... At least some great songs can't.
It's been ages since I had a great TV tunes flashback moment, and pulling out my first season of Veronica Mars had made me nostalgic for one scene, one song in particular. Although the brilliance of V Mars was never fully recognized due to shitty promotion by UPN/CW, the small cult-like following for the show is not unlike critic-darling Arrested Development. Upon hearing the show was canceled, fans of the petite private eye sent network exec Dawn Ostroff the following to persuade her to reconsider:
- 4848 Snickers Almond Bars
- 2040 Mars Bars from England (Snicker's Mars Bars are no longer in US production, thus Almond Bars are the closest thing)
- 510 lbs Marshmallows (In the first season Veronica's best friend Wallace is quoted as saying "You're a marshmallow Veronica Mars")
Total weight = Around 1400 Pounds (Plus individual shipments by other fans)
The Save Veronica campaign has also raised thousands of dollars via PayPal, organized mass purchases of episodes on iTunes, and continues to push for a Veronica Mars movie (Both creator Rob Thomas and star Kristen Bell have spoken enthusiastically about the possibility).
But before all the cancellation madness, there was an amazing first season. The writing, especially the quick-witted dialogue between Veronica and her father Keith, made for unprecedented television chemistry. The use of music on the show was always underplayed, never relied on as a driving force (unlike shows 90210, Gossip Girl, and The O.C.), but instead subtly powerful. Watching "Meet John Smith" just three episodes into the first season, I was once again wowed by the haunting use of Ivy's "Edge of the Ocean." Veronica and ex-boyfriend Duncan Kane are driving to the hospital when the song rises from the background, accenting the scene's romantic tension perfectly. I've always thought the track worked so well as a flashback, the soft beats and quirky electronica are the essence of a summer dream. It didn't take more than a few seconds for the song to speak volumes that even the cleverest dialogue could not.
Music supervisors went on to capitalize on the show's popularity by producing the ever-popular television soundtrack. Ivy does indeed make an appearance with "Ocean City Girl," while other standout tracks include Mike Doughty's "I Hear the Bells" (Before he annoyed us with "27 Jennifers" he rocked my socks), The Format's "On Your Porch," and Spoon's notorious "I Turn My Camera On." All the tracks made stand-out cameos on the show, but none stuck with me quite so well as Ivy's "Edge of the Ocean."
