Mars Attack

Is anyone else out there watching Veronica Mars? It's no Buffy the Vampire Slayer (especially with lack of vamps and demons and stuff), but it's still clever, clever stuff about a plucky detective who cracks all manner of strange cases. (My UA students, by the way, consider me nuts for being so preoccupied with Veronica, but I think they could learn a thing or two from her. If nothing else, she's a very fashionable dresser.)

The first two seasons--available on DVD, so go on down to Casa Video this weekend!--were just great: witty dialogue, smart plot twists and solid perfomances from the entire cast.

This season, which has seen the young Miss Mars move on to college, has had a few disappointing moments, but last night's episode, which wrapped the storyline we'd been following for the first half of the season and launched a new mystery, was a crackling good time full of suspense and surprises.

If you're not watching this, the next episode will be a great jumping-on point. Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on the CW, which is Channel 58 here in the Old Pueblo.