MONDO EXTRAS

CB: Well, he was so hated after the first couple of episodes. And it's partly the writing, but it's partly his acting ability -- I mean, his popularity rivals [Kristen's], and that's not easy to accomplish.

RT: We feel that way in the writer's room too.

CB: The whole cast seems really eager. Some of our posters have gone to the publicity events they've done around the country and met them, and have had nothing but good things to say about how pleasant and into it they are.

RT: And that's really a blessing. They're all great with the fans. And Kristen works so hard. She never gets any rest, and I'll see her at those things and know all she wants is a day off, but she just smiles and gets through it. The boys love those things, because 95\% of the press on the show goes to Kristen. So they love getting on the plane and meeting the fans. And it's not that Kristen doesn't enjoy doing that too, but I just think she's exhausted and wouldn't mind lounging instead.

CB: What did you all do when you heard about the full-season order?

RT: We were pretty happy. I had gotten some very positive signals leading up to the announcement, so it wasn't a huge surprise. And I have to say, I'm getting positive noise about a second season. UPN really likes the show, and Dawn Ostroff, the network president, has been telling me how every critic she talks to has told her that she can't cancel us. Also, Diane Ruggiero [a Veronica Mars staff writer] and I rewrote a pilot for UPN, which they loved, but they're not going to make it next season because they told us they don't want us to split our attention next year, which indicates that we'll have Veronica Mars on the air.

CB: I've been optimistic too, although not everyone is.

RT: Well, there have been other signs. We recently beat our lead-in for the first time. Also, on nights that Kevin Hill didn't have a lead-in from America's Next Top Model, we've been spanking it.

CB: And UPN has been saying how much they want to be taken seriously and have good scripted dramas. Given that, now that they've canceled Enterprise, I don't really see how they can afford to cancel Veronica Mars, but we'll know when we know. When will you find out? May?

When will Rob find out? Tune in for the Part II of the interview and see.