LOST Fan

There will be a new episode this week at 9:00 pm to 10:02 (an hour earlier in Central Time.) The title of the new episode is “Some Like it Hoth,” clearly a play on words on the Marilyn Monroe classic movie “Some Like it Hot” — but what is “Hoth”?

According to Wikipedia, which knows a lot more than I do:

In the fictional universe of Star Wars, Hoth is the sixth planet of a remote system of the same name. It is a world covered in snow and ice, with numerous moons, and pelted by meteorites from a nearby asteroid belt. Native creatures include the wampa and the tauntaun.

Is the reference to “Hoth” in the episode title actually a Star Wars reference, or could it be something else? The first Star Wars movie opened in May, 1977, and the last time we saw the Dharma Initiative Losties, they were living in 1977. But apparently “Hoth” was not mentioned in a Star Wars movie until the Empire Strikes Back which came out in 1980.

In LaFleur, the storyline of the Dharma Losties was moving forward and back in 3-year leaps. Will we see a leap forward in this episode to 1980?

Or will Hoth turn out to be something else entirely — a name of a character or perhaps even a mispronunciation of something else?

On the 4/9 Official Audio Podcast, Darlton say that they are particularly proud of this episode. The show needed a bit of fun, they say. After the seriousness of Ben almost being strangled by his dead daughter, and before we start heading into the intensity of the lead-up to the finale, they thought we could use a breather.

Schedule — April 15, 2009

9:00 pm - 10:02 pm — New episode “Some Like it Hoth”

(an hour earlier Central Time)

Note: On April 22, there won’t be a new episode. Instead, there will be a clip show. After that, though, it should be smooth sailing all the way to the finale.

The new episode will be at 9:00. It’s called Dead is Dead. Are you seeing a trend here with repeated-word titles? First, there was What Happened, Happened. Now, there’s Dead is Dead.

Of course we know that on LOST dead isn’t always dead. Dead is sometimes undead. Dead is also sometimes a few days in a coffin before rising again, good as new, albeit too formally dressed for a tropical island. If you’re an actor on LOST, then dead means never having to say that your contract is over, because you can always come back in a flashback.

This will be a Ben-centric episode. In honor of that, here’s a video of Michael Emerson answering viewer questions, in “Ask Lost,” which I think is the start of a new internet-extra series from ABC.

Schedule for April 7, 2009

9:00 pm to 10:02 pm — New episode, Dead is Dead

(An hour earlier in Central Time)

Next week there will be another new episode, but on April 22 there will be a clip show, called Lost: The Story of the Oceanic 6, instead of a new episode.

Once again, there will be only one hour of LOST on Wednesday.

The new episode is called Whatever Happened, Happened. According to Darlton on the March 26 official audio podcast, this will be a Kate-centric episode, complete with flashbacks! I know that some of you are cheering now at the thought of a Kate-centric episode, while others (you know who you are!) are groaning, throwing things, and tearing out your hair.

The episode title appears to refer to the question of time travel paradoxes. Was Faraday correct when he said that what happened in the past couldn’t alter the future — or was Sayid successful in his attempt to change the future by killing little Ben?

At first glance, the title — whatever happened, happened — seems to suggest that Faraday was correct. But perhaps the title was meant to be ironic! So I guess we’ll just have to watch to find out.

Schedule April 1, 2009

9:00 new episode Whatever Happened, Happened

(an hour earlier in Central time)

At the time I wrote this, last week’s episode, He’s Our You, was available on abc.com, but just in the regular version, not the pop-up hint enhanced one. Maybe they’ll post that one later??

ABC is changing the schedule around again, which is always confusing.

This week, there will be a new episode at 9:00 to 10:02 pm, as usual, but instead of showing a pop-up enhanced rerun at 8:00 the way they’ve been doing all season (except for last week), ABC will be showing non-LOST material in that hour instead. At 8:00 they’ll be showing Scrubs, and at 8:30, the new show Better Off Ted.

Last week, I turned on the TV a few minutes before LOST was about to start and saw the very end of Better Off Ted. From the little I saw, it looked good! The one person I recognized was Portia de Rossi, who was in the late great Arrested Development. Better Off Ted seemed to have some of Arrested Development’s sense of off-beat humor as well, although maybe not as quickly paced. It looked promising enough that I’m to going to try to catch it tomorrow.

LOST’s new episode is called “He’s Our You,” which is a strange title. When I first saw it, I couldn’t parse the phrase at all no matter how I tried, and thought that “You” might be some kind of acronym — something like “He’s Our Yucky Onepiece Underwear.” Well, not that exactly. But I was saved from coming up with even worse acronyms when I listened to the March 19 Official Audio Podcast.

On the podcast, our friends Darlton (Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof) reveal that the episode will be about Sayid (yay!). Where the title comes in is that Sayid will be introduced to someone in the Dharma Initiative with the line “He’s our you” — presumably meaning that this other character is the Dharma Initiative’s torturer (or else the Dharma Initiative’s lover, Darlton joke — at least I think they are joking).

Schedule — March 25, 2009

9:00 to 10:02 pm — new episode He’s Our You

(an hour earlier in Central Time)

If you want to see the pop-up enhanced rerun of “Namaste,” which will not be shown on TV this week, you can watch it on the abc.com website.

After waiting two weeks, we finally have a new episode tonight. From what I’ve heard about this episode, it sounds great, so I think our patience will be amply rewarded.

Namaste will run from 9:00 pm to 10:02 pm (an hour earlier in Central time).

They’re not showing a rerun first, the way they usually do — I guess because they already reran LaFleur last week.

I’ll be doing “almost live” blogging here tonight, which I’ll post by 10:30 pm West Coast time.

I like to pick a picture for the “almost live” blogging post in advance, so that when the show comes on, I’ll be all ready to go. I usually look for a picture that is related in some way to the episode title or to the show in general, but that is not from the show itself. I lucked out and found a really good picture this time, and I’m looking forward to posting it tonight! Hope to “see” you then!

There’s no new episode this week — alas!

Instead, there will be a rerun of LeFleur. Then the new episode, called Namaste, will be shown next week.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

9:00 Rerun of 5×08 LaFleur

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

9:00 to 10:02 New episode 5×09 Namaste

There is no official word, that I could find, as to why they are delaying the new episode. My guess would be that they don’t want to have the season end too early.

Dark UFO is reporting that there will be another break in the schedule on April 22, when they will be having a clip show instead of a new episode.

In case you can’t wait another week and a half for a glimpse of the next episode, Buddy TV has 36 photos from Namaste — but, warning, you will be spoiled!

I looked at about half of them, and then decided that I was getting more spoiled than I wanted to be and stopped. I will say that from the photos I saw, the episode looks like a very good one. And I love Kate’s 70s-style peasant blouse! It gave me a twinge of nostalgia for my peasant-blouse days.

You could also read ABC’s press release on the episode if you don’t mind being slightly spoiled. There are some very interesting people in the guest star list! (I won’t say any more for those who don’t want to be spoiled at all, except for one thing: there is someone who is returning to the show who I didn’t expect to return!)

I’m getting very excited about this episode!

“Best seat I’ve ever had on an airplane! There’s more room in here than in Coach!”

Here we are half-way through the week, with a new episode coming up soon!

As usual, the “enhanced” version (the one with the pop-up hints) of the previous week’s episode will be rerun at 8:00, and the new episode will start at 9:00 and will run a few minutes long.

The new episode is called “LaFleur.” Darlton, on their February 26 audio podcast, give some deliberately vague hints about the significance of the episode name. Maybe it’s the name, they say, of someone we are going to meet.

They do promise that we will find out more, in “LaFleur,” about what time period Locke’s group on Hydra Island is in, compared to the time period of Jack’s group in the lagoon.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

8:00 Rerun of 5×07 The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham
9:00 New Episode 5×08 LaFleur (runs until 10:02)

Everything runs an hour earlier in Central Time. All episodes are available to watch for free at ABC.com.

Picture of Locke enjoying Flight 316 (c) ABC

“How come no one’s asking me why my face is a mess?”

On Wednesday, 316 will be rerun, followed by the new episode, The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham.

I listened to last week’s official audio podcast by producer/writers Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof (aka “Darlton” in LOST geek-speak), and they said that originally, the Jeremy Bentham episode was supposed to come first. It was after the episodes were written that they decided to reverse the order. Maybe we’ll be able to figure out why, after we’ve seen them both.

Schedule

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

8:00 PM Rerun of episode 5×06 316, with pop-up hints
9:00 PM New episode 5×07 The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham, probably running a minute or two past 10:00

Everything runs an hour earlier in Central time.

316 will be up for free online viewing on ABC.com starting sometime today. There should be versions available with and without the pop-up hints.

Picture of Jack, Hurley, a bloody-faced Ben, and a flight attendant from 5×06 (c) ABC

Ow! My head hurts! Who’s got the Dharma Aspirin?

Here’s this week’s schedule — pretty much the same as the previous weeks.

The last episode, This Place is Death, will be rerun at 8:00, and the new episode will be at 9:00.

The new episode has the cryptic title “316.” Hmmm … that doesn’t mean anything to me. Could it be the bearing they use to get to or from the Island?

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

8:00 This Place is Death (Episode 5×05)
9:00 316 (Episode 5×06 — new). May run a minute or two past 10.

As always, everything runs an hour earlier in Central Time, and you can watch episodes online for free on ABC.com.

Screenshot of LOST-ies holding their heads, as they go through yet another time-travel flash, is from 5×05 This Place is Death (c) ABC

The Little Prince will be rerun at 8:00 on Wednesday on ABC, right before the new episode which starts at 9:00. The new episode has the ominous title This Place is Death.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

8:00 The Little Prince (Episode 5×04)
9:00 This Place is Death (Episode 5×05 — new).

Everything runs an hour earlier in Central Time. Episodes are also available to watch for free on ABC.com.

I expect this week we’ll also get a new Lost Untangled — the short episode recap video from ABC featuring intentionally goofy action figures and cut outs. I haven’t found any information yet about who made it and what their plans are, but it does look like it’s the start of a regular feature.

Picture of Kate, Sun, and Aaron sharing an unusually peaceful moment, from The Little Prince (c) ABC

Jughead will be rerun at 8:00 on Wednesday on ABC, right before the new episode which starts at 9:00. The new episode is called The Little Prince.

I turned on the TV a few minutes before 9:00 this week, at the very end of the rerun of The Lie, and I saw that they had the little pop-up hints that they have have used sometimes on the clip shows. I love those hints! If I had known they were using them, I would have watched the whole episode. I assume they will be using them again this week on the rerun of Jughead.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

8:00 Jughead rerun, with (I hope!) pop-up hints
9:00 The Little Prince (new) This will run long, again — a few minutes past 10:00.

Everything runs an hour earlier in Central Time. Episodes are also available to watch for free on ABC.com.

Tomorrow (Wednesday) The Lie will be rerun at 8:00, then the new episode will follow it at 9:00.

Wednesday, January 28

8:00 pm — Episode 2 — The Lie (rerun)
9:00 pm — Episode 3 — Jughead (new!)

Jughead will probably run a few minutes long, so set your recording devices accordingly.

As always, double-check with your local listings; everything is an hour earlier in Central Time; and all episodes are also available for free online at abc.com.

8:15 (get it?) clock graphic by William Vann from EduPic.net

In case you missed it, or want to see it again, the entire Season 5 Premiere will run again on ABC on Saturday:

Saturday, January 24

8:00 pm — Destiny Calls (recap show) (rerun)
9:00 pm - Episode 1 - Because You Left (rerun)
10:00 pm - Episode 2 — The Lie (rerun)

Then on Wednesday, there will be a rerun of The Lie right before the new episode starts:

Wednesday, January 28

8:00 pm — Episode 2 — The Lie (rerun)
9:00 pm — Episode 3 — Jughead (new!) This is going to run a couple of minutes past 10:00.

I’m not totally sure that these reruns will be shown everywhere, so check your local listings.

As always, everything runs an hour earlier in Central Time.

And, of course, you can always watch the episodes online at the abc.com site.

Photo (c) 2009 ABC

Tonight, tonight won’t be just any night!

Schedule reminder:

8:00 Recap show: Destiny Calls
9:00 Episode 1: Because You Left
10:00 Episode 2: The Lie

(An hour earlier in Central Time)

I’ll be blogging my first impressions of the show right after it’s over. I’m on West Coast time, so many of you may already be asleep by the time my post goes up. If so, I hope to see you tomorrow!

Enjoy the show!

That is, you’ll be in the middle of watching it if you’re on Pacific Coast time. If you’re in the rest of the country, you’ll have already seen it!

And how exciting will that be!

Just a reminder of the schedule:

LOST Premiere

Wednesday, January 21, 2009
9:00 - 11:00

Episode 1: Because You Left

Episode 2: The Lie

Recap Show

Lost: Destiny Calls

This will precede the Premiere:
Wednesday, January 21
8:00 - 9:00

(For Central time, everything will be an hour earlier)

I’ll be posting my initial thoughts about the Premiere right after I see it. Then for the rest of the week, if anyone wants to discuss it, I’d love to do that!

The official ABC LOST site now shows that the premiere will be a 3-hour event starting at 8:00 (7 central) on Jan 21. According to EW, 8:00 will be a recap show, and then two new episodes will air back-to-back.

EW also says that the show’s regular time slot will probably be at 9:00. That would put it against a new crime-solving show from Fox, Lie to Me. This could be a good show, as it is coming from the producers of “24″ and “Arrested Development.” Even if it turns out to be a hit, it would be less formidable competition for LOST than what’s in the 8:00 slot — “American Idol.”

I suppose that no matter what the competition, and no matter what the ratings for LOST, the network wouldn’t dare to pull the plug on the show before its scheduled ending date. They’d have a riot on their hands if they tried! Though perhaps a mob of LOST fans wouldn’t be the scariest thing in the world.

The LOST premiere is going to be on Wednesday, January 21, at 8:00 (7:00 Central). Yay!

That’s 75 more days.

In other news, Reiko Aylesworth, who played CTU boss Michelle Dessler on “24″ until the character was killed off in the fifth season, will be joining the LOST cast as Amy, “a smart and successful professional woman with a love for the outdoors who is looking for the right man.”

A love for the outdoors will surely come in handy when running through the jungle, trying to escape from smoke monsters. As for the “right man” she is seeking — I wonder if that will be Jack, which would turn the show’s main romantic triangle into a square. Or would that be a parallelogram?