Dear Mark Schwahn,
Having just watched the final episode of the 6th season of One Tree Hill (OTH), where every one of the main characters seem to be "happy" and "going in positive directions" in their lives, I read that the two most important characters in the whole OTH series, Lucas Scott and Peyton (Sawyer) Scott, are not going to return in season 7 of OTH. I know that 2009 has been a difficult year for OTH, and all the actors on OTH. With the threat of a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) strike, closely following the writers strike in 2008, with the "impossible 2008-2009 time slot" (Monday at 9 PM opposite "24", "Monday Night Football", etc.) that The CW Network assigned to OTH, with the "minuscule" publicity which OTH receives in comparison to The CWs new shows ("Gossip Girl", "90210", "The Next Top Model", etc.), and the "total void" in which the actors in OTH are placed by the national entertainment media (such as "People", "TV Guide", etc.), OTH has had it "rough" in season six. Despite all these negative factors, OTH had 1.5-3 million fans on a regular basis, and was renewed for season 7 earlier than in most prior years. How can things get "worse"? Here is how. Lose the top two characters in the cast of OTH because satisfactory contract terms cannot be reached. Not "minor actors", who could be "replaced" with new characters, but the lead male character (Lucas Scott), through whose "eyes" the whole OTH story line "unfolds", and his "muse" and "soul mate" (and now wife and mother to his new baby daughter, Sawyer) Peyton Sawyer Scott. These characters are "irreplaceable" and are both "vital" to the "continuity" of the story line from OTH seasons 1-6.
I cannot speak for Chad Michael Murray (CMM) (Lucas Scott), because OTH is his third successful series (preceded by "Dawson's Creek" and "Gilmore Girls"). However, Hilarie Burton (Peyton Sawyer Scott) has "grown up" and "matured" as an actress in OTH, her first and only TV series. She and her family live in Wilmington, NC where OTH is produced. Hilarie has started her own production company, Southern Gothic Productions, based in Wilmington, NC. Hilarie has married, and apparently divorced Ian Prange, the son of Greg Prange, one of the executive producers/directors of OTH. Based on the on-screen interaction between Mark Schwahn and Hilarie Burton, she is one of his favorite actors on the OTH series. I cannot understand how the "negotiations" for a 1-3 year extension of the contracts of the five major stars of OTH (CMM, Hilarie Burton, Sophia Bush, James Lafferty, and Bethany Joy Galeotti) could have gotten so "messed up" that the two main characters' (Lucas and Peyton) contracts were not (or have not yet been?) renewed. This is sort of like trying to produce the "John Stewart Show" WITHOUT John Stewart under contract. Peyton and Lucas are "key" to a "successful" OTH season 7. Hilarie Burton and Chad Michael Murray are "vital" to a successful OTH season 7.
Why should Hilarie Burton return to OTH? Hilarie once compared her time on MTV's TRL as equivalent to "college" for her. If that is so, OTH was the continuation of her "higher education" as an actress. If TRL "started" her "college" experience, then OTH continued it for the equivalent of "three more years" (one "college" semester for each 23 episode season (year) of OTH). Hilarie has gone from age 21 to age 27 (on July 1, 2009) on OTH. She has completed her "bachelors degree in acting" during OTH seasons 1-6, but she "needs" to complete her "masters degree in acting" by staying at least 1-3 more years with OTH.
Hilarie "needs" the steady salary of a regular acting job in the OTH TV series to help fund her new pursuit of her own production company, Southern Gothic Productions (SGP). She could gain valuable experience if she could help "produce" one or more OTH episodes in season 7. This is a "unique" opportunity for Hilarie Burton, and a "negotiating" advantage she can use to establish a new contract. She can, in essence, "invest in herself", by "deferring" current compensation in exchange for "future income" from the revenues from the syndication of OTH and future associated sales. IF she "trades off" "producer credits" (for herself, SGP partner, Kelly Tenney, and SGP) on OTH season 7 (and beyond?) for a "reduced" current salary in her new contract.
If Hilarie Burton (and SGP?) became one of the "producers" of OTH, then she would be following in the footsteps of several of her peer actresses, such as Jennifer Love Hewitt ("Ghost Whisperers"), and Holly Marie Combs and Alyssa Milano ("Charmed"), by sharing "production" of the TV series in which they starred. This would provide a "steady source" of future "revenues" for SGP, even after OTH ceases production, from a portion of continuing revenues from syndication of the OTH TV series to Soap Net, as well as private CD/DVD sales. By taking "producer credits" now, in lieu of a "larger" salary, Hilarie can reduce her current "cost" to OTH, while increasing the future "revenues" for SGP. Everyone, especially all Hilarie's fans of her continuing role as Peyton Sawyer Scott on OTH in season 7 (and beyond?), "gains" from this exchange.
CMM has both written and directed episodes of OTH during season 6, and Bethany Joy Galeotti and James Lafferty have both directed OTH episodes in season 6. If "production" is her "desire", then Hilarie should help "produce" one or more episodes of OTH in season 7, individually and/or through SGP, and gain that "experience". OTH Creator Mark Schwahn has been willing in the past to "share" production, writing, and direction of OTH episodes with other cast members. Hilarie should take advantage of this opportunity, while she is an active cast member of OTH season 7. I am "confident" that Mark Schwahn would allow her that "flexibility" in a new contract extension IF she would "negotiate" as such in good faith.
Of all the actors on OTH, Hilarie Burton has the "deepest roots" in Wilmington, NC. She has her home, family, and friends there, and she now has her production company there. Hilarie wants to make "southern" films with "southern" actors, and Wilmington, NC may become the "center" of East Coast movie productions, if SGM expands from 9 to 15 sound stages as is projected over the next 3-5 years.
Ellie (Peyton's "birth mother" in OTH) described Peyton as "... beautiful, funny, intelligent, and talented; There is nothing that you (Peyton) can't do if you set your mind to it ...". Those words could just as well describe Hilarie Burton at this stage of her career in the entertainment industry. At age 26, she is too "smart" (and "too young"?) to let the opportunities from the continuance of a successful OTH TV series in season 7 (and beyond?) be "held hostage" to "difficulties" in negotiating an extension to her OTH contract. At this point in the U.S. economic recession, a "job" in a successful project (OTH) "prevents" at least "2-3 years" of "looking" ("auditioning"?) for another acting position of "comparable worth". Hilarie has made several movies while starring in OTH, but none of these films has given her the "freedom" ("exposure" and "range"?) to develop her acting abilities to the same extent that OTH has done.
Hilarie (and CMM as well) should ask her "peers" from "Dawson's Creek", "Gilmore Girls" , "The O.C.", and "Roswell" how they "fared" when their TV series were terminated. How long did it take them to get their next "comparable" acting job? I hope that whatever "impasse" has prevented OTH from signing CMM and Hilarie Burton to contract extensions for OTH season 7 and beyond can be overcome. OTH will not be the same successful show without them. Neither Hilarie nor CMM will be as "successful" without OTH as they would be if they stayed with the show until it ends, or they reach their "30s", whichever occurs first. CMM and Hilarie should ask Mischa Barton (age 23) what her career was like after she "left" "The O.C." TV series before it ended?
Please, Hilarie, stay with OTH. Become a "producer" of OTH and pursue both your "passions", acting and producing. Please, Mark Schwahn, give Hilarie the "chance" to do so. All "true fans" of OTH cannot imagine season 7 without either Lucas (CMM) or Peyton (Hilarie). Together, they are the "heart" and "soul" of OTH. Their continuing "love story" ("fairy tale romance"?) is the "glue" which holds OTH together. Lucas "ties" Nathan, Haley, Brooke, and Peyton all together. Peyton ties Brooke, Lucas, and Nathan together. Without Lucas' and Peyton's "intellect", "morality", "stability", and "optimism", OTH is just another "run of the mill" "soap opera". In a cast of five major young stars, Hilarie and CMM are the "most important" to the OTH story line from seasons 1-6. If all the OTH stars at the end of season 6 had "happy outcomes", how, "rationally," could OTH season 7 proceed without Lucas, Peyton, and baby Sawyer? I am sure that when, in Feb 2009, The CW Network "renewed" OTH for season 7, CW did not think the OTH season 7 (and beyond?) they were "buying" would be without Lucas and Peyton, the two lead characters. Comments?
i love that name im sooo happy that peyton named her sawyer and im soo happy that she had a girl. Im really happy for lucas and peyton and also im happy that she named sawyers middle name after brooke.
Are you kidding me wats up with this whole two weeks thing why can't they just leave the schedule alone and let us see it every monday... and i think they need to play more reruns cuz yeah haha i am new here so any buddys or tips or anything would be highly appreciated! =D Anyway haha that whole julian thing with brroke and the jacket "this means we are going steady!" awwhhwww thats exactly wat my bf said to me when he asked me out and his letter jacket was so warm and it still is!!!! =D BTW Ily babe!!! <3 even tho he doesn't blog about one tree hill! honestly tho i think i like brooke and lucas better together than peyton i think it should be haley and nate, skills and deb, lucas and brooke, peyton and julian or the jake guy from season 1&2 btw i say he comes back i think it would mix things up speeking of people coming back the whole nanny carrie thing wow those coachroaches in dans food made me actually puke!!! that was nasty i don't see y they had to put something like that in there!!! Me and my friend amanda were so excited we called eacother the minute deb got a hold of jamie and started chasing him thro the cornfeild! and we stayed on untill deb hit her and we were so excited we were screaming but her dad made her get offff hahahaha I am so happy anway gtg ttyl
xoxo love, tree hill
I love how each season gets more and more dramatic. It makes for a much better show. Good job Mark, your brilliance never seizes to amaze me! So to talk about Monday's episode. It was definitely worth the 2 to 3 week wait, which I always hate. I mean, from Sam getting held hostage to Peyton being pregnant with Lucas's baby, was definitely great to come back to, as twisted as that may sound.
So, what I am about to say may upset some of you "Brucas" fans, but I am so happy "Leyton" is starting a family of their own. Guaranteed, "Naley" is the best family of the show, there's always room for a second great family! Toward the end of the episode when Peyton and Lucas were together in the room, the way Lucas looked at her showed he cared for her so much. It was the look all the girls in the world wished a guy would give them. Lucas is finally stepping up his game, with no girl drama or heart drama. Go "Leyton!"
I found it really funny how Julian and Brooke are getting close, when I just watched an old episode from way back when, where Brooke and Peyton got into a fight over Brooke sleeping with Nathan and Peyton kissing Lucas. I think Brooke and Peyton take their friendship to a whole other level, instead of sharing clothes they share boys! It was really weird seeing Julian go from a cocky jerk, to a guy who had Brooke's back. Speaking of Brooke, she's a BEAST. I only wish I could handle and stand up to others like she does. Most people wouldn't have remembered what a guy said to them while they were being attacked. When he said "have a nice night" the only thing I thought of was when he said that to Q and then shot him. I didn't know he had said that to Brooke, but regardless he's the stupidest thief, murderer, and kidnapper..... ever.
Okay, so Milly and Owen? I saw it coming, but when Milly had said she had sex, common sense it was with Owen, it was crazy. She had gotten so upset with Mouth, because another girl was all over him and he didn't exactly push her away, but she slept with someone else. It must suck waiting so long to make losing your virginity special and it end up being some drunken hook up with a bartender. I wish some people would think. Now, for Milly to confess to Brooke, although Brooke was guilty of those sorts of things in the past. That should be a crazy catfight in itself. Hopefully both of them handle themselves like women and don't go all Brooke and Peyton on each other, egging one another's houses and writing [...] on a dress.
Next week's episode should be great, full of confessions and boy drama! It's an episode us OTH fans should be anticipating. Oh and by the way, I don't think Brooke saying "Get out" in the preview was toward Peyton. I think Brooke has become a better person and that she wouldn't get upset with Peyton for having a baby. I know Brooke is better then that. But, we shall see! Oh & I love Skillz! :) "Don't have to take out all your anger on these defenseless pencils."
- Sam
i have to say i am glad that nanny carrie is dead. but i also have to say i felt kinda bad for her. she had lost a kid and that must have been really hard. that doesnt make it ok that she was a psycho, but it makes it more understandable. i loved dan shooting her and deb hitting her with the bottle. I love dan period and hope that he ends up back with karen. Yay daren. Last thing i have to say. i feel so bad for brooke this season. i miss the happy brooke from other seasons. i dont think vic. had to do with the robbery. i dont know who it was. she needs a relationship, hopefully chase or even owen. YAY Brase!
Hey readers.
I am new to the site, though i am a longtime fan, so i am looking for friends:) I LOVE one tree hill, and i watch it every week! I own all 5 seasons, and have an emormous love for Chad Michael Murray! <3
I am a huge fan of Mark Shwan. Along with Sophia Bush <3 She is an inspiration to me, and she is beautiful and an amazing actress:)
I am very happy with the show this season, though i couldn't sleep the night Q died:( He was amazing to Jamie and the other characters and a huge part of the show that i know we will all miss very much.
Ok so what happened to Brooke was so sad! But i had never noticed how strong she was before! I mean she wouldnt cry over it for the longest time and she is not telling anyone because she doesnt want them to feel sorry for her! She believes it's not their burden to carry. For me personally, i thought Victoria hired somebody. Even thought she is Brooke's mom, after all the crap that she has done to her, i could actually see Victoria doing this to her own daughter and that's just a reallu sad thing! But i was so happy in the last episode that Nathan was there for her because she needs someone in her life that can be there for her that actually knows what she's going through. I think she'll tell Nathan everything! But that is just my opinion!
Last night's episode had to be one of the most depressing episodes by far, aside from the episode with Keith. This season is so depressing, first Brooke and now Q. I cannot believe Q is gone. I read in the spoilers that he was going to get shot and maybe die but it's completely different when you watch it. I thought that it might happen in this episode because everything was going great for Q and normally when things go great in shows like this, it means it's about to end. When Q drove up to the gas station, that's when I knew it was the end for him, I was holding my breath because all I could think about was Jamie, Nathan, and Haley. Q played a big role in their family, he was helping Nathan with the comeback, playing a role model for Jamie, and learning a lot from Haley. I can't imagine how sad the next episode is going to be and how sad it's going to be when Jamie finds out that his best friend is gone. I love it though how in the previews they showed Jamie and Q's brother face to face, it's so intense but so real! I'm going to miss Q so much, things were going so well with him and now he's gone! His death is going to affect everyone, Skillz, Lucas, Haley, Nathan, Jamie, and the whole basketball team. I'm so sad.
It's so crazy though, I really didn't think that this was going to happen in this episode because the previews made it seem that the episode would mainly focus around Brooke. Speaking of Brooke, I really wish she would tell Peyton! Peyton is her best friend and I know that she wants Peyton to be happy but I think Peyton should know the real reason why her best friend has two black eyes and a bruised body. We all know it's not because of a catfight with man faced Lindsey or falling down the stairs, although Brooke is quite funny for coming up with those excuses. I love her and hope she get's justice with her stupid mom.
Now my absolute favorite part of the episode was the Dan and Carrie situation. Although I can't stand Dan for what he did to Keith, he is so awesome for messing with Carrie and getting into her head. When he had her call the hospital and told her that he didn't have longer then 6 months to live, she flipped out. Clearly she didn't think her plan out enough and came across a major bump. I really hope she doesn't get Jamie, because if she does, there will be another dead character in the show by the name of Carrie.
Well that's my feedback, I really miss Q. I'm so nervous about next weeks episode, I feel major water works ahead! :(
- Sam
im sooo happy tht lucas pick peyton i think he made the perfect choice i just hope it doesnt take all season for them to get married and i hope nuthing gets in their way!!!
i feel really bad for nathan bc his back is really hurting and hes not telling anybody and jamie must have gotten sweet cause hes so funny!!
i got so scared when i say phsyco carrie back w/ dan all straped up it was freaky i actually screamed!
as for brooke i feel so bad for her and what she went through her mom has gotten [...] and its a [...] but i think tht she will get better and her mom is going to be gone once and for all after the next few episodes!!!
cnt wait to see the next one its going to be really good!!! this is going to be the best season yet!?!?!
I was so shocked when i saw that and all i can think about is who did it. I'm not sure but i think her mother might be so [...] that she did it because who else would want to hurt brooke. If anyone has a clue please tell me because my minds been going crazy trying to think about it.
P.S as much as i hate dan that crazy [...] is insane i hope someone saves him. I'm also so happy about lucas and peyton i was crushed when i thought it was over between them but there like ross and rachel. Also is mouth gonna be out of the show untill he comes back or if he doesn't forever.(i know i'm all over the place but so many things happened in the show and i have no1 to talk to about it)
Finally the CW fixed the site and I can post my opinion about the season premiere :) I've been so anxious to post my opinion because this was an awesome episode and now I can finally do so, so no more babbling, time to dish on Monday's premiere :)
For all of the "Leyton" fans, one word, FINALLY :) This was the episode I've been waiting all summer for! I think we all knew that Lucas loved her, but that he was trying to hide it but now the truth is out. There's such a difference with Peyton's personality now, she's so much happier. I mean last season I didn't see her smile as much as she did in this ONE episode. I'm so happy for Peyton, she finally got her prince charming. GO "Leyton!" I just hope it all works out and there isn't any bumps along the road.
The only thing I hated about this episode, aside from seeing "man faced" Lindsey was seeing poor Brooke get hurt :( I can't believe what a [...] her mom was being and what she is doing to her daughter. When I saw Brooke get pushed and then punched, my heart sank. Then watching the preview where she had the black eyes was so sad, she doesn't deserve any of that! I hope justice is served and her [...] mom gets sent to jail. I do love Brooke and her witty comebacks though. Like when she told her mom, "I'm going to fight for my company and throw you out on your niptucked [...]." GO BROOKE! :)
Question, why does psycho Nanny Carrie have to be back for another season? She took her craziness to a whole other level. She was crazy then she went to full out psycho. I mean, granted, Dan isn't much better then her but he was trying to become a better man then BAM, Carrie hits him. The most intense part about it all is when he tried to crawl out of the "hospital room" and it ended up being the front door to her house. That was insane and only something a CRAZY, SERIAL killer would do. She scares me, in all seriousness. When she said, "Should it be agony or death, how about agony?" Oh lord! Someone admit that women in to a psych ward ASAP!
All in all, I absolutely loved this episode. I was absolutely excited to see Luke and Pey together again. I've been waiting for them to be together for way too long. I was also happy to see Jamie, I missed that kid :) I loved it when he danced to Flo Rida's "In the Ayer" song. I put that song on my myspace and everytime I hear it I see Jamie. He's absolutely ADORABLE!
I can't wait for this season, I hope to see Owen return and sweep Brook off her feet. Perhaps kick her mom's [...]? Just kidding! I love Owen though and I would love to see him return. Oh and what's your reaction on Deb and Skillz? I'm still deciding.
Thanks for reading my ranting and raving, be sure to check back after the next episode :)
- SAM :)
