Watching Lost

HURLEY: We’re all gonna die.
SAWYER: Calm down, Chicken Little. The sky ain’t falling just yet.
HURLEY: This is exactly what he wants— to fight amongst ourselves. You’re making a big mistake, dude.
LOCKE: It’s his to make, Hugo. Let’s get on with it.
SAWYER: Right. …I’m attackin’ Siberia.
(They’re playing Risk)
SAWYER: Sorry.
HURLEY: Can’t believe you’re just giving him Australia. Australia’s the key to the whole game.
SAWYER: Says you.

SAWYER: Let me guess. “14-J” ain’t the code for the pizza boy.
BEN: It’s an early warning system.
LOCKE: Warning for what?
BEN: Somebody tripped the panic switch at our security fence. That means one of my people’s been captured. How long did you guys debate amongst yourselves whether or not to ask me why the phone rang?
LOCKE: Five minutes.
BEN: Well, so much for our head start.
SAWYER: Hold up. If we’re hunkerin’ down, I gotta grab Frenchie and the kids.
BEN: Don’t bother. They’re safe. I sent Rousseau, Alex and Karl away yesterday.
SAWYER: Away where? Whatever. Claire’s still sleepin’. I’ll grab her.
BEN: There’s no time.
SAWYER: I’ll make time.
BEN: (To Locke) It’s very important that you survive what’s about to happen here, John. So I need you to stay close to me.
LOCKE: And why would I do that?
BEN: Because the people that are coming won’t risk hurting me. You want to live? I’m your best chance.

LOCKE: Right now I need you to tell me what’s going on.
BEN: I think the technical term is “shock and awe”. They’re trying to frighten me into surrendering.
LOCKE: Well, why did they stop shooting?
HURLEY: Was that Claire’s house? Claire was there.
LOCKE: Hugo, get the baby away from the window. Put him in the back room.
LOCKE: You said I need to survive this. Why?
BEN: Because there’s only one person that can help us now, and that’s Jacob, and we have to go to him together.
LOCKE: What makes you think I can find him? I–I don’t even know where the cabin is.
BEN: I know, but Hurley does.

(more…)

With his character, Karl, getting killed off on Lost a couple of weeks ago, Blake Bashoff is now devoting more of his time to theater and is starring in a by-invitation-only reading of Donnie Darko. The stage performance, adapted from the film version, will be held at the Mint Theatre on West 43rd Street on May 5th.

Joining Bashkoff in the cast are Linda Mugleston as Rose Darko, Blake Hammond as Eddie Darko, Maura Malloy as Elizabeth Darko, Carolyn McCandlish as Samantha Darko, Aya Cash as Gretchen Ross, Melissa Dye as Dr. Lillian Thurman, Xanthe Elbrick as Karen Pomeroy, Isabel Keating as Kitty Farmer, Joel Van Liew as Principal Cole, Clarke Thorell as Jim Cunningham, Eric Schneider as Seth Devlin, Lauren Roth as Cherita Chen, Curt Hansen as Rabbit/Frank and Jaqui Polk as Joanie.

Stage direction is credited to Seth Slar-Heyn.

Blake Bashoff, last seen on Lost, is currently making his Broadway debut via the musical Spring Awakening, playing the role of Moritz.

Blake Bashoff, Spring Awakening, Donnie Darko

So what has been happening in the world of Lost last week? I’m kicking off this week with a couple of sites I’ve rounded up to feed our Lost curiosity.

Lost producers talk science with the Popular Mechanics crew and talks about the importance of getting their scientific facts right in this Q & A: 15 Questions for Lost Bosses Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse—and 40 Revealing Answers!. There is also a special section for Debunking Lost’s Science: Hollywood Sci-Fi Behind the Scenes.

Still unfamiliar with the new characters? Entertainment Weekly has their profiles for easy reference: ‘Lost’: Fresh Faces of Season 4

Writing and coming up with great ideas for a series like Lost takes a lot to do. Lindelof admits that fan comments and nitpicking may be toxic if they let it get to them. | Lindelof calls ‘Lost’ fans “toxic”

The Darlton Team (Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse) — being good friends helps keep the series going | Friendship key to success on ‘Lost,’ say producers

Readers submits their own Lost Theories while Lindelof and Cuse grades it | Fans submit Lost Theories

Matthew Fox thinks playing a character on Lost is exhausting | ‘Lost’ star taking a break. Matthew Fox ready to leave TV?. TimesOnline gets to chat with Matthew for Speed Racer | On the move: Matthew Fox

Here are some Key Points from “The Shape of Things to Come” that will hopefully help organize your thoughts on what has just happened to the show last week.

With Lost having a clear end-date the Timetable Energizes What Once Was ‘Lost’

Lost, Lost Season 4, Damon Lindelof, Carlton Cuse, Matthew Fox

Hurley said this on last night’s episode while Locke, Sawyer and him were playing Risk — “Australia is the key to winning the game”? It struck me as odd that he would said that so clearly, it stood out. It was like a hint the writers were dropping on to viewers. Or it could be just something to throw us off (like we’re not so confused by all these questions and theories already!)

And what’s the game? Is it the game that is intensifying between Ben and Widmore? One is trying to find Penny, the other is trying to find the island….who will get there first?

Do you think Widmore is Ben’s constant?

Lost, Australia is Key

So we now have the answer to why Sayid has joined forces with Ben (Episode: The Economist). He wants to avenge his wife because Ben told him it was Widmore who is to blame for her death.

We also know that Widmore and Ben’s “war” started years ago, with the claim to the island and now because the rule has changed, their families have also become pawns. We now see a clear struggle between these two. I’m also beginning to see the correlation between fathers and families in this story, a fact that has long been left unexplored.

In the island

A body washes ashore. His throat was slit but none from the Losties recognizes who he is. The freighter people though know that it’s the doctor. But Charlotte and Daniel look just as surprise as the Losties are upon seeing the body.

Using Morse code, Daniel tries to contact the freighter asking what happened to the doctor. When they answered back, also in Morse code, he tells Jack that the freighter didn’t answer the question but there’s supposed to be a chopper coming for them in the morning. Except, Bernard understood Morse code and said that Daniel is lying. With Jack angry at him, Daniel caves and says they were never really planning on a rescue.

Jack has been suffering from a stomach flu the whole time, it seems. (more…)

Alright! It’s time for Lost once again!

Lost Season 4 returns from its month long hiatus tonight with the episode, The Shape of Things To Come, the ninth episode to this installment. It is about the attack at the Barracks by still undetermined group, who may have probably been the same ones who attacked Ben’s daughter - Alex, her mom - Danielle and her boyfriend - Karl when the show left last month. In the same story, Jack will also discover the body of someone who has long been dead. (said to be Doc Ray’s)

Shooting of the series began last March, along with Episode 10. The Shape of Things To Come is either a Ben-centric or Sayid-centric episode.

The new episode will begin at 10 PM, after Grey’s Anatomy which is also returning from its strike-long hiatus.

Some spoilers and the video sneak peeks after the cut…
(more…)

Yup, I know…I know… tonight, we’re going to get our minds all confused again, as the ninth episode returns. But before you sit down in front of the TV later, why not check out these links first and build the excitement up:

1. Play the newest Lost interactive game: LOSTscape. I haven’t tried but those who do will stand to win amazing prizes like a trip to the upcoming Comic-Con in San Diego in the summer. This trip includes plane tickets and hotel accommodation for two, plus a meet and greet with the cast members. It’s pretty cool! Participants have to look for 34 items (which bear clips and sneak peeks, too!) to be eligible for a chance to win the prize.

2. Watch tons of sneak peeks of The Shape of Things To Come on E! I did not try to click on any of the videos, though. Didn’t want to spoil myself. Incidentally, there are plenty of other interviews from the cast of Lost on the E! website:

• Yun Jin Kim
• Rebecca Mader
• Daniel Dae Kim

3. Read Jimmy Kimmel’s interview with Lost Producers Lindelof and Cuse … and another one with the AV Club

(more…)

What was Josh Holloway doing in Turkey last weekend? Apparently, he was there to shoot an ice cream commercial. But aside from that he also appeared in a popular local live program, Beyaz Show, and witnessed some Belly dancing first hand. He seemed to have enjoyed it very much:

Watch his interview clips, now making the rounds on YouTube: Video 1 | Video 2He had an interpreter help him out during the interview, where he was, as expected, charming and funny among the women (and there were lots of them with him on stage!) He had no problem reeling the audience in, even with the language barrier. They talked about Lost, of course, but the only thing he said about the fate of his character, Sawyer, was that — he still has a job.

The show’s host Beyaz, gave him gifts to also give to the cast of the series. He also complimented him Josh for being a warm and down to earth person and Josh was really very gracious.

They also took time to show the host taking his pictures. This program, I admit, was bizarre to watch, yet very amusing at the same time.

Josh Holloway, Lost, Sawyer, Josh Holloway in Turkey

Our favorite Lost actors lead the list of nominees for the Asian Excellence Award, which will culminate on April 23 at Royce Hall in UCLA.

OUTSTANDING ACTOR—TELEVISION

Naveen Andrews - Lost
Daniel Dae Kim - Lost
Masi Oka - Heroes
B.D. Wong - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS—TELEVISION

Kelly Hu - In Case of Emergency
Yunjin Kim - Lost
Parminder Nagra - ER
Sandra Oh - Sandra Oh

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR—TELEVISION

James Kyson Lee - Heroes
Rex Lee - Entourage
Will Yun Lee - Thief
Sendhil Ramamurthy - Heroes

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS—TELEVISION

Keiko Agena - Gilmor Girls
Michaela Conlin - Bones
Mindy Kaling - The Office
Grace Park - Battlestar Galactica
Lauren Tom - Men In Trees

The Asian Excellence Awards is the only nationally televised event celebrating significant Asian and Asian American achievements in entertainment, the arts and other disciplines that have had to profound impact on American cultures.

The Asian Excellence Award, Lost cast nominated for Asian Excellence Award, Naveen Andrews, Daniel Dae Kim, Yunjin Kim

In a recent interview with New York Daily News, Michael Emerson confesses that there are times when even if he’s already read the script from the series, he finds himself baffled by the story still. “I may have a brain defect of some sort because I will just miss obvious things and have to have them explained to me by relatives and children”. So that, when pressed for more clues and what fans should anticipate when Lost returns this week, he didn’t have a lot to say.

But when asked about Ben, he does know and understand his character very well — “He’s always going to be some kind of global warrior. He doesn’t get to have the girl.” A theater actor, he believes the TV role of Ben is a really good one to pass up and if you’re a fan of this character, Michael Emerson says the upcoming episode is “going to knock you out”.

The complete interview is on this site.

Michael Emerson, Lost, Lost Season 4

So, Lost is coming back this week and you still haven’t caught up with what’s going on in the series? Learn what you should know about Lost from Season 1 to the first half of Season Four; all in under five minutes! (SPOILER ALERT)

There are some funny notes to this video, like:

• Kate and Sawyer think they’re going to die. So they have sex.
• They see Jack playing football with Mr. Friendly. Mr. Friendly throws like a girl.
• Sawyer wants Kate to stay and play house.
• Kate wears cool shades when she goes to her trial.

But everything else about this condensed story is pretty legit. I suggest you go check it out and run the play button. And stay glued. The narrator runs it by quite fast.

But of course, this doesn’t replace watching the show in full form. You’d have to be crazy to not want to do that!

Lost, Lost recap, Lost in Under 5 Minutes, Lost spoilers

Lost producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse discuss with press reporters the remaining episodes and Lost’s future in this teleconference sponsored by ABC.

The conference, in a nutshell:

• Season 5 has a late January 2009 target. The timeslot is still undetermined and my depend on how the remaining episodes work, back to back against Grey’s Anatomy.
• Expect a lot of time shifting between the past, present and future, depending on the point of view of the story being told. “Flash” should become irrelevant to the program.
• Season 4’s finale has been written. It is done.
• The fate of the Oceanic 6 will be clearer. The fate of some of those who remain in the island will not.
• Lindelof and Carlton doesn’t want to confirm if someone is dying this time: “If we basically were to tease that there was going to be a death, sort of like when Shannon died, it kind of lead everybody to chase it down and spoil it. On the other hand, if we were to say that everyone is safe, that would kind of really ruin the dramatic impact of the finale. So we’re excited about what’s happening. There are definitely some very large and seismic events that will happen to our castaways between now and the end of the season. By the end of the season, some people’s fates will be clear and others will not be so clear.”
• People have always said she’s a useless character but Claire will have some poignant scenes in the last four episodes of Season 4.
• We will get an explanation to what the four-toed statue actually means and we will see more of Jacob and the Black Smoke.
• May 1 is when we’ll revisit the Jack/Juliet story.

Read more on:

• Lindelof and Cuse discuss the return of Lost
• Lost’s “Darlton” Dishes on Everything from Romance to Flashes to Four-Toed Statues!
• Lost Maestros Cuse and Lindelof Talk Future Online Experiences and Comicon Exlcusives
• Audio File of the actual conference c/o DocArtz

Lost, Lost Season 4, Lost Season 4 Finale, Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse discuss the return of Lost

The supporting cast of Lost (dead or alive) are rather busy appearing on other programs these past few weeks. I just read from the Bones website, that MC Gainey, otherwise known as Mr. Friendly, was in a the latest Bones episode, The Man in The Mud, playing the lawyer Braxton Smalls. I haven’t seen that episode yet, so I think I’m gonna get caught up with it over the weekend or wait for it on cable TV.

The other week, I was watching Christina Applegate’s adorable comedy, Samantha Who? where Sam was attempting to win her boyfriend back (episode title: The Girlfriend). The boyfriend, Todd (played by Barry Watson) was already seeing someone else and I sure didn’t like the new girlfriend any better than Sam. And I realized why…she was Nikki (played by Kiele Sanchez)!  And she was just as scheming as her character on Lost.

Well, this one isn’t current but I am just recently trying to catch the early seasons of Boston Legal (circa 2004) on our cable channel… and who did I see there this week but a very gorgeous Juliet, all cleaned-up and wearing sophisticated clothing. Except that she was not Juliet but the actress Elizabeth Mitchell playing Christine Pauley, James Spader’s character’s ex-girlfriend on the legal drama series. She too was a lawyer in this story and I saw parts of a devious Juliet in her eyes…It sent me chills!

And lastly, this I did not see this week, but I read the good news. If you’re a fan of Fisher Stevens (Minowski on Lost), I’m sure you will be pleased to know that his former TV series, Early Edition, is coming out on DVD! The set is due for release June 24th.

Lost supporting cast, MC Gainey, Elizabeth Mitchell, Fisher Stevens, Kiele Sanchez

Lost theorists looking for a confirmation or validation of what they think is happening on the series may get this from producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse.

USA Today is accepting Lost Theory contributions and will be running this in the magazine (both print and online), while giving the same contributions to Lost producers who will “evaluate them for originality, completeness, logic, etc., without spoiling future episodes by indicating if your theory is right, wrong or really wrong.”

If you have a Lost theory brewing in your head, submit this to jdeerwes@usatoday.com with your full name, city and contact number.

The deadline for submission is Wednesday, April 16 at 5 p.m. ET

Theories should not be more than 200 words.

Henry Ian Cusick, who plays Desmond Hume on Lost, is having this feeling that Desmond will die on the series. He tells Washington Post of this hunch, in a recent interview with them. Although he says, he doesn’t mind if his character dies on the show: People who have died have gotten great story lines. Dying is not a bad thing because on “Lost,” even if you do die, you may well come back.

The actor also relays, he doesn’t know if Desmond will ever get to see Penny and sounding like fans who speculate on what happens to the characters on the series, he thinks Desmond remains in the island, with other survivors.

Outside of Lost, the actor reveals that they don’t own a television set when the whole family moved to Hawaii for Lost. When we lived in England, the kids would come home from school and sit down in front of the TV until dinnertime and it used to drive me bananas. When we got to Hawaii, I said, “That’s it. We’re not having a TV.” I thought, we live by the sea. There’s so much to do here, we don’t need a TV. The only thing I miss is the news and soccer, but I can get that online.

When asked what his plans are after Lost, and should his character be taken off the script, Henry Ian Cusick reveals that his kids need a more permanent place, since they have begun schooling but because of the nature of his work, his family have been more or less just going with the flow.

Via The Washington Post 1 | 2

Lost, Lost Season 4, Desmond Hume, Henry Ian Cusick