Before you read this, read 'A Lostpedia Administrator Takes a LOST Class: Week 1.' 

I've written thousands of words about LOST on both Lostpedia and TVOvermind, and still it was really difficult to write my first paper about the series.

I struggled with what the subject of my paper would be as soon as I got the assignment. There was just so much I wanted to write about. The subject of the paper was simple: take a theme from LOST, find religious implications to that theme, and write a paper about it. For me at least, that's much harder than it sounds.

I went through plenty of options, including judgment, martyrdom, and the repeated references to Hell. I even wrote a few hundred words into a paper on sacrifice before I decided that I just wasn't into it. I wasn't covering any new ground. I was simply treading the same old Island-as-a-Christian-allegory tropes that were so blatantly obvious that Chris Seay filled a book with them. I wasn't learning anything by writing a paper on the concept of sacrifice. As easy as it would have been to do so, I made the first decision not to rest on my LOST laurels. So, at 7:00pm on Thursday night before the paper was due Friday, I scrapped my entire plan and started fresh.

Something had stuck with me from class on Wednesday. We'd spent the majority of the class discussing whether any of the characters could be described as good or evil, and had even broken it down into instinctual responses (fight or flight). We briefly discussed whether a person was innately good or shaped by circumstances (obviously, I was for the latter), and I eventually determined that there was no one on the show, save perhaps Martin Keamy, who could be defined as truly evil. Most people in the class had only watched through season 2 at that point, and so discussion regarding the Man in Black and Jacob's moral persuasions was held off.

But then (and I can't remember what led to this topic), my instructor questioned the importance of the Egyptian references on the show. It wasn't until my search for a topic had reached a true point of desperation that I remembered this. Thus, my paper was born. I titled it "That Old Time Religion: Egyptian Mythology as a Theme of LOST" and buried my nose in Anthony S. Mercatante's reference book Who's Who in Egyptian Mythology, as well as Pearson Moore's LOST Humanity (a book I'm growing closer and closer to declaring essential for LOST fans).

I got an A.

You can read the paper on the next page. Some of my logical leaps might reach a little far, but besides that, I'm actually pretty happy with this paper. I learned a lot of cool new things, and was able to relate them to one of my favorite television shows. It's not often that you get to do that in a college class.

A Lostpedia Administrator Takes a LOST Class: Week 2

Just like every character on LOST, I'm struggling with my past. No, I'm not struggling with a heroin addiction, and no, I didn't order the genocide of everyone I once knew. My problem is much more of a struggle: it's becoming much harder for me to not be a pretentious ass. Though to be fair, if there's ever been a time where I deserved to be a know-it-all, this is indeed it.

Let me give you a little context here. LOST has a lot of emotional resonance for me because of my grandfather, who convinced me to start watching the series in the third season but died during the fifth. I consider LOST to be the show that initiated me into culture; after all, I was twelve when I started watching and sixteen when it ended. I watched the show religiously in those four years (don't worry, I watched seasons one and two on DVD), and it ended up being a formative experience for me. I learned more about philosophy, literature, and film by watching LOST and interacting with the show's community than I have anywhere else. I became an administrator for Lostpedia in 2009, and that led to me writing here, at TVOvermind. Jon Lachonis might have declared that LOST ate his life, but it shaped mine.

Flashforward two years (nothing new for LOST fans) to January 2012: the present. I've just finished the first week of my four-week class "LOST: My Religion," my course for the school's January interim term. Nothing could really describe how ecstatic I was when I discovered that such a class was being offered (I must have said "No way," at least fifteen or sixteen times). And now, at the end of week 1, I have to say that I absolutely love the class. There's only one problem: I can't help but feel that it's all about me.

The class centers upon religious and philosophical themes in the show. After all, there are plenty to go around. But aside from the teacher (who is, naturally, a really cool guy), I think I'm the only one who has seen the entire show. I've never been particularly great at humility, and so I can't help but feel a little smug when I hear my classmates (who are watching it for the first time) asking what the monster is, or why Rousseau is on the Island. I also can't help but feel a little smug when I can call into use my encyclopedic knowledge of the show (which I haven't really watched since it went off the air, though I still remember most details). I have to work really hard not to fully nerd out and make everyone hate me. Its a fine line, and sometimes I cross it, like that one time I let slip that Boone dies (totally didn't mean to).

For our textbooks, we're using Chris Seay's The Gospel According to LOST and Pearson Moore's Lost Humanity. While I'm totally digging Moore's analysis of the show, I can't say I feel the same way about Seay's book, which doesn't really uncover anything new other than vague thematic similarities between the show and the Bible. The fact that it was written before season six, arguably the show's most spiritual season, doesn't help things.

I'm about to start work on my first assignment, a five-page presentation of a thematic element of LOST. I haven't decided what I'm going to write about yet. I have decided that my final project, analysis of a character's religious implications, will be about Daniel Faraday (my favorite character) and predestination.

I promise that my blog entry for next week will be less self-centered... Actually, no, I don't. Like plenty of other fans who blogged, or edited Lostpedia, or discussed the show online, I feel like I was a part of LOST. This class is all about me.

A Lostpedia Administrator Takes a Class on LOST: Week 1

Listening to Damon Lindelof admit that he wanted to quit LOST – more than once – makes you wonder what would have happened if the statement had actually come to pass. There would certainly be no polar bears or hatches. Maybe not even the game-changing character flashbacks and flash-forwards. Lindelof, who created the concept of the show along with JJ Abrams back in 2003, will be the first to admit that he thought LOST would never get picked up (much less become a smash hit or run for six consecutive seasons.) Yet hearing stories about his experiences on both a personal and professional level, you begin to wonder how he ever could have thought otherwise.

Without question, Lindelof is an absolute pleasure to listen to - not only because of his expertise, but because of the obvious devotion and passion he has for his work. At last week’s New York Television Festival, Lindelof sat down for a one-on-one with MTV’s Andrew Jenks to deliver the keynote address and speak candidly about his beloved show. The fact that it was exactly seven years to the day LOST first premiered on ABC seemed to be no coincidence.

In an exclusive interview preceding the panel, I had the opportunity to chat with Lindelof as he reflected on seven years gone by, what he would’ve changed (a trick question!), and his plans for future creative ventures.

It’s been seven years since the airing of the pilot. If you could go back – knowing what you know now, knowing the writing process, knowing what’s to come – what would you tell yourself? Would you change anything?

I have to preface that answer by saying what happened, happened and it’s impossible to travel back in time and change the outcome at all. And I mean that not by way of jest. I feel like if I could travel back, what I would tell myself is to relax, take it easy, let the show tell us what it wanted to be and try not to get too overwhelmed by it all. But at the same time, I feel that if I hadn’t gone through that entire process, the show might’ve been something entirely different. The panic and catastrophic experience that it was - especially the first year - really translated onto the screen in, I think, an overwhelmingly positive way for the show. Although the philanthropic thing to do would be to go back, ease my pain, hold my own hand…

At the time, anyone who knows me will tell you I was absolutely convinced that there were no more than six episodes of this show. And I was so terrified when they picked it up, and when I would say this to people, they would sort of laugh and think I was being modest or self-effacing. And then I would get home and tell my wife, who was my fiancé at the time, “But I’m not joking!” If I went back and told that guy the morning after on September 23rd, which was one of the saddest days of my life, “Don’t worry; this thing’s gonna go six seasons,” I would’ve said, “Six years; no way!” It’s probably a good thing that non-paradoxical time travel does not exist.

Did you ever think the show would be such a hit? Was there ever any thought in your mind that maybe it could work if it got the right audience or the right time slot? Or was did you really think no one would ever watch it?

It’s so funny for you to ask that question through the prism of ‘I’m really thinking now about what that day was like seven years ago, the night that the show premiered.’ And I haven’t really thought about it with any degree of substance because I kind of lump it into the overall experience of the show premiering and getting really good ratings. But when we were shooting the pilot, JJ and Bryan [Burk] and I would constantly be saying things like, “This is going to be the best show ever!” We were going to give you all this fun stuff and blow up stuff and have polar bears running through the jungle and have people flying out the back of planes, but we were like, “This is the best show ever that’s going to be cancelled.” We really got it into our heads that the best case scenario was going to be kind of like a Prisoner of War legacy, where we made 13 of these things and then it became a cult classic where it was cancelled prematurely and wouldn’t that be cool. In our brains, it was just kind of a cult-y show, you know, sort of catered to our own geeky sensibilities.

It wasn’t until I saw the pilot for the first time and realized how character driven and emotional it was, and what amazing performances all the actors had given us, that I started wondering whether or not the show could connect on a somewhat broader audience. But on this day seven years ago, JJ had a party at his house for the premiere. The actors were all in Hawaii shooting, but the entire LA production entity, we all went over there and watched it. And that night there was an ABC executive who was there who said, “Hey, listen, we do research at ABC to get some sense of how these shows are going to do and we’re kind of optimistic about this thing. We think it’s probably going to do about a 3.4 in the demo. And if you can stay above the 3 at 8pm on Wednesdays, you’re gonna be just fine.” And I remember hearing that number and being like, “Okay, that’s what we’re trying to hit.” And that sounded about right to me. At that time, in 2004, that number would’ve been a success or a survivor or a performer, or whatever they would’ve called it. Hit was never really part of the terminology as far as I was concerned and certainly, no one was telling me that this was going to be a massive hit. The show was being really well reviewed; there were a number of magazines like EW and TV Guide that said this is the best new show of the fall, but they offered that up with the caveat of ‘this is a great pilot but where is it going to go from there?’ So, in my mind, that was kind of it. “Groundbreaking” was never an adjective in my wildest dreams that I thought would ever be associated with the show unless it was in front of ‘cancelled after one episode.’

The landscape of television has really changed in the past seven years and I feel if the show premiered now, it wouldn't get the same reception. We’re so accustomed to getting everything at our fingertips, we need answers to be delivered at this moment, and we get fed up if we don’t get them after 2 or 3 episodes. We’ve become a lot less inclined to really invest in a show, especially a serial show.

That pilot asked a massive commitment form the audience. If you watch a pilot with no predetermined end date, what it’s essentially doing is proposing to you on the first date, saying will you marry me for as long as I’m on. Will you stay tuned even if I frustrate you on occasion? And that’s a much bigger deal now in 2011 then it was in 2004, and I think we take some responsibility for the fact that…there are a number of people who watched the show when it started versus when it ended. We lost millions of viewers along the way for various reasons, but those millions that we lost became very jaded and discontent and sort of pledged never to go out on any more dates. So, they’re very vocal…when you see other shows, like The Event, that came along after LOST that were branded in any way as LOST-like, just saying, “I’m not going to allow myself to get suckered again.” Or, “I just can’t emotionally invest in a show other than LOST,” on a more positive spectrum.

On the creative side, I know you used to write a comic book miniseries. Would you ever go back to that?

I really loved writing that comic…and then I wrote a very short story for Action 900 this year; a Superman story. The problem with writing comics is I’m super, super slow. And I have such a tremendous amount of respect for comic book writers and artists just in terms of, a comic book issue is 22 pages, and in those 22 pages are 100 panels and essentially every panel you have to describe what’s happening and what people are saying. And there was also the idea that I was doing this completely solo as opposed to collaborating, which is what I’m used to and what I’m much more comfortable with. I really like working with other people, so I’m not going to say that I’ll never do it again, but I do feel that the degree of writing for comic books is so high that it’ll probably be awhile before I go back to it again. Unless I can con someone into partnering with me and letting them do all the work.

You currently have numerous projects in the works, the Star Trek sequel and Prometheus being two of the most high profile. Is there a project you’re particularly amped about? Or one that you really can’t wait for the public to see?

It’s a little like asking your parents which child is their favorite. I do think that Prometheus and Trek 2 are such wildly different projects, tonally and everything else. I’m very excited to see both of them come to life. I’m living the dream. The idea that I get to work with Ridley Scott or JJ again is so great…to call those people my creative partners and have the level of involvement that I did in these creative franchises that made me want to do what I’m doing now. I used to write fan fiction when I was 13, 14 and now I’m getting paid to write fan fiction, and it’s getting made. It does not get any better, literally.

Is there a project, a sequel, a comic book, or anything in particular that you would love to take on one day, whether it’s something you want to remake or rewrite?

As great as it has been doing remixes of these classic movies, right now I’m really drawn to the idea of doing something a little more original. It never occurred to me to work on an Alien movie or a Star Trek movie until the phone rang and the person on the other end said, “What do you think about this?” And the level of enthusiasm that I felt in that moment kind of governed the next few years of my life in both those cases. So, to answer your question, there’s nothing really out there that I feel is dying to be remade. In fact, I sort of feel like it’s maybe time to move away from the safety of the remake and move into the slightly more terrifying territory of something more original. Because LOST was so satisfying for me…it’s much cooler for me to be able to do Inception and be like, “This is unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.” Or people will describe something as Inception and it’s impossible to describe Inception using the vernacular of any other movie. So, I feel like even the idea of ‘sure, I’d love to make a Batman movie, but am I going to be able to make a Batman movie better than Christopher Nolan did?’ Because at the end of the day, it’s Batman; his parents got killed and he puts on a suit and beats up bad guys. I’m sure Christopher Nolan found a way to remake it in a way that’s interesting to the audience, but there’s nothing out there that’s lying dormant that I’m like, “Oh my God, the world needs to be see this again, but with my spin on it.”

Do you think you’d ever return to television? Not necessarily in a sterilized drama capacity, but in any shape or form?

I definitely want to do TV again. And probably sooner rather than later. But I do feel like the real trick is going to be ‘what are people’s expectations going to be for someone who was behind a show like LOST?’ So that it’s consistent with that idea of ‘I liked LOST, so technically speaking, I should like this other show,’ I’m going to do a show that’s entirely different from LOST, but at the same time, it has to be different enough to justify its own existence. The worst thing I could possibly do to the audience is try to generate my own LOST clone. So, its kind of gotta feel like it has the same genetic make-up of the first show, but standing next to LOST, you wouldn’t be able to tell that they were brothers. And that’s been a real challenge for me in terms of figuring out exactly how to render that idea. I want to create a show that is gong to be polarizing not just for the sake of being polarizing, but it requires a certain degree of risk-taking. So, kind of getting outside my own comfort zone again is a huge part of the creative process.

It was an unparalleled delight to speak with Lindelof, someone I already consider to be within the ranks of those he admires. Given his sold-out panel and the fan reception following the hour, it's clear that I’m among many who will continually support the future endeavors of one the business’s most insightful individuals.

Interview With Damon Lindelof - Reflections On LOST's 7 Year Anniversary & Future Projects

It's times like these that I really miss LOST. It's been over a year since we said goodbye to Jack, Kate, Hurley, and the rest, but it feels like so much longer.

Luckily, Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse are here to help. At this year's San Diego Comic-Con, the duo (who executive produced LOST during its run) crashed Entertainment Weekly's "Totally LOST: One Year Later" panel and introduced a clip that had been deleted from the first season finale, "Exodus, Part 2."

Lindelof and Cuse had been 'feuding' on Twitter about the clip in the days leading up to its release. The 'fight' hit some pretty low blows, including a reference to Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin, with whom Lindelof had clashed over his disappointment in the series finale.

But the feuding buildup aside, the clip actually answers quite a few questions. Perhaps most notably, it tackles that tricky subject of the Man in Black's real name. It isn't Samuel, as previously hinted, nor is it Esau, like fans had theorized. It's actually...

Well, why spoil the clip for you? Check out the deleted scene from "Exodus, Part 2" below, and prepare to be amazed.

Previously Unseen LOST Clip Revealed at Comic-Con 2011

Orientation: A Nerd Newbie Guide to #SDCC

He played a hippie in LOST's third season, but actor Doug Hutchison is now in a marriage that even Horace Goodspeed might disapprove of. The actor, 51, who is also famous for his turns in The Green Mile and The X-Files, has married a sixteen-year-old aspiring country music singer. That girl, Courtney Alexis Stodden, is trying to position herself as a Nashville star, E! Online is reporting.

Hutchison and Stodden tied the knot on May 20 in Las Vegas. And while they likely to attract plenty of controversy (she's a third his age!), they're surprisingly not trying to hide from the tabloid limelight. In an exclusive statement to E! News, the couple insists that it all comes down to love.

"We're aware that our vast age difference is extremely controversial," they said, "But we're very much in love and want to get the message out there that true love can be ageless."

The union certainly is a little strange, and will probably attract a lot of media attention over the next few months. But maybe that's what the couple wants, either to spread their message of love or to spread Stodden's name (the whole "there's no such thing as bad publicity," sort of thing).

In any case, godspeed to them both.

51-Year-Old LOST Actor Marries 16-Year-Old Aspiring Country Singer

Just a day after we posted the news of Benedict Cumberbatch being cast in The Hobbit, yet another familiar face has been cast in the fantasy epic. LOST star Evangeline Lilly has been cast in the two-part Lord of the Rings prequel as an elf.

The casting of Lilly, famous for playing the mysterious fugitive castaway Kate Austen on the mystery drama LOST from 2004 to 2010, was announced on Sunday by Hobbit director Peter Jackson, via his Facebook page. Lilly will be playing the character Tauriel, a character who did not appear in the book, but whose name apparently means "daughter of Mirkwood," according to Jackson. Judging by this, it looks likely that she'll be appearing in the first film of the series, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, in which Mirkwood will likely be prominent.

Alongside actress Cate Blanchett, who plays the elf Galadriel, Lilly is one of two females to be cast in the film. That's two more female characters than the film's source material has. Many fans have judged that Lilly's role is designed to replace the absence of actress Liv Tyler, who will reportedly not be appearing in the film.

Lilly's LOST co-star and former beau Dominic Monaghan portrayed Merry Brandybuck, one of the members of the Fellowship of the Ring, in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, also directed by Jackson.

With a great cast stacking up, The Hobbit is quickly turning into the must-see movie of next year... and the next year. Jackson has said that Lilly's casting, along with Cumberbatch and several others, "just about rounds out the major casting." However, if any more television stars are cast in the film, we'll certainly keep you posted.

LOST's Evangeline Lilly Cast in The Hobbit

Still missing LOST?  Still have questions?  Complaints?  Praise?  Join Jon "DocArzt" Lachonis and Jo "Jopinionated" Garfein as we discuss LOST live.  Right here.  Right now.

LOST Series Finale First Anniversary Live Chat

It seems Evangeline Lilly learned a thing or two about keeping secrets from her days on Lost because, as US Weekly reveals today, she has somehow managed to keep her rather pregnant self secret from the papparazzi until now.  Lilly was photographed outside her home in Hawaii Thursday, and though her publicist had no comment, the pictures certainly seem to show her well into her pregnancy.  It is assumed the father is long-time boyfriend, and former Lost crew member Norman Kali.  Previously, she dated co-star Dominic Monaghan who, of course, played Charlie on the mega-hit series.

Lilly has taken a break from the acting world (save a few commercials for L'Oreal) since her run on Lost ended last May.  She told US, "I'm definitely planning on taking a break for a little while.  I consider acting a day job -- it's not my dream; it's not my be-all, end-all."

Personally, I hope that once she takes some time to enjoy the birth of what will surely be a beautiful child, she will return to the small screen.  I know some people felt to the contrary, but I always thought she gave a great performance of perhaps the most difficult character on Lost.  She has the rare combination of being beautiful, but credibly tough and rugged.  Some enterprising writer out there should be able to craft a role perfect for the soon-to-be mom.

So, congratulations to Ms. Lilly and Mr. Kali!  What do you think about this news?  Any baby name suggestions?  Would Charlie or Aaron be too obvious?  How about Damon or Carlton?  Please leave your comments below, and be sure to check TVOvermind for all of your TV news needs.

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Lost's Evangeline Lilly is Pregnant!

LOST ended for good in May of last year. I know. I'm not in denial. I'm not angry. I'm not depressed. The five stages of grief have come and gone and I've accepted my new life without the show. Between the time it ended and now, I've watched all three seasons of Breaking Bad, re-watched all five seasons of The Wire, and started watching shows like Boardwalk Empire and The Walking Dead. All of which are absolutely fantastic. At least in terms of number of quality shows, there's never been a better time to be a television addict. And yet, no matter how hard I've tried, I haven't found a single season of any show as compelling as that first season of LOST. I don't believe in perfection, especially when talking about a work of art, so I can't say with any confidence that it was perfect. But it was pretty damn close.

What sets it apart from other seasons of LOST? For me, the main difference is that the characters were just as mysterious as the island itself. We didn't know these people. The writers did a terrific  job of slowly unraveling the mysteries behind our favorite castaways throughout the course of the entire season. Jack's relationship with his father. Kate on the run. Sawyer's letter. Locke's mystical transformation. Each story was so dynamic, so interesting, so captivating. I wanted to know about our characters just as badly as I wanted to know what the Black Rock was or what the thing in the jungle going tikka tikka tikka was doing. As the show went on past the first season, we spent more time with our characters, and naturally we weren't as intrigued with their back stories. LOST wasn't the only show to have great, mysterious characters in its first season, and it won't be the last. But the way they implemented their remarkable flashbacks, connected them to the island stories (and to other characters), and made us care deeply about them so quickly (we barely knew Locke in his first flashback "Walkabout" but it was still incredibly emotional) -- that is why it was so impressive.

And then of course, there was the survival. Finding food and water. The beach vs. caves debate. Exploring the island. The "A-Team" missions. Part of what made season one so awesome was that simple element of survival that became sort of obsolete once they found the hatch. Amidst the attacks and kidnapping by the Others (by the way, has there ever been a more ominous group of villains than them? "We're gonna have to take the boy" -- my god. I still get goosebumps. Okay, moving on), running away from that thing in the jungle, and trying to triangulate signals with one of Sayid's crazy thingamajigs, it's easy to forget that these people were surviving on the island. It was a survival show. After about season two or so it stopped becoming a survival show. That's no fault of the writers, as it was a natural progression of the events on the island, but I really miss that aspect from season one. Every seemingly mundane task the characters had was important. Everything mattered. It truly was either live together, or die alone.

Over the past eight months or so, hating on the ending of LOST has seemed like the popular thing to do (or at least, the squeaky wheel gets the oil). It's true, it wasn't perfect -- but it couldn't be. When's the last time you were completely, 100% happy and satisfied with the ending to an epic television series you had been following for close to a decade? They weren't going to please everyone. Even if you hated the ending, and you can't be convinced otherwise, don't let that ruin your experience of the series as a whole. Does a bad ending negate the magic of its first season? No, no it doesn't. In times like these, people like to be hyperbolic. They like to pretend that one ending that didn't go perfectly for them canceled out six years of incredible television. Season one was by no means LOST's only good season (in many ways, seasons two and three -- forgetting the whole thing about Jack's tattoos -- were just as good). But for me, it was its best season. It is a reminder of just how good LOST could be. How compelling it was. How much it meant to television. How much it meant to me.

There are moments like the raft launch in Exodus that will go down in the annals of television as one of the greatest moments ever. The acting. The music. The cinematography. Remember moments like those. Don't only remember what will just make you angry. In the words of Cormac McCarthy, "we forget the things we want to remember and remember the things we want to forget." But it doesn't have to be that way. A re-watch of season one will prove it to you.

LOST Season 1: A Look Back at What Made This Show Incredible

Ten is a round, perfect and predictable number. In the spirit of Spinal Tap, this list goes to eleven. Here are my selections for the best of the small screen in 2010:

1. Lost

Favorite episode of season 6: “What They Died For”

Those who absolutely loved the series finale will defend it forever, and those who loathed it will argue with the same fervor. After watching the final episode several times, I strongly feel as though Damon, Carlton & co. gifted their dedicated fans with a finale that exceeded expectations and will continue to inspire many of us for the rest of our lives. The flash sideways memory revelations (Jin & Sun and Juliet & Sawyer in particular), the long overdue father & son Shephard reunion and those last ten minutes in the church were extremely satisfying on every level.

2. Breaking Bad

Favorite episode of season 3: “Fly”

The ability to create and sustain nail-biting intensity throughout each episode is rare, and Breaking Bad consistently achieves that accomplishment every season. Coupled with the powerful presence and performances of Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul, this is a show filled with jaw-dropping moments that deserves a much wider audience. Anna Gunn had an outstanding season as well, and really is one of the more underrated actresses on television.

3. Fringe

Favorite episode of season 3: “Entrada”

Fringe has certainly upped the stakes and ante this year with a very compelling first half of an amazing third season. From the stunning visual presentation of the alternate universe to Anna Torv’s Emmy-worthy double duty, Fringe has inched up my list and is fast approaching favorite current show status.

4. The Good Wife

Favorite episode of season 2: “Poisoned Pill”

Featuring one of the most talented (and, arguably, most attractive) ensembles on television, The Good Wife is anything but a weekly procedural. Every episode is a pleasant surprise, an hour chock full of sexually charged dalliances and intriguing legal cases. Archie Panjabi’s Kalinda is easily the most interesting, frustrating and mysterious character, male or female, to grace the current television landscape.

5. Terriers

Favorite episode of season 1: “Sins of the Past”

Disappointed doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel about the cancellation of this stellar series. Ted Griffin and Shawn Ryan created a unique and quirky show about two friends who unofficially investigate local crimes in San Diego, and established immediate emotional resonance with both characters from the very first episode. Terriers had heart, and FX broke ours when they had to cancel the series due to low ratings.

6. Community

Favorite episode of season 2: “Abed’s Uncontrollable Christmas”

Aside from Lost, this was the only show that required multiple viewings in order to pick up integral background conversations and character interactions that took place in the blink of an eye. I am blissfully in love with Community’s pop culture references and homages (both the obscure and the obvious), as well as the off-kilter cast of characters who make me feel as though I am a welcome guest at their study hall table every week.

7. Modern Family

Favorite episode of season 2: “Unplugged”

The very best scenes may as well be titled Those Dizzy Dunphys and The Crazy Cam & Mitch Mockumentary.  Modern Family is an incredibly well scripted series that continuously pushes the envelope, resulting in more laugh-out-loud moments than any other comedy on my very crowded DVR.

8. Mad Men

Favorite episode of season 4: “The Suitcase”

Although the focus of show is always going to be Don Draper, this was Peggy’s season. Elisabeth Moss was nothing short of phenomenal in every episode, and truly had the opportunity to shine while January Jones was oddly relegated to occasional appearances.

9. Friday Night Lights

Favorite episode of season 4: “The Son”

Coach and Tami Taylor are candidates for the most realistic and likable parents on television. It is admirable that the true spotlight on the show still illuminates their relationship, above and beyond all football and high school drama. This season, the heartbreaking and the heartwarming were intermingled brilliantly, especially when Riggins and Saracen were involved.

10. Damages

Favorite episode of season 3: “The Next One’s Gonna Go in Your Throat”

The web that ensnares Patty, Ellen and their associates continues to be a deliciously taut and tangled mess. I enjoyed attempting to put together the pieces to the 13-episode puzzle that they dangled from that web, and this season was just as enigmatic as the first two. Thank goodness Ted Danson is also on Bored to Death, because he continues to steal every scene when he appears (far too infrequently) on Damages as Frobisher.

11. Dexter

Favorite episode of season 5: “Everything is Illumenated”

In previous years, Dexter was featured much higher up on my list. While many were dissatisfied with this season, I found the show and Michael C. Hall to be quite riveting. Julia Stiles was the perfect addition to the cast and a welcome change of scenery in Dexter’s life.  I continue to be baffled by the lack of nominations for Jennifer Carpenter; there is simply no other actress or female character like Debra Morgan on television, and she definitely deserves the recognition.

What are your top shows and favorite episodes from 2010?

{Follow Jo on Twitter @jopinionated}

This List Goes to 11: The Top Shows & Episodes of 2010

LOST has had a deep, lasting impact on my literary palette. Philip K. Dick is one of my all-time favorite authors. Slaughterhouse-Five is one of my favorite books. I've read The Third Policeman, started Y: The Last Man, and voraciously consumed every Stephen King I could get my hands on. I chose for a school research paper to be on philosopher Soren Kirekegaard after seeing his Fear and Trembling featured in the show's sixth season.

But the literary references on LOST weren't only important because they introduced viewers to new authors and works. They were important because they expanded the deeper meanings and metaphor of the show, meaning that fans would be consuming page after page in relation to LOST long after the show had ended its run. Pretty genius, actually. But how did all the pieces fit together? Luckily, there's now a book that pieces that all together. I'm talking about Sarah Clarke Stuart's Literary LOST: Viewing Television Through the Lens of Literature.

You might have heard of Stuart. She's taught not one but four classes based on LOST at the University of North Florida and other various institutions, which got her a little publicity around the fan community not too long ago. Now, she's a staff member here at TVOvermind, though don't think her presence here is influencing my review when I tell you that this book is a must-have for any LOST fan. I'm serious. It's more in-depth than Lostpedia.

The book has a thematic format, which makes it slightly difficult to follow. For instance, VALIS by Philip K. Dick is discussed in both chapters 2 ("Faith, Sacrifice, and Redemption"), and 6 ("Dreams, Illusions, and the Nature of Reality"). An encyclopedia this ain't, but engrossing it is.

I found myself scratching my head while reading this book about connections I should have made but didn't. And, if you've been influenced by LOST's literascape as much as I have, then it'll simply make you happy to see your favorite books critically dissected as though for the absolute coolest class in the world.

The book is also packed with fun little quotes from both the show and the works mentioned in the book: chapter 4, which deals with time travel, features Ben Linus's "time travelling bunnies" quote, for example.

The most fun in the book, though, comes from the parallelisms that Stuart is able to draw between characters of the text and characters of LOST. There's a section titled "Kierkegaard, Abraham, and Benjamin Linus," which compares and contrasts the philosopher, religious figure, and bug-eyed bastard, based upon their faith. The book is slowly pulling you in, isn't it? I've been poring over this book for weeks, and I'm still able to find incredibly fascinating stuff that interests me, even if it's my third time reading that page.

Literary LOST is for every LOST fans, even those who didn't like the show's ending. The show's not over yet, folks, not in our minds, at least. LIterary LOST will help to unlock some of those answers to questions you didn't even know you had.

The book won't be released until January 15, but if you want to secure your copy, head on over to Amazon and order a copy for just $13.46.

Book Review - Literary Lost: Viewing Television Through the Lens of Literature

If you've been wondering whether or not you'll see Matthew Fox again after his eye closed for that last scene on LOST, the answer is a resounding maybe. If you live in London. And you go to the theater.

Digital Spy is reporting that the Party of Five actor will be making his theatrical debut in London's West End, appearing in the production In A Forest, Dark and Deep, which is written and directed by Neil LaBute. Fox will play the brother of Olivia Williams's character, who helps his sister clear out her forest cabin. Sounds like one of those nice family dramas, doesn't it? Wrong. Apparently, this play will be a "psychological thriller."

Fox stated his desire to no longer do television after wrapping LOST, and it appears the man is staying true to his word. While most of his LOST friends have returned to the television landscape, he has noticeably remained aloof. And while it's certainly nice to see that Jorge Garcia has joined Alcatraz or that Terry O'Quinn and Michael Emerson have begun their own series on NBC, it's even nicer to see one of the actors evolve, despite the fame that LOST brought (not to insult any of the other fine actors who returned to television; I'm perfectly content to continue watching their small screen antics for a long time).

Most of us won't be seeing Fox in the role when it previews on March 3 or runs from March 14 to June 4, but that's the nature of theater. I know some people from the states will be buying plane and theater tickets to see the role, but I don't think I'll have to. I'm simply content with knowing that Matthew Fox is out there doing what he does best: fixing things. Oh, sorry. I meant acting, of course.

As a small note, this is TVOvermind's 5,000th published article. That's a lot of television covered, and we want to thank you readers for supporting us. Here's to 5,000 more!

Matthew Fox Gets a Theater Role

We promised it, and now, we're finally delivering: TVOvermind is giving away two copies of the official LOST Encyclopedia, penned by Paul Terry and Tara Bennett. If you haven't already checked out TVOvermind's interview with the duo from back in May, go do it. In the meantime, read on to see how you can win your very on copy of this epic tome of LOST-y goodness. It's just a few easy steps, we promise.

Register over at TVOvermind's forums, making sure to use a legitimate email address so that we'll be able to contact you if you win.

Head on over to this topic.

Make a post telling us which question you would like the encyclopedia and why.

We'll pick two winners randomly, and send them emails through their accounts notifying them.

This must be done by Tuesday, November 2, when the contest ends.

Sounds simple enough, doesn't it? Well it certainly is. Unfortunately, you have to be in the U.S. for this giveaway (it's not discrimination, it's postage costs!). In the meantime, you can stick around. TVOvermind will be reviewing the LOST Encyclopedia very soon, so don't forget to check that out.

TVOvermind's LOST Encyclopedia Giveaway!

Most of you are familiar with 15 year old Sterling Beaumon from his role as young Ben Linus on LOST. Tonight he returns to the small screen with a stunning turn as a teenage killer on Criminal Minds.

I recently caught up with Sterling to discuss his penchant for playing creepy characters, and was very moved when the conversation evolved into his revelation that he had been bullied. He offers some very good advice for other young people who may have similar experiences.

Q: What was the audition process like for your role on this week's episode of Criminal Minds?

SB: I didn’t have to even audition, which was very cool.  I was called in for a meeting with the writer, producer and casting director to discuss having me play the role.  Not too long ago I portrayed a teen character in The Cleaner and that, along with my role on LOST, sparked interested in the writer to create my character on Criminal Minds.

Q. Your ability to transform into a creepy young man is quite impressive, given that you're such a high-energy teenager in real life. We first got a glimpse of your dark side with young Ben Linus on LOST, then as a drug addict on The Cleaner, and now you've graduated to serial killer. Where do you draw inspiration for these roles?

SB: Originally I auditioned for the role of young Ben, not knowing much about the show or Ben Linus.  I just thought about how awful it would be to see your dead mother as a ghost and a father who blamed you for everything.

The Cleaner was a bit more difficult because I have no experience with being a drug addict.  I had a little help from my acting coach, as he explained to me what someone under the influence acts like. We read a lot about what young children on drugs go through, and I really thought about how a kid would feel emotionally when they are left without parents and answer to a drug dealer.  I actually had a chance to speak with Warren Boyd, which also helped, as he is the real life Cleaner.

For Criminal Minds, I pulled from a little bit of both young Ben and my Cleaner character.  I did get a lot of inspiration to play the role of a killer from watching Michael Emerson play Ben Linus.

Q. It is a brave and admirable choice to share your personal experience with bullies, especially given the national spotlight on this issue right now due to the recent teen suicides. What advice might you have for others who may be victims of bullying?

SB: You know, it is awful that bullying is such a huge issue. To kids that are out there and going through it, first – in most instances, bullies are the ones that are insecure and the ones with the real problems. You have to remain strong and confident with who you are, and try to understand that it really is NOT you.  Even bullies hate bullies! Believe me, I know that things can seem bad when you are constantly being taunted, especially if it gets physical. But if it is serious, you have to tell someone.

I was bullied both verbally and physically, and going to your parents may help but it is important that someone at your school, like a teacher or principal, knows what is going on.  It is just so important that you talk to someone.  Internet bullying is just as serious because it is just as hurtful and depressing.  When I experienced it, I went to my mom and she made sure that someone at my school knew.  They then went to the kid and told his parents. Now, we are actually friends and he’s told me that he was just jealous and wanted to bring me down.

Q. With this role on Criminal Minds, is the door left ajar for your character to return?

SB: I really hope that my character will return. You will see at the end of the episode that it may be possible! It seems they may be able to talk to him and get a glimpse into his sick mind, but you’ll have to keep watching the show to see if they re-visit the character at a later time.

Q. Are you auditioning for other TV roles right now? Where can your fans find you next?

SB: I am always auditioning and hopefully there is a good role on the horizon very soon.  Of course I would love to be a part of an amazing film or even become a series regular, like on the new Terry O’Quinn/Michael Emerson show (Cough… yo, J.J. Abrams!). I have also heard that Damon Lindelof, along with several of the other LOST writers, are working on a new show and I’d love to work with all of them again.  Until then, I have an AT&T commercial coming out and I love working on my music in my free time.  I’ve got a couple songs down and finished my It Girl music video, but acting is my first passion.

To keep up with what I’m up to, whether it is acting or music, follow me on Twitter (@SterlingBeau) and Facebook. My website (sterlingbeaumon.com) should be online and up in the next week or so. Thanks for reading and enjoy the Criminal Minds episode - I can’t wait to hear what you all think!

Tune in to see Sterling's disturbing turn on Criminal Minds ("Safe Haven") tonight on CBS at 9/8c, and then share your thoughts about the episode below!

For more information about the prevention of teen bullying and suicide, please visit The Trevor Project.

[Follow Jo on Twitter @jopinionated]

Sterling Beaumon ('Lost') Channels Ben Linus On 'Criminal Minds' Tonight

It's hard to find a piece of television as divisive as the LOST series finale. When the show bowed in May, it left viewers with an ending that was immediately torn apart by critics and endlessly praised by fans. There was a clear line between those who loved the finale and those who hated it, and, in many cases I witnessed on Lostpedia, the negativity was far louder than the positivity.

Now, however, executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse are saying that the haters are changing their tune.

"Strangely, what happened over the last couple months is that every single person loves it," Cuse told Entertainment Weekly. "It seems like that's actually been a change."

Lindelof added to this, reaching into his ever appropriate bag of metaphors. "The finale is like a relationship. When it ends, at first you only remember why it ended. But as time goes on, you focus on why you were in it in the first place. I think that is what is starting to happen now."

I personally loved the finale when it aired back in May, and I still love it now. Do I wish it could have been more mind-blowing? Absolutely. My opinion of the sixth season has begun to drastically evolve in the time spent apart; I have deliberately not watched an episode of season six since the finale in order to let my mind stew on it for as long as possible.

Other fans seem to be having the opposite reaction. While I'm growing slightly more cynical, Cuse and Lindelof believe that fans are growing more receptive. That's probably due to the recent DVD release of the series as a whole on DVD and Blu-Ray. Fans getting a chance to watch the entire series are now remembering, as Lindelof said, "why they were in it in the first place."

Will there eventually be an entirely positive or negative consensus about the finale? Of course not. But we're beginning to see the beginning of a great exodus toward the big grey area in the middle, it seems. The history books haven't closed on LOST.

Fan Opinion on LOST Finale Has Changed, Execs Say

If you missed it, earlier this week there was some news that warmed the heart of every LOST fan still missing their dearly departed show: Michael Emerson and Terry O'Quinn, two of the greatest actors to star in the series, would be getting their own (non-spinoff) television series on NBC in the fall. Fans around the world reacted in shock and glee to the revelation that the duo, whose dynamic was one of the most famous on LOST, would be starring in the comedic drama "as former black ops agents." The show, tentatively titled Odd Jobs, is already gathering buzz as one of the most anticipated pilots of 2011.

"I really am amazed that what started out as some kidding around on the set of Lost has turned into a network TV reality," Emerson told Entertainment Weekly. "I'm still reeling from this sudden turn of events."

"I'm an actor who has never even succeeded in testing for a pilot and here I find myself involved in a project custom-built for Terry and me! [I] can't tell you how thrilling it is to be part of the Bad Robot [Abrams' production company] family and enter into this exciting collaboration with Warner Bros. and NBC. Have we arrived or what?"

O'Quinn hasn't commented on the pilot yet, but Emerson had nothing but good things to say about the former John Locke as well: "Best of all will be that day when Terry and I show up on the set of a brand new show, look around, shrug our shoulders and say, 'Let's get started!' My fingers are crossed!"

I couldn't be more excited for this new show, if simply for the chance to see Emerson and O'Quinn at it again on the small screen -- and together! I feel like a little bit of the LOST family has managed to survive the breakup. Now we get to wait to see what guest stars pop up: I'm guessing they'll have Jorge Garcia in a guest appearance before season one is finished.

Odd Jobs, while still in the pilot stage, will undoubtedly find its way to audiences everywhere sometime next year.

Emerson: 'I'm thrilled to work with O'Quinn again'

For many, Henry Ian Cusick is Desmond David Hume. The Scottish actor is most famous for his role as the tortured time-traveler Desmond on LOST, a role which has become one of the most iconic portrayals of sci-fi television in recent years. Cusick, who began playing Desmond in 2005, finally wrapped up the role earlier this year when LOST ended its six-year run in May.

Now, Cusick is ready to move on with his acting career -- something that will be very hard to do considering his recognition for Desmond. Now, he's taking on a recurring role on the procedural drama Law & Order: SVU in an attempt to escape the Island... and Desmond.

"I was looking to get back into TV as quickly as possible," he told Digital Spy. "I wanted to get away from Desmond. It just seemed like I was no longer Ian Cusick, I was Desmond. So I wanted to just sort of shed that skin."

For his "cool" new role, Desmond Cusick portrays Erik Weber, a graphic designer who is "very quickly taken with Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and tries to help them on a case."

Cusick is not the first LOST actor to leap to another role on television so soon after the show's end. Daniel Dae Kim, who portrayed Jin Kwon on LOST, has taken up a starring role on CBS's new series Hawaii Five-O. Elizabeth Mitchell's series V will be beginning its second season in the fall. Others have not been so lucky; Dominic Monaghan's starring role on FlashForward ended when the series was cancelled in May. Matthew Fox has meanwhile made it clear that he does not intend to return to television at all.

Law & Order: SVU returns to NBC on September 22.

Cusick: 'I want to get away from Desmond'

When my friend Tamara and I discussed the Lost series finale back in the spring, I told her that I felt emotionally satisfied, but not intellectually.  In the end, I think that my declaration applies to my feelings for the entire final season of Lost.  A lot of people have already discussed, analyzed, tore apart, praised and raged on Lost's final season, and the series finale in particular.  There were, ultimately things I liked about it, which was the emotional aspect.  I liked seeing the old characters again, seeing the group come together.  I like seeing how the relationships between the characters turned out on the island, back in the real world and in the afterlife.  I can even admit that I cried when the group was all in the church together and Jack died out in the jungle.

But on an intellectual level - the part of me that obsessed and theorized about the mythology of Lost for six years - I found the final season lacking.  In a way, I felt cheated.  Yes, I understood that the story of Lost really was about a group of people and that a lot of mythology was designed in order to get the characters to experience emotions or situations.  But the writers - and subsequently the audience - had spent so much time wrapped in increasingly complex mysteries (the statute, the hatch, the Dharma initiative, the time travel, those freaking numbers!) that the answers that we got (or, more tellingly, that we didn't get) failed to satisfy my curiosity.  A magical glowing cave?  Seriously?  SERIOUSLY?

So I am of two minds at the end of this epic journey.  I can smile at the group in the church, but I'm frustrated by the lack of answers.  Of course, perhaps the show could never please everyone.  Maybe the mythology got too big - the mysteries so deep - that it would be impossible to provide enough answers.  I just kind of wished that they had tried a little harder to provide more, especially in the series finale.

That being said, if you took this Lost journey over the past six years, then you'll probably need to buy the DVD or Blu-ray of the final season.  In the end, no matter how you felt about the final season or the final hours, you have to admit that there will probably never again be another show like Lost - a show that prompted so much discussion, so much fervor and so many theories.

The season 6 DVD includes these bonus features:

• The New Man in Charge - the 12 minute epilogue to Lost, which takes place after Hurley becomes the island's protector.
• Crafting a Final Season - actors, crew and producers talking about putting together the final season and reminisce about the show (40 minutes).
• A Hero's Journey - actors and producers talk about how the hero's journey appeared throughout the Lost mythology and what inspired it (9 minutes).
• See You In Another Life, Brotha - actors and producers discuss the flash-sideways (9 minutes).
• Lost on Location - behind the scenes on various locations in season 6, including building various sets (the temple, cliffs, etc).
• Deleted Scenes - 9 deleted scenes from season 6.
• Bloopers

The network has also provided us with a multitude of clips, which we have for you below, featuring some bonus features.  Some of these bonus clips are different from those listed above and can be found on the Lost Complete Collection DVD (which is the entire series on DVD). Lost Season 6 DVD/Blu-Ray and the Lost Complete Collection goes on sale on August 24.

Review & Bonus Features - Lost Season 6 DVD

In collaboration with ABC, TVOvermind is giving away two tickets to the Profiles in History LOST prop auction in Los Angeles.  This is your chance to own a piece of LOST history - or at least stand in the same room as many of LOST's iconic props.  We will select two lucky winners to receive tickets.  Since the auction is in Los Angeles, make sure you have transportation and accommodations covered.

Feeling a little LOST lately? Don't worry... your favorite show is back for only two days, Saturday, August 21, and Sunday, August 22. Celebrate the LOST weekend at LOST: The Official Show Auction & Exhibit at the Barker Hangar located in the Santa Monica Airport. See the Dharma Van, view the Swan Station Hatch and even sit in an Oceanic 815 plane seat, plus much more!

Calling all die-hard LOSTies: Come dressed as your favorite LOST character and each day, one lucky winner with the Best Likeness will win the Complete Collection DVD set!

Plus, get a chance to view a sneak peek of exclusive Season 6 DVD/Blu-ray™ bonus material before it goes on sale on August 24, including THE NEW MAN IN CHARGE, an all-new chapter from Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse.

Tickets are on sale at: http://www.razorgator.com/tickets/theater/other-theatre/lost-auction-exhibit-tickets.

Can't be there in person? Participate in the auction online and via phone. Information and registration for the auction is available at ProfilesInHistory.com.

Want a Free Ticket to The LOST Auction?

Weezer is putting out an album titled Hurley later this year, and you know its got to be good just by looking at the cover art. That's right, the photograph you see on this article is the cover of Hurley. If you can't see the picture, it's just a picture of Jorge Garcia, smiling. There aren't any words, there's not even the band's name on there. It's just a picture of Jorge.

While Pitchfork is calling the album cover "ridiculous," I think it's pretty brilliant.

The picture is cropped from one of Garcia with Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo, who is still working on watching the series. "I only made it through season two, so I was really nervous hanging out with Hurley/Jorge recently, because I didn't want to hear something about how it all resolves, or overhear anyone else talking about it," Cuomo said. "I really like the show though."

"I was coming up with all kinds of stuff [for the album's title], but ultimately, we just went with some random word that doesn't really have anything to do with anything. I just loved this photo of Jorge Garcia -- it just had this amazing vibe. We didn't want to do a fourth self-titled record and we knew people would refer to it as 'the Hurley record' even if left it without that title, so we just called it 'Hurley.' No words are on the cover because all we wanted was his amazing face."

Hurley is slated to come out September 14. I've never been particularly wild about Weezer, but strangely, they've sold me.

New Weezer Album Cover Stars LOST's Hurley

It's the last episode of LOST ever. "The New Man in Charge" is a little mini-episode that follows the events of LOST's series finale, and it totally defied expectations while at the same time meeting them head-on. First of all, I need to clarify something: the spoilers that DarkUFO posted of the epilogue which claimed a Locke appearance and a Walt disappearance? It was almost entirely false, so consider yourself relieved if you had any spoiler-anxiety going on about having ruined your last LOST experience for yourself.

Instead, the twelve-minute vignette can be described as almost a two-parter; the first seven minutes are dedicated to one scene, while the second half is dedicated to another. If I had to describe the two, I'd call the first half the answer-fest, while the second half is more of a character resolution for one character we haven't seen since season five (three guesses who).

I'm not going to spoil any of the answers for you, but the answer-fest answers a ton of questions through one really nice appearance by Dr. Pierre Chang. A lot of fans' burning questions are answered, and we got some answers to questions we didn't even know we had. It is a little chopped-together, though, and that half of the video seems like a checklist of questions being rapidly marked off. Is that a bad thing? Not for the mythological purists, who are, after all, who this epilogue is really geared for. Character lovers, you got your payoff with "The End," so don't expect any forgiveness or redemption to go on here.

The second half basically returns a character to prominence, though I can't say too much without ruining the whole thing. In fact, the only thing I really have to say about that second half is that they really cleaned up that old DHARMA van.

Intrigued yet? You should be. The entire epilogue is sure to keep fans talking for at least a few months more with all the answers it hands us -- and there are a few surprises that should have even the most casual fans grinning like maniacs. Lostpedia should be seeing a huge amount of DHARMA-related edits when the DVD sets hit on August 24.

All in all, I'll give "The New Man in Charge" an A. If you didn't like "The End," you'll probably love this. And if you liked "The End," well, you'll still probably love it.

You can pre-order the DVD sets here.

Review - LOST Epilogue: "The New Man in Charge"

If you have been waiting for your opportunity to bid in person on Hurley's rabbit's foot, Sawyer's glasses, or Roger Linus's skull, this news flash is for you.  Tickets for the Profiles in History "LOST" auction will be going on sale tomorrow for those who want to attend the event in person.  It was previously announced that fans interested in owning a piece of LOST history will be able to bid over the internet as well.  Here's the official press release from Profiles in History.

Feeling a little LOST lately? Don't worry...your favorite show is back for only two days, Saturday, August 21, and Sunday, August 22. Celebrate the LOST weekend at LOST: The Official Show Auction & Exhibit at the Barker Hangar located in the Santa Monica Airport. Auction tickets go on sale this Thursday, August 5 at 10am PST: http://www.razorgator.com/tickets/theater/other-theatre/lost-auction-exhibit-tickets.

Plus, get a chance to view a sneak peek of exclusive Season 6 DVD/Blu-ray™ bonus material before it goes on sale on August 24.

Can't be there in person? Participate in the auction online and via phone. Information and registration for the auction is available at ProfilesInHistory.com.

LOST Auction Tickets on-sale Tomorrow

What kind of mysteries will be answered in the new LOST epilogue?  Well for one, how about those pallet drops?  As you can see in this clip from Access Hollywood, Ben visits the facility where all of those cheesy Dharma labels are produced, and comes face to face with the guys responsible for loading all of that yummy high-calorie Ranch dip for shipment to LOST's mysterious island.

The epilogue, titled "The New Man in Charge," is one of the most anticipated features on the LOST: The Complete Series collection being released this month; mostly because it is promised to provide more of what some fans feel they didn't get from LOST's sixth and final season:  answers.  Now if we can get around to why the island was underwater in purgatory, why MIB wanted to kill Desmond even though he needed him to cork the island, why Locke couldn't enter the temple if Dogan was there, what Dogan was even protecting before the candidates showed up ...

It all comes down to this. Television’s most innovative and compelling series comes to a stunning conclusion in ABC’s LOST: The Complete Sixth And Final Season. The critically acclaimed epic drama will finally reveal the fate of the Oceanic 815 survivors and all who have joined their journey, and will uncover even more secrets with never-before-seen content available only on Blu-ray and DVD!

In the aftermath of a monumental explosion, reality shifts for everyone associated with the mystical island. Discover their ultimate destiny on Blu-ray and DVD, complete with exciting bonus features and a fascinating recap to catch you up on everything you need to know about the celebrated series. Complete your LOST collection with this spectacular 5-disc set, and experience the final 16 episodes of a landmark in television history.

Special Features

Plus: A Lost Blu-ray & DVD exclusive - Go deeper into the world of LOST with a much-anticipated new chapter of the island's story from Executive Producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse... and starring some very familiar faces

The End: Crafting A Final Season - Join the LOST team along with other producers of some of television's longest running shows as they examine the challenges of ending a landmark series

A Hero's Journey - What makes a hero? Which survivors of Oceanic 815 are true heroes? These questions and more are explored

See You In Another Life, Brotha - Unlock the mysteries of this season's intriguing flash sideways

Bloopers

Deleted Scenes

Audio Commentaries

Video - Sneak Peek at the LOST Epilogue

His name was left out of the show intentionally, but even the LOST producers couldn't keep a bad man down. We first met the Man in Black in episode one of LOST, but we didn't see him in his original form (Titus Welliver) until the season five finale, "The Incident." Even then, we didn't piece together that he was the monster until "LA X, Part 1," when he finally spilled the beans to Ben. And when we saw his origin story in "Across the Sea," we never got his name. Mother (Allison Janney) had apparently left him without a name.

It's Samuel.

No surprise there, but it is nice for some solid confirmation, which comes from the LOST Auction. A chair back for Titus Welliver is being sold, and it clearly lists him as "Samuel." That's the biggest confirmation you're ever going to get. Kristin dos Santos claimed that this was the enigmatic villain's name back in early June, but Darlton stated (and perhaps rightfully so) that revealing his name would take away some of the intrigue.

But no matter. Intrigue be gone, considering Samuel got shot in the back and kicked off a cliff, right?

So they're the brothers, Jacob and Samuel. Giving him a name certainly adds quite a bit of depth to the story, in a way. It makes it more personal. More heartbreaking.

"Samuel" was also the name used for the original casting call for "The Incident" (for which Welliver was credited as Man #2), though casting call names are considered temporary and non-canon. The presence of the name on the back of a cast chair certainly gives the name a level of validity.

LOST will be coming to DVD on August 24, with a Complete Collection available in addition to the complete sixth season (all will be available on both Blu-ray and DVD).

LOST's Man in Black Gets a Name, and It's...

The cast and creative team from V made their second appearance at Comic-Con on Saturday in San Diego, and spoke with the media at press round-tables after the panel.

The second season of V begins production next month, and this year fans will able to enjoy and absorb the show without interruption. Most of Season 2 has been mapped out in broad strokes, according to executive producer Steve Pearlman. “We start production in the middle of August, so we have scripts and stories for the first three episodes at this point. But we have a map for the first thirteen episodes this season…and we could do as much as twenty episodes this year.”

Executive producer Scott Rosenbaum revealed that, “the Visitors have been here longer than one might have expected. Their goal has been to be able to figure out…when we arrive, and when we get to Earth – to be set up to succeed. They have planted seeds and done things ahead of time to ensure that the plan works perfectly. Morena Baccarin, who plays V Queen Anna, added that, “they are planning to show a lot more of who we are.”

Rosenbaum also addressed the further exploration of allegiances to species, and compared Tyler and Lisa’s relationship to Romeo and Juliet. “Lisa is the queen of the next generation; she is ultimately going to take over for Anna. Is the love of one human worthy of throwing that all away? What is of more value to her, to rule or to possibly lose that because of her feelings (for Tyler)?”

Elizabeth Mitchell, who plays Agent Erica Evans, was recently nominated for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series (for the series finale of Lost) and did not honestly believe it at first. “It took me a good two hours of people trying to convince me. I read it maybe 17 times and five people told me, and I didn’t believe it. I was only on camera for about seven minutes; it must just be a thank you for all of Juliet.”

Prior to Lost and V, Mitchell had never played a character for longer than seven months.  “To be on a show for three years and then on another one, it was so strange to start something else and to be inside of someone else’s head. As it went on, it got more and more fun, as the character got more complex. If I don’t have something to dig into, it’s harder for me. But (Erica) started getting kind of juicy, so I was happy.”

Regarding Anna vs. Erica, Mitchell admits that, “right now, Anna has the upper hand. She doesn’t have any compulsion about causing harm to anyone. But I do believe that the qualities we have as humans, our compassion, our ability to see things from very unique angles – might just be the things that make us stronger. I believe the closer they get, the more nail biting it’s going to be. If they truly get into each other’s confidences and they start really having those talks…how freaky will that be? I like that tension that builds that way; it just heightens things."

When Mitchell was asked whether or not she preferred Erica to become romantically involved with either Jack or Hobbes, she said that “both are fine. I’m an equal opportunity kisser. I enjoy the Father Jack character because he makes my character feel so safe. I also enjoy how dangerous Hobbes is. Danger is, unfortunately, very exciting…there is something wonderful about someone who is unpredictable. I don’t know who the best choice is, morally. I think it’s going to be fun to see what the two men bring out in her. I hope they don’t throw her in with someone, because I like the anticipation and build up.” Mitchell is actually a fan of sci-fi because “it always goes to a place of emotion and passion - the heart. I want to see that, for me."

Charles Mesure, who was just upgraded to series regular, offered his perspective about a possible romance between Erica and Hobbes. “From day one, how could Hobbes not fancy Erica? She’s a warrior, she’s self-reliant. She’s also the FBI, so she’s forbidden fruit.”

Another couple on V with intriguing potential would be Anna and Chad Decker, Baccarin admitted that she herself is dying to know where they are headed. “Now he is clearly aware of who she is. So will he still make himself available to her, or is he going to play her? It is going to be interesting to see how low he can go.”

As for the future of Hobbes, Mesure realizes that he “starts Season 2 in a huge state of conflict.  Am I going to pursue the money, save my own hide or side with these people, who are really trying to do something important?”

V is atop my list of most anticipated series returns, so I have to admit that my enthusiasm for the new season increased tenfold when Pearlman said that “we have to grab the audience and give them some new stuff to make them go ‘holy sh*t!’ and I think we’re going to do that.”

It was also revealed that we are going to meet Anna's mother and Tyler's real father, which of course involves a twist. Stay tuned for more from behind the scenes with the cast of V at Comic-Con, including Logan Huffman’s philosophy about both Tyler’s and his own personal growth.

They Come in Peace...and with Minor Season 2 Spoilers: The Cast & Crew of V at Comic-Con 2010