Watching The CW

Welcome to ‘No News is Good News Tuesday’. Yup, you’ve guessed it another week of speculating about the fate of Veronica Mars has gone past. There was a piece last week on AintItCool about how Ms Mars fell into the “Gone or nearly dead category” but TV Guide’s Ausiello Report declares that the “FBI pitch is not dead”.

I have my fingers AND toes crossed because I would be happy with any variation of the Veronica Mars universe in order to get another season.

The CW, sweeps, Veronica Mars, AintItCool, Ausiello, TV Guide

According to Kristin’s blog on E-Online the campaign to save Veronica Mars has started. In the most comprehensive breakdown of the fate poor Veronica Kristin concludes that either it will be canceled (boo!), continue on in its current format or fast forward a few years to Veronica being a fully fledged FBI agent. One rumor doing the rounds was that a treatment was being down for Veronica being a trainee FBI agent but that has been subsequently discounted which I think is a shame. It may have been fun to see her being broken out of her bad habits and the FBI trying to mold her into an agent.

I heartily agree with Kristin, and the fifteen hundred or so people who have left comments on her blog, this show really is worth saving as it is one of the smartest shows on television let alone the CW. So take a moment out of your busy day and leave Kristin a comment and follow her instructions for the postcard campaign.

The CW, Veronica Mars, E-Online, Watching with Kristin

Initial thoughts on last nights episode…

Unfaithful Wife + Pre-Nup + Dead Husband + Insurance + Yacht = Merry Widow = Guilty

Landry + Loss of Tenure + Last Minute Witness = Guilty

Teaching Assistant + Suspicious Facial Hair + Bad Reference from Landry = Guilty

Logan + Parker + Prelim Dating = Awkward Situation

The CW, Veronica Mars, Papa’s Cabin

It looks like that tomorrow night we will find out who murdered Dean Ed Begley Jr and below is the promo.

We must all savor tomorrow nights episode as Veronica et al are going on sabbatical to make way for the Pussy Cat Dolls.

The CW, Veronica Mars, Ed Begley Jr, You Tube, Pussy Cat Dolls

I watched this episode with a general sense of foreboding; I’d read that someone was going to perish and since I am not that familiar with the cast I wasn’t sure who was safe (bar the Marses - what is the plural of Mars?). I was on the edge of my seat with as much enthusiasm as I could muster at 6am this morning. Every time a supporting member of the cast reached for a French fry I flinched in case it was laced with arsenic. i thought it all over when Logan and Mac’s blonde room mate swam out to a buoy to retrieve a balloon - have they not heard of sharks?? And then I remembered that this was not Bay Watch. Of course it was something more dramatic and Sheriff Lamb died in the line of duty. Which is a shame as he was a nice foil for Veronica and was growing on me.

My favorite parts of the episode were the Valentine’s scavenger hunt (for once a show manages a subtle and funny seasonal tie in) and Veronica behind bars. I was least interested in the conclusion to the “who shot the coach” mystery. It was sad tale but ultimately I am more interested in who dun in Ed Begley Jr.

Veronica Mars, Ed Begley Jr

I’ve only watched 3.5 episodes of Veronica Mars and so far I really don’t care for Logan. He’s a bit wet, wasted on Veronica and what is up with living in a hotel (gives me Hugh Grant Two Weeks Notice flash backs - not good). Jumping feet first into a moving series is all very confusing, but I perceiver cos I love the dynamic between Veronica and her dad (and perhaps watching the previous 2 seasons will reveal something about why she wastes her time on Logan). The gentle joshing and mutual respect a refreshing change from the usual teenage-parental angst that fills the small screen.

Tonights episode is called ‘Mars, Bars’. Oh so clever since in the previous episode Veronica was in jail but it got me thinking about candy. When a Mars Bar crosses the Atlantic is turns into something a bit like a Milky Way, which is weird because in the UK a Milky Way is what you’d call a 3 Musketeer bar (if you care Wikipedia as ever has a clearer explanation).
Something to chew on whilst you watch the promo for tonight’s episode courtesy of YouTube and the scuttlebutt is that it is curtains for someone…

Veronica Mars, candy bars

Last night, I uncharacteristically jumped straight into an episode of Veronica Mars (”Show Me The Monkey”) with no prep. I watched it cold and was a little confused in places (what is the deal with dude who takes x-rated Polaroids of himself and then throws them over his balcony - is that a California thing?!?). Normally I am a stickler for procedure and like to view a series in sequence but I wanted to take a quick dip in Neptune, CA.

The verdict - me like.

I was worried that Veronica would be too Nancy Drew-ish (as she is a teen detective) and too perky. And if there is one thing prime time does not need it is ANOTHER perky blonde. I need not have worried as Veronica is suitably condescending, sarcastic and has rolling her eyes on speed dial. Overall there is a “cozy mystery laced with smart pop culture” feel about the show with a definite nod to Sam Spade. I really look forward to watching it more regularly and catching up with the previous two seasons over the summer.

Veronica Mars, Sam Spade, Dashiell Hammett, cosy TV mysteries