The biggest news to come out of the pre-lunch session with the creators and most of the cast of Lost? Uh, nothing much, just that the producers see an endpoint to the show and are have been talking about such an endpoint to the network for some time now.Interesting, huh? Executive producer Carlton Cuse let the news slip, when asked about whether they've planned on a closed end to the show, that they are in discussions with ABC to pick an endpoint for the show. No real timetable was confirmed -- speculation ranged from two more to four more seasons -- but the producers want to make sure the show doesn't overstay its welcome. "We don't want to be to the point where we're doing the stalling show," explained co-creator Damon Lindelof. He then joked by giving such an example: "We're building sand castles this week!" He cited The X-Files as a show that was great but went on "two seasons too long," and that once they've determined when the endpoint will be, they will announce it right away.
At lunch, reporters surrounded ABC Entertainment president Steve McPherson (more on that later to day) about this little tidbit. He didn't know that the producers had mentioned this, but didn't seem to be surprised, as he told the group that they had been talking with the show's producers about an endpoint almost from the beginning of the series. I'm sure we'll hear more of this later.
More tidbits and some funny lines after the jump.
It seemed that the producers were doing most of the talking, even though most of the cast was in attendance (Terry O'Quinn was the most noticeable absentee). The focus was on the return of the show from its mid-season break, and what stories we're going to see when it comes back. Starting with the return episode, we'll see stories between the main characters, which is something that wasn't seen in the first six episodes. In other words, less captivity stuff and more of the Jack/Kate/Sawyer triangle.
According to Lindelof, it's tough to satisfy everyone's curiosity about the characters without boring them to death. For instance, he jokingly refers to the other 35 survivors viewers rarely or never see, using everyone's favorite reference for Star Trek's doomed peons. "Are they just red shirts? Are they just monster food?"
Other funny stuff:
- When Damon mentioned that Jin Kwon will speak more English in upcoming episodes, Daniel Dae Kim bowed his head and mock-gratefully said "Thank you!"
- When Evangeline Lilly was asked by a reporter if she'd rather be with Sawyer or Jack, she asked that reporter, "Who do you want me to end up with?"
- Jorge Garcia had a pretty practical response to a question about how the fact that these storylines mean that certain actors don't appear every week. He loves acting on the show, he said, "but like any job sometimes you'd just like a week off."
- Matthew Fox didn't say much -- he looked like he'd rather be anywhere else -- but he did say that he enjoyed the captivity storyline a lot. "I certainly miss the rest of the cast, and the captivity stuff was very intense. It's been very challenging and rewarding."
- Another reporter asked why, if the Oceanic flight originated in Sydney, do we not see more Aussies on the island. That's when Emile de Ravin piped up: "I said I'd do the the show if I were the only one." The ever-quick Garcia chimed in by saying, "Technically, the baby's Australian." Finally, Lindelof joked that the "Austrailians are all hanging out with Nikki and Paulo."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-14-2007 @ 5:07PM
David said...
"We don't want to be to the point where we're doing the stalling show,"
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
What was most of last season and the first 6 episodes of this season?!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
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1-14-2007 @ 5:17PM
Katester said...
Amen to that, David. The entire third season (thus far) has been a complete s-t-a-l-l. I'm thinking they will drag it out for 5 seasons for the money to be made...but they're not wasting any more of MY time.
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1-14-2007 @ 6:26PM
SJ said...
I lost interest in the show late into the 2nd season. 'Lost' would be much better on HBO/Showtime/FX imo. Networks demand too much from their hit shows and it can have a negative effect on the show.
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1-14-2007 @ 6:32PM
RSL said...
You commenters are _totally_ cool! You're unique and special. It's not just an intellectually lazy thing to skulk around teevee forums and talk trash about Lost. You're thinking for yourselves.
Cattle.
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1-14-2007 @ 6:56PM
Monstromart said...
Talk about the pot calling the kettle black, RSL.
The Lost defenders are just as bad as the Lost complainers, when it comes to sulking on messege boards and attacking people with an opinion.
None of the above posters made any derogatory comments towards people who enjoy Lost, why not give them the same courtesy instead of calling them cattle.
I never hear Lost fans defending the show by giving actual REASONS why the show doesn't suck, instead they always attack fans who are upset with the way the show is now handled.
Grow up, not everyone is totally enamored with Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof's handling of Lost, but they might still be fans of the show.
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1-14-2007 @ 7:33PM
I Like To Watch said...
I watch because the show looks GREAT in HD. The story got tiresome.
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1-14-2007 @ 8:09PM
David said...
Yeah we are / were fans of the show, but if you don't move along the people ditch and that was what was gonig on this season.
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1-14-2007 @ 10:47PM
nick said...
Lost had become incredibly boring this season. That they're talking of ending the show just makes me believe they've run out of ideas creatively, which is perhaps why the show is dragging along.
And with this news, I'm not sure I want to waste my time when it returns in Feb.
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1-15-2007 @ 12:17AM
mgamark said...
i can see why some people may be disappointed in how the storyline has progressed but i really believe that the first season just set a standard too high to surpass. that being said, i still think the writing and the acting is far better than most other shows on tv.
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1-15-2007 @ 8:56AM
Joe said...
I like the show because I don't expect answers to the questions. I'm a rare viewer because I enjoy the questions more than the answers.
Also, this is good news. Up until now, there has been the problem that Lost won't give up the answers until it's cancelled. It won't be cancelled until it loses viewers and it will only get back viewers when it's giving answers. The solution is to answer at least some questions, but mostly to stop the marketing department from promising all of the answers every single week.
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1-15-2007 @ 10:20AM
John H said...
I'm a philosopher, so I am the type of person who likes when interesting questions are asked. I'm the type of person who instead of concerning myself with the mysteries of who was 'really' behind the murders of JFK, RFK, MLK, I think about the lives these people lived and how they would not want to be remembered as characters in conspiracy theories, but people that had a meaningful impact on people's minds. End minor rant... and back to Lost.
Lost is not only for people who want mysteries it is a love story, a philosopher's story, a spiritual story, and a story of spiritualism...filled with mystery... it's about life. Life really wouldn't be all that interesting if it was a really long episode of CSI. Spirituality is about the self, about you. Spiritualism is about the outside, the unexplained. It really sounds like you people are not caring for the spirituality or philosophy, but, the mysteries of who made this, or who made that, and...that can be fun, but if you lose sight of that, the only person who's missing out is you.
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1-15-2007 @ 11:15AM
Tucker said...
Cheers to Joe and John H. What I want to know, though, is what exactly is news about this. They've said from the beginning that they have an end. The only question was whether or not they'd carry the show out long enough. I mean, if the news was that ABC has committed to X seasons and then the show will end, then yeah - that's headlines. But as far as I know, they haven't even said they'll commit to seeing the show through to the end.
I don't know where this crazy idea ever came from that the creators didn't have an endpoint in mind.
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1-15-2007 @ 11:55AM
David said...
The 6 episodes they showed in the fall hurt the show more than anything. They should have just started right after New Years and run straight threw like 24 does, it's the only think 24 does right.
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1-15-2007 @ 12:59PM
Jeff N. said...
Maybe next year they will start later and do 22 straight episodes. No big break. It's hard for a show like Lost to not stall if they want 5 seasons. It really is a series that should have lasted 44 episodes.
But if the next 16 epidoes are good compelling shows then it will be worth watching. And it is one of the best shows to watch in HD.
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1-15-2007 @ 1:17PM
SamMalone said...
Don't worry, next episode "EVERYTHING WILL CHANGE"!!!
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