It has been announced that Smallville creators Alfred Gough and Miles Miller will not be returning for the 8th season of the CW show. "After much heartache and debate we have decided it is time for us to move on." This comes after rumors of Kristen Kreuk (Lana Lang) and Michael Rosenbaum's (Lex Luthor) apparent departure from the show as well.

I'm gonna get trounced for this, I know, but I for one, find this to be a good move on their part. The CW is notoriously generous when it comes to keeping their shows on the air for eternity, regardless of poor ratings (remember 7th Heaven?). I know Smallville is their highest rated show, but that isn't saying much. It's the CW. I am glad Gough, Miller, Kreuk, and Rosenbaum have the sense to know when to "hang up the tights" so to speak. (Especially Michael, who's had to be bald as an actor for over 7 years!) I'm sure Tom Welling would like to branch out and do other things, too, but something tells me the network is holding him hostage (read: there is no show without him, so he has to stay).

My problem essentally comes down to Smallville as a concept. There's only so much one can do with the story of Clark Kent before he becomes The Man of Steel. The creators' creed of "No flight, no tights" was an admirable one. Until everyone realized the show can't really move forward with that kind of philosophy; It's been spinning its wheels in the mud since season 4 in my opinion. Unfortunately, for the purposes of network television, there is a need to draw things out while luring fans with the familiar (Louis Lane, Supergirl, General Zod, etc. All characters that are never supposed to meet Kent until he is grown.) The result is the longest running series based on a comic ever. Congradulations. You also get the dubious prize of completely destroying the mythology and continuity of the Superman character.