Illustration by Tony Tye and Curt Chandler, Post-Gazette TV Editor Rob Owen goes behind the scenes of the Television Critics Association summer press tour in Los Angeles with this journal, written exclusively for post-gazette.com. Click photo for larger image. L.A. Confidential Index to Press Tour journals

UPN's star party was held tonight on the Paramount backlot on a street flanked by New York brownstone facades, representing the neighborhood where "Everybody Hates Chris" is set. There was a carnival theme - UPN even trucked in a ferris wheel - but I was there to learn more about the new season of "Veronica Mars," UPN's critically adored, low-rated, cult-creating mystery-drama.

But first we had to get there. After a long slog through notoriously slow L.A. traffic, our shuttle bus pulled into the gate at Paramount studios and everyone had to get off and walk through a metal detector. Not that anything was done if the metal detector beeped. Still, that was better than a couple years ago when we were on this lot to visit "Nip/Tuck" and security wanted to look at identification. No worries, the only bombs on press tour are most of the TV shows.

Then it was on to staking out the cast of "Veronica Mars." OK, who am I kidding. The cast of any TV show is generally worthless at providing scoopage; it's really the show runner/writer/executive producer who is the best interview. But to satisfy readers' thirst for celebrity, you throw in a couple star quotes as I'm about to do.

WARNING: Spoilers ahead if you're watching the first season in reruns or waiting for the DVD.

When does filming on the new season begin?

Monday, according to star Enrico Colantoni, who also revealed his character, Keith Mars, will run for sheriff in the new season. "I think I'll lose 'cause they like me as a private investigator."

What were the fans like at the "Veronica Mars" comic-con panel?

They were die-hards. "They asked, 'Why was Veronica not wearing the pendant she had been wearing in the last three episodes,'" Colantoni said. "[Creator] Rob [Thomas] had no idea."

	Ron P. Jaffe, Warner Brothers Television Kristen Bell stars as Veronica in Veronica Mars on UPN. Click photo for larger image.

In January, Thomas told us he had a back-up plan in case the identity of Lily Kane's murderer leaked out. Who was it gonna be?

"I would have evolved it one step further," Thomas said, "and I think it would have been one twist too many, and it would have been Duncan was the killer."

OK, so is Logan's mom dead?

Yes.

Who almost was cast as Logan's dad before Harry Hamlin?

Andrew McCarthy ("Pretty in Pink").

What were some of the clues that Logan's dad, Aaron Echolls (Hamlin), was the killer?

Bell suggests watching the episode where she visits Abel Koontz's daughter and the movie "Clash of the Titans," starring Hamlin, is on TV in the background. In the scene shown, Hamlin's "Titans" character is killing someone.

Why is the first season DVD coming out on Oct. 11 after the second season premiere on Sept. 21? Sorta defeats the cross-promotional opportunities.

Thomas was told they could put it out before the new season with few extras or wait until January and do lost of extras. Because the show is low-rated, he went with the idea that sooner was better. Then Warner Bros., which owns the show and will release the boxed set, got nervous because it would compete with "Desperate Housewives" (due out Sept. 20), so "Veronica Mars" ended up pushing back a few weeks.

What's coming up this season?

"The new murder mystery," Thomas said. "Did I just say murder mystery? The new big mystery..."

Cat's out of the bag, spill. Does someone we know die?

"There is death involved," Thomas said, "possibly [someone viewers know]."

What else?

"In the first scene, we learn Veronica has been accepted into the rich kid's fold," Thomas said, "and we see her harassed because Neptune is a town divided by class."

So what was the mini-battle about that you told TVGuide.com you were having with the network over the first episode?

Thomas looks as perplexed by the question as UPN Entertainment president Dawn Ostroff did when I asked her the same thing Wednesday night. Finally, Thomas remembers: "We have this big event" -- I'm guessing it's the murder -- "and we were going back and forth on whether it should happen in the fourth act or the third act and it's where I want it, for what it's worth... There haven't been screaming phone calls back and forth. It's been standard operating procedure."

Wow, so much hand-wringing from online fans over that? Kind of a letdown. What else did UPN executives want this season?

Now that "Veronica Mars" is airing after "America's Next Top Model," they want to draw more twentysomething viewers, so execs wanted Veronica to take college courses. Thomas said he didn't have the budget to build those sets, so instead there will be more twentysomethings in need of hiring a PI this season.

(At this point series stars Percy Daggs III and Francis Capra appear to eavesdrop on the interview, Thomas promises Daggs his character, Wallace, will get an attractive girlfriend this season. High-fives all around.)

But new characters are coming and some of the old ones won't appear in every episode. But Jason Dohring, who plays Logan Echolls, said he's not one of the stars who will have to give up any episodes this season.

Veronica will get an African-American friend - Wallace's new girlfriend, I suspect -- to hang out with (actor Jeffrey Sams, from Thomas' "Cupid" will play her father). Recurring characters Beaver and Dick Casablancas will be regulars this season with Charisma Carpenter ("Angel") added to the cast for a half-dozen episodes as their young, witchy step-mother.

Any other guest stars, besides Steve Guttenberg as a mayoral candidate?

Naima, the winner of the fourth "America's Next Top Model," will be in the season premiere. In addition, for more crossover appeal, the winner of an upcoming challenge on "Top Model" will get to spend a day with the guys from the "Veronica Mars" cast. SYNERGY!

Hmm, the network wants synergy. The writer finds a way to do it but satisfy himself at the same time. BINGO! Have you ever dreamed of killing one of America's Next Top Models?

"I never dreamt it," Thomas said.

Have you written it? Have you thought about it?

"I'll have to give you a 'no comment' on that," Thomas said.

In the last scene of the season finale, Veronica opened the door and greeted someone, saying, "I was hoping it would be you!" Was it ex-boyfriend Duncan or damaged Logan?

"Duncan," Jason Dohring predicts, "because it would buy more episodes for the show. Veronica would have to get together with Duncan and then switch back to Logan."

"I want Duncan to be at the door," Bell said, "because I think when you create a Romeo and Juliet scenario, you have to satisfy your audience, and I think that's what most people want to see."

You don't think fans want to see Veronica with Logan?

"I think they think they do, but on the whole, Duncan is a better option, even though I adore Jason. There will be more drama with Jason, I'm sure."

Thomas has his own answer:

"It was study hall teacher, Mr. Woo," Thomas joked. "A lot of people didn't see that coming. She says, 'I was hoping it would be you,' and then he turns around and says, 'It's Woo! It's Woo!' The actor who played Mr. Woo is a friend of mine. He's been lobbying for that."

I actually know who was at the door (not much is really a secret in Hollywood), but my lips are sealed.

Viacom top dog Leslie Moonves dissed critics at the CBS executive press conference because of meetings in New York, but he showed up for dinner Wednesday night. Several critics, myself included, staked out the front door so we could get some Les time as soon as he arrived. We knew he'd be swarmed. And he was, but it turned into a bit of a lovefest.

"You don't think I was feeling bad being in New York?" Les said of the meetings that kept him away. "This was the first one I've missed in 10 years. I love being up there, you know me. Some of the hats I wear are more fun than others. CBS still is the center of it all for me. This is the most fun. Sitting with a bunch of Wall Street guys is not as much fun, believe it or not, as sitting with you guys."

On the surface, it sounds like Moonves is blowing smoke, but having covered Moonves at press tour since 1997, I truly think he meant it. He used to be an actor, so he likes being in the spotlight. And he especially likes it when he can take shots at NBC's Jeff Zucker that he knows will get printed, although Moonves said it's all in good fun and the rival execs actually get along.

Moonves' only complaint: Journalists who quoted him at the up-front breakfast in May didn't make it clear he was joking when he said, "I think talking to ghosts may skew younger than talking to God."

"Thank you very much," he said, sarcastically. "I've got Jerry Falwell coming after me. It was a joke!"

At the time I figured Moonves was kidding, but I wasn't there and we used the quote from The Associated Press, which didn't characterize it as "joking." I suspected that and even thought about adding "he said, joking" but felt I couldn't do that since I wasn't in the room to hear it.

Casting happens: At the "Love Inc." panel this morning, the show had no star to replace the fired Shannen Doherty. By the UPN party tonight, actress Busy Philips ("Freaks and Geeks") had been hired.

Unexpected celebrity sighting: Keanu Reeves isn't on the TV critics press tour, but he was spotted, bearded and wearing a motorcycle helmet, getting coffee in the lobby of The Beverly Hilton this morning.

Not-really-a-celebrity sighting: Richard, the geekiest of the geeks from The WB's reality show "Beauty and the Geek," was seen walking around the hotel lobby tonight in a white lab coat looking somewhat forlorn.