Life on Mars


When it comes to TV, I've never had a problem confessing my guilty pleasures. In junior high I was an unfortunately vocal Brady Bunch fan, which came on the heels of my devotion to Rags to Riches.

So when I tell you that Veronica Mars is my new favorite TV show, I'm torn between calling it a guilty pleasure and simply enjoying it because it's brilliant, addictive character-driven television.

I think I'll go with the latter.

Veronica (the beautiful Kristen Bell) is a smart-ass, take-no-prisoners high school genius who's devoted to solving the allegedly closed murder case of her best friend Lily. Along the way she solves other mysteries that inevitably lead up to the coup de grace, the identity of Lily's murderer.

Why did Veronica's mother run away? What was Lily's big secret? Why did Lily's parents pay someone to confess to the crime? Who drugged Veronica and took her virginity at a party? Is Logan's mother really dead? All of these mysteries and more are solved with an adroit, sleek skill by Veronica. She channels Sydney Bristow by way of Parkey Posey, all the while blessing the audience with sardonic lines that will have you laughing for awhile.

I simply urge you to check out the show. I'll pay for you to rent the DVDs or I'll burn copies of mine. If ever a show needed more fans to experience its brilliance, it's Veronica Mars.