"One Tree Hill, Season 7: What I Hope To See"
Dear Mark Schwahn,
If I had my wish regarding what I would like to see on One Tree Hill (OTH) in Season 7 (S-7), here is what I want to see:
1. Hilarie Burton (Peyton Sawyer Scott) and Chad Michael Murray (CMM)(Lucas Scott) as main characters under new contracts, and their characters central to the OTH S-7 story line.
2. Lucas' and Peyton's trials and tribulations as new parents of baby, Sawyer Brooke Scott. Now that OTH has skipped ahead another year and a half, Sawyer will be a toddler by the time we see her again.
3. Peyton adapting her work place to accommodate baby Sawyer while she works, i.e. a new nursery/day care area at Red Bedroom Records at TRIC. Peyton, as a mother, could appeal to a whole new demographic, new and single mothers.
4. Lucas returning to coach the Tree Hill HS Ravens' varsity basketball team. More "on court" basketball scenes of Lucas' Ravens team to retain that flavor of basketball in the series.
5. Lucas starting book number 3 based on his life experiences and those of his friends in Tree Hill, NC, covering the years from HS graduation to their mid-20s.
6. Establish an affiliation between Peyton and her music production/management company with the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in Savannah, GA. Peyton explores the use of Musical Avatars as a means of producing music videos from a new class of artists, those who don't have "stage appeal", but who have exceptional voices.
7. Re-introduce the character Jake (Bryan Greenberg) and his daughter as a friend to Peyton and Lucas, NOT as a rival for Peyton's affections. Jake could share with the new parents, Lucas and Peyton, his experiences and lessons learned as a single parent raising his daughter Ginny (Jenny?) .
8. Resurrect the relationship between Brooke and Chase Adams to provide a romantic triangle conflict between Brooke and Mia. Since Mia is on the road frequently, Brooke and Chase resume their friendship, with romance to follow.
9. Use the relationships between Julian and Brooke, and Chase and Brooke, to set up another love triangle between Julian (out of town in CA?) and Chase (local to Tree Hill, NC?) for Brooke's affections.
10. Expand the Mother-Daughter conflicts between Brooke and Victoria (Daphne Zuniga), now that their mother-daughter relationship has been restored in their Clothes Over Bros retail business.
11. Since Skills is having problems with the Law in real life, have him break up with Jamie's school teacher and leave town temporarily? Establish a new, recurring character, Paige, the African-American female basketball player with whom Lucas re-united in River City, NC, while Peyton visited her birth mother, Ellie. Paige went to Tree Hill HS during her Freshmen year. Paige has now graduated from college with a degree in physical education, after having starred as a scholarship athlete in women's basketball. Paige now becomes the new Tree Hill Ravens women's basketball coach.
12. LEAVE THE DOOR WIDE OPEN IN THE OTH STORY LINE FOR LUCAS AND PEYTON (CMM and HILARIE BURTON) TO RETURN TO THE SERIES, IF ONE OR BOTH OF THEM ARE NOT UNDER CONTRACT FOR THE ENTIRE S-7.
A. If Lucas (CMM) alone is not under contract for OTH S-7, and HB returns, then put Lucas in New Zealand with his sister Lilly and his mother Karen, working on his third book.
B. If Peyton (Hilarie Burton (HB)) alone is not under contract for OTH S-7, then put Peyton at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in Savannah, GA, working on a college degree in entertainment management/graphic arts. There, she can renew her friendship with Jake (Bryan Greenberg) and daughter Ginny.
C. If both Peyton (HB) and Lucas (CMM) are not under contract for OTH S-7, then put them both in New Zealand with Andy, Karen, and Lilly, becoming a family again.
13. If both HB and CMM are not under contract for OTH S-7, SPARE NO EXPENSE to try to lure both of these young stars back to OTH. If they won't come back to OTH full time in S-7, then negotiate with them to make periodic cameo appearances, until their individual circumstances allow them to return to OTH in the future as regular cast members.
HB's departure from OTH S-7 is the least understandable. HB lives in Wilmington, NC, where OTH is produced at Screen Gems Studios. Her new production company, Southern Gothic Productions (SGP), is headquartered there. HB's extended family lives there, and she has said on numerous occasions that she wants to continue to live and work there. HB is currently working to independently produce, through SGP, and with her SGP partners, her own projects as well as expand her talents into writing. HB has proved her multi-tasking capabilities in the past. The CW Network and OTH Creator/Producer/Writer/Director Mark Schwahn have been accommodating to HB in the past.
CMM leaving OTH is easier to understand than HB? This is CMM's third successful TV series ( Dawson's Creek, Gilmore Girls, and now OTH). CMM has now been able to act, write, and direct episodes of OTH. Even though CMM's movie acting credits are sparse, he may feel that his past TV successes will lead to additional, lucrative, movie prospects in the future.
In conclusion, in my opinion, both HB and CMM should return to OTH for S-7. HB and CMM have the best of all possible worlds in these hard economic times: they are starring in a hit TV series; they have a devoted fan base; and they have a steady job and a regular salary. Please come back, HB and CMM.
Any and all comments are welcome. A devoted OTH fan.
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?
Have you ever wondered what it woul've been like at the beginning of One Tree Hill, if Lucas and Nathan had a sister, which was Nathan's sister. Watch as there is more drama than before the Lucas vs. Nathan thing. See how the lives of these friends change over 6 seasons, all because of one big WHAT IF!!!
in springfield.
right- me :)
left- vanessa:)
I have a few questions and I figure this would be a great place to start to ask questions about Nino Jones.... where is he from? Who will he start dating? Will the scouts pick them both up? I want to see more of Mr. Jones, he can act and play ball. Now One Tree Hill Has a character that adds a different dynamic to the show. OOOh I see a ladys man I cant wait to see what the writers have him do next. I think I am going to start having Nino Jones Nights at the House.... Hmmmm a few friends, great snacks and Nino on One Tree Hill....
Oh If anyone can help me out with my question please feel free to answer or comment.
"One Tree Hill" (OTH): What's going on with its stars?
The young stars (Burton, Murray, Galeotti, Lafferty, and Bush) should read The Wall Street Journal (TWSJ) article of April 2, 2009, entitled: "Hollywood Squeezes Stars' Pay In Slump", before they "hold out" for new contracts, since OTH has already been renewed by The CW Network for Season Seven (S-7). The TWSJ article says that Hollywood studios are now negotiating to pay their movie stars with "last dollars earned" rather than "first dollars earned" as in the past. The studios want to get back their expenses BEFORE they pay the stars with box office revenues earned. Example: If a movie cost $50 Million to make, and the box office receipts were only $25 Million, then there would be no "profits" until after market and overseas DVD sales etc., exceeded $50 Million. The stars would get a lesser "salary" while the movie was being produced, but the box office sales revenues would have to exceed total studio costs before the stars made any additional money.
One of the issues involved in the potential Screen Actors' Guild (SAG) "strike" threat is giving the actors a share of future DVD and Internet "royalties" on the movies in which they star. This is especially important for stars like Hilarie Burton where several of her movies have gone straight (or simultaneously with box office release) to DVD ("The List"; "The Secret Life of Bees") with limited or no "box office" revenues from walk-in theater sales. All actors should get a share of royalties from DVD and Internet (or any media) sales of their works, but the studios have monopolized this source of revenue in the past. This is definitely an issue for "non-Mega" stars ("Mega Stars" usually make most of their money in "up front" payments before or during the production phase of a movie before there are ANY box office revenues), where box office sales are "unpredictable", but revenues over time from DVD and Internet sales could be substantial.
During these stressed economic times, when the general public laborer constantly fears losing their job, the young stars of OTH, with a "hit" TV series which has been renewed for S-7, should seek reasonable contracts, in line with OTH TV ratings and ad revenues, but not "hold out" for overly lucrative contracts which cannot be sustained by revenues present or future. If they want to wait to "sign" a new contract until the SAG strike issue has been settled, and royalty issue discussions have been concluded, that is understandable, but with production of OTH S-7 starting in the Summer of 2009, the "core cast" of OTH for S-7 should NOT BE IN DOUBT, because it affects the whole story line of future OTH episodes.
Based on the career paths of past "young stars" in discontinued prime time TV series (exs: "Roswell"; "Dawson's Creek", "The O.C."), NONE of the OTH major stars are "ready" to pursue individual "leading actor" roles in big production movies. Each of the OTH stars have "unique" opportunities, under the stability of the OTH series' "umbrella", to pursue career "growth" and "broadening" paths without major risk or financial penalty. Chad Michael Murray (CMM) has written and directed episodes of OTH. Bethany Joy Galeotti has directed and sung in episodes, and pursued a separate music career. Hilarie Burton has started her own production company and pursued several career broadening movie opportunities, while advancing her acting talents within OTH. Sophia Bush has starred in at least one movie ("The Hitcher") as well as advanced her literary interests as a journalist, while honing her acting skills within OTH. James Lafferty, the youngest (24 years old) of the OTH stars, has pursued outside charitable interests as well as built acting credentials and experience within OTH.
The bottom line is this: OTH has been "good" for its young stars, and up to this point, the stars have been loyal to OTH. OTH has been renewed for S-7 in 2009-2010. A "logical" OTH story line progression depends on the "retention" of, at least, the five major stars, Hilarie Burton (Peyton Sawyer), CMM (Lucas Scott), James Lafferty (Nathan Scott), Bethany Joy Galeotti ( Haley James Scott), and Sophia Bush (Brooke Davis). The "logical continuity" of the OTH story line depends on the maturation and interaction of these five characters, along with their supporting cast. If Burton "leaves", Peyton's story line "dies", and Lucas' "life long, "soul mate", love interest is gone. If CMM leaves, Lucas' story line "dies", and Peyton is left without her "soul mate" (no more Leyton!). If Bush leaves, Brooke's story line "dies", Peyton loses her best friend, and there is no "Brucas" or companion "love story" to counterbalance the relationships of "Naley" and "Leyton". If Galeotti or Lafferty leaves, the Nathan or Haley story line "dies", and there is no "Naley", no brother, best friend and confidant for Lucas, no mother or father for Jamie (Brundage), and no "basketball" or "teaching" theme for OTH. Like the TV series "Friends", which eventually produced one "Mega Star" (Jennifer Aniston) and five "A/B" level stars, the TV series prospered while all six stars STAYED TOGETHER, and "folded" (ended), when their individual ambitions began to get "too big for the Friend's "pond"". Only one "Friends" cast member has unquestionably succeeded and prospered, Jennifer Aniston, but the other five cast members have only had sporadic success.
My "advice" to the major stars of OTH is to continue to "dance with the girl whom you brought". Stay with OTH as long as you have a loyal fan base (3 million plus fans), the OTH story lines are challenging and rewarding personally and professionally, you are growing within the profession and are pursuing interests which bring you personal satisfaction, for as long as The CW Network (or some other network) wants you, and you are compensated commensurately with your age, talent, and comparative "worth" in the profession. In an economic recession, if you have a job, stay with it. The "grass" on the other side of the fence is NOT "greener", it is just "different", and the "animals" on the other side of the fence already have "first choice" on the "grass" you can only "see". You are all 26-28 years old, or younger, and that is "immature" for your profession. No major film producer, studio, or TV executive is going to "risk" their "capital" in this economic environment on "unproven" (new and unfamiliar) "leading actors", and no new TV series, if you could get one, is going to be as "nurturing" as OTH has been, and probably will continue to be. Negotiate fairly and, as a group, if you need to do so, but do not leave this "horse" (OTH) in "mid stream", when the "bank" (S-7) is within your "grasp".
“What is happening on One Tree Hill?”
One thing that could mess up One Tree Hill (OTH) is if the studio does not renew soon the contracts of the five major stars (Chad Michael Murray, James Lafferty, Sophia Bush, Hilarie Burton, and Bethany Joy Galeotti) of the show. I have read that all the major stars’ contracts expire at the end of OTH Season 6.
Why hasn’t The CW Network announced the renewal of OTH for Season 7? Ratings wise, OTH is consistently one of the top five CW Network shows, and would rate even higher if CW ran OTH more than once per week. On cable, Soap Net broadcasts 16 hours of OTH reruns (Seasons 1-4) per week. OTH is one of the highest rated shows in the demographic of ages 18-34, especially popular with women.
There is much talk of a possible Screen Actors Guild (SAG) strike in early 2009. That possibility and the expiring OTH major stars’ contracts may be causing The CW Network to hesitate on renewal. All dedicated OTH fans hope that the show will be extended for Season 7 and beyond. A good case could be made for this young OTH cast (the oldest major star is only 27 years old) to stick with OTH for a total of 10 years or more, since four of the five major stars will only be 30-31 years old in 2012. Murray and Galeotti are expanding their skills into OTH writing and directing in Season 6, and both Bush and Burton have pursued numerous outside movie projects while OTH has been in hiatus. Since Katherine Heigel (star of hit TV show, “Grey’s Anatomy” (GA), and several recent big screen movies), a contemporary in age and experience of the OTH stars, reportedly makes $230K per episode of GA, which draws 15+ million viewers per week, the stars of OTH, which draws 3+ million viewers per week, should be able to ask for, proportionately, $40K - $50K per episode of OTH in their next contract (excluding additional royalty compensation for a portion of revenues from sales and reruns of past OTH episodes (S1-S6) on TV, CD/DVD, and Internet).
OTH creator Mark Schwahn uses Peyton Sawyer for dramatic effect whenever she and Lucas are about to enjoy several, consecutive episodes of happiness on OTH. In the last new episode of OTH before the Dec 2008 break, Peyton was shown in tears on the phone with Lucas about to tell him the results of her doctor exam for acute abdominal pain. In the Jan 5, 2009 episode, viewers find out those were tears of “joy” as Peyton tells Lucas she is pregnant with their child. I personally love that story line, hopefully soon to be followed by more wedding planning, a new wedding dress from Brooke, and culminating by the end of Season 6, with a grand wedding ceremony for Peyton and Lucas with all their family and friends in attendance. Does anyone know whether Peyton Sawyer’s pregnancy is “theatrical” or whether Hilary Burton is pregnant in real life, and OTH is just incorporating her pregnancy into the story line?
Suggestions for story lines in Season 7 of OTH include the full term of Peyton’s pregnancy and the birth of her first son (Keith Larry Scott?); Lucas writing a third book and coaching the Tree Hill Ravens (with Skills) basketball team to a State Championship; a new, continuing romance between Brooke and Chase; a reconciliation between Mouth and Millicent; a stint in the NBA with the Charlotte Hornets for Nathan; a Haley pregnancy with the birth of a second child to give Jamie a little sister; a romance between Rachel (or Taylor, Haley’s “wild child”, elder sister) and Owen, the recovering alcoholic bartender at Tric, and so on. The possibilities are too numerous to list. Comments?
