What?! No new Smallville or Supernatural this week?!

In case you haven't heard, the return of Smallville and Supernatural has been pushed back a week. I'm not too happy about the change -- haven't we waited long enough to find out what happens to the gang?!

Entertainment Weekly reports the reason for the change, and it's pretty lame, if I do say so myself.

Wonder Woman TV show lives?!?

The Hollywood Reporter online is reporting that NBC has ordered David E. Kelley's Wonder Woman series to pilot, even though it was recently reported that all the major networks had passed on it.

This is good news (possibly), but it isn't a guarantee NBC will pick up the show as a full series for next Fall. It just means they'll watch a pilot and consider picking it up, but hey, it's baby steps. I'm not sure how I feel about Kelley's description of the show - is this the Wonder Woman from DC Comics? If so, why no mention of Themyscira?

Still, this is progress. And hopefully, good news!

I'm hooked ... on "The Hunger Games"

I've been home sick the past two days, so today I decided to finally read the book I purchased more than a year ago at the suggestion of several of my fellow Twi-hards. That's right, I'm finally reading "The Hunger Games." After four chapters into it, I am undoubtedly hooked. Why do I think this book - the first in a trilogy - will become my next obsession? I hear there's also a movie being planned, so I thought it would be interesting to make a few posts along the way as I read to document my reaction.

For those who don't know anything about "The Hunger Games," here's a quick run-down (borrowed from Wikipedia).

The Hunger Games is a young-adult science fiction novel written by Suzanne Collins. It is the first book of the Hunger Games trilogy. It introduces sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives in a post-apocalyptic world in the country of Panem where North America once stood. This is where a powerful government working in a central city called the Capitol holds power. In the book, the Hunger Games are an annual televised event where the Capitol chooses one boy and one girl from each district to fight to the death. The Hunger Games exist to demonstrate not even children are beyond the reach of the Capitol's power.

My reactions so far? I wasn't sure I was going to like the book at first. You have to admit the picture of our future it paints is pretty bleak and depressing. However, I adore Katniss and her devotion to her younger sister, Prim, who is, as Katniss tells us, the only person in the world she knows for certain she loves. So when 12-year-old Prim's name is drawn as the girl Tribute in the next Hunger Games, it's no surprise that Katniss volunteers to replace her in order to save her life. And although I have a feeling this book is going to segway into a romance at some point a la Twilight -- a romance probably between Katniss and her best friend Gale (a guy..that's the one thing I don't like about the book so far - the names!) -- I'm already rooting for a romance to develop between Katniss and the other Tribute from her district, Peeta (also a guy). As soon as she told the story about how Peeta once saved her life by smuggling her those pieces of bread when she was 11, I was definitely on Team Peeta. I don't want to spoil too much of the book, but oh my, it just sucks you right into the story. I didn't want to put the book down!

It will be interesting to see if my Team changes throughout the course of the book, and I'm on pins and needles waiting for The Hunger Games to begin. Plus, there are two more books I will have to read now.

I have a feeling I won't be getting much sleep this weekend...

Smallville returns next week, so what can we expect?

Tonight's repeat of "Smallville" will catch fans up on what last happened when Clark and the gang gathered on our small screens, but next week's episode "Collateral" already looks promising, and it signals the return of Chloe Sullivan! Yay! Check out this clip for a sneak peak of the episode. I assume Lois and Clark are separated after the gang is gassed, and she's trying to find him...




Other Smallville news/rumors, thanks to the Superman Homepage and Kryptonsite:

• Supergirl is returning for at least one more episode! I am so excited about this, I could do a jig! Laura Vandervoort is rumored to be filming an episode soon. Will this be the episode where Clark finally learns how to fly?

• The above photo is from the episode "Beacon," which features the return of Annette O'Toole as Martha Kent. Since it has largely been reported that the episode centers around Clark trying to decide whether or not to give up his superhero ways, and many of us remember the CW petitioning fans to send in videos of why "The Blur" means so much to them, I can only assume Clark and the gang will be watching real fan videos in the episode as a means of convincing him to stay on his chosen path. That's ridiculously cool!

• Since he once starred on Passions opposite Justin Hartley's wife, I wasn't all that surprised to see he'd nabbed the role. From the Superman Homepage:

Soaps.com report that "Days of Our Lives" star Eric Martsolf has been cast in the role of Booster Gold for an up-coming episode of "Smallville".

Although he's been playing the bad side of Brady lately, Eric Martsolf will soon be moving in a very different direction. The multi-talented actor has been cast as Booster Gold, a superhero from the future.

The report has been confirmed by Entertainment Weekly, who also claim that the casting of Booster Gold's pal, Blue Beetle isn't far off also being announced. The two DC Comics characters will appear in an up-coming episode titled "Booster", written by Geoff Johns.

No Wonder Woman remake, finally - an X-Men trailer, and Spidey's new look revealed

There has been plenty of news lately to make my fangirl heart go all aflutter.

• Sad news for us WW fans. Despite David E. Kelley's plan, all of the networks passed on airing the Wonder Woman remake. Still, Kelley seems optimistic that it will eventually make it on the air.

• According to the Box Office Mojo, The Green Hornet was No. 1 this weekend, and not all of the reviews have been horrible.

• The first trailer for "X-Men: First Class" was rumored to be screened before The Green Hornet this weekend. I haven't seen it yet, but a lot of the cast was in attendance at the Golden Globes last night.

• Finally, we've gotten our first look at the new Spidey, Andrew Garfield, in costume from the upcoming remake. I'm still on the fence about whether I even want to see this movie. Does anyone else think Garfield looks a tad too skinny to be playing Spidey?

• We've also been given a first glimpse of Chris Evans in full Captain America costume. I don't know. I can't decide if I think he looks cool or cheesy.

• VoicesfromKrypton.com has an interview with Smallville's producers in which the idea is raised for the series finale episode to be called...what else? "Superman," of course!

Awesome poster

I'm a little late posting this, but the CW released this poster for the final season of "Smallville" recently. Notice the reflection of Superman beneath Tom Welling's feet. Awesome! Thanks to the Superman Homepage for posting it.

Smallville & Supernatural: Mid-season reviews

The past few years, I have had only two absolute favorite cannot-miss-an-episode-or-I-will-cry-myself-to-sleep shows: Smallville and Supernatural. This year's season has been very important for both shows, but for different reasons. This is Smallville's 10th and final season (boo hoo), and Supernatural's sixth season, which was uncertain after last season which saw its show's creator leave and the major plot of the series wrap up. The question on every fan's mind has been, will this season live up to expectations? Well, I can only answer for myself, but I'll give it a shot.

For Smallville, YES, and then some. This has been, hands down, my favorite season of the series by far. Yes, I am a total shipper (face it, people, Clois rules!), but can any fan argue that this season hasn't been epic? Usually we have one or two filler episodes -- or episodes where nothing major happens in the story arc -- but this season, every single episode has had a major reveal or impact that seems to be building toward the ultimate finale. Lois learns Clark's secret identity. Clark changes his costume from the black one to a more iconic red suit with the traditional Superman logo on it. Chloe disappears. Tess joins the league of heroes as the new Watchtower. Tess is Lionel's illegitimate daughter (I feel like an idiot for not seeing that one coming!). Lionel is back! Lois and Clark get engaged. Hawkman dies. Bam. Bam. Bam. I used to only enjoy watching Smallville each week. Now, I can't wait for Friday nights, and yes, I have been known to watch an episode more than once. Now that we are 11 episodes into the final season -- halfway, folks -- I am full-fledged into mourning the loss of this show which has become my No. 1 guilty pleasure. The cast is solid. And, I find this hard to admit, but never in a million years did I imagine I'd become such a fan of Tess. Plus, the stories have been awesome. I mean, did you see episode 11? It started with Clark's ultra romantic proposal to Lois and it ended with an OMG moment during Hawkman's funeral procession when the league of superheroes -- including Lois -- were apparently gassed and knocked unconscious, but by whom? And why? I can't wait for the show to return in mid-January. Anyone else out there agree? Disagree?

--I give Smallville 10 out of 10 stars this season, so far.

For Supernatural, I have to admit that the show that used to be my No. 1 guilty pleasure has fallen a peg or two this season. When it returned, I was excited, but that excitement faded more and more with each new episode. I don't know about the rest of you, but I can tell a difference without Eric Kripke helming the show. Admittedly, the past few episodes have been better -- much better -- but I still feel something is lacking this season. Maybe it's the absence of Castiel, who has only been in a few episodes this season. Or maybe it's the I-hate-you sentiment between Sam and Dean now that Sam has lost his soul and doesn't give a flip about anyone or anything. Oh, where is that Winchester brotherly love? Maybe it's the way Dean has been pining over Lisa (totally out of character for Dean). I don't know. Still love the show, and I can't wait to see what happens after the short hiatus. I mean, what a cliffhanger to leave us on!

--I give Supernatural 7 out of 10 stars this season, so far. But I'm hopeful that rating will increase by season's end.