Will we ever know what they did last summer?
As TV's coolest sleuth returns in fresh episodes of UPN's Veronica Mars (Wednesdays at 9 pm/ET), fans are dying to know: What was in the note Weevil wrote Lilly last season? When will Jake Kane and Veronica's mom be back? Well, it's time to get a clue: TVGuide.com readers sent in their burning questions for the show's producers and Mars creator Rob Thomas once again provided the answers in an exclusive Q&A.
Question: Is the big murder mystery this season the bus crash or the murder Logan was accused of? Or both? — ShabaRob Thomas: We think of the bus mystery as the big mystery and "Who killed Felix?" as the secondary mystery. Veronica is much more involved in the bus-crash investigation. We wanted a secondary mystery that would play largely on other series regulars
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Question: Hey, Matt, love the column. I just watched the Oct. 26 episode of Veronica Mars and was absolutely blown away. This was, in my opinion, the best episode of the season so far (in what has been an absolutely excellent second year). I loved the scene between Wallace and Veronica in which Wallace accused her of operating as if it's all about Veronica and everyone else just lives in her world. To me, that scene is what separates a show such as VM from the rest: well-written, well-acted and based on history. Every fan of the show realized how one-sided Veronica and Wallace's relationship was, but to see it play out on-screen was sheer brilliance. Also, I admit I was nervous about the new Jackie character, but I love how she was the catalyst in this great episode. I think she is a formidable match for Veronica in the future. Her "just pick one" line was just classic. What do you think of Jackie? And do you think that Kristen Bell is one of the best (if not the best) actress on ...
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Kristen Bell
Yeah, we were disappointed, too. That plucky little "Fame"-singing Veronica Mars star, Kristen Bell, is so busy headlining one of TV's best shows (or "Best. Show. Ever." as Buffy overlord Joss Whedon recently put it) that Insider had to settle for e-mailing our list of questions to her, then waiting out the weekend — and all day Monday and half of Tuesday, but who's counting? — until her answers hit our in-box. Did Neptune's finest play nice? Or did she treat us like spam? TVGuide.com went all out to make the most of the electronic exchange (which was filtered through Kristen's people, folks, so no harassing me for her e-mail addy).
TVGuide.com: What R U wearing right.... Oops. Sorry, wrong window. Let me start by, um, thanking you for taking the time to do this.Kristen Bell: No problem. I'm
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Question: Did you see Kristen Bell on Leno last Wednesday? She wanted to change her name to Smurfette when she was a kid! That's got to get her some Ausiello love, right? She should be promoted to Mariska status for that, no?
Answer: I didn't see it, but I heard all about it from my peeps (read: you guys!). And yes, her stock soared with that nifty revelation.
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Question: I love Veronica Mars and it's all your fault. I never thought I'd enjoy a show about a young blonde chippy in high school solving mysteries, but you were right — it's fabulous! That said, give up the scoop, er, poop!
Answer: How 'bout some visual Mars poop: Click here for a first look at Joss Whedon playing that testy rental-car manager in the Nov. 9 episode. And to see him in action with Kristen Bell, pick up the new issue of TV Guide magazine and turn to the Ausiello Report on page 10! Also, make sure to read Rob Thomas' latest Q&A with fans in today's Insider. There are a couple of good poop droppings in there.
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William Shatner
This, folks, is a cautionary tale about what happens when you put a Grammys producer in charge: The 57th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, airing Sept. 18 on CBS, will feature actors performing classic TV theme songs throughout the telecast. At the end of the show, a winner (determined by viewer votes) will be declared the "Emmy Idol." The playlist includes The Apprentice's Donald Trump and Will & Grace's Megan Mullally doing Green Acres (OK, that could be fun); Boston Legal's William Shatner and opera star Frederica von Stade channeling Star Trek (There are lyrics? I'm scared); Veronica Mars' Kristen Bell taking on Fame; and CSI's
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Question: What the hell!?!? How could voters ignore everyone on Nip/Tuck, especially Julian McMahon and Famke Janssen, Denis Leary of Rescue Me, Matthew Fox on Lost, Veronica Mars' Kristen Bell, Shohreh Aghdashloo and Mary Lynn Rajskub of 24 and the true comedic stars of the last half of DH's first season, Eva Longoria and the underused and underappreciated Nicollette Sheridan. I can't believe the dismal Will & Grace continues to score nominations. Damn! What were these people watching? Reno 911 deserved a shot! Why are voters ignoring FX and Comedy Central, yet HBO gets so much acclaim?. I mean, Six Feet Under? Give me a break! How frustrating! Matt, help me see a silver lining!
Answer: What, and halt such a full-bodied rant in midstream? The list of indignities goes on and on, doesn't it? But a good point when it comes to basic cable networks like Comedy Central and FX not getting the respect of HBO. I think my heart first sank at the very start of the Emmy nominations broadcast when
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Scrubs
Instead of sitting around sulking about this year's long list of egregious Emmy snubs — Lauren Graham, Denis Leary, Lauren Graham, Gregory Smith, Lauren Graham, Kristen Bell, Lauren Graham, Matthew Fox, Lauren Graham, Lauren Graham and Lauren Graham, to name just a few — I decided to accentuate the positive from Thursday's nominations. Specifically, the four-years-in-the-making best comedy nod for TV's smartest, most side-splitting comedy, Scrubs. After taking part in a few rounds of high fives, six champagne toasts and two games of Twister, I phoned series creator Bill Lawrence to offer my hearty congratulations and grill him for scoop on the new season.TVGuide.com: How do you feel?Bill Lawrence: I'm very grateful. It means more than you could imagine to the cast and writers and crew, 'cause it wa
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Desperate Housewives
Nominations for the 57th Emmy Awards were announced this morning and, as expected, ABC's Desperate Housewives cleaned up with 15 nods, including best comedy series and bids for leading ladies Marcia Cross, Teri Hatcher and Felicity Huffman. Housewives tied NBC's terminally ill Will & Grace for most nominated series. (No, that wasn't a typo.) ABC's other freshman smash, Lost, scored 12 nods, including best drama series and supporting actors for both Naveen Andrews and Terry O'Quinn. Among the pleasant surprises: long-overdue nominations for NBC's Scrubs and star Zach Braff; supporting nods for The Shield's CCH Pounder and Grey's Anatomy's Sandra Oh; and best-actor nods for Deadwood's [bleepin'] brilliant Ian McShane and House's crabby doc Hugh Laurie. Of course, there were also plenty of glaring omissions, most notably WB's perpetually ignored Gilmo
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Question: Do you predict an Emmy nomination for Mariska Hargitay this year?
Answer: Yes, I actually think she's a shoo-in. That reminds me, Emmy nominations are announced tomorrow (Thursday) morning, so don't forget to pray extra hard tonight for Lauren Graham and Kristen Bell. And check out Entertainment News around 10 am/ET for an overview of all the nominees.
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