Veronica Mars - Veronica Mars Season Two Watch and Support

Cruel Irony · 02-01-2005, 02:19 PM

This is where we can see if there’s any news regarding Veronica Mars in the ratings, and the likelihood of a second season. And heaven forbid it gets cancelled, this is where we’d have campaign headquarters. Anything we can do to help would be here.

This is the last we heard, straight from creator Rob Thomas:

“UPN, despite our low numbers, treats us like gold. Usually when a show is failing to do the numbers a network wants it to do, the network tries to "fix" a show. UPN isn't tinkering with Veronica Mars. They have told us to "keep doing the show your doing. It's up to us to bring an audience to the show." Creatively, the executives at both our studio and our network have been tremendously supportive.
Dawn Ostroff, the network president, gave us an encouraging speech about how Seinfeld, Cheers, even our OTH competition (see, I'm catching on) were ratings flops until Season 2. At the recent Television Critics Association network meetings, Dawn said that nearly every critic in America let her know that she simply can't cancel Veronica Mars."

"That's the good news. If there's bad news, it's that shows are often cancelled by networks even when they love and are proud of a show. At some point, an executive that I don't even know because he/she is so far up the corporate food chain may simply look at the numbers and pull the plug. Still, I would bet on us being back before I bet against us.”

Cruel Irony · 02-02-2005, 06:38 PM

Big News Everyone...

Enterprise has been cancelled.

FROM AICN:

TrekToday.com has sources blaming Viacom TV uberchieftan Les Moonves. Will Julie Chen will still want to have sex with him? Non-Chen details available here.
"All of us at Paramount warmly bid goodbye to Enterprise, and we all look forward to a new chapter of this enduring franchise in the future," said Paramount Network Television president David Stapf.

The whole press release:
UPN and Paramount Network Television have jointly announced that this will be the final season of Star Trek: Enterprise on UPN. [Production will continue until the end of this season, which will finish shooting in March.] The series finale will air on Friday, May 13, 2005.

"Star Trek has been an important part of UPN's history, and Enterprise has carried on the tradition of its predecessors with great distinction," said Dawn Ostroff, President, Entertainment, UPN. "We'd like to thank Rick Berman, Brannon Braga and an incredibly talented cast for creating an engaging, new dimension to the Star Trek universe on UPN, and we look forward to working with them, and our partners at Paramount Network Television, on a send-off that salutes its contributions to The Network and satisfies its loyal viewers."

David Stapf, President of Paramount Network Television, said, "The creators, stars and crew of Star Trek: Enterprise ambitiously and proudly upheld the fine traditions of the Star Trek franchise. We are grateful for their contributions to the legacy of Trek and commend them on completing nearly 100 exciting, dramatic and visually stunning episodes. All of us at Paramount warmly bid goodbye to Enterprise, and we all look forward to a new chapter of this enduring franchise in the future."

A prequel to the original "Star Trek" series, STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE premiered on UPN on Sept. 26, 2001, and aired for its first three seasons on Wednesdays (8:00-9:00PM, ET/PT). On Oct. 8, 2004, STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE moved into its current time on Fridays (8:00-9:00PM, ET/PT). Through its four-year run, STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE produced a total of 98 episodes and earned four Emmy Awards.

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What do you all think? Is this a good sign or a bad one?

Eidolon14 · 02-02-2005, 08:41 PM

Maybe I'm slow, but how is this a sign at all?

FAIT_Accompli · 02-02-2005, 09:25 PM

Because the Star Trek franchise has always been a notable staple in UPN's line-up.

I don't know what to make of it. WWE, now Enterprise? I can understand the former, but I have no clue about the latter. Before it, Voyager ran for eight seasons, and before it Star Trek was very succesful (Deep Space Nine is in there somewhere too, but I never kept up with it.)

Granted, I never watched Enterprise either, I just find it odd that it'd getting only half the seasons Voyager had.

Maybe this is just UPN going for that new "fresh" look. Clearing up time slots and getting rid of the old to make way for the new?

I don't know. Hmm.

Eidolon14 · 02-02-2005, 09:30 PM

The new "fresh look" idea makes sense, but if that's true, then it wouldn't hurt Veronica. Veronica is part of this new ... thing.

FAIT_Accompli · 02-02-2005, 09:35 PM

Good point.

So then ... perhaps, it's a good thing?

tangled STARR · 02-02-2005, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eidolon14

The new "fresh look" idea makes sense, but if that's true, then it wouldn't hurt Veronica. Veronica is part of this new ... thing.

I think that's exactly what it is.
WWE and ST have been staple shows for UPN, and with the cancellation of these two, you can't help but think UPN is trying to reconfigure its look/aura/appeal.

Before VM, I don't think I hardly ever watched UPN.
Well, except for certain episodes of Buffy and Roswell.

I think VM is going to become the new staple in the way that Buffy and DC became staple shows of The WB, and well, look where that network is now.

FAIT_Accompli · 02-02-2005, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tangled STARR

I think VM is going to become the new staple in the way that Buffy and DC became staple shows of The WB, and well, look where that network is now.

I certainly hope so. Because now, with VM, UPN's really the only network I have.

TokyoNiGHTS · 02-03-2005, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tangled STARR

I think that's exactly what it is.
WWE and ST have been staple shows for UPN, and with the cancellation of these two, you can't help but think UPN is trying to reconfigure its look/aura/appeal.

I think that's their goal as the 2 big shows they've had that critics have liked, Kevin Hill and VM, they've picked up for a full season even though the ratings aren't what they want on either. Where the problem comes in is no matter how much they might like them if the shows aren't popular enough they can't really keep them, since critics aren't going to be the ones paying to put commercials in those slots. So they really need the ratings boosts.

I probably sound like a party pooper, but i've been burned so many times recently with shows i've really liked that have ended up being cancelled (Wonderfalls, Angel, Keen Eddie ect) that i've lost any sort of faith that networks will keep shows that I actually like.

Cruel Irony · 02-03-2005, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TokyoNiGHTS

Where the problem comes in is no matter how much they might like them if the shows aren't popular enough they can't really keep them, since critics aren't going to be the ones paying to put commercials in those slots. So they really need the ratings boosts.

See, that's what I think. If the ratings don't get any better, UPN has no reason to pick VM up for another season, even if the show gets good reviews and all.

I just don't know what the show can do know. It's got a built in audience, but to pull in more viewers halfway through the season? I mean, a lot of people watch other shows... I have a bunch of friends who I tried to get to watch, but I only get, "No! One Tree Hill is on tonight!"

I think VM needs a better lead-in. The audiences for the shows in the 8-9 timeslot are very different than the 9-10 ones.

TokyoNiGHTS · 02-03-2005, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cruel Irony

I just don't know what the show can do know. It's got a built in audience, but to pull in more viewers halfway through the season? I mean, a lot of people watch other shows... I have a bunch of friends who I tried to get to watch, but I only get, "No! One Tree Hill is on tonight!"

At this point i'd say its basically up to fans to sell the show to their friends. UPN's really gone out nof their way to get the show known, good advertising, guest appearances by well known actors, and having MTV run the show in repeats for a few eps. Nothing's worked though. So fans getting others interested is really the only thing left.

Calico Cat · 02-03-2005, 07:52 AM

I don’t see Star Trek being cancelled relating to Veronica Mars. The handwriting was on the wall when UPN stuck ST on Friday night.

I love VM, it’s a terrific well-written show, and I hope that the poor ratings won’t keep UPN from bringing the show back. But realistically, no network can afford to produce a show that few people watch - no matter how much the critics love it. The Tuesday @ 9:00 time slot sucks - there are currently four shows that I watch, record, and even have a family member record for me; Veronica Mars, House, One Tree Hill (although it’s really gone downhill this season) and Amazing Race. I’d love for them to move VM, but I can’t think of a time slot that wouldn't be just as tough.

Unfortunately for UPN, network television has very competitive shows on every night of the week. In fact, VM is the only UPN show that I watch. But considering that their urban comedies are also down in the ratings this year, perhaps that will help keep VM on the air.

UnsilentMajorty · 02-03-2005, 08:55 AM

Enterprise was already on shaky ground for a couple of years now.

I am not a "Trekkie", but the show itself just was not as good as its predecessors. It also fractured* the fanbase in a lot of ways and when you divide a fanbase as large as the Trekkers, that can't be good news for your franchise.

*Some of the issues that dividied the fanbase were trivial and that all fanbases deal with (some hated the vocal theme song; others wanted an instrumental), but the main one was that a lot of fans think the show isn't even a ST show anymore with its emphasis on action and adventure more than space exploration and character development -- That was a conscious choice because the producers were given a mandate to bring in ratings and revive the dying franchise, so in a post 9/11 world, they basically created a ST version of 9/11 (an agressive alien race destroys the entire planet of Earth) and the Federation goes to war) and if it is one thing ST fans want more than characterization it is to ESCAPE and not be reminded of the real world when they watch.

WWE being canceled also doesn't surprise me because like ST... The Wrestling biz is in a down-swing right now and just is not as popular as it was during the mid-90s (The Monday Night Wars) and just not bringing in the ratings it used to and this is mainly due to their only being one wrestling federation now thanks to Vince McMahon and his monopolization of the competition.

Veronica Mars is going to need more viewers to generate more ad revenue.

We can sit here and speculate about the new "face" of UPN, blah, blah, blah...

But the bottom line is that VM needs higher ratings stay on the air another season and as depressing as this sounds, I don't see that happening.

Why?

Because, like we've been talking about on other threads, reality TV is finally on a down-swing and the networks are actually offering GOOD scripted dramas again. It is both a blessing (for fans) and a curse (for fans) as VM isn't the only quality scripted drama on the air that fans can turn to as a refuge from Reality TV anymore.

The other problem with VM is that UPN isn't carried in a lot of cities and especially, in a lot of rural areas where potential viewers with Nielsen boxes live. This has always been a problem with a weblet and this is something we can't really change.

The third obstacle VM has to overcome is that like Wonderfalls... You can't really boil it down to a high concept logline and do it justice AND get people interested.

Yes. You can say, "Dawson's Creek meets Nancy Drew" or "The O.C. meets Twin Peaks"... But those create FALSE impressions of what the show is until you actually watch it and it is that false impression that can keep viewers away.

This obstacle becomes more of a real problem when UPN tries to get more advertisers to sell products during VM for the exact same reasons... Except that in this case there is really money to be made... Er, lost as the case may be.

So, while I am optimistic about VM... We need to concentrate on getting those viewers with Nielsen boxes to tune in and just spread how good the show is by word-of-mouth.

tangled STARR · 02-03-2005, 10:25 AM

I think I speak for all of us when I say: those Nielson boxes really really suck.

UnsilentMajorty · 02-03-2005, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tangled STARR

I think I speak for all of us when I say: those Nielson boxes really really suck.

I agree... But it is the only system we (The U.S.) has right now. If you can come up with a better one, the TV industry will make you a very rich man/woman

Seriously.

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I also wanted to add something I posted on the other thread similar to this:

Rob Thomas and others think OTH is VM main competition.

I think that is WRONG... For the simple fact OTH is going for an entirely DIFFERENT demographic than VM (pre-teens to teens).

I think they, UPN, may be concentrating their efforts on the wrong thing instead of trying to promote VM to the demographic it DOES appeal to and that might actually make the difference in the long run.

Let OTH have the pre-teens and teenagers -- specifically, teenage girls.

VM transcends age and gender demographics which is both a blessing and curse since it is harder to get older viewers to be as invested as teens are in terms of fandomes, but also slightly easier to attract a wider variety of companies to want to buy air time during VM given the wider variety of products that have the potential to be sold (not just CDs; video games; etc).