Lost returns!

What better place to start a new blog than an entry about Lost, the best show in years on network TV.

The final season of this landmark series begins Tuesday night @ 7:00 on ABC, and this year we may actually get to see every episode live here in central Arkansas. In the past, Lost has aired on Wednesday nights, which meant that about two out of every three episodes were pre-empted by SEC basketball on KATV. Channel 7 taped the show and aired it late that night, after the 10:00 news, after According to Jim (or whatever other crap sitcom they aired at 10:30), after Nightline AND after Kimmel, usually around 1:00 a.m.

What was particularly irksome was that it wasn't just Razorback games, but other non-hog SEC games that 7 was contracted to air... or so they claimed. I did a story for KUAR a couple of years ago about this crazy phenomenon, and KATV program director Richard Farester said they had no choice but to air the SEC games, but the ABC station in Fort Smith/Fayetteville somehow managed to keep Lost on in primetime when there was not a hog game. Same network, same hog contract, different outcome. Hmmm...

Anyhow, as I said recently on http://www.filmfodder.com/tv/lost/ (the best Lost blog out there) "I love Lost, this wonderful episode recap and discussion group, AND the producers' weekly audio podcast. Taken together, they've been the richest, most immersive television experience ever."

So, for those of us addicted to the show, just a few days of waiting left. For those of you who are not hip to Lost, well I regret to say it's probably too late to get on board now. The best advice I can offer: buy the whole series on Blu-Ray, take off work for about three weeks, lay in a supply of junk food and watch it from the beginning.

Another reason to watch: Lost star Evangeline Lilly. Here she is from a season one episode.