UPN RENEWS ITS CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED DRAMA "VERONICA MARS" FOR A SECOND SEASON

UPN has renewed its critically acclaimed new drama VERONICA MARS, featuring star Kristen Bell, for a second season, it was announced today by Dawn Ostroff, President, UPN.

"With its terrific ensemble cast, sharp writing and high production values, we're tremendously proud of the level of quality that VERONICA MARS brings to UPN," said Ostroff. "Headlined by the brilliant Kristen Bell, this intriguing, youthful series continues to garner tremendous buzz and critical acclaim, and this is the type of smart, compelling show we want viewers to expect from UPN."

VERONICA MARS stars Kristen Bell ("Reefer Madness") as a smart, fearless 17-year-old apprentice private investigator dedicated to solving the toughest mysteries of her wealthy seaside community, Neptune, Calif., where the rich and powerful make the rules, own the town and the high school, and desperately try to keep their dirty little secrets just that�secret.

On Tuesday, May 10, Veronica will solve the season-long mystery of who murdered her best friend Lilly Kane, but will betray someone she cares deeply about in the process during the shocking, action-packed season finale.

VERONICA MARS airs Tuesdays (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on UPN.

The series stars Kristen Bell ("Reefer Madness") as Veronica Mars, Enrico Colantoni ("Just Shoot Me") as Keith Mars, Percy Daggs III ("The Guardian") as Wallace Fennel, Teddy Dunn ("The Manchurian Candidate") as Duncan Kane, Jason Dohring ("Judging Amy") as Logan Echolls and Francis Capra ("C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation ") as Eli "Weevil" Navarro. Joel Silver and creator Rob Thomas are executive producers. VERONICA MARS is from Silver Pictures Television in association with and distributed by Warner Bros. Television Production Inc. Production services provided by Stu Segall Productions, Inc.