Is anyone else out there watching Veronica Mars? It's no Buffy the Vampire Slayer (especially with lack of vamps and demons and stuff), but it's still clever, clever stuff about a plucky detective who cracks all manner of strange cases. (My UA students, by the way, consider me nuts for being so preoccupied with Veronica, but I think they could learn a thing or two from her. If nothing else, she's a very fashionable dresser.)

The first two seasons--available on DVD, so go on down to Casa Video this weekend!--were just great: witty dialogue, smart plot twists and solid perfomances from the entire cast.

This season, which has seen the young Miss Mars move on to college, has had a few disappointing moments, but last night's episode, which wrapped the storyline we'd been following for the first half of the season and launched a new mystery, was a crackling good time full of suspense and surprises.

If you're not watching this, the next episode will be a great jumping-on point. Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on the CW, which is Channel 58 here in the Old Pueblo.