Sam Speaks with TV Guide Magazine

[Gabriela]

TV Guide Magazine spoke with the otrher cast member that won't be on the ninth season of the show: Sam Witwer

Read his interview HERE.

[Gabriela]

When he signed on as Smallville’s hunky paramedic, Davis Bloome, actor Sam Witwer knew it would only be for one season_the show’s last, everyone believed at the time. But a few story lines in the season finale caught even him by surprise.

Fans got a double shock in the season finale when both Davis and Jimmy Olsen (Aaron Ashmore) died at each other’s hands. What was your reaction when you received the script?
It was definitely a shock. I didn’t see it going down like that, so I was very surprised. Aaron is such a great actor that I really disliked the idea of taking him out. I don’t know that I saw Davis freaking out and killing Jimmy. It’s my job to just say the lines convincingly, but that was something I struggled with.

Did you express your concerns to the writers?
I did, but they had their ideas. It is not for me to say what should happen. Throughout the season, they were very receptive to what I had to say. This was not a battle that I won. But I did my damnedest to take what I was given and run with it.

I see what you’re saying. The whole point of Clark wanting to spare Davis’ life by separating him from the beast was that he saw some potential good in Davis once he was free from Doomsday.
(Laughs) Yeah, that was the thing. I always tried to play Davis as a really good guy who was in a very bad situation. I never looked at him as a psychopath, just someone who was very broken. The one thing I was very clear on was that when he was stabbed and dying, that had to be a moment of peace for the character. He was okay with it.

With the characters having to mourn Jimmy, Chloe was never really shown reacting to the death of Davis, whom we were led to believe she deeply loved.
Did she, or did she not? Chloe’s argument was that she protecting Clark. I have no idea where the truth lies.

Jimmy got a funeral, but we never saw what happened to Davis’ body.
They stuffed him in a closet to deal with later.

You knew all along you were only on board for one season, right?
Yeah I did. When Smallville hired me they believed they had only one season left. But the ratings went up, so they realized there might be a ninth season. We didn’t know until fairly late in the season because they were trying to make a deal with Tom Welling (Clark) to come back. By then, they’d already mapped out my character. He was already killing people. Had we known there was going to be more than one season, we would have had Davis be a normal guy for a longer time before turning him toward where he was ultimately headed.

Was Aaron completely shocked to be killed off?
He may have been more prepared than I was. He told me that he had heard about it a few months back, but had to keep his mouth shut. I was crushed when I heard about him. I know that it wasn’t really the producers’ idea. It was some kind of concern about Jimmy Olsen being too old. He was supposed to be at least ten years younger when he interacted with Clark and Lois and DC is very concerned about protecting its properties. It had to be corrected as the show heads towards Clark becoming Superman.
The last piece left to correct is Chloe, who is not part of the adult Superman lore. Is Allison Mack concerned that she could be next?
I think she’s aware of that.

The wide assumption was that the Doomsday storyline would go down like it did in the comic books—with Doomsday killing Clark Kent, who would only later be resurrected. But that didn’t happen. Instead, the character was split into two personas, with Clark killing the monster and Jimmy killing Davis.
I actually thought that they might do that as well. I guess that’s supposed to happen later on in Clark’s career.

What was that tool that Jimmy killed Davis with?
(Laughs) I don’t know. Some kind of weird fork or something. In television, if you fall down on a chair, one of the legs of the chair is going to find a way to stab you in the chest.

How long did it take to film that scene?
A long time. More than half a day.

In the comics, Doomsday was the ultimate challenge for Superman. And I’m sure it was no coincidence that they chose him to be the last villain for what they believed would be Smallville’s final season. How can they possibly outdo themselves with General Zod next year?
I think they need to have a threat a lot wider than a few city blocks. It’s got to be someone who could destroy a lot more than Metropolis. Zod should be less about brute force and more about a brilliant enemy.

I thought throughout the season the monster looked quite terrifying. But last night there were a couple shots of him on the street looking very much like a guy in a Godzilla costume. What’s the story there?
(Laughs) Did it? I saw parts of that. The shoot is very tricky. I think the suit was very well done, but the best thing to do with suits is to put them in dark light and just see little pieces of it. Maybe you got too good a look at it.

Was that you in the suit?
No it’s not. One of the nice things about this gig was that my presence could be felt even when I was at home playing X-Box. A guy named Dario is the man in the suit. He’s a very tall guy—even taller than Tom. I’m 6’1 and used to being one of the taller guys on set, but on Smallville it wasn’t like that. Tom is like 6’3’’, 6’4’’ and Dario is even taller than him. They needed to find someone way taller than me for that suit.

Who do you think you’ll stay in touch with from the cast?
I love Cassidy [Freeman, who plays Tess]— she’s awesome. We’re both from Chicago and our fathers were acquainted. And I’d love to hang out with Aaron. Justin Hartley [Green Arrow] is hilarious and Tom’s really nice. There wasn’t a bad apple among them.

[bennyjr123]

It's sad that even the actor's realized this episode didn't make any sense. Re-watching the season you can clearly see there was little to no evidence shown that Davis Bloome, was crazy and would kill somebody. It was always just the kryptonian side of him. So why would he decide to kill Jimmy like that in cold blood? Doesn't make sense

And to make Jimmy go like that. Even if he wasn't the real deal, just wasn't cool. Ugh, they should've listened to Sam.

Oh and it's kind of sad how he mentioned everyone but Erica Durance, and Allison Mack when he talked about the people he liked.

[autumn]

Sam is as ticked as the rest of us!!!! Thanks Sam for reiterating how truly awful Doomsday was in every way. Completely OOC. Souders and Peterson and DC should be ashamed of themselves to what they did to Davis and Jimmy and all of the actors, not to mention the fans. That episode was truly disgusting. I fear what they will do to Chloe in order to match up with the comics. You suck Smallville, you truly suck.

I hope Sam Witwer and Aaron Ashmore move on to better things. Too bad Allison couldn't move on with them. I for one will also be moving on, though I will forever love the characters as they truly are.

[Tombstone25]

It seems that I'm right and it's really came from DC comics. With having now the real deal we'll see the exact same just with a younger character and we lost Aaron.

Originally Posted by bennyjr123

no evidence shown that Davis Bloome, was crazy and would kill somebody.

Actually you could see that in the later of the season.

Oh and it's kind of sad how he mentioned everyone but Erica Durance

They haven't spend any screentime together unless one scene in Toxic with Oliver about to die. Maybe he can spent a bit more time with her when Sam will play Zod next season.

[Gabriela]

I don't think Sam is coming back, that's what I got from his interview that seaosn 8 was it for him

And I don't belive for a second that this was DC calling that's bs

I am not going to buy that they let superpower Lana around and god knows what other things the show has done and they have a probkem with Jimmy's age??

Above all the "questionable" things the show has done that's when they step in and "fix"??

please...that's pure lie that's the excuse they told AA and SW to hide themselves

If the age was a problem then they shouldn't have brought Jimmy at ALL not killing him off the way they did, that was disrespectful for US and for Aaron....lie to him thinking he had a special spot on the Superman legend

Aaron for us you ARE Jimmy Olsen you always were and you always will

I hope a retcon on 9.01 I don't care how they do it but they have to

[Belle]

Great interview. I'm glad Sam feels the same way we do. Aaron was brilliant, he didn't deserve to be killed off like this. SHAMEFUL!!!!

[CAMI]

Thanks gottara for posting that interview of Sam Witwer. Good that interview.


Thanks, Carmen.

[shedmonds]

Aaron/Jimmy looks pretty young to me anyway?

[unfocused]

Maybe you guys should have shown this much love for Jimmy Olsen back in the day when no one seemed to like him or care about him. If only we actually let it be known that he had this much of a fanbase instead of letting all those haters hate on him all those years.

Oh well, too late now, right?

[bennyjr123]

Originally Posted by Tombstone25

It seems that I'm right and it's really came from DC comics. With having now the real deal we'll see the exact same just with a younger character and we lost Aaron.


Actually you could see that in the later of the season.


They haven't spend any screentime together unless one scene in Toxic with Oliver about to die. Maybe he can spent a bit more time with her when Sam will play Zod next season.

they also had a few scenes together in bloodline but i highly doubt Sam is coming back next year.

And to Seph, i will take blame, cuz i was one of those people who wasn't a fan of Jimmy, but never in a million years did I think they should have killed him. Ridiculous.

[vantheman77]

Both AA and SW are bitter about the season finale as the rest of us and now there's another reason why Peterson and Souders are the least favorite among the writers. SW may not return as Zod and AA's stay in SV is truly over.

It's funny that we've been hearing from Peterson and Souders prior to the season finale and now, we have not heard from them since the season finale aired. They're not laughing now, are they?

The second half of the season never recovered after the Lana arc and the producers put all their energies up towards Requiem. After Requiem, they didn't seem to care. This is why I hope that TW gets producer credit when the 9th season rolls around.

Now, Chloe fans are going to worry a lot more because the 9th season will be AM's last.

[mc2104]

Originally Posted by gottara

And I don't belive for a second that this was DC calling that's bs

ITA completely.

Where was DC Comics when (not a very extensive list)
1. Everyone knows Clark without glasses
2. Veritas arc
3. JL, Perry White, Lois knowing Clark before he is Superman. (I suspect Lois will have her mind wiped about Clark when she returns back from whereever she poofed off to)
4. Jonathan Kent running for a senator and Martha is now a senator
5. Lois first falls in love with Clark when its the other way around (The current PTB's fault not the one created by AlMiles)
6. Chloe Sullivan still exists
7. Pete is no more present in Smallville and there is no Pete/Lana relationship
8. Super powered Lana (The current PTB's fault not the one created by AlMiles)

[Helena]

Originally Posted by Seph

Maybe you guys should have shown this much love for Jimmy Olsen back in the day when no one seemed to like him or care about him. If only we actually let it be known that he had this much of a fanbase instead of letting all those haters hate on him all those years.

Oh well, too late now, right?

well I can only speak for myself but I had many times said that I like Jimmy more than Lois and more than Clark and I am a Cloiser and Tom fan, so that says a lot.

I even supported Jimmy last year in his last scene with Lex, and Lex is supposed to be THE character for me. But I get what you mean, there were a LOT people hating Jimmy and it is true that he hadnt got as much support as he suddenly gets now (not necessarily from this board, generally I mean).

But I doubt anything would have changed. I can recall many situations/characters that people loved with passion or hated with passion and showed it, and still TPTB never listened to anyone.

[bitingluck09]

I'm glad Sam Witwer felt the same way we did and he at least tried to persuade the writers to take a different route. And where are those producers anyway? We haven't heard a thing from them. I think they're scared of what to say now that they've almost ruined the show. Oh, the karma.

[Tombstone25]

Sam will play Zod because in Bloodline Faora Davis looks like Zod. And from the last shot we saw from Zod in the finale it looks like Sam's body and there is something else *cough*HERE*cough*

Originally Posted by mc2104

2. Veritas arc

The whole Veritas storyline with the prophecy and the Kawache caves etc. is a SV thing but in the comics they had done something with caves when Clark was a teenager.

5. Lois first falls in love with Clark when its the other way around (The current PTB's fault not the one created by AlMiles)

In the comics they portrayed both ways. Although that Lois falls for Superman and then for Clark is more familar.

6. Chloe Sullivan still exists

But she will be gone or dead by next season becaue Allison will leave the show.

7. Pete is no more present in Smallville and there is no Pete/Lana relationship

Smallville is about more Metropolis lately and Pete isn't a huge factor when Clark is an adult.

8. Super powered Lana (The current PTB's fault not the one created by AlMiles)

In the comics, she had also superpowers but not by K-nite. I forgot her name she used, she wanted also be a member of the Legion later.

About the rest, they prolly allow iti because they say it's a SV twist. Saying that, I also prefered if Aaron stayed around and played Jimmy. Whoever was responsible for this descison, I will miss him.

[Gabriela]

Yes he looks like him but what can they do they had to use him while they still could, but the vibe I got its that he isn't coming back so they will probably use another actor as Zod

[Tombstone25]

I think they won't revealed it because of the announcement at Comic Con. They hinted they will also have information which just revealed there and I think it's one of the things.

I also think they have to answer during the Q&A with the fans the question regarding Jimmy/Aaron because it's really someting a big issue/discussion what fans have at the moment.

[bitingluck09]

Oh, they definitely have to answer us! Wonder what other excuses they will have for obliterating Jimmy.

[vantheman77]

I can't wait to read reports from Comic Con concerning the show's 9th season because I know the fans will want to ask Peterson and Souders about the Doomsday and Jimmy Olsen situation.

I've always felt that Davis was a one season character, but I'm still betting on SW to play Zod because, like Tombstone25 says, Davis is the spitting image of Zod.

I've also said this that we haven't heard from Peterson and Souders since the season finale aired. They have to be panicking right now.

[bigge]

It frustrates me even more reading SW questioning Souders and Peterson's writing of this horrible season finale. I agree with everybody that I can't wait for Comic Con to hear their explanation. Another point in the article was Doomsday look a man wearing suit whereas "Bride" episode look more realistic.

[bennyjr123]

Originally Posted by vantheman77

I can't wait to read reports from Comic Con concerning the show's 9th season because I know the fans will want to ask Peterson and Souders about the Doomsday and Jimmy Olsen situation.

I've always felt that Davis was a one season character, but I'm still betting on SW to play Zod because, like Tombstone25 says, Davis is the spitting image of Zod.

I've also said this that we haven't heard from Peterson and Souders since the season finale aired. They have to be panicking right now.

it's been 2 days...I really think they ran out of storylines for Jimmy, and thus, this crap was born. And really, if they were going to kill him they should have set it up a lot better. It just didn't flow well and seemed random and wasn't even powerful. Just...odd...and sad.

[vantheman77]

Originally Posted by bennyjr123

it's been 2 days...I really think they ran out of storylines for Jimmy, and thus, this crap was born. And really, if they were going to kill him they should have set it up a lot better. It just didn't flow well and seemed random and wasn't even powerful. Just...odd...and sad.

Which is why Bride was a much better episode.

[mc2104]

Originally Posted by Tombstone25

The whole Veritas storyline with the prophecy and the Kawache caves etc. is a SV thing but in the comics they had done something with caves when Clark was a teenager.

Why not Jimmy being the same age as Clark and Lois be a SV thing

Originally Posted by Tombstone25

But she will be gone or dead by next season becaue Allison will leave the show.

Why was it necessary to write off Jimmy this season?.

Originally Posted by Tombstone25

Smallville is about more Metropolis lately and Pete isn't a huge factor when Clark is an adult.

But since S4 he was not there and that role was given to Chloe.

Originally Posted by Tombstone25

In the comics, she had also superpowers but not by K-nite. I forgot her name she used, she wanted also be a member of the Legion later.

I guess it was insect queen and she definitely did not get that from the power suit. So why is it a problem just with Jimmy's age.

Originally Posted by vantheman77

I can't wait to read reports from Comic Con concerning the show's 9th season because I know the fans will want to ask Peterson and Souders about the Doomsday and Jimmy Olsen situation.

I've always felt that Davis was a one season character, but I'm still betting on SW to play Zod because, like Tombstone25 says, Davis is the spitting image of Zod.

I've also said this that we haven't heard from Peterson and Souders since the season finale aired. They have to be panicking right now.

I am not sure if Peterson and Souders will attend the Comic-Con because right now they are hiding from the fans, the same happened after the Lana arc. By reading SW's interview I get the feeling that he is not coming aback and they might have someone else play Zod.

[autumn]

Originally Posted by gottara

[i]When he signed on as Smallville’s hunky paramedic, Davis Bloome, actor Sam Witwer knew it would only be for one season_the show’s last, everyone believed at the time. But a few story lines in the season finale caught even him by surprise.

Of course it caught him by surprise!! I imagined the worst to prepare myself and my imagination (for once) failed me. It was actually worse than my worst nightmare. Sad.

It was definitely a shock. I didn’t see it going down like that, so I was very surprised. Aaron is such a great actor that I really disliked the idea of taking him out. I don’t know that I saw Davis freaking out and killing Jimmy. It’s my job to just say the lines convincingly, but that was something I struggled with.

I feel for Sam I really do! Of course the REAL Davis would never freak out and kill Jimmy and act like a psychopath after the beast was free. Whatever!! Screw them. At least I know the actor agrees with me.

Did you express your concerns to the writers?
I did, but they had their ideas. It is not for me to say what should happen. Throughout the season, they were very receptive to what I had to say. This was not a battle that I won. But I did my damnedest to take what I was given and run with it.

To think they even had fair warning about this suckfest. I really wish this was a battle he won, I really do. I respect him for standing up against the writers. After hearing what he did on BSG, I'm not surprised. Not to mention that he's a brilliant writer himself (if you listen to some of his song lyrics). They should have taken notes from him. It's clear to me now why Davis was so well written all this season. He was probably throwing them ideas this whole time, and they would respond: "Yeah, now I'm thinking." Such a shame they didn't let Sam think for them in the finale. It's a pity they chose character assassination. PITY!!!!!! I do think Sam did amazing with the crap given to him. He always does.

I see what you’re saying. The whole point of Clark wanting to spare Davis’ life by separating him from the beast was that he saw some potential good in Davis once he was free from Doomsday.
(Laughs) Yeah, that was the thing. I always tried to play Davis as a really good guy who was in a very bad situation. I never looked at him as a psychopath, just someone who was very broken. The one thing I was very clear on was that when he was stabbed and dying, that had to be a moment of peace for the character. He was okay with it.

Exactly! Isn't that what Superman is about? Clearly, the writers just haven't been clued in. No, the only thing that is important to them is matching to the mythos by having Jimmy be closer to the real age of Jimmy in the comic books. And, aren't Jonathan and Martha the wrong age??? Aren't they supposed to be old? Maybe the real Jonathan and Martha have been held hostages by aliens this whole time? OR they took a potion to make themselves look younger and Martha (since she's still alive) will run out of the potion and be gray come series finale. Hey, it matches!!!! And then, Lana's hair will fall out and grow back red, and heck Pete isn't Pete. The real Pete is white. Of course Chloe must die miserably and Lois will be mindwiped, etc. (Abyss was our first clue)

Clearly Sam Witwer never saw Davis as a pychopath, so obviously the character they pitched to him is not the same character we saw in his last minute of Doomsday. It was the biggest JUMP THE SHARK moment of the entire series, but then again every male character who is not a character from the mythos, must suddenly turn into a psycho at the end of their story arc (AKA Adam and Jason). Both were of course completely random and OOC. But the betrayal and ruination of the Davis character was just the ultimate in disgusting, repugnant, storytelling (if one can even call it that).

And I'm with Sam, at least Davis was free. The real Davis because that wasn't him. Clark SHOULD have saved him. THAT WAS THE POINT!!!!

With the characters having to mourn Jimmy, Chloe was never really shown reacting to the death of Davis, whom we were led to believe she deeply loved.
Did she, or did she not? Chloe’s argument was that she protecting Clark. I have no idea where the truth lies.

LOL. Who does know the truth. The writers don't. The actors don't. And the audience certainly doesn't. I still believe (as all the characters were OOC in Doomsday except Lois and Tess) Chloe loved Davis and was trying to save both Davis and Clark. What they give us with Chimmy was the biggest, most hideous, disgusting moment in television history. "I only missed you." Um, okay, since clearly her and Davis were sleeping together. Rewatch the car scene and you will see. Not to mention the whole Persephone thing. They were sleeping together. She had chosen her dark prince, but for some reason, she changes her mind for no apparent reason. WHATEVER!!!!

Jimmy got a funeral, but we never saw what happened to Davis’ body.
They stuffed him in a closet to deal with later.

Ouch. Sam sounds bitter, and who can blame him? That's how they treated his character and all the fans of Davis.

You knew all along you were only on board for one season, right?
Yeah I did. When Smallville hired me they believed they had only one season left. But the ratings went up, so they realized there might be a ninth season. We didn’t know until fairly late in the season because they were trying to make a deal with Tom Welling (Clark) to come back. By then, they’d already mapped out my character. He was already killing people. Had we known there was going to be more than one season, we would have had Davis be a normal guy for a longer time before turning him toward where he was ultimately headed.

I wish we got sweet Davis longer. Darn. Missing out.

Was Aaron completely shocked to be killed off?
He may have been more prepared than I was. He told me that he had heard about it a few months back, but had to keep his mouth shut. I was crushed when I heard about him. I know that it wasn’t really the producers’ idea. It was some kind of concern about Jimmy Olsen being too old. He was supposed to be at least ten years younger when he interacted with Clark and Lois and DC is very concerned about protecting its properties. It had to be corrected as the show heads towards Clark becoming Superman.

Sam is such a great guy. He's empathetic when he himself was getting crapped on as well. I still don't buy the whole DC thing. It's an excuse the writers pulled out of their butts to give to the actors. See my sarcasm above for why I don't buy it.

The last piece left to correct is Chloe, who is not part of the adult Superman lore. Is Allison Mack concerned that she could be next?
I think she’s aware of that.

Be afraid. Be very afraid Chloe fans for the horror that is coming next season. I'm glad I will only be reading recaps.

The wide assumption was that the Doomsday storyline would go down like it did in the comic books—with Doomsday killing Clark Kent, who would only later be resurrected. But that didn’t happen. Instead, the character was split into two personas, with Clark killing the monster and Jimmy killing Davis.
I actually thought that they might do that as well. I guess that’s supposed to happen later on in Clark’s career.

This just reminds once again of how awful Doomsday truly was.

What was that tool that Jimmy killed Davis with?
(Laughs) I don’t know. Some kind of weird fork or something. In television, if you fall down on a chair, one of the legs of the chair is going to find a way to stab you in the chest.

Oh, poor Sam. He always has to get stabbed in the chest. The death really was stupid though.

How long did it take to film that scene?
A long time. More than half a day.

I sense his excitement! Must have been a long day to film that drivel.

In the comics, Doomsday was the ultimate challenge for Superman. And I’m sure it was no coincidence that they chose him to be the last villain for what they believed would be Smallville’s final season. How can they possibly outdo themselves with General Zod next year?
I think they need to have a threat a lot wider than a few city blocks. It’s got to be someone who could destroy a lot more than Metropolis. Zod should be less about brute force and more about a brilliant enemy.

The question: Will he or won't he play Zod? Please say no and move on to greener pastures. They don't deserve him as an actor.

I thought throughout the season the monster looked quite terrifying. But last night there were a couple shots of him on the street looking very much like a guy in a Godzilla costume. What’s the story there?
(Laughs) Did it? I saw parts of that. The shoot is very tricky. I think the suit was very well done, but the best thing to do with suits is to put them in dark light and just see little pieces of it. Maybe you got too good a look at it.

Too funny!! So true though! My worst nightmare was for Doomsday to turn into a Godzilla clone. It just reminds me of the beautiful shot of Doomsday in Bride that was reminiscent of Cocteau's Beast filmed in the shadows and nicely lit.

Anyway, I will miss Davis. The real Davis as I truly see him and as Sam portrayed him.