Season Seven Is A Go. Now What??
The traditional early renewal announcement that Supernatural gets another season came quite late this year (although I have to give props to Vampire Diaries Executive Producer Julie Plec who called the timing with accuracy in my interview with her last month.). However, it’s here! Better late than never! Sure, there’s still four episodes left in season six to worry about and we won’t get our two hour, maddening cliffhanger finale until May 20th, but it won’t be long before we’ll be wildly speculating over what could be in season seven while doing our intense over-analysis of season six.
I’ve been getting some questions though about the upcoming season seven, so here’s what I know about it:
I heard Misha Collins is being written off the show.
As of right now, the statuses of both Misha Collins and Jim Beaver in season seven is unknown. This is the same issue as last year. The only actors that have been officially signed for season seven are Jared and Jensen. There won’t be any word on this until at least the season six finale airs, just because of promises of deaths and cliffhangers. Even then, we might have to wait as long as Comic Con to get official word (July 21-24). It’s also possible we find out as early as the upfronts, but usually getting listed on that cast list doesn’t guarantee anything. It’s also possible these guys will be part of season seven, but be in less episodes.
One thing I know for sure, season seven is still in the very early stages of planning (aka brainstorming) and Misha is isn’t confirming or denying his status. Here are his latest tweets from this evening, coming off of a day of wild rumors spreading over the net that he’s definitely out of a job:
@mishacollins – I have good news & bad news. The good news is the reality show I like about the two brothers who take acid & hunt ghosts gets a 7th season.
@mishacollins – the bad news is… brace yourselves… they were out of my fleur de sel carmel ice cream at the grocery store just now. I am beside myself.
So, hang tight folks, this is going to be another maddening off season issue. If you want my opinion, I think they’ll be back. I just don’t know how much.
What’s going to be the story arc for season seven?
That’s another thing TPTB are being coy about. Since the season wasn’t officially confirmed before filming wrapped, it’s my understanding not a lot of planning or writing has been done. It seems ideas are just being bounced around now. Here’s a recent quote from Executive Producer Robert Singer to TV Line’s Meg Masters:
“Most of it’s up in the air. The only thing that we have talked about is that since this year was kind of an old-fashioned noir mystery, next year may have the boys being Butch and Sundance, or the Wild Bunch. Basically, it’d be telling the a story of the last of the cowboys, gone modern. That’s just a jumping-off point. Whether we actually do that or how that realizes itself… we haven’t gotten that far yet. But there’s an idea of, “The world is closing in around you.â€
http://www.tvline.com/2011/04/supernatural-preview-western-frontierland-musical-episode/
My guess is we won’t get any type of season seven roadmap until Comic Con. And I’ll be there in that press room to hear every bit of it!
What are the prospects of Season Eight?
It’s funny I get this every year. You see, when I was at my first Comic Con in 2009, I came out of the press room interviews with knowledge that The CW had a 3 year plan etched out. The way things were going, it sounded like both The Vampire Diaries and Supernatural were part of that 3 year plan. What do you know, these renewals mark the 3rd year and both shows are going strong. Once season eight comes along though with any series, things get tricky. Shows get more expensive as they age. There’s also cast and writer fatigue. There’s other factors too, like the new boss of the network doesn’t care for the show.
Well, as for the new TBD CW boss not caring for the show, it’s been widely reported that Supernatural has never been one of Dawn Ostroff’s favorites but it’s thrived anyway. However, Jared and Jensen are only signed through S7. Unlike One Tree Hill, Supernatural cannot go on without its leads. Will they want to do the show? Sure, as long as the money is right. The CW paid Tom Welling to stay, so that’s not an impossible idea. Assuming there will be a CW next year. Sadly, that is a yearly reality with this net.
The big thing though is Supernatural continues to make Warner Brothers money in syndication, international distribution, and DVD sales. At some point though, the cost and the income get close enough where the sunset call is made. We have to go into “wait and see†mode now, but I don’t see season eight being the given season seven was. However, I still like it’s chances.
Is Supernatural getting a new timeslot/day?
We’ve been having a lot of fun speculating this on TV For The Rest of Us. It highly depends what show Supernatural gets paired with. It’s either going to be Nikita or one of the new pilots. Some pundits have been predicting a move to 8 pm on Fridays. I think that would be cool since viewing at 8 pm is always better than 9 pm (even Supernatural reruns did better at 8 than 9). I don’t see Supernatural moving from Fridays. It’s one of The CW’s rare success stories this year and this network can’t afford to fix what’s not broken.
We won’t have to wait too long for this answer. The CW upfronts are May 19th.
Got any other questions? Or how about just a big freaking “WHOO HOO!†over another season coming. I’ll take either.
Thanks for the break down! 😆
I suspect Jim will be back for season 7 but I think it could go either way with Misha. Don’t get me wrong, I WANT Misha back but depending on how season 6 ends, the whole heaven/angel plot might not be relevant any more. Plus, Misha’s a new dad so he might want to spend more time at home.
To me season 7 was a no brainer but I’m really iffy about season 8. If the CW is still around, I think the numbers would still be good enough to keep Supernatural around for a season 8, but I’m not so sure Jared and Jensen would sign on again. I think they both love the show and love making the show, but they’re also young, and there has to be a moving on point. Since their contracts are up at the end of season 7, that’d be a logical stopping point. It’d break my heart to let Supernatural go, but I’m preparing for season 7 to be the last one.
I’m willing to bet we stay on Fridays but it’d be AWESOME for it to move to 8. Supernatural an hour earlier? I can get behind that.
Anyways, here’s by big YAHHOOOOO for being renewed 😀 😀
I agree with your assessment. I can’t see Sam and Dean Winchester as 35+ year old hunters. There has to be a stopping point. But I’d love to see a Supernatural movie!
Alice, you’ve made some great points. As for myself, I would love for the show to continue to say, Season 10! There are so many more things that could be explored. Monsters, creatures and myths left to be unearthed.
As for Bobby and Cas, I think those characters are still important to the show. However, they could move Cas in a totally different direction. An example would be to make him actually fall to earth and become human like Anna. His adaptation to life on earth would be interesting to follow and having Bobby as a mentor would be entertaining to watch.
Not sueeing over this didnt particually want a Season 6 but at least it didnt leave Sam in the pit. But a season 7 ? no doesnt really get my juices going .I guess it will depend on what they come up with ?.
I’m just happy that we’re getting a seventh season. I don’t care right now what it will be about or whether there will be a season eight.
Personally I think that should the quality of writing begin to weaken, I would love the story to end with season seven.
There have been shows running too long, losing their vigour with time.
So far, I don’t think this could happen to this, my favourite show.
Then again, I would love to see Jensen and Jared in other roles. but, well, that probably will have to wait a bit longer…
Yay! Season seven! Which means – another hellatus to survive… after a probably mean, mean,mean cliffhanger…
😡 😕 :-* , Jas
So happy to know there will be a season 7! Yahoooo!!1
As for Misha and Jim I hope they will be on the next season. But if they don´t want to spoil the cliffhanger they can´t confirm their apperance.
Theres one thing I don´t understand as long as Waner Bros. makes money with Supernatural why worry? Is it so uncommon to move to another network?
All logic told me it was coming but there was always the little teeny, tiny bit of me that said ‘You sure…’ I’m surprised at how relieved I am now that I’ve read the news! Hurrah.
[quote]Yay! Season seven! Which means – another hellatus to survive… after a probably mean, mean,mean cliffhanger…[/quote]
Most definitely what Jasminka said. I’m actually excited about the hellatus now, and another cliffhanger! Oh, the impending articles / discussions / debates / arguments etc. Can’t wait!
Imagine if that announcement never come and this was it…… I’m not ready to talk about SPN in the past tense yet.
I can’t even imagine doing w/o a weekly Winchester fix and I am happy with a S7, but for a different reason. I hope this opportunity is used to get the show back on track and if it ends, to end it on a high note. S6 would have left me feeling the show ended on a sour note.
I am indifferent as to if Misha is in S7 or not, but if he is, I hope it is a very limited recurring role. The angels and the angel storyline have run their course with me and I would prefer the series comes back down to earth and the brothers deal with humanly solvable issues. Definitely do not want a Two Men and An Angel show or an oak tree growing in Singer’s Salvage yard.
Congratulations, Jared, Jensen, and SPN fans…that’s who made this good news happen.
There’s so many variables this early to be talking about S8, LOL! But wasn’;t that the season that they made Tom Welling a producer of Smallville? I would love to see the boys with that credit on the show. Timmy O on Justified has it – they should too!
With Friday nights the way it is, the CW has to LOVE not having to think about it much.
You know, one ‘out there’ idea I had – was if NBC and /or FOX cancel Supernatural’s Wonderland sister shows Chuck & Human Target that we might see one of them paired with SPN on Friday next year. Chuck so it makes it to the syndication # of episodes(and doesn’t it have the same showrunner as GG?) and HT because of WB’s deal with DC comics.
Anyway, if the boys are up for it, I think S8 is just as likely as S7 was from WB & the CW standpoint. Its after that that it gets murky for me.
I don’t mind a season 7 I am quite happy we got one. 🙂
As far as Castiel; if the Angel storyline is finally finished this season then he should be gone. The show was fine without Castiel before and it will be fine afterwords. I don’t want to see him shoehorned in to keep a certain fan base happy..
I would like it to get back to the brothers relationship and working together… Less Angels, Less Bobby (love Bobby, but less of him is good)
I want them to meet other hunters, see how they work and what they can learn from them. There is so much more for SPN to explore, that as long as the acting, and writing continue to grow I will be happy with many more seasons to come.
i agree–the angel storyline has run its course for me..i would like to see s7 get back to focusing on sam/dean hunting and saving lives!! i fell in love with spn because of the brotherly relationship and that’ all i want to see..a little of bobby would be fine too
I don’t think it would be a popular idea to replace two recurring characters with a rotating cast of people we wouldn’t ever have time to care about and that serve the exact same function. I think Bobby and Castiel would only be killed off for keeps if they really, really needed to make an impact. They put a lot of hard work into these characters. Also, this is pretty much implied in the show, but Sam and Dean defeated the devil, I got the feeling that they are considered the best hunters out there. They don’t need to consort with the other hunters except for when those others are colorfully catankerous and in drink.
I didn’t say a revolving door either; and I said less of Bobby, not getting rid of him altogether.
They need to interact with other people who do what they do, it’s healthy and nothing wrong with it..
If the Angel storyline is indeed done so should Castiel be done…
Finally! It’s about time we got the word! I really couldn’t understand what the holdup was. As for Jim Beaver, yeah…he’ll be back. Bobby has been in all 6 seasons so far, no reason to lose him in the 7th.
Collins is more of a question mark. They have to end the heaven/hell mythology. It’s been around too long. But no reason Cass can’t show up as a guest star periodically.
I personally hope they do what they were supposed to do this year. GO BACK TO SEASON 1. Dean and Sam need to be who they were. TPTB need to go back to interesting all demos, like they did in the beginning, not just the W18-34. Maybe with Dawn gone, the CW will improve it practices. One can only hope.
As for an 8th season, a paycheck is really important, but I can see the staff and cast wanting to move on, especially if TPTB and the CW don’t turn the series around in season 7.
I can’t understand this, though. This isn’t the Twilight Zone. The episodes go in order and have a larger plot to them. So they couldn’t go back to the way they were before they both went to hell and defeated Satan and all that–LOL. That would a pretty big thing to overlook. Also, this heaven concept is not as new as you think. They were talking about selling souls and hell in season one. This has always been important, all that changed is they fleshed out the mythology some more.
I’m hoping they answer the God question in season 7. What happened to God? Where is God? What happened to Chuck? I’m hoping this questions are answered.
I hope that both Misha and Jim come back. I don’t see them killing of Bobby. He’s been with the boys since before the series began. They couldn’t do that to Sam and Dean.
It would be hideous to lose Cass too, though. Now that we have him I don’t know if I’ll be as dedicated if they kill him off for good. Him and Bobby both are crucial. There’s only so many times we need to see Sam and Dean fight like a married couple. It’s important that we have other main characters to color the show.
Why? The show lived on before Castiel and would live on afterwords.
They shouldn’t keep him around to make a certain fan base happy, but they probably will and shoehorn him in episodes… 🙄
I have been lurking out on the edges reading everyone’s comments and having my own opinions but never feeling brave enough to share them. Today I think I will share. I have enjoyed reading everyone’s thoughts and ideas about this show and it has helped me to enjoy it even more. I am sooooo excited about Season 7. I have never, ever loved a show like I do Supernatural. I am addicted! Jared and Jensen truly make Supernatural the awesome show that it is. I am puzzled about one thing however. So many people were disappointed in or downright hated the first half of season 6. I have loved all of season 6. I thought soulless Sam was a brilliant idea which allowed the show to go in a new direction. I always knew Sam would get his soul back so I just sat back and enjoyed the ride. The boys are back to being the brothers we all know and love but I certainly don’t want them in season 1 mode. They have grown and matured so much since then and it shows in their relationship now. I will take them just as they are. Thanks for letting me think out loud.
I loved it too. I think fans start to lose touch once they go into obsession mode. It’s like the difference between having a crush and being a stalker.
I hope they keep making this show for a long time to come. I know if they get dropped so will any reason for me to switch to the CW’s channel or site. I think Supernatural’s fans represent a viewership CW couldn’t achieve any other way. It’s like the gateway drug show. You watch it and then you start to reason w/ yourself, “How bad could it be to also watch VD or Nikita too?” Oh, and there’s a comment above about age and “35+”–news flash! most of the actors already are above 35. That’s right, hot people kind of just stay hot. It doesn’t get taken away on the 35th bday or something!
I’m thrilled that S7 is a go. As for S8, I would love nothing more than to see this show continue, but I can’t imagine working 16 hour days for so many years on end on top of going to conventions and such. I can only imagine how the boys feel, so I wouldn’t blame them one bit if they didn’t want to sign on for another season. I’m kind of curious to see if they’re for sure gonna get Executive Producer status’ next fall so they can get raises without breaking actor pay budget constraints.
The pilots getting picked up by the CW in the fall are a little bizarre. I know I read another article that suggested Supernatural be paired with the new ‘Awakening’ pilot about the sisters who fight each other during the zombie uprising. I think that would be….well….interesting. But regardless of what SPN is paired with, I would absolutely love it to be moved to the 8pm slot.
Unless they change SPN’s rating catagory, it can’t be moved to the earlier time slot.
Are you talking about the fact that it’s rated TV-14? Cause there are other shows with the same rating in the 8pm time slot.
I think i agree that the angel storyline is dragging out too long but then again let’s admit that we won’t get episodes like Frontierland, The French Mistakes, My Heart Will Go On, Changing Channel, The End, It’s a Terrible Life, In The Begining, DarkSide of The Moon, The Song Remains The Same…. without the angel Magic. Mystery spot and The Tall Tales are due to Trickster and even he is an angel.
So, i think if The runner of the show decide to write off the angels of Supernatural in S7 then the writers will have to be more creative to write out of the box episodes. Honestly, I like those episode because they never fail to make me rolling on the floor laughing hard. 😆
On the other hand, with the angel storyline, it seems like they give the writers wings to fly and breaking down limitation, Alternate reality, time travel all of those are no problem with angel magic. So, let’s throw in Harry Potter while we’re at it shall we? I am sure Mr. Potter will wipe out all supernatural beings with his magic in one swipe. Then, our human hero Sam and Dean become obsolete. (Hmm, m reading too many crossovers it seems…)
So, yes, i think these angels are making them a little bit, just a tiny bit useless. They became dependent on the angels. or rather the writers become dependent on them.
I don’t know what i want in S7. M getting bored of the angel storyline but i like episodes with their magic on. it’s a dilemma.
S7 … Alligators! Please?
HATE to lose Bobby, sorry to lose Cas … We’ll just have to see where the story goes. I like all the weird and wonderful possibilities having Angels on the payroll opens up.
S8? Can’t think that far ahead … Everything has a sell-by date, we just won’t know when it is until we get there!
I have to say that I am ecstatic about a season 7. I might have joined this party late, but I have thoroughly enjoyed the journey every step of the way and have to say I really have liked season 6 in itself.
As for Misha and Jim’s return to the show, I have to say I’d love to see both. I think the show really needs Bobby to keep our boys grounded—Castiel’s character is also a vital compliment to the brothers, but I can see where the angel storyline is starting to run its course. I think it might be nice to see the boys go back to what they do best—saving people, hunting things. I do truly hope that they can get both involved in some way with the show, however.
As for a season 8, one step at a time! If the show should end in season 7, so be it. As long as the writers keep Sam and Dean’s “want” in mind, I don’t care. We know they’re starting to truly get back to wanting what made us watch the show in the first place—-their brother bond.
I swear I got that press release and was going to post it, do commentary and all that, but it never happened. The latter half of this week has been so rough!
Considering Pedowitz is a hand chosen candidate from Warner Brothers’ Bruce Rosenblum, that puts Warner Brothers theoretically in control now. Dawn Ostroff was Les Moonves’ (CBS President) pet. If Supernatural continues to make money for Warner Brothers (which it is right now), it stays. So it’s all good!
I have a better answer up to your question on TV For The Rest of Us too. I find the appointment of Mark Pedowitz to be very promising for The CW, but about the same for Supernatural.
To be honest, when I started watching this show I felt it was much more geared towards young men. I know there’s not much in the role of eyecandy on the show for guys so to speak, but just the way the men on this show behave and talk at times made me think it was geared towards them. Then I find out the fandom is mostly female and how wrong I was! It’s just funny to me, that’s all.
It’s still funny to me because all the fans I’ve really encountered save a handful here are female. I just had this feeling as I was watching the show that it was much more male driven (and not just because 95% or more of the case is men)and marketed to them. So when I find out it’s mostly women, myself included that follow it, just bizarre.
I figured the conventions had way more girls than guys at them. I will be attending one in New Jersey in July. I’m excited. And now I’ve been totally outed as a nerd. My only gripe is that there aren’t any writers listed for the convention as of yet (not that meeting Jared and Misha isn’t great) because I’m a writer and would very much like to meet them. As we get closer, perhaps??
Definitely. Now that my review is done, I’ll type up a small news article on it. Thanks for the links!
Supernatural rocks. Can’t wait for season 7 and I wouldn’t care if they went on to season 15 as long as it stays good. I hope if season 7 is the last season, that they end it strong with it being a little open ended, but with most of the loose ends tied.
A Supernatural movie would be epic but what would it be about? Also what about a spinoff? You figure there are loads of other hunters out there that we don’t know and that could make some interesting plots.
LOL at Misha’s tweets.
It’s time for Supernatural to get rid of ” Bobby”.His contempt for everything that’s not ” Bobby” in almost every scene he’s involved in is not only predictable and tiring it’s sucking the enjoyment out of the show.Scene’s with Sam,Dean and Bobby are painstaking to watch. The Mean spirited and contemptible way “Bobby” interacts with Sam and Dean comes across like an abusive parent scolding a child. Supernatural doesn’t need this character.Time to get “Bobby’s” bones,set them on fire and kill off this character once and for all.
Obviously you are watching a different show…
A totally different show….
Those of you who are excited by a move to 8pm are getting way ahead of yourselves. 90% of Supernatural storylines would not have been possible at 8pm.
If this does happen, prepare to see a different show. Good bye to the gore, horror and darkly dramatic storylines and high usage of the word dick and ass, that have made Supernatural the show it is. Hello to Chuck and Smallville levels of silliness. An 8pm slot is a bigger kiss of death for Supernatural than cancellation.
Nah, TPTB would never let that happen. Believe me. I think there’s more leeway on 8 pm than ever before, especially Fridays.
Plus, I’m hoping it doesn’t happen. NBC just announced Chuck will be moving to Fridays at 8pm. That’s my only other “must see” live show. A Chuck/Supernatural night works for me! Now I only have to watch TV one night a week.
Sorry, but even TPTB have to answer to ratings and content guidelines. Supernatural as we know it could never have happened at 8pm.
For those who have been involved in the rating discussion, I finally got to do some research online. Seems TV-14 has various grades within the category.
From TV Parental Guide :
(Parents strongly cautioned/May be unsuitable for children under 14 years of age)
Parents Strongly Cautioned
This program contains some material that many parents would find unsuitable for children less than 14 years of age. Parents are strongly urged to exercise greater care in monitoring this program and are cautioned against letting children under the age of 14 watch unattended. This program contains one or more of the following: intense violence (V), intense sexual situations (S), strong coarse language (L), or intensely suggestive dialogue (D).
Seems each series can have rating for each episode based on certain criteria.
Many programs that air after 9 p.m. are rated TV-14. Most hour-long dramas are rated TV-14 such as House, Glee, CSI, Hawaii Five-0, and Grey’s Anatomy. Prime-time sitcoms that are aimed at adult audiences such as American dad, Family Guy, The Cleveland Show, Futurama (in Comedy Central airings only), The Simpsons (a few recent airings) and Scrubs will receive a TV-14 rating, with the shows airing on Fox having a viewer discretion advisory as well. Some music video shows (mainly during late night hours) have this rating. Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) bears a rating of TV-14 in all of its programs due to its violence, sexual content and dialogue unlike its competitor, WWE, which bears a TV-PG rating, like Science Channel’s Destroyed in Seconds, and GSN’s The Newlywed Game.
I looked up 4 of CW’s TV shows to see how the shows differed between their TV-14 ratings. Found this from another site.
Smallville: Not for 12 and under, iffy for 13-15, Ok for 16 and up
Nikita: Not for 13 and under, iffy for 14-16, OK for 17 and up.
The Vampire Diaries: Not for 13 and under, iffy for 14-18, Ok for 19 and up
Supernatural: Not for 15 and under, iffy for 16-18, OK for 19 and up
Based on this Nikita is better at 8:00 than TVD, but SPN is the worst of the lot. If these ratings are adhered too and if SPN moves to 8:00 it will have to change not only its dialog but its plots as well.
I’d be stunned if the CW moved SPN from its current time slot to be honest. I just don’t see them moving it down to the earlier slot. I see them putting Nikita or one of the other shows there and then leave SPN right where it is. It just doesn’t seem logical to move it to me if it’s doing as well in terms of the network where it is.
It has been doing better than other CW shows partly because SVL was it’s lead in. They always paired well together. Both are sci-fi shows and SPN kept a lot of SVL lead in. Also both shows really appeal to men.
My fear is that they will leave SPN where it is and put Nikita at 8:00. That is a death knell for SPN. Nikita is a dying show. It rarely gets many viewers unlike SVL which had a bigger following than SPN. Also Nikita is not a sci-fi show and AFAIK (and I’m sure Alice will correct me if I’m wrong) does not have a good male following.
Most shows that are dying get moved to Friday’s which is why I feel Nikata will go there. It is not going to be on much longer.
If they do anything, I hope the move SPN to another day at 8:00. If not that then move it to Friday at 8:00 and just clean it up some. That would also do wonders for appealing to other demo groups I feel.
Also SPN at 8:00 on Fridays is going to have a lot of competione with Fringe and Grimm. Best to get it some place safe. 🙂
I just want it to stay the show I love, flavor and all. I’m not sure what show they’d pair it up with. If they should move it, however, put it on a different night. I really wouldn’t want to see the show become some watered down tamer version of itself because it’s in the earlier time slot. I’m not sure how many viewers SPN gets in terms of the loyal following we provide on a consistent basis. All I can figure is it’s probably better NOT to mess with the show in terms of tone and flavor by putting it on earlier. If it should move, move it to a different day—away from Fringe and the like.