Though the CW hasn't made their official announcements yet, rumor has it that Reaper will return for a second season next January. I just spoke with series star, Bret Harrison, who had quite a bit to say about how far the show has come since last September and where he thinks it's going to go. Take a listen...

So I’ve been watching Reaper all season--
Really? Thank you!

Yeah, I liked it from day one, but it seems like the post-strike episodes are actually better than what we saw early in the season.
I think they're 100% better.

The writing is funnier, especially for Sock. Plus, there's more of a serial theme with the plot to take the devil down. And your chemistry with all the characters is really coming together, don't you think?
Yeah, I think it’s a little bit of all of that. The stories are exactly what we always wanted them to be. I think that in the beginning, we were really focusing on hammering down the premise of the show. But after the strike, we were able to do what we originally intended, and dive more into the mythology and create stories with Ken Marino and Michael Ian Black, which tie heavily into taking the devil down and asking questions like, is the devil Sam’s father. I just think that's more interesting than doing “what works” for say CSI or Law and Order. We are going new places.

Yes, the one-off episodes -- where the story is encased in 48 minutes -- are cool, but it was nice when Ken and Ian came along as your gay, demon neighbors that are after the devil, because they added more of an ongoing storyline to follow.
And it’s cool because we still have a ghoul of the week. But there's more backstory. For instance, the one you saw last Tuesday was tied in with a character we already knew, Andi’s ex-boyfriend, so you’re a little more invested in terms of watching the bad guy.

There are two episodes left, tonight's and next week's finale. Can you tell me anything about what’s coming up?
There’s a leak in Hell in [tonight]’s episode. Somebody is letting the latest escaped souls return to Earth, and Sam has to recapture one particular guy over and over again, which is really pissing the devil off. Also, Sock makes out with a succubus, which is great. She basically gives him all these powers and he turns into this hulk. He becomes this huge, energetic, crazy person, which also ties into Sam's story. Sock has to put Sam on his shoulders to save his life, so they are running around full speed for a good five minutes basically looking like this giant superhuman ostrich, trying to chase a soul, which is really funny. It was a lot of wirework and Tyler [Labine] would get tired and bail out and let me fly into the truck that was pulling me. It was a lot of fun.

Battle scars?
Oh yeah. But that’s every week.

And the final episode? Is there going to be an ultimate showdown with the devil?
The final episode is going to kick so much ass. We spent an extra day on it. We put a lot of money into it. It’s really interesting, actually, because it’s not like the first one we had [post-strike] where we’re all trying to take the devil out. We have kind of a different take on it. But I will say that Michael and Ian, who play Steve and Tony, are both back. I never know how much to give away... We are trying to take down the devil. But at the last minute, there’s kind of a hook.

A hook that will possibly lead us into season two?
Yeah, it kind of ends with this whole idea that Sam has pissed off some demons. So, in season two, of course there will be souls to reap, but we’re going to dive more heavily into these demons that are constantly after Sam. I think that makes it much cooler. We’re trying to spend less time on what each week's soul is and how to take that soul down, and instead go more into the mythology and the bigger questions.

If you do get the season two order and are able to tell these new stories, will the demons be specific characters that we become familiar with?
I think so. I don’t know if every single one of them will be that way, but I think there’s been talk of a female character who might join the group.

Is there a possibility that Michael Ian Black and Ken Marino will stick around?
I hope to God they do. They’re so fun, they improvise constantly. They know each other, obviously from The State and all the little movies they've done together. I definitely think they would come back in some capacity.

How optimistic are you about a season two pick up?
I think it will happen, but they’re certainly making us wait. They’re not going to give it to us easy, I guess. But apparently, the executives like it.

Are you happy with your time slot on Tuesdays?
They’ve switched us a few times, but I think we’re doing good on Tuesdays. I don’t really care [what night we're on], as long as they keep it the same. It’s really frustrating for us and for the audience if you can't find the show. We had guys on our crew going, it’s on tonight, and we’d go, no dude, it’s on tomorrow. And then you realize all of [your audience] is doing this right now!

There's talk that they may pair you with Supernatural once Smallville goes off the air.
That would be perfect. I know the big thing for the network right now is getting a stronger girl demographic for our show. I don’t completely understand it, but I guess getting women viewers is the goal right now.

Maybe you should take your shirt off in more scenes.
I’ll do that. I’ll pitch that to [network president] Dawn [Ostroff]. I’ll send her some pictures. Maybe that'll secure another season...

UPDATE 3:25 P.M.: Reaper is alive and well, and will return to the CW's schedule early next year.

Comments

Korbi, do you know how many episodes Smallville is getting next year? Everyone keeps saying Reaper is getting 13 and will take over Smallville's slot when it finishes its run, but no one is saying how many episodes Smallville is getting!

Eric | May 13, 2008 2:17:38 PM | #

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Korbi, didn't Steve(Michael Ian Black) die in the episode 'Rebellion'?

Chad | May 13, 2008 2:52:39 PM | #

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I thought they both died, but you know, it's Reaper, so there's always gonna be a way to return... Eric, great question, I'm looking into it.

korbi_ghosh | May 13, 2008 3:14:41 PM | #

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No Tony didn't die he's been on the show since the Rebellion even helping Sam to convince Andi hes the devils bounty hunter. But Steve hasn't been on the show since. I'm glad their both coming back and hopefully they will be on next season.

Thanks Korbi.

Chad | May 13, 2008 3:24:21 PM | #

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Steve was assumed to be dead because the following episode had the other one (Gary?) angry at Sam for leading the Devil to them, but he forgave him, realizing Sam had been tricked. That they're both coming back is the surprise to me; but both weren't killed.

Dirk Belligerent | May 13, 2008 3:25:10 PM | #

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yes, right. sorry, losing it. glad they're both coming back though. thought they've been the funniest, most clever part of the show... besides Sock's one-liners.

korbi_ghosh | May 13, 2008 3:36:25 PM | #

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I couldn't agree with you anymore.

Chad | May 13, 2008 3:45:51 PM | #

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Thanks, Korbi. While you're at it can you find out why the CW's press release lists Kristin Kreuk as a castmember but not Allison Mack? I thought Chloe was staying and Lana was going!

Eric | May 13, 2008 4:21:18 PM | #

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Congrats Bret!

Let's just hope this isnt THE LOOP SEASON 2, 2.0.

James | May 13, 2008 4:21:52 PM | #

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Did u mean Ghoul of the week (instead of goal)?

Ian | May 13, 2008 4:35:05 PM | #

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Eric, I thought Kristin had signed on to do some episodes(don't know the amount) but Korbi probably knows.

And I guess negotiations to keep
Mack on the show failed. Which would be really sad.

Smallville won't be the same without Chloe.:(

Chad | May 13, 2008 8:38:46 PM | #

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Rule of tv: If you don't see a body, they are not dead.

Todd | May 14, 2008 6:05:36 AM | #

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Rule 2 of tv: Even if you see a body, they may not REALLY be dead.

Brett | May 14, 2008 6:24:41 AM | #

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more shirtless Bret. In his other show the LOOP he was shirtless in every episode, what the hell happened? Lets get some more shower scenes

Chris | May 14, 2008 6:48:26 AM | #

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more shirtless Bret. In his other show the LOOP he was shirtless in every episode, what the hell happened? Lets get some more shower scenes

Chris | May 14, 2008 6:48:33 AM | #

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I'm all for shirtless Bret, but I don't want to see the network tinker with the show too much simply to woo their chosen demographic. Let the show be what it is, and find its fanbase.

PJ | May 14, 2008 10:34:59 AM | #

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