Veronica still lives Don't count show out yet, says Toronto actor who plays sleuth's dad Apr 20, 2007 04:30 AM by Rob Salem TV Critic "We were outside the bubble for the longest time.... And then they put us on after the Gilmore Girls. But people weren't sticking around after Gilmore Girls, because it's really a whole different audience. "The thing is, anyone who actually sees Veronica Mars is going to love Veronica Mars. I mean, I have yet to meet anyone who's like, `Eh ...'" That being said, and despite the failure of the experimental retooling, a new initiative came down from even farther out of left field to take the show in a whole new direction. "Rob (creator/producer Thomas) and a couple of the other executives said, `Let's make a little showcase pilot of what Veronica could be like in four years.' They thought Dawn might latch on to the idea of Veronica as an FBI agent in a kind of sexy workplace environment, á la Grey's Anatomy, that kind of thing. "We shot 10 pages and they saw it and the reaction was, `That's not our show.' Then they saw the last episode of this season, and it was so on the money ... it was like the first two years. And I think the network was very excited about that. "You know how it works. They've got six new pilots. And if some of those tank, or if Gilmore Girls doesn't come back, then of course they're going to want us back." Full Article http://www.thestar.com/artsentertainment/article/205239 Toronto Star Article full Text: Contrary to the currently prevailing public opinion, there may indeed be life on Mars. Veronica Mars, that is, the oddly endearing and enduring young detective show, which survived the rocky merger of the former UPN and WB, and a shotgun marriage to an increasingly creatively compromised Gilmore Girls, with its middling, if remarkably consistent audience more or less intact. It doesn't hurt that one of those diehard fans is Dawn Ostroff, entertainment president of the show's freshly minted new hybrid home, The CW. Then again, it doesn't necessarily help. A misguided effort to broaden its audience with shorter, more self-contained story arcs and a more socially successful Veronica did nothing to improve its numbers. And alienated even its dedicated fans. Even once back on track, it remained irrevocably "on the bubble" – in imminent danger of abrupt cancellation. According to USA Today this week, that bubble is about to burst. But reports of Veronica Mars' premature death are greatly exaggerated, insists Enrico Colantoni, the Toronto-born actor who plays Veronica's detective dad. Back home this month shooting a Céline Dion TV biopic – he plays husband/manager René Angelil – Colantoni says the fate of the much-loved series is still very much undecided. "No one knows anything," the actor insists over double espresso at his old haunt, Café Diplomatico. "But I love how people think they know ... "We were outside the bubble for the longest time.... And then they put us on after the Gilmore Girls. But people weren't sticking around after Gilmore Girls, because it's really a whole different audience. "The thing is, anyone who actually sees Veronica Mars is going to love Veronica Mars. I mean, I have yet to meet anyone who's like, `Eh ...'" That being said, and despite the failure of the experimental retooling, a new initiative came down from even farther out of left field to take the show in a whole new direction. "Rob (creator/producer Thomas) and a couple of the other executives said, `Let's make a little showcase pilot of what Veronica could be like in four years.' They thought Dawn might latch on to the idea of Veronica as an FBI agent in a kind of sexy workplace environment, á la Grey's Anatomy, that kind of thing. "We shot 10 pages and they saw it and the reaction was, `That's not our show.' Then they saw the last episode of this season, and it was so on the money ... it was like the first two years. And I think the network was very excited about that. "You know how it works. They've got six new pilots. And if some of those tank, or if Gilmore Girls doesn't come back, then of course they're going to want us back." Celine Dion TV movie shooting ... in Toronto Brendan Kelly, Montreal Gazette Published: Tuesday, April 10, 2007 Toronto actor Enrico Colantoni best-known for his recurring role as the fashion photographer Elliot DiMauro on the sitcom Just Shoot Me plays Dions husband and manager Ren Anglil. Singer and stage actress Louise Pitre (Mamma Mia!) portrays Dions mother Therese and New Brunswick-born thespian Peter MacNeill plays Dions dad Adhmar. Celine is directed by Jeff Woolnough (CSI, Battlestar Gallactica) and was written by Donald Martin, based on the biography, A New Day Dawns, by Barry Gills and Jim Brown. It follows Dion until the age of 24. Full Article: http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=5a7ceb4a-22bd-4a12-abf0-1cdf62552121&k=66851 Photo Credit: SIMON WILSON FOR THE TORONTO STAR Photo Caption: Christine Ghawi plays young Céline Dion and Enrico Colantino, a veteran of US TV, plays her manager/husband-to-be Rene Angelil in the upcoming CBC biopic Céline. Email story Print How a new day dawned Jim Bawden goes on set at shoot of Céline Dion TV movie Apr 22, 2007 04:30 AM Jim Bawden We listen as Enrico Colantoni (Veronica Mars) and newcomer, Montreal's Christine Ghawi, act out a scene as René and Céline. First impression: she looks a heck of a lot like Céline – perhaps not as tall, but when she sings and dances, look out. (The singing will be dubbed in later, a standard practice.) During a break, Colantoni confides he's still waiting to see if CW's Veronica Mars gets picked up for another season – it depends on what happens to the lead-in show Gilmore Girls, which may or may not be coming back for another season. Born in Toronto, Colantoni studied at U of T before departing for the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He doesn't get home as much as he wants, especially since his parents retired and moved back to Italy. So why is he back making a Canadian TV movie? "A new agent – he gets me great scripts like this," he says. "At first, I thought this might be cheesy. Then I read it and it's partly about how this guy fits into her life. They're a real couple. Alone, neither would have made it. Together, they're unbeatable." Full article: http://www.thestar.com/artsentertainment/article/205839 Watch with Kristin SOS Update: Veronica Mars Not Canceled A little update on the winner and runner-up of this year's Save One Show campaign. As I mentioned in the latest chat, Veronica Mars executive producer Rob Thomas is the special guest of this week's Watch with Kristin show on the Vine. Although you'll have to wait till Monday morning to see the entire show, I wanted to get out one message right away. According to Rob Thomas, Veronica Mars has not been canceled. At least not yet. He is meeting with the CW next week to pitch ideas for season four, and the show's fate will be decided after that. You may have seen the report in USA Today that VM has been canceled, and also Enrico Colantoni's interview in the Toronto Star, saying that the CW did not love the 10-minute presentation of an FBI version of the show. But according to Thomas, the CW has not yet seen the FBI presentation and there most definitely is still hope for a season four. Don't know about you, but that's news so good it almost makes me weepy. Rob (who couldn't have been a better guest) gave more scoop on the show's fate and also the big love triangle (including some interesting, season-ending dish on Logan and Veronica). So, make sure you check back Monday for that. More E! Online: http://www.eonline.com/gossip/kristin/detail/index.jsp?uuid=5b93b463-01ee-444b-8251-0e27aa14616e Full article: http://www.eonline.com/gossip/kristin/detail/index.jsp?uuid=5841ef77-267d-4d73-9436-2addd6257faa 'Veronica' is back; nothing wrong with series, if you haven't noticed UNION-TRIBUNE May 1, 2007 Karla Peterson In these next two episodes, friendships deepen, new love blossoms and a few formerly AWOL supporting characters make welcome returns. As usual, the acting is stellar. The chemistry between the vibrant Bell and the vulnerable bad boy played by Jason Dohring has gone from combustible to complex, and the companionable warmth she shares with Tina Majorino (as the brainy Mac), Percy Daggs III (as the loyal Wallace), and the wonderful Colantoni as Papa Mars feels sweet and real. Full Article: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/features/peterson/20070501-9999-1c01karla.html Excerpt from TV Blend Veronica Mars Fans Take To The Streets To Save The Series Once Again By Kelly West: 2007-04-30 18:38:52 This past weekend, professional street teams distributed 30,000 flyers in New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Chicago inviting people to tune in to this week’s episode of ‘Veronica Mars.’ After an eight-week hiatus, new episodes of ‘Mars’ will start airing this week. Prior to the hiatus, the second story arc of the season was resolved leaving five more stand-alone episodes to close out the season starting this Tuesday (May 1st) at 9 PM on The CW. Because they are stand-alone episodes, this really is the perfect opportunity for new viewers to tune in and see what all the fuss is about. Improved ratings could certainly help keep ‘Mars’ on the air. http://www.cinemablend.com/television/Veronica-Mars-Fans-Take-To-The-Streets-To-Save-The-Series-Once-Again-4026.html