The path is clearing for Smallville to return for a tenth season. CW president Dawn Ostroff recently dropped some positive comments about the show's creative direction and hinted at a renewal.

Speaking to IGN, Ostroff seemed pleased with the show's ratings and optimistic about its chances for another season, but the final decision won't be made until May.

Ostroff also told EW that Smallville producers Brian Peterson and Kelly Souders have yet to pitch the final episode to the network.

"... We haven't even gotten to how we're going to deal with the last episode and whether it's a season finale or series finale. But right now, I think it's just a season finale," she said.

Smallville's Clark Kent isn't the only one getting a visit from DC Comics' Justice Society in 2010. A month before the classic crime fighters show up for Smallville's "Absolute Justice" event, airing Feb. 5, they'll drop by the Batcave for an episode of Batman: The Brave and the Bold.

An animated version of the 1940s superhero team will make its debut January 15 on Cartoon Network's great and goofy Batman show. We'll get to see how The Flash (the original one with the silly hat), Hourman, Hawkman, Dr. Mid-Nite and Wildcat influenced Batman's bad guy-beating skills. We'll also see them in action against a villain named Per Degaton. The ep, titled "The Golden Age of Justice," will also feature Bats teaming up with Green Arrow's main squeeze, Black Canary.