Veronica Mars (2004-2009)

Ryan Hansen as Dick Casablancas in Veronica Mars. (Photo: The CW)

Starring: Kristen Bell, Enrico Colantoni, Jason Dohring

The weekly, hour-long series Veronica Mars starred Kristen Bell as the 17-year-old title character, formerly the most popular girl in her high school in the affluent community of Neptune. Ever since her sheriff father, Keith Mars (Enrico Colantoni), was fired and publicly disgraced for daring to suggest that Jake Kane (Kyle Secor), the town's wealthiest man, may have been responsible for the murder of his own daughter, Lilly (Amanda Seyfried), Veronica had been a social pariah, shunned by all of the "right" people and the "coolest" kids -- including her former boyfriend, Lilly's troubled brother, Duncan (Teddy Dunn). Determined to solve the murder of her best friend Lilly and clear her father's name, Veronica became a crusading reporter for her school newspaper, under the watchful eye of journalism teacher Mallory Dent (Sydney Tamiia Poitier). She also moonlighted as a private eye, helping her dad Keith run his private detective agency, Mars Investigations. In so doing, Veronica forced many of her antagonists in Neptune to face up to the unpleasant truths hidden away in their own souls, and also dug up more than a few inconvenient skeletons in a few high-maintenance closets. The cast included Percy Daggs III as Wallace Fennel, the nerdy new kid in school who became the closest ally of fellow outcast Veronica; Jason Dohring as Logan Echolls, the wildly undisciplined son of Neptune's two resident movie stars, Aaron and Lynn Echolls, and Duncan Kane's closest friend; and Francis Capra as punkish Eli "Weevil" Navarro, head of the school's most feared gang, the PCH Biker Boyz, who through a series of fascinating plot contrivances found himself begrudgingly helping Veronica in her crusade to see that justice was served at all times. Veronica Mars made its UPN network bow on September 22, 2004. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide