So for today's column, I talked to Rob Thomas about the genesis of the FBI idea, what it might entail for the future of "Veronica Mars," etc. (There's also a short secondary item at the end about the "Law & Order" franchise.)
I didn't even realize the rest of the episodes are starting tonight, which is a bad sign considering I've been a loyal VM viewer. I have season 1 on DVD, and what a contrast between that season and the current college season! If I'd missed the last 5 eps, no big deal, which is sad. As for the FBI format, it may have promise, but they say they're still writing her the same--I disagree. Even comparing this season with the first two, Veronica's personality has changed. She lacks the compassion and spark she had the first two seasons, or so it seems to me. --Katie V.
I've been an incredibly loyal fan of the show for two and a half years, buying the DVDs and giving them to everyone I know, turning them into fans, too.
But this season has shown that the show has nowhere to go with its current premise. EW's review earlier in the season might have been too cruel (a "D"? Come on, there are way worse shows) but they were on to something.
I say, FBI all the way. Or else, Veronica Mars will turn into a bland version of The O.C. with a silly mystery twist every week. It's sort of been like that this year, methinks.
I hate to agree with Dark Tyle, but he's right. Thomas caved to the network and turned it into a weak college procedural with a female Seth Cohen lead speaking in sing-song irony. That stands in stark contrast to the clever seriality of the first season.
There is a reason why people aren't watching this show.
Interesting assessment of Law & Order. I never watched SVU or CI, and got bored with the original several years back. But I always thought that, given it's premise and success rotating cast members, it could go on ad infinitum. It never occurred to me that re-runs featuring the "classic" cast (Adam, Ben, Jerry Orbach, et al.) could cannibalize the audience for the current run.
Just the words "I just want to keep making it" from Rob Thomas make me feel really sad. I know that this season has been uneven, but I am still hopeful that the show can return to its former glory, in whatever format the CW will allow.
Just the words "I just want to keep making it" from Rob Thomas make me feel really sad.
Yeah, they make me sad too. But only because I think it's kind of pathetic they're willing to throw out the show's entire premise and most of its cast simply to stay on the air. Just let it go already.
They should just let it go. One of the things that made Mars so great in the first two seasons was the supporting cast. This season the main people from that cast (with the exception of Logan & Keith) have been afterthoughts at best and that as much as the elimination of the season long mystery has made this season so lackluster.
I love VM but I doubt I would tune in for what would ostensibly be The Closer with a cuter lead.
I've done a lot of thinking about the FBI move, and I think it boils down to this: if Veronica Mars was cancelled and news came down that its creator and star were reuniting for an FBI drama, I'd watch it. So I'd be up for a fourth season in whatever form it takes, I'd say.
Part of the fun of Veronica Mars was her outwitting the adult supervision. I'm not sure that fun will transfer when she is the authority figure, however low ranking. Isn't that the cliche of "what TV has taught us" - that the detective/FBI agent can only solve the crime after she has been suspended for not following the rules? That is getting tiresome even with Jack Bauer.
Quite frankly, I think that Alan's analysis of Grey's Anatomy applies here, as well, the only difference being that Grey's is not in need of viewers.
As someone above noted, the supporting characters are the best. VM's dad, Wallace, Sheriff Lamb (until his death), Mac, Weevil, are reasons to watch. But the whole VM/Logan off and on again romance with each behaving badly and crazily is as bad as Meredith and Derek. I mean, the writers want us so much to want Veronica and Logan to be together, but come on. It's getting way too ridiculous.
I think this blog is the only promotion I've seen of VM coming back with its last-gasp episodes. I think it's clear that a collective "Huh? Who Cares?" is the general consensus of the population at large and even for the fans of the show.
So many series are spectacular in their first seasons because the exec producer has had that idea in his head for years and years, a nurtured child that is finally seeing the light of day, that they not only have enough episodes to fill an entire season (mostly) but have a drive to finally see it all come together. They effectively have had their whole life to plan for that one season of television, and the results are a spectacular season. But then it comes time for season two, which they only have a few months to prepare for as opposed to dreaming about it their whole lives, and having shot their load now have to scramble. The sophomore slump ensues (see Desperate Housewives, Joan of Arcadia, Prison Break, Heroes (I predict will fall into this pattern), and VM - all labors of love that fermented for years in the mind of their creators, but quickly found out that ~22 episodes is about all the story they really had envisioned).
You see this pattern in the music industry all the time as well, where musicians effectively spent their first decade of creative energy to culminate in their outstanding first album, only to realize that the coming up with the same creative effort in a much shorter time frame for the follow-up is extremely difficult. I think it's even harder for TV shows with a strong, single-source show runner at the helm.
The only reason I might watch these final episodes of VM is the sure sign of desperation they have displayed this season of having Kristin Bell show more and more skin and wear tighter and sexier outfits. If I recall correctly, they even had her in bed with just a thin cover sheet in one episode. Knowing for a while that these last episodes needed to be home-runs, I predict a bikini shot or two and consistent skimpy tops that make you think "perky".
We definitely have different definitions of the word "degrade"!
I don't get the hate. Bell and Colantoni have been great this season (it's not their fault it's the lowest-budgeted show on TV and can only afford one supporting character at a time), and the mysteries have been pretty good. Nothing's going to top Lilly Kane, but that means they should all go home? Speak for yourselves.
I wish I could see the 10 minute trailer they shot. I'd love to think Veronica could still exist...and I would watch the first episode just to see if it could work.
The FBI idea might actually be fun. It would be similar to how VM operated in high school. There would be a principal (her boss). There would be students (the rest of her rookie FBI classmates). There would be shenanigans (because she would supposedly have to follow FBI procedures and what not and would need to, of course, do things her own way and be on the edge of getting caught/getting in trouble). Plus, she could start solving more adult cases rather than these little 'crimes' such as catching a graffiti artist or tracking down embarrassing photos.
I imagine that the trailer will find its way onto a DVD extra for Season 3 or, if we're lucky Season 4.
But the posters who note the pleasure of VM outwitting authority may have their thumb on the right pulse. That may be what's not working about this season, because VM as an independent adult is a different animal than VM as a high-school student with a curfew. The series also misses the Neptune High class war, and campus politics don't have the same weight.
I didn't even realize the rest of the episodes are starting tonight, which is a bad sign considering I've been a loyal VM viewer. I have season 1 on DVD, and what a contrast between that season and the current college season! If I'd missed the last 5 eps, no big deal, which is sad. As for the FBI format, it may have promise, but they say they're still writing her the same--I disagree. Even comparing this season with the first two, Veronica's personality has changed. She lacks the compassion and spark she had the first two seasons, or so it seems to me.
ReplyDelete--Katie V.
I've been an incredibly loyal fan of the show for two and a half years, buying the DVDs and giving them to everyone I know, turning them into fans, too.
ReplyDeleteBut this season has shown that the show has nowhere to go with its current premise. EW's review earlier in the season might have been too cruel (a "D"? Come on, there are way worse shows) but they were on to something.
I say, FBI all the way. Or else, Veronica Mars will turn into a bland version of The O.C. with a silly mystery twist every week. It's sort of been like that this year, methinks.
I hate to agree with Dark Tyle, but he's right. Thomas caved to the network and turned it into a weak college procedural with a female Seth Cohen lead speaking in sing-song irony. That stands in stark contrast to the clever seriality of the first season.
ReplyDeleteThere is a reason why people aren't watching this show.
Interesting assessment of Law & Order. I never watched SVU or CI, and got bored with the original several years back. But I always thought that, given it's premise and success rotating cast members, it could go on ad infinitum. It never occurred to me that re-runs featuring the "classic" cast (Adam, Ben, Jerry Orbach, et al.) could cannibalize the audience for the current run.
ReplyDeleteJust the words "I just want to keep making it" from Rob Thomas make me feel really sad. I know that this season has been uneven, but I am still hopeful that the show can return to its former glory, in whatever format the CW will allow.
ReplyDeleteJust the words "I just want to keep making it" from Rob Thomas make me feel really sad.
ReplyDeleteYeah, they make me sad too. But only because I think it's kind of pathetic they're willing to throw out the show's entire premise and most of its cast simply to stay on the air. Just let it go already.
I think I'd rather watch Veronica-goes-to-the-FBI at this point. The college scene isn't working.
ReplyDeleteThen again, my girlfriend was so offended by the bogus RU-486 plot that we're five or six episodes behind on our TiVo now.
Great interview. Thanks for sharing. It was good to be able to read what Rob's thoughts out on next season.
ReplyDeleteThey should just let it go. One of the things that made Mars so great in the first two seasons was the supporting cast. This season the main people from that cast (with the exception of Logan & Keith) have been afterthoughts at best and that as much as the elimination of the season long mystery has made this season so lackluster.
ReplyDeleteI love VM but I doubt I would tune in for what would ostensibly be The Closer with a cuter lead.
I've done a lot of thinking about the FBI move, and I think it boils down to this: if Veronica Mars was cancelled and news came down that its creator and star were reuniting for an FBI drama, I'd watch it. So I'd be up for a fourth season in whatever form it takes, I'd say.
ReplyDeletePart of the fun of Veronica Mars was her outwitting the adult supervision. I'm not sure that fun will transfer when she is the authority figure, however low ranking. Isn't that the cliche of "what TV has taught us" - that the detective/FBI agent can only solve the crime after she has been suspended for not following the rules? That is getting tiresome even with Jack Bauer.
ReplyDeleteQuite frankly, I think that Alan's analysis of Grey's Anatomy applies here, as well, the only difference being that Grey's is not in need of viewers.
ReplyDeleteAs someone above noted, the supporting characters are the best. VM's dad, Wallace, Sheriff Lamb (until his death), Mac, Weevil, are reasons to watch. But the whole VM/Logan off and on again romance with each behaving badly and crazily is as bad as Meredith and Derek. I mean, the writers want us so much to want Veronica and Logan to be together, but come on. It's getting way too ridiculous.
I think this blog is the only promotion I've seen of VM coming back with its last-gasp episodes. I think it's clear that a collective "Huh? Who Cares?" is the general consensus of the population at large and even for the fans of the show.
ReplyDeleteSo many series are spectacular in their first seasons because the exec producer has had that idea in his head for years and years, a nurtured child that is finally seeing the light of day, that they not only have enough episodes to fill an entire season (mostly) but have a drive to finally see it all come together. They effectively have had their whole life to plan for that one season of television, and the results are a spectacular season. But then it comes time for season two, which they only have a few months to prepare for as opposed to dreaming about it their whole lives, and having shot their load now have to scramble. The sophomore slump ensues (see Desperate Housewives, Joan of Arcadia, Prison Break, Heroes (I predict will fall into this pattern), and VM - all labors of love that fermented for years in the mind of their creators, but quickly found out that ~22 episodes is about all the story they really had envisioned).
You see this pattern in the music industry all the time as well, where musicians effectively spent their first decade of creative energy to culminate in their outstanding first album, only to realize that the coming up with the same creative effort in a much shorter time frame for the follow-up is extremely difficult. I think it's even harder for TV shows with a strong, single-source show runner at the helm.
The only reason I might watch these final episodes of VM is the sure sign of desperation they have displayed this season of having Kristin Bell show more and more skin and wear tighter and sexier outfits. If I recall correctly, they even had her in bed with just a thin cover sheet in one episode. Knowing for a while that these last episodes needed to be home-runs, I predict a bikini shot or two and consistent skimpy tops that make you think "perky".
Yes, the show has degraded that much for me.
"Yes, the show has degraded that much for me."
ReplyDeleteWe definitely have different definitions of the word "degrade"!
I don't get the hate. Bell and Colantoni have been great this season (it's not their fault it's the lowest-budgeted show on TV and can only afford one supporting character at a time), and the mysteries have been pretty good. Nothing's going to top Lilly Kane, but that means they should all go home? Speak for yourselves.
Does Treacher like every show on television, or just the ones that are overly wry and self referential?
ReplyDeleteFanboys never criticize, I guess.
I don't like anonymous dickheads. How's that for criticism?
ReplyDeletePretty laughable, actually. With that sort of juvenile language, though, no wonder you liked "Drive."
ReplyDeleteGirls, girls! You're both pretty! Now taken it down a notch, please.
ReplyDeleteHey, don't ask for criticism if you can't take it.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could see the 10 minute trailer they shot. I'd love to think Veronica could still exist...and I would watch the first episode just to see if it could work.
ReplyDeleteThe FBI idea might actually be fun. It would be similar to how VM operated in high school. There would be a principal (her boss). There would be students (the rest of her rookie FBI classmates). There would be shenanigans (because she would supposedly have to follow FBI procedures and what not and would need to, of course, do things her own way and be on the edge of getting caught/getting in trouble). Plus, she could start solving more adult cases rather than these little 'crimes' such as catching a graffiti artist or tracking down embarrassing photos.
I'm willing to give it a chance.
I imagine that the trailer will find its way onto a DVD extra for Season 3 or, if we're lucky Season 4.
ReplyDeleteBut the posters who note the pleasure of VM outwitting authority may have their thumb on the right pulse. That may be what's not working about this season, because VM as an independent adult is a different animal than VM as a high-school student with a curfew. The series also misses the Neptune High class war, and campus politics don't have the same weight.