's (May 17) finale included some pretty serious cliffhangers, the producers truly didn't know if they would have the opportunity to tie them up.
Schwahn, who says he and his cast and crew couldn't be more giddy and energized about getting that chance, was kind enough to tell Korbi TV the true story of how the 11th hour renewal actually went down...
When Clay and Quinn were shot just seconds before the finale faded to black, we figured you knew for sure that the show was getting another season. Is that not true?
MS: It's such a good question and, you know, I haven't talked to anyone about this -- I don't think I've even done an interview since [last fall] when you and I talked -- but no, I saw some speculation online about [the show's fate], but I knew five minutes before you guys posted it.
You're kidding.
MS: I talked to [CW president] Dawn Ostroff [who gave me the good news] and five minutes later, my phone started blowing up, and I thought, where is this coming from? So I hopped online and saw that [Zap2it] had [written] something and a couple other websites had [as well]. I always expected to find out Tuesday and, yeah, I found out Tuesday morning at like 10:30.
Wow. So, you really didn't know that the show was renewed when you decided to do the cliffhangers. Did you even have a different version of the finale, minus the gunshots, that you could've run had you been canceled?
MS: Yeah, the truth of the matter is, I just gambled. I had two endings. Obviously, when I was writing it, and then when I was directing it a month after that, we didn't know. And everyone was up front about that. Dawn was up front. [Warner Bros. president] Peter Roth was up front. Everybody just said, look, we don't know, so go with God, do what you're going to do. So I wrote the cliffhangers, but I constructed it -- and I think it's pretty simple to see -- so that there was a way out [had we gotten canceled].
We actually have a cut [of the episode] where, as they're coming down the hill during the sledding sequence, we angled on a couple -- I think Chase and Alex were first -- and we went to the Chase and Alex scene, without Mia's text to him. And then we went back to the hill and we saw the next couple coming down, which was Clay and Quinn, and we went to their scene on the couch, but once she said "I love you" and went to bed, we got out. And we went back to the hill and we showed Nathan and Haley and Jamie and we did their "I'm pregnant" scene and then we finished with Brooke and Julian and Brooke says "you get the sense that everyone's going to live happily ever after" and Julian says "they are" and then we went back to Jamie saying it's a long way up the hill and Haley says "nah, it's just a hill, come on, we'll climb it together" and we drift up in the sky and that would've been the end of the series.
So, I constructed that. We built it, we mixed it, we locked it. And the network said, look, you've got to make the call. Obviously, the show is going to air before we can tell you [if you're getting another season], so what do you want to do? And about a week beforehand was our deadline for deciding which cut was going to air. I talked to [executive producer] Joe Davola and I talked to Peter Roth and a couple people at the network and, though they couldn't tell me anything, I sort of gauged what I thought our chances were and I felt like we'd come back, so I said, let's go with the cliffhangers. My plan B was that I would've campaigned aggressively, had we not been picked up, for a movie. I think that we have a fanbase that's similar to what "Sex and the City" has, not in size, but in loyalty, so I would've tried to do a movie in a couple years to tie up loose ends.
So it was a gamble, but I'm glad it worked, and to the fans that feel like I might've played chicken with it, you know, we've gambled a lot in seven years. And our instincts have been good to us. And our ratings in the core demos that The CW cares about are as good or better than almost every returning show that they'd picked up. And they were certainly better than any show that hadn't been picked up, so I just felt like that would win out. You know, it didn't have to. If the network had a great development season, they're going to fall in love with their new stuff and they should. But I sort of weighed all those odds and I knew what pilots were out there and I felt like we were making a great case for ourselves. And we got lucky and guessed right.
Yes, you did. And you are moving from Monday to Tuesday nights.
MS: Yeah, I have never worried about that stuff. I mean, they've moved our show five times in eight years. And I always tell them, you know, it's your network and we'll just make the best show that we can and smarter people than me will decide where it's supposed to go. I love being [paired] with ["Life Unexpected" creator] Liz [Tigelaar]. You know, that's another thing that hasn't been said publicly. (Laughs) Our show has been involved in a lot of supposed throwdowns with other shows over the years and it's pretty funny because it doesn't ever really work like that, but it's good drama for fans of drama. But I actually sat in front of Dawn during development season when I had a couple pilots [in the works] and I told her, you should leave Liz alone and let her do her thing, she's a good writer and "Life Unexpected" could be someone's favorite show. There was a moment when I was like, oh, crap, I campaigned for Liz and we might lose our spot [to her]! But I've known Liz over the years. I tried to get her on staff at "One Tree Hill" countless times and I'm really proud of the stuff she's doing. I love our night, I love being with ["Life Unexpected"]. I really feel like the shows are totally similar. You know, we're a little louder than they are in terms of psychos and stuff, but I think it's a great fit. I'm happy to be there and now I can watch Monday Night Football and not miss my show.
No doubt. And your diehard fans don't have to wonder what would've been had you been unceremoniously yanked.
MS: You know, this season is sort of a gift, I think, from a network that understands that people have invested seven years in this show -- They knew we were going with cliffhangers for the finale -- and I think that that bodes well for them when they ask their audience to invest in their other shows. Because it's a great message to send and it's really smart business. And that was part of my pitch. You've got viewers that have been watching ["OTH"] for a really long time and to leave on cliffhangers is tough. But they got it, they acknowledged that this is a fanbase that has been dedicated and loyal and, you know, the network gets beaten up for choices it makes sometimes. Well, this is a choice they need to be applauded for.
So, will Season 8 be "One Tree Hill"'s swan song? Or could it keep going past that point? And what does Schwahn have planned for this upcoming eighth year?
Come back to Korbi TV later this week to find out...
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Photo credit: The CW
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I'm so eternally grateful for carrying on OTH. I loved Mark for having the guts to go with the cliffhanger. It wasn't as big or destructive the last time he took a gamble back in season 3, but it was shocking enough. OTH is awesome.
Please just let the show end after 8 seasons seriously. I'm definitely not happy with the writing lately, but I continue to watch because I want to get to the series finale and want things tied up. But a 9th season is too much, and all shows need to end and not always be about how much money they can make.
Great interview, thanks! So glad to see it returning :)
Korbi you the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mark thank you!!!
Here's the thing: I realized last week that the reason I watch OTH is because I watched it back when the characters gave you more to care about it. Right now, even 'tho it's become a ginormous steaming pile of Seriously!? I check in and FF to get to scenes with the few people I still care about.
So to sum up, I watch it because I used to watch it. Habit is a powerful thing something the pinheads at the networks have forgotten with their months long hiatuses.
But if they canceled it tomorrow, could not care enuf to grimace or grind my teeth about it.
And don't get me started about forcing the Clay/Quinn instant epic love story down our collective gullets.
I have to admit I almost stopped watching OTH earlier in the season. I didn't like that there was no real explanation to what happened to Peyton and Lucas, but I couldn't help myself and I am glad I stuck it out. Though I haven't loved all the episodes and I think that maybe a few too many things happened this season. The finale episode was wonderfully written and directed. I literally got goose bumps and gasped when they got shot. It will be sad when OTH does end, but it obviously can't go on forever. I am 22 now and I really feel like I've grown up with this show. I can't wait for season 8 to start. But please don't kill Quinn and Clay off, they are adorable and I really don't think Haley can take much more! haha. but seriously great job!
they really need to tie things up this season or that movie idea sounds good. i think fans want answers about the original cast that made OTH what it is today and why people like me still tune in. lucas, his mom n sis, peyton, jake and jenny and also they need to either develop the new cast or end their stories. most importantly i believe no one more deserves a perfect ending than Brooke with what lucas n peyton put her thru countless times...although i would still love to see lucas find his way back to brooke somehow (some twisted way) lol!!
You are my idol, one tree hill is the best show i ever watched, i dont even want to watch any other drama shows, just because i feel like am cheating on oth lol ( jk) but seriously oth is the only drama show i watch. Continue your great work!! When oth is done am gonna be the first one to miss it, I have season 1-6 on DVD waiting on the 7th to come out!
WHY DIDNT YOU ASK THE QUESTION EVERYONE IS DIEING TO KNOW! IS HILARIE BURTON AND CHAD MICHAEL MURRAY COMING BACK FOR THE NEXT SEASON OR EVEN FINALE?! There's so many rumours curculating and i think everyone would take comfort hearing the creator of the shows answer.
I love OTH. I am 21 and feel same way, that I have grown up watching this show. It was crazy because I was pregnant at same time as Haley on the show and in age. I know but still. I love this show and I would love to see it continue. The writing has been great in my opinion. I am with everyone else with Peyton and Lucas but even without them it is still a great show. And I will continue watching it till the end. It is my favorite show hands down. And I have lured so many people into watching it cuz I still watch reruns on Soap. But Quinn and Clay have to live.