PODCAST S01.E02 Go Pirates!: All Is Not As It Seems

[Primetimer]

With Weevil as the prime suspect, Veronica Mars takes on a credit-card-fraud case.

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[Primetimer]

All the most notable (and daaaaated) moments from S01.E02, 'Credit Where Credit's Due'!

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[Sarah D. Bunting]

I'm told we had to cut a minute or two due to cyloning on the audio track, so if there's a clip dropped in there that doesn't seem to have any context, that's probably why. Apologies from the deputy engineer!

[TeeVee329]

OMG, Dick Casablancas IS the Steve Sanders of "Veronica Mars" lol!!! 

And yeah, his web series - "Play It Again, Dick" - was fun.

Edited June 16, 2017 by TeeVee329

[Dave in Chicago]

I remember howling with laughter at the shot of Paris Hilton getting gently pushed into frame on a moped that clearly wasn't running.

[Sarah D. Bunting]

hee, I didn't even notice that. I couldn't stop staring at the plastic hair that had been "woven" "into" her real hair.

[MostlyC]

The hair...I had a friendly acquaintance who used to do hair/wigs at SNL and they were there when Paris Hilton hosted the show.  Her hair was apparently so crispy it was breaking off it anyone touched it and there were chunks of hair missing.  They said it was a nightmare (especially when performing a live show).

And now I'm going to have to look for the twop interview with Rob Thomas.

For me, this is one of the weaker episodes from the season. 

When WhatsHisName Ashmore showed up on the show it was yet another person who looked enough like Duncan and Logan that I had trouble telling the three guys apart.  (again, thank god for the paluka shell necklace).  But he does grow on you (why didn't that actor play Duncan?  Maybe I would have warmed up to the character then).

Who's your Daddy will never not be icky.  

Did the teacher leave because the actress got pregnant?  I'll tune into next podcast to find out!  /cue ptv theme song.

[sharkycharming]

I've seen this episode at least a dozen times and never noticed the Planned Parenthood poster. Nice catch! You guys, I'm loving the podcast so much. Thanks for starting my weekend off on a high note.

[topanga]

19 hours ago, MostlyC said:

Did the teacher leave because the actress got pregnant?  I'll tune into next podcast to find out!  /cue ptv theme song.

I read somewhere (maybe in Couch Baron's interview with Rob Thomas) that Sydney Tami Poiter was very expensive to have in the cast, and there wasn't enough for her character to do to justify that cost. She might have been pregnant, too. I can't recall. 

One the funniest parts of the podcast was Sarah pointing out how old so many of these characters looked. I totally agree. On rewatch, Chardo certainly didn't look like a high school student. Then again, Weevil didn't look 17 either. 

And Shawn Ashmore. *sigh* I'd forgotten how much I loved Troy and his chemistry with Veronica.  And he was the one who got her to say that she's sometimes persnicketier. 

[Sarah D. Bunting]

(psst: that's Aaron)

("...NAME! THAT! ASHMORE!")

[Clare]

Paris Hilton is so awful.  Those extensions are awful.  Was that the style?  This is one of my least favourite episodes even though it introduces Troy.

I love the whole Troy storyline.  It's weird to think about if he was cast as Duncan.  I'm not sure even that would have worked.  So many issues with the writing of Duncan I've never been convinced even a good actor could pull it off.

Logan and Weevil continue to have awesome chemistry, I like how they play off each other.  Their scenes have always been some of the best of the series for me.

[scarynikki12]

3 hours ago, Clare said:

Paris Hilton is so awful.  Those extensions are awful.  Was that the style?  This is one of my least favourite episodes even though it introduces Troy.

For Paris, at least, her hair was typically so over-processed that her actual hair was very short.  Rather than embracing a short style and taking care of it as it grew out, or wearing high quality wigs, she went for extensions which didn't help and looked awful. 

[WhosThatGirl]

This is probably my least favorite VM episode. Paris was stunt casting right? She had to have been. I cant imagine her being cast for any other reason than that. Nicole Richie was popping up on shows here and there around this time too I think.

And this would have probably been a decent episode if not for the stunt casting of the whole thing, because the character Paris plays is somewhat central to the arc of this episode and she cannot act. It ruins this episode for me.

[methodwriter85]

On 6/17/2017 at 8:46 PM, scarynikki12 said:

For Paris, at least, her hair was typically so over-processed that her actual hair was very short.  Rather than embracing a short style and taking care of it as it grew out, or wearing high quality wigs, she went for extensions which didn't help and looked awful. 

In general it seemed like most girls during this time period were going for the long straight hair, unless you were doing that short flippy hairdo thing. (See: Veronica's early season 1 hair.) A lot of weaves abounded. (Still do, I'm assuming, but you see more short styles now than you did back then.)

RE: SNL, I remember Tina Fey going on a rant about Paris Hilton leaving her Barbie hair all over the studio.

Hilary Duff could have played Caitlyn Ford, and she would have been an actual teenager at the time. Her as that character probably would have worked a lot more than her stunt character on Joan of Arcadia. But they really didn't use a lot of actual teenagers on this show- Tina Majorino, Amanda Seyfried, Leighton Meissner, and Jessy Schram were the only actual teenagers that I can think of who had significant parts on the show. (I remember thinking Gia was a real teenager, and then being shocked to learn she wasn't. )

Edited June 19, 2017 by methodwriter85

[WhosThatGirl]

1 hour ago, methodwriter85 said:

In general it seemed like most girls during this time period were going for the long straight hair, unless you were doing that short flippy hairdo thing. (See: Veronica's early season 1 hair.) A lot of weaves abounded. (Still do, I'm assuming, but you see more short styles now than you did back then.)

RE: SNL, I remember Tina Fey going on a rant about Paris Hilton leaving her Barbie hair all over the studio.

Hilary Duff could have played Caitlyn Ford, and she would have been an actual teenager at the time. Her as that character probably would have worked a lot more than her stunt character on Joan of Arcadia. But they really didn't use a lot of actual teenagers on this show- Tina Majorino, Amanda Seyfried, Leighton Meissner, and Jessy Schram were the only actual teenagers that I can think of who had significant parts on the show. (I remember thinking Gia was a real teenager, and then being shocked to learn she wasn't. )

It's not the age thing that bothers me. I'm totally fine with non teens playing teens, it's the fact that Paris is terrible and it's obvious that she was used merely for the fact that "guest star Paris Hilton". And probably the network wanted some buzz for this new show at the time. As we all know it didn't help, this show seemed to be a best kept secret thing, at least in my real life, I'm always happy to find now years later on the forums that other people loved this show too, for me during high school it seemed no one else was watching it. 

Also on the hair thing I hate long hair. My hair is pretty much less than shoulder length or shoulder length and then I get it cut and pretty much always up in a bun or ponytail. That's just me. But yes short hair cuts are more of a thing now. Personal preference is why I hate long hair.

Edited June 19, 2017 by WhosThatGirl

[methodwriter85]

Yeah, I really didn't know anybody who watched Veronica Mars when I was in high school, either. (The show premiered when I was in 12th grade.) It's great that the show has managed to have a pretty great after-life given that it didn't really have enough episodes for traditional syndication.

[WhosThatGirl]

1 hour ago, methodwriter85 said:

Yeah, I really didn't know anybody who watched Veronica Mars when I was in high school, either. (The show premiered when I was in 12th grade.) It's great that the show has managed to have a pretty great after-life given that it didn't really have enough episodes for traditional syndication.

I was in 11th grade. And granted I didn't really like the third season, but the first two were something great. And as someone who was struggling through a hard year, the show came at a good time for me, at least high school wise.

[mwcherry]

"Any Ashmore in a storm." Hee!

Any chance that Glarkware will make any merch? I lost my Neptune Pirates sweatshirt in a house fire. (Also lost a "Where's Weevil?" onesie, but I doubt that my now 12 year old wants a new one).

[Kerfuffler]

Wait, ironic French? How can a manicure be ironic? That's one trend (among many) that passed completely under my radar.

[LCanterbury]

13 hours ago, mwcherry said:

Any chance that Glarkware will make any merch? I lost my Neptune Pirates sweatshirt in a house fire. (Also lost a "Where's Weevil?" onesie, but I doubt that my now 12 year old wants a new one).

I'm too festively plump for my 'Always take Backup' shirt (sorry about the fire mwcherry).

This episode is definitely one of the weakest of the series for me. The stuntcastee and her plastic hair worried me at the time as I'd loved the pilot so much.

[Sarah D. Bunting]

My Pirates sweatshirt was lent and not returned. Not surprising; that thing was rad. I'll ask the merch jefe about re-upping those designs.

[Sarah D. Bunting]

Thus my asking! Let me walk you through the "logic" here: my SIL Gen and I are both from Jersey, where a French mani is the state bird*, and it's associated with a certain kind of style -- a high-maintenance, Carmela Soprano kind of style held over from the '80s that, when VM was originally airing, was not really on trend and definitely was not our thing. 

 

In the intervening years, OTT nail art and "neck parties" -- i.e., that Carm style, with the long claws, jewels embedded at the cuticle line, and all your necklaces on at once -- got pretty mainstream and chic, but prior to that, a French was for 1) lady realtors of a certain age, and 2) your wedding, so if one of us got one, we'd get the Frenchiest, most obviously fake tips possible (or a reverse French in Jets colors).

 

The French seen here doesn't exactly "go." Like, a HS student in SoCal who's wearing probably all American Eagle, and then that kinda porny nail narrative? Doesn't line up. So I was wondering if it was ironic. 

 

* state bird is actually a goldfinch of some sort 

[Venus]

Hi, love the podcast so far! One thing I'd love to see you discuss is the subtle, ingrained racism in the show. I love Veronica's friendships with Wallace and Weevil as much the next person, but it's pretty clear that she would have had some kind of romantic relationship/tension with them if they had been white (particularly Weevil who is POC Logan in a lot of ways). I've always been curious about other people's thoughts on this. Can't wait for the next episode!

[topanga]

6 hours ago, Venus said:

Hi, love the podcast so far! One thing I'd love to see you discuss is the subtle, ingrained racism in the show. I love Veronica's friendships with Wallace and Weevil as much the next person, but it's pretty clear that she would have had some kind of romantic relationship/tension with them if they had been white (particularly Weevil who is POC Logan in a lot of ways). I've always been curious about other people's thoughts on this. Can't wait for the next episode!

Great post. I'm going to  put my answer in the "Go Pirates" thread because I think it's very relevant to the podcast. 

 

On 6/16/2017 at 9:30 PM, sharkycharming said:

I've seen this episode at least a dozen times and never noticed the Planned Parenthood poster. Nice catch! You guys, I'm loving the podcast so much. Thanks for starting my weekend off on a high note.

Same here!

[topanga]

Brought over from the "Visual Aids" topic: 

 

6 hours ago, Venus said:

Hi, love the podcast so far! One thing I'd love to see you discuss is the subtle, ingrained racism in the show. I love Veronica's friendships with Wallace and Weevil as much the next person, but it's pretty clear that she would have had some kind of romantic relationship/tension with them if they had been white (particularly Weevil who is POC Logan in a lot of ways). I've always been curious about other people's thoughts on this. Can't wait for the next episode!

John (I still want to call him Couch Baron--the only mod on TWOP who ever gave me a warning)--John did start to address racial issues on the podcast. 

He started the discussion about Latino males in TV and movies too often being reduced to the stereotypical tough guys, complete with leather jackets and bad attitudes. And 'Veronica Mars' was no exception.  What also bothered me is that Weevil's grandmother had to have a Spanish accent. The actress clearly didn't, and her Spanish accent was horrible, so why not let the actress talk in her normal voice? No one ever said that Weevil's grandmother was an immigrant. (Or if they did say it later, they didn't have to). Why couldn't she be a native Californian? 

Veronica and Weevil were flirty with one another during the first season, but you're right that the show never treated Weevil as a serious love interest for Veronica. Which I didn't mind. I liked her having a friend/antagonist like Weevil and a BFF like Wallace with no sexual tension clouding the picture. 

[John Ramos]

3 hours ago, topanga said:

John (I still want to call him Couch Baron-

I still answer to that, hee.

[Sarah D. Bunting]

thanks, guys! As I've noted, sometimes it can take a while for us to get to your notes because we record ahead, but like Backup 2.0, our ears are always perked up. (Aw.)

I may start a dedicated thread, in fact.

[Affogato]

On 6/22/2017 at 8:38 PM, topanga said:

Brought over from the "Visual Aids" topic: 

 

John (I still want to call him Couch Baron--the only mod on TWOP who ever gave me a warning)--John did start to address racial issues on the podcast. 

He started the discussion about Latino males in TV and movies too often being reduced to the stereotypical tough guys, complete with leather jackets and bad attitudes. And 'Veronica Mars' was no exception.  What also bothered me is that Weevil's grandmother had to have a Spanish accent. The actress clearly didn't, and her Spanish accent was horrible, so why not let the actress talk in her normal voice? No one ever said that Weevil's grandmother was an immigrant. (Or if they did say it later, they didn't have to). Why couldn't she be a native Californian? 

Veronica and Weevil were flirty with one another during the first season, but you're right that the show never treated Weevil as a serious love interest for Veronica. Which I didn't mind. I liked her having a friend/antagonist like Weevil and a BFF like Wallace with no sexual tension clouding the picture. 

Yeah, Veronica having male friends that were just friends or compatriots fits her personality (her female friends, Lilly and Mac, aren't girlish, either, Veronica isn't a girly person and this is only emphasized when she takes a level of jerkass as the show starts). Also she was pretty darn busy having a hero quest that made her choice of boyfriends , symbols of her initially refusing to move forward with her life quest.

As far as why the PCHers and the rich girls only got it on behind closed doors is  why, if Celeste humped the pool boy, we never heard about it.

If the show is rebooted they should probably make the Kane's black or Latino. Bet Weevil is still undesirable, though.

[topanga]

On 6/24/2017 at 10:27 AM, Affogato said:

As far as why the PCHers and the rich girls only got it on behind closed doors is  why, if Celeste humped the pool boy, we never heard about it.

Ha! I would love to see that scene. Remember when Lily imitated her parents having sex--I forget which ep--and she made Celeste sound like her typical buttoned-up self? Hilarious. 

[Sarah D. Bunting]

E04; drops Friday, and we clipped that bit. hee hee.

[John Potts]

I loved the fact that in stunt casting Paris Hilton, they made her a vapid rich white girl - and even that was a stretch for her! Though loved the detail, "She has to have her ice cubes made from mineral water" (I could easily believe that was a genuine PH rider).

I do buy that Wallace would be prepared to take risks for Veronica (and not just out of boredom). I was a teenaged boy once (many, many moons ago) and boys will go a long way for a hot chick, even without any realistic expectation of "reward" - not that Wallace has much trouble getting the ladies in any case.

Spoiler

It's possible that Weevil went easy on his (former) gang mate because he had his own secret relationship with an 09er (Lily). And maybe that also accounts for his sympathy toward Veronica: he may have felt that his relationship with Lily was what got her killed and caused Keith & Veronica's pariah status.

[absnow54]

Thus my asking! Let me walk you through the "logic" here: my SIL Gen and I are both from Jersey, where a French mani is the state bird*, and it's associated with a certain kind of style -- a high-maintenance, Carmela Soprano kind of style held over from the '80s that, when VM was originally airing, was not really on trend and definitely was not our thing. 

 

In the intervening years, OTT nail art and "neck parties" -- i.e., that Carm style, with the long claws, jewels embedded at the cuticle line, and all your necklaces on at once -- got pretty mainstream and chic, but prior to that, a French was for 1) lady realtors of a certain age, and 2) your wedding, so if one of us got one, we'd get the Frenchiest, most obviously fake tips possible (or a reverse French in Jets colors).

 

The French seen here doesn't exactly "go." Like, a HS student in SoCal who's wearing probably all American Eagle, and then that kinda porny nail narrative? Doesn't line up. So I was wondering if it was ironic. 

 

* state bird is actually a goldfinch of some sort 

I was in high school during the Veronica Mars years, and I wasn't exactly trendy, but I remember french manicures being popular around this time. Everyone used to buy those Sally Hansen kits that had the strips of tape to delineate the "tip" part, until we realized you could just use the little O stickers that were meant for reinforcing the loose leaf in your 3 ring binder.