Flashback to 'Mars!' Plus 'The Closer,' 'Idol' News and Stars Get Animated

Oh Veronica Mars, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways! Meg’s secret admirer, an awesomely bad 80s dance, Veronica’s Madonna-esque outfit, Logan and Veronica’s wedding scrapbook, Trina saves the day, Logan’s Risky Business entrance and an entire host of other goodies from the first season episode “Ruskie Business.” This episode is an insta-classic for so many reasons that it remains near the top of my list of the best VM episodes of all-time, and let me assure you; it’s a long list. There is one scene in particular that still manages to bring that special emotional lump to my throat every time I watch this episode. We’ll get to that one later, but first, all of the other gazillion things that make “Ruskie Business” a worthy addition to the VM Flashback family.


This episode is from the time when we all thought that Lynn Echolls pulled the wool over our eyes. We were all so sure that her abandoned car on the bridge act was just that – an act. As far as we were concerned, Lynn was somewhere in the tropics sipping one of those fruity drinks with the cute umbrellas while Logan mourned her supposed passing. It seems that we weren’t the only ones, though, because Logan was convinced that his mother was still alive too. Veronica agrees to keep an eye on Lynn’s platinum card to see if there is any activity on it. When the Neptune Grand shows up, she and Logan head down there and pretend to be engaged. They tell the front desk that they want to see the most expensive suite because they are considering staying there on their wedding night. The act comes complete with Veronica’s on-the-fly scrapbook that leaves Logan musing that she has been busy. When they fail to get inside the suite charged to Lynn’s card, Logan decides to stake out the elevator to wait for his mom. Hours pass, so Veronica gives the card user a little push by canceling the card. A few minutes later, someone emerges from the elevator, but to Logan’s disappointment, it’s Trina and not Lynn. So, the tropics theory is still in play! Meanwhile, Veronica is also helping her father with a lost love case, but there’s a problem, the lost love doesn’t want to be found. That might have to do with the fact that he isn’t a lost love, but a member of the witness protection program who is about to testify against the Russian mob. And it just so happens that they’re also the ones using Mars Investigations to look for him. Luckily, Keith catches the dangerous scam before any damage is done.


And if you’re thinking that Veronica must have been burning the candle at both ends working both of those cases, then hold on because I haven’t gotten to her best case of the episode. Meg has a secret admirer, and she wants Veronica to get to the bottom of it. Veronica’s investigation keeps taking her down dead ends until a flower shop owner gives her a sketch of the boy who ordered Meg’s flowers. Meg is supposed to meet her admirer at the annual 80s dance, but she decides to go with Veronica instead. Since Veronica knows who her admirer is, she takes the corsage with her that was supposed to be the signal for the night. Later at the dance, Meg decides that she’s weak when it comes to girl power and would rather have a date. With Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” playing in the background and both girls decked in full-fledged 80s attire (complete with Veronica’s Madonna-esque outfit and crimped hair), Veronica takes the corsage and puts it on Meg’s wrist. She tells her that she’ll thank her later. As Veronica backs away, Duncan walks up and takes Meg’s hand to lead her to the dance floor. It is one of the most selfless scenes that I have ever seen, and it made me seriously love Veronica and want her to be my new BFF. A tearful Veronica finds some happiness in the form of Deputy Leo, who shows up in full Miami Vice attire after Meg’s urging. The two share a kiss before a call that turns out to be her wayward mother interrupts their moment. Yes, it’s just another day in the complicated world of Veronica Mars. If you would like to check out this episode for yourself, pick up your copy today. Or rent one through Netflix, or check your local library for a free borrowed copy. Veronica's second season is currently airing in reruns on UPN every Tuesday night. Tonight, you can catch 2 back-to-back episodes of this wonderful show. In the first hour, Veronica helps her ex-boyfriend Troy after he gets accused of rape. Check out the opening scene HERE! In the second hour, Veronica teams up with Weevil to bring Felix's murderer to justice. All of the screen captures in this edition are courtesy of VM-Caps.com.


'The Closer'
There are two things that I know too much about courtesy of crime shows (particularly Law & Order: SVU) – autoerotic asphyxiation and Munchausen’s By Proxy. If you go by crime shows, then both of these come up quite often in the world of solving crimes. Last night’s episode of The Closer focused on the latter after a little boy died on a hospital’s operating table. I was all over the map during this episode because I was never sure whom I should believe. In fact, there was a good chunk of time when I thought that Brenda and co. were wasting their time on a case that had no criminal element. And that’s where I ended up when Brenda learned the truth. What happened to that little boy was absolutely tragic, but I’m not so sure it was murder. Do I think that doctors should be making decisions on whether a little boy should live with his quality of life in a very diminished state or die peacefully? Absolutely not, but I think making a murder case against him is a bit fuzzy. One thing is for sure, the little boy’s mother has one strong case of malpractice against him, the hospital and everyone else involved in her son’s death and the cover-up that ensued. At least she did until she garnered her own murder charges. See, there’s something else that I have learned from the likes of SVU, parents often gun down the ones who wronged their child if the police and the court system fail them. You gotta love the irony of the boy’s mother sitting in jail while the man responsible for her son’s death is six feet under. This episode marked he second heavy one in a row for this show, so I’m hoping for a little break next week with a slightly lighter one. I'm still not right after seeing that scene with the mother performing an autopsy on her own son.

QUICK CUTS

*Fox's American Idol will add a new element when its sixth season premieres next year. Look for songwriters, both professional and amateur, to be a part of the contest as well. Creator Simon Fuller says that the show will allow songwriters to submit songs for the finalists, which previously fell to industry veterans. The move is designed to get a better match-up between the singers and the songs. American Idol's sixth season premieres in January on Fox.

*And finally, have you ever wondered what your favorite CBS stars would look like animated? Well, the network's new broadband channel INNERTUBE is giving you the opportunity to find out in its new series Animate This! The show features funny animated shorts based on a story from the featured celebrity's personal life. First up, Survivor host Jeff Probst tells a story involving him, Survivor mastermind Mark Burnett and a sea creature. You can catch this and other new episodes of Animate This! on INNERTUBE at cbs.com.

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That’s all for today. If you noticed at the top of today’s edition, it didn’t say “PTR Abridged.” That’s because I’m finally back up and running!! My Internet is hooked up and Pass the Remote has finally returned to its former self. So, be sure to tune in tomorrow as the summer-long countdown of this past season’s best episodes continues. Tomorrow, we’ll take a look at numbers 13-11 with the final episode of a much lauded series, a countdown debut and a usually light show that takes a heavy turn with an emotional episode. Plus, all the latest television news!


To get more television coverage, including the network's new fall schedules and a complete archive of the best of Pass the Remote with a photo gallery featuring pictures from the set of Veronica Mars, click on over to PassTheRemote.net.