Smallville: Hydro and Tori Spelling

Tori Spelling, by all accounts, should not be famous.

Maybe this is no way to start a story about last night's Smallville. But, really, it's the one thing that woodpeckers itself into my brain every time Tori Spelling receives another acting gig. Tori was introduced on Smallville last night as a gossip columnist named Linda Lake, only further enforcing the L-alliterated name motif in the Smallville universe (Lex Luthor, Lana Lang, Lois Lane).

Tori Spelling plays Linda Lake in a hopelessly, almost embarrassingly over-the-top manner. She is cringe-worthy in every scene she appears, which is a shame, because last night was an otherwise great episode. Sure, she's a name, somewhat famous, but is anybody really saying to themselves "You know what, now that Tori Spelling is on Smallville maybe I WILL watch it."As I said, the episode was good and it looks like, now, that Lana is going to accept Lex's proposal. But, going back to my first sentence, Tori Spelling should not be famous. And, yeah, I know we're in the day of Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie, where idiots can become famous for no reason, unless you count being skinny or taping yourself having sex as a reason. Tori, however, was the precursor to Paris Hilton.

Spelling is a nice person, it seems, and her good-nature shines through in her mediocre acting. She was thrust into daddy Aaron's TV empire, making brief appearances in a number of his shows in the 80's, and you can't blame her for this. She even appeared on Saved By the Bell for a few episodes in what may have been her greatest role: a nerd.

Then, she got lucky. There was always something off-putting about Spelling on Beverly Hills 90210, the breakout teen hit of the 90's. She seemed to show up every season with different sized-breasts and, even if she had magically become Meryl Streep, cries of nepotism would still always follow her. Yet, because of her undeserved role on 90210 and her father, Tori Spelling became a household name.

Now, don't get me wrong: I have nothing, at all, against Tori Spelling. I only have complaints with Smallville. They don't need stunt casting, and they certainly don't need Tori Spelling. It only hurts the quality of the show and takes the audience out of the moment every time she appears on screen. You're better than that, Smallville.

Oh, and her being able to turn into water? I'm not a fan.

-Oscar Dahl, BuddyTV Senior Writer

(Photo Courtesy of TVSquad)

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Original article at http://www.buddytv.com/articles/smallville/smallville_hydro_and_tori_spel-3004.aspx

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