1/12/06
I had another rant all saved up, but then I happened upon this site that concerns everything about the show "Lost," and then I looked up and two hours had passed. All this while I'm trying to alter my schedule and get my circadian rhythms to be like other people... Old Well, as they say where I'm from.
Count me among the bigger fans of "Lost," made even more special because in LA, we work a few hundred yards away from the writers in their bungalows, feverishly slaving away over the next plot points. If you take them at their word, everything in the show is explainable without resorting heavily into the occult, which makes their high-wire act all the more daunting.
I love the backstories - especially Locke's and Eko's - but the coincidences are really piling up and will reach critical mass before March. I don't know why I found this last coincidence (the plane used in 1992 for Eko's drug smuggling crashes on the island where he will crash in 2004) so hard to take, but like any fanboy, I reserve judgment until it all comes out in the wash.
Working in LA has given us incredible humility around people working in television: try renting a DVD of any show like the first season of "Deadwood," the third season of "The Shield," the second season of "24" or the second season of "Alias," and you realize the sheer storytelling genius required to make these things work. It's an undertaking not unlike any of Verdi's or Puccini's greatest operas.
But "Lost" is another beast altogether. Say what you want about the show's shortcomings (Tessa thinks it can be a bit flimsy), but when you've got a fanbase that obsessive, your room for error hovers around nil. Every single frame is captured, analyzed and bandied about in chat rooms.
Not only must they keep the island frighteningly mysterious while making everything within the realm of explanation, the peccadilloes of each plotline - the 16mm film, the hatch computer, Walt's "ghost" - have to be as intelligent as they are bizarre. They also have to keep the show human, offer redemption at every turn, and throw love triangles in the mix as well.
But the biggest accomplishment, should they pull it off, is this: they have no idea how long the show will last, so they must prepare to pace themselves for at least four - but maybe seven - years. Without endlessly frustrating their audience. If they can make it work, the show will put Scheherazade to shame.
How to do it? With each season, everything must, in some way, utterly change. The hatch has altered this season somewhat, and this year has been much more human, but by this season's finale, something very different needs to happen.
The other shows that ultimately failed this challenge - "Twin Peaks" at one end of the spectrum, and "The X-Files" at the other - inform these writers on a daily basis. Perhaps there's no way they can win (I'm already sensing a "Truman Show" vibe on the island) but man, the ride so far has been so worth it.
Bonus question for Heels fans: what do Bobby Frasor, Vince Carter, Michael Jordan and Sean May have in common with "Lost"?
4,15,23,42
btw "Criminal Minds" is catching up in the ratings against "Lost." I believe it is my ability to properly fetch ginger-green tea for Mandy Patinkin that is responsible for this gain. I expect a pay raise from Disney any day now...
sigh
4 15 23 42
Damn, someone beat me to it.
Ok, per my husband just now who knows too much about sports (unless this is common knowledge and I'm clueless)...Why coudln't there any Carolina players with the remaining numbers 8, 16?
Scrugg: In college, players are not allowed to have numbers that are higher than 5. For example, 55 is the highest number possible. The reason is that someone once thought it important that the referee be able use only 1 hand to show the courtside officials who committed a foul, etc.
Agh! I've only watched the first season! The internet is spoiling this whole Eko thing for me, whoever he is.
Have a good weekend, everybody.
My favorite moments in Lost are when they take the last segment of the show and just play music in the background and show you what its going on with the people. When Hurley was handing out food to everyone or the evening that Boone died. Just watching these people, their interactions and their movements was so much more effective than any conversation.
I hate that part. So touchy-feely. Ugh. Oh well, different strokes for different folks.
Lost is awesome. I didn't really watch TV for a long time (Alias was always *on* in my house, but I could never really figure out what was going on. Strange because now I'm bummed that this is the last season) but now there are a bunch of great shows on.
I won't ever be able to watch Reality TV, I can't stand the editting, the obvious jumps in time, the takes taken out of context, etc. So this year, we've got "My Name Is Earl" "The (American) Office", "House", "Lost" and then, y'know, "Good Eats" which is the best show on TV.
oh i totally agree on the tv writer kudos, big up
! i know so many people who will just bash tv outright, fucking media elitism, as if, like, just because it's not written in a book it has to be trash?anyway, i was so digging carnivale until the plug got pulled on it, perfect blend of drama and weirdness for me. i'm still annoyed about that one. love the shield, my husband had a track on it too which was so fun when it came on because we watch it anyway. and i can't believe i haven't actually watched lost, EVERYBODY says we should watch it, including our hard to please hollywood writer friends, i keep putting off getting the dvd's to catch up. i think the writing in weeds is pretty fucking fantastic.
but right now i am all about project runway, which of course has no writing to speak of (but plenty of silk charmeuse...)
OH! and how could i forget? 3 words: six feet under. say no more.
here here for project runway!!
Six Feet Under may have had the best ending of a series of all time, what a fantastic final show.
Although...dealing with death and darkness while also simultaneously battling Sunday night heebie jeebies following big weekends did not always promote peaceful sleep.
I know what you mean, Ian. e.g. I'm in awe of the science behind the Big Mac.
I love the show. I do find it far-fetched at times, but the writing and acting are often brilliant, which keeps me biting my tongue and coming back for more, every week. The only other show that ever "had me" like this was Twin Peaks. Until they lost me.
Best scripted shows on right now: "Scrubs", "My Name is Earl", "Lost". And Sean is right, "Good Eats" is wonderful.
I've not been a big teevee watcher in a long time. I don't even have cable in Brooklyn.
But Wednesday is the only night of the week that Jackson is sure to be asleep by 8:45, come teething or high water.
I've looked at that same message board, Ian. I'm amazed by how they capture and disect every frame AND by how godawfully stupid most of the posters are. Even though you'd think the people speculating on the plot would be self-selecting, I find the general IQ on that place lower than a Mizzou basketball fan board. Or even talkinbroadway.com.