Smallville Cast Sought

A casting call has gone out for the pilot for The WB's proposed Smallville, which will chronicle the early adventures of the DC Comics superhero Superman, the Zentertainment Web site reported. Producers are seeking actors around age 16 who resemble Clark Kent and Lana Lang and an actor around 21 to play Lex Luthor, the site reported.

Genre television veteran David Nutter (Dark Angel, Roswell) will reportedly direct the show's hour-long pilot this March.

Thanks to LAWard, amari28 and anyone else who sent this in for this :)

Friday November 10 3:13 AM ET
Successful shows create problems at WB

By Michael Schneider and Josef Adalian

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - The WB is looking to pick up all of its freshman shows
for a full season -- but must financially find a way to accommodate them.

As a result, the network is eschewing the traditional ''back nine'' episode
pickup (which combined with the original 13 episodes makes for a 22-episode
season) for more unconventional ``back eight,'' ``back six'' and even ``back
four'' orders.

The WB has picked up more episodes of new drama ``Gilmore Girls'' and
returning series ``Felicity'' (now in its third year), and is leaning toward
orders for soap parody ``Grosse Pointe'' and sketch comedy ``Hype.'' The
network previously ordered nine episodes of the new sitcom ``Nikki'' and
eight installments of sophomore drama ``Roswell.''

The network, however, budgeted its pickups with the presumption that it
wouldn't pick up at least one failed drama and one failed sitcom. But execs
at the WB say they're pleased with the performance of all their new shows
this fall, so the netlet's budget will have to be spread further.

``The problem they have is a rich man's problem,'' one source said. ``They're
picking up everything.''

That includes ``Gilmore Girls,'' which the network has given an additional
pickup pegged at six episodes. As financial concerns are lightened, however,
the WB is expected to give the show an official eight-episode order,
identical to ``Roswell.''

``Gilmore'' has earned critical kudos and provided solid Thursday night
numbers for the WB. The show was also just named the best new drama of the
season by the Viewers for Quality Television.

According to VQT founder Dorothy Swanson, VQT members call the drama ``smart
and endearing ... with believable characters'' and ``hands down the smartest
and wittiest new show.''

On the comedy front, the WB is trying to find a way to order nine additional
segments of its two new comedies, dividing those episodes between ``Hype''
and ``Grosse Pointe.''

The network has also ordered at least four additional episodes of
``Felicity,'' which shares its time slot with ``Jack and Jill.''

``All of us here are really thrilled and touched by the support that the WB
has given our little show,'' ``Felicity'' co-creator J.J. Abrams said. ``The
fact that we get to continue and the possibility exists that we'll get to see
'Felicity' graduate from college is more than we could ever hope for.''

``Felicity'' continues to make weekly gains with viewers, especially the WB's
core women 18-34 audience.

As it stands now, the WB will complete ``Felicity's'' initial run with its
11th episode on Dec. 13. The network will then stunt the time period with a
special holiday ``Gilmore Girls'' on Dec. 20 and a repeat ``Jack & Jill'' on
Dec. 27. The WB will then debut its new season of ``Jack & Jill'' on Jan. 3
or Jan. 10.

``Felicity'' will return later in the season with two leftover episodes from
the show's initial 13-episode order, followed by an additional four or five
originals.

``With the cliffhanger that we have and the momentum we gain into December,
what I hope is three months later people will remember there's a TV show
called 'Felicity,''' Abrams said.

As the WB sticks with its fall schedule and doesn't open up any scheduling
holes, midseason drama ``Dead Last'' will probably be pushed to summer or
even to fall 2001.

Reuters/Variety REUTERS