2 posts tagged “vm”
UPDATE: Ausiello is reporting that Rob Thomas himself just confirmed the show is dead. Please do not send any more money to the campaigns to save the show. Check out http://invisiblechildren.com instead. See our latest entry at http://goodtv.vox.com/library/post/veronica-mars-goodbye.html
Veronica Mars fans are mounting a sweet last minute campaign to save our favorite precocious, persnickety private detective. They are sending oodles of candy to Dawn Ostroff, President of Entertainment at the CW.
The original campaign idea involved sending Mars Bars. Unlike cheerleaders with low self-esteem, Mars Bars are not available domestically, so it didn't take long for the campaigners to buy out all the imports they could find. They have now moved onto other confections made by the MARS company, and will also include marshmallows (fans will get the reference) in their delicious delivery, along with a message that we need S'more Veronica Mars.
Last but not least, the fans have run an ad in The Hollywood Reporter (which reads a little sour to us, but a few marshmallows will take that bitter taste right out of your mouth) from Friday through today. Tomorrow, they're buying the VM season finale, "The Bitch is Back," en masse, at iTunes.
He Good and I don't have any campaigning left in us, and yet it breaks our heart to say goodbye to Veronica Mars, who is so much smarter than we. J. Geils was right. Love stinks. You can dress it up in sequins and shoulder pads, but one way or another, you're just gonna end up alone at the spring dance strapped in uncomfortable underwear.
That said, it costs us absolutely nothing to spread the word to you Veronica Mars fans who are perhaps less jaded, more energetic and/or not slaves to your mortgage. Some people think the Veronica Mars fandom has been spurred to action by the success of the good people at Jericho Lives. There is truth to that, but what's really driving them is that there is actually a small glimmer of hope for Veronica Mars. It is that hope that has sent fans into this last minute frenzy. Here are some of the reasons why their hope springs eternal:
- On or about Wednesday, May 30, the studio was given the order to tear down the Veronica Mars set. The very next day, word came down from on high to stop tearing down the sets, immediately.
- After the CW's May, 2007 Upfront presentation in New York, http://veronicamarsextras.com (the casting arm of Stu Segall Studios -- the San Diego production arm of Veronica Mars) posted a goodbye and thank you note to Veronica Mars. It soon took down that message and put up a new one, telling all its extras they're on stand-by in case of a mid-season replacement.
- A studio source has said there is a possibility that Veronica Mars will be brought back as a mid-season replacement.
- A separate setside source has said that things are very quiet -- too quiet, and far more quiet than when a show is canceled for sure.
- A writer's office intern has said there is reason to not yet give up.
- Rob Thomas is in hot demand, but has yet to ink a contract for a new series, and has already turned down at least one offer.
- Rob hasn't yet spoken to the fans publicly, which is just not like him.
- As of a Kristen Bell interview, published June 8th, Kristen Bell was still saying there was some hope.
- Michael Ausiello of TV Guide, has mentioned the possibility of a feature film, more than once.
- A source from the CW is saying there is still a small chance.
You know how when you look at some couples, you see they're in this groove wherein one partner's strengths and weaknesses balance out/are balanced out by the other partner's strengths and weaknesses? That groove is not our groove, which goes a long way in explaining how we're so behind before we've even started. We have our good qualities--swear! We just can't remember where we've left them.
A few weeks ago, we posted an entry on what we'd be watching. Before we even defined our rankings or posted our schedule, the networks started rearranging their Fall line-ups (TV Guide's Matt Roush noted the schedule changes in the October 6 edition of Roush Dispatch). On top of it, this is the first season in our memories offering more than two or three series we try to watch regularly. We're feeling the burden of being behind, before we've even begun to post regular content, so today is catch-up day. "Catching up" for us means jumping in head first and moving forward.
SPOILER LEVEL:
This entry contains spoilers as to premise of the current seasons. There are no in-depth spoilers, but if you avoid spoilers and are behind in your viewing stop reading, now.
SCHEDULE CHANGE ALERT: On Monday, October 9, 2006, The CW moved Everybody Hates Chris, one of its few bona fide hits, out of that 7:00pm Eastern/6:00pm Central Sunday night ghetto. Read more in "MONDAYS".
FALL 2006, TV Schedule
MONDAYS:
8:00pm Eastern/7 Central: Everybody Hates Chris; The CW
When compared with typical sitcoms, Everybody Hates Chris is an OASIS--cute and funny, with a dash of nostalgia and a lot of heart. We can watch it with our children (after we've screened it for subject matter). We're not sitcom devotees, but the regular characters on EHC, particularly Chris, Julius and Greg, keep us coming back. Rochelle is often a hit with us ("What's wrong with me? What's wrong with you?"), but sometimes, she's written/directed too broadly, which just isn't our thing. Tisha, Drew, and Caruso generally delight, because they, like the Chris and Greg characters, are neither precious nor precocious. The writers and directors present kids as plain old kids, and we believe that's the secret to this show's success.
This sophomore series has only begun to explore the characters established in the first season, so we're wondering why Whoopi Goldberg has been added to the cast, but whatever. We will seldom discuss EHC in depth, which is the only reason it's not highlighted (bold font on titles and air times) like our other favorites in this entry. It's just not that kind must-talk-about can't-miss show for us. If we've seen an episode before publishing, we will note our rating. Between (the late) UPN and The CW, this sitcom has been shuffled around the schedule three or four (or more) times in the past 12 months. We have no idea how or why The CW put one of UPN's few bona fide hits on Sundays at 7:00pm Eastern in the first place. But we're moving forward ourselves, so we'll raise an eyebrow and let them move forward, because welcome and applaud the latest move to Mondays at Eastern/7 Central. Now let it be, CW. Let it be. Episode 2:01, Everybody Hates Rejection: OASIS Episode 2:02, Everybody Hates the Class President: OASIS Episode 2:03, Everybody Hates Elections: OASIS 9:00pm Eastern/7 Central: Heroes; NBC For now, Heroes is on MIRAGE WATCH, but only because it is a brand new series and we've been burnt too many times (we're looking at you, Lost). It might be an actual OASIS; we think it's good enough to keep watching. We have found it a tiny, tiny bit uneven and when it goes gory, it goes way gory, but so far it has been consistently good TV. The series premiere opens with written back-story right on our screen, like at the beginning of the original Star Wars. It reads: In recent days, a seemingly random group of individuals has emerged with what can only be described as 'special' abilities .
Although unaware of it now, these individuals will not only save the world, but change it forever. This transformation from ordinary to extraordinary will not occur overnight. Every story has a beginning.
Volume One of their epic tale begins here... That's the premise. Episodes and two-minute video summaries are available at NBC.com. The writers are taking their time building up the characters and there are a lot of characters to follow. Our favorite so far is Hiro. We hope to cover this series in depth, once we're past this painful catching up business. Episode 1:01, Pilot a.k.a. Genesis (?? a.k.a. In His Image): OASIS Episode 1:02, Don't Look Back: CUP of WATER Episode 1:03, Giant Leap: CUP of WATER Episode 1:04, Collision: OASIS 10:00pm Eastern/9 Central: Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip; NBC It seems oh so easy to call this the television industry's West Wing, so that's exactly what we're doing, because we're in catch up mode. The highlights thus far: Matthew Perry is not Chandler Bing. He is now Matt Albie--reportedly an Aaron Sorkin avatar. Matt is a brilliant, neurotic, Jewish-atheist writer who has broken up but is still in love with Sarah Paulson's (Hannah) Harriet Hayes, an equally gifted Southern Christian comic/actress, and alleged avatar for one-time Sorkin sweetheart Kristen Chenoweth. Harriet stars in the fictional show-within-this-show, one that is hell-bent on skewering the religious right. Bradley Whitford's recovering addict Danny Tripp is Perry's friend and business partner, who has been brought in as show-runner for the struggling late night live comedy/variety series. Amanda Peet's Jordan McDeere is the new network (the fictitious NBS) president. Together, they fight crime. Or--you know--bad TV. This series is also on MIRAGE WATCH, again, mainly because it is so new, but also because it is slightly uneven. There is a serial element to it, so we're considering in-depth coverage, but we're not sure the premise will bear that much analysis, and our time is limited by other projects. Studio 60 is in our Write About It if-we-feel-it-and-can-get-to-it Pile. As with Heroes, NBC streams the most recent episode on its website, and offers 2 minute summary clips. In case we fail to mention it later, this seems true of most/all NBC and CBS series, this season, and Sci-Fi is being equally helpful. The networks might be catching on to this here internet thang. Episode 1:01, Pilot: CUP of WATER Episode 1:02, The Cold Open: CUP of WATER Episode 1:03, The Focus Group: CUP of WATER Episode 1:04, The West Coast Delay: OASIS Episode 1:05, The Long Lead Story (we've yet to watch) TUESDAYS
9:00pm Eastern/8 Central: Veronica Mars; The CW This is, hands down, our favorite, five star TV OASIS. Okay, it's tied with another show we haven't yet mentioned. But really. It is hard to rate individual episodes, because a bad episode of Veronica Mars is usually as good as good episodes of most series. Keep that in mind, when we're less than over-the-moon. When you hear the TV critics talking about, "The Best Shows You're Not Watching," the Film Noir-esque Veronica Mars is nearly guaranteed a slot on their lists. Forget the ridiculous attempts at high-concept description, particularly the pathetic "Modern Day Nancy Drew" one. They have nothing in common. Snarky, intelligent Veronica (like her father Keith) is a hard-boiled detective, and there's nothing amateur about her. Forget the comparisons to Buffy the Vampire Slayer as well, aside from the fact that pretty blondes are the lead characters in both smartly written, well-crafted shows, they have nothing in common, and Veronica is no hero. Despite the fact that her demons are more mundane and less slimely, Veronica is not nearly as hopeful as Buffy, and given the realities of her world, we wouldn't have her any other way. In season 1, Veronica investigates her own rape, and the murder of her best friend, Lilly Kane, while falling for her own nemesis, Logan Echolls. We see her establish a (best) friendship with new kid Wallace Fennel, and close connections to resident techno-genius Cindy "Mac" McKenzie, and local gang leader, Eli "Weevil" Navarro. Season 2 opens with Veronica and Logan broken up, and Veronica reunited with her first love, Duncan Kane (brother of Lilly). They're not together for long though, as has to leave town with his child, the daughter of one-time class virgin and bus crash victim, Meg Manning, with whom he had a thing, while he and Veronica were apart. Veronica is so involved in investigating the crash that she forges on quite well on her own, and ends the season in the arms of Logan, again. In season 3, Veronica, Wallace, Mac, Logan, and party boy Dick Casablancas are all students at (local) Hearst College. Despite the fact that the series focuses on a teenager (she's now 19) and the people in her life, it has never been a coming of age drama. Veronica came of age before we ever met her when, in the wake of Lilly's murder, her dad lost his job as sheriff and her mom jumped right of the wagon, into the bottle and possibly into Jake Kane's bed, then walked away from her family. Because Veronica has always been adult (even before she was one, chronologically) the latest season does not suffer with the transfer to college. Instead, college life is opening up a whole new set of challenges for Veronica, and mysteries, too. Creator Rob Thomas has changed the format of the series, in hopes of making it accessible to new and casual viewers, and in order to avoid leaving them feeling lost. This season will not feature one huge mystery arc, but instead, will be divided into three main mysteries. The first, which will play out over the first nine episodes, concerns a series of on-campus rapes. Having watched episodes 1 - 3, we can say with certainty that if you haven't yet watched, you can (and should) start watching with episode 4. You won't be lost. We promise. If you are, ping us, and we'll help you out. Each episode stands on its own, with a mystery of the week. Expect episode commentary from us, now that we're all caught up. Episode 3:01, Welcome Wagon: CUP of WATER Episode 3:02, My Big Fat Greek Rush Week: CUP of WATER Episode 3:03, Linebacker: OASIS WEDNESDAYS 8:00pm Eastern/7 Central: 30 Rock; NBC We recently read that 30 Rock is to Studio 60 what Scrubs is to E.R. We wish we had noted the source, as we think it's clever. Although we hope it is correct, we are not convinced. But still? CLEVER. This series is on MIRAGE WATCH. Since it's a sitcom, don't count on regular coverage, here. Episode 1:01, Pilot: CUP of WATER (possibly only half full) 8:00pm Eastern/7 Central: Jericho; CBS This post-nuclear apocalyptic series has some serious flaws, and we are hopelessly attracted to it. Right now, it's a guilty pleasure. We love to watch it. We love to pick at it. We also think it has potential to be more. It's on MIRAGE WATCH because it's new, but we're always thirsty for it. We plan to discuss it occasionally. Episode 1:01, Pilot: CUP of WATER Episode 1:02, Fall Out: OASIS Episode 1:03, Four Horsemen: CUP of WATER Episode 1:04, Walls of Jericho: OASIS 9:00pm Eastern/8 Central: Lost; ABC At one time, Lost was a favorite OASIS, but it is now on MIRAGE WATCH. Too many set ups, too few pay-offs. The canon feels about as sturdy as a house of cards, but we're not ready to give up on it. We blame our inability to bid it farewell on Sayid and Sun. Episode 3:01, A Tale of Two Cities: CUP of WATER Episode 3:02, The Glass Ballerina: CUP of WATER THURSDAYS: 8:00pm Eastern/7 Central My Name is Earl; NBC We watch this because it's on before The Office. It's nothing more than a guilty pleasure. Enough said. 8:30pm Eastern/7:30 Central The Office; NBC The second of our two most favorite series, and another five star OASIS. We never expected to be this devoted to a sitcom, no matter how clever. Yes, we're suckers for the will-they/won't-they of Jim and Pam, but even when their potential romance is well out of focus, the rest of the series is a true pleasure. Like we do with Veronica Mars, we definitely hold this show to a higher standard than most of what we watch. Please keep that in mind when we say, for example, that an individual episode was only a CUP of WATER (in case we weren't clear before, keep it in mind for VM, too). Bad episodes of The Office are still better than just about anything else we watch. We plan to discuss this series, regularly. The season premiere inspired us to create this blog. Episode 3:01, Gay Witch Hunt: OASIS Episode 3:02, The Convention: CUP of WATER Episode 3:03, The Coup: CUP of WATER Episode 3:04, Grief Counseling: OASIS FRIDAYS: 9:00pm Eastern/8 Central: Battlestar Galactica; Sci-Fi Network We just started watching BSG a couple of weeks ago, when they aired a clips episode: The Story So Far. He knew we would love it. She was sure she would not. He was right. She was wrong. His faith is vindicated. Her skepticism is defeated. (Those disclaimers had better settle all debts, or He will be sorry). We're not sure about covering it in depth, because we're still catching up. We haven't watched any episodes from previous seasons, so we're over our heads. We came upon this series completely by accident and love it so, we're hard pressed to put it on MIRAGE WATCH, and do so ever so reluctantly, and only because it's new to us. Episode 3:01-02, Occupation: The Precipice: OASIS Episode 3:03, Exodus, Part I: OASIS In summation, we love Veronica Mars, and The Office beyond reason (and yet, for reasons too many to count). We think we could have something with Heroes, are sorted of attracted to Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, feel led on by Lost but aren't ready to burn our bridges, and have an embarrassing and inexplicable crush on Jericho. We can take or leave My Name is Earl, don't know what to make of 30 Rock yet, and Everybody Hates Chris fills a special place in our hearts. When they finally premiere, we'll add Scrubs and 24 to our line up, as well. Show Rating Glossary: OASIS: Used for both good episodes and good series. NOTE: Just as a good series can have a bad episode here and there, a subpar series can turn out a good episode, once in a while. CUP of WATER: Used for episodes that are good enough. We probably won't re-watch them, but we don't feel like we should have spent the time sleeping. CUP of SAND: Used for poor episodes. MIRAGE WATCH: Used for new series that haven't lost us, but haven't won us over to the extent that we'd call them an OASIS in the VAST WASTELAND that is TV. MIRAGE: Used for series that seemed promising (or were once good), but now consistently disappoint. WASTELAND: Used for series we can't stand. ... Coming up later this week: Reviews of Veronica Mars 3:03, Wichita Linebacker and The Office 3:05, The Initiation. If possible, we will review Heroes 1:04, Collision, as well. A plea to our VOX readers: We are having a horrible time with the VOX interface. When we compose large entries in VOX, we sometimes lose them. When we spellcheck in VOX, but want to keep words VOX does not recognize (intentional misspellings or made up words), VOX omits them. When we compose in MS Word, and then paste the entries into VOX, VOX still omits words (or things like "8:00pm" which is our preferred format for recording time), even if we've shut off the visible Word spellchecker, and don't use the VOX spellcheck function at all. It also translates paragraph breaks as line breaks, whenever it pleases, but not consistently. If you note odd missing words (and for some reason, VOX is not a "Logan" fan and omits his name somewhat randomly, and omitted "Jericho" once) please give us a shout, so we can edit. We're not perfect, but we're not as careless as this technology would leave you to believe. And VOX? You're so on MIRAGE WATCH. As of right now.
