TVSquad

So basically you started off the interview asking her questions about stuff that have been answered/confirmed weeks and months ago?

Amateurish...it's to her credit that she stuck around considering how redundant you started it off especially as she was about to leave.

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So Mel, judging by the comment you left to my Sally Field post, do you want me to respond or do you not want me to respond? That's the beauty of being online; if people take shots at you that you think are unfair -- like using a name like "amateurish" when you haven't seen a) my other interviews or b) my complete portfolio -- you can respond.

May I see *your* articles, so I can send you comments on them, too?

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Joel,

Well the reason why I called you amateurish is exactly because I have read your interviews. They just aren't good. Your bedside manner is irksome to readers/commentators as well, considering you go on the defensive (or offensive, depending on which way you look at it) while coming across sycophantic in your interviews. That would be fine, if you're actually reporting on something substantial other than your "experience" being somewhere, while expecting us to revel in your amateur theatrics at "interviewing" someone. No one is denying you the right to respond, in fact it would be fantastic if every writer here was active in interacting with the readers (credit to you) but don't expect everything to be favourable. That's the beauty I see in online communication - I can be as harsh as I'd like to be.

And never you mind about my job (this isn't my publication's website, but yours), a movie critic isn't all that different from being a television critic hence my disappointment at you being unable to accept any sort of criticism yourself. So keep in mind, this is about *you* or would you rather deflect any appraisal of yourself or your articles. If you choose the former, there's really no point in having a comments page right?

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Love Kristin! Love Veronica Mars! I hope there is a fourth, fifth and sixth season too.

Note to the producers: LET HER SING ON THE SHOW AGAIN! She has an amazing voice!

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Not much I can do about your opinion about my interviews, Mel. I like them, as do others. You don't. Oh, well.

And some sound more sycophantic than others, I grant you that. I tend to think I throw off a tough question every time I talk to someone, but hey, this is entertainment journalism; I'm not covering the White House.

And, the only reason I ask for samples of your articles is because, if I'm going to be getting lessons in how to be a journalist, I'd like to know who I'm getting them from, that's all.

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I'm also a reporter (although not in anything remotely high-profile, so I ain't no Woodward), so Joel, I'll respectfully add my two cents:

You ARE good at this, Joel. I want to get that out of the way off the bat. But dude, be more assertive!! Your primary job is to pump these people for information, not to be friends with them. As much as you want to be liked (believe me, I have the same problem), for you to do your job effectively you have to put that aside. I probably aren't telling you anything you don't already know by saying that, but here and with Sally Field, you seem kind of worried about pissing your interviewers off, and as hard as you try, sometimes that happens anyway.

That said, I'd probably be falling over myself trying to be friends with someone as stunningly beautiful as Kirsten Bell. Actually, I probably wouldn't be able to speak and just stare at her until she walked away in disgust. I'm rambling now.

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Re: that first comment, I don't agree with it, but even if I did, I've never understood why people go to the effort to just be rude for rudeness sake on these here internets. A comments page shouldn't be a place where people bandy about judgement (i.e. cried of "amateur!"), but rather a place where we discuss, um...how about the content of the post, things Kristen said, etc?

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Yikes! Let's cut Joel a break!! Meanwhile, I'm very interested in how th standalone episodes will be received in the last half of the season 3. There are shows like the CW's Supernatural that seem to do this very well. The episodes are self-contained, but still include a bit of mythology and story arcs are carried through the series. Every time I read about the change in course with Veronica Mars, I have to admit that I get a little worried. I think about the ill-fated series Tru Calling which Fox tried to mold into standalone episodes and it really destroyed the series. With Rob Thomas steering Veronica Mars, though, I'm going to remain optimistic that the heart and soul of the show will live on despite the format change.

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Actually, Joel, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything. Everyone's right. This isn't a place for that sort of thing. My bad.

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I'd rather be judged on the interviews I do where I sit down and have time with people and am able to get more out of them then these two-minute quick hits, to be honest with you. The conditions aren't ideal, but I always have at least one question in mind when I approach someone at one of these parties. From what I'm seeing, though, especially after reading these comments, the chances of getting good results in these conditions are minimal.

Again, if you look at my more in-depth interviews, I do ask tough questions and get good information out of my interviewees. Guess these quick-hit ones aren't my forte. Or I just have to be more picky about what quotes I print. It's always a learning process, as you all know.

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Well I suppose I agree with Sam in that this isn't the place to discuss it even though I think this would be nice to talk about as part of an open discussion on the articles here.

And look, something's good come out of it Joel. At least we can agree it's not all bad nor is it all good, and that bit of self-reflection might be useful in the long run, even if my misinterpreted harsh opening served to cut through the bullsh!t I felt would impede this.

I'll add that it's vital you go into it with particular questions in mind and not try to ease into a comfortable situation. All you'll get is rehashed answers but not unlike what I started with, it's just imperative to get to your point. The above interview had no use whatsoever. You started with questions and we knew the answers to and ended with an insipid query on how she felt at these parties.

Well, here's hoping you'll get some great questions in future.

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SHE MAKES MY KNEES MELT LIKE BUTTER ON A HOT MUFFIN

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Jothie, there's a comments section for the purpose of expressing one's like or dislike of an article or interview. Blogs are great because they have a way of providing instant feedback to the bloggers. The Web wouldn't be a marketplace of ideas if only the people who liked a particular post commented. Mel had every right to air his dissatisfaction with the interview, and I agree with him that the interview was weak and amateurish. The last section with the small talk not only made Joel seem sycophantic, but it also seemed to me that Kristen Bell was uncomfortably humoring him to be polite.

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Excellent interview! I didn't know about the last 5 episodes being stand-alone episodes.

Joel, you forgot to ask a question I'm sure many people reading this are thinking: Is Kristen better looking in person than on TV? (which, if you ask me, is pretty much impossible! :) )

Note to Robert Dostert: Turn off the fraking caps keys. Typing in all caps implies that you are shouting! Thanks.

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I meant answer, not ask a question. Doh!

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I have just this insane idea.

Completely insane

No one on Earth has ever thought of this idea before.

If you don't like how someone reports, reviews, or does an interview... here's the never-before-heard-of-idea, mind blowing when you think about it) just quit reading them. WOW!!! How's that for an idea. I know, I know I should win some sort of 'think tank' award for it.

JK's interviewing entertainers, and only gets 5 mins with them if he's lucky. I like his interviews. The questions he asks gives me a peak into the celebrity's personality. What's he suppose to ask? Who killed the Dean? What's her take on China's anti-satelite weapons?

She's not allowed to comment on anything that hasn't aired yet. There is no new information she can give us about the show. Even if she knew it was renewed I am sure she wouldn't be allowed to say until the official announcement. Interviewing stars isn't about pumping them for information, its about giving us more information about the real person and not the character she plays(IMHO anyways.) I like JK's interviews for what they are. He's not TV guide, he's not Access Hollywood, he's a reporter from an internet blog. These are perfect little insights interviews for a blog.

So lets go back to my REVOLUTIONARY idea. If you don't like his interviews... *gasps*... stop reading them.

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KRISTEN BELL IS REALLY GORGOUS PUT HER ON THE VIEW AND SHE WILL ADD a LOT OF CLASS TO THE VIEW, GET RID OF BARBARA WALTERS SHE HAS BEEN AROUND TO LONG AND LONG
AND HAS NOTHING TO SAY ITS LIKE LOOKING AT MY GRANDMOTHER......

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zachary

turn down you hearing aide

robert dostert

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Wow, what a mature comment. Lets grow up!

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