MONDO EXTRAS

OG: Is there any merchandise you're particularly excited about?

AG: There are action figures. There's something else: t-shirts. Property of Smallville High. I'm sure they have plans to do more of that stuff. There's a Smallville comic in the works. One of the writers here is working on that.

OG: Do you feel there was a moment or episode where the show really hit its stride this season?

AG: Honestly, for us, there were a couple of sort of points. "Hourglass," for us, was one where we felt we could do something. We were able to take the show to a different level. We sold the potential for the show to break out of the format we'd laid down for the first seven. Another big one was "Rogue." It was our first sort of kryptonite-free episode that stood alone. Those two episodes in particular. And then for us, "Leech" and "Stray" were two other sort of high points. "Nicodemus" as well. It was probably the most purely enjoyable episode of the season. "Rogue" was a real turning point for us. We were starting to hear online rumblings about the villains of the week. It goes back to the meteor shower -- that will always be there. It was interesting to introduce Metropolis, and also the idea that somebody without superpowers could really hold Clark's feet to the fire. It showed us that there are a lot of other stories to tell. Next year, kryptonite villains will be in the mix, but not the primary source of storytelling.

[At this point, we were told to wrap it up.]

OG: Have you all begun shooting Season Two? What might we expect next year? Is there an overall theme for the second season?

AG: Season One was sort of the discovery of power. Season Two is taking on that mantle. We'll see Clark starting to explore his origins, and also Lex and his father will be much more diametrically opposed after the season finale. We'll explore more with the Kents and Martha's family as well. Clark will get another superpower. We could see red kryptonite creep into the picture.

OG: Thank you Al. I appreciate your talking to me again.

AG: Thanks, man.