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Pop Autopsy

Veronica Mars

May 22, 2007

What went wrong with “Veronica Mars?” She went to college this year. Was that it? Were viewers turned off by the Hearst college rapist plot thread, which ran through the first half of this season? Did Logan turn too sullen? They changed the theme music … I mean, same song but different mix. Was that when the shark jumped?

Here’s your answer. Nothing went wrong with “Veronica Mars.” It jumped the shark … never. We’ve been there since day one and it has never felt any less smart, or funny, or unexpected as it is now. There’s no dramatic drop off in quality here. This is pure math -- ratings math; network math. This is the sum of an easy equation, whose two parts are: a major network merger and a far too extended hiatus.

There’s no coincidence that “The Gilmore Girls” is ending its run at the same time this season. When the WB and UPN merged into CW there were glowing expectations about rating success for the new network, factoring in the two channels collective ensemble of urban sitcoms and teenage-dreamy dramas to create a singular prime-time schedule.

Shows like “Smallville” and “One Tree Hill” were best suited to hold the moniker of “the new ‘Dawson’s Creek’” for the new CW. “Gilmore” and “Mars” had many of the same elements: attractive teens, precocious, quick witted dialogue … but both seemed a cut above. The humor, acting, writing, even the mall hip soundtrack music were intangibly different -- better.

Comments

Amber P. wrote:

This is such crap!!!! All of my favorite shows are cancelled now...this was my reason for watching TV period. The writing was excellent...it never jumped the shark. It just never got the chance to shine. The CW is pretty much terrible now.

posted at May 24, 2007 03:52 PM

Michelle M wrote:

WHAT!?!?! I love this show! I just saw the season finale and I was saying that I couldn't wait til next season. Well there goes another GREAT show!

posted at May 24, 2007 08:32 PM

Jennifer M wrote:

OMG. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS SHOW. I don't think CW gave it enough credit. I got so tired of the long breaks between new shows. Did they want it to fail? I know I never missed an episode. I'm so tired of loosing great shows.

posted at May 26, 2007 05:59 AM

Anita H wrote:

This year most of my favorite shows were pulled. Some had jumped the shark (The O.C) and others reached a point where it was good to end them before they did (Gilmore Girls), but it is not Veronica Mars' time! I wish more people would fight back for renewal... I am convinced that with the efforts of the NUTS campaign for Jericho it will come back. FIGHT FOR V MARS!

posted at May 26, 2007 02:01 PM

Nicky wrote:

I think this is a bad move on the CW's part. This is (was) a great show and was the only show on the CW that I could still stand to watch. Looking at their new line up I now realize their target audience are those with the attention span of a nail. Despite a few things that may go well for them, the best they have for us is catty females and reality dribble. I doubt anything will stand up to the talent in the Veronica Mars cast and crew.

posted at May 28, 2007 10:02 PM

Nikki B wrote:

I'm heartbroken that this show has been canceled. My all time favourite show!! There has to be something viewers can do to stop this! They have until June 15th right? Stupid CW, Dumb executives.

http://www.saveveronicamars.tv/index.html

posted at May 29, 2007 04:02 PM

Allison wrote:

The CW's panhandling lead to the downfall of both Gilmore Girls and the amazingly witty Veronica Mars. It has, as one local journalist put it, exchanged "witty dialog and in depth characters for cup sizes". America's Next Top Model and The Pussy Cat Dolls (and giving new life to the very dead 7th Heaven) instead of VM?

Boycott CW.

posted at May 30, 2007 10:49 PM

linzi wrote:

This sucks. Someone should do something. If there are this many people upset about cancelling, maybe if someone does a petition or we all send peanuts to the network like they're doing for Jericho, the corporate show cancellers will change their minds like they did for Family Guy. That show was off for a long time and the viewers resurrected it.

posted at June 4, 2007 01:51 PM

Sippy wrote:

THE NETWORKS ARE TRULY PISSING ME OFF! Jericho, Veronica Mars, Gilmore Girls, and 7th Heaven are AWESOME shows. The ratings problem has a lot to do with these extremely LONG hiatus' that every show just about took this year. It was outrageously ridiculous. Money is also a driving factor in decisions. Why get emotionally invested in a show when the network execs are only going to give it a chance if the ratings stay astronomically high. It is not possible. Things happen and people miss shows. It has nothing to do with the quality of the show. I have about 7 returning shows to watch for the Fall. I don't see anything new that I like much...except maybe the Bionic Woman (maybe).

posted at June 4, 2007 07:18 PM

myndi wrote:

save veronica mars... call the CW execs and let them know you care. Here is the number for the CW viewer comment line. learn it. Know it. Call it.
(818)977-6878

posted at June 5, 2007 04:41 PM

Phillip wrote:

This is really unfortunate. It needs to come back becasuse I won't watch the CW if it's not there.

posted at June 13, 2007 12:56 AM

Jacey wrote:

Veronica Mars was awesome!!! The CW is stupid for canceling it. It had all the ingredients of a terrific show: excellent acting and writing. Veronica Mars was also a character girls could look up to. Smart, beautiful, confident, and witty. The CW will loose its' audience come next season and I hope they regret what they did!

posted at June 14, 2007 09:54 AM

Kathryn wrote:

Veronica Mars NEVER jumped the shark. If the CW was hoping for better ratings then they shouldn't have had a long hiatus for the show. CW is ridiculously stupid for cancelling it. With the demise of Gilmore Girls and untimely cancelling of VM I can positively say the CW will not be getting me as a viewer next season. I mean, what good shows do they even have left?
I wish another network would pick up VMars but I guess that isn't going to happen... bummer.

posted at June 29, 2007 07:52 PM

Rebecca wrote:

Veronica Mars is one of the best shows out there! I always knew that the show was aired on the wrong network. I guess it just goes to show that smart, confident young women can't compete with the likes of Paris Hilton and all of the other young celebs out there when it comes to t.v. air time. I hope this is not the last time that I see a show of this caliber.

posted at June 29, 2007 11:27 PM

Nicole wrote:

I'm a 30ish year old woman and rather enjoyed Veronica Mars. I have been watching it from the beginning. I even TiVo so I won't miss an episodes. I really hate all the good shows are leaving.

posted at July 6, 2007 04:00 PM

Mark wrote:

Rob Thomas was quoted as saying he thought Les Moonves of CBS was the main one responsible for the decision to cancel Veronica Mars. Their are still campaigns being waged to get us more Veronica and to try to expose the weaknesses in the Nielson rating system. If people look they can still find campaigns. The one I'm involved in is conducting Movie, syndication and cast and crew appreciation campaigns.

posted at July 6, 2007 07:50 PM

Tasha wrote:

This sucks!!!! There will be nothing left!

I'm off to e-mail my heart out! We all have to save this show!!!

posted at July 9, 2007 09:19 PM

Heather wrote:

I am so sad it is no more. This was my fave show!!!! Grrrr CW you suck and made a horrible decision!

posted at July 11, 2007 05:44 PM

Jetgraphics wrote:

Too bad there's little hope for syndication. The mantra seems to be cheap programming and higher profits. Not to mention the suicidal networks vandalizing their programming with pop up ads, animations and gawdawful noize - in the middle of shows!
... Back to reading good books, sigh.

posted at August 19, 2007 04:48 PM

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July, 2007 1 entry
May, 2007 2 entries
March, 2007 1 entry
February, 2007 1 entry
December, 2006 3 entries
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