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February 2010 Archives

February 1, 2010

Time keeps on slipping

Now that President Obama gave the State of the Union address, the host chair of the Tonight Show is settled, Chuck premiered and Steve Jobs announced Apple's new iPad, the Internets can finally fully devote attention to preparing for the most important media event EVER: the final season of Lost.

The Chicago Tribune's Maureen Ryan interviews showrunners Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof in an epic three part interview.

As only he can, ALOTT5MA's Isaac Spaceman recaps to this point: Welcome to the Hanso Island Resort and Spa

I've been re-watching season one, and I'm amazed at how different the show has become since then. Initially, this was a show about the characters who crashed on Craphole Island. As important as the various situations they encountered was how their reaction to those situations is affected by (or how the crash has forced them to reconsider) their actions in their lives before the crash. Since then, it's gone on to be a time-bending show that's grown in scope and added new characters with a connection to the island, who were not on Oceanic Flight 815 (and generally more compelling than many of the original characters.)

What most of the shows that have since attempted to be the next Lost seem to have forgotten is that Lost's mythology is something that was introduced gradually over the course of the first two seasons. The first season was all about the characters from the crash; each episode focused on one character. If the show didn't evolve from the first season, it would have become stagnant (like the early part of season 3.) If it started as the mythology-heavy show of later seasons, it may not have been around long enough to explore the mythology.

But over 5 seasons, the show has asked so many questions, that the final season will probably answer some questions that shouldn't be answered and leave others open.

Myles McNutt, Cultural Learnings, The Scourge of Fandom: Why Lost Owes Us Nothing, "I tend to view fans who are basically threatening Lindelof and Cuse that they have to answer particular questions as the scourge of fandom. Lost is a show that very much invites fans to make their own theories, and I like that Lindelof and Cuse respect the audience enough to inspire their obsession. That’s why I find it disrespectful for fans to then take their theories and push them back on Lindelof and Cuse, as if the reason Lost’s mysteries exist is for us to solve them and then force the show to adhere to our ideas."

James Poniewozik, Time: Tuned In Blog, My Favorite Episodes, and Yours

While Lindelof and Cuse expect to bring a satisfying conclusion that will end this show, Disney may want to do more with the franchise than just sell Dharma jumpsuits. What happens then? AfterLost? Lost: The Next Generation? Michael Schneider, Variety, Is 'Lost' here to stay?

Finally, Lost recapped by an extended Italian family:

February 3, 2010

Return to Craphole Island

Lost may not be the most popular show on television, but it may the most popular show with the highest percentage of extremely engaged fans. In other words, the product of the size of Lost's fan base and their intensity has to be the largest for any television show. Dollhouse or Breaking Bad may have a higher percentage of extremely engaged fans, but a smaller audience. American Idol or CSI might have a larger audience, but their fans are less likely to know who the showrunners and producers are.

Is there any other show (aside from perhaps NBC's promotion of The Marriage Ref from Executive Producer Jerry Seinfeld) where the showrunners would be giving interviews on late night television instead of anyone from the cast?

Or that EW refers to by their first names only? Doc Jensen, EW PopWatch, Confused by the 'Lost' premiere? Never fear! Damon and Carlton explain a few things about the start of Season 6 (SPOILERS AHEAD)

Lost may be the most thoroughly analyzed show on TV. Here is an incomplete collection of some of the reviews and analysis of the season 6 premier, LA X, parts 1 and 2: Alan Sepinwall Doc Jensen (EW), jOpinionated, Televisionary Mike Hale (NY Times), Noel Murray (AV Club), Drew McWeeny (HitFix), Mary McNamara (LA Times), Todd VanDerWerff (LA Times), Myles McNutt (Cultural Learnings), Isaac Spaceman (A List of Things Thrown 5 Minutes Ago), Maureen Ryan (Chicago Tribune), James Poniewozik (Time), Linda Holmes (NPR).

February 5, 2010

The Legend of the Mustache

Fun promo video for Parks & Recreation:

About February 2010

This page contains all entries posted to Buzz Rant & Rave in February 2010. They are listed from oldest to newest.

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