Commentary with a Co-ed: Moonlight finale

by Ashley Gouveia

Forgive me, while I shed some tears. Last Friday night looked like it was the last episode of Moonlight for the foreseeable future. It’s incredibly sad that just when it got even more exciting, it has to take a hiatus. But in this mid-strike world, I’ve learned to deal with it. So, in the meantime, let me dispense my thoughts on the season finale.

It was great hearing “Your Guardian Angel” by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus when Beth was thinking about how Josh was killed. Such an amazing song! Kudos to the person who selects the music. They have picked some great ones that fit the scenes perfectly, especially in this episode. Poor Josh, he never really had a chance. He was always going to be the odd man out in that triangle. I’m glad to see his character wasn’t forgotten after just one week. Or that he wasn’t a cheating loser like Beth suspected.

We got to see where Coraline ran off to when she disappeared from the hospital and who helped her escape. Who did she call? Andy McPhee! (Cue remix of Ghostbusters theme with Paula Cole’s “I Don’t Want to Wait.”) She played Cynthia, Coraline’s mysterious vampy friend. Speaking of mysterious new faces, Coraline’s people kept popping up all over the place in this episode. One-eyed Lance turned out not only to be a blood relative of Louis XIV, but her brother! Yeah, didn’t see either one of those coming.

I liked how we got to see more of Coraline’s past. Now we have to see more of Mick’s, before he joined the Beach Boys cover band. I know he wanted the cure for vampirism, but I wasn’t expecting him to jump right in like he did. He hates being a vampire, but I wonder if he’s going to enjoy not being capable to protect those close to him. Any guesses on who the “him” is that Coraline was carted off to see?

David Blue, aka Cliff on Ugly Betty, made another guest appearance as the vamp with the techno skills. I hope that character sticks around for the next batch of episodes. His comedy with Mick is really refreshing. Where’s Josef? I need more Jason Dohring on my screen. One of my favorite episodes was the one where we got to see Josef’s girlfriend who’s in the coma. I’d love to see that storyline explored further.

What happens next with Mick and Beth? That is the question that left us hanging in the final moments. I can’t wait for the show to return! What did you all think of last Friday’s episode? Was there anything you wished had happened but didn’t? Let me know in the comments. For now, goodnight Moonlight.

Commentary with a Co-Ed is a weekly column at Tube Talk new every Friday.

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Interview with Moonlight’s Jason Dohring

by Jennifer Squires Biller

Moonlight fans, do I have a treat for you. Earlier today I spoke with one of the show’s stars, Jason Dohring, or as you know him, Josef, one of the world’s oldest vampires.

Dohring was kind enough to take time to speak me and a few other TV press folks and was as charming as ever.

He’s so excited for us to see the upcoming episodes he could hardly contain himself. From the spoilers he gave us, the future episodes sound awesome, or as Jason put it, “F------ awesome!”

Thanks again to Jason and to CBS for this interview. And don’t forget to watch Moonlight this Friday at 9 p.m. I don’t think I’m alone here when I say, “Don’t die Coraline!”

Here’s the interview transcript. CBS did not provide a transcript, so I transcribed our conversation from my tape to the best of my abilities. In places, the word "frakking" has been substituted for another F word that we can't print here.

Do you know if the show will be delving more into Josef’s past to explore his past loves and how he’s managed to become so successful?
Yes, absolutely. I think the successful thing [came] more in the first episode, with the hedge fund trader, and the real estate. In the episode this Friday, you find out basically why he’s always concerned about Mick dating humans and being with humans, like what is that? There’s basically a personal reason that Josef’s gone through. I don’t know if it’s proper or whatever, but I always kind of take the idea that maybe Josef has gone through what Mick’s going through. Maybe one time he was a good person, and you’ll sort of see glimpses of that, you know, with my former hairstyle, and my really nice suit in New York in this week’s episode.

Is Josef going to get a love interest?
That’s fantastic man. You’re going to find out. You’ll see some really cool stuff in this next episode. I don’t know if that’s too much of a spoiler or whatever, but you’ll definitely see some love interest. You’ll see. I don’t know how to explain it or whatever. I think he would. Like Logan, he’s probably a tough guy to live with. There was an episode with Lola or whatever. They had the on again off again thing. I would really like to see someone that could match him, they fight, they get back together. I think it would be quite a passionate relationship.

How many episodes are left with the strike, what are we going to see, what does the future hold?

Les Moonves said a few days ago, some kind stuff about our show and The Big Bang Theory, about us coming back for a second season. I can’t speak for the producers, but that was given in a press interview, which is obviously a good sign. There’s a lot of plus points. Our show is one of two shows that have been up-trending in viewership. So obviously that’s a good sign. We’re right around 8 million, which is pretty high. Having CBS as backup, promo-ing the show, you’re sitting there watching golf and see a promo, which helps out a lot. We just finished shooting number 12 about 3 or 4 days ago. It was very good. There’s a vampire that comes that makes me look like a pauper which is cool. It goes back in history. We have some great history, makeup and sets, and like an old world, from a different time feel to the show and the storyline comes out. I think it’ll be really cool to see how it all turns out. Great makeup and George Washington hair and all that cool stuff. [Air date] is sometime in January. (Episodes) 11 and 12 will both air in January [January 4th and 11th].

How is the experience on Moonlight different from your experience on Veronica Mars?

Yeah, there’s a couple things I guess. The characters are obviously a bit different. You know, I think, they both have really interesting stories. Josef was kind of the expansion of a character, it’s like the 400 years aspect, as we’ll find more about as the story unfolds. There’s so much history. As an actor, each new script that comes out, you kind of add to that. You don’t know beforehand, when you first started, what your history is, but you sort of learn as you do it. You’re sort of picking that up and putting that in your character as you go. So I think it adds more to the storyline like that. And I think, just being on CBS is quite a bit different. It’s a bigger cast. You’re at Warner Bros which is quite close to my house so I don’t have to trek down to San Diego, which is kind of nicer. Just those two aspects more than anything else.

The blood on this show – what is that?

There’s two generations. We got love handles from the first one. It was pure sugar and you just wake up feeling horrible so you have to change it. The new generation is pomegranate juice and something else. It’s a concoction that the props guys make up. Yeah, it’s good. It’s quite sweet. It’s a little hard to keep a straight face when you’re taking it down, but [adopts awesomely cocky attitude voice] that’s why they pay us the big bucks.

What are some shows that you watch on TV?

Oh boy, I really enjoy Deadwood. I enjoy The Office, Family Guy. Moonlight, Veronica Mars, I don’t know, that’s about it (laughter.)

How do you prepare for a role like this, where you’re sort of eternally young and going through these things?

I can’t quite help that, because I just am young, ya know what I mean? As far as the role, it’s an ongoing thing. You can study all the things on the vampires for as long as you can live in LA. There’s so many books on it. We kind of have our own code, and before we even started, I was reading some Ann Rice books, getting a feel of what vampires are like, why are they different from humans. I think there’s a lot to do with “esp”, they can tell when other vampires are nearby, they can tell who are humans, they can perceive what’s really going on, and these are really cool character elements for an actor to work on. I’m very happy to be able to have that opportunity. Every actor wants to play a vampire.

What about the character made him interesting to you?

It came to me, as basically two pages, was the audition scene. So originally it was an older guy and they hadn’t finished the script yet, so the two pages I got was essentially the first scene that was in the pilot episode, on the phone, and I’m sort of talking to Mick and he comes in. I was immediately fascinated with the character. Very, very, very sharp, you know? I don’t know, very keen, has a very hard edge. And then, I guess as it sort of develops, you got more that the writers do their thing, and you get more backstory and get familiar with the character and you see where he’s been, what the history was, that led to becoming who he is. It just gets more interesting over time, but it started out cool.Josef is so paranoid about the humans finding out about the vampire community.

Are we ever going to get into how he gets a hold of his staff (some who are human, some who are vampires), and how he keeps all of them, to keep the [vampirism] from getting out?

I think at some point, if it gets too out of hand, people are just like “come on please” and it doesn’t become believable. I think he has a lot of poise. He’s able to keep his guys at bay. I don’t know to what degree he disposes of these guys. There was talk in the earlier episodes that he was ruthless guy. Then you see that maybe he does have humanity. I think it would be an interesting point. Mostly he just bankrolls them. I don’t know I’ll just make it up – he wipes them out afterwards.

Going past episode 12, do you know anything about what your character is expected to see?

It’s pretty much in the formulistic stages, with regard to that. Obviously, there’s no scripts written. There’s some possible stuff. The one thing that I heard is basically a betrayal of Josef against Mick. Something Josef’s been telling him all along is not true, and it’s very important to Mick. That’ll lead to some very cool stuff. There’s some great stuff coming up. I’m so excited for you to see it. Particularly, in episode 11, I think you’re going to fall in love with this one character, she’s just unreal, this girl.

The next question kind of goes along with that – some of the readers of our site were interested in seeing Josef and Mick as possible enemies – is that something you’d want to play?

Oh absolutely, I’m always kind of in favor of changing things around. You can always come around. I think that would be great. He can stand up to the best of them, so I’d like to see him maybe tear me a new one ha.

A lot of the scenes that people have really responded to have been ones where there is real male camaraderie going on. Is there going to be more of that male bonding coming up? Or is that going to be fractured?

I hope it never gets to that. I think it’s a part of who these guys are. A big part of why Josef is in the storyline at all is because he’s somewhat of a mentor, a safe person that Mick can ask about certain experiences he’s going through and how they relate to Josef’s knowledge of the situation. They’re the scenes that I enjoy the most. A lot of that banter back and forth. Hopefully, we’ll get a lot more.

There’s a lot of action on Moonlight and I was wondering if you expect to see Josef get in on the action?

All they had was me slipping on the rooftop so far, which is the extent of my action, I don’t know if you saw that one, where I like jump up on the roof or whatever. I expect that there would be some more. I would love to se him get in a fight. I’d be curious to see how they write it. I think perhaps, he [F----], oops, sorry about that just vamps out. He goes nuts. He just totally loses his mind. I think that would be so cool.

Obviously, vampires have been the big fear of many for years. What is your own personal biggest fear?
Oh my God, that’s a great question! It’s funny. I think I would have to say looking around and seeing the way that the world is now as opposed to where it was 40 to 50 years ago, it’s pretty crazy. It’s funny for like a kid my age, growing up, because it’s way different than my parents. They grew up with morals and manners and stuff like that and I look around at my friends and I think, damn, dude, where did that go and what happens when they have kids? Really, it’s not a light matter. You look at 100s and 100s and 1000s of years, it’s been that way, and in the last 40 or 50 years it’s gone down man so it’s like, damn you gotta pick it back up. That’s scary to me.

Who are some of your favorite actors/actresses, who would you love to work with?

Dude, I always see movies and say “oh I would add that to my list” and then someone asks me and I can’t think. Brando, Dean, and Clift. Those are all no longer here, but Kevin Kline would be awesome to work with. I’d love to work with Ryan Gosling, I think he’s awesome. I think Jeff Bridges is unbelievable. I think he’s very underrated. Alfred Molina I love. I think Meryl Streep is fantastic, I think she does amazing work. Jessica Lange is beautiful.

To go along with that question, if you could do anything in the world, any type of project, what would it be?

Gosh, I would probably do Shakespeare with the above guys. It would just be so amazing. The concepts in that, I don’t know, just with my horrible answer to what am I scared of, they deal with concepts like that in Shakespeare, you know what I mean? He saw these things and he saw that sort of stuff, so when you get actors that can play that sort of thing. Like, did you guys see Love Actually? There’s this scene with Emma Thompson. It breaks your heart, man. She’s just talking to her husband, talking basically about this girl that he might be in love with or whatever, and then she totally lets it go, and goes on to the next thing and shuts it out of her life. You just go, oh my god, it just breaks your heart. I love those moments in acting. That’s what I try to find sometimes. What that actually does, you take it on as a universal concept. You see like this kid who gets hit by his dad, but you really see that dude, and you see what that does to that kid. Then when you talk about it, it’s a little bit different, if you can actually see what that does, what the ramifications are. That’s why these great actors are so good, because they make you feel it man, and they see it. If you can see it, then you can put it in your act.

Do you have any upcoming movie projects?

I just messed around with some friends of mine. We did a little short film [called Struck] that you’ll probably wind up seeing at some point. It’s only about 7 minutes long. I play a guy that’s not like any of these guys. It’s a really lovely story. I think you’ll see. I play like a really loose nice guy, and it’s a little bit cool for a change of pace. There are a couple movies I might be working on soon. It more or less depends on the strike though. I can’t be in the middle of a movie, and they call you back to work on this project and have to abandon the movie.

How do you prepare to play this part? Do you have a technique, do you use Method?

I suppose I just read it over and over and over and get my idea of things. I think what I said earlier is kind of like more how I approach it. If you can look at life, man if you can really see life, you can bring that sort of knowledge to your acting. Gosh, it’s amazing man. I think the people that can’t, don’t get it, don’t see that, are missing lots of things that they could bring to their work. I just read it over and over and kind of more, dramatize it. You take a little line or a little piece of something and you look at it a bunch of different ways, you can add a story to it yourself if it’s not in the script and make it bigger for yourself. And then when you say it…you know what I mean? If you’re talking about, say your father, who is never mentioned before and that sort of thing, what that relationship is like, you know, so when you talk about it, you know. People feel that. When people are just talking to you in their everyday life and they’re talking to you about experiences that they’ve had, you get what they’re talking about, what they’re looking at when they’re talking to you. I think it’s great that as an actor you can create it how you want. It’s very creative; it doesn’t leave you in the past. Method is, I don’t know. It’s just the people I’ve seen do it, I don’t know, I don’t want to say anything I guess because there’s people that do it with great success. I think there’s another way to do it that it’s not so hard on yourself. You can take it and make it whatever you want, based on your ideas of life, or your ideas about that certain situation. You can create it whatever way you want, based on the story, and how you want it to be looked at and what you want people to feel from it. It’s beautiful actually.

You don’t take anything from your life, you’d rather imagine it?

Yeah, totally, but not to the point where it’s like, oh I don’t know about that, when I do? If I’ve seen something in my life, I know what that’s like. I’m not going to not use my knowledge of life, you know what I mean? I don’t consciously go back to that moment and feel that pain. It’s like, yeah I know what it’s like to be broken up with; I know what the feels like. It’s like [frakking] time just caves in on you, it’s [frakking] unbelievable. It’s the worst feeling in the [frakking] world or when you break up with somebody else. You see that all the time in drama, and if you really look at it, it’s probably one of the top five worst things that’s ever happened to you and if you look at it like that, you really look at it, you come up with some really special stuff for those moments.

I read somewhere that you have two sets of identical twin siblings. Is that true?

They’re both identical, which doesn’t run in the family, like we don’t have twins anywhere in the family, like it’s not hereditary. We don’t have twins anywhere in the family, so it’s like one in a million chance.

Thank you guys so much, I really appreciate it, thanks for letting me talk about the acting for a little bit!

That's it Tubers. Don't forget to vote for Moonlight in the People's Choice Awards.

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Interview with Heroes’ Kristen Bell and Tim Kring (Part 1)

Earlier this week, I participated in a conference call with Heroes Kristen Bell, Tim Kring, and journalists from across the world. There were so many journalists waiting to talk with Bell and Kring, we were limited to one question each. But, between all of us, we covered every topic imaginable.

Here’s a rundown of the chat, starting with my question. (By the time I got through in the call, most of the questions asked had been about Heroes, so I went a different route. Please note, this is not a transcript of the entire conference call, only the parts I found the most interesting.)

Jennifer Biller: Hi Kristen. I just wanted to say congratulations on the Heroes role and ask if you have had a chance to catch your former co-star Jason Dohring in the new show Moonlight and if you get to keep in touch with any of your former Veronica Mars cast mates?

Kristen Bell: Hi. We do actually keep in touch a lot. I just came back from breakfast about 20 minutes ago with Ryan Hansen who played Dick Casablancas and (Wakmi Tadeo) who was our DP. We went to breakfast this morning. I had not caught Jason’s show, but I have been TiVoing it. And Tim’s been keeping me pretty busy, so I haven’t caught up on all my TiVo yet. But it’s funny how many people from Veronica Mars are working on Moonlight right now. There’s a substantial (amount) of the crew and Jason, some of the ADs and stuff. And everybody got along really well on (Veronica Mars.) And so we’re all pretty supportive of each other’s careers. And we’ve maintained those friendships.

Bell dishes her new role on Heroes

Q: Do you have any connection to Peter Petrelli and whether or not your character works for the company on the show?

A: Kristen Bell: Well I’ll probably have Tim guide me through this one as well. I have a lot of information about Peter’s past.
Tim Kring: Yeah, we introduced the character and she is looking for Peter Petrelli. And I think one can assume that she finds him.

Q: Kristen, can you tell us a little bit more about your character? I mean is there any other details that you can reveal, her secret origin, her secret power, you know, anything…

A: Kristen Bell: Her name is Elle. I can’t reveal her secret powers. You’ll have to watch next Monday. But it’s a very cool power. She has ties to HRG and to Claire. And there’s going to be a very interesting dynamic I think, between her and Claire as far as what is and what is not. And I think there’s going to be a deeper relationship there than people are expecting. They’re going to see some - maybe some parallels. But she also has ties to a little bit to Suresh. And she’s a little messed up in the head which makes her really manipulative and always out to get what she wants. She doesn’t have many boundaries which I think is the really interesting part of playing this character on this particular show because the whole first season has been about these, you know, fairly good-natured people in trying to embrace these confusing abilities and being very (conflicted) as to how they should be using them. And Elle is not that way at all. She very much enjoys her power and enjoys the emotional power it gives her over other people.

Tim Kring: Well let me sort of add to that a little bit. The - this - the one thing that we will say is that, you know, we are tying this character’s side to this company that we have, you know, talked about for the last year on the show that Claire’s father was involved with. And so one of the ideas was that this character, Elle’s character is actually raised within the company. And it’s in some ways a cautionary tale of what would happen to any of our characters had they lived with their powers their whole life the way Elle had.

Q: How long can we expect to see you on Heroes? And would you be up for it being more of a long-term commitment or something where you could come back periodically?

A: Oh funny you should ask. I would be up for that. I think that this has been a great relationship so far. And there was no hesitancy with entering as far as becoming a main part of the show, just more like well from both ends it was like let’s feel each other out and see how you fit into the show and if you’re happy. And it’s been a great relationship so far. And so, you know, I’ll be one of the ones that (keeps messages that) gets cross but that I won’t get (killed). Right now I think that I am signed on for 13 which, you know, certainly to the discretion as how it fits into the major plot lines they could use me or I could just sit on the sidelines. But I - quite frankly, I hope they use me because I’m really having a good time. And then at the end of the 13 we decided to have a pow-wow and sit down and see if it makes sense for me to continue.

Q: Is there a particular upcoming episode that you’re very excited about that we should watch out for good Elle stuff in?

A: Oh wow, yes. Unfortunately it might be a little bit of a tease because I start in Episode 5, and then I don’t - I’m not in 6 or 7 which I guess is sort of part of the mystery and at least that’s what I’m saying. Episodes 8 and 9 are - have a lot of Elle. They kind of - they expose her storyline. A few of the storylines completely revolve around here. So shooting 8 and 9 was really great for me. I had a lot of stuff in 8 and 9. And so I sort of have to hold out myself to be able to see 8 and 9 and sort of really see how the character reads as far as interacting with all the other storylines.

Q: You’ve spoke of Elle’s moral ambiguity and her mental health status. Can you tell us what some of her strengths will be?

A: Oh wow, determination. And she’s a very fierce and intense personality. When she wants something, she wants it and she wants it now which I think is good when you’re working with the good guys and is really bad when you’re working with the bad guys. And I think that’s what she’ll kind of ping-pong in-between. She has an inability to decipher between right and wrong. That’s what makes her so interesting. She always thinks what she’s doing is right. But it’s because she was raised by the company and not by a normal family that you’ll sympathize with her. I certainly hope you’ll sympathize with her in trying to understand how her childhood really messed her up. And then hopefully, you know, she can get a little bit of redemption.

Q: Would you say this character of Elle will be a character that fans will love or will it become a character that fans will love to hate?

A: I think she’ll go backwards in that area. I think that they will love to hate her initially while they’re confused about her intentions. But I think that the more you find out about her the more - well I mean, I don’t know because I don’t know how it’ll read. I hope that the more you find out about here and the deeper you go into her, the more you’ll sympathize with her.

Q: Has it been fun playing this new mysterious character?

A: Oh it’s been so much fun. I have been, I think crossing my fingers in hopes that I’d get a job soon where I could play someone who was as Tim likes to call it, a little off or perhaps didn’t have the brightest and shiniest of intentions. And I think the depth at which they’ve written Elle, this character, she’s so conflicted and sort of comes across as such as vixen, it’s so much fun to play with.

Q: You’ve obviously said you’ve been a fan of Heroes for quite some time. So just wondering of all the characters on the show, which would you like most to see Elle interact with? And if you could steal one of their powers, which one would it be?

A: I would like to most interact with -- and this is for two different reasons -- for on and off camera reasons -- with Zachary Quinto. Because Zachary Quinto has been a good friend of mine for almost ten years now. And I’ve always wanted to work with him and besides the fact that he’s pretty much the coolest thing because he’s so unpredictable and so downright evil. And it’s almost hard for me to watch because it’s the polar opposite of Zach’s personality because he’s just the kindest, gentlest most giving person. I would love to see him and Elle face off one day. I think that that would be unbelievable. As far as stealing power, I don’t know about stealing anyone’s power. But the one power I would like to come up with -- because that’s the question that the cast, I think, gets most often like ‘what would your super hero power be’ -- I thought long and hard about that.
And I think mine would be multiplicity. Because I think it would be great to be able to multiply myself and cook myself dinner. I’d just be like ‘hey, clean that up’, you know? Because I always feel like if there were more of me, I could get so much more done. I’d be so much more happier.

Kristen talks Lost, geeky guilty pleasures, Gossip Girl, her favorite TV shows and more

Q: It was widely reported that you were offered a recurring role on Lost as well. Why did you decide to be on Heroes instead?

A: Well I think that the facts of the situation are that the media might have gotten a little ahead of themselves because I was not - I had been spoken to about possibly doing a role on Lost, but I was never actually offered one. That certainly would have been, you know, a wonderful opportunity. But I think I have been such a fan of Heroes from the very beginning that this sort of - this would have been the dreamiest situation I could have possibly thought up as my next job. So when Tim came forward I sort of pounced on it.

Q: What TV shows are you watching right now?

A: It’s on my Tivo. Pushing Daisies I love. I do of course support and watch our NBC line up of Chuck and Journeyman. I’ve watched the Office since it started with - I love. And I love the BBC - I watch a lot of BBC shows, don’t watch all of that many American shows. I really like Little Britain. I’m excited that that’s coming out on HBO and even (Gentlemen). Although, I’m always kind of into reruns of America’s Funniest Home Videos. That’s sort of my number one. That’s my geekiest, guilty pleasure. I’ll tell you that right there. And I don’t feel guilty about it because it’s an awesome show.

Q: Who is your favorite super hero?

A: Oh wow, my favorite super hero? Man, I like the little Pixie Girls I think because I can relate. I mean it’s great to love like She-Hulk or anything that’s like big and dominating. But for me it would be like a Harley Quinn or like Lost from Avengers -- something like that. Something I can relate to, something that I can feel I can accomplish.

Q: How do you feel now that you’re the voice of the Gossip Girl? How does that work for you?

A: Gossip Girl’s been great. I mean I’ve known Josh Schwartz for a little bit and was sort of happy when they wanted me involved in it. And it’s sort of an easy deal for me because it’s not on camera. And I’ve always dreamt about having a job where I could go and show up in my jammies. And that’s kind of what it is. But, you know, I think I love and support Josh and it’s been a lot of fun. (Kristen said she didn’t think she’ll ever appear on camera as Gossip Girl.)

Q: With the rise of shows like Chuck and a sudden emphasis on geek sub culture, I’m wondering as a female geek icon who is beautiful and brainy what your geeky, guilty pleasures are?

A: Oh wow, my geeky, guilty pleasures? (I bet) my ComiCon would be a geeky, guilty pleasure. I think the geekiest of all my pleasures at ComiCon is I’d definitely try to go around and get pictures with every single person who dresses up. Because the people come in full costume. They just fascinate me, absolutely fascinate me. And what’s even more fascinating is that if I were to come in costume like dressed as a Storm Trooper, I would kind of expect the fact that people are going to want pictures of me. And most of the time when I ask them for pictures they’re like so ‘oh, all right, just make it quick’ like it’s like so frustrating for them. And it’s so fascinating to me because I’m like well you’re the one that came in costume so don’t get angry at me. My geeky, guilty pleasures, I don’t know. I mean certainly having done Fanboys, anything Star Wars is now sort of wonderful and fascinating to me and then the - and the fact that I’m sort of still learning. And I have like all my friends are Fanboys. So it’s not so much that I’m like typically going out on my own and - as much as I am learning from them and have just been so embraced by this community that I love it. And now I’m sort of coming into my own as a Fangirl and seeking things out like the New Beverly in Los Angeles had a double feature the other night of Tron and the Last Starfighter. So I was like I kind of need to see that at least just once in my life because that seemed like an awesome double feature, you know?

Q: Can you talk a little bit about working on Fanboys and Forgetting Sarah Marshall in your film career?

A: Oh wow. Two of the best experiences over the last few years of my life. Fanboys because it was a lot of my friends involved in it. And that sort of - it really introduced me to the world of Fanboys which I now love and respect so much. It was a bunch of Star Wars obsessed guys that - and I was the only girl in the movie. And we had so much fun, I kind of can’t wait for it to come out. And plus we get to work with like a lot of people cameoed from Star Wars like Billy Dee Williams. So it was a great experience. And then certainly to be a part of when (Jed Appatow) tells me at this - (really) that this point in his career is kind of a dream come true. And now I’m really happy to call those people my friends. And I hope to be one of the people that they - one of the improv artists they draw upon in the future that can be a part of (unintelligible).

Veronica Mars mentions

Q: You were Veronica Mars for so long, I wonder do you feel - do you really miss her?Do you miss playing her or were you just sort of ready to move on?

A: So badly, so badly. I mean I miss the crew. I miss the writers. I miss actually playing the character because there was a certain ease you get when you - like, you know, when you’ve been at a job for a while and you just feel like it clicks? And you have a character like that that you’ve worked with for so long, there’s a certain part of you that is a little bit her and she’s a little bit you. And it just - it’s not only easy after a while, but it’s really fun.

Q: I’m just wondering if any of your former cast mates from Veronica Mars has prodded you about your new role and how much…

A: Oh my God, every single one of them -- every single one of them. They - we were talking about it this morning because I was having - or breakfast with Ryan Hansen who’s (unintelligible). And he of course has asked me all the questions. And we watched last night and they were all - everybody sort of texted me, was really excited because the editors and (Kim) sort of made it a really big deal at the end of the show that I was coming on. And I was so flattered, so flattered. But our whole crew watched the show. So I get a lot of text. And I kind of like to hold it over their head, I’m not going to lie. And it’s kind of exciting to go like ‘well, why don’t you just watch’. And they’re like oh Kristen.

Q: Soon you’re going to appear before millions of people worldwide and you’re not playing a teen, yeah. Is that relief? And do you hope that your Veronica Mars stance will move along with you, move on with you?

A: Yes, I certainly hope so. I have always played about ten years younger than I am which is a major blessing just even in real life. My family’s very petite and I have a young looking face and good genes I guess. I’m thankful to my parents. That being said, as an actor there are certain things that I’m going through in my own life in my late 20s that, you know, I’m experiencing. And, you know, that’s what you draw upon in your acting. And so I hope that I’ll be accepted as playing closer to my age. I know that I still look a lot younger. But I’m thankful to sort of be out of teenageville a little bit. Because I don’t dislike it at all. I’ve just had my fill of it. I’ve had a lot of it.

Q: Good morning. Kristen, you’re really a fantastic actress. You can pick and choose to work in any platform. What is it about doing television and Heroes in particular that is attractive to you creatively?

A: Oh wow. Well what attracted me to Heroes was the fact that when I caught the season premiere it was just so engulfing it’s like I couldn’t think about anything else. I mean when I’m telling you it was the water cooler conversation, I’m not kidding. Like we would come into Veronica Mars and like the entire camera crew would stand around. It’d be like, ‘yeah, but did you see what happened last night and did you see who Claire’s father is’. Like there are hooks that people are able to sink into you when telling a story that I think Tim has mastered and I think Rob Thomas mastered for the, you know, the much smaller but certainly avid viewers that we had on Veronica Mars. It makes you want to be involved, you know. And I think they’re also really smart shows and they’re a little harder to follow which I really expect. Because when you treat the audience like an intelligent member, they’re - you know, you tend to attract intelligent viewers. The medium’s for me the difference. I mean I certainly love and miss theater. Film is so much fun as well and it’s a little bit more like camp because you’re usually on location and you have a couple months of people that you get really close with and then it’s always sort of like end of the summer syndrome. With TV I really like the security. And I like the sense of family. I mean I like knowing who I work with. I work in this business because I like performing and I also really like the creative relationships. And I think coming to work with people that you love and being able to see them on a daily basis is a really special thing. And not that many people get to absolutely love what they do. And I’m lucky to be one of those people.

Other Heroes info

Q: How did it work out that you’re doing this wonderful show to begin with? Did you reach out to Tim Kring? Did the show reach out to you? And were you a fan of the show even before the opportunity came up?

A: I was a huge fan of the show. I watched it from its premiere episode. And I joked with the writers that Heroes was the water cooler conversation that Veronica Mars on set. And they had said that in many individual writer circles, Veronica Mars is the water cooler conversation now when they were working at Heroes. I think it was - I’ve certainly put feelers out there during ComiCon and let them know what a fan I was of the show I think with the secret hopes that one day I could be a part of it. And then I was just - it was ultimate flattery when they (came forward) and said we might have something for you to do.

Q: I know that Heroes has kind of like this mysterious element and there’s so many hardcore fans that always want to know leaks to the story lines. How do you kind of try to keep quiet about the storylines and then people have had to like come up to you and ask you to leak anything?

A: Yeah, of course. I mean everybody - I mean even amongst the cast, everybody’s always asking everybody else who has more information. And unfortunately going into it, maybe I just had a big old smile on my face or maybe you could just sense it, but I had a substantial amount of information and sort of all the other cast members were trying to (pick) it out of me. But I think I did a pretty good job of just smiling through it and knowing that I was lucky enough to have been told a little bit where my character was going or at least know her first arch. And it’s - you know, it’s hard because when you have secrets, of course you want to spill them. But you have to realize how important it is and how vital it is to keep them secrets and that it keeps your job and that it’s actually kind of fun when you know a little bit more information than everyone else.

Q: Kristen, you know, when I watched the preview yesterday for the new episode I had a weird flashback to when you were on Deadwood. Because when you show up on Deadwood you were this sweet innocent little girl and then we had that great ‘I’ve got a f-ing knife’ scene. And there - I was thinking about how, you know, so many of the fans of Veronica Mars have seen you for three years as, you know, the good guy, the go-getter who’s really fighting for the little guy. And then we’re going to have you as Elle as this new character who’s a lot more sinister. What do you expect a lot of your fans and the Veronica Mars fans, how do you expect them to react when they see this character? Do you interact with them a lot?

A: Well one thing I will say about Veronica Mars fans, they are extremely interactive whether it is on a street corner or whether it is on a blog. They are definitely interactive. I hope everyone will have fun with it. I mean honestly, I’ve been having a blast with it. It’s kind of - it’s a little deeper character work when you have to really figure out someone’s intentions. Because I don’t even think evil characters are evil. They always think they’re doing something right. And it’s to get to that sort of conflicted what’s the difference between right and wrong kind of point which is fun and which is cool to work on as an actor. I mean I hope everybody’s going to have fun with it because I love rooting for the underdog but it’s also - stop. Sorry, speaking of underdog. But it’s also, you know, a lot of fun to play someone who’s a little crazy.

Bell’s comments on the Heroes cast

Q: I wanted to talk a little bit about your relationship with the cast before you joined. I spoke to Hayden recently and she said she’d known you since you were eight years old. Can you talk about that and if that informs the way you and the character of Claire get along?

A: Yeah, I mean I have known Hayden since he was eight. We met in New York. We had the same agent. I was substantially older than she was, but I was just starting college and met her. And she came to some plays that I did in New York. And she was - I mean she was a lovely little girl. And even then you could tell that there was something so alarmingly special about who she was and what she was going to be able to accomplish as a performer. Even at eight years old you could tell. It was right before she was - like Remember the Titans that she was so great in. And I’ve sort of kept up a relationship with her just socially. And having joined the cast now it’s been really nice because I think really good girlfriends are so rare to find in LA. And she’s a really cool honest girl. And so we’ve sort of become closer because of the show. And we always used to joke about trying to play sisters or friends in a project. And so, you know, we might not be either of those in this show, but it’s still fun to get to work together.

Q: Was it difficult or maybe intimidating for you to join a cast that had already been working together since the show’s beginning and kind of had already gelled and kind of had their dynamic? Was that hard to jump into that and be a part of it?

A: Kristen Bell: There was anxiety and nerves certainly, but nothing about it has been hard. They are some of the nicest people I’ve really ever worked with. And having had social relationships with a few of them, I’ve sort of heard through the grapevine what a great job it was, not just an excellent show, but actually really fun to be a part of and an ensemble that really supports each other. And I think that, you know, to find that many good people in one setting is really hard to find. But clearly that speaks to what comes down through the grapevine like starting with Tim. And every time you join a different job or a different show I feel like it kind of feels like you’re changing schools like when you’re in high school. It’s that kind of anxiety, like is everyone going to like me? Is this going to be fun? Am I going to do well? And the warmth that I was greeted with, it felt like I was starting a school that all my friends already went to.
Tim Kring: I’ll - let me just add to that, that, you know, one of the interesting things that should be noted here is that there was a kind of circle of people that - around Kristen and the show Heroes of the - all these common relationships. Kristen had known several of the cast members and some for years and years with real long-term relationships.

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Kristen Bell dishes her new Heroes role

I just got off the phone with the newest addition to Heroes, Kristen Bell, and the show’s executive producer Tim Kring. They had plenty to say about Bell’s upcoming role, previewed on last night’s Heroes.

Bell is signed on for 13 episodes to play Elle, she said. But don’t expect her to be the sweet young girl that we’re used to seeing Bell portray.

“She's a little messed up in the head, which makes her manipulative and out to get what she wants," Bell said of her new character. “She very much enjoys her power and the emotional power it gives her over other people."

Kring explained that Elle was raised by the Company, which is a different experience than the other heroes have had.

“This is in some ways a cautionary tale about what would happen to any of our characters had they lived with powers their whole life," Kring said.

Elle will have ties to HRG, Claire and Suresh, Bell said.

As for the large, growing cast that has some fans concerned, the style of the show lends itself to flux, Kring said.

“The audience should fully expect to see people leaving,” he explained.

I asked Bell if she had watched her former Veronica Mars co-star Jason Dohring on his new show Moonlight and if she still kept in touch with her other co-stars. She said that she has Moonlight on her TiVo, but hasn’t watched it yet, and yes, she still keeps in touch with the Mars gang. In fact, she’d just had breakfast with Ryan Hansen (Dick) this morning.

Bell also discussed the widely reported news that she was going to join Lost. She said that there were discussions but she was never formally offered a role.

I’ll have a complete transcript of the interview up in the next day or two, so check back to hear Bell’s thoughts on everything from her “geeky guilty pleasure” to which superhero she’d like to be.

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Reviews: Private Practice, Moonlight, and Chuck

Private Practice
Premiere date: Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Airs: Wednesday s @ 9 p.m. ET on ABC

Confession: I’ve loved Addison Montgomery since she marched her stiletto-clad legs up to Meredith Grey and informed her she was sleeping with her husband. Apparently, I’m not the only one who was rooting for Team Addison; ABC gave the woman her own spinoff. The good news is that Grey’s Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes is behind this new show. The bad news is that the pilot is mediocre, at best. Sure, expectations are high, and they should be, with Rhimes on board and the superstar cast. The majority of the actors - Tim Daly, Taye Diggs, Amy Brenneman - have headlined their own shows. But for some reason, I didn’t get that warm, fuzzy feeling that glues me to the TV screen when a show is working on all levels, and I’m not sure why. Kate Walsh and Daly have enough chemistry to power their own hospital, and Diggs is fun, flawed and charming. But Addison seems to have been dumbed-down in this new role, acting like a silly schoolgirl, at times, instead of the take-charge surgeon we’ve come to know. Most of the characters are interesting, with the exception of Brenneman’s. Her storyline had me reaching for the fast forward button. I’ve learned never to write off a show because the first episode doesn’t wow you. (Hello, Friday Night Lights!) And I’m not writing off Private Practice, as some critics have done already. I think it has potential. The problem Grey’s fans may have is the gaping hole Addison is leaving at Seattle Grace. On Thursday, ABC aired an “Addison” special that recapped her time on Grey’s. I’m sure the idea was to get fans to follow her to the new show. The problem is that the recap made me realize how much I’m going to miss her interaction with Miranda, Derek, and the gang. My apologies to Meredith fans, but the Addison/Derek/Mark triangle was one of the best ever on primetime. Period. Addison had mega chemistry with both McDreamy and McSteamy. If you’re questioning whether to invest in Private Practice, after all the mixed reviews you’ve read, I say give it a try. It may find its groove yet. If not, I hope Addison will come home to Seattle Grace and bring Daly’s Dr. Pete Wilder with her.


Moonlight
Premiere date: Friday, September 28, 2007
Airs: Fridays @ 9 p.m. ET on CBS

Within the first minutes of Moonlight, vampire Mick St. John humorously dispelled all the things I thought I knew about TV vampires from years of watching Buffy and Angel. (Vampires can’t be killed with a stake, he claims. Hmmm…I guess Buffy never got the memo.) From the moment Moonlight began with its interview with a vampire, I was hooked. Alex O’Loughlin is funny and charming. He plays his vampire character with just enough bite to leave viewers wanting more. I was surprised at how strong the storyline was, including a fantastic twist at the end. Veronica Mars fans will be delighted to see Jason Dohring in his role as Josef, Mick’s friend and fellow vampire. Josef is wealthy, tough, and, lucky for us, mischievous. If you like fantasy shows or were ever a fan of Buffy and Angel, don’t miss Moonlight. For everyone else, you should tune in, too. You never know when you’ll need Mick St.John’s tips on how to kill a vampire.

Chuck
Premiere date: Monday, September 24, 2007
Airs: Mondays @ 8 p.m. ET on NBC

I love geeks, and Chuck Bartowski is this year’s Seth Cohen. He’s a computer genius who works at Nerd Herd (NBC’s hilarious version of Geek Squad.) He’s witty, as evidenced by his explanation of his career goals: ““Working on a five-year plan. I just need to choose a font.” Chuck is hard to categorize into one specific TV genre. If I had to label it, I’d call it an action-adventure dramedy. Other critics have called it a comedy, but I save that label for true sitcoms. Chuck’s problems begin when he receives an e-mail from his old college roommate, who is a spy. The e-mail has subliminal government secrets in it that are downloaded to Chuck’s already super-powered brain. He soon becomes a target and must work with the government to stop the world’s evildoers. Zachary Levi is so good in this role he may become this season’s breakout star. Even Summer Roberts can’t resist him. (That’s actress Rachel Bilson, formerly of The O.C., for you non O.C. watchers.) Seth Cohen’s old flame is scheduled to guest star on Chuck this season. The supporting cast is excellent, too, including fanboy fave Adam Baldwin. The show runner behind Chuck is TV genius Josh Schwartz, who gave us The O.C. So, I think you know what that means. Set your DVR season pass.

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Interview with a vampire

Want to meet a vampire? Then, check out this interview with a vampire, fresh in my mailbox from CBS.

You’ve heard me mention the new CBS show Moonlight coming out this fall. Well, now you can take a sneak peek at the immortal one himself.

In this interview, he explains that garlic goes great on his dinner, but doesn’t do much other than repel his dates. And he debunks the myth that a stake doesn’t kill vampires. (Confusing, I know, since it always worked for Buffy.)

This was my first glimpse of the upcoming show Moonlight, and I have to say I’m intrigued. I hadn’t planned on watching, until I heard Veronica Mars’ Jason Dohring had joined the cast. But, now, the star himself, Alex O’Loughlin, has sold me. This guy is cool.

He likes TiVo and Star Trek, so how bad could he really be?

Moonlight premieres Friday, Sept. 28 at 9 p.m. ET on CBS.

Stay tuned next week for Tube Talk Girl’s take on which other new fall shows she’s most anticipating.

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Jason Dohring to play a vampire on CBS

It’s not a stretch to picture Jason Dohring playing a brooding vampire. His stint as Veronica Mars’s troubled boyfriend has given him plenty of emo experience.

Dohring has just been cast in the new CBS drama Moonlight.

He’ll play Josef, an ancient vampire who is a “mischievous hedge-fund trader,” according to The Hollywood Reporter. Dohring replaced 60-year-old Rade Serbedzija, who played the character in the pilot presentation.

Moonlight is the story of a private-detective vampire named Mick. Hmmm….a private detective who is a vampire? That sounds a lot like my beloved Angel.

Honestly, I hadn’t planned on watching Moonlight, until I heard that Dohring was joining the show. Sealing the deal is the news that former Angel co-creator David Greenwalt is one of the Moonlight show runners. OK, I’m in!

Longtime readers know my affection or the too-soon cancelled Angel. I often wondered if it would have garnered more ratings and respect had it aired on one of the big four networks, instead of The WB. I guess we’ll see how CBS viewers take to a show about vampires, assuming that the show is good.

Kudos to CBS for trying something new this season, instead of their typical procedural crime dramas. And kudos to casting for landing Dohring.

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Veronica Mars season 3 DVDs

Yes, Veronica Mars fans, I know your hearts are still breaking over the cancellation of this under-appreciated show. Perhaps this will ease the pain a little.

The season three DVD set is scheduled for release on Oct. 23, according to TV Shows on DVD.

The six-DVD set will have some fun extra features, including commentaries with creator Rob Thomas, a gag reel, and a Making-Of feature for the CW pitch presentation with Veronica in the FBI.

Start saving your cash. The retail price is $59.99.

I was hoping we’d get some cast commentaries on this one with Kristen Bell and Jason Dohring. But, I guess we’ll take what we can get. As Mars fans know, the extras have always been skimpy on the DVD sets. At least we’re getting a gag reel this time.

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Veronica Mars fans turn efforts to charity

Veronica Mars fans are a motivated bunch. After the initial campaign of flooding the CW with Mars candy bars and marshmallows to try and bring the show back from cancellation, the fans are now turning their attention to a charity campaign for Invisible Children.

An episode of Veronica Mars featured a story about a child soldier in Africa, and fans have jumped on board to raise money for the Invisible Children fund by selling t-shirts.

Five dollars of every t-shirt sold goes to the cause. Check out the t-shirt designs here.

For more information on the Invisible Children fund, visit this Web site.

Meanwhile, here’s some information about the charity from our favorite blonde detective and the boys.

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The Week in Review: Smallville, Boston Legal, Veronica Mars, The O.C. Friday Night Lights and Bones

DVR, I blame you for this.

Regular Tube Talk readers know I usually do The Week in Review at the end of the week. But, since DVR entered my life, I’ve lost the ability to actually watch a show at its appropriate time and (sometimes) night. Therefore, I hope you’ll forgive me for the lateness of this wrap-up. My remote, and I, submit ourselves to your mercy.

Smallville
Clark Kent, you’ve been a bad, bad boy. “Red-rock Clark” (that’s Clark on Red Kryptonite, for those of you who aren’t regular viewers) is always a treat for viewers, as the innocent farm boy loses his inhibitions and goes on his own “Girls Gone Wild” tour. I loved this episode, and it wasn’t because of Lois’ hooker-boot-mini-skirt combo that so many male viewers wrote to me about to praise. Clark finally admitted that he’d thought about a relationship with Chloe. (Yay!) And we found out that baby Luthor isn’t normal. (Whatever that means. Like you expected “normal” from Lex’s swimmers?) Two things continue to perplex me with this show. First, why is the Kent’s refrigerator the size of an Easy Bake Oven? Martha Kent is a senator, for Pete's sake. Surely, she could afford a side-by-side number with an icemaker. And finally, why can’t Clark get over Lana? I thought we were done with this already. I can only hope that Clark will listen to his mother’s wise advice about Lana and, “Leave her alone!” Preach it, Mama Kent! Amen.

Boston Legal
How can you not love a show where conservative-gun-toting-Republican Denny Crane battles Homeland Security and then dresses in costume as Dick Cheney? Simply put, you can’t. The highlight of this week’s episode was a costume party to help improve employee morale. The folks from Crane, Poole and Schmidt were supposed to dress up as someone they admired and who inspired values. Alan came as Shirley Schmidt. Shirley came as Diane Sawyer. Brad and Jeff both came as Buzz Lightyear. But, it was Crane, in his Cheney costume, who stole the show. The final signature scene of Boston Legal, usually features Denny and Alan drinking scotch and smoking cigars on the balcony. This week, they slow danced. Yes, together. They wisecracked (beautifully breaking the third wall,) that their neighbors, i.e. “regular viewers” shouldn’t be shocked at anything that goes on at Crane, Poole and Schmidt. Hilarious! Boston Legal may be considered a drama, but trust me, it’s one of the funniest comedies on the tube.

Veronica Mars…pregnant?
I’m still picking my jaw off the floor after the previews at the end of Veronica Mars where she said the “p” word. Are we to believe that the savviest teen to grace the small screen is not smart enough to use birth control? I’m not buying it. We all know the CW promo machine is misleading sometimes, and I’m betting this is one of those times. So, in response to your e-mails, “No. I don’t think she’s got a bun in the oven.” Meanwhile, I’m going to hire Veronica to find Wallace. Don’t mock. Someone needs to do something. He’s been missing since fall. And finally, don’t send hate mail because I really do love Jason Dohring, but lately I can’t tell what the hell he’s saying. Jason, can you please enunciate? (Not that I mind rewinding your shirtless scenes 15 times to try and decipher your dialogue, but, my rewind button is getting a little ticked.)

The O.C.
Julie Cooper Nichol Roberts shot down the Bullit. Pun intended. Team Frank prevailed over Team Bullit, and it seems Ryan’s daddy and Marissa’s mommy are destined for a love connection. I love the Bullit, but I can’t blame Julie for choosing hunky Frank. After all, he looks an awful lot like Hercules. (Sorry. I couldn’t resist.)

Friday Night Lights
Why aren’t you watching this show, people? I’m afraid if viewership doesn’t increase, we’re going to have to do a Hail Mary to save this show. Tubers, you know I’m no fan of football, and even I’ve been sucked into this drama. This is great story telling. If you haven’t watched before, you can still jump in. The episodes work as stand alones, so you won’t be lost. Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton steal the show. Yes, I said Kyle Chandler. That Kyle Chandler. Grey’s Anatomy fans who loved him as “bomb squad guy who was blown up at Seattle Grace,” check him out as a football coach on Friday Night Lights. He’s much better at his job here.

Bones
Creepy-killer Epps is finally finished. Booth and Bones put an end to his torturous ways. Of course, Cam breathed a mouthful of poison and almost headed to the science lab in the sky, before Epps was busted. This show gets better each week, and yes, that’s coming from someone who hates procedural crime dramas. But, Bones knows its niche isn’t just the crime cases, but the characters and relationships. That’s why Booth left us with his new nugget of wisdom that people who work together can’t have personal relationships. Cue another season of sexual tension between the F.B.I. agent and the scientist. I’m in.

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Veronica Mars Online Press Conference Transcript

by Jennifer Squires Biller

It’s here! As promised, I finally finished transcribing the recent Veronica Mars online press conference interviews with creator Rob Thomas and actor Jason Dohring (Logan Echolls.) I know, they built Rome in a shorter time than it took me to get this done. But it’s good stuff, people, well worth the wait.

For those of you too lazy to read all the way through the transcript, here are some highlights: Rob’s favorite episode from season one is “A Trip to the Dentist.” He hopes to put bloopers from season one and season two on the season two DVD set. Duncan did find out that Logan had drugged him at Shelly’s party, but it just didn’t air on screen. And next season - praying that we get one - may have several mysteries, instead of one long story arc.

(A special thanks to siklilgrl at http://siklilgrl.livejournal.com/ for the screen caps and pieces of the transcript that I didn’t get, due to having to turn down my computer’s volume, when I was asking questions to Rob and Jason. I apologize to any bloggers out there whose names are not spelled correctly. I don’t have close captioning. So, if you find a mistake, please e-mail me.)

Veronica Mars Online Press Conference Transcript - March 28, 2006

As luck would have it, I was the first caller. When I heard the male voice on the end of the phone, I was shocked to find out I was talking to that genius Rob Thomas, instead of the male operator I had been chatting with while waiting to be put in the queue to the press conference. After regaining my composure, I quickly switched into reporter mode and pulled out my question, inspired by my love of Vinnie VanLowe, Sheriff Lamb and Dick. Enjoy!

JENNIFER (from Tube Talk): My readers love the minor characters.(So do I.) They seem to have taken on a popularity all of their own. We love Vinnie, Dick, Beaver, Sheriff Lamb and even Kendall, who we’re supposed to hate. When you introduce minor characters, Rob, do you have long-term scenes and storylines in mind, or do you add scenes for those characters based on how well they mesh with other characters and the fans?

ROB: Excellent question. Occasionally there are characters who we’ve plotted out that are going to come on and have a four-episode storyline. Certainly, Troy Vandegraff in year one. We knew that he was going to be on for four episodes and his story ran its course, and then he was gone. But there are characters who pop. There are characters who come on who we think are a one-episode booking, who we just so love when we see them on the show that they just keep coming back time and time again. Certainly, last year we fell in love with Vinnie VanLowe who continues to come back and will appear several times this year. Mac, Tina Majorino, is a character who we fell in love with after she did the show. Even the tiny characters, you know Corny was supposed to have a three line role in the pilot that has grown into five or six times a year. Dick Casablancas, originally he was an actor that we cast out of San Diego and he had one word. In the first episode after the pilot this was his line, [Rob acts it out for us], “LOGAN!” And, [Rob smiles and shrugs] we thought, he just had such a great surfer-boy look that we had a punch line a few episodes later in which Mrs. Murphy said, “Veronica, what’s your position on this?” and, Dick kind of grins and shouts out, “ALL FOURS!” And, from that time on, we knew we needed to have him back. So, sometimes the intention is to have them in for a few episodes but, more often than not, they are just people who we fall in love with over the course of the show and decide we see more of. Thanks for your question.

ANNIE (from Random Acts of Television): Last episode we heard rumblings of Neptune being incorporated, does that mean we could possibly be saying goodbye to Sheriff Lamb?

ROB: Well, even if Neptune incorporated, the county would still have both a Sheriff’s department and a police department. So, if it incorporates, they will gain a mayor. They will gain a police department, but the county will still have a sheriff’s department so that would still exist. And you’re going to get the answer to that question about incorporation: it’s success or failure very shortly. The episodes—I have to admit — it all becomes one big storyline for me. So where one ends and one begins and where exactly— you know, we’re in the writers’ room— actually right now we’re talking season three in the writers’ room because we’ve written all the episodes, but it becomes a big jumble for me. You know we’ve got one episode we’re shooting, one episode we’re editing, one episode that we’re writing, one episode that we’re breaking, so I get a little fuzzy about what has actually aired. But I think you’re going to get the answer to the incorporation question very soon. Thank you.

SUNIL: Did you hear the sad news about Arrested Development?

ROB: Yeah, that is a complete drag about Arrested Development. That article though it actually bummed me out this morning.

SUNIL: But regarding Arrested Development, both shows take place in Balboa County so what would be your dream crossover?

ROB: Are you talking about bringing in members of that cast?

SUNIL: Right.

ROB: Well, next week’s episode features the two kids from Arrested Development, and they were awesome in their appearance on Veronica Mars. I’ve been talking up these next two episodes that are going to air, episodes 216 and 217, two of my favorites of the year, and I’ve sort of given them so much… [laughing a bit at himself] I’ve pumped them up [illustrates with hand gestures] so much to people that I wanted to make sure that I’m not crazy. My parents were in town this weekend for my daughter’s first birthday, and I showed them the two episodes and they concur. So my parents love them. Anybody from that cast from Arrested Development I would love. Every episode I watch, I pick a new favorite. I tend to always love Lucille. I always love Gob. I love Michael. They’re all great. George Michael. They’re all great. I know you had a question for Jason, so maybe they’ll let you hang out and I’ll go catch some other people and maybe come back to you when Jason gets back.

COMICE (from LiveJournal): I was actually very encouraged to hear you talking about Season 3 because I’d love there to be a season three and I know that—[interrupted by Rob’s chuckling]

ROB: Me too!

COMICE: Good. I know that people have concerns about CW and the combining of the two networks. Are you encouraged by moving to Tuesday and being slotted with Pepper Dennis?

ROB: Yes. Yeah, it’s a tentative yes. We’ll see. You know, I ‘m a bit nervous about all of our fans finding us on the new night but, let’s face it, Lost and Veronica Mars have a very similar fan base. You know, people who are into long-arc mysteries and both fans of our show and fans of Lost can be very fanatic about the show – in a great way. I have a feeling there is a lot of overlap, and I know when Lost has aired repeat episodes, we have done so much better. I mean SO much better when Lost is in repeats. So, hopefully on a Tuesday night, when we’re not competing with them, we’ll show an uptick as well. Our numbers as of late haven’t been stellar, so I’m sorta of the school of “couldn’t hurt” or “shouldn’t hurt.” [laughs] Thanks for the call.

KATHIE (from Give Me My Remote): I actually had a question about your online audience. I know many of us were lucky enough to participate in the bloggers press day out in San Diego, which was fantastic. Thank you so much. And, obviously this online press conference, so I was just kind of wondering if you’d talk a little bit about why you feel so strongly about connecting with bloggers and other web sites that talk about Veronica Mars?

ROB: Sure. You know, I have to be honest, this has been something that’s— [stumbles over what he wants to say for a second] How do I want to put it? It’s more about the audience that’s discovered the show, and we realize who those people are. I wish that I could say that I was so prophetic that I thought, “Oh we’re going to have this great online following and this real web-based fan support.” But I didn’t, it was something sort of over the course of the first season of the show we came to understand that we had, and once we understood it, we wanted to make sure that we played to the people who seemed to be our strongest fan base. Pretty early on in season one – CBS and UPN are sister companies and we were hearing these amazing statistics, for having as low ratings as we sometimes do, our number of Internet hits on the CBS and UPN sites were at the top of the list. So, it’s a weird place that we’re in where our Nielsen ratings aren’t great, but our online stuff – the number of web sites and the number of hits on the UPN website – we do very well in that so, the other thing I need to be honest about, I sort of keep my head down and stay focused on the content of the show. And there are very talented people at both UPN and Warner Brother, the marketing and promotions people, who say, “Rob, you need to be here, then” and I go because I trust them. And, honestly, if I were having to figure out how to advertise the show or market the show I don’t think that I’d be good at it, or that it would be the best use of my time. Thanks, I’m going to go back up to Line 1.

MAGNOLIA (from Talk of Life): The fans really enjoyed the episode commentary you did for the pilot that you had downloadable from your website. Do you have any plans to do anymore of those commentaries for the season one episodes and can we expect some of that for the season two DVD?

ROB: I have no plans for that, and it has nothing to do with a lack of desire to do it. It’s sort of— it’s finding time between doing the show and having a one-year-old at home that makes it a little difficult for me. Again, nothing has really been decided about the season-two DVD, as far as release dates and what we’re going to put on it. I do think we’re going to get more deleted scenes, and I think we’re going to put bloopers from both season one and season two. Whether or not we’re going to have time to do audio commentary – and, if we can do it, I absolutely want to do it and get in there and do it right – if not, I can almost promise that I’ll get at least one episode of commentary that I’ll post on my website. One way or the other, there will be more creator commentary, whether that will be in the official box set of season two or just me posting online I’m not quite sure. I sort of doubt that I’ll get to another season one episode and I’m not sure which one I would do. (Pauses to think.) Maybe have Diane do “A Trip to the Dentist” because it’s probably my favorite episode from season one. Alright, thanks for the call.

SCOTT (from Scooter McGavin’s 9th Green): Hey, Rob. I’m another – I don’t want to be cliché – but I’m another one of the bloggers who was there. I would like to thank you also. My question is I kind of get this sense, maybe, that the overlying major themes of this season – who killed Felix and who caused the bus crash – might be related. Am I totally going off [Rob starts laughing] in the wrong place on that one or…

ROB: Fantastic. You know, I wouldn’t tell you if you were right. That’s information I want to keep close to the vest right now. I mean there are some characters who have some overlap in there. Whether we have the same cause at the end of the day or the same villain at the end of the day, I’ll let you find out. The thing about season one, and I feel really strongly about this in season two, it feels like we spend the first half of the season making the story get bigger, introducing more characters, more plot lines, some of them are red herrings, some of them are very specific, very real, clues. Then, we spend the last half of the season sort of narrowing the focus. And I thought last year our final five or six episodes were really strong because I think our fan base is very much following the year-long mystery, and I feel confident this year, going into our last five or six, that it gets real meaty on both of those storylines. And I will say this, they don’t resolve at the same time; those two storylines don’t resolve at the same time, which is a bit of a clue but not a complete clue. Alright, thanks.

RAE (from Ramblings of a TV Whore): I’m actually glad I followed Scott because it’s a kind of a follow up sort of. Now that we’re going into the home stretch – and I know that you really like some of the episodes that are coming – can you give us an idea of what to expect from the last six episodes and then the finale? Surprises around every corner? [Rob nodding along] Tears, laughter, all of the above?

ROB: Umm, yeah, you know, hopefully. The challenge for us is to not deliver the same thing as the finale for season two as we did for season one, to have a different feel and yet still have some… [trails off] I think in the finale, to have some real action, and action isn’t something that we typically do a lot of on the show, it’s Veronica solves problems sort of using her wit. We’re blowing up the bank on this season finale. I’m so excited about it. It’s in. It’s done. I think the cast is excited about it. We’re excited about it. It’s a big, BIG episode spanning continents and the US. It’s a—there’s a lot of geography to the season finale that I like and everybody has something to do. Some things that I can say that you will see over the next few episodes which I… you know, I always think it’s not spoil—I’m not spoiling anything if it’s something that will be on a previously on or a recap or whatever. In other words, if I don’t mind you knowing it, this is not the huge reveal, but we are going to have some of those iconic end-of-high-school moments. We’re going to have a version of prom. We’re going to have a graduation. We’re actually having a BIG graduation scene that I’m really excited about, and then the mysteries have a real momentum of their own. Really, I’m pretty jazzed about the end of the season. Thanks.

ERICA (from LiveJournal): I didn’t really have a question but my friend wanted me to ask a question. She wanted to know about – at the end of last season did Duncan ever find out that Logan had drugged him the night of Shelly’s party?

ROB: Uh, yes. Yes. [thinking] Actually, as I’m thinking about that question, I guess we never did answer that on the show. I was thinking because Veronica figured it out that Duncan knew as well but I guess we never did answer that. To answer your question, in my mind, that eventually got hammered out. Umm, that scene never played. It’s a good question, and I kind of thought we did play it, but I’m realizing we didn’t. Sort of like Weevil’s pen, something we forgot to get around to. I’m sorry we didn’t actually answer that on the show but now, here, you bloggers have it before anyone else. Eventually, Duncan found out. There were a number of tough days, I think, in the summer between Logan and Duncan so I don’t think they did a lot of chatting. Thanks for the question.

ROB: Before I move on, I want to say that I apologize (a) that I’m unshaven today and (b) that I’m dressed for a typical day in the office. But I will—here’s a little bit of a spoiler. Dick Casablancas will be wearing this t-shirt in an upcoming episode. This is the Neptune Fish House and wardrobe was kind enough to give me this to wear. Not terribly important but it’s behind the scenes stuff.

KRISTIN (from LiveJournal): Ok, next we have Kristin from LiveJournal. Kristin, are you there? Well, there’s a bunch of us that are online all the time discussing and dissecting all your episodes and everything and it’s been observed that the show’s scripts typically use a title that tightens the whole script together with themes and all. I’m wondering is it a huge process involved in picking just the right episode title? [Rob chuckling] What kind of criteria do you use or is it a conscious decision to find an episode title that pulls the whole script together? If you want to use an example of one episode…

ROB: Sure. It’s honestly, generally it is the title that makes us all laugh in the room, and we usually have the title before we start writing. Usually, the title comes to us when we’re breaking an episode. When television writers talk about breaking an episode – we’ll have the big idea for an episode, we’ll know this is our mystery of the week, this is what’s going to happen in our mystery-of-the-week story, and then this will be the plot development that we have on the bus-crash-story and then generally there’s some other, you know, it could be Jackie/Wallace love life or Dick harassing Beaver or some other bit of story that we have. And we have those big ideas. And when we talk about breaking a story, it means taking the big idea for the story and dividing it into scenes and you sort of put up on a board your cold open, your first act, second act, third act, fourth act and you break it down to what scenes happen in which act. It’s like putting together a puzzle. It’s the hardest thing we do I think on Veronica Mars, is break episodes and try to make that mystery work in the way we want it to. This is a very long-winded answer, but I’m trying to get around to your question. The breaking process usually takes us about a week, and that’s with all the writers in the room throwing out ideas. The breaking, for any of us, is the hardest part but some time over the course of that week breaking an episode the title just announces itself to us. Somebody gets an idea, there’s a turn of phrase and it makes us all laugh and that’s what we pick. We actually—it’s an interesting question that you ask this particular week, because I think this week may be my favorite episodic title we’ve ever had. The title for next week’s episode is “The Rapes of Graff” which, if it doesn’t make sense now it’ll make sense when you see the episode.

J-UNIT (from Tvgasm.com): The readers of my blog actually begged me to start writing about it, about Veronica Mars, so I caught on to it second season. I got so excited about it and didn’t actually get to see the first season until a marathon viewing session with the DVDs over Thanksgiving break. Anyway, I want to say that I think you guys do one of the best jobs out there in terms of writing for the young high school type of crowd, whether it be the mix of Hollywood, music, pro athletes, and I think Neptune High is one of the unique sort of scenes in terms of locations out there for television. My question actually is – I know as we’re talking about season three and the new network and everything – I know a lot of the main characters should be graduating [Rob nodding along] and I know that those sort of questions are a long way off but are you starting to think about how you’re going to go from Veronica Mars to quote another bad television show, Veronica Mars: The College Years? If you know what I mean?

ROB: [laughing] It’s a concern, BUT we’re definitely taking Veronica to college next year. That’s going to happen, we’re going to see graduation in the final episode this year, and I think a reason that a lot of teen shows that go to college struggle when they make that move is that they’ve been in high school for four years that the show is actually in its creative decline. There aren’t a lot of shows that stay great for five seasons. Whereas I think, for most shows, season two and season three are its best years. So, I’m really hoping that we’re making that shift to a college environment when we’re still sort of at our creative peak. The other thing about our show moving to college is that I think so many teen shows are coming of age stories that require a high school setting. It’s about the teen years and forming into the human beings that we’re going to become, whereas we have this noir mystery show. We’re not as locked into the personal growth of the high-school years, that’s not our bread and butter on this show. So, I’m hopeful that we can stay creatively fresh. I think college is going to give Veronica a lot more interesting cases. I think there are stories that felt too big for her at high school that I think will feel right in her college years. And another thing… one of the things we really struggle with on a weekly basis, sort of the toughest line we walk is what can Keith know about Veronica’s detectiving – you know, at what point does Keith become a bad father for not taking her out of this lifestyle. So, I think moving her to college, you know, she’s an adult even though I—[he stops himself and explains] Yeah, I almost spoiled some stuff that I didn’t want to spoil. [laughing a bit at himself now] I think that it’ll actually help us. We won’t have to walk quite as fine a line with Veronica in her college years as we have in her high school years. Thanks so much for the question.

MASARATH (from LiveJournal): The blog that I’m apart of is actually a community on LiveJournal. It’s called Veronica Mars Campaigns, and I run it with three other girls. And we just decided to get together one day and try to work our hardest to make sure the show gets a third season. I was wondering what’s your opinion of the whole fervor of the fandom and how it’s affected the show? How much affect it has on the show in the future?

ROB: Well, you know, I don’t think the show would exist without the fervor of our fans. It is what keeps us on the air. Our Neilsen numbers barely justify us coming back. What I think makes the network happy about the show, what makes them proud of us, is the—is how ardent our fans are, how supportive they are. I think they know that if somehow we could get television’s ratings based on passion rather than actual eyeballs on screen, we’d be doing much better. It is the passion of the fans and the very supportive press that has kept us on for these couple years and I’m very optimistic about us having a season three. Honestly, I would be surprised – certainly Dawn Ostroff and Les Moonves have spoken very glowingly about the show and their plans to keep it on next year though nothing is official yet. So, I would be surprised if we didn’t come back. I think they are going to give us a great time slot next year and I think next year we’re going to need to put up numbers or risk not being around for a season four but I’m really optimistic about the possibility of season three. Thanks!

DEBRA (from Mars Investigations.net): What I wanted to ask you about is the mysteries. To what extent is what you want to do with the season’s main story, which is going to be a mystery, compromised by the need to dish out the clues and diversions over the course of 22 weeks or 22 episodes?

ROB: Well, it’s…um, well, there are pros and cons to it. The con, and I think you were alluding to it, is that you’ve got this set timeframe, and it’s not always best for story momentum. You know, you’d like the story to be told in exactly how long you want to tell it, whether that’s fourteen episodes or seventeen episodes or nineteen episodes or twenty-two episodes. With twenty-two – knowing that we’re doing twenty-two – it forces a certain pacing that’s not always the best pacing. Certainly I think, in season two, one of the things we could have done better is Veronica’s involvement in the bus crash case sort of lost some steam sort of in the middle of the season/early middle part of the season – although I think we’ve picked up the pace on that. It does hurt us at times but the flip side of that is that I think our audience knows that we’re going somewhere with it. We’re not going to endlessly tease them with this mystery. I’ve said it before, I was a huge fan of Twin Peaks when I was 23/24-years-old, and that was on the air, and I gathered with my buddies to watch it each week, and at a certain point it dawned on us that that show doesn’t know where it’s going. It’s been a fantastic ride, but there’s no great resolution in store for us. They’re just going to get a little more weird and a little more surreal. And, so, one of the goals with Veronica Mars is to say “We are going to complete this mystery. You are going to get an answer,” and we’re going to try to put the clues in the show that allow you to make an educated hypothesis on who you think did it and, hopefully, either you’ll be pleased that you got it right, or pleased that we tricked you in that sort of cool way that mysteries do attempt to trick us that there was the one twist you didn’t expect. So, it does create some pacing issues for us but, at the end of the day, I think it’s a good system. But you bring up something that we’re debating right now in the writers’ room as we talk about season three, and I’ll let all you bloggers in on this and it can be sort of a test balloon. One of the things we’ve talked about internally with our own writing staff, and we’ve had some conversations with our studio and network as well is— Would it be interesting to try a year in which, rather than one big season arcing mystery that we possibly we do three mysteries? You know, seven episodes, seven episodes, and eight episodes – does that equal twenty-two? Yes! – and actually do three big mysteries. That way—I mean one of the things that we feel is happening is that fans who hear the buzz or whose friends are into the show are leery of joining in halfway through the season, because they don’t know the mystery and they feel like they can’t catch up or they won’t understand enough. So, one of the ideas instead of having two concurrent long-arc mysteries, like we do with dead Felix and the bus crash this year or Veronica’s rape and who killed Lilly Kane last year, where we ran two concurrent mysteries over the course of the season, what if we divided it up and went seven, seven, eight. Roughly, I wouldn’t pick a number and hold us to it, but roughly three smaller mysteries. We’re talking about that in the writers’ room. Nothing has been decided but it’s one of those thoughts, one of the things we need to think about to sort of welcome new fans in because we certainly need more fans. Alright, thank you.

DAN (from duckyxdale.com): Hey, Rob. I, too, was at the bloggers press day and just wanted to thank you again for that and also was wondering if you were worried about the CW scrutinizing your content more closely next season because the UPN seems to be a little lenient about what they let past, and it’ll be a real shame to lose things like the “shocker” or lines about tossed salad?

ROB: [laughing] You’ve raised such an interesting point. I actually – CBS/UPN Standards and Practices are easily considered the toughest of the big networks here in Los Angeles. I think they caught a lot of heat over the Janet Jackson thing and then a Cold Case lawsuit. I think they’ve had a tough year and because of that, the things that you all don’t know, is that I do battle every single episode with Standards and Practices. And I say battle as though they are the enemy; they’re not. They’re fine people and they’re doing their job, but we argue over lines in the show every single week. On a typical episode, two or three of my favorite lines get cut by Standards and Practices. I wish we could just do a whole episode full of those. It’s tricky, and yeah, they’ve let some things slide that I’ve been surprised about but they’ve also caught a number of lines that I’m really surprised about, that I didn’t think were as risqué as perhaps they did. I’ve not been told whether we will fall under the heading of CBS Standards and Practices, as we are now, next year or if they will put us under the auspices of an entirely separate, new unit at the CW. But I don’t expect, one of the things I don’t expect is it getting tighter next year. I don’t see a scenario in which that would happen. Thanks.

REED (from The Attractive Nuisance) Hi, Rob, I was another one of the bloggers at the press event. Thank you again, so much, for having me. I have a question that some of my readers and I were discussing re-watching our season one DVDs. In “Leave it to Beaver”, the season finale, Veronica brings up with Duncan the fact that Logan had been abused by his father and Duncan sort of makes a face and we can’t really tell what his expression is and we all wondered if Duncan and Lilly knew that Logan had been abused by his father.

ROB: No, is the answer to that question. Particularly with Lilly. Lilly, who is a character I adore and love in the show, and yes she is a promiscuous teen, and she has questionable decision-making sometimes. And, let’s face it, she got around a little bit. All that said, I have enough faith in Lilly that, if she knew that Aaron Echolls was abusing Logan, there’s no way that relationship would have happened. And I’ll take this – I’ll interrupt just a moment to say that Jason Dohring has arrived, Jason’s in the building, five minutes [pats chair next to him] and he’s in this chair for those of you who are waiting for Jason questions. [goes back to question] And, I think at that moment when Veronica told Duncan about Aaron abusing Logan, I don’t think—I think Duncan was around Logan enough to not be surprised by that answer though I don’t think he had had it spelled out quite as clearly as Veronica did in that moment – I think Duncan had suspicions. Lilly, I don’t think, had any at all. Thanks.

LAURA (from Rack of Lamb at LiveJournal): Yeah, it’s a LiveJournal community devoted to Michael Muhney and Sheriff Lamb. [Rob starts laughing and slaps his knee.]

ROB: (laughing and interrupts) Rack of Lamb. I love that. Excellent.

LAURA (continues): I promise it won’t be a question about seeing Lamb shirtless. [Rob laughs] I know you’ve been bombarded with those. It’s a question about the character actually. I know how you came up with the name for Don Lamb because I heard you talk about that in Austin, but I was wondering how you initially envisioned Lamb’s character, and if the development of his character has progressed as you expected. And if the introduction of his back-story was something you had planned, or was it born out of the quality of Michael’s acting or necessity of storyline or something else entirely?

ROB: Umm, sure. Michael has done just a fantastic job with the role. I think it took him a while to dial it in – I don’t mean that in any negative way. I think last season, especially for the first two-thirds of the year, he was figuring out who the character was and how he wanted him played. You know, it’s finding that—he’s certainly an oily guy without a doubt. He’s an oily, vain, very-proud-of-himself guy, but we didn’t want to see him just as a bully. We wanted to see a little bit of humor there. We wanted him to, even though Veronica tends to get the best of Lamb, we wanted to see him be able to – not be a doofus with her, but have the occasional cutting line – to not always give her the scene. Michael has done a fantastic job this year. When we send out a scene and I know I’m getting dailies back, I just expect it to be good, to be funny. I think he’s gotten funnier and funnier over time. We certainly have had the confidence now to play a lot of comedy between Lamb and Keith, Lamb and Veronica. We’ve got a scene, coming up in this next episode, with Lamb and Keith and Cliff that I think is awfully funny as well. Did I get all those questions, it was sort of a three-part question and I’m not sure I answered all of it?

LAURA: Yeah, pretty much, I just wanted to know if it had gone in the direction you had hoped it would go – his character.ROB: Yeah, yeah. One of the other things and this is an aside, the one issue that I had with Michael, sort of from the beginning, and there’s nothing he could do about it. Actually, I thought Michael was early thirties when I hired him and he’s actually late twenties. A couple of times, he just appeared too young to me. Like too young to be sheriff, and he had a haircut thing at one point. All my issues have been, “Michael please look mid-thirties” and he’s not mid-thirties and that’s tough. Actually, I’ve grown to sort of love that he’s not too-much older than our “teen” characters on the show. [While he’s answering, Jason sits down in the chair next to him.]

JASON DOHRING HAS JUST ENTERED THE PRESS CONFERENCE!


ROB: Ah, ladies and gentlemen… [starts to point towards Jason]

JASON: [interrupts] Who’re you talking to, Rob?

ROB: [laughs] I’m talking to the cameras. [points them out] I’m talking to the cameras. Umm, you see the light [pointing] is… we just follow the light.

JASON: Ahh, beautiful.

ROB: See, you’re a big TV star, you probably know these things.

JASON: I don’t do three cameras. (Rob chuckles.)

ROB: Ah, ladies and gentlemen… [starts to point towards Jason]

JASON: [interrupts] Who’re you talking to, Rob?

ROB: [laughs] I’m talking to the cameras. [points them out] I’m talking to the cameras. Umm, you see the light [pointing] is… we just follow the light.

JASON: Ahh, beautiful.

ROB: See, you’re a big TV star, you probably know these things.

JASON: I don’t do three cameras.[Rob chuckles.]

COMICE (from LiveJournal): Hey, Jason, how are you?

JASON: Good, how are you, Comice?

COMICE: Very well, thanks. And, Rob, this is my second question, so I’m going to be brief. I just want to make one comment. You said earlier in the press conference that you didn’t think that you knew how to market the show but I think that’s not exactly true. I think your ideas for season three sound awesome to me as a fan, as a fan who’s trying to get other people to watch, and I think that this press conference proves that you have this virtual army of people [Rob chuckles] that are willing to help you market this program as much as possible. So, you know, we’ll do what we can to help you with this just let us know what you want us to do.

ROB: Sure, well it’s interesting. I’d love to hear feedback. I’d love to have a general impression from what I—and I do see a lot of stuff written in blogs. There’s a clipping service, and I get sent a ton of stuff internally. You all are Veronica Mars bloggers and you think about the show a lot. I’d love to hear what your impressions are, pro and con, about sort of rearranging how we do the mystery in season three and try to bring in more fans that way. This is something Jason hasn’t heard…[To Jason] It’s one of the things I was telling the bloggers, is that next year rather than having a twenty-two episode mystery possibly—and sort of having two mysteries going over twenty-two like we did with dead Felix and the bus crash—have three successive mysteries sort of taking place over seven episodes, seven episodes, eight episodes. As a means of inviting more people to the show so they don’t feel like they’ve missed three or four episodes that they can’t catch up. It’s what we’re talking about in the writers’ room. [hits Jason lightly on the leg] What do you think?

JASON: Well, funny that you ask. No. I was just wondering if it was going to be—are you setting up any of those for the second season? How many of those three or four or whatever

ROB: Oh, you mean for the third season?

JASON: Yeah, sorry, in the second season is what I meant. Because we know that—I just read the final script that you wrote. It’s pretty good.

ROB: Alright.

JASON: Yeah, it’s alright.

ROB: So, you think it’s okay?

JASON: It’s AMAZING, man. [Rob laughs] No, it’s really amazing. So, how many of those—obviously there’s the one at the end, you know what I mean?

ROB: Right, which they haven’t seen yet. They see 17 next week. Yeah, that would be the first mystery of next year.

JASON: Very good.

ROB: Ok, we’re talking around you. I think for most of you, particularly you – our bloggers out there – when you see the next episode, 16, I think you’ll have a good idea of where we’re launching season three. I think you’ll, you’ll be wise enough to see where we’re heading.

SUNIL: Did you like the CD?

JASON: Uh, which—which one? [looks to Rob for help]

ROB: [Sunil started to explain but so did Rob so it’s hard to hear him.] This is from Polter-Cow from Austin.

JASON: [still confused] Which… OH. I’m trying to think exactly which CD… I’ve gotten—

SUNIL: It would be the one with all the profanity in it.

JASON: Oh, yeah, exactly! [looks at Rob] Yeah, that was wonderful. It’s very like me. And, uh, yeah… [Rob’s laughing now so Jason turns to him] It was funny, did you hear about that?

ROB: No.

JASON: Can I say…

ROB: I don’t think you can say the profanity.

JASON: Yeah, ok, good. It was just, you know, the main word over and over in every other song or any song that had it. So, quite a compilation. Yeah, I appreciate it actually.

ROB: And, Sunil, I loved my compilation as well.

SUNIL: Good. Now I have a question. Jason, what’s always fascinated me about your performance is the physicality of your acting. To me it seems like you have complete control over every muscle in your body and you can basically get anything—your finger, your cheek, your toes—to convey whatever emotion that you want. [Rob laughs silently.)

JASON: Oh, thank you.

SUNIL: I was wondering—yeah, you’re welcome—I was wondering whether it was something you learned or whether it was something you picked up on or were just born brilliant and, also, whether it’s something you do for all your roles or very Logan-specific?

JASON: I think it’s pretty much Logan-specific. I mean, there’s other things that I’ve used that in but I think, you know, when we were first doing the pilot when—he’s very loose. I’ve always been told whenever you play kind of harsh emotions to not ridge up because then it’s like… I don’t know, it’s harder for the audience to follow it. So, if you relax with all that stuff it looks a little bit better or looser, and I guess I do that and keep it really loose while still being nasty, and I think it kind of adds a beauty, kind of, to it that is easier, as an audience member, to watch. And I think just the looseness and the way that he uses and the way that he uses his arms and stuff like that just comes from a looseness like those kind of guys that are cool, because he just kind of moves cool—like Kyle Gallner on our show, he’s just got a really loose, floppy quality and I kind of like that or actors that do that.

ROB: So, there you go, loose, floppy quality.

JASON: That’s not what I said. [Rob laughs.]

WAIYIN (from Mars Investigations.net): Yep. Quick question. Ok, we got Profit and EZ Streets on DVD, any chance of Cupid?

ROB: Interesting question because I actually had a meeting over at Columbia-TriStar yesterday and brought it up and they actually showed very little interest in putting Cupid on DVD. I mean, I harangued them. I said I would give them my next show, if they would just put Cupid on DVD and they seemed unmoved by my impassioned plea. So, I’m sorry to report that it didn’t go well at all, actually, in trying to ratch that up. That said, I was talking to their head of development, who isn’t really their head of DVD sales, but they didn’t seem particularly moved in the room. Although they said very nice things about the show, but it wasn’t like they were scrambling to get their orders in for DVDs. So, that’s the unfortunate news.

SCOTT (from Scooter McGavin’s 9th Green): Yeah, hey I’ve got a question for Jason this time. I’m just wondering, with Veronica Mars taping winding up, do you have any plans for the summer – like movies or anything lined up?

JASON: You know, I don’t know. I mean, there’s a lot of material that I’m kind of spoiled for from reading, I guess, Veronica Mars scripts and stuff. You know, there’s a lot of low-budget horror films and I don’t know that that’s something I want to do. I think I’m just looking for – I guess a more quality project or going to theater or doing something that’s kind of acting-specific, and I’m going to continue looking for something. I’ve only read one thing so far that I’m really kind of down to do and there still kind of pulling together financing for that.

KATHIE (from Give Me My Remote): Well, first of all Jason, I just wanted to say happy early birthday since it’s at the end of the week.

JASON: Ahh, thank you. [He looks at Rob and holds up two fingers.] Two days. 24. Man, that’s pretty old for a high school kid, isn’t it?

KATHIE: Oh, come on, I just turned thirty last week, it’s not that old.

JASON: Oh, ok, ok.

ROB: But you’re graduating. You’re 24 and you’re graduating.

JASON: Yeah, I think that’s so cool that we’re actually gonna go to college. I think that’s a unique drama for teenagers to actually go to college.

KATHIE: [laughing] I actually had a question about the show moving to Tuesday night, I know you talked about it a little before, but one of the things you didn’t mention which is another show that happens to be on at 8 on a different network which is Gilmore Girls. So, essentially, we will have Gilmore Girls on the WB at 8 and Veronica Mars on UPN at 9 which is kind of Heaven for me. I was wondering if that was a strategic decision or if that was something that just happened, you know, maybe a little bit on purpose? Any comment?

ROB: You know it could absolutely be on purpose and all that. This was—moving us to Tuesday night was a network brass decision. No one’s calling me and asking me how I feel about it. They might call Joel Silver and ask him how he feels about it but no one’s calling me. Now, I think it’s great and there’s nothing I’d love more, next year, than a Gilmore Girls, with their 6 million fans, as our lead-in. It seems to make sense and Dawn Ostroff says that’s her dream scheduling night, and so hopefully nothing happens in the next few weeks that changes her mind about that. Yeah, everyone, watch Gilmore Girls, then Veronica Mars on Tuesday nights, and let’s hope that that’s our position for year three.

MAGNOLIA (from Talk of Life): Also, I was one of the people who went to the bloggers event and I wanted to thank you, Jason, for taking time to meet with us.

JASON: [nods at the camera] Not a problem, pleasure.

MAGNOLIA: We appreciated it. [he nods again] Has there ever been anything when you’ve read a script and you’ve seen what Logan is going to be doing or saying where you have second thoughts about it? And you think, wow, Logan really wouldn’t say this or do this. If so, what would that be? And, if not, what’s the most surprising thing that Logan has done.

JASON: Right, no, I understand.

ROB: [interrupts] It’s a funny question to ask in front me, isn’t it? (Laughing)

JASON: No, no, no, it’s actually good. I have a SWELL answer that you’ll really approve of… it goes a little something like this: Yeah, that does happen occasionally but what happens is I find that I need to make it work for me. Know what I mean? It’s always – I don’t think there’s anything that can’t be justified to make it fit in the way that Logan would say it. For instance, if there’s something very sarcastic or very honest and you play it sarcastic or something like that. There’s some way that it works in and there’s never really been a time when I’m like “he wouldn’t say that,” there’s a certain way that something actually has to be said so that it communicates within the character and—[to Rob] Can I ask the follow-up question? I forget what that was?

ROB: Yeah, yes, (to MAGNOLIA) you’re still on the line. What was the follow-up question?

MAGNOLIA: Well, I said if he hadn’t ever gone to you Rob to say I’m having trouble with Logan doing whatever, what’s been – when he gets a script – when he’s been the most surprised because Logan does some pretty bad things. Does he think that sometimes it goes a little far or thinks, gee, people aren’t going to like Logan?

ROB: Yeah…

JASON: I’ve thought that.

ROB: Yeah, and there are times… we met with a potential writer who is interested in staffing on Veronica Mars next year and one of the things that this writer told one of the producers of the show, that I found really interesting, and I don’t—blame her for this or hold this against her—I just found it interesting. She said, ever since Logan organized the bum fights, that she can’t like that character anymore. She never got past that. That was enlightening to me. Certainly I’m interested in keep Logan as a prickly character, as a character that you see a lot of good and occasional bad in him. Logan has had a tough, tough upbringing, and I think we’ve got a neat story that underlines that in the next couple of episodes that you’ll be seeing.

JASON: Yeah, [interrupts Rob going to the next caller], sorry, I was going to add…

ROB: No, go ahead.

JASON: …something to that. Oh. I was gonna add something.

ROB: No, you can, you can.

JASON: No, I forgot what it was… but it was something to the order of—it’s funny that bad stuff always happens to him and he wonders—or he does all this bad stuff and he wonders why bad stuff happens to him but I think he kind of causes that or leaves himself open to receiving the effect to what he’s been causing. It is funny and [he touches Rob lightly] maybe I’ll ask you a question. It has been funny to play the—because the Logan now, I don’t even want to do some of the things that he would have maybe done in the first part of the first season, just because now it’s more in the style of the leading man type of thing. And it’s like sometimes, I’ll get impulses to go up and chase other girls and stuff like that or follow behind them and kind of do something [Rob laughs] and it’s like, yno… Know what I mean? It’s funny; it’s evolved into something different.

ROB: Yeah, and I think that when Logan was organizing bum fights in year one. And that was a moment that we were really proud of, and I mean proud of in the sense that it seemed like the perfect level of bad for a screwed-up southern California boy, who had grown up with wealth and privilege, but in my mind could still be redeemed from it. But it was an unpleasant act by any stretch and yet, in that same episode, you go home and that scene still kills me. That scene of Harry Hamlin, that scene of you picking out the belt and delivering it to him and the door closing, it made it all worth it. It made me understand that character in a certain way but we’ll quit patting ourselves on the back.

JASON: [patting Rob’s leg] Yeah.

JENNIFER (from Tube Talk): Hi Jason. I recently interviewed Percy Daggs and he said he was looking forward to working with you in some upcoming scenes. (Jason says “Ahh.”) Can you tell us anything about that storyline with Wallace and Logan that won’t get you in trouble?

JASON: Hi! Yeah, totally, and [to Rob] jump in here for what I can’t say.

ROB: I don’t think you… I don’t see any trouble.

JASON: Should I tell them about the… the egg thing and all the… [trails off]

ROB: Yeah. Go ahead.

JASON: We have an egg drop competition at school and we get paired up alphabetically and it’s very funny, actually. I just came from a looping session from it and, ah, I don’t know… [is hesitant to tell more] to give it away or whatever. Dick and I have some good stuff, a little Brokeback type stuff. It’s quite funny, I look forward to it.

ROB: And, the teacher—it’s a rambunctious class and Logan is partnered with Dick for the egg-drop project. Once he does it alphabetically, it goes Echolls Fennel and so—an interesting footnote about this is that, when we were at the Austin event, somebody in the crowd said, “Will we ever get to see Logan and Wallace in a scene together?” And I swear, it wasn’t until that moment that I thought “Have they been in a scene together since Logan bashed out the headlights in the pilot?” I think they’ve crossed paths but I don’t know that you’ve ever delivered lines to each other? [looks at Jason on that]

JASON: Never delivered a line, and I don’t even think, really crossed paths except for in the pilot mostly, which was when he goes to sit at my table and I glare him down which I love. I just remember—I remember that. I love the pilot, man.

ROB: And, you know, I was really pleased how the– I always interchange… how the Jason/Percy story went, how the Jason/Logan, how the Jason—you know, the Wallace/Percy. It all runs together for me.

RAE (Ramblings of a TV Whore): This question is for Jason although, of course you’re welcome to answer Rob.

ROB: Thank you.

RAE: This is about Hannah – I guess we want to know how much did you know, personally, going into the story like what Logan’s intentions were? Did you know from the beginning what he intended to do, did you find out after each new episode?

JASON: Yeah. Umm, let’s see. I mean, it’s a good question. It was… I was trying… I wanted to play kind of ambiguous, where you couldn’t quite tell until he shows up at the doctor’s car and smiles or whatever, and I think he figured out somewhere in between those scenes with Hannah at the Carnival what her name was and then kind of got changed, but I played that there was definitely love for [pauses] – you know, a liking for her during those scenes. It wasn’t all covert and that’s where I think it kind of came to it in the middle of one of those scenes.

ROB: And this is a case where I can’t remember how many Hannah episodes we’ve aired now. Have we aired two or three Hannah episodes?

JASON: The one I think we’re airing is gonna be the last one… is that Michael Fields episode that’s airing?

ROB: [shaking a finger at Jason] Yes, but let’s not tell them it’s the last one.

JASON: Right…

ROB: Let’s let them wonder if it’s the last one. [Rob starts laughing.]

JASON: [playing it off] No, I meant the last one that Michael Fields is directing.

ROB: Umm…

JASON: Oh, damn. [They both start laughing now.] I just covered… Next question!

ROB: Ok, well there you go. [Jason smacks himself in the face.]

DEBRA (from Mars Investigations.net): Rob and Jason, after nearly two years, you both know intimately the character of Logan. Are you at the point where you don’t need to sit down and talk about Logan from time to time or is that something that’s still necessary? And, just a quick follow-up, are there occasions where you disagree and, if so, what does it take to persuade Jason that he’s wrong.

JASON: Oh my God.

ROB: Well, you know, let me tell you… Jason knows his character. We honestly don’t have discussions about Logan. I have such supreme faith in his ability to deliver what we want. My conversations with Jason about the show tend to be this: “Uh, Jason, could you speak up a little bit more so we don’t have to loop all your lines?” Those are our conversations. For those of you who don’t know, the writing staff is in Los Angeles, and the show films down in San Diego, so there’s not a lot of face-to-face time. Jason has had some questions that he’s asked on the set when I’ve been there, and we’ve discussed certain scenes, when I’ve been there, but it’s generally not—and I’ve certainly—[to Jason] the other thing I’ve certainly done is told you where the character is going at times, but we haven’t had a moment of ‘how should I play this scene, really.’

JASON: Yeah, not particularly that. Umm… keep talkin’ Rob, while I think of something.

ROB: Oh, you know, the thing about—this show has been incredibly easy to work with, with our actors. My theory on how a character is played is—what I’m hoping is that when an actor has a question about would I do this in a scene or do I have to say this, this way—is, those are things I’m really happy to discuss, particularly with any of our series regulars. I don’t want a guest start to come in and say, ‘That’s not how I’d do it.’ That’s not going to get someone an invitation back but our actors, I have such faith in that certainly I’m amenable to talk about any sort of question or motivation… [to Jason] did you have anything to add?

JASON: Yeah, well, occasionally you’ll give me a note. I remember about that Trina scene where she’d try to bop my nose and I kept hitting it away [showing us what he means]. I think I would agree with you on that now because it definitely adds that’s sister and she kind of had the upper hand and I kept hitting her hand away which was written in the script. Rob made it clear that it was written in the script [Rob laughing]. He said, ‘I don’t know if you’re pretending you’re Logan or…’ I don’t know, it’s so funny – acting – because you have to pretend that everything you do is totally right, and it’s the way it goes and if you’ve ever see any of the best actors, it’s just like that’s the way it is and there’s no other way to play it. I do that sometimes and leave out some of the things that he writes, and usually they are always right.

ROB: Just to add a little footnote about Jason because it’s one of my favorite things about Jason as an actor, particularly—it’s such a good quality for our show in particular. Jason takes—Jason throws away the funny, and I mean that in the best way. Jason never delivers a punch line as though it’s a punch line. He delivers some of the funniest lines in the show with such, sort of uh, disdain or intensity or just throws them away in a way that’s important to us. We want to write funny and quipy but this is a show with death and murder and rape and mass murder – this year – that we want the comedy to feel grounded, and Jason makes it very real and intense.

ROB: And, I believe I’m getting the wrap up sign. Thank you so much. I hope this was entertaining for you and please forgive us our unintentional, couple spoilers that we had in there.

JASON: [quietly and with a look of chagrin] Yeah, sorry.

ROB: And, if you post things, let me know what the Mars community out there thinks of the three-mystery idea. Thank you so much, we had a great time.

JASON: Thank you.

Tube talk girl can be reached by e-mail at jennifer@tube-talk.com.

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