O M F & G. I Can’t Believe This. (Updated)
There are only a handful of explanations:
1. Oprah = Jesus
2. One of them is the Smoke Monster
3. The Commercial is from a parallel universe
No matter what, this is more amazing than Avatar. And Jeff Zucker just barfed up all his pre-game nachos.
************
Updated - this, from Madame Oprah’s twitter: Yes that was REAL D, J and me. Shot Tuesday nite in New York undercover at D’s studio.
************
Updated 2/8/2010 PM:
Bill Carter breaks down all the cloak-and-dagger magic of the February 2nd shoot at the Ed Sullivan Theater in NYC in today’s NY Times.
Stephen McPherson Doesn’t Watch “Lost”, Does He?
“LOST” SERIES FINALE EVENT SET FOR SUNDAY, MAY 23 ON ABC
Finale to Air on a Special Night, Sunday, May 23 from 9:00-11:00 p.m., ET,
Preceded by a Recap Special from 8:00-9:00 p.m., ET
Stephen McPherson, president, ABC Entertainment Group, today announced the “Lost” series finale date, airing as a primetime event on a special night on Sunday, May 23 from 9:00-11:00 p.m., ET. Preceding the finale will be a recap special from 8:00-9:00 p.m., ET.
“Lost is an example of what happens when you put creativity above everything else, trust the creative vision, and take the risks required to be truly original,” said McPherson. “It’s a testament to staying true to the creative vision of one of the most iconic shows ever on television, and we’re giving the producers an unprecedented opportunity to respect the fans and really satisfy the viewers with a spectacular conclusion.”
The critically acclaimed, hit drama premiered on September 22, 2004. The series was nominated for numerous awards and was a 2008 recipient of the prestigious Peabody Award, and awarded the 2005 Emmy and 2006 Golden Globe for Best Drama Series. At the end of its sixth and final season, “Lost” will have aired 114 episodes (121 episodic hours).
Executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse appeared on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” after “Lost’s” season premiere on Tuesday, February 2 (12:05 a.m., ET) to discuss the upcoming season.
Oceanic Air flight 815 tore apart in mid-air and crashed on a Pacific island, leaving 48 passengers alive and stranded on a remote island in the South Pacific. The survivors include a diverse group of people from different walks of life — a doctor, an escaped fugitive, a con man, an Iraqi interrogator, a married Korean couple and a man formerly confined to a wheelchair who is now inexplicably healed. As the castaways attempt to get home, flashbacks (and forwards) illuminate their troubled lives before and after the crash, as the island that they find themselves stranded on begins to slowly reveal its mysterious nature. Faith, reason, destiny and free will all clash as the island offers opportunities for both corruption and redemption… but as to its true purpose? That’s the greatest mystery of all.
“Lost” stars Naveen Andrews as Sayid, Nestor Carbonell as Richard Alpert, Emilie de Ravin as Claire, Michael Emerson as Ben, Jeff Fahey as Frank Lapidus, Matthew Fox as Jack, Jorge Garcia as Hurley, Josh Holloway as Sawyer, Daniel Dae Kim as Jin, Yunjin Kim as Sun, Ken Leung as Miles, Evangeline Lilly as Kate, Terry O’Quinn as Locke and Zuleikha Robinson as Ilana.
“Lost” was created by Jeffrey Lieber and J.J. Abrams & Damon Lindelof. Abrams, Lindelof, Bryan Burk, Jean Higgins, Elizabeth Sarnoff, Edward Kitsis, Adam Horowitz, Jack Bender and Carlton Cuse serve as executive producers. “Lost,” which is filmed entirely on location in Hawaii and premiered on September 22, 2004, is from ABC Studios. For more information on “Lost,” visit ABC.com
ABC Media Relations
We’re Still “Lost”, and That’s Where Cooter Comes In…
[Ed Note: We are delighted to welcome to popGeezer.com, a TV blogger with little to no equal, Mr. Cooter. Late of his own place, CooterTV.com, he has brought his unparallelled view on one show in particular to our site. His scholarly dissection of the TV program Lost usually borders on the doctoral. Now, as this paradigm-smashing experiment in series storytelling begins its final eighteen hours, Cooter will take each episode into his mighty jaws and shake Lost's mythology for all it's worth. Hang on to something, as it's gonna get deep, ya'll. 5,500 words in the first post. OMG!]
******************************************
“LA X” Parts One & Two
Flash Back.
Flash Forward.
Time Travel.
And now, Flash Sideways?
There are 15 hours left in the series that we all love and adore and while you may have felt like the season 6 premiere left you high and dry, I’m here to tell you that everything you’ve seen has led to this point. Some may think that Lindelof and Cuse have led us astray, but I think that much like it’s darkest before the dawn, the rabbit hole is deepest before the exit.
EASTER EGGS
Did someone say Easter Eggs? I’m sure everyone saw the Dharma shark and the cameos from Frogurt and Arzt, but there are a few more interesting ones that were a bit more difficult to spot. Personally, I liked Rose’s magazine. The Weekly Woodsman is from Supernatural, where Mark Pellington (the actor who plays Jacob) plays Lucifer. Would it be odd for him to play Satan in two shows at the same time? On the back cover, was a direct shout out to The X Files with the text “The Truth is Out There” with an an image of a UFO. This is most likely a double shout out to Kim Manners who served as a Producer on both shows before passing away last year. Yeah, I wish I could take credit for all of that, but I found it here:
http://www.buddytv.com/articles/lost/the-5-coolest-lost-easter-eggs-34235.aspx
http://www.buddytv.com/slideshows/lost/lost-easter-eggs-for-season-6-premiere-quotla-xquot-3701.aspx
I would bookmark BuddyTV for the rest of the season.
One last Easter Egg that I didn’t see on that site and haven’t seen mentioned anywhere was the inclusion of the numbers. In fact, I saw plenty of sites lamenting the omission of the numbers. But, I did find one instance. Right before Flocke (Fake Locke aka Smokey) chastises the Others waiting outside of the four toed statue base, the number on Locke’s box/makeshift coffin is 823, obviously a combo of two of the numbers 8 and 23.
http://starwarsmodern.blogspot.com/2010/02/theory-explaining-lost.html
BOOK CLUB
If there’s one thing that you can always count on in Lost, it’s that their episodes will be littered with literary references that will set off a chain reaction of obsession unlike anything else. Of course, it could all be a red herring. In which case, you might want to skip this section, or read it to see exactly bad my OCD has gotten recently.
The first book we see is in the hands of Desmond in the Flash Sideways. It is Salman Rushdie’s Haroun and the Sea of Stories. While most people seem to be obsessing over one particular line in the book (”What’s the use of stories that aren’t even true?”), I think it’s far more interesting to take the piece as a whole. Sure, it’s easy to pull out that one line and draw the inevitable conclusion that since Desmond was reading this book, we shouldn’t really focus on anything in the Flash Sideways. It’s merely an alternate reality that mirrors the “real world” ala the events in The Wizard of Oz mirrored Dorothy’s life back in Kansas and Through the Looking Glass mirrored Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (interestingly, both of these stories have played key parts in the Lost Universe thus far). But ultimately, they are only dreams, or visions of what if and hold no significance to the main reality.
Sure, it would be easy to believe that, but I think it would be giant “screw you” to the fans and a cop out by Damon and Carlton to have it all be simply a dream sequence. Although, I, for one, did think it was a dream sequence when they came back and then showed Jack waking up on the island in 2007. But more on that in a moment.
Back to Rushdie’s book. In it, the main story revolves around a father and a son (gee, go figure right?). The father Rashid is a master storyteller renowned the world over, but he loses his mojo when his son (Haroun) doubts the importance of the stories and his father’s profession by saying the line above (”What’s the use of stories that aren’t even true?”). This causes Rashid to become depressed and he loses his ability to tap into the Sea of Stories and ultimately his job performance suffers and he’s on the verge of losing everything. One night, by a chance encounter (Haroun swaps beds with Rashid), Haroun is swept up in an epic journey that takes him to this magical world called Kahani where he experiences many adventures and ultimately thwarts a plot to destroy Kahani and with it the “Sea of Stories.” When he returns from his journey, Haroun tells his Dad his many adventures and its restores Rashid’s ability to tell stories and they all live happily ever after. So, in other words, what’s the use of stories that aren’t even true? Ultimately, the mean everything. So, even if you simply lift that one line, you had better pay attention to the Flash Sideways because they are going to be vital to the what I’ll call the Island Reality.
After a little more digging, here is what I was able to turn up that might be interesting in the Lost Universe.
- The larger part of the plot occurs on a fictional satellite of the Earth’s, named Kahani, whose orbit is controlled by “Processes Too Complicated To Explain”. These processes enable it to fly over every single point on Earth. Kahani itself consists of a massive Ocean which itself is composed of an infinity of stories, each story taking the form of a current or stream of a unique color. The colors, therefore, encompass the whole visible spectrum and extend beyond into spectra that are not known to exist. Various islands and a continent are also shown on the moon. The name “Kahani” itself means “Story” in Urdu and Hindi, and is ultimately revealed to be the name of the sad city; a revelation that removes the sadness from the city’s people.
So, Kahani is basically a moon that is made up of a vast ocean with little islands interspersed throughout? The moon is able to fly over every single point on Earth. Hmm, sounds an awful lot like our little island and the fact that it’s almost impossible to track and can move by “processes too complicated to explain.” Yep, sounds about right.
This next part I just find fascinating, especially the last little part.
- The Moon Kahani is, throughout most of the plot, divided into two sections equal in size, one of which is kept in perpetual daylight and the other in perpetual darkness. The two are separated by a narrow strip of twilight, which is marked by a force field named Chattergy’s Wall. The daylight side is called Gup (meaning “gossip”, “nonsense”, or “fib” in Hindi) and the night-darkened side is called Chup(meaning “quiet”). Inhabitants of Gup value speech and are called “Guppees”, meaning “talkative people”, while inhabitants of Chup are stated to have historically valued silence and are called “Chupwalas”, meaning “quiet fellows”. The “u” in “Gup” rhymes with the “u” in “cup”, the “u” in “Chup” is pronounced similarly to the “oo” in “good”, and the “w” in “Chupwala” resembles a sound lying midway between the English letters “w” and “v”. At the South Pole of Kahani is a spring known as the Source of Stories, from which (according to the premise of the plot) originated all stories ever communicated. The prevention of this spring’s blockage therefore forms the climax of the novel’s own story.
So, where else have we seen a magical spring that you just know is going to factor into the climax of Lost? Oh yeah, in the Temple.
Finally, I thought it was interesting to note that the plan to destroy the Ocean revolves around machines powered by electromagnetic induction, which in case you’re not completely up to date on your physics, was a process discovered by Michael Faraday in 1831. Gee, that name Faraday really sounds familiar. I wonder if he’ll pop up in the Flash Sideways, or if he’s really dead since he died prior to the bomb going off in 1977. Although technically, if the bomb did go off and sink the island to the bottom of the ocean than in the Flash Sideways there is no reason for him to go to the island in the first place so he should still be alive. Man, my head hurts did I just travel through time and see a light? Oh yeah, that’s mentioned below too.
- Here, too, are revealed the methods of the Chupwala plan to destroy the Ocean. These methods, consisting of an array of complicated machines powered by electromagnetic induction, are destroyed by Mali. Taking advantage of the resulting disturbance, Haroun distracts the Chupwalas by means of a source of artificial light, repairs Butt, who has been deprived of his brain, and uses some “wishwater” given him by Iff to turn Kahani so that Chup is illuminated and all the shadow-beings destroyed.
All of this information was pretty much gleaned from the Wikipedia page of the book, which is linked below. One last thing that is perhaps worth noting is that the inspiration of the novel came from Salman’s own bath time stories he told his son. Again, the father-son angle is quite nice indeed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haroun_and_the_Sea_of_Stories
The next book we see is more of a throwaway than anything important. Arzt is holding an insect book when he’s chatting up Hurley in the Flash sideways. This isn’t that surprising as he took it up as more of a hobby before the unstable dynamite blew him into a million pieces.
The last book, now that’s an interesting choice indeed. When the group is heading down (the rabbit?) hole to get to the Temple, they encounter one-arm Mortand who lost his arm in an encounter with Smokey. Because, you know Smokey used to hang out in the Temple before Jacob and his crazy followers co-opted it. You might say that the Temple was his home. But way more on that in a bit. The book was the French (naturally) translation of Soren Kierkegaard’s Fear and Trembling. Kierkegaard was an interesting man. He was a philosopher, theologian and psychologist (oh my!). Those three “professions” are interesting given the various animosity they all have for one another.
He was most interested with personal choices and the implications of the ethical ramifications of said choices. Yep, he seems like would fit into the Lost Universe quite nicely. And while I did study some Kierkegaard in philosophy and psychology in school, I’m by no means an expert, so please bear with me as I’m sure I’ll get plenty wrong here.
The selection of Fear and Trembling is an interesting one in that it deals with four alternative re-tellings of the Abraham and Isaac tale and the ethical ramifications of Abraham’s decision. Yes, that’s right, I said four alternative re-tellings, as in alternate universes, as in Flash Sideways baby. The story introduces two types of people, a “Knight of Faith” and a “Knight of Infinite Resignation” The Knight of Faith gives up everything, but trust that he will get it all back based on the “strength of the absurd,” while the Knight of Infinite Resignation gives up everything for the infinite that he knows that he will get after death, but he continuously dwells on the pain of his loss. I would say that Locke would be the ultimate “Knight of Faith” in that he was willing to give up the leadership of the Others to go off island (and even willing to die for the cause - although he gets cold feet) and convince the Oceanic 6 to come back with the knowledge that when he did so, he would regain the leadership of the Others. Ben and Widmore are the perfect “Knights of Infinite Resignation” as they are in constant obsession over having to give up the island and leadership of the Others.
“On another level, this work is about Kierkegaard’s failed engagement to Regine Olsen. He is Abraham and she is Isaac, whom he must sacrifice, that is, divorce himself from, since he deems himself unfit for her-although some commentators reverse their roles.” Wow, does this explanation not sound exactly like Jack and Kate’s relationship both on the island and then post-Oceanic 6? Jack is perpetually in a state of feeling that he isn’t good enough for Kate and this lack of self confidence is something that only troubles his personal life and is in stark contrast to his professional life, where he exudes the utmost of confidence. He even tells Locke in the Flash Sideways, “Nothing is irreversible.” The words not only speak to his unbridled faith in his skills as a surgeon, but also hint at the fact that they were able to literally change the future (we think, maybe).
“In version three, Abraham goes alone, and throws himself on the ground, begging God to forgive him for having contemplated sacrificing Isaac, and for forgetting his ethical duty. In version four, Abraham cannot bring himself to slay Isaac, and they walk home together. Isaac loses faith because of this.” What if the man in black (MIB) is Abraham (or likewise Isaac) and Jacob is Isaac (or Abraham). Or better yet, in following the Bible, if Jacob (on the island) is Isaac’s son Jacob from the Bible, then what if the MIB is Isaac (and not Esau as some have predicted). And what if God gave Isaac the same choice that he gave Abraham and instead of showing the faith that his father Abraham showed in God, Isaac balked and went with Kierkegaard’s version four above where he and Jacob left together and Jacob loses faith.
And then as punishment for their lack of faith, God has imprisoned Isaac and Jacob on Earth forever, or imprisoned Isaac on the island (since we don’t see him off of it ever) and banished Jacob to spend eternity on Earth. If this is the case, it could really help to explain why the MIB makes the comment that he really wants to kill Jacob, knowing that he can’t do it himself, but thinking that if he could find a loophole to do such a thing, he could finally make his way back home to Heaven, by way of the Temple or the magical spring. Think heavy doses of Kevin Smith’s movie Dogma, but instead of fallen angels (although they Jacob and MIB may certainly be that), they are actually Jacob and Isaac from the Bible.
Of course, the most direct allusion would be that Jacob is Jacob and the MIB is Esau. It would explain MIB’s hatred towards Jacob, from the whole being tricked out of his birthright thing. I find that there’s an interesting parallel between Jacob and MIB and Ben and Widmore. They both seemingly share the bond that prevents them from killing the other person. However, MIB found a loophole (whether MIB is really Flocke/Smokey is a debate for another section) and was able to use Ben to kill Jacob. I wonder if that gave Ben any ideas on how to dole out vengeance on Widmore?
A few things more on this book. I think it’s interesting that we are presented with interesting mirror images of the Abraham and Isaac story in the Lost Universe. Remember, mirror images are reversed. Ben kills his father Roger with the gas, and he ascends to the throne of The Others. Locke is given the same option when presented with Cooper on the Black Rock, but he balks as he is unable to kill his father. He brings in Sawyer to finish the job. Kate literally blows up her step-dad, although he’s more a stand-in for her real dad. And finally, Jack doesn’t directly kill his father, but rather sets the process in motion that ultimately contributes to his death. He “kills” Christian’s career by testifying against his father and the resultant spiral through booze finishes him off.
Huh, four alternative re-tellings of the Abraham and Isaac story just like Fear and Trembling.
Oh, and to rob a line from Steve Jobs, “one last thing.” Kierkegaard uses a pseudonym to publish “Fear and Trembling.” He publishes it under the name of Johannes de Silentio, or John the Silent. And there’s no other John more silent right now than Locke. I wonder if John will regain his voice (on Island Reality) before the series concludes.
The sources for this bit are here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear_and_Trembling
http://www.sorenkierkegaard.org/fear-and-trembling.html
FLASH SIDEWAYS
So, what is the Flash Sideways? Is there only one? Or do each of the Oceanic 6 get one? And what happened to Aaron? My head is really hurting now.
I think it’s safe to say that there is the main Island Reality that we all love and know and the “present” is 2007 and there is one Flash Sideways reality where the “present” is 2004. I think it’s incredibly important that the producers decided to keep the time lag between the two realities. I can sense the frustration in many people that they took a cop out and decided to present both scenarios instead of making a decision between reboot and changing the future fail.
Personally, I think they made a brilliant choice that will come to show just how brilliant they were as the season wears on. At some point, I do think that these two “realities” are going to merge into one. If you think back to Faraday’s giant rock in a stream theory, a huge boulder in the middle of the stream might cause the stream to break apart into two or more little streams, but they will eventually come back into the one stream. I think that’s what we’ve got going on here. At some point the stream of existence and time will correct itself and it will be interesting to see how and when that happens.
We assume that the two realities are 2007 (Island) and 2004 (Sideways), but the one thing I can’t wrap my head around is shot of the island at the bottom of the ocean with the Dharma Shark. If the island is at the bottom of the ocean in 2004, then how will they correct that when the come back together? Perhaps whatever it is that sinks the island is yet to come. What if, and follow me here, the ultimate ending of Lost is the island at the bottom of ocean? I mean that makes the most sense, no? The only way to insure never being able to come back to the island is with it at the bottom of the ocean?
Then (and here it gets really funky) what we are actually seeing in the Flash Sideways is what you could call the Epilogue or Season 7, but for the sake of storytelling and only having 17 episodes left, it’s being shown concurrently with the events post island being sunk. In other words, whatever happens between now and the end of Island reality is going to end with the island being sunk and the ultimate reboot to 2004. Let’s just say that Jughead was powerful, it got them to travel to 2007, but it wasn’t strong enough for the ultimate reboot. I think for the ultimate reboot, they’re going to have to find a bigger boulder (perhaps tapping into the island’s core magnetic anomaly) to create an explosion so big that it simultaneously sinks the island and reboots the group back to 2004 and the Flash Sideways reality we are seeing.
Of course, to get the island sunk in 2004 when they are in 2007 will require another time travel, I’m thinking one back to the time of the Black Rock and one that only Richard will be able to do. Man, I really like this theory and I honestly think it’s the only way the producers can salvage what some people think is the ultimate cop out.
QUICK HITS
I love the double entendre in the Flash Sideways bits. Look at this exchange between Jack and Rose:
Jack: “Looks like we made it.”
Rose: “We sure did.”
The scene of Jack in the bathroom with the mirror was great shot of the duality of life and the two realities in which this season is taking us. What is up with Jack’s nick on his neck? And why is it only in the mirrored reflection of himself? Check it out, it’s not there when he saves Charlie and it’s not there when he chats up Locke in the Oceanic baggage office.
I think it’s obvious that Jack is having some deja vu moments both with Desmond and Locke to a certain extent. Is there some sort of residual memories from the time on the island that is going to seep out at some point?
Here’s an interesting thought. Why are there two recaps of Juliet blowing up Jughead? Is it to further show that there are two distinct realities that we are now following? Or is it even more nuts? What if everyone has a different Flash Sideways? What if there are multiple Flash Sideways realities created? I can hear your brains melting over that one. I guess we will find out next week. I think it’s safe to say that this was certainly a Jack-centric Flash Sideways, but there are events that take place in it that Jack doesn’t have first hand knowledge about (Kate and Sawyer in the elevator, Sun and Jin at customs, etc.). So, I’m thinking there are only two realities. Let’s hope anyhow.
Why did Kate and Miles get blown away from the site, but Jack and Locke didn’t? It also doesn’t appear that Hurley and Sayid moved, although they were in the Dharma bus, so that might have something to do with that.
Did the bomb go off or did they simply time shift/correct? If not, then Jughead would still be there somewhere and perhaps they will explode it at some point which would result in the Flash Sideways reality.
Hurley and Miles talk to dead people in different ways, but the big thing unspoken is that it’s a given in this world that consciousness lives on in an afterlife. Jacob has consistently called Hurley Hugo. He did so in the real world and again in the premiere. He also wrote down Hugo on the list in the ankh.
I love Boone’s line “Are you pulling my leg?” There’s so many levels of meaning to that. You’ve got the obvious one of pulling the wool over on Boone which Locke is most likely doing since he’s still in the wheel chair. You’ve got the meaning that Boone was going to have to have his leg amputated when he fell with the drug plane, but refused to save medical supplies and ultimately chose his death. And finally, Jacob literally means “leg puller” in Hebrew and most likely refers to his birth story in which it was said that he was born clutching the heel of his twin brother Esau.
I find it interesting that the two things lost by Oceanic airlines in the Flash Sideways were Locke’s knives and Christian. Both of them were used by Smokey at some point. I wonder if that has anything to do with their absence from the plane when it arrives in LA.
I thought there was an interesting symmetry between Jacob’s death and Obi Wan’s death in Star Wars. Jacob and Obi Wan decide to not fight back and let their aggressor kill them without a fight. Both of their bodies disappear. Obi Wan’s immediately and Jacob was gone literally seconds after getting in the fire. It’ll be interesting to see if that by killing Jacob he will become “stronger than you can imagine” and whether or not the person that kills him (Ben) will find redemption to the good side by the end of the saga. Oh, and they were both “killed by an old friend who grew tired of my company.”
Is the old friend Ben? Smokey? MIB? Are MIB and Smokey the same person? I’m going to take the less popular view out there right now and say no. Because I think it’s safe to say whatever (or whoever) MIB and Jacob are, they are the same. That is, if MIB is capable of becoming Smokey, then Jacob should likewise be capable of becoming a white smoke monster. We’ve never seen Jacob as Smokey, or have we? Most of the interactions with Smokey have been bad, but remember Locke had a very good one in which he described it as a white light (hmm) and then later smokey tries to kill him. What if there were always two smoke monsters on the island? Bum, ba bum. Then, it would make sense that MIB would be Smokey which is Flocke. It also means that just as Jacob was killed in his body, then too could MIB be killed in his own body. That could also explain Richard’s panic to make sure no one shot Flocke as he exited the four toed statue.
Not many people picked up on it, but Sideways Sawyer still held on to his nickname ability. He says to Cindy, “What’s going on back there, Earhart?” I enjoyed that one a bit too much I think.
The whole interplay between Juliet and Sawyer before she died and afterwards, thanks to Miles, was interesting to me. Juliet states that “It didn’t work, we’re still on the island” and then later after death she changes her tune (although, she changed it before she died she just didn’t have a chance to tell Sawyer before she passed on) and said “it worked.” I think that shows beyond a reasonable doubt that the two realities are linked, they just might not be sequentially in order right now. They both talk about going home and then there’s that odd line about getting coffee sometime and going dutch that I know is significant, but I can’t figure out why yet.
I find it very interesting that the only person who hasn’t had a run in with Jacob is Jack. It’s further intriguing to think that Smokey took the form of Christian at one point. I wonder what that means? I also think that the whole ash ring affair proves that it wasn’t Jacob’s cabin that they were going to, but really Smokey who was imprisoned in the cabin. Of course, if Jacob and MIB are the same type of creature then it would reason that the ring of ash would work equally as well on Jacob (if MIB and smoker are one and the same). So, someone might have been trying to keep Jacob imprisoned in the cabin. Or Smokey out. It’s too early to tell. One thing about the ash. Is it special ash? And if it is, what is so special about it?
I also think it’s rather dubious that both Richard and Ben both have relationships with Smokey and Jacob. Richard obviously was a big fan of Jacob, but he also has a history with Smokey that involves some form of chains. As for Ben, we know he was a Jacob devotee, but we also know that he has a way with Smokey too, since he was able to summon him to avenge his daughter’s death at the hands of the mercenaries.
Don’t think that I didn’t catch the parallels to Sayid and Ben going to the temple to be saved. Sayid shot Ben, the temple saved him, but there are risks. Sayid was then shot and the temple saved him, or did it? And what risks were there?
As if there weren’t enough religious overtones in Lost, did anyone else notice that when they removed Sayid from the pool, he had his arms stretched out like Jesus’ crucifixion? That seems about right since he also performed the resurrection a few moments later. It wasn’t quite three days, but it was still pretty effective.
There was an interesting parallel between Island Jack and Sideways Jack. He saved Charlie in the Flash Sideways and he wasn’t able to save Sayid in Island reality.
It was great to see Claire again in the Flash Sideways (as well as Charlie, Frogurt and Arzt) but I really want to know what happened to her on the Island reality. I thought for sure she was going to show up with the Others at the temple. I mean there’s Cindy, Jack and Emma. Where’s Claire?? Also, is she pregnant in the Flash Sideways? If not, where’s Aaron? If so, what will become of Aaron? What if she gives birth to a girl in the Flash Sideways? Speaking of pregnancy, will Jin and Sun be childless now that Jin won’t get the super sperm benefits of the island?
How does Flocke know what Locke’s last thought is? This implies that there is some form of connection between the people whose form he takes (all dead) and their consciousness from when they were living. The interesting thing here is that we know (thanks to Miles and Hurley) that in the Lostuniverse, human consciousness continues to live on after death. I wonder if Flocke/Smokey is able to tap into that part of a person’s consciousness or just the part right up to they die.
Ultimately, where is Flocke’s home? Smokey hung out at the temple, but was that his home or simply the gateway to his true home (ala Heaven and the loophole). More interestingly, did Hurley see Jacob after he died, or was that simply Smokey who could now pretend to be Jacob since he was dead. In other words, the ramifications to this question is who was the one that really wanted Sayid at the temple? Jacob or Flocke? Sayid being taken to the temple could be part of the plan for Flocke to gain access.
Another nice symmetry to Kate taking care of Sawyer again in the temple like she did in the Hatch when Sawyer was shot. This was the start of their first romance. Could this symbolize a second budding romance between Sawyer and Kate?
I found it curious that Richard is very scared of Flocke. Those chains. “You?” Adamant that they don’t shoot him. I wonder if Flocke is somehow related to the Black Rock? If it turns out that MIB is not the same as Smokey/Flocke, I’m willing to bet that Flocke is related to the Black Rock and has quite a history with Richard.
And finally, who or what is Sayid at the end? Did he truly die and get resurrected? It seems that just like Ben he has no recollection of “What happened” but it’s also curious that he could be possessed by Jacob or Flocke or even the MIB.
Yeah, Lost is back and it’s better than ever.
******************************************
So Much Fun….
So, everyone with ears heard how shaky Taylor Swift sounded on Sunday’s Grammys. It was a big night, and nerves can hit anybody. But her label chief, Scott Borchetta tried some damage control, and has swirled up a new maelstrom of crap for his blonde superstar. Here’s USA Today with more:
————————-
If you thought Taylor Swift sounded a little off on Grammy night, you weren’t alone. There’s been so much blog buzz and criticism of her song with Stevie Nicks that the head of her record label is defending her performance.
”This is not American Idol. This is not a competition of getting up and seeing who can sing the highest note,” Big Machine Records CEO Scott Borchetta told The Associated Press in a phone interview. “This is about a true artist and writer and communicator. It’s not about that technically perfect performance.”
Borchetta first responded to the backlash in The Tennessean, where he said: “Maybe she’s not the best technical singer, but she’s probably the best emotional singer because everybody else who gets up there and is technically perfect, people don’t seem to want more of it. … She’s an extraordinary songwriter and her vocal performances are getting better. Everybody is not perfect on any given day.”
Borchetta said Swift had a technical issue Sunday night. “We had a volume problem in the ear. So, she was concerned that she wasn’t able to hear everything in the mix,” Borchetta said. “That’s just part of live TV. … You’re going to have difficulties on occasion.”
————————-
Now, the fun part. Kelly Clarkson took that response a bit personally. So today, she came back with:
Scott Borchetta
Wow …..Dear Scott Borchetta,
I understand defending your artist obviously because I have done the same in the past for artists I like, including Taylor, so you might see why its upsetting to read you attacking American Idol for producing simply vocalists that hit ‘the high notes’. Thank you for that ‘Captain Obvious’ sense of humor because you know what, we not only hit the high notes, you forgot to mention we generally hit the ‘right’ notes as well. Every artist has a bad performance or two and that is understandable, but throwing blame will not make the situation at hand any better. I have been criticized left and right for having shaky performances before (and they were shaky) and what my manager or label executives say to me and the public is “I’ll kick butt next time” or “every performance isn’t going to be perfect” ……I bring this up because you should take a lesson from these people and instead of lashing out at other artists (that in your ‘humble’ opinion lack true artistry), you should simply take a breath and realize that sometimes things won’t go according to plan or work out and that’s okay.
Sincerely,
One of those contestants from American Idol who only made it because of her high notes
————————-
Here’s my favorite part now… Borchetta created this diva out of smoke, mirrors and lots of blonde hair. (Plus the fact that she’s a legit songwriter, let’s be fair.) Can’t wait to see what happens when Trilby turns on Svengali, ’cause he’s pushed her into a corner!!
Your popGeezer Live Blogs The 2010 Grammy Awards! (Updated For List of Winners)
Behold the shining Gramophone - it is the mark of musical excellence, or a huge joke, depending on your point of view. Join us tonight - January 31, 2010 - as your popGeezer unleashes the catty and live-blogs the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards on CBS. Let the snark (and occasional sincerity) BEGIN:
****************************************************************
Buckle up, bi*ches. It's gonna be a bumpy night. And this is just the red carpet...
* Taylor Swift has already won 2 in the pre-show ceremony, including Country Song for “White Horse”. Coronation night? (6:55 pm)
* Wow, Ace Frehley hasn’t looked that good in years!!! And at least Lady GaGa might have finally put those “johnson” rumors to rest… (7:04 pm)
* Elton…. seriously, dude. WTF? At least GaGa seems to be as talented as she is crazy…. It may be all downhill from here. (7:07 pm)
* The Colbert Christmas album is a scream. Sadly, Stephen isn’t tonite. (7:08 pm)
* Hey, the Joker came with Keith Urban!! (7:12 pm)
* Song of the Year - “Single Ladies“: nominated in the wrong category… it won anyway. Taylor, honey, maybe Kanye was kinder to you than we thought. (7:12 pm)
* The Who sold out… but it wasn’t this ugly. Green Day plays Broadway?!?! I feel kinda sick. Aww, suck it, “Mamma Mia”!!! (7:15 pm)
* Mike Dirnt did not check his self-respect at the coat check. Good for him!!! Greatest eye-roll on TV in 2010 - so suck it, Justice Alito!! (7:17 pm)
* Country Album - “Fearless“, Taylor Swift: Pretty dress. Taylor and Mama next to Ringo and Barbara? Good deal. Our little girl is growing up so fast. (7:27 pm)
* Michael Caine is introducing Lady B? Man, he looks great!! (7:28 pm)
* BTW, we do not mock Beyonce’ in this house. She is so fine, but I bet her honor guard scared the poop outta anybody holding in that arena. “Boy” rocks, dude! (7:30 pm)
* Aww yeah!!!! Lady B covers Alanis! Mayhaps this will be a shared coronation, but Beyonce’ doesn’t really require affirmation, do she?? (7:32 pm)
* I heard Seal just signed a deal with Pro Activ. (How can I hurt him? He made THREE babies with Heidi Klum!) 7:40 pm
* Da*n, GaGa’s been out-performed twice now, hasn’t she? Pink! just kills with this bit every time!! (7:43 pm)
* Did P!nk just have an accident? (7:45 pm)
* My love for Miranda Lambert stands in inverse proportion to my horror at her dress. (7:46 pm)
* For just a moment, I though Taste of Honey were going to win Best New Artist again. What if they gave an award and nobody came to get it..? (7:49 pm)
* I’d like to apply for the job to Armor-All Fergie. Where does the line form? (7:55 pm)
* I saw will.i.am in “Phantom” last year. He was very good. (7:57 pm)
* Don’t think Fergie’s visor was LPGA-approved. (8:00 pm)
* Jonas Bros!! One of these things is not like the others, one of these things just doesn’t belong!! (8:06 pm)
* For a minute, I though Lady Antebellum was doing a malaria relief benefit. (8:07 pm)
* I believe Kaley Cuoco’s dress just caused me to have a “big bang”… (8:09 pm)
* Hopefully, Adam Schlesinger & David Javerbaum get some part of Colbert’s Grammy. It’s mostly theirs. (8:11 pm)
* Snack break!!! And I’m switching to the laptop. See you in five!!! (8:15 pm)
* Curse you tech problems… We return to Song of Year: Kings of Leon, “Use Somebody“! Justice!!!! Nashville (Franklin) represents!!! “Alcohol” - Jamie Foxx, the greatest injustice of the 2009 popGeezer 100 was the overlooking of this tasty gem!! (8:25 pm)
* Ke$ha brought her son to the show, how sweet!! (8:27 pm)
* Katy Perry, the definition of class and decorum, brought her girls to the show. And kept them inside her bodice. Our little girl is growing up. (8:32 pm)
* Green Day gets Rock Album, and maybe they get to go to the Tonys in June! (8:34 pm)
* Harold Bradley!!! Nashville represent! The 615!!! (8:35 pm)
* Ooh, Grammy-winning new artists the Zac Brown Band! I get a potty break. (8:36 pm)
* Best New Artist Grammy count: Zac Brown-1, Katy Perry-0, Lady GaGa-0. W o w. (8:40 pm)
* Seacrest introduces Taylor? Did I miss a season of “Idol”? Seriously, I dearly love this girl. God, how I wish she could actually sing. Uh oh, here comes Stevie!!?? And even after one metric ton of cocaine damage, Stevie will still crush our little TayTay like a bug. eee-yikes!!! (8:49 pm)
* Saints in Super Bowl. Waddy Wachtel & Stevie Nicks back up Taylor Swift. It’s the apocalypse. (8:50 pm)
* Ooh. The acid’s kicked in way too early tonight. Celine Dion !? Oh, sh*t. This is gonna be a radically bad trip. (8:55 pm)
2D, 3D or LSD… that Carrie Underwood is fine. Her skin looks like it’s made out of the same fabric as her dress. (8:57 pm)
* Prince and Paris Jackson are pretty fine looking. MJ bought himself some top shelf genetic materials. (9:02 pm)
* And you know I’m gonna buy that “This is It” Blu-Ray. [I am such an MJ apologist. I love my pop stars CRAZY!!!!] (9:04 pm)
* I know the red crosses are for Haitian relief. But after three beers, I swear they look like Staples “Easy Buttons”. (9:09 pm)
* The beer and acid have mixed VERY badly. Now I’m imaginng I’m watching the 1989 Grammys and Bon Jovi’s performing. I need to lie down. (9:11 pm)
* Jennifer Nettles in leather pants. Another “big bang” in mine. (9:12 pm)
* Also, this gives credence to Dr. Robert’s assertion that Jennifer’s country twang is an act. (9:13 pm)
* Placido and Mos Def were the greatest hip-hop duo of all time! Their performance of “Parents Just Don’t Understand” brought the Apollo down in March of 1990. (9:18 pm)
* Damn, this controversy took a real toll on Kanye, huh? (9:19 pm)
* Bocelli can bring it, y’all! And Mary J’s hair is pretty dope, too! Neither are Artie, but this is a big performance. (9:27 pm)
* Portnoy says “don’t steal”! I say, “do you have one of them horseless carriages”? (9:40 pm)
* The Sandman introduces DMB. No jokes, Jim. This is group I loved early on, then got totally bored with, and this latest LP “Groo Grux” won me back times like ten. Pulling for this one for LP of Year - truly. If not DMB, then I’m okay with BEP. Love TayTay, but an Album of Year Grammy would be for commerce over art. Lovin’ all the young people joining in. (9:44 pm)
* So happy to see Lea Michelle, that Ricky gets a pass. Female Pop for Lady B’s “Halo”. She is a giant talent and DEAR GOD look at that cleavage!!!!! (9:48 pm)
I love Roberta Flack, but I’ve never forgiven her for that Valentine’s Night concert with the Nashville Symphony. You know, the one where someone broke into my car & STOLE MY RADIO and stuff. Really, Roberta. (10:01 pm - show’s in overrun)
Dan Seals in the Memorial package. Love that “I’d Really Love To See You Tonight”. (10:03 pm)
The Dude abides. Russell Brand shows more cleavage that fiancee Katy Perry. I’m in love with that hot singer with Jeff Beck. And I once got to see Les Paul at the Iridium. Life does not suck. (10:06 pm)
* QT in the house. Can the crazy be far behind?? (10:13 pm)
* Drake, Lil’ Wayne & Em? What’d I just say?!?! Get that delay button lubed up, bit*h!! (10;14 pm)
* While worrying about the problems with the sound during this hop-hop summit, it occurred to me that Kanye really is en absentia tonight, huh? He really must be doing soul searching after the VMA incident… or in rehab?? (10:21 pm)
* Clapton/Vedder commercials back to back. Dear God, we’ve really lived too long, haven’t we? (10:22 pm)
* Startin’ to think B may take LP (10:25 pm)
* Well, the golden girl conquers the world. Kanye may never return. (10:27 pm)
Once we see the big list of winners tomorrow, we may have some new comments. But, for now, the spectacle of marketing and production wins out - as does the top selling LP/CD/digital thing of the past twelve months. She’s a doll, and she can write a good song. She is precious, but she just has a reed thin voice. Love her to death, happy for her win, but art took another kick in the jumblies tonight.
[Updated 2/1/2010 AM]
Complete List of Winners from Variety.com:
Album Of The Year
“Fearless” - Taylor Swift
Colbie Caillat, featured artist; Nathan Chapman & Taylor Swift, producers; Chad Carlson, Nathan Chapman & Justin Niebank, engineers/mixers; Hank Williams, mastering engineer
[Big Machine Records]
Record Of The Year
“Use Somebody” - Kings Of Leon
Jacquire King & Angelo Petraglia, producers; Jacquire King, engineer/mixer
[RCA Records]
Song Of The Year
“Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” - Thaddis Harrell, Beyoncé Knowles, Terius Nash & Christopher Stewart, songwriters (Beyoncé)
Track from: “I Am… Sasha Fierce”
[Music World Music / Columbia; Publishers: Songs of Peer/March 9th Publishing, 2082 Music/WB Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Tunes, Suga Wuga Music, B-Day Publishing/EMI April Music.]
Best New Artist
Zac Brown Band
Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
“Halo” - Beyonce
Track from: “I Am… Sasha Fierce”
[Music World Music / Columbia]
Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
“Make It Mine” - Jason Mraz
Track from: “We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.”
[Atlantic]
Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals
“I Gotta Feeling” - The Black Eyed Peas
Track from: “The E.N.D.”
[Interscope Records]
Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals
“Lucky” - Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat
Track from: “We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.”
[Atlantic]
Best Pop Instrumental Performance
“Throw Down Your Heart” - Bela Fleck
Track from: “Throw Down Your Heart: Tales From The Acoustic Planet, Vol. 3 - Africa Sessions”
[Rounder]
Best Pop Instrumental Album
“Potato Hole” - Booker T. Jones
[Anti]
Best Pop Vocal Album
“The E.N.D.” - The Black Eyed Peas
[Interscope Records]
Best Dance Recording
“Poker Face” - Lady Gaga
RedOne, producer; Robert Orton, RedOne & Dave Russell, mixers
Track from: “The Fame” - [Streamline/Interscope/Konlive/Cherrytree]
Best Electronic/Dance Album
“The Fame” - Lady Gaga
[Streamline/Interscope/Konlive/Cherrytree]
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
“Michael Buble Meets Madison Square Garden” - Michael Buble
[143/Reprise]
Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance
“Working On A Dream” - Bruce Springsteen
Track from: “Working On A Dream”
[Columbia]
Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals
“Use Somebody” - Kings Of Leon
[RCA Records]
Best Hard Rock Performance“War Machine” - AC/DC
Track from: “Black Ice”
[Columbia]
Best Metal Performance
“Dissident Aggressor” - Judas Priest
Track from: “A Touch Of Evil - Live”
[Epic]
Best Rock Instrumental Performance
“A Day In The Life” - Jeff Beck
Track from: “Performing This Week…Live At Ronnie Scott’s”
[Eagle Records]
Best Rock Song
“Use Somebody” - Caleb Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill & Nathan Followill, songwriters (Kings Of Leon)
[RCA Records; Publishers: Martha Street Music/Songs of Combustion Music/Music of Windswept, Followill Music/Songs of Combustion Music/Music of Windswept, McFearless Music/Bug Music, Coffee, Tea or Me Publishing/Bug Music.]
Best Rock Album
’21st Century Breakdown” - Green Day
[Reprise]
Best Alternative Music Album
“Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix” - Phoenix
[Loyaute/Glassnote Records]
Best Rap Solo Performance
“D.O.A. (Death Of Auto-Tune)” - Jay-Z
[Roc Nation]
Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group
“Crack A Bottle” - Eminem, Dr. Dre & 50 Cent
Track from: “Relapse”
[Aftermath/Interscope]
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
“Run This Town” - Jay-Z, Rihanna & Kanye West
[Roc Nation]
Best Rap Song
“Run This Town” - Jeff Bhasker, Shawn Carter, Robyn Fenty, Kanye West & Ernest Wilson, songwriters (Athanasios Alatas, songwriter) (Jay-Z, Rihanna & Kanye West)
[Roc Nation; Publishers: EMI April Music, Carter Boys Music/Please Gimme My Publishing/EMI Blackwood/Chrysalis Songs/No ID Music/All The Above Publishing/Sony ATV/Annauhi Music/Athanasios Alatas Publishing.]
Best Rap Album
“Relapse” - Eminem
[Aftermath/Interscope]
Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
“Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” - Beyonce
Track from: “I Am…Sasha Fierce”
[Music World Music/Columbia]
Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
“Pretty Wings” - Maxwell
Track from: “Blacksummers’ Night”
[Columbia]
Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals
“Blame It” - Jamie Foxx & T-Pain
[J Records]
Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance
“At Last” - Beyoncé
Track from: “Cadillac Records - Music From The Motion Picture”
Best Urban/Alternative Performance
“Pearls” - India.Arie & Dobet Gnahore
Track from: “Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics”
[Soulbird/Universal Republic]
Best R&B Song
“Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” - Thaddis Harrell, Beyoncé Knowles, Terius Nash & Christopher Stewart, songwriters (Beyoncé)
Track from: “I Am… Sasha Fierce”
[Music World Music / Columbia; Publishers: Songs of Peer/March 9th
Publishing, 2082 Music/WB Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Tunes, Suga Wuga Music, B-Day Publishing/EMI April Music.]
Best R&B Album
“Blacksummers’ Night” - Maxwell
[Columbia]
Best Contemporary R&B Album
“I Am… Sasha Fierce” - Beyonce
[Music World Music / Columbia]
Best Female Country Vocal Performance
“White Horse” - Taylor Swift
Track from: “Fearless” - [Big Machine Records]
Best Male Country Vocal Performance
“Sweet Thing” - Keith Urban
Track from: “Defying Gravity” - [Capitol Records Nashville]
Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals
“I Run To You” - Lady Antebellum
Track from: “Lady Antebellum”
[Capitol Records Nashville]
Best Country Collaboration With Vocals
“I Told You So” - Carrie Underwood & Randy Travis
[19/Arista Nashville]
Best Country Instrumental Performance
“Producer’s Medley” - Steve Wariner
Track from: Steve Wariner c.g.p. My Tribute To Chet Atkins
[SelecTone Records]
Best Country Song
“White Horse” - Liz Rose & Taylor Swift, songwriters (Taylor Swift)
Track from: “Fearless”
[Big Machine Records; Publishers: Sony/ATV Tree Publishing, Taylor Swift Music/Sony/ATV/Care Taker Music/ole]
Best Country Album
“Fearless” - Taylor Swift
[Big Machine Records]
Best New Age Album
“Prayer For Compassion” - David Darling
[Wind Over The Earth]
Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Story Telling)
“Always Looking Up” - Michael J. Fox
[Hyperion Audio]
Best Jazz Vocal Album
“Dedicated To You: Kurt Elling Sings The Music Of Coltrane And Hartman” - Kurt Elling
[Concord Jazz]
Best Contemporary Jazz Album
“75″ - Joe Zawinul & The Zawinul Syndicate
[Heads Up International]
Best Improvised Jazz Solo
“Dancin’ 4 Chicken” - Terence Blanchard, soloist
Track from: Watts (Jeff “Tain” Watts)
[Dark Key Music]
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
“Book One” - New Orleans Jazz Orchestra
[World Village]
Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual Or Group
“Five Peace Band - Live” - Chick Corea & John McLaughlin Five Peace Band
[Concord Records]
Best Latin Jazz Album
“Juntos Para Siempre” - Bebo Valdés And Chucho Valdés
[Sony Music/Calle 54]
Best Gospel Performance
“Wait On The Lord” - Donnie McClurkin Featuring Karen Clark Sheard
Track from: We All Are One (Live In Detroit)
[Verity]
Best Rock Or Rap Gospel Album
“Live Revelations” - Third Day
[Essential Records]
Best Gospel Song
“God In Me” - Erica Campbell, Tina Campbell & Warryn Campbell, songwriters (Mary Mary Featuring Kierra “KiKi” Sheard)
Track from: “The Sound” - [Columbia Records; Publishers: EMI April Music, Wet Ink Red Music, That's Plum Song, It's Tea Tyme.]
Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album
“The Power Of One” - Israel Houghton
[Integrity Music]
Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album
“Audience Of One” - Heather Headley
[EMI Gospel]
Best Southern/Country/Bluegrass Gospel Album
“Jason Crabb” - Jason Crabb
[Spring Hill Music Group]
Best Traditional Gospel Album
“Oh Happy Day” - (Various Artists)
Bill Hearn, Ken Levitan, Ken Pennell, Jack Rovner & Cedric Thompson, producers
[EMI Gospel/Vector Recordings]
Best Latin Rock, Alternative Or Urban Album
“Los De Atras Vienen Conmigo” - Calle 13
[Sony Music Norte]
Best Latin Pop Album
“Sin Frenos” - La Quinta Estación
[Sony Music Latin]
Best Tejano Album
“Borders Y Bailes” - Los Texmaniacs
[Smithsonian Folkways Recordings]
Best Banda Album
“Tu Esclavo Y Amo” - Lupillo Rivera
[Disa]
Best Americana Album
“Electric Dirt” - Levon Helm
[Dirt Farmer Music/Vanguard Records]
Best Bluegrass Album
“The Crow / New Songs For The Five-String Banjo” - Steve Martin
[Rounder]
Best Traditional Folk Album
“High Wide & Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project” - Loudon Wainwright III
[2nd Story Sound Records]
Best Contemporary Folk Album
“Townes” - Steve Earle
[New West Records]
Best Native American Music Album
“Spirit Wind North” - Bill Miller
[Cool Springs Music Group]
Best Traditional World Music Album
“Douga Mansa” - Mamadou Diabate
[World Village]
Best Contemporary World Music Album
“Throw Down Your Heart: Tales From The Acoustic Planet, Vol. 3 - Africa Sessions” - Béla Fleck
[Rounder]
Best Zydeco Or Cajun Music Album
“Lay Your Burden Down” - Buckwheat Zydeco
[Alligator]
Best Reggae Album“Mind Control - Acoustic” - Stephen Marley
[Ghetto Youths/Tuff Gong/Universal Republic]
Best Hawaiian Music Album
“Masters Of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar, Volume 2″ - (Various Artists)
Daniel Ho, George Kahumoku, Jr., Paul Konwiser & Wayne Wong, producers
[Daniel Ho Creations]
Best Norteno Album
“Tu Noche Con…Los Tigres Del Norte” - Los Tigres Del Norte
[Fonovisa]
Best Regional Mexican Album
“Necesito De Ti” - Vicente Fernández
[Sony Music Norte]
Best Tropical Latin Album
“Ciclos” - Luis Enrique - [Top Stop Music]
Best Musical Album For Children
“Family Time” - Ziggy Marley
[Tuff Gong Worldwide]
Best Comedy Album:
“A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift Of All!” - Stephen Colbert
[Comedy Central Records]
Best Spoken Word Album For Children
“Aaaaah! Spooky, Scary Stories & Songs” - Buck Howdy
[Prairie Dog Entertainment]
Best Musical Show Album
“West Side Story” - David Caddick & David Lai, producers (Leonard Bernstein, composer; Stephen Sondheim, lyricist) (New Broadway Cast with Matt Cavenaugh, Josefina Scaglione & Others)
[Masterworks Broadway]
Best Instrumental Composition
“Married Life” (From “Up”)
Michael Giacchino, composer (Michael Giacchino)
Track from: Up - Soundtrack
[Walt Disney Records]
Best Instrumental Arrangement
“West Side Story Medley” - Bill Cunliffe, arranger (Resonance Big Band)
Track from: Resonance Big Band Plays Tribute To Oscar Peterson
[Resonance Records]
Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)
“Quiet Nights” - Claus Ogerman, arranger (Diana Krall)
Track from: Quiet Nights
[Verve]
Best Recording Package
“Everything That Happens Will Happen Today” - Stefan Sagmeister, art director (David Byrne & Brian Eno)
[Todomundo/Opal]
Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package
“Neil Young Archives Vol. I” (1963-1972)
Gary Burden, Jenice Heo & Neil Young, art directors (Neil Young)
[Reprise]
Best Album Notes
“The Complete Louis Armstrong Decca Sessions” (1935-1946)
Dan Morgenstern, album notes writer (Louis Armstrong)
[Mosaic Records]
Best Song Written For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media
“Jai Ho” (From “Slumdog Millionaire”)
Gulzar, A.R. Rahman & Tanvi Shah, songwriters (A.R. Rahman, Sukhvinder Singh, Tanvi Shah, Mahalaxmi Iyer & Vijay Prakash)
Track from: “Slumdog Millionaire” - Music From The Motion Picture
[N.E.E.T./Interscope Records; Publisher: KM Musiq.]
Best Score Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media
“Up” - Michael Giacchino, composer
[Walt Disney Records]
Best Compilation Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media
“Slumdog Millionaire” - (Various Artists)
A.R. Rahman, producer
[N.E.E.T./Interscope Records]
Best Historical Album
“The Complete Chess Masters (1950-1967)” - Andy McKaie, compilation producer; Erick Labson, mastering engineer (Little Walter)
[Hip-O Select/Geffen Records]
Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
“Ellipse” - Imogen Heap, engineer (Imogen Heap)
[RCA/Megaphonic Records]
Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical
Brendan O’Brien
- “Black Ice” (AC/DC) (A)
- “Crack The Skye” (Mastodon) (A)
- “The Fixer” (Pearl Jam) (S)
- “Killswitch Engage” (Killswitch Engage) (A)
- “Working On A Dream” (Bruce Springsteen) (A)
Best Engineered Album, Classical
“Mahler: Symphony No. 8; Adagio From Symphony No. 10″ - Peter Laenger, engineer (Michael Tilson Thomas & San Francisco Symphony)
[SFS Media]
Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical
“When Love Takes Over (Electro Extended Remix)” - David Guetta, remixer (David Guetta Featuring Kelly Rowland)
[Astralwerks]
Best Surround Sound Album
“Transmigration” - Michael Bishop, surround mix engineer; Michael Bishop, surround mastering engineer; Elaine Martone, surround producer (Robert Spano, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Choruses)
[Telarc]
Producer Of The Year, Classical
Steven Epstein
- Adams: Doctor Atomic Symphony (David Robertson & Saint Louis
- Symphony Orchestra)
- Bernstein: Mass (Marin Alsop, Jubilant Sykes, Asher Edward Wulfman, Morgan State University Choir,
- Peabody Children’s Chorus & Baltimore Symphony Orchestra)
- Corigliano: A Dylan Thomas Trilogy (Leonard Slatkin, George Mabry,
- Sir Thomas Allen, Nashville Symphony Chorus & Nashville Symphony Orchestra)
- Fauré: Piano Quintets (Fine Arts Quartet & Cristina Oritz)
- Yo-Yo Ma & Friends: Songs Of Joy And Peace (Yo-Yo Ma & Various Artists)
Best Classical Album
“Mahler: Symphony No. 8; Adagio From Symphony No. 10″ - Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor; Ragnar Bohlin, Kevin Fox & Susan McMane, choir directors; Andreas Neubronner, producer; Peter Laenger, engineer/mixer; Andreas Neubronner, mastering engineer
(Laura Claycomb, Anthony Dean Griffey, Katarina Karnéus, Quinn Kelsey, James Morris, Yvonne Naef, Elza van den Heever & Erin Wall; San Francisco Symphony; Pacific Boychoir, San Francisco Girls Chorus & San Francisco Symphony Chorus)
Best Orchestral Performance
“Ravel: Daphnis Et Chloe” - James Levine, conductor (Boston Symphony Orchestra; Tanglewood Festival Chorus)
[BSO Classics]
Best Opera Recording
“Britten: Billy Budd” - Daniel Harding, conductor; Ian Bostridge, Neal Davies, Nathan Gunn, Jonathan Lemalu, Matthew Rose & Gidon Saks; John Fraser, producer (London Symphony Orchestra; Gentlemen Of The London Symphony Chorus)
[Virgin Classics]
Best Choral Performance
“Mahler: Symphony No. 8; Adagio From Symphony No. 10″ - Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor; Ragnar Bohlin, Kevin Fox & Susan McMane, choir directors
(Laura Claycomb, Anthony Dean Griffey, Elza van den Heever, Katarina Karnéus, Quinn Kelsey, James Morris, Yvonne Naef & Erin Wall; San Francisco Symphony; Pacific Boychoir, San Francisco Symphony Chorus & San Francisco Girls Chorus)
[SFS Media]
Best Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (With Orchestra)
“Prokofiev: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 3″ - Vladimir Ashkenazy, conductor; Evgeny Kissin (Philharmonia Orchestra)
[EMI Classics]
Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (Without Orchestra)
“Journey To The New World” - Sharon Isbin (Joan Baez & Mark O’Connor)
[Sony Classical]
Best Chamber Music Performance
“Intimate Letters” - Emerson String Quartet
[Deutsche Grammophon]
Best Small Ensemble Performance
“Lang, David: The Little Match Girl Passion” - Paul Hillier, conductor; Ars Nova Copenhagen & Theatre Of Voices
[Harmonia Mundi]
Best Classical Vocal Performance
“Verismo Arias” - Renée Fleming (Marco Armiliato; Jonas Kaufmann; Orchestra Sinfonica Di Milano Giuseppi Verdi; Coro Sinfonica Di Milano Giuseppi Verdi)
[Decca]
Best Classical Contemporary Composition
“Higdon, Jennifer: Percussion Concerto” - Jennifer Higdon (Marin Alsop)
Track from: “Alsop Conducts MacMillan, Ad”
[London Philharmonic Orchestra]
Best Classical Crossover Album
“Yo-Yo Ma & Friends: Songs Of Joy And Peace” - Yo-Yo Ma
(Odair Assad, Sergio Assad, Chris Botti, Dave Brubeck, Matt Brubeck, John Clayton, Paquito d’Rivera, Renée Fleming, Diana Krall, Alison Krauss, Natalie McMaster, Edgar Meyer, Cristina Pato, Joshua Redman, Jake Shimabukuro, Silk Road Ensemble, James Taylor, Chris Thile, Wu Tong, Alon Yavnai & Amelia Zirin-Brown)
[Sony Classical]
“And Lo, There Shall Come An Ending!” (The Post That Won’t Stop!!!)
Updated 1/28/2010 AM:
New funny YouTube stuff from our favorite wacky Losties:
**********************
Updated 1/27/2010 PM:
If you don’t want to watch the final season of “Lost” in annoying week to week bites, you can wait for the home video version - ’cause it already has a street date!!
Streets 8/24/10 on DVD & BD.
• Original scripted content that goes deeper into some of the stories, exclusive to Blu-ray and DVD produced by Damon Lindeloff and Carlton Cuse.
• LOST Bloopers & Deleted Scenes
• LOST on Location - Go behind-the-scenes and get the stories from the set, on location in Hawaii from the actors and crew who make it happen.
• Crafting A Final Season - Investigation into the goals and expectations of the season through interviews with writers, producers, cast, and crew
• Audio Commentaries
• LOST University (BD Exclusive, powered by BD-Live)
• And MUCH More!
**********************
Updated 1/10/2010 PM:
And now, for the very last time, (five seasons of) “Lost in 8:15“:
**********************
Original 1/5 Posting:
The publicity machine has begun to hum like a Rambaldi sphere for the sixth and final season of “Lost“.
The Hollywood Reporter’s James Hibbard has a very spoiler-free discussion with Darlton at his Live Feed blog.
In the meanwhile, let this image make you shiver with antici-
"Say It!!" - pation.
DOTI: Bring On The Good Guys? Thank Odin!
The image is the story, though it’s certainly incomplete as of today.
Following the multi-year storylines - “Avengers: Disassembled”, “House of M”, “The Civil War”, “Secret Invasion” and the “Dark Reign” - Marvel Comics has announced their next company-wide overarching storyline, “The Heroic Age“. Or, as I’d like to call it, “Here Come The Good Guys” (at last).
Beginning work in 2003, writer Brian Michael Bendis, in concert with Marvel’s Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada and many other editors and writers, began an ambitious long-term plan to tear away at the very core of the Marvel Universe. The road was not totally smooth, and some of the steps along the way - insanity-fueled murders by the Scarlet Witch, the return of James “Bucky” Barnes, the deaths and resurrections of Hawkeye AND Steve Rogers (the only REAL Captain America), the hardcore right-winging of Tony Stark (a.k.a. Iron Man) and his resulting crisis of conscience, Peter Parker revealing his Spidey identity to the world only to have Mephisto (Marvel’s version of Satan) undo that act (along with his marriage to Mary Jane, the death of Harry Osborn, and giant chunks of Spidey continuity) - were met with turmoil and furor from fandom.
But through it all, the focus was kept on The Avengers, Marvel’s long-time, often long-suffering, superhero team. We know that the goal of the new Marvel filmed universe is to end up with a Marvel-style “Avengers” movie, featuring all the stars and characters from “Iron Man” forward. In the books, the destruction, and incomplete reconstitutions, of the Avengers has been the overall through-line of the past six plus years of Marvel’s output.
Now, in May 2010, the actual band will finally get back together with the release of a brand-new Avengers #1. Marvel won’t completely flesh out the story behind the above promo image, but speculation centers on who is wearing that modified Captain America uniform, and is this an Avengers-only picture or intended to be more line-wide.
All I can figure out is that everyone pictured, save for Gorilla-Man, has or is going to be featured in a Marvel movie. And how do I feel about this new direction? Considering the image below is, for me, the greatest comic book image of all time…
… then I’m pretty stoked about this.
For Those About To Shoot Repulsors, We Salute You!
It’s AC/DC and it’s “Iron Man 2” - together both!! However, most of the “exclusive footage” is of the leggy, armor-clad dancers.
Which is okay be me.
Who’s gonna tell “The Dark Knight” they’ll be vacating the number three all-time U.S. box office champ slot this summer?
