Typically, network notes are seen as a form of creative interference, where executives meddle with our favorite shows, often diluting the creative vision of the showrunner. However, The X-Files stands out in television history for the number of network notes that ended up enhancing the show. For instance, a note from Fox led to the creation of the beloved “Tooms” episode, which introduced the character of Walter Skinner and marked the first time the Cigarette Smoking Man spoke on screen.
Walter Skinner and the Cigarette Smoking Man
Given how integral they became to the show’s narrative, it’s hard to imagine The X-Files without Walter Skinner or the Cigarette Smoking Man. While CSM lurked in the shadows during the first season, Skinner debuted in “Tooms.” He became a recurring character starting in Season 2, and showrunner Chris Carter used a studio note from Fox to revisit the overarching conspiracy as an opportunity to introduce Skinner.
Fox wanted “Tooms” to steer viewers back to the conspiracy, and Carter obliged by adding Walter Skinner and the Cigarette Smoking Man to key scenes. In most of these scenes, Skinner and Mulder discuss the risks of continuing the investigation into Eugene Tooms, while CSM quietly observes from the background. Ultimately, Skinner asks CSM if he believes Scully’s report of Mulder’s final confrontation with Tooms (where Tooms is declared killed by wild animals), to which CSM simply replies, “Of course I do.”
While “Tooms” was the first episode to feature Walter Skinner, it wasn’t the first to include the Cigarette Smoking Man—he appeared in the very first episode of The X-Files. However, “Tooms” was the first time CSM spoke. The producers initially joked that even they didn’t know what actor William B. Davis’s voice would sound like, as his character was intended to appear menacing but silent. Once Davis delivered his lines, they were delighted with the gravelly tone he brought to the role.
While no one disputes that “Tooms” was Walter Skinner’s first appearance, some fans debate whether it was also the first time the Cigarette Smoking Man spoke. This is because actor William B. Davis appeared as a CIA agent in the earlier Season 1 episode, “Young at Heart.” Fandom remains divided on whether this was CSM in disguise (something he was known to do) or simply Davis playing a different role.
As The X-Files fans know, it’s impossible to overstate the importance of Walter Skinner and the Cigarette Smoking Man to the series. However, if “Tooms” hadn’t resonated so strongly with fans, neither character might have become a central figure. This means we may owe some of the show’s greatest future episodes and storylines to these characters—all because the network gently reminded Chris Carter to refocus on the ongoing conspiracy amid his growing love for monster-of-the-week stories.
