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Don't touch that dial: Test Pattern tunes into television, entertainment and pop culture links, gossip and idle chat from around the Web. Our annual commercial contest, held every summer, recognizes the best and worst in TV advertising. Multi-link Monday offers up five fast, fun links to fill in those workday boredom breaks. Other topics range from movie mistakes to canceled shows we're still mourning. ("My So-Called Life," anyone?)

MSNBC.com Television Editor Gael Fashingbauer Cooper started Test Pattern in 2003. She also operates her own pop-culture Weblog, Pop Culture Junk Mail, which began in 1999 and has earned praise from Entertainment Weekly and the New York Times. You'll occasionally see her on MSNBC cable or hear her on radio discussing the ABCs of TV.



Preparing to get 'Lost' again

Posted: Wednesday, January 31, 2007 7:00 AM by Gael Fashingbauer Cooper
Filed Under:

I'd kind of forgotten about the TV show "Lost," which has been on hiatus since ever (OK, since November) and returns Feb. 7. Flipping through some TiVoed shows, though, I stopped on ABC's short-and-sweet "Lost" promo (possible spoilers for the new episodes ahead).

In the promo, Vincent, Walt's dog (hi Vincent! where've you been?), runs out of the jungle with a creepy dessicated human arm in his jaws. The arm is wearing a rabbit's-foot keychain, with dangling key attached. Vincent gets the attention of Hurley and Charlie, then runs off.

"I think we need to get that," says an ever-game Hurley.

"Chase the dog with the skeletal arm into the creepy jungle, yeah, you be my guest," sneers one-hit-wonder Charlie. Which is of course, precisely what Hurley does, stopping only to say "If I'm not back in three hours, tell somebody."

Viewed realistically, I'm thinking that the dog digging up a body part on Mystery Island has to be pretty much an everyday occurrence. How many people have died on this island since the show started, anyway? (There's probably a Web site, similar to Jack Bauer Kill Count, that tracks that.) I know they took care of the bodies from the plane crash, but who's to say the impact didn't fling body parts far and near? Not to mention the little island graveyard, the various small planes filled with dead people and Virgin Mary statues full of heroin, and the who-knows-what-happened-to-them Tailies. This island is a veritable body farm.

But this being "Lost," where animals have weird powers and Everything Is a Clue, you just know that wasn't some poor sap from coach's arm...it's The Arm, and that key isn't just an ordinary household item hanging from a fun novelty, it's The Key. And knowing that, plus the nice characterization in such a short promo (Charlie absolutely wouldn't chase after the arm, unless it was Claire's or had a needle hanging out of it, while Hurley probably would), makes me get a little excited for "Lost" all over again. Nice job, ABC.

"Lost" links:

  • You can watch another "Lost" snippet, in which Sawyer schools Jin on talking to women, online at ABC's site. (The site says "for American Express cardmembers," but it worked for me with no card info -- maybe because it's been up since Jan. 25)
  • Simply must have "Lost" spoilers? Check out SpoilerFix, but don't say I didn't warn you.
  • Need to bring yourself up-to-date on the season so far? Our chart has summaries of current-season episodes.
  • Has "Lost" jumped the shark? Many say it has, and blame Ana Lucia.
  • The Fuselage is the official site of the show's creative team

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Comments

I saw a snippet of Lost last night during Boston Legal. And I'm pretty sure I saw that Australian girl from the Tailies section - the one who disappeared right before Ana Lucia shot Shannon. I can't remember her name...but I'm 99% sure it was her. So finally, hopefully, that question will be answered.

Amanda, Oklahoma City, OK (Sent Wednesday, January 31, 2007 10:23 AM)

Another great website is Lostpedia www.lostpedia.com. It has a wealth of info similar to Wikipedia. And, yes, Gael, it does have a body count!

Jolita, Annapolis, MD (Sent Wednesday, January 31, 2007 10:57 AM)

That was Cindy, the flight attendant who gave Jack those extra tiny liquor bottles.

Gail, East Syracuse, NY (Sent Wednesday, January 31, 2007 11:36 AM)

I was an avid "Lost" watcher for about the first season and a half, but the show plot-line began sliding into the truly ridiculous in a big way. Then season 3 began with so few episodes and an even heavier dose of preposterous plot-lines. C'mon, was there really any reason for Sawyer and Kate to sleep together except for the ratings sweep? I read a column a few months ago where the author compared the writers of "Lost" to little children who play with a new toy for a few minutes, then drop it for something else, never to come back to the first toy. I have to say I agree. Whatever happened to the polar bears and the wild boar? I guess if there's a lull, maybe one (or both) of them will come charging out of the jungle to wake viewers up. I'm sorry, but my hopes for the remainder of this season are not high.

Lynn, Oakdale, CA (Sent Wednesday, January 31, 2007 12:20 PM)

I agree with Lynn. The thing that made the show so good is that we actually believed they were lost. Now there are other people on the island. There has been for at least 20 years. There are so many questions brought up and no answers that when something finally gets answered you forgot that it was a question to begin with....plus the whole tie ins with all the characters is old

Shane,Vegas Baby (Sent Wednesday, January 31, 2007 1:36 PM)

Didn't they eat the boar(s) and shoot the polar bear? I'm looking forward to the rest of the season, but I honestly don't understand why they think they can keep watchers after an almost 3 month hiatis in the middle of a season.

Mary, Rochester, NY (Sent Wednesday, January 31, 2007 2:15 PM)

Who cares about lost! Has anyone been watching Prison Break. Its the best drama out there

Stephon Hollywood,Florida (Sent Wednesday, January 31, 2007 2:28 PM)

love the show and ready for its return...BTW a fun LOST site is JayandJack.com lots of humor, crackpot theories, also phone-ins from the cast members with juicy tidbits of info!

Jerry Horner, Ferndale, WA (Sent Wednesday, January 31, 2007 2:34 PM)

In response to Lynn, from Oakdale, Calif., there could be a very good reason for Kate to sleep with Sawyer. As you may have noticed, Jack was allowed to get out of his cell and "happen upon" video of Kate and Sawyer together. It's possible that Kate was told by the Others that that was the only way to trick Jack into doing the surgery. Well, it worked. Kind of.

Chris (Sent Wednesday, January 31, 2007 2:39 PM)

I want to get excited about Lost coming back...but honestly....this break was way tooooooooooo long. And I agree with the above poster; the plot lines are getting way too ridiculous. Here's hoping for a more entertaining, less outrageous end of the third season!

Rachel, Albany NY (Sent Wednesday, January 31, 2007 2:55 PM)

It's kinda like Gilligan's island with violence.

Dwayne Berry, Louisville, Ky (Sent Wednesday, January 31, 2007 2:55 PM)

This show remains fantastic. Its absurdity is part of its brilliance and intrigue. Can't wait for the new episodes to start. It takes risks and it keeps you guessing. The fact that they ALL ran across each other before they boarded the plane is a little silly, though. That better have a good explanation.

Patrick, Minneapolis (Sent Wednesday, January 31, 2007 3:23 PM)

Yeah, Vincent and "Lost" is back! You cynical weiners, change the channel!

Cathy (Sent Wednesday, January 31, 2007 3:31 PM)

My hopes for lost when it started was something to replace NYPD Blue. My hopes were crushed when the producers decided to air one or two then go on vacation for a few months. It is hard to be faithful to the show when you forget what happened last time. Does anyone remember the symbols that appeared when the numbers were not entered in time and the clock reset? Well they mean........... WOW Jack has to save whats-his-names life. See what I mean? WHAT THE HECK IS HAPPENING. Lost can GET LOST. ABC really bombed on this one. Almost as bad when they cancelled The Mole.

Jimmie Mac, Independence, Mo. (Sent Wednesday, January 31, 2007 3:38 PM)

This show is fantastic and I can't wait for the return. It was a long wait, no question, but I'm confident it will be worth it. You can't complain about a TV show being too "outrageous". It's TV and it's an escape - you think 24 is realistic? No but it's great TV. (and re: Prison Break - YES, another fantastic show not to be missed!)

Jan, Chicago, IL (Sent Wednesday, January 31, 2007 3:39 PM)

I don't think any of it will have any explanation. They haven't explained the majority of the questions they've posed, which was fine at first, but is now boring. Teasing in any form, if not satisfied, becomes boring. It's just question, to question, to question. I actually find it a bit condescending that they think no one will just become irritated and stop watching, like I did.

ART (Sent Wednesday, January 31, 2007 4:05 PM)

I am like a kid in a candy store. I can not wait for it to begin. I have already given the house rules ; No one is to bother me while LOST is on, at there own peril. Hot dog......I need me some Jack and Sawyer

Lyn, Plano,Ts (Sent Wednesday, January 31, 2007 5:15 PM)

I like the show, but the move to 10PM sucks. Us folks who go to bed earlier have nothing to watch

Rick, Lake Orion, MI (Sent Wednesday, January 31, 2007 5:42 PM)

I really love "LOST"! It keeps you guessing,wondering,and possibilities. It's a great mystery! Hey, what happened to the mist monster?

Sondra, Houston, Tx (Sent Wednesday, January 31, 2007 5:45 PM)

I'm a big fan of Lost as well, and I agree that the wait was a little too long, but I think it will be worth it. The show has a big enough fan base to keep it going, even through the long break. It's time to get LOST!!

Patrice, Pasadena, CA (Sent Wednesday, January 31, 2007 8:04 PM)

It's called Tev-o Rick, a perfect gadget for you early to bed types... man, next thing you know people are going to start complaining that lost is too long, and not enough like 24. Comon people, just because the writers don't wrap it up in a little bow with a happy ending dosn't mean its not great...

Alex Linford, Long Beach, CA (Sent Thursday, February 22, 2007 5:43 AM)



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