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Great article on "Mythology TV"

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clarkjohnsen

Getting 'Lost'
Show pursues TV's most elusive genre -- mythology. Or maybe that's not it all.
By Matthew Gilbert, Boston Globe Staff | October 27, 2004
On "Lost," 46 plane-crash survivors are stuck on a remote Pacific island. Or at least they might be survivors; they might also be souls in purgatory, hovering between heaven and hell, defending their lives on the sands of judgment. Or at least they might be on a sandy island; they might also be inside a "Truman Show" --like zoo, or on a planet where polar bears thrive in tropical climates. If indeed those beasts in the "Lost" forest are bears, and not emissaries of God, or grotesque alien creatures, or Mulder, Scully, and the Log Lady on a journey to the Hellmouth.

Feeling out to sea?
Then you're right where "Lost" creator J.J. Abrams wants you to be. You can't assume anything when it comes to his compelling new show, except that it's a big hit for ABC and that right now you're reading an article about it. It is a classic example of TV's most challenging and elusive serial format, the mythology show, a genre whose number includes "Twin Peaks," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Smallville," "Roswell," "Carnivale," Abrams's "Alias," and, of course, "The X-Files." "Lost" airs tonight at 8 on Ch. 5.
[Free link through Thursday]

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2004/10/27/getting_lost/ (Open in New Window)

Follow Ups:

Re: Great article on "Mythology TV" - clbeanz 20:27:06 10/27/04 (5)
Spaders/Alan Shore and Shatners/Denny Crane own me currently,started watching "Practice" just before the axe fell and "Boston Legal" rose.
Milleniun and X-files "build-up more than pay out" cresendos burned me out some.I have very limited patience for the genre to hook.Bailed on Sydney and her pops last season,too much X-file with all that Rambaldi 3 card Monte. More recently, how can I retrieve the time wasted on "Kingdom Horsefeathers".Have I learned? Hell no! Caught the first few installments of "Lost", the article you posted touches on a couple of the same guesses I have. Beyond a limbo/beach I'll toss out "Sphere","Fantasy Island",unwitting damaged cast-aways death match ,auditioning for next Adam & Eve or the forming of an alien Bermuda Triangle zoo. The 2 dimensional cookie cutter characters dishing,soap opera drivel,drives me up the wall,one moment it's "RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!" then in a blink "excuse me I didn't know you were bathing here".
Guess I'm still pissed about "Firefly" cancellation.Notice the formerly wheelchair bound Locke reminds of Col. Kurtz?Oh heck it's on tonight,maybe ABC will feel generous and kick with some more plot.
Sincerely,Beanz
"Jeopardy Champ 4 Prez","He knows when to push the button and has all the right answers".
- "Guess I'm still pissed about "Firefly" cancellation." As who isn't? - clarkjohnsen 08:47:19 10/28/04 (1)
  But I have the DVDs.
  Another entrant: Harsh Realm. That was getting good, then got cancelled after 3 episodes. I'm ordering the DVD of all 9 produced.
  Thanks for all the alternate explanations!
  clark
  - I hear "Serenity" is in post production for June 05'rollout." - clbeanz 11:50:30 10/28/04 (0)
    I will have to get that full 1st season DVD,noticed it had 3 unaired episodes~thx
    p.s. last nights "Lost" held me for the next installment.
    Sincerely,Beanz
    "Jeopardy Champ 4 Prez","He knows when to push the button and has all the right answers".
- Re: Great article on "Mythology TV" - townsend 06:31:33 10/28/04 (2)
  "Lost" is one of the few TV series I watch, other than news programs and some sports.
  I'm still interested in it, but the commercials seem particularly intrusive. Just when one is getting into a scene/character, just as one is becoming immersed in a different world, suspending disbelief, the shows cuts away to a commercial break!
  regards, townsend
  - "Lost" - Ken Perkins 07:31:20 11/01/04 (1)
    "Lost" is a great show and IMO just about the best thing on TV right now. The commercials are outrageous and will probably end up killing it. It would be MUCH better off on cable where at least the continuity could carry you through an episode.
    - Re: Commercials - rico 06:00:18 11/02/04 (0)
      That is why I never watch broadcast television except for the News Hour and other programs on PBS. Every time I relent and try to watch a commercail broadcast I am appalled by the number of ads and interruptions andd I give up and shut it off.

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