I officially became part of the problem this week, when I illegally downloaded a pirated TV show episode off the Internet. I don't want to name the show, in case it comes back to bite me somehow, but I'll give you a hint. It starts with an "L", it rhymes with "cost" and it's about a bunch of plane crash survivors on a mysterious deserted island. Except that it's not deserted because there's apparently some big-ass monster in the jungle, and there's definitely a crazy French chick out there, and holy-moly Kate is a total babe, but Sawyer's rakish bad-bay shtick is sure wearing thin, and ooh that Jin makes me so mad and I'm glad he left Sun because he doesn't deserve her...
   I normally don't get this stupid over a TV show, but when I do get stupid, I get really stupid. Stupid enough to lurk at the online forums and spend about four hours figuring out how to download an episode I missed.... Read the full story here. (10:29 PM)

   Ratings for Wednesday night's new episode are up. Lost won its timeslot with overnight ratings of 10.7/17 and viewership of approximately 17.62 million. Read the full story at Zap2It. Read the full story at Mediaweek. (10:10 PM)

   Good news for "Lost" fans: The first-season finale, originally planned as a 90-minute episode, is expanding to two hours.
   Bad news for "Lost" fans who also watch "American Idol": The season finales of both shows are now scheduled for the same night.
   ABC confirmed Wednesday (March 30) that it's planning to air the two-hour "Lost" finale, which will answer at least some of the questions about the plane-crash survivors and the mysterious island on which they're stranded, on Wednesday, May 25. That's the final night of May sweeps and the 2004-05 season.... Read the full story here. (9:26 PM)

   A new episode of Lost finally airs tonight! Catch "Deus Ex Machina" on ABC tonight. Locke begins to suffer physical difficulties as he and Boone try to find a way into the hatch; Jack is reluctant to offer assistance when Sawyer begins to experience excruciating headaches. (11:28 AM)

   A new episode of Lost finally airs tonight! Catch "Deus Ex Machina" on ABC tonight. Locke begins to suffer physical difficulties as he and Boone try to find a way into the hatch; Jack is reluctant to offer assistance when Sawyer begins to experience excruciating headaches. (11:28 AM)

Gotcha. Damon would NEVER do that. But he did grant Lost-TV an interview via instant messenger. Check the Message board under "General Discussion"!!

Thanks, Damon. You're the best! (12:25 AM)

   I've added three new affiliates: Charmed Files, Naveen-Andrews.net, and Lostzilla.net. Check them out! (11:21 PM)

   Good news, Lost fans! ABC is finally airing a new episode next Wednesday, entitled "Deus Ex Machina." Lost Multimedia has the awesome preview available for download, and you can check out screencaps from that preview here. (5:35 AM)

   I've updated the affiliates section, including a redesigned and revamped Adrien Brody Online. I've also added three new affiliates: More Than Anything, Lost-France.com, and The Story Doesn't Write Itself: The Official Matt Ragghianti Website. (9:33 AM)

   Do you have a question about Lost you'd like answered? Want to clarify something about the creative process? Or perhaps you just want to know some answers about the island, like Hurley? Then now's your chance! Lost-TV will once again be interviewing series co-creator and writer Damon Lindelof later this week. If you have a question you want answered, post it in the message board or email me. We make no guarantees that all questions will be asked (or that Damon will give a satisfactory answer, particularly regarding specific plot points), but we'll take all your questions into consideration. You have until Wednesday, March 23 to send those questions in. (If you want to read what happened the last time we talked to Damon, check out the interview here.) (11:25 AM)

   Yes, folks, it has been a year since Lost-TV went online and drummed up buzz for this crazy new show on ABC called Lost. We've come a long way from our old URL of lost.b0x.com and we're now one of the biggest Lost sites out there.
   To celebrate, I'm sure you've noticed the brand new site design! I hope you enjoy it. Also, the Lost writers have come up with a little something to help us celebrate! Yes, that the writers in the picture above, with series co-creator Damon Lindelof holding up a cupcake with a candle on it. From left to right, they are: Dawn Kelly (writer's asst.), Rachel Mellon (Carlton and Damon's asst.), Jennifer Johnson (writer), Brent Fletcher (script coordinator; co-writer of "Numbers"), Eddie Kitsis (writer), Monica Macer (writer), Carlton Cuse (writer/executive producer), Damon Lindelof (holding up the cupcake), David Fury (writer), Javier Grillo-Marxuach (the writer who's inexplicably pointing), Leonard Dick (writer), Adam Horowitz (writer), Matt Ragghianti (writer's asst., leaning on table), and Paul Dini (writer). Thanks guys! (7:30 AM)

   It's time for a new product design at the Lost-TV Swag Shop, and it's dedicated to our new favorite theory of what the island is all about, and just what that monster is. No, it's not purgatory; it's the Pissed Off Giraffe! Check out the shirts, mugs, bags, and even boxer shorts with the Pissed Off Giraffe print at the Lost-TV Swag Shop now! (11:11 AM)

   ABC has found a way to squeeze a little more life out of frosh blockbusters "Lost" and "Desperate Housewives"-- and possibly expand their already sizeable fan base to boot.
   Net has greenlit separate one-hour specials tied to both skeins, with the net's marketing and current programming departments overseeing production of both. But rather than serving up simple clipfests catering to current viewers, ABC is designing the specials to serve as introductory guides to the serialized shows....
   ...The "Lost" hour, set to air April 27 in the show's normal timeslot, will be of particular interest to current fans of the show. That's because the special will take the bits and pieces of information the show has doled out about six main characters over the last six months -- and retell their stories in a linear fashion.
   "You get to see how these characters are all interwoven and just how deep this show is," Benson said.
   Special -- from Metropolitan/ Hodder Group -- will focus on the characters of Jack, Kate, Locke, Sawyer, Charlie and Sayid. "What we did was break it down to a core of characters that seem to cross back and forth between everyone's lives," Taylor said, adding that there'll also be a segment on the island itself.
   Taylor credits "Lost" co-creator Damon Lindelof for the idea of telling the stories in a linear fashion.... Read the full story here (subscription required). (2:42 AM)

   Saturday (March 12) night's "Lost" lovefest at the William S. Paley Television Festival ended a little after 9 p.m. and no sooner were the closing words out of the moderator's mouth when an audible "Whoosh" could be heard in Director's Guild of America Theatre. Fans, some of whom had arrived at 6:30 in the morning to queue up for the event, surged the stage, lunging by exiting patrons to get close to their favorite cast members and creative talent.
   As this pent-up enthusiasm -- to say nothing of boffo ratings, overflowing Internet boards and boundless critical adoration -- suggests, "Lost" has, in short order, become a genuine obsession for those who follow its every unsolved mystery. So serious was the crowd on Saturday that much of the conversation was fueled by issues of life and death, particularly for one "Lost" character. While co-creator J.J. Abrams has made it clear that one member of the show's core ensemble won't make it through May sweeps, getting more information out of him might take the kind of interrogation skills that Naveen Andrews' Sayid picked up in the Republican Guard.... Read the full story here. (3:19 AM)

   A press release for the Lost DVD set has been posted at TV Shows on DVD. Among the special features included in the six-disc box set are "the never-before-seen, extended uncut version of the original pilot; exclusive, in-depth behind-the-scenes looks at the making of the show; backstage with Drive Shaft all-access pass behind the music; the art of Matthew Fox featurette; 'Before They Were Lost' original casting tapes; blooper reel; rare deleted scenes; and multiple filmmaker audio commentaries." Don't forget that you can pre-order the DVD on Amazon.com. (7:52 PM)

   ABC has released the plot description of episode 19, "Deus Ex Machina," airing March 30: Boone becomes concerned when Locke suffers physical problems while they try to find a way into the mysterious hatch. Meanwhile, Jack is reluctant to help when Sawyer starts to experience excruciating headaches, and Michael and Jin struggle to communicate while working together on the raft. (11:10 AM)

   Promo pictures for episode 20, "Do No Harm" (airing April 6), are now up here. Be warned that these are considered SPOILERS, so proceed at your own risk. (8:23 AM)

   On March 20, 2004, Lost-TV was unleashed unto the world, not knowing whether or not Lost would even be picked up by a network. Nearly a year later, Lost is the highest-rated new drama, and Lost-TV is one of the biggest fansites out there.
   We're celebrating our birthday next week, and we want you to celebrate with us! If you have a greeting you'd like to send - a postcard, a picture of you holding up a birthday cake, a little piece of fan art, maybe even a flash video - then hand it over to xander1600@yahoo.com and I'll post it on March 20. (7:12 AM)

   Sometime last year, Josh Holloway attended an event to hand-paint some guitars to benefit the Pediatric Epilepsy Project. Now, you have the opportunity to buy Josh's guitar! Guitar Center is auctioning off the guitar Josh Holloway hand-painted, with proceeds going to the Pediatric Epilepsy Project. The current high bid is $300, and the auction ends on May 1st. (11:58 AM)

   Lost-TV and DanielDaeKim.org worked together to bring to you an interview with the actor who plays Jin on the show. He answers various questions such as what working in Hawaii, and reveals to us just what he thinks about Jin and his story. You can read the interview here. (7:57 PM)

   Check out the DVD box art for the official Lost Season One DVD set at the message board. (12:39 AM)

   It appears that instead of new episodes starting to air after 5 weeks of reruns on April 13, new episodes will air on March 30 and April 6. So instead of having four more weeks of reruns followed by the last new episodes of the first season, we'll (probably) have two more weeks of reruns followed by two weeks of new episodes, then two weeks of reruns again, and finally the last four episodes of Season One. (8:07 PM)

   Tonight is a rerun of "All the Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues." (12:17 PM)

   Daniel Dae Kim is no stranger to successful television shows. He's had recurring roles on "24", "ER", and "Angel", and has made guest appearances on "CSI", "The Shield", and "Beverly Hills, 90210". These roles, however, now seem minor compared to the colossal attention and acclaim he's receiving for his portrayal of Jin on ABC's smash hit, "Lost". A Korean man with a troubled past, Jin's inability to effectively communicate with his wife has led to a disintegration of their relationship. Kim tells me he's thrilled to play such a dynamic and intricate character. "The only thing that any actor can really ask for is to play a complex, interesting person with a lot of different dimensions," he remarks. "Right now, Jin is that. People can't pigeonhole him into a bad guy or a hero. He's a lot of different things to a lot of different people."
   Kim first became serious about acting in his sophomore year of college and went on to earn an MFA from the graduate acting program at New York University. He credits much of what he learned there with preparing him for a career in show business. "I think my time at NYU was invaluable," he says.... Read the full story here. (2:10 AM)

   Feeling unlucky?
   A couple of hundred Michiganders were.
   The ABC hit show "Lost" on Wednesday revealed a sequence of numbers - 4, 8, 15, 16, 23 and 42 - that seemed innocent but weren't, according to the story. Win the lottery with the numbers, and those around you lose - heart attacks, twisted ankles, fires, a plane crash.
   So what did at least 215 people do after the show? They played the numbers for a shot at Friday's $10 million Mega Millions jackpot, lottery officials said.
   They lost.... Read the full story here. (8:10 AM)

   Pssst! Wanna play some cursed numbers?
   Fans of ABC's new hit show Lost are likely pondering that very question after Wednesday night's episode in which it was revealed fan favourite character Hurley is actually a mega-millionaire thanks to the lottery.
   Problem is, Hurley got rich thanks to six numbers -- 4, 8, 15, 16, 23 and 42 -- that are cursed.
   Turns out Hurley -- he of large hair and larger girth -- scored the numbers off a patient in an insane asylum who got them from a radio transmission from the strange Pacific island where Hurley and his castmates crash landed.... Read the full story here. (8:05 AM)

   It is hard to believe a series based on the vague idea of a dramatic version of reality show Survivor would become such an instant hit.
   But Lost has been pulling more than two million viewers a week for the Seven Network and, for the past five weeks, has been battling it out with Desperate Housewives for the title of Australia's most-watched show.... Read the full story here. (7:52 AM)

   By special request, here are Hurley's winning numbers: 4 8 15 16 23 42. If you want to bet these numbers at your local lottery, be my guest. (8:55 PM)

   Zap2It reports overnight ratings of 11.3/18 for last night's new episode, while Mediaweek projects total viewership at approximately 18.83 million viewers. This was enough to make sure that Lost once again won its timeslot. (12:56 PM)

   Tonight is the last new episode of Lost before it enters 5 weeks of hiatus. This is the 18th episode, "Numbers," and this is the official ABC description: When Hurley becomes obsessed with the French woman and heads into the jungle to find her, Jack, Sayid and Charlie have no choice but to follow. Meanwhile, Locke asks Claire to help build a mysterious item. Series co-creator Damon Lindelof also has this to say about tonight's episode: As multiple spoilers have already been posted on the site regarding Hurley's "secret," the only thing I would tease is that watching the LAST thirty seconds of the show is absolutely ESSENTIAL. A really cool twist, I think! You can discuss the episode at the message board. (11:19 AM)

   It might seem difficult to stand out in a cast of 14 regulars.
   But not for Jorge Garcia, who plays Hurley, the laid-back dude on the ABC hit Lost.
   He's distinctive for his size (6-foot-1 and 300-plus pounds), especially in a prime-time TV world populated by the ultra-thin.
   But it's more than that for a character who has quickly become a fan favorite. The wild-haired Hurley provides a welcome respite from the suspenseful, harrowing events of Lost (Wednesday, 8 ET/PT). "He's a regular guy. I think that appeals to people. And he lightens up the intensity of the show," says Garcia, 25. "A lot of times I'll find people telling me I'm their kid's favorite."
   What makes him distinctive to fans? "Hmmm ... size, hair, his interest in others and humor," says Courtenay Cross, a moderator of fan Web site lost-tv.com. "He is the needed comic relief for the mysterious events that go on."
   So far, on an island of secrets, a few fragments of Hurley's background have been revealed.... Read the full story here. (Thank you, USA Today, for another shout-out to our website!) (10:42 AM)

   Apparently, there is a series of segments on Lost this week on Good Morning America on ABC. Check them out! (4:53 AM)

   ABC's "Lost" will return for a second season of filming on O'ahu, according to Barry Jossen, senior vice president of production for Touchstone Television.
   The return is contingent on ABC renewing "Lost" for another season — a virtual certainty given the series' dominance of its Wednesday-night time slot.
   "We are not leaving," Jossen said by telephone from Los Angeles, responding to recent talk the show would not return unless the state takes measures such as enacting tax breaks to help defray the cost of shooting here.... Read the full story here. (8:32 PM)

   Those who have missed all the fuss over this season's hottest first-year shows on TV can catch up this fall on DVD. Lost: The Complete First Season will hit stores Sept. 6 (Buena Vista Home Entertainment, $60). Among the extras on the six-disc set: deleted scenes, casting tapes, bloopers and a featurette featuring photography by series star Matthew Fox.... Read the full story here. (7:57 PM)

   Did you enjoy the song that was playing in Hurley's Discman last Wednesday? The title of that song is "Delicate" by Damien Rice, and you can download live versions of the song at Eskimo Friends - A Damien Rice Fan Site. Enjoy! (12:26 AM)