Kristen: Michael Emerson's thoghts on Juliets death

Scott in Halifax, Nova Scotia: Lost!

At the 35th Annual Saturn Awards in Burbank, Calif., we asked Lost's Michael Emerson how Ben (who once crushed hard on Juliet) would react to the news that she had nuked herself, and Emerson said: "Ben's no longer in a position to entertain romantic notions. I don't think there's room for romance in Ben's world right now. As much as he admires her on a lot of levels, I don't think he can do anything about it." We also asked, on a scale of one to 10, how he would rate Elizabeth Mitchell's awesomeness? "It would be a number higher than 10." Word.

Jill in Auckland, New Zealand: I need some new Lost news!

The best we can offer you on this fine afternoon is Lost show runner Carlton Cuse saying nothing about Lost at the Saturn Awards, but saying it darn well:

Watch With Kristin: How much of the speculation on the Internet about Lost season six is correct? Give us a percentage.

Carlton Cuse: I'm not really good at math, so no speculation about that.

WWK: You're the best stonewaller ever.

CC: This is what we like to call stonewalling season, where we try to preserve radio silence—but we'll be coming out of Comic-Con with some cool things, I think, so we're excited about that.

WWK: There is one very important question.

CC: OK.

WWK: Can you get Josh Holloway to come to Comic-Con?

CC: Mmmm...That's a good idea, which I will pitch to the appropriate parties. Josh is great. We would love it if Josh would come.

WWK: And here's a question you're not going to answer. Season one: Jack's the most important person ever. Season four: Ben's the key to everything. Season five: Jacob. If you had to pick a character who was the most central to what Lost is in the end, who would it be?

CC: You're right, I'm not going to answer that.

1. We tried.
2. Tell Holloway in the comments that he should appear on Lost's final Comic-Con panel
http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b131858_spoiler_chat_will_brooke_julian_make_it.html

Still care about ABC's Lost? Here's 'Ben' on what's coming in the final season

As usual, all things about ABC's Lost are hush-hush, lest any posters on the Fuselage message boards get wind of spoilers, but rumors persist that long-departed cast members such as Maggie Grace may return for at least one appearance in the show's sixth and final season.

First things first, though: Are the regulars still coming back? Season five ended with a bomb exploding in the past, possibly erasing the entire present of the show.

Michael Emerson, who plays Ben Linus, confirmed that at least he is still an active part of the show. "My understanding is that I am," Emerson said in an exclusive interview last week at the Saturn Awards in Burbank, Calif. "For how much of season six, that's a good question."

Yes, more cryptic answers from the actor who plays the most cryptic character on the show. He even kiboshed my theory about erasing the present timeline. If the bomb prevented the crash of Oceanic Flight 815, seeing everybody live happily ever after wouldn't earn high ratings for the finale.

"I could see why you might think that, but from my perspective as playing that character who arrived late on that show, it doesn't sound terribly dramatic unless there's something in that equation that I don't quite get," Emerson said. "I'm just curious about what dramatic paths we'll follow."

One dramatic path might be further explorations of the mysterious Jacob. The fifth-season finale revealed Jacob as a corporal presence, but still not quite human. Ben stabbed him, intending to kill Jacob. "I'm still not sure that he's a person like you and [me]," Emerson said. "I'm still not sure he's a person like Ben. Is he killable? I don't know. We haven't been to his funeral yet, so I don't know. I don't know where all that's going."

Season six might finally give us more Ben flashbacks. We've seen Ben in flash-forwards, sending Sayid on assassination missions and trying to shoot Desmond. We've met Young Ben in the past, but we have yet to see much of Ben as an adult.

"What constitutes a proper Ben flashback?" Emerson said. "There are some gaps in Ben's bio, and I think we may look backward a couple of times this season. I'm just guessing."

Don't expect any big changes for Ben, though. While audiences have seen him go from Henry Gale to the evil leader of the Others to a sympathetic young boy, Emerson has always acted as Ben and will continue to do so. "Ben has always seemed straightforward to me, and I don't think Ben has changed much over time," he said. "I think audience perceptions of Ben [have] changed."

In a separate interview at the Saturns, Lost executive producer Carlton Cuse told a group of reporters that he would not answer any questions about the coming season, not even with vague, dodgy answers. But he promised that he and fellow executive producer Damon Lindelof will be ready to answer questions for fans attending the Lost panel at Comic-Con International in San Diego next month.

"I hope you're coming to Comic-Con," Cuse said in a group interview. "Traditionally, Damon and I go into radio silence this time of year, and then at Comic-Con, we will answer questions. We want to give the fans a chance to speculate and theorize about what they saw in the finale, so we don't want to kind of be interpreting the finale at this point. Come Comic-Con, we'll have a few more things to say about what's going to happen in season six."

Somebody please ask whether we're going to see what happened if the plane never crashed, so Cuse will give us an answer. "Perhaps, or it will be evaded in more elaborate detail," he said.

Lost returns in January 2010 on ABC.
http://scifiwire.com/2009/06/still-care-about-abcs-los.php

Foxy's article in french magazine some spoilers too !

foxy was at monte carlo festival and french reporter met him and he answered fews questions about LOST, his character in s5 and some infos about s6 too
here a summary of what he said about LOST

he said :
-he loves hurley character (his favorite after jack) and wishes he could play a comedy show or movie 'cause jack never got funny scenes.
-jack wants redemption and that's why he went back on the island, it's a tortured man and he believe at the end of the show, jack will find redemption.
-he never believed in jate and don't think they'll ever come back in each other arm again.
-In s5, jack changed a lot and don't try to control everything, he became man of faith. because of locke he thinks he has mission on the island.
-in s6, jack will fight someone more powerful than Ben but he can't say more about it.
-no more flashback or time travel, linear storyline for s6.
-s6 will give us all answers, some fans could be disappointed about it 'cause nobody can see the thing the same way, they can't satisfiaze everyone.
-this last season will proove they knew the end since the beginning.
-the end, will be sad, beautiful and liberator.
-he'll be sad at the end of LOST 'cause he'll have to say goodbye to some people. he was close of people during 5 years but know after the show will end, they'll not be anymore and his life will take another road.
-he'll leave hawaii and go in Oregon with his family.
-he don't want to work on tv show again but make movie.
Publié par lyly ford à l'adresse 20:53
Click here for the scan of the French magazine scan
http://lylyford.blogspot.com/2009/06/foxys-article-in-french-magazine-some.html

Bif Bang Pow! Gets License To Make "Lost" Figures

by Jay Cochran in Bif Bang Pow! at 04:50 PM on 2009.06.25

Bif Bang Pow! unveils the first in a line of collectibles based on the immensely popular ABC series Lost at Comic-Con International: San Diego 2009. And there's more to come with a special array of bobble heads and articulated action figures with story-specific accessories already in the works.

The creepy and enigmatic Benjamin "Ben" Linus is the first to be released in bobble head form, available exclusively at the Entertainment Earth booth (#2343) at Comic-Con International: San Diego 2009, July 23-26. Based on recent storylines from the show, he comes bruised and bloodied with his arm in a sling… but you wouldn't want him any other way! He stands on a Dharma Initiative logo base and comes in Dharma Initiative packaging. Only 1,008 pieces of this Comic-Con Exclusive will be produced. (Retail price: $17 including tax - while supplies last - limit two per person.)

"The twists, turns, and multiple threads that characterize Lost give rise to a host of distinctive and unforgettable characters. These characters lend themselves to the creation of unique figures and accessories that have terrific fan appeal and serve to memorialize this exceptional TV series," said Jason Lenzi, CEO of Bif Bang Pow! "We're thrilled to be bringing new bobble heads and poseable action figures to market in the vein of what Bif Bang Pow! has done with licenses in the past. As always with Lost and Bif Bang Pow!, expect the unexpected!"

Lost stars Naveen Andrews as Sayid, Henry Ian Cusick as Desmond, Jeremy Davies as Daniel Faraday, Michael Emerson as Ben, Matthew Fox as Jack, Jorge Garcia as Hurley, Josh Holloway as Sawyer, Yunjin Kim as Sun, Ken Leung as Miles, Evangeline Lilly as Kate, Elizabeth Mitchell as Juliet, and Terry O’Quinn as Locke. Lost was created by Jeffrey Lieber and J.J. Abrams and
Damon Lindelof. Abrams, Lindelof, Bryan Burk, Carlton Cuse, Jack Bender, Edward Kitsis, and Adam Horowitz serve as executive producers. Lost, which is filmed entirely on location in Hawaii and premiered on September 22, 2004, is from ABC Studios.

You can pre-order the first wave of Lost figures now at EntertainmentEarth.com.

Lost's Mr. Eko Wants Back On The Island

Actor would love to give Eko closure.
by Matt Fowler

June 23, 2009 - In an interview with TVGuidemagazine.com, Lost's famous Season 3 casualty Mr. Eko, actor Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, admitted that'd he would, in fact, love to return to the show to play the character once again. Akinnuoye-Agbaje's Mr. Eko was an immensely popular character that had to be killed off way before his time after the actor asked to be released from the show prematurely. With the last season of Lost fast approaching, we're all expecting to see some past favorites return. "To be able to give that rich character some completion would be nice," said Akinnuoye-Agbaje. And while the actor keeps in touch with fellow ex-Losties Dominic Monaghan and Harold Perrineau, it is still unknown whether or not he'll be back for the hit ABC series' endgame.

- ABCYou'll be able to see Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Heavy Duty in the upcoming flick G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra and in a guest spot on USA's hit detective show Monk, where he'll play a Nigerian man trying to solve the murder of his wife. In somewhat related news, eonline.com's Kristin Dos Santos reported that Dominic Monaghan had breakfast this morning in the Fairfax district of Los Angeles this morning with Lost show runner Damon Lindelof. I wonder what this means? Is Charlie Pace coming back after all? Maybe these two guys just wanted to eat some eggs together. Get off their back! Can't a man eat in peace??
http://tv.ign.com/articles/997/997238p1.html

Kristen: Is Dominic Monaghan Returning for Lost Season Six?

Today 12:40 PM PDT by Jennifer Godwin

Rumors have been swirling for the past month about Dominic Monaghan's upcoming projects.

In addition to talk that he might have a role on ABC's Flash Forward (with fellow Lostie Sonya Walger), there's been ever-noisier buzz about a possible Lost return engagement. Could it really happen?

Well, we just got a juicy tip that suggests there very well might be a place for doomed rock bassist Charlie Pace in season six of Lost. Here's what we're hearing...

A reliable spy tells us that Monaghan, one of the key original Lost castmembers, and Lost show runner Damon Lindelof had breakfast together this morning at a Fairfax district eatery in Los Angeles. Of course, the meal might just have been a friendly sit-down between two colleagues (and/or because waffles are delicious), but as Lost-loving optimists, we have to hope that it was a meeting where the two talents came to terms about the story that puts Charlie Pace back in the mix for season six.

Now, there's no telling what the last episodes of Lost will really be like. Speculation begins with a safe landing for Oceanic flight 815 and from there gets really, really crazy.

In the many months between now and the season-six premiere, the best we can do is sit back and let our imaginations run wild, collect pieces of the jigsaw puzzle and hone our dreams and theories about the castaways of Mystery Friggin' Island. So what's your theory?

If Dominic Monaghan is returning to Lost, do you think he will reappear as strung out 815 Charlie? Or would he be hanging out with Hurley (Jorge Garcia) as a transcendent (but dead) rock god? Does he have an alternate-universe dopplegänger? The possibilities are endless.

We await your speculation and theories in the comments below!

http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b130680_dominic_monaghan_returning_lost_season.html

Total Hoax: Lost Island Coming to Walt Disney World

DarkUFO has confirmed this to be a Total Hoax.
http://lostmediamentions.blogspot.com/2009/06/no-walt-disney-world-isnt-planning-lost.html
If you were hankering to join Jack, Kate and Sawyer on Walt Disney World's new Lost-themed attraction, sorry to disappoint you, but it's all a hoax.The report on the Disney's Folly Web site was posted by a joker named Jason, who 'fessed up to his prank on this message board."It wouldnt' take much digging to find that my intro to this blog (kicked off a few weeks ago) describes Folly and Faux as a sort of playful April Fool's stab at Disney-related wishes. Disney fans are always tossing around rumors and ideas for the old Discovery Island, and Lost constantly comes up. So I knew with my exhaustive fandom, I could cook something up. I shouldn't have underestimated the viral power of the Internet."Whatever.

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts has announced extensive plans to convert the old Discovery Island in Bay Lake to a new Lost-themed attraction. Lost Island is set to receive guests by the Summer of 2011, a year after the show concludes its six-year run on ABC.

“We strong believe that the show will live on in popularity after its conclusion. This type of show can be successful in syndication for decades and with the advent of DVD—sales of which have been very high for this series—there is clear evidence that Lost will remain popular well after next Spring's series finale," said Celandine Coda, vice chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.

The immersive experience will bring guests to the islands in disparate ways, providing two distinct experiences per each trip to the island. The attraction is also unique as the exploration of the island in its entirety forms one complete experience, however each area of the island works as an individual attraction.

“We have this great experience for the Swan station which guests get to tour as if they were the survivors first discovering the infamous 'hatch'. But suddenly things go wrong and this station tour becomes a ride! It’s an extension of the Imagineering used in rides such as The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Star Tours taken to the next level!", explained Coda.

Imagineers will use similar technology to give the infamous smoke-monster a presence on the island, much like it was displayed in the first season. "There were some obvious issues with depicting the monster the way it's been portrayed in recent seasons so we took a page from those initial episodes and cast the monster into the trees," detailed Coda.

“In some ways, the island of Lost has always been like a twisted open-air haunted house, with dark mysteries waiting around the corners in the most unlikely places. When developing this, we knew right away that there wasn’t much we could do with traditional ride technologies as the whole point of the show was this wandering band of castaways. We wanted the guests to experience the world instead of pass through a non-interactive collage." explained Imagineer Lila R. Chiseavie.

That said, there is one ride vehicle that will be making its way to the island. The Dharma Volkswagen Van will take some guests from their arrival on the island to the barracks. Along the way, they will contend with hostiles and other surprises that the imagineers wish to keep secret.

Further, the island and the water surrounding will be enhanced with videos and auto-animatronics of the cast of the popular TV show. Guests arriving on the island will pass Michael’s raft and throughout the jungle of the island, will pass through popular moments from the television show.

The Imagineers chose to plant the guests into the experience of the show after the survivors had established a presence on the island so as to more easily access the mythology of the show, which picked up significantly in the second season. As such, Dharma stations and the Others are an integral part of the storyline of the attraction.

Lost co-creator/executive producter Damon Lindelof and executive producer Carlton Cuse had a hand in helping the Imagineers pare down the show’s dense mythology and its presence on an island much larger than the old Discovery Island. “We had to take some obvious liberties with the geography of the island on the show since they cover a much larger distance. As such, we limited the amount of stations and other landmarks but tried to keep to the general area near the initial Oceanic 815 crash site. Carlton and Damon were extremely helpful in assisting our imagineers with mapping out the island in a way that stays faithful to the show but also creates a new experience," said Coda.

The attraction will center mostly on the area of the original encampment, the Swan and Pearl stations, and the barracks. (Though there is discussion about adding the Orchid station at a later date.) The Statue of Taweret, the iconic four-toed statue that has come to epitomize the deep mythology of the show, will act as the island’s landmark icon, which will be seen from many vantage points around Bay Lake, including the Contemporary Resort and Wilderness Lodge.

“We wanted to focus on the iconic landmarks of the show which were all in relative proximity to each other in the show. Some landmarks such as the Hydra station and the Looking Glass were economically and logistically prohibitive but we connect to them in a clever way. The Orchid is essential in our future plans and we think that aspect of the experience will blow guests away," explained Chiseavie, who says that the Orchid station is unlikely to become part of the experience until 2013 or 2014.

The old River Country area will also be cleaned up and utilized as a launch to the island and will also be themed appropriately for the attraction. Imagineers are trying to keep some of the specific story points a mystery in an effort to capture the spirit of the television show. Much like the television show's viral marketing campaigns, Disney plans on incorporating clues into attractions and architecture at Disney's Hollywood Studios and Epcot's Future World. Also in Summer 2010, a preview center will be open at Disney's Contemporary Resort.

Discovery Island, an 11.5 acre island located in Bay Lake at Walt Disney World, was open from 1974 to 1999. The wildlife preserve contained swans, lemurs, tortoises and other animals and was a viable destination in Walt Disney World’s early days before its expansion into other theme parks. However, with the opening of Animal Kingdom in 1998, the island was rendered moo and ceased operations.

Posted by Jason G. at 11:22 PM

http://www.disneysfolly.com/2009/06/lost-island-coming-to-walt-disney-world.html

SDCC 09: Television Panels at Comic-Con

SDCC 09: Television Panels at Comic-Con
Lost, Dexter, Dollhouse, Chuck, Spider-Man, Doctor Who and more.
by Eric Goldman
June 18, 2009 - Comic-Con is fast approaching, and as all of you who've been there before know, the key is pacing yourself. In the past few years, the amount of television-oriented panels at Comic-Con has exploded, with the likes of Dexter and The Office joining more obvious series to have a presence such as Battlestar Galactica.

Though we've still got a few weeks to go, a lot of news is beginning to come in about which TV series will be represented at Comic-Con, including some old favorites and some brand new series. We'll be updating this list, so make sure to check back frequently. Also, I have to acknowledge EOnline.com's Natalie Abrams, Seat42f.com and Chicago Tribune's Maureen Ryan for being the first to discover the info on many of these panels.
http://tv.ign.com/articles/994/994349p1.html

As you'll see below, in some case, specifics, such as the time and location, have yet to be determined – and I expect in a couple of cases, the room might change, before Comic-Con releases their final schedule.

Update (6/12): Added The Spectacular Spider-Man to Sunday.

Update (6/17): Added Doctor Who, Torchwood, Being Human and The Mighty Boosh panels and specific times/locations for Lost and Flash Forward.

Update (6/18): Turns out Heroes will have a panel after all. Added to Saturday.

Wednesday, July 22
6:00pm: Warner Bros Pilot Preview Night

Thursday, July 23
Time TBD: PSYCH

5:00pm – 6:00pm.: Dexter (Ballroom 20)


Friday, July 24
Time TBD: Dollhouse - includes screening of unaired episode, "Epitaph One" (Ballroom 20)

Time TBD: Caprica

Time TBD: Eureka

Time TBD: Stargate Universe

10:00am-11:00: Batman: The Brave and the Bold (Room 6DE)

11:45am-12:45pm Flash Forward (Room 6A)

1:00pm-2:00: The Big Bang Theory (Ballroom 20)

2:15pm-3:15: Past Life (Room 6A)

4:45pm-5:45: The Mighty Boosh (Room 6A)

Saturday, July 25

Time TBD: Heroes

Time TBD: Sanctuary

Time TBD: Warehouse 13

10:00am-11:00: Chuck (Ballroom 20)

10:15am-11:15: Eastwick (Room 6A)

11:00am-Noon: Lost (Hall H)

2:45pm-3:45: V - includes screening of pilot episode (Ballroom 20)

4:00pm-5:00: Fringe (Ballroom 20)

4:45pm-5:45: Human Target (6BCF)

6:00pm-7:00: The Vampire Diaries (6BCF)

7:15pm-8:00: MythBusters (6BCF)

Sunday, July 26

10:00am-11:00: Doctor Who (Ballroom 20)

10:00am-11:00: The Spectacular Spider-Man (Room 6A)

10:30am-11:30: Smallville (6BCF)

11:45am-12:45: Supernatural (6BCF)

2:15pm-3:45: Being Human / Torchwood (Room 6BCF)

EW: The 'Top Chef Masters' get pleasantly 'Lost'

Jun 18, 2009, 07:24 AM by Ken Tucker

This week's Top Chef Masters gimmick -- cooking a meal for the folks who labor on Lost that included a Dharma Initiative-approved shopping list -- wasn't nearly as hokey as it sounded, and resulted in another satisfyingly civilized, amusing hour. I'm really enjoying what is now one of the rare reality/competition shows that doesn't rely on a lot of bad, rude behavior for its drama. Instead, we get the pleasure of watching what judge-critic Jay Rayner referred to, in praising one dish, as a "generosity of spirit" that extends to the whole hour. The fact that the food was also being eaten and judged by Lost brainiacs such as Damon Lindelof, Carlton Cuse, and Brian K. Vaughan was visual dessert.

Granted, these chefs weren't without competitive spirit. It was fun to watch lank-haired Wylie Dufresne mutter bleepingly when his vending-machine Quickfire Challenge didn't go completely as he'd planned. But I was happy that the ultimate winner (here you go: spoiler alert) was the soothingly calm, wry Suzanne Tracht. Her heaping bowl o' various foods, from risotto to sea urchin to boar, certainly seemed truest to the Lost theme of hungry-stomach-filling grub.

What did you think? Are you enjoying the Masters as much as regular Top Chef? Did you agree with the judges' choice of winner?
http://watching-tv.ew.com/2009/06/top-chef-masters-lost-bravo.html

Lost's Maggie Grace Is Returning to Hawaii!

Today 7:52 PM PDT by Breanne L. Heldman

The final season of Lost is starting to look like that farewell to ER that recently aired—you know, the one that showcased nearly all the former cast members?

Emilie de Ravin's return to the island is already confirmed, and Dominic Monaghan's is in a promising state of limbo. Now, Maggie Grace is hinting that she may be the next deceased survivor of Oceanic 815 to crash Locke's power party.

When asked if she was looking forward to returning to Lost, the stunning starlet confirmed she's packing her bags. But what exactly did she say?

"I'm looking forward to visiting Hawaii soon," she teased to E! News at BCBG's Whitney Art Party in NYC tonight. "I don't know why..."

While she wouldn't say if she would be heading there for work or pleasure, she certainly sounded hopeful.

"I think that they are brilliant writers," she said. "If they found the right reason, then I'm sure I would be on."
http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b129856_losts_maggie_grace_returning_hawaii.html

EW: 'Lost' star Josh Holloway on Juliet, Jack, and Jughead: An EW Must Issue Video

'Lost' star Josh Holloway on Juliet, Jack, and Jughead: An EW Must Issue Video
Jun 18, 2009, 12:00 AM by Jeff Jensen

The master list of possible Emmy nominees was recently announced, and we at EW were thrilled to see that Josh Holloway, who has played Sawyer on Lost since its first season back in 2004, is among the mix of potential candidates for Best Supporting Actor. Season 5 was a great year for the 39-year-old star, whose wise-cracking, morally ambiguous con man character completed a series-long shift to full-fledged romantic hero as he led the castaways through time travel peril and fell in love with Jughead-banging Juliet (Elizabeth Mitchell). His grief as he watched his Dharma lady slip out of his hands and fall to her doom was one of the TV season's most heartbreaking moments. While we hope Emmy remembers Holloway when it winnows its list of Best Supporting Actor players down to a final five, we decided to move ahead and give him an honor of our own by putting Holloway's in this year's Must Issue, EW's annual summertime compendium of essential artists, performers, and assorted coolness.

In my previous trips to the Lost set in Hawaii, I have always found Holloway to be extremely cordial, charming, and curious about the mysteries of his show. He's always demonstrated a deep concern that Sawyer remain emotionally credible and compelling without being melodramatic or over the top. And he takes Sawyer's quips very seriously: When I visited at the end of Season 2, I remember watching him pace through the jungle, rehearsing his lines over and over again to himself, wanting to make sure Sawyer's new Prince-esque nickname for Ben Linus ("The artist formerly known as Henry Gale") tripped easily off his tongue. I encountered a slightly different Holloway at our Must Issue photo shoot in the Hollywood Hills late last month. He was as cool and engaging as always, but greatly enhanced by the glee and marvel (and exhaustion) of new fatherhood. (His daughter, Java, was born last April.) The guy certainly has a certain impact on ladies: At one point during the photo shoot, I spotted a member of our crew discretely pick up one of Holloway's shirts and give it a good long sniff. Seriously.

I got a chance to chat with Holloway after the pics were snapped, which we present to you in the three parts. In Part 1, embedded below, the actor talks about Sawyer's romance with Juliet and their tragic parting. In Parts 2 and 3, Holloway talks about his bloody confrontation with Matthew Fox's Jack Shephard in the season finale and also discusses some theories with yours truly about where the castaways will finds themselves at the start of Lost's sixth and final season.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid26396110001?bclid=26372569001&bctid=26444173001

http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2009/06/the-master-list-of-possible-emmy-nominees-was-recently-announced-and-we-at-ew-were-thrilled-to-see-that-josh-holloway-who-h.html

E!'s Kristen: Lost: Will Ben Get Away With It All?

Today 3:11 PM PDT by Jennifer Godwin

As the clock ticks down to the series finale of Lost, it's time to begin imagining how it will end for our heroes (and villains).

We just caught up with Benjamin Linus himself, Mr. Michael Emerson, at the True Blood premiere, where he appeared with his wife, Carrie Preston (she plays flame-haired Merlotte's waitress Arlene on the HBO drama), and he assured us Ben is still in the game. In fact, there is every possibility that Ben will get away with all his dastardly deeds in the end...

Amid much discussion of which characters will be back for season six, Emerson's Ben seems virtually guaranteed to return: "My feeling is that [Ben] will have a role to play in the next season," he told us. "And I hope he survives until almost the end at least."

Speaking of that end, when asked about how Ben might fare in a final Island-destroying scenario, with maybe a volcano exploding and everyone clambering about a rescue vessel, Emerson said, "Ben is a great man for the secret exit. Ben always has an escape, I think. It may be a piece of wood, floating on the ocean. Or it may be a rope, or a secret door. Or, you know, an Ecuadorian passport and a plastic bag, something like that. He's probably going to survive."

As for his prospects during these last 17 episodes, Emerson says, "I don't know what Ben's ultimate station will be," or if Ben may could ever again be grand Island pooh-bah, but Emerson that Ben is not yet out—even though he may be very, very down: "Ben's become such a cringing little follower, hasn't he? 'Who is that guy who looks like John Locke?' [That guy]'s sort of taking things over, and what can Ben do except sort of mope along and follow orders? Although [Ben] did have a moment of angry violence there in the finale. I was sort of proud of him for that. I mean, he's looked all these years for a proper father, hasn't he? And this guy [Jacob] says, 'What about you?' I would have stabbed him, too."

http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b129538_lost_will_ben_get_away_with_it_all.html

Christian & Kate & Sayid Poll

How do you explain the Christian apearances since the crash of Flight 815?

Esau has been impersonating him
2 (25%)

The Smoke Monster has been impersonating him
3 (37%)

Jacob has been impersonating him
3 (37%)

Still alive - Resurrected
0 (0%)

Still alive - Never died
0 (0%)

Something else
3 (37%)

Votes so far: 8

In the Commentary for the episode "Pilot" JJ & and Damon said that they almost decided to have Kate & Sayid be a couple, but it didn't work with the story. What do you think of that couple?

Awsome! I wish they would have done it.
1 (20%)

Not great, I liked Sayid & Shannon better.
0 (0%)

Not great, I love the shows triangle.
1 (20%)

Im just glad they didn't go with that relationship.
3 (60%)

Votes so far: 5

Doc Jensen: 'Lost': 4 Scenarios for Next Season

Doc Jensen returns with his ideas on how all the castaways will be brought back together again. Plus: the epic conclusion of Totally Lost, and...don't miss the column's surprise ending!

By Jeff Jensen
Jeff Jensen, an EW senior writer, has been despondent since the cancellation of ''Twin Peaks''

INVOCATION
In which a quote attributed to a great poet is used to summarize the columnist's assessment of his relentless Tommy Lee Jones-esque hunt for answers to Lost's fugacious and fugitive mysteries.

''Curiosity is kept upon the stretch from page to page, and from volume to volume, and the secret, which the reader thinks himself every instant on the point of penetrating, flies like a phantom before him, and eludes his eagerness till the very last moment of protracted expectation. This art of escaping the guesses of the reader has been improved and brought to perfection along with the reader's sagacity...'' —Samuel Taylor Coleridge, circa 1794, from his review of The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe, the most popular novelist of her day.

WELCOME. AND APOLOGY.
So: This column is, like, four weeks late or something. Please forgive me. Other work — as well as researching, for reasons I wish not at the moment to disclose, the literary criticism of Mr. ''Rime of the Ancient Mariner'' and baffling literary cipher that is Ann Radcliffe — got in the way. Additional reasons for my delay: 1. Wanting to finish the equally tardy season finale of Totally Lost, which you will find at the close of this column, as if some freaky four-toed foot to this monument of ruinous, airy talk; 2. Finding the right words to articulate the large swath of theory below, particularly Scenario 2. Describing this time-travel paradox stuff — dudes, that s--- be hard! And I'm still not 100 percent confident I nailed it. You shall be the judge.

I had previously billed this column as the last of the year. I originally envisioned an epic, filled with theories, illuminating research, and the results of my Lost Must-Solve Mystery Survey. But stuff has happened. Developments have occurred. Things have changed: This here collection of fractured thoughts and ill-considered wordsmithery won't be my last Doc Jensen column of the year — not by a long shot. More, soon. First:

''THEY'RE COMING.''
That's what Jacob said — right before Ben, seething from decades of neglect and silence, stabbed his ephemeral liege in the heart with a ferocity (and dubious technique) unseen onscreen since Glenn Close went after Michael Douglas in Fatal Attraction. (''I'm not going to be ignored, Dan, er, Jacob!'') They're coming. If the blood-sputtering Magnum Other meant our quantum-boggled castaway friends trapped in the Dharma/Jughead past, then how the heck are they going to get from 1977 to 2007? Matthew Fox says: Glad you asked! The actor reportedly teased the solution last week: Appearing at the Monte Carlo Television Festival, where Lost was being toasted, Fox was quoted as saying that the resolution to season 5's fade-to-white-hot cliffhanger will be ''very surprising — and probably fairly confusing, initially, to the audience.'' TV Guide's summary of the event goes on to report that Fox also offered a hint of the final year's structure and said he believes the audience will find the show's climactic season ''incredibly satisfying.''

To which I say: Who cares?! Why settle for electrifying and legitimate insight from the star of Lost when I can just give you four dense, borderline-incomprehensible scenarios that attempt to describe how season 6 will bring all the castaways back together again? So step aside, Jack: Let a REAL expert tackle this sitch:

SCENARIO 1: DEUS EX JACOBUS!
Jacob saved the Dharma-era pastaways from certain H-bomb incineration — but not all of them. Just the ones that the Flannery-reading, map-challenged, spare pen-lending, guitar case-denying juvenile bail bondsman, tapestry hobbyist, vending-machine enthusiast had visited and touched earlier in their lives. (R.I.P.: Miles and Juliet.) Instead of being obliterated by Jughead, the Touched were transported by Jacob's magic to the Island. When will they materialize? The moment of Jacob's death. Where? Perhaps at the site of the imploded Swan; perhaps wherever they were right before they were zapped to the Dharma past. For Jack, Kate, Hurley, and Sayid, that would be Ajira 316/Hydra Island. For Sawyer and Jin, that would be the site of the old well where, ages earlier, they and their fellow time-flashers glimpsed Tarawet's shapely backside.

DOC JENSEN LIKES THIS SCENARIO BECAUSE...
It's as easy to grasp as ''Beam me up, Scotty'' and doesn't ask the audience to cramp their brains around time-line-reboot logic. It also nourishes one of Lost's oldest mysteries: Were the Oceanic 815 survivors deliberately brought to the Island? If so, why has Jacob become so invested in their fate? This scenario also preserves the ongoing story arcs of the core castaways instead of negating them with a history restart, thus maintaining the integrity of their redemption quests — the only story lines that truly matter. And finally, the very definition of deus ex machina — ''god from the machine'' — works for Lost, so such a twist could further feed the show's metaphysical/existential themes. Do we control our destinies or are we playthings of the Gods?

DOC JENSEN DOESN'T LIKE THIS SCENARIO BECAUSE...
Deus ex machina twists may have been fine for the ancients, but modern audiences often feel cheated by them. Contrivances such as these can retroactively diminish the dignity of the characters. What do their struggles for survival and redemption matter if these dramas ultimately pivot on a ''jonbar hinge'' or an ''alien space bat''?
ODDS OF AUDIENCE SATSIFACTION: 3-1

SCENARIO 2: OH, JUGHEAD — SUCH A JOKER!
Miles believed that history was fixed, that ''whatever happened, happened'' — and he was correct. But he was wrong when he insisted that detonating Jughead would merely fulfill the details of the Incident. By banging the bomb until it blew, Juliet really did introduce an unprecedented event, a problematic paradox, into the timeline. The twist: She didn't change history — she broke it. To fix itself, History will initiate a massive course correction, one that could create a whole new time line, depending on if the castaways choose to live their lives differently. And they will have that option, because the Jacob-touched characters will retain the memory of their past lives. They may or may not decide to avoid Oceanic 815, which will still crash on the Island, as will Ajira 316 three years later. Either way, all will ultimately choose to seek the Island.

BUT WHAT WOULD MOTIVATE THESE CHARACTERS TO WANT TO SEEK OUT THE ISLAND?
Good question — but not a theory-breaker. There are two ways this scenario could play out. 1. Season 6 begins with episodes that toggle between a storyline set on the Island in 2007 and a storyline set away from the Island, tracking the Touched. In other words, season 6 would resemble the first half of season 5, with one group of castaways on the Island and another group of castaways trying to get back to it. 2. Season 6 begins with everyone on the Island, and each episode would offer flashbacks revealing the (new) backstories and explaining their reasons for ''coming back''...although technically, in this new time line, they would be making that trip for the first time. Which means that season 6 would resemble season 1, which conforms nicely to my much-blathered-about theory that the series has been doubling back on itself since the start of season 4.

THIS THEORY MAKES NO SENSE BECAUSE OF THE GRANDFATHER PARADOX. RIGHT?
Wrong. We spoke a great deal throughout season 5 about the Grandfather Paradox, the logic trap that says that time-travelers from the future can't change the past in any way that negates their ability or motivation for time-traveling. But it's very possible that we have not been properly applying this piece of thinking to Lost. And by ''we,'' I really mean ''me,'' because I'm the one who does all the so-called ''research'' around here.

OH, GREAT. THANKS A LOT, ''DOC.''
Yep. Sorry about that. As it turns out, Grandfather Paradox was never originally conceived as a caveat to time travel. It was intended to argue for the impossibility of time travel.

OY. THIS IS GOING TO HURT MY HEAD, ISN'T IT?
I'll try to make this simple. Ever heard the expression ''throwing the baby out with the bathwater''? This is an example. There are laws that govern the universe, and they can't be violated. Hence, if time travel allows for one such a violation (the baby), then all time travel in general can't happen (the bathwater). The real sticking point here for the hyper-rational naturalists who invented Grandfather Paradox is God. As they saw it, time-travel theory requires the existence of a supernatural agency — someone or something omniscient enough and powerful enough to recognize and troubleshoot problems like paradox. But Lost apparently has such an agency: Remember our old friend ''course correction'' from season 3? History wanted Charlie dead; Desmond tried to defy history by saving Charlie's life; History, through ''course correction,'' ultimately created a scenario that finally killed Charlie. This entire dynamic — which will certainly prove unpopular with Lost's anti-supernatural Taliban set — renders Grandfather Paradox irrelevant: In Lost, time travel is possible; time travelers have enough freedom to create paradoxes; but ''course correction'' will devise solutions to fix them.

OKAY. BUT IS THERE AN EVEN SIMPLER WAY TO ARTICULATE THIS THEORY, PERHAPS ONE THAT ALSO EXPLAINS WHY THIS THEORY IS CALLED ''OH, JUGHEAD — SUCH A JOKER''?
Have you ever played poker? Good. Now, have you ever played poker when a bone-headed dealer has forgotten to remove the jokers from the deck? The players don't play out the hand — the dealer collects all the cards and re-deals. That's what happened when Juliet detonated Jughead. She dealt history a Joker. How does the supernatural agency representing History respond? By collecting the cards, shuffling, and re-dealing.

FUN FACT!
The Archie comic book character ''Jughead'' was known for being something of a jester, i.e., ''joker.'' Also, Wikipedia describes him as a ''non-conformist,'' which means you could say that within his culture, he was something of...a paradox.

THE BOGUS HISTORY ADDENDUM:
There are many Lost theorists — including myself — who have speculated that the castaways have been stuck in a fraudulent timeline, authored by the Man In Black and his acolytes (Widmore?), comprised of deviations from intended history. Seen from this perspective, Jughead created a paradox that destroyed the corrupt time line, thus setting the stage for a corrected or at least different time line to emerge.

DOC JENSEN LIKES THIS SCENARIO BECAUSE:
It's radical and complicated, and I like radical and complicated. And it also creates storytelling opportunities — and Lost does have 17 hours to fill next season. Indeed, per this scenario, season 6 would have a very season 1 vibe, as everything would be ''new'' again.

DOC JENSEN DOESN'T LIKE THIS SCENARIO BECAUSE:
It's radical and complicated, and there are many people who don't like radical and complicated, which means I'd have to spend all of next season defending this. There will also be those who feel that wiping away the old time line would effectively render the past five seasons meaningless, but they would be wrong: This scenario only makes the past five years meaningless if the remaining season 1 characters were made to lose the memories of all they've experienced. This scenario allows — nay, demands — that these characters remember their past lives, and thus preserves the continuity of their redemption arcs.

ODDS OF AUDIENCE SATISFACTION:
10-1 to start, 4-1 by the end. Definitely meets Fox's ''fairly confusing'' description.

SCENARIO 3: THEY ALL DIED AND NOW THEY'RE GHOSTS. OR RICHARD ALPERT.
Jughead blew them up. Since then, they've resided on the Island — perhaps trapped on the Island — as undead entities, not unlike Claire and Christian Shephard, or have become ageless and hard-to-kill by Jacob's touch, a la Richard Alpert.

SO, WHAT'S THE SEASON 6 STORY?
The Island is clearly a place where death can be cheated. But what if you view Island-bound immortality not as a blessing, but rather as a curse? What if you'd rather move into...whatever happens after you die instead of being stuck on the Island forever? This scenario posits that such ''moving on'' is possible, but it requires changing the rules of the Island, in such a way that causes ALL of the undead residing on the Island to pass into the afterlife, whether they want to or not. Perhaps that's what the final conflict will be all about: a war between those who wish to laze forever on the shores of this artificial, purgatorial reef as semi-real entities, and those who are conspiring to move on at the expense of their fellow phantoms' eternal tropical vacation.

DOC JENSEN LIKES THIS SCENARIO BECAUSE...
It's weird to say this, but this scenario actually represents the simplest, most easy-to-grasp possibility, given the established reality of Lost. It also provides a narrative to explore Big Themes, maybe the biggest theme of all: Our acceptance — and denial — of death.

DOC JENSEN DOESN'T LIKE THIS SCENARIO BECAUSE...
It's hard to be emotionally invested in ghosts.

ODDS OF AUDIENCE SATISFACTION: 30-1

SCENARIO 4: THEY ALL SURVIVED...AND THEY'RE NOW, LIKE, 65 YEARS OLD
Either Jughead failed to detonate, or the energy from the blast was somehow negated by the electromagnetic energy at the Swan site. Bottom line: The Dharma pastaways survived the Incident and lived happily/unhappily ever after on the Island. Those still alive in 2007 would now be in their 60s and they've been hiding out/held captive in the Temple by the Others so as not to interfere with their younger selves who've only recently come to the Island.

SO, WHAT'S THE SEASON SIX STORY?
The senior-citizen castaways would reveal themselves and invite the Ajira castaways to live among them, in their secret village on the other side of the Island. For 17 episodes, the characters, younger and old, would just hang out, talk about their lives, their issues, and just generally try to cultivate deeper understandings of themselves and each other. PLUS! Sun and Geezer Jin would be soooo Benjamin Button fun to watch. Right?

DOC JENSEN LIKES THE SCENARIO BECAUSE...
It sounds pretty profound — like My Dinner With Andre, a Tarkovsky movie, or a Sartre play, stretched across an entire television season.

DOC JENSEN DOESN'T LIKE THIS SCENARIO BECAUSE...
I can accept Jacob the Magic Jinn and ''Beam me up!'' twists, I can accept time line reboots and paradox conundrums, and I can even accept self-aware, course-correcting Fate and wars between pissy ghosts. But for some reason, my brain just can't accept the whole idea that Jughead's cataclysmic energy was somehow canceled out by the Swan's maybe-mystical energy, resulting in a zero-sum effect that hurt nobody. I don't get that.

ODDS OF AUDIENCE SATISFACTION: 10,000-1

But that's just me. And that's part of the dilemma that the producers of Lost face in terms of pleasing the audience in the show's final season: The relativity of incredulity. Given the high likelihood that the resolution of the Jughead cliffhanger is going to be utterly fantastic, which fantasy solution do you choose when one person's plausible and conceivable is another person's implausible and inconceivable? Whichever way Lost goes — and to be clear, there could be many, many more ways it could go than the ones described above — there will be those who say ''Cool!'' and there will be those who say ''Boo!'' In the end, I hope for two things, neither of which involves the words ''I hope it makes sense.'' 1. That the final season of Lost be meaningful. 2. That the final season of Lost does what it has always done: Stir our imagination. Again with the Coleridge: Curiosity is kept upon the stretch from page to page, and from volume to volume, and the secret, which the reader thinks himself every instant on the point of penetrating, flies like a phantom before him, and eludes his eagerness till the very last moment of protracted expectation...

AND AS FOR THE REST OF THE COLUMN...
There is no rest of the column. No reader mail. No research results. Nothing...except the season finale of Totally Lost. Behold the editing magic of our producer, the extravagantly talented Jason Averett, to whom Dan and I owe a great deal of thanks for putting up with our ''attempts at narrative'' and his tireless, late-night labors! Behold a descent into total madness as we finally reveal the face of our own malevolent Man In Black who popped a cap in Pig E.'s eye! And behold Dan and I, quickly sprinting from the room to get a head start on the mob that's certain to chase us with virtual pitchforks and torches! (Now we know what the producers of Lost must be dreading.)

But here's some good news (provided you think the following is still ''good news'' after this column): Doc Jensen is going on a very, very brief vacation, and then coming back on a regular basis — a couple times a month to start; then weekly as we count down to season 6 of Lost. The exact date of return: Monday, July 20. Then and there, I will reveal the results of the survey (which is not yet fully tabulated — 560 more responses since my last update!) — and reveal the cool plan Dan and I have hatched for Comic-Con. Until then, I present to you — with a huge nervous gulp and much anxiety roiling in my gut — the epic conclusion to this season's Totally Lost, complete with special effects, strange new characters, scary masks and funny costumes, and our own version of a noodle-cooking cliffhanger. Enjoy? I mean: Enjoy!

Doc Jensen

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid26101517001?bclid=26156203001&bctid=25969943001

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1550612_20250233_20284996,00.html?xid=email-alert-lost-20090616-item1

Kristen Speculation on Charlie coming back

Cynthia in Ireland: I was so happy to hear about Charlie, Shannon and Claire returning to Lost next season, and then so bummed to find out that nothing except Claire is for sure yet. What's the current status of various dead castmembers returning to Lost?

Even though Dominic Monaghan is said to be appearing on another ABC show next season, reportedly Flash Forward, we're just paranoid enough to think it might be a double cross, and that D.M. might actually be heading back to Lost after (or in addition to) whatever else he does on the Alphabet Net. Why do we think this? Because very reliable sources now tell us that there is "mutual interest" (between the Lost PTB and Dominic Monaghan) in bringing about a season-six return visit by Charlie Pace. Look for official developments in the next week or two.
http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b129288_spoiler_chat_will_lost_bring_dominic.html

Returning Castmembers

Question: I'm pretty sure I saw you at the Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn last weekend. You're even cuter in person! With that said, can you give me anything on Lost? --Sean

Ausiello: I was hoping I'd have an excuse to run this question, and my prayers were answered last night when this piece of scoop fell in my lap: Contrary to what a loose-lipped agency assistant Twittered yesterday, no deals are in place for any season 1 Lost alums to return for the show's sixth and final season. That said, I can confirm that Team Darlton is checking the availability of several MVPs. My guess: We'll get the official scoop on who's returning at Comic-Con next month.

Io9: "Lost" Castaways Get Gourmet Meal, Courtesy of "Top Chef"

By Gary Susman, 11:30 AM on Thu Jun 11 2009, 914 views

Next Wednesday, Lost's producers judge the latest elimination challenge on Bravo's Top Chef Masters: cook a meal with the limited list of ingredients available on the mystery island.

Lost honchos Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse will be the guest judges on the June 17 episode of the reality cook-off. As host Kelly Choi told the competitors (see video below), they'll have to make do with island staples: fish, tropical fruit, wild boar meat, and canned Dharma food. (Note the "Confidential" folder in Choi's hand, with the Dharma logo on it.) Fittingly, the challenge is dubbed "The Lost Supper." No word on whether the Top Chefs will have to put ranch dressing on everything, or whether Lost epicure Jorge Garcia will get to participate (Dude!). But a word of caution to everyone involved: a billowing column of smoke may mean something far more sinister than a burnt salmon fillet.

http://io9.com/5286969/lost-castaways-get-gourmet-meal-courtesy-of-top-chef

Lost, the last of its kind?

'Lost' director sees end to epic-scoped TV shows

BANFF, Alta. -- When "Lost" airs its final episode next year, it won't just be the end of the popular serial.

Jack Bender -- a producer and director on the hit drama -- says it'll likely mark the end of epic TV shows in general.

"It's going to be one of the last huge television shows in terms of size of cast and scope of production," predicts Bender, in town to lead a master class at the Banff World Television Festival.

"Given the fact that network television is changing, it may be one of the last great rides of this kind of big epic storytelling."

This he attributes to a combination of factors: the collapsed economy, what the networks are looking for in new programming, and the sheer cost of mounting a show like "Lost."

Since it shoots in Hawaii, where sets and materials must be flown in, the expense is significant, notes Bender.

"Lost" wraps its puzzling storyline with 18 episodes next winter and its creators have repeatedly promised that all will be resolved by the time the last hour has aired.

"There will be an ending to our show and I trust it will be a stimulating, satisfying ending," says the bespectacled Bender, acknowledging at the same time that for much of its life, the series was known for infuriating twists that seemed to go nowhere.

"This show needs to be building toward a story finish. The audience can't feel like the creative wheels are spinning and critically, there were times during the seasons before ... where we were critically, and in terms of our audience, getting busted for spinning wheels a little bit."

Season 5 wrapped up last month with the long-awaited appearance of the mythical Jacob, an explosive bid by Jack to erase the past (or was that the future?), and Locke's identity muddled.

Likening the series to a large literary work comprised of six books, Bender says the plot will close definitively next year. No window will remain open for a movie, or some cheesy comeback.

Bender says TV's thematic pendulum is swinging away from serial television towards more stand-alone dramas. Procedurals are popular with networks, he notes, because it's easier for audiences to drop in at any time.

That said, he still predicts a robust life for "Lost" after its TV run, noting its serial format lends itself well to what's become a lucrative arm for the industry.

"The life of `Lost' will eventually be viewed on DVDs and it wil be read and viewed like a big novel," he says.

Bender also credits the advent of technologies like personal video recorders, digital downloads and broadband viewing with keeping audiences tuned in through the twists and turns of the series. He credits the online fandom especially with generating continual buzz about "Lost."

"I think `Lost' in many ways was the first big Internet success story on television because the game of our show (is that) people play it once our show is over. You know, people talk about it all week, write about it, argue about it. So in many ways the Internet was part of the success of our show."

As for details on the final season, Bender reveals nothing. He does say that despite there never being a "big grand plan," the writers have known "for a while" what the ultimate ending would be.

"We love toying with the audience, we love the complexity of the storytelling and the fact things are building toward a finish and not getting there too soon," admits Bender.

"By calling it quits at the end of Season 6, which no hit television show has ever done historically, especially a show that's had this worldwide success, popularity.... it allowed (executive producers) Damon (Lindelof) and Carlton (Cuse) and the rest of our writer/producers to really guide the show toward a creative, satisfying ending, which we've been doing."

Source: CTV

Jacob Dead or Alive? Ben's not telling

Melissa in San Diego: Any word on Mark Pellegrino being on Lost next season, or is Jacob really dead?

We posed that question to Michael Emerson who claims he doesn't know the fate of Jacob, but since Ben was the one to stab him, we don't quite believe him. "I have no idea, honestly, I wonder. I can't wait to see that next script," he says. The cast of Lost goes back to Hawaii in the middle of August to shoot the final season, and Michael is really looking forward to it: "It's certainly bittersweet, but it's sort of exciting to know that they're not going to string it out. They are going to end that sucker in 17 episodes. I can't wait to see how they do it." We can't either!

Spoiler alert: 'Lost' mystery solved!

Jun 5, 2009, 06:54 PM by Michael Ausiello

How very sneaky of you, ABC.

I just found out why Dominic Monaghan is appearing in ABC's new promo campaign, and it has nothing whatsoever to do with Charlie being resurrected on Lost next season. But that's exactly what the network wants folks to think. Why? Because they're trying to keep under wraps the real reason he was playing table soccer with Patrick Dempsey, Courteney Cox, and Ed O'Neill in that clip.

This is the part where I warn you of an incoming spoiler and give you one last chance to bail before continuing on...

Okay, here it goes: The real reason Monaghan is featured in that cheeky spot is because he's actually joining the cast of another hour-long ABC drama series as a full-time series regular. And the net's brass want it to be a surprise.

A big surprise.

As a result, they've kindly asked me not to ID the show he'll be joining. And, being the understanding and cooperative creature that I am, I very reluctantly obliged.

The fact is, assuming it doesn't leak elsewhere, it will be a neat surprise.
http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2009/06/lost-charlie-mystery-solved.html

Breaking: Is Charlie returning to 'Lost'?!

Jun 5, 2009, 03:51 PM by Michael Ausiello

That's the vibe I got after watching a new ABC promo (embedded below) that just made its way onto the Internets. The cheeky clip, part of the network's fall ad campaign, features new and returning ABC stars Courteney Cox-Arquette, Ed O'Neill, Patrick Dempsey, and... Dominic Monaghan?!

An ABC spokesperson declined to comment, but a network insider cautions against reading too much into the spot. "There's obviously a lot of ABC talent in the promo," the source points out. "It doesn't necessarily mean that Dominic is returning to Lost."

Monaghan's rep, meanwhile, had this response when asked if his client was being resurrected on Lost. "You never know. Stay tuned."

http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2009/06/is-charlie-returning-to-lost.html?xid=rss-feed-todayslatest-%27Lost%27%3A+%27Charlie%27+in+ABC+promo%3F

Claire's future on Lost

Question: I miss Claire on Lost. Emilie de Ravin is such a great actress. Will she be back for all of next season? --Kelly

Ausiello: Yes! After sitting out last season, de Ravin will return as a full-time series regular for Lost's sixth and final season, Team Darlton confirms. "Damon and I are very excited to bring Claire back to the show," says Carlton Cuse, "and even more excited for people to experience just how she will return." And even more exciting that that? Experiencing Doc Jensen's theory on how she'll return. Take it away, DJ:

"Any scenario that brings Claire back to Lost must address the mysterious circumstances of her disappearance at the end of season 4, in which many of us were led to believe that she was as dead -- or rather, undead -- as the Ghost Christian that's been haunting The Island since season 1. So here's one thought: Juliet changed time in the season finale by detonating Jughead, and season 6 will tell the story of the new timeline, one in which Claire is alive. Another thought: In light of the revelation that John Locke was actually a supernatural impostor for half of season 5, perhaps in season 6, we'll get a storyline in which Claire just emerges out of the jungle, with no memory of what happened to her -- just like season 1 -- and we and the castaways will be left to wonder: Is this the real Claire or another impostor infiltrating them a la Locke? Heck, maybe that's going to be the major idea of next season: Who's really alive and who's really (un)dead? It really will be the fabled zombie season of Lost!" Thanks a million, Doc!
http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2009/06/ask-ausiello-spoilers-on-lost-the-closer-weeds-true-blood-burn-notice-the-office-and-more.html#more

Season 5 Favorite Episodes Poll Results

What were your 3 Favorite episodes in season 5? (Select only 3)

"Because You Left"
2 (8%)

"The Lie"
0 (0%)

"Jughead"
5 (20%)

"The Little Prince"
0 (0%)

"This Place Is Death"
2 (8%)

"316"
6 (24%)

"The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham"
4 (16%)

"LaFleur"
11 (44%)

"Namaste"
0 (0%)

"He's Our You"
1 (4%)

"Whatever Happened, Happened"
2 (8%)

"Dead Is Dead"
8 (32%)

"Some Like It Hoth"
2 (8%)

"The Variable"
2 (8%)

"Follow the Leader"
3 (12%)

"The Incident, Parts 1 & 2
22 (88%)

Votes so far: 25