If you've already circled March 5 on your calendar, I hope you wrote it in pencil. While Smallville and Supernatural were originally scheduled to return with new episodes on that day, today the CW revealed that their returns are being pushed back yet another week to March 12.

No official reason was given for this delay, but odds are it has something to do with a little show called American Idol. On March 5, American Idol will have its final semi-final round where the judges select the final three singers who will compete in the Top 12.

Rather than put new episodes of Smallville and Supernatural up against it, the CW may be holding them back one week so that their shows aren't in the line of fire of TV's most popular show. The delay may frustrate fans, but when looking at the bigger picture, it may be better to avoid the slaughter.

When the shows do return on March 12, Smallville will bring back Tori Spelling as Daily Planet gossip columnist Linda Lake in an episode that exposes Clark Kent as the Red Blue Blur.

The next new Supernatural episode, titled “Death Takes a Holiday,” will take a page out of The Seventh Seal. According to E!Online's Kristin, Sam will do battle with the grim reaper.

Smallville and Supernatural will stay in repeats for the next three weeks until returning with new episodes Thursday, March 12.


-John Kubicek, BuddyTV Senior Writer
(Image courtesy of the CW)