June 23, 2008

Adrift

Adrift

No need for any preamble, you know the drill. Let's roll ...

00:00 -- I hate that they have "Previously on 'Lost'" on the DVD.

00:01 -- "We're gonna have to take the boy." -- Tom. Never stops being creepy.

00:02 -- "Waaaaaaaaaaaalt." -- Michael. Never stops being annoying.


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June 18, 2008

Man of Science, Man of Faith

Welcome to the first edition of the season 2 re-watch "Lost" Diary. (Needs a better name, I know). Sorry I didn't get this up sooner -- I actually watched this on Sunday, but couldn't get around to finishing since the Lakers weren't done destroying my spirit until last night.

As I have said many times before, I have been really excited to re-watch season 2 for many reasons. First off, I think season 2 is regarded by most to be the weakest season and I don't remember thinking (at the time) it was a significant drop-off  from the other seasons. Secondly, after re-watching season 1 last summer (and watching season 4 just now) it amazes me how little of what is important to the show now existed at all in season 1. Season 2 is where the mythology of the show really takes off -- and I am looking forward to seeing that again.

Without further ado, let's roll ...


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June 12, 2008

LDQA -- 6/12

Hi everybody (hi, Dr. Nick!). Sorry I took a few days off. When I planned out my schedule, I forgot to account for the fact was my mom was coming to LA for a few days (for the first time since 1980!) so I had to spend a little QT with moms. So here's the LDQA for the finale and I'll start with season 2 diaries beginning Monday 6/16 (and we'll do every Monday going forward).

Other random thoughts:

-- Dear Hollywood, stop reviving old franchises. Between the three "Star Wars" prequels and the new "Indiana Jones" movies, my childhood memories have been effectively ruined. 

-- It looks like all things are go for season 2 of "In Treatment." It's not official yet, but it's gonna happen. If you were hesitant about On-Demanding a show that might not come back, go for it now. It's not for everyone, but I found it amazing.

-- Watched the first four "Secret Diary of a Call Girl" eps. Not good. 

-- Since I have no life, I've also been re-watching "The Wire" and "Deadwood." TV at its finest.

-- "Funny Games" came out on DVD this week. If you like highly-sophisticated torture porn (I really don't know how else to describe it) than this is the movie for you. Quite possibly my favorite movie of the year so far.

Alright, let's roll ... 

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May 30, 2008

There's No Place Like Home -- Part 2 & 3

Is it really all about to end? A strike-shortened season that gave us the Freighter Tots, flashforwards and "If anything goes wrong, Desmond Hume is my constant" is about to end. It's been an interesting season, to say the least, and it's safe to say I am at a Defcon 1 level of excitement right now.

For all you "Lost" Diary newbies, here's how it goes: I gather with a group of friends watching "Lost," writing what happens on the show as it happens, and throwing in my two cents along the way. Ari and Lauren are in back in the mix tonight, but Lauren has to leave as soon as the show ends to catch a midnight showing of "SATC." If I was smart, I'd show up at the theater at 2:00 AM to pick up girls. Let's roll ...

9:00 -- I've always thought last year's finale was good, but not great. But during tonight's "Previously on 'Lost'" montage, the clips of Jack at the coffin and him screaming "We have to go back!" gave me chills. I am soooooo ready for this.

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Posted by Daniel at 07:53 AM | | Comments (901)

Noon ET

Trying to finish it up while working, and it's going slow. I don't want to rush it up before it's right, so give me a little bit.

B+, that's all I'll say.

Thanks for the patience. 

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May 29, 2008

L.D.Q.A. -- 5/29

Just a couple of little thoughts to get us through the next few hours ...

Q: I just want the Losties to be happy. Do we think that will ever happen? For longer than 30 seconds that is. -- Melissa

A: No

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May 27, 2008

Housekeeping

- I plan on unleashing the pre-finale LDQA on Thursday morning, so keep sending those questions in. Click here to send me one if you haven't already.

- I just finished re-watching season one of "The Wire" and it's amazing how that show holds up. I can keep watching it over and over. Season two is up next.

- Does anyone know anyone that saw the new "Indiana Jones" and actually liked it?

- I saw The Raconteurs at the Henry Fonda theater in Hollywood last week. Quite possibly the best non-Prince show I have ever seen.

- I am doing some TMZ press on Wednesday, talking with the Max Kellerman Show on ESPN radio @ 11:20 AM ET. Hopefully I won't screw it up royally.

- Other finale thoughts: "Gossip Girl" was weak, "Desperate Housewives" was good, "Ugly Betty" was alright and "The Office" was hysterical. 

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May 16, 2008

There's No Place Like Home -- Part 1

I used to be super excited for "Lost" every week, but this season hasn't left me with that "Oh my God 'Lost' is on tonight!" feeling like it used to. But after last week's great episode -- and knowing that we're down the wire here -- has me back to my old level of excitement about tonight's episode.

Forget the preamble -- let's roll:

10:02 -- I am immediately in love with this episode. We're going to get to see how the Oceanic 6 get re-introduced into society. I am already at the edge of my seat.

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May 09, 2008

Cabin Fever

**ARGH!!!! Site has been down all morning. I posted this as soon as I could. Damn you, Internet! 

I've had a really hard time writing this part of the Diary and I think that goes back to the fact that I have had a hard time putting my finger on this season. Flashforwards are unpredictable, the Losties are spread out in many different places, the Freighter is looming and Jacob is hanging over my head worse than final exams. I don't think I have had less of a clue of what is going to happen from week to week than I do now.

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May 02, 2008

Something Nice Back Home

Welcome to another edition of the "Lost" Diary.

For all you "Lost" Diary newbies, here's how it goes: I gather with a group of friends watching "Lost," writing what happens on the show as it happens, and throwing in my two cents along the way. Ari and Lauren are in Costa Rica, so I am flying solo tonight. Let's roll ...

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April 25, 2008

The Shape of Things to Come

My friend Chris has been great about IMing me the morning of "Lost" and giving me a good one-liner that really sets me up for this blog. Thursday morning he only sent me this: "I totally forgot that 'Lost 'started back up tonight. That's like f**king Christmas." Couldn't have said it better myself.

For all you "Lost" Diary newbies, here's how it goes: I gather with a group of friends watching "Lost," writing what happens on the show as it happens, and throwing in my two cents along the way. I am watching tonight's episode of "Lost" solo -- I needed to watch the East Coast feed so I wouldn't end up staying up all night. Gotta get my shuteye. Let's roll:

10:02 -- Previously on "Lost" has never been so useful. I almost forgot what was going on, it's been so long. So there was a plane crash, right?

Continue reading "The Shape of Things to Come" »

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April 07, 2008

What?

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April 03, 2008

LDQA -- 4/3

Finally!!!

Ok, a few quick things I want to get off my chest before we get started:

-- I am finally all caught up on "Battlestar Galactica." It's good, for sure. Great? I don't know if I can go that far. I was a HUGE fan of the show as a kid, and what they have done with it is amazing -- but sometimes I feel like the show tries a little too hard.

-- I feel like I did you all a disservice by not bringing this up sooner, but "In Treatment" is just beyond phenomenal. It's certainly not for everyone (it's essentially two people talking for 25 minutes) but the writing is amazing and every performance in it is top notch. The girl who plays Sophie deserves an Emmy now for sure. If you can On Demand it, I suggest you give it a shot.

-- If you want to see a totally f'ed up movie that is incredibly good, go see "Funny Games." It's about two yuppy kids who hold a yuppy family hostage and torture them. Is it a downer from start to finish? Absolutely. Is it a superbly-directed, amazingly well-acted movie? Definitely. Not for the faint of heart though, that's for sure.

-- I read every question that comes in. Some I include in the column, some I don't. What makes me pick some over others? I don't know -- I am just looking for the ones that sparks something in me. Most of the time I don't pick a question simply because I don't have a good answer. But keep 'em coming, please. They're all great.

Let's roll:

Q: Now that we know who the Oceanic 6 are, does it make sense to assume that the two other survivors who "died on the island" would have to be Claire (because she birthed Aaron) and Jin (because he had to have impregnated Sun)? -- Jenny

A: Yes. With everything we know now, that would make the most sense to me. But I don't think we know everything there is to know yet. I reserve the right to change my answer on this one.


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April 02, 2008

LDQA MIA

Here's the deal ...

I planned on working on it Sunday, but I called into work.

I planned on working on it Monday, but I got sucked into finishing season 3 of "BSG." 

I planned on working on it Tuesday, but as I literally sat down to write it, I got called into work again.

I am cursed.

Barring an "American Idol" being rushed to the ER, I am plowing through it tonight. Honestly, it's my favorite thing to write and I hate letting questions sit there for a month. I plan on unleashing the biggest, baddest LDQA I have ever done.

In fact, I need your help with the first question ...
 

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March 21, 2008

Meet Kevin Johnson

I took off Thursday and Friday from work so I can stay home for four days straight and watch nothing but college basketball. Now that "Lost" is on, I kind of don't know what to do. Who would be the four number one seeds in the "Lost" tournament? I go with Ben, Locke, Jack and Sayid -- I think they best represent what "Lost" is about. I'd have to put Widmore in my Final 4 though somehow, he's becoming more and more of a player as things go on.

For all you "Lost" Diary newbies, here's how it goes: I gather with a group of friends watching "Lost," writing what happens on the show as it happens, and throwing in my two cents along the way. I am watching tonight's episode of "Lost" alone as Lauren is MIA and Ari wanted to wait and watch with her. Lauren's commitment to "Lost" is embarrassing these days and frankly I think it's time I take the show on the road once "Lost" comes back from hiatus. Anyone got room on their couch for me? I'll bring the chips! Let's roll ...

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March 14, 2008

Ji Yeon

LostAfter this episode, we only have one more left until we go on Writers Strike hiatus. It's been a good run so far and I will be curious to see how the writers adjust after the hiatus. Here's a suggestion: Answer some questions. Just a thought.

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March 07, 2008

Another Woman

"So because last week's 'Lost' was so good, does that automatically mean that this week's has to suck?"

That was the IM I got from my friend Chris on Thursday morning and now I have the fear of God in me. Is it possible? Can "Lost" be that good last week and this week too? One can only hope ...

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February 29, 2008

The Constant

Hey, it's Daniel here, back with another edition of the "Lost" Diary.

To battle through the doldrums of the week, several TMZ staffers compete in a weekly tournament of a game we invented called Dartball. I had never won a Dartball tournament until February 1 -- the day after "Lost" premiered. I have now won four in a row, meaning I am undefeated for as long as "Lost" has been on this year. Coincidence?

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This Is Why We Watch

This is an email I got tonight before I went to sleep. My full rewiew in the morning, obviously, but this is just something to hold you over, courtesy of Angie ...

Hi Daniel,

Just finished watching this week's episode of LOST (2/28) and I HOPE you give it an A in tomorrow's recap.  I LOVED IT!!!! and not ashamed to say so. Any episode with Desmond has proved to be a memorable episode in my opinion.  My youngest daughter (12) and I are avid fans and I'm happy this show keeps us talking to each other (you know how teenagers can be - well I'm not THAT old but still). My oldest (15) joined us tonight and while trying to explain just a fraction of what was going on proved to be so confusing to her she said "Now I know why its called LOST".   *SIGH*

I won't speculate on anything that happened in this episode as apparently I'm not that smart (my only speculation is that Sayid is 'the man on the boat' that Ben/Henry Gale is talking about) all I can say is I was breathless, my skin was tingling throughout the episode and hearing my oldest daughter saying "this is scary" was good enough for me. Maybe its back to what LOST was all about - where you are on the edge of your seat waiting for what is going to happen next and then CURSING (okay in my brain, not outloud due to children in the room) that it was over for the week!

Thanks for your recaps, I really appreciate your wit.  My most favorite line you have ever written was "Red Rover, Red Rover, send John Locke over".  I still laugh when I think about it. 

Keep up the great writing and THANK YOU for the LOST Diary I LOVE IT!
Angie

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February 28, 2008

LDQA -- 2/28

Friends don't let friends blog angry.

That's what my friend Chris told me earlier this week and he's right. I was in a bad mood when I watched "Lost" and I don't think it affected my opinion of the show (it wasn't that good no matter what mood I was in) but it did affect my ability to write about it. I left things out I probably should have mentioned and didn't really bring much to the table -- though, as you'll see now, I had a lot to offer.

So that was my bad. Let's forget about it and move on ...

Q: Does anyone remember that Claire is Jack’s half sister??? So that would make Aaron Jack’s nephew. Maybe that’s why he doesn’t want to see him? Or wouldn’t he want to see him if he was family? -- Rebecca

A: Among my regrets from last week's Diary is not making some mention of this. Yes, obviously we know that Jack and Claire are half-siblings. And yes, it is conceivable, maybe even probable, that Jack has learned that by the time last week's flashforward takes place. I didn't mention it because we don't know what Jack has learned at that point, so it felt fruitless to guess. Here is what feels important to me ...

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