As we anxiously await armageddon — aka the season premiere of SUPERNATURAL, airing at 9 p.m. E.T. on Thursday, September 10th — we thought this might be the perfect time to look back on the horror flicks Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki (aka those winsome Winchester boys) released earlier this year and decide whose manager deserves a raise… and whose should be demon bait!

Let’s say right up front that we thought it was an odd choice for both of the guys to make films in the horror genre during their respective breaks. Yes, sticking to what you know — not to mention what made you famous — is a no-brainer, but let’s not forget that it’s also the path that led Sarah Michelle Gellar to such crapfests as The Return and flicks. Trust us, guys: Next time, stretch your wings a little. Trust that your fans will follow.

In any case, both guys made not only horror flicks, but remakes of classic ones — Friday the 13th for Jared, My Bloody Valentine for Jensen — at that. And yes, some of us who grew up on the originals think of the original Valentine — shot on a shoestring budget back in 1981 — a classic. But the similarities between the projects they picked pretty much ends there.

Padalecki’s journey to the infamous Crystal Lake is pretty much a straight-forward retelling of the original. (Although because this version of Friday begins with the beheading of Mrs. Voorhees that ended the original, it’s actually more like a remake of the second flick in the original series.) Our SUPERNATURAL boy plays Clay, who is looking for his missing sis. The search takes him to the woods surrounding the infamous campground which happens to serve as our killer’s hangout. This version tries offering up at least a bit of a plot revolving around Jason’s connection to one of the would-be victims, but that’s about as far as the originality goes. Just like in the original, sex and other pleasures guarantee a swift death. Even the final “shock” will fail to surprise anyone familiar with Jason’s past work. There’s not much room for character development, so Padalecki’s puppy dog eyes go a long way in letting us know he’s our hero… as does the fact that Clay is one of the few people in the flick you don’t beg Jason to murder. The sad thing is that there are one or two moments when the movie seems to be laying the groundwork for a much more interesting story — indicating that the townsfolk know perfectly well what’s going on and turn a blind eye — that is never developed.

Ackles’ flick is a much-less-literal translation of the original work. Valentine begins with a sequence so exhilarating that one almost feels as if they walked into the middle of the story. But when things slow down — and flash-forward — about 10 minutes in, viewers are in for a surprise: Damn if this slasher pic doesn’t have some depth to it thanks to an unexpectedly emotional triangle that unfolds between Ackles’ Tom, Kerr Smith’s Axel and Jaime King’s Sarah. Unlike Friday, in which the audience knows from the beginning who’s wielding the deadly arsenal of weapons, Valentine keeps the identity of its killer under wraps… or rather, hidden behind a frightning mask worn by the coal miners who populate the town of Harmony. Of course, seeing as the masked man has a way with a pick-axe, there’s plenty of blood (a great extra on the DVD shows how some of the best effects were pulled off) for those who are there for nothin’ but the spillage. But this is the rare flick that manages to rise above the limits of the slasher genre to prove that story and gory need not be mutually exclusive terms.

In the end, we’ve got to declare Ackles the clear winner in the SUPERNATURAL Showcase Showdown.

In response to last night’s episode of SUPERNATURAL, showrunner Eric Kripke wanted to pass along this message to the show’s fans:

“So I’ve never before responded directly to the fandom’s comments about an episode, and I don’t plan to make a habit of it, but I couldn’t resist dropping in a thought about the episode “Yellow Fever.”

Which is this:

Dean is not a dick.

None of the writers, or anyone on the creative team of SUPERNATURAL, think Dean’s ever been a dick, past, present, or future. He’s a hero. Dean did NOT contract the ghost sickness because he’s a dick. Victims contract the illness because they use “fear as a weapon.” Dean asks Lilith at the episode’s end, “why did I get infected?” And she cryptically responds, “you know why. Listen to your heart.” We, as the writers, probably should have emphasized this mystery more, I take responsibility for that omission. But the point is: the reason he was infected is because of a SECRET he’s keeping. A dark secret that will be revealed in Episode 10. And not at all because of any dickishness, implied or otherwise.

Remember that little Thursday night show on the CW? No, not the one about Superman; that other one. The show about two Abercrombie Models brothers who crisscross the country hunting demons. Well, it’s back.

Airing Thursday January 31 at 9PM, SUPERNATURAL returns. And in an effort to remind you, our friends at Warner Bros. were kind enough to pass along two exclusive new preview clips. Enjoy, and don’t miss the SUPERNATURAL fun. Or at the very least, do what the TV Addict’s doing. Set your PVR to record while watching LOST!

For the simple reason that SUPERNATURAL fans are crazy dedicated (in a good way), here’s a pic of Jared Padalecki from last night’s TEEN CHOICE AWARDS on Fox. More pics to come, check back throughout the day.

When you’re walking onto the set of the CW’s spookfest SUPERNATURAL, you can’t help but have the Boy Scout motto – Be prepared! – ringing in your ears. Yet, as I slipped into my role as a seasoned television reporter and stepped onto the soundstage to watch the filming of an actual scene between stars Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles, I’d have to admit that my “play it cool” veneer probably did a pretty poor job of hiding the excitement radiating from just about every pore of my being.

There they sat at an ordinary kitchen table, Sam and Dean (Padalecki and Ackles, respectively) discussing recent events. While I’m not at liberty to reveal the topic of their conversation, suffice it to say that tempers were flaring. As voices raised, so to did emotions. Dean was, of course, in protective mode, while Sam did what he does best: bristled.

And then things took a most unexpected turn.

Sam and Dean gazed lovingly – dare I say longingly? – into one anothers eyes. Standing, Dean moved closer to Sam, raising his arm and reaching out as if to touch him softly, when suddenly…

“Cut!” yelled the director. “Okay, boys, now let’s do it seriously this time,” he said, no doubt relegating any footage which might bring to life some of the more lurid fan fiction lurking on the internet to the cutting room floor. (Or, perhaps, if we’re lucky, a future DVD blooper reel!) The talented thespians had, in fact, been ad-libbing a scene while the behind-the-scenes crew worked out the all-important details involving camera angles, lighting and sound. And given the emotionally-charged nature of the two-part season finale, bringing a little laughter to the set is definitely a good thing.

“I had some pretty heavy stuff last night,” admits Ackles between takes. Probably the most emotional stuff that’s been jam-packed into one scene. I was pretty done by the end of the day.” And what of his on-screen brother? “Jared had it easy, just lying there with his eyes closed. Jerk!”

Obviously, the lighthearted banter and genuine affection that bonds the Winchester brothers also exists between their portrayers. As the actors exchange compliments, it quickly becomes clear that the young men – both of whom grew up in Texas – have formed a mutual admiration society forged on the set but cemented in genuine affection.

Given how frequently one hears about backstage discord (DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, anyone?) and co-stars who aren’t likely to pal around after hours (see: GREY’S ANATOMY), the fact that Ackles and Padalecki actually enjoy working together is a major plus… especially since they spend about 10 months of the year putting in 16 hour days on a surprisingly small soundstage.

“We definitely know how fortunate it is — the chance to work with someone who you get along with,” admits SMALLVILLE grad Ackles. “We’ve both been on shows and on projects where not everyone gets along, where somebody’s got a temper or an ego, but we’ve been very lucky and appreciative of the fact that we get along very well on and off set.”

Former GILMORE GIRLS guy Padalecki concurs. “We both – I mean, I say this all the time – we have similar interests and similar hobbies and similar manners. I’ve definitely worked with my share of people who – and I know Jensen has as well – but it’s all about drama. Like, if there’s not some sort of conflict going on in their lives or on set, then they’re just not happy.”

Okay, I’ll admit that I was dying to know which of their former co-stars were being dissed, but being the professional that I am – and with all of you SUPERNATURAL fans in mind, I focused on what was of utmost important: Spoilers! (If you don’t want to know what’s going to happen in the weeks to come, skip the following paragraph. Consider yourself warned!)

“This is the big show,” revealed Ackles of the much-anticipated season finale. “This is what we’ve been building toward for two seasons. All the problems that set the entire show in motion are culminating in this one episode.” Ackles says that grateful fans have one person to thank for not only the episode, but the overall direction of the show: creator Eric Kripke. “He doesn’t like to keep those long, drawn-out storylines with loose ends. He likes to tie things up and create new problems, which I really like. There are a lot of shows out there that kind of continually roll on, never solving problems.” But that’s not the case with SUPERNATURAL, as will be proven in the finale. “In this episode, we’re going to deal with the demon that took the Winchester brothers’ mom; We’re going to deal with their dad’s death; we’re going to deal with making deals with the devil.” But wait, there’s more! “We’re going to deal with Bobby, Ellen, Jo and the people in the roadhouse. We’re going to deal with the occult and devil’s traps and all of the stuff that’s been playing out over the season. It’s all coming together in this episode.” As if realizing that the episode is beginning to sound more “final” than “season finale,” Ackles quickly sets us straight. “That’s not to say everything is wrapped up, because in wrapping up that storyline, so much else is created which is really cool. It’s definitely going to give us somewhere to go for season three and however long we go!”

As a courtesy to theTVaddict.com, please do not reproduce or copy this article in any newsgroup, forum, livejournal, blog etc. Please DO feel free to link to the article directly.

As a courtesy to theTVaddict.com, please do not post this photo on blogs, livejournals, forums, newsgroups etc. A link to my site is greatly appreciated.

Here’s where you come in, introducing the first ever SUPERNATURAL Challenge. Below is a blurred photo that was taken last week on the TV Addict’s SUPERNATURAL set visit. Simply post a comment guessing who you think is in the photo. If the number of guesses reaches one hundred, the TV addict will happily post the original photo for all to enjoy.

Looking for a clue as to who’s in the photo? Here’s your first clue… he or she isn’t a demon! (Check back later for more clues).

Walking through the halls of the SUPERNATURAL offices, it’s clear how the cast and creative team value the fans. Here’s an example of some fan artwork that was blown up and framed

SUPERNATURAL fans will no doubt remember which episode this prop is from!

As a courtesty to theTVaddict.com, it would be greatly appreciated if you link to this post rather than posting the pics on your own web site, newsgroup, forum, livejournal etc.

Spooky motel rooms, one really large graveyard and the kind of billowing smoke that one would expect a yellow-eyed demon to emerge from. Is it any wonder I can’t sleep?

It’s 5:30am in beautiful downtown Vancouver British Columbia and I’m wide awake after having spent the entire day on the set of The CW’s SUPERNATURAL. Perhaps not surprisingly, the place is a little weird, a whole lot creepy… and did I mention the graveyard?

Truth be told, the SUPERNATURAL set was everything a hunter (or obsessed fan of the series) could hope for… and more. Like any intrepid explorer, I approached each new turn with a mixture of excitement and dred, camera in hand so as to capture every moment. Each prop was scrutinized, the mountain of fan mail (each of which is read, and hundreds of which are mounted on a huge wall) catalogued. And I figured that while I was there, I might as well capture an image or two of those two demon-hunting guys everyone seems to love.

For the record — and I know you’ll be as glad to hear this as I am to report it — Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles, aka the stars of the spooktacular spookfest — are not only two of the hardest working guys in the biz, but also the nicest. Despite their heavy schedule, they made time for an extended chat with the reporters invading their turf. As to what was said that day, you’ll just have to check back later in the week to read the interviews!

Under the watchful eye of the show’s publicist (and let’s take time here to thank the incredible Holly, since handling PR is so often a literally thankless job!), the on-screen brothers filled us in on the show’s fright-filled two-part season finale as well as their working relationship and just how much SUPERNATURAL — and its fans — means to them.

But wait! There’s more!

After getting to know the Winchester boys, we also got to hang with members of the prop department (bloody knife, anyone?), set designers (someone’s gotta dream up all those haunted houses!), fight co-ordinator and the special effects crew, whom Padalecki lovingly refers to as the “Super Nerds”.

Next, it was on to the big cheese himself, executive producer/director Kim Manners, who admitted that a third season seems likely, given how happy the network is with the direction the show has taken. Given the fact that ideas for the beast-battling boys next adventures are already being batted about (and Manners’ agent is negotiating an extension of his contract), the signs certainly seem pointed toward a renewal.

So keep your eyes open in the days to come as thetvaddict.com tiptoes through the graveyard to bring you all the gory details you know you’re dying for, including extensive interviews with both the stars and the executive producer, as well as exclusive photos to die for!

As a courtesty to theTVaddict.com, please DO NOT copy this story and its photos on websites, newsgroups, forums etc. Please DO feel free to post a link though!