MONDO EXTRAS

AG: Yes, he was more celebrated in song. [Laughter.] Somebody said we've done the Marvel version of Superman. They said that to us a year or so ago, and I wasn't sure what they meant. When I thought about it, the Marvel universe has more flawed characters coming to term with their super abilities. We've got kryptonite making the mutation element of the show as well.

OG: How slowly will Lex's move to the dark side unfold? Will we ever see a truly evil Lex on Smallville?

AG: You know...it'll be a long, slow evolution with many twists and turns in the road. The fun is watching sort of this progression. If you turn him evil too early, the character becomes less interesting. We want to play it slowly. We want to watch the twists and the turns.

OG: What can you reveal about the rest of this season? What's the finale you're working on?

AG: Basically, we're leading up to the spring formal and playing out the Clark/Lana/Chloe relationship. Also, you'll start to see things come to a head with Lex and his father. It's all sort of leading to the spring formal dance. There will be twisters coming to Smallville.

OG: Not pigs' blood, then.

AG: No. [Laughs.]

OG: How have you been able to attract such great character actors like John Glover and Joe Morton?

AG: John we got in the pilot. We called him up and said [we'd] always been fans. In the pilot, you don't have much. We told him that Lionel is incredibly crucial throughout the course of the season. John came up and really took to the character and understood his place in our world. We love John. He's really enjoyed doing the show. Lex never had a father as far as I know; [Lex] may have killed [his father]. Lionel is kind of a mix of Donald Trump and Richard Branson. A buccaneer businessman. You can see who Lex became by who his father is and his [father's] influence on [Lex]. That's how we brought [Lionel] in. Joe Morton we called up. We'd been huge fans. We had him as a recurring role. We sent him the first script he was in. His kids had watched the show and enjoyed it, and he was a Superman fan. We loved him ever since Brother from Another Planet and T2. He's incredible. He'll be a part of the show. You'll continue to see him.