And I should add that this season Veronica Mars will be on right after America's Next Top Model, and that Naima, last season's winner, will be guest-starring in the premiere.

I agree, this was my favourite show on television last season. I can not wait for it to start again. It is a hard show to sell to your friends. Telling them it is like a "nancy drew meets my so called life meets.. I dont know but it is really good!" doesn't seem to work well, but please people start watching it. You will be happy you did, and it will stay on the air.

#6 The show is called Veronica Mars.
and
#7 No.

I was one of those who never watched this show during the regular season but tuned in last week to the two episodes shown on CBS, partly out of curiosity and partly because nothing else was on. Now, I can't wait until the DVD's come out so I can see the whole thing. I am addicted to Lost and will still watch it next season, but my tivo will be set to pick up Veronica Mars for later viewing. Veronica Mars is extremely well-done, with great acting, intriguing plotlines (both the season-long story arcs and the smaller ones), good, interesting characters, and some excellent writing. If it only took me 15 minutes of watching the first episode to figure that out, I know the entire show must be of rare quality.

@nhanimal: This is seriously one of the best shows on TV. You can't say you wont watch it because of the name. Come on, its a TV show for gods sake!

Veronica is like the new Buffy. If you didn't like Buffy, for whatever reason, then Veronica is *great* because it's like Buffy w/o the supernatural slant.
what I mean is- Great, funny characters dealing with dark and heavy, life or death situations.

After watching the first episode I was sure that I wanted to BE Veronica Mars! She's just that cool. Plus the entire first season has a complete story arch. All the questions raised through out the series are actually answered by the end.

I was intrigued by everyone's love of the show-so I looked up some of the 1st season scripts to read. I'm hooked. And I haven't even seen an episode yet.

nhanimal, I'm curious as to why you think Veronica Mars is such a bad name for a show. Does it sound at all interesting to you besides that? Would you watch if it had a different name? Or is the name just the nail in the coffin for you?

Excellent post! Veronica Mars is by far the best show on television right now. It's smart, I certainly do laugh out loud watching the show and it has respect for its characters and their development which is a lot more than I can say for other shows.

I also cannot understand the UPN excuse. What does that even mean?

I can't wait for the new season to start!

I am among the most, "Yeah, right" people I know. I was sick to death of reading about the glory that is VM.

Then I took the plunge. OMG.

Never, and I mean never, has a show weaved so many complex and riveting storylines for an entire season so effectively. The weekly arcs were entertaining, as well. Somehow, they didn't detract/distract from the main arcs. Most crucially, the continuity was truly outstanding and merits an Emmy of its own.

I am at a complete loss as to how the show maintains anything approaching the magnificence of the inagural season. But I certainly will watch in hopes it can.

First off, you present a good case for the show, addressing concerns I had (such as "it's on UPN") . With that said, let's be honest - how ridiculous do you feel when you tell people, "Oh, I can't go out because VERONICA MARS is on tonight" or "hey, let's go catch VERONICA MARS on UPN tonight" (a double faux pas). The name just ends it for me - do I want to get to know a Veronica Mars? Would I befriend a Veronica Mars? Would I feel ridiculous introducing a Veronica Mars to my friends? No. No. Yes. And in that order. For example, Ally McBeal. I don't like legal-ish shows, but I at least gave that a go because I don't feel nearly as ridiculous saying I watch Ally McBeal as I would saying I watch Veronica Mars.

nhanimal it's your loss.

Erica,

Along with the comments, your reasons have pushed me over the edge to rid myself of my VM virginity!

I heart this post.

Anyone, name snobs and skeptics included, should watch 1 episode of the show before judging it so absolutely. It's on CBS right now, plus UPN is airing reruns, plus the DVD's come out shortly, so you have a perfect chance to catch a season 1 episode soon. If after actually watching 1 episode you don't love it and want more, then you can bash it, mock it, and question the title. And if you go out every night it's on, tivo it. That's what tivo was made for!

we call it V. Mars all the time for some reason, so you could do that. It doesn't sound as bad does it? Besides you are doing yourself the disservice of not watching this show for a silly reason.

I actually had the opposite sort of feelings about the show. I couldn't wait to see it before it first aired. Seeing all the promos I thought it looked very interesting. (And I always loved Buffy too like all you guys.) And then I watched it and just was so disappointed. When she talks about getting raped, it was kind of like "oh geez, I stubbed my toe and it sucked." I found it almost offensive how casually they treated the rape, but then I also just attributed it to bad acting.

However, as an addict to tvgasm, with a lot of respect for my fellow tvgasmistas, I will give it another shot. I did like her in Spartan.

hey jayneatomic, i can see what you're saying about the rape. my only defense is that it IS sort of pushed aside at the beginning of the season, but it's well worth it when you get to the episode where her rapist is revealed. I think the show just sets it up as though her rape is something that's too painful for her to process for awhile, and I think that is realistic, especially since (in episode 1, not sure which ep you saw) she tries to report it to the police and is mocked and belittled.

nhanimal--i would never feel silly saying "oh i'm going to watch veronica mars tonight." i mean, i watch the o.c., and to me that name is way sillier. i guess i just don't understand it.

This show is the best. When I first saw the promos, I thought it would just be some lame Nancy Drew/O.C. ripoff, so I definitely had my doubts.

But after giving it a chance, it won me over, and now I'm completely addicted! Kristen Bell is amazing.

Jayne, I too felt the same way about the first episode. But then I caught "Another Echol's Family Christmas" on the repeats and fell in love with the characters, the plot of the week, and the overall arch of the show. Now i'm hooked. Glad that you are going to give it one more chance!

"The name just ends it for me - do I want to get to know a Veronica Mars? Would I befriend a Veronica Mars?"

Would you want to know a "Buffy"? Would you befriend a Buffy? Would you say to your friends "I am watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer on the WB/UPN tonight"?

The same goes for Desperate Housewives, which sounds like the title of a softcore porno from the 70s.

TV show titles tend to be on the cheesy side.

Okay a few things. nhanimal, just call it VM or VMars because those are two very acceptable and widely-used nicknames for it. I don't even really understand what you think is so bad about her name? I think it's an adorable name, but that's possibly because Veronica is beyond adorable. Was Buffy the Vampire Slayer really a "cool" name? I mean, ok this chick with a whacked out name, Buffy, goes around killing these vampires, wow THAT sounds so much better than a show simply titled the girl's name, Veronica Mars. Come on, you cannot judge a show by the name, and it's not even a bad name at that.

Jayne, glad you are giving it another chance, you won't regret it. I admit, it moves rather slowly in the beginning, more background information and less of the sarcastic interaction which is some of the best stuff of this show. By about halfway, it just picks up hard-core, to the point where I was thinking about VM just about every waking moment, especially near the finale. As soon as the episode ended, it would be "is it next Tuesday yet?" And every single day was "is it Tuesday yet?" Of course they are changing it to Wednesday, unfortunately against Lost, but tape Lost and watch VM. As far as I've heard, Lost is going downhill anyway.

Okay, finally, I just want to wonder about the UPN comment, because I'm not sure if people actually use the fact that it's on UPN as an excuse not to watch it, or rather as a reason, because I know a TON of people who just plain don't get UPN where they are, and that is very unfortunate. But there's always cable, in fact I know at least 2 or 3 people whom I have converted with CD-r discs of the shows, who are absolutely in love with it now, and were intending to getting around to getting cable eventually but now have a deadline that they WILL get cable by September 21st because, well, duh. They just can't miss the awesomeness that is Veronica Mars, now that they've experienced it. I have not shown VM to a single person who didn't like it. Everyone I've shown it to, they are totally and completely head over heels. Seriously. It is that good.

I know how hard it is to convince people to watch it. I've had to personally deliver tapes of the episodes to friends and sat them down and watch the first few episodes with them. Result? They've all loved it.

I hate to describe it too much, because the process of discovering and getting to know the characters and the mystery throughout the season is part of what makes this show so great. Some discoveries come from slowly peeling back layers. Some just smack you in the face. I was an intermittant viewer for most of the season. I watched it when I remembered to, but it wasn't until halfway through the season that it became must-see TV. Then it became a bit of an obsession. The characters just crack me up....and then break my heart. In a good way.

Anyway, nothing is what it seems at first. This applies to each and every episode, character, and it applies to the ridiculously cute title. Or you can always say you're tuning in to look at the HOT girls (or guys).

Hey, we're trying to get Entertainment Weekly to do a cover story on VM. Check out the details at http://www.saveveronicamars.com/buzz.html

Great article Erica.

I'm also one of those fans that's late in coming to appreciate this show. It so does remind me of Buffy, and I LOVED Buffy. My only problem is that between the CBS and UPN repeats, I have watched the episodes in a hodgepodge way. I want to know who the rapist is , and who the killer is! I guess I'll have to wait until the DVD comes out, unless I can catch it on the UPN before the new season starts.

veronica mars is an awesome show, since i dont have upn i had to download the episodes but it was worth the wait.

nhanimal, You know who doesn't watch Veronica Mars? CAPPY! You don't want to be like Cappy do you? (^_~)

I used to feel the same way about Buffy; but you can just say your going to watch "Veronica" and when you say you're going to watch it on
UPN- wouldn't that mean you knew something other people didnt? Wouldn't that mean you were a little bit cooler then everyone else that scoffs at the United Paramount Network?

6. For the love of god, stop comparing it to Buffy. I have a Buffy. I love Buffy. The best way to get me to irrationally hate VM? Keep telling me how much better it is than Buffy.

Although seriously, I watched the whole season and liked it. But really, it's just a show. The gushing and almost sacred tones and attempts at converting people to fans seems way out of whack with what the show actually is.

Just tell people that it stars this great actress who was great on Deadwood and a Showtime movie and that this show also has an edgy cable network feel to it. Rob Thomas has said that he originally envisioned it on a cable network. Or if you're like me just tell them that your cousin is this great actress that stars on Veronica Mars. (Kristen Bell is actually a distant cousin of mine.)

Don't blame the VM fans for all the Buffy comparisons.

Time magazine:
And like its godsister Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Mars uses its pulp premise to dramatize a universal teen experience: that growing up means sleuthing out the mystery of who you really are.

When given a choice between voting for Veronica Mars or Marti Noxon’s Point Pleasant, members of whedonesque.com overwhelmingly voted for Veronica Mars.
http://whedonesque.com/?comments=6177

Alyson Hannigan:
"They were talking about being compared to 'Buffy,' which I'm sure is annoying for them, but it's actually a good thing....I would hope that 'Buffy' fans would watch it....I don't understand why people aren't watching it."
(This article contains spoilers for season 1 http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,271|93624|1|,00.html)

Joss Whedon:
Q: You watch “Veronica Mars”?
Joss: I’m a latecomer. We just started.
Q: You know what they call “Veronica Mars”?
Joss: “The New Buffy.”
Q: “The New Buffy” is what they call it.
Joss: Well, the pilot was pretty damn good. So, yeah, I just demanded the tapes so we could catch up.
(This article contains minor spoilers about the upcoming movie Serenity. http://www.infocusmag.com/05augustseptember/whedonuncut.htm)

Not watching this amazing show because it has a dumb name and you are worried about what people are going to think of you is CRAZY to me. The question you should be asking yourself is...why do you care what other people think about you so much? And, if your friends will think poorly of you for watching a TV show, why do you want them as your friends?

I proudly tell people of my Veronica Mars love and try to recruit them as viewers, and they always thank me in the end. The show is just. that. good.

The trick is to get them to watch an episode. If you can get them to watch one then they're usually hooked. I have a stack of DVDs that I've made of the pilot that I keep handing out and they keep coming back and asking for more.