How is One Tree Hill going to explain Lucas and Peyton's sudden absence from the coming season now that stars Chad Michael Murray and Hilarie Burton aren't returning?

This burning question is eating away at One Tree Hill fans.

The answer from the producers? Damned if we know!

A show rep suggests that it will involve a bit of rebooting" "Obviously, we have new stories to tell, but at the same time, this season really feels like classic One Tree Hill."

Lucas and Peyton's departure is tough to swallow ... and work around.

How is that going to work, exactly? "Some characters might be in an episode for just one scene, but it's a scene that serves the story and the serialized nature of our season."

So basically, they haven't figured it out yet.

But we can be sure that by "classic" One Tree Hill, that means more cheesy One Tree Hill quotes than you can stomach! Not that we're complaining. Not by any means.

Steve Marsi is the Managing Editor of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Google+ or email him here.