Explains TVline.com, "The reason for the scheduling change is two-fold, says a network source. For starters, Vampire Diaries is being preempted tonight in both Chicago (for a mayoral debate) and Bal’more (in deference to basketball). Additionally — and, one could reckon, more importantly — this Thursday marks the first time that a first-run Vampire Diaries episode will go head-to-head with Fox’s mighty American Idol. So, rather than let viewership of TVD (and by association, its lead-out, Nikita) suffer that multiple-whammy, The CW hopes to get more sampling of the two new episodes by encoring them 24 hours later, for good measure."
So Smallville fans can look for "Collateral" next week, and haters can take a week off from bashing.