Veronica Mars

To be honest, I fought this one at first.  My parents actually liked VM long before I understood it.  I watched Kristen Bell perform "Fame" at the 2005 Emmy awards and all I thought at the time was who is this chick?  I was totally, like, over stupid teen shows. The OC was dead to me.  One Tree Hill, please.  So over.

Then I saw the light.  Veronica Mars IS different.  It's not a "teen" show.  It just happens to feature teenagers.

I can't remember the exact day or time or how it happened, but I finally watched the pilot episode around the same time Season 2 was getting underway.  I think I may have seen part of an episode at my parents' house, thought it was cute, and decided to check out the first season.  LIFE CHANGING.

If you haven't seen the series, it is definitely worth Netflixing the DVDs.  The show was only on for three seasons, and it didn't really get better with age.  But even though S2 and S3 weren't as good as S1, they're still a helluva lot better that most TV.  And S1 is EPIC.  I mean, seriously EPIC. 

The pilot episode is a work of art.  It should be studied in film school or something.  The only way it could have been better is if the show had actually been picked up by HBO.  I read the original script geared toward a more adult audience, and I can guarantee the show would have been un-f'ing-believable.  Imagine how much edgier the show could have been...  Even with the CW network, I was amazed at what they got away with doing.  They were allowed to say and do things that would NOT have flown on BtVS.  But VM was always clever and almost never crass.

Love you VM!

I'll leave you with a few of a my favorite uncomfortable Veronica and Dad moments [dads and 16-year-old daughters should not be allowed to banter like this, but it's fun!]...

Keith: You don't go to the Oceanside bars that the college kids hang out at, do you?
Veronica: I prefer the biker bar by the train station. I get more attention there.

Keith: So how was your date?
Veronica: Oh, you know. Lousy conversation, but the sex was fantastic!
Keith: That's not funny.
Veronica: I don't know. I'm pretty sure it was.

Keith: So, senior year. How was your first day at school honey?
Veronica: Great! I beat up a freshman, stole his lunch money and then skipped out after lunch.
Keith: What, no pre-marital sex?
Veronica: Oh, yea... yes. But don't worry dad, I swear you're gonna like these guys.
Keith: That's my girl.

Prostitute: Is Keith here?
Veronica: Dad... your hooker's here.
Keith: Escort, honey... So why don´t you go to your room and do your... blog or whatever you kids do.