SMALLVILLE: John Glover on the Return of Lionel, Plus Clark, Tess, Lex and More

SMALLVILLE’s Lionel Luthor is back!

Well, kind of.

Our Lionel is still dead, but on Earth 2, Lionel Luthor is alive, kicking and, oh yeah, father to Clark.

Give Me My Remote talked with John Glover (the man behind LL, senior) about his return to the show, his new on-screen daughter, what things are like on Earth 2 and if he’ll be back after “Luthor” airs this evening…

Hey John!
John Glover: I love the name of your [site], givememyremote.com!

Thanks!
JG: Did you make that up?

No, I didn’t, but I love the name too. It’s a lot of fun to say.
JG: Yeah, it sure is. And it’s kind of very Lionel-esque. “Give me my remote!”

Everyone would listen if Lionel Luthor was uttering those words.
JG: If I have a scene coming up with a TV set, I think I might try and get that in. I’m calling the writers when we hang up, I’ll try and see if I can do something.

That would be fantastic. Also, can you thank them for bringing you back because you’ve been off SMALLVILLE for a few years now.
JG: Three, yeah.

When you heard this was the final season, did you have a feeling the show would be calling you up to make a final appearance?
JG: No! I had no idea! I didn’t see how they could, I was pushed out of a 40 story building.

Well, it is SMALLVILLE, death is apparently not an obstacle.
JG: So I see! When [executive producers] Brian [Peterson] and Kelly [Souders] called, I said, “How?”

It certainly seems they figured out the “how” well — in this week’s episode, we’re traveling to an alternate universe where Lionel was the one to discover Clark when he arrived on Earth. What can you tease about the hour?
JG: Oh, well…Clark is the son I’ve always wanted. But he’s getting a little cocky with it. He needs to be brought down a peg or two. What do you know about the episode, yourself?

I know Tess is the one who triggers the universe when she finds a box of Lionel’s. And Lois and Oliver are engaged over there and hate Clark.
JG: Do you know that who shows up in Clark’s bed that morning isn’t the Clark that I raised?

Yes, he’s our Clark.
JG: Right. So what happens is he wakes up and doesn’t know where he is. That’s the fun of the episode. At least for me! [laughs]

How was it reuniting with the cast again after your three years away?
JG: Bliss. I didn’t know Cassidy [Freeman (Tess)], though. So I had no idea I had an illegitimate daughter. But what a creature I made!

You did good.
JG: Yes, I did. I wonder if Blair Brown[‘s character, Rachel Dunleavy] is the mother. We did have an illegitimate child together, from season two I think, when Lionel was blind.

I believe they said Tess’s mother was Lex’s former nanny.
JG: Oh, yes. I had an illegitimate son with Blair. I can’t remember what that boy’s name was. I can’t remember who he was. I was blind, so I couldn’t really see him. [Laughs]

You’re just siring an army of little Luthors who can take over the universe.
JG: The nanny. So he did it with the nanny. Oh my God. Just can’t keep his hands to himself, can he?

I think it’s fair to say he gets around a little bit.
JG: Well, he’s interested in his bloodline, I guess. Any way it can happen. But you know what they say about men with power. It’s invigorating, I guess.

And is the Lionel in the other universe like the one we saw in our universe? Is he very much in control and powerful?
JG: He’s very powerful and very much in control. Clark’s getting a little bit cocky, but of course that’s the other Clark, the Clark that’s gone to the other Earth. But Clark Kent has come and doesn’t realize he’s Clark Luthor. That sounds funny, say it a couple times. [Laughs] It’s very confusing for Clark. But it’s a very dark planet. I think with Lionel and his ownership — he owns most everything — the unemployment rate is very, very high. The main street of Smallville is very derelict. He’s not done well. He’s doing fine himself, but the rest of the people aren’t. He’s a very destructive kind of megalomaniac.

It’s going to be good to see Lionel wield his power over everyone else again. Is there any mention of Lionel’s son, Lex, in the hour?
JG: Oh yes, yes. It’s very interesting. I can’t tell you what that is, I don’t want to give that away, but it’s very interesting what’s happened to Lex in Earth 2, as we call it. And even Earth 1, what’s happened with that.

The clones?
JG: Yeah, the clones. But you find that Lionel does have a conscience.

Well, in Earth 1, he had a conscience as well.
JG: Oh yes, a very good conscience. Thank you for appreciating that.

For all the faults he did have, you can’t deny he cared about Clark. He was Clark’s third father in very many ways.
JG: Well, he cared about Lex, too. The only reason he gave him the shock treatment was to strengthen him because he loved him.

I think some people might find that logic a little bit twisted, but in Lionel’s mind it worked.
JG: I resent that, Marisa! I really do. [Laughs]

To be fair, Lex is in a category all by himself because he does have his own issues.
JG: His spine is not as strong as Clark’s. All Lionel wants is a strong son. Poor Lex.

Poor Lex. He could never really live up to Clark.
JG: Or Lionel.

And now Lionel has a strong kid in Tess. She’s pretty much the perfect daughter for him. Did you get to share scenes with her?
JG: Yes! Cassidy and I get on very well.

So you share scenes together?
JG: Oh, yes.

Excellent.
JG: Very excellent.

And is she aware that she’s his daughter in Earth 2?
JG: Yes.

Fantastic. How was it being directed by Kelly in her directorial debut?
JG: I was very leery of that. You know those writers who say, oh, I’m going to direct now! But she was wonderful, she’s a wonderful director. I trusted her implicitly.

And you’ll be returning for more episodes, correct?
JG: I think so. It’s very vague at SMALLVILLE. We’re talking about more. They have to figure out how to do that.

Well, they have had people come back as visions. Maybe something like that…
JG: Oh, visions…

Especially now that Tess knows Lionel is her father, maybe he can come to her in a dream?
JG: Huh. Well, I’ll pitch that to the writers. That would be realer. Lionel is too good to be a vision.

Maybe he could be something like a prophecy? That way there’s authority in his message.
JG: I’m calling the writers when we hang up.

While you’re waiting to find out when you’ll next appear on SMALLVILLE, what will you be up to?
JG: I’m meant to do a little film in New York in a while and I’m waiting for the next play — you know I’ve been doing theater for three years. I’ve got an addiction to live theater. Each hiatus, I used to go to New York and do a play but these three years off, I’ve just done play after play after play. It’s been heaven.

SMALLVILLE is wrapping its run, is there any specific moment or thing about the show that you’ll cherish the most?
JG: Just the spirit of the crew and the people that work on the show. I have had so many wonderful scenes to play and they’ve given me amazing stuff to do. What was so nice about coming back was that feeling of family on the set and being welcomed by everybody. That’s what I love about SMALLVILLE.

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Are you excited to see John Glover return to SMALLVILLE?

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