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'Smallville's' Tom Welling: 'I'm always amazed how far we've come'
Tom Welling is getting to return to the roots of "Smallville" as the series' end nears.The CW will air the two-hour finale of the young-Superman saga's 10-year run Friday, May 13, but the show's star and fans are about to be reminded where it began. The 2001 pilot episode will be repeated Friday (April 8), recalling the literally meteoric arrival of young Kal-El from the planet Krypton, and his rechristening as Clark Kent by Earth parents Jonathan and Martha (John Schneider, Annette O'Toole).
"I've revisited the pilot a few times," Welling tells Zap2it, "sometimes by accident, other times for research, and I'm always amazed how far we've come. I'm 10 years older and 30 lbs. heavier -- I don't know how that happened! -- but I think the pilot still holds up. It doesn't necessarily look dated or out-of-touch.
"David Nutter, who directed it, really had a good sense of what it needed to be," adds Welling. "He executed it fantastically, but I remember thinking, 'Somebody tell me what to do.' I had no idea. Looking back now, I know that David created a warm, safe environment just to explore the character and allow the emotionality of the scenes to blossom. He set the standard for me as I went on to direct."
Welling's sixth "Smallville" episode as a director airs Friday, April 22, as the DC Comics character Blue Beetle (played by Jaden Brandt Bartlett) makes his debut on the show. Behind the scenes, Welling also is an executive producer of the Tuesday CW series "Hellcats," which he's hoping will get a second-season order.
"I think that would be the best idea in the world," he muses. "They don't necessarily tell you before they pick you up, but as of right now, everything is looking as if it's going to go another season ... which is great. That show, to me, is so special. There's such an energy from the cast and from Kevin Murphy, who writes it [and created it]. When I go there, I just feel so proud."
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Tom Welling is a beast. He rocks!
Oh Tom. I hope you'll do a guest star appearance on Hellcats if you get a 2nd season!
And the Pilot is still as fresh today as it was 10 years ago.
Tom is a sweetheart and he's been a joy to watch for the last 10 years on Smallville. The pilot episode is such a beautiful start to Smallville and it fits in very well with how the show is progressing and where the show will end.
And Tom....that 30lbs you've put on has been in ALL GOOD WAYS baby. It's 30 lbs of manliness.
He is 30 pounds heavier after 10 years... aren't we all :)
But, Tom forgot to mention that he is also 10x sexier than he was back then!!! I don't know how THAT happened? *wink* I mean, SERIOUSLY, this man gets more handsome, more sexy, and more beautiful every season! That's what I notice when I see old pics. It's A-Maz-ing!!!
OMG a Tom Welling interview! That's like capturing a unicorn or spotting Big Foot! How did you do it?! Well done.
well done my done
i have never seen a single episode in season 10 (my choice and from what i've heard, its been subpar and predictable), but i think a lot would agree with me the pilot was and still is the best episode ever. Tom is right it still holds up to this day. it is as fresh today as it was then.
Tom, Kristin, and Michael were just incomparable!
Finally, we get to hear from the man himself. He is so funny and talented, and for him to be that humble while being unbelievably gorgeous is almost impossible. He must be a real Superman. I'm going to miss Smallville like crazy.
TOM WELLING TO FILM SUPERMAN AGAIN! Yes fans on a new spin off called Conner Kent(Superboy!) The Smallville set has not been torn down after filming season 10! The Warner Brothers and The C.W. people are ready to film the Smallville High School and the Kent Farm for the Clark-Lex clone called Conner Kent series with Tom Welling to costar in one episode! Plus (Kristin) Lana Lang and (Michael) Lex Luthor finished their scenes on season 10 (with everyone else!
I love the pilot. I think the only two episodes in the series that even come close to being as good are Salvation and Homecoming.
Love Michael and Kristin but have not missed either of them in the last few years. (Though I'll be happy to welcome michael back.) The show was ready to grow up and move on and it's been wonderful to watch that happen. It's been wonderful to see Erica get some time in the spotlight and I think the show was better for it. But Tom is the heart of the show. always has been. Always will be.