Frak! this show was so good...

I first learned of Veronica Mars because I know someone named Ryan Hansen. Ryan posted in his blog about "Self-googlization" and noting that he'd not seen the show in its totality, but that the character on the show seemed like an idiot. He wasn't that far off on the character of Dick in the first season. But, by now, in the third (and probably almost 95% sure) the last season, we were JUST starting to see more of the peeled back layers and dynamics of this character.
More to the point of this blogpost. this is my outlet. this is the first time I have ever considered actually writting to a network or joining a "save the show" movement. When Buffy switched to UPN from the WB, I couldn't watch it because we didn't get UPN here at my home, but I was comforted to know that I had a friend up the street who did and I could watch it loyally at her house.
have i ever been concerned about nielson ratings? Not in the least. I don't think my house is a nielson(splg?) house though. If there was an easy way to convey to the executives at the CW (the UPN WB merged project that happened this year) that Veronica Mars is a great show...it has already been done over and over by the fans of the show.(http://www.saveveronicamars.net) Much in the same way that Firefly was promoted by fans when it was cancelled after one season, i think the Veronica Mars fan presence in the blogosphere and posting threads has spoken to its popularity. yet, people are arguing that the "ratings were terrible" so no wonder it was cancelled.
well, again I point out that the WB put a little known mid-season replacement on the air back when i was highschool called Buffy the Vampire Slayer...I saw the VERY FIRST EPISODE of that show when it aired, and was hooked from day one. with Veronica Mars, I came in late in second season, saw one episode and was again immediately hooked. I went out and bought season 1 on dvd. I even tried to get as many clips as possible via Utube to piece together what I might not have seen first time around.
it is true that word of mouth is a powerful tool..but indeed, not quite as powerful as the "proof is in the pudding" approach, or maybe it is. I have now managed to hook at least 4 female friends in my quote unquote demographic of 25-30. now I feel bad because i've hooked them, and left them with no season four and a nasty cliffhanger to end season 3.
i will most likely be sending mars bars wrappers to the head of the CW network (if i can find Mars bars in my hometown) and as the newest member of my VMARS club suggested, they'll be just the wrappers - because the CW hasn't told us the whole story. They don't deserve a sweet reward of chocolate. They only deserve the outer cover, because that's all they supplied to us. Many of the characters are like Dick, in the respect that they were on a VERY great and realistic development of their arcs. There haven't been many shows where I laugh outloud during each episode at the same time that i notice I am so tense about the season long arc of mystery that I've actually ignored the melting Ben and Jerry's ice cream under my nose. I've already read college film class papers about comparisons of strong female role models and "episodic" structure of both Buffy and VMars. This by a male in the film studies program. this proves men are watching to. Kevin Smith and Joss Whedon, two of my FAVORITE directors, felt that the show was worthwhile enough for them to make guest apperances with minor cameos. Meaning that the show was important enough for them to join, but not "steal the story spotlight" The viewers were also starting to find higher-pofile stars like Paul Rudd lending their talents to the show's plots.
Basically, i think the CW has made HUGE mistake and underestimated their biggest asset. The CW isnt'a major 3 network. Upn and the WB weren't either. These were the networks for the fringe demographics and those people who knew what they were going to watch certain nights of the week. i have heard numerous comments on VMars podcasts and threads that suggest the viewers of this show were not JUST in my demographic. Older women and men, in the ranges of their 40's were also watching because the show is smart and well-written. But it was not promoted well enough outside of CW's own commercials by the CW network. CW relied too heavily on the word of mouth of its cast and the t.v. critics. well, huh. the critics liked the show too. So if the fans like the show, and the critics like the show...i don't see the complicated problem of why not to continue this show.
instead cw's fall line-up includes more reality tv shows, which we all know are over produced looks at people wanting to be on camera, and shows that follow teenage rich girls as they stab each other in the backs. I am highly surprised that the Cw isn't giving vMars another season to prove itself as a viable ratings candidate. I may not have a nielson tv myself, but I do have my voice and a blog. Thank god for the internet allowing us to do these sorts of rants. oh yeah, and I've ranted with those 4 friends too...and they've done likewise.
I think it is true what they say, "one bad experience at a resturaunt doesn't cost the resturaunt one customer, it costs them all the people that customer tells." Well, CW, I think you're going to find yourself with even fewer viewers of your "fine programming" in the Fall 2007 line-up. I only watched gilmore girls and Veronica mars. one it was time to end because the actresses wanted to move on in their careers. The other...was ended prematurely and before the actors could truly develop their characters as they should have been able to do. As a closing remark, I'll just say this. Ryan, I agree, the character the other Ryan Hansen plays is indeed in need of improvement and more dynamic to be more than a "surfing buddy to the lead," but he is a character on one of the best damn t.v. shows I've ever had the pleasure to watch by myself and with friends.
so I'll leave you with this:
Piz: I promise you, karma is going to take care of it for you.
Veronica: I know. I'll run him over with my karma.