Veronica Mars, a noirish cult fave on CW featuring a college student detective and her computer hacker friend, may get renewed for a fourth season in a strange new chapter of TV history. In an unprecedented move, producer Rob Thomas proposes to move the action forward four years in time to boost audience interest in this critically-acclaimed ratings loser. If renewed, season four of Veronica Mars would take place as our hero enters the FBI academy -- this would certainly be good for lead Kristin Bell, whose comeliness is undeniable but who hardly looks 18. Sadly, I think it would mean losing Mac the computer hacker. Season three has been lagging, partly because SoCal college life doesn't seem to lend itself well to the show's format, which began as a high school drama about murder and date rape and has evolved into a dramedy about misunderstood frat boys vs. politically-correct women of color. (No, really -- watch this season on DVD and you will see what I mean. No, scratch that -- just watch the superlative seasons 1 and 2.)
Many TV shows have tried to revamp their tired formats with the old "new roommates mean a new supporting cast" gimmick (the Three's Company classic), or the "suddenly she has a new job and a new social life" gimmick (think Ellen). But moving forward in time? Never been done. I'm intrigued, and clearly so is CW. We'll know more when the network announces its fall lineup on May 17.
Veronica Mars closer to pickup [via Reuters]
