A visit to the McFarlane Toys booth at Comic-Con this weekend yielded a glimpse at the company's upcoming line of Lost toys. Based, of course, on the hit ABC series, the first line of figures features Jack, Kate, Charlie, Shannon, Locke, and Hurley, plus a diorama from the famous/infamous hatch set that has figured so prominently on the show. Also spotted at the booth – if you were there at the right time – were series stars Jorge Garcia (Hurley) and Daniel Dae Kim (Jin) to promote the toys. Nevermind that Jin doesn’t have an action figure of his own yet. There's always series two! View the pictures here. (11:37 PM)

   Brazilian actor Rodrigo Santoro is joining the cast of ABC's Emmy-winning drama "Lost" as a regular.
   Santoro's character will join the castaways in the mystery series' upcoming third season.
   One of Brazil's most famous and accomplished young actors, Rodrigo is familiar to U.S. audiences from his co-starring roles in the features "Love Actually" and "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle."...
   ...Santoro caught the eye of American agents and entertainment executives with his starring turn in Walter Salles' acclaimed film "Behind the Sun," which was distributed in the U.S. by Miramax Films and received a Golden Globe nomination for foreign-language film in 2002.
   Santoro's Brazilian films also include "Carandiru" and "Brainstorm."
   Rodrigo has won eight best actor awards in Brazil, including the first-ever best actor award from the Brazilian Academy of Arts and Film for "Brainstorm."... Read the full story here. (9:33 PM)

   Lost has found its new mystery man — and you're reading about it here first! Rodrigo Santoro, best known to American audiences as the hot dude Laura Linney crushed on in Love Actually, is joining the cast this fall. I know what you're thinking, "Rodrigo... Whatchoo Talkin' 'Bout Willis?" That was my initial reaction, too. Well, the 30-year-old actor may not be a household name here in the States, but there apparently is no bigger movie star in Brazil than him. Don't take my word for it, though. Read on, as Lost boys Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse proudly discuss their latest find.... Read the full story here. More information at Boston Herald. (3:29 AM)

   The "Lost: Season 3" panel Saturday morning at Comic-Con International in San Diego was absolutely packed. Moderator Karen Idleson opened by asking, "Are you hungry?" Before launching into the first of the panel's "video biscuits."
   "Lost Diaries" was the first clip, a preview of the mobile episodes ("mobisodes") coming this fall from Verizon. In the clip, Hurley finds a video camera that still works, and shows it to Kate and Sawyer, just in case they're killed, "or eaten or something."
   Next up were a few more surprises form the "Lost" Season 2 DVD bonus materials. There was a new Dharma Initiative training video, detailing the three phases of island work: Observation, Addition and Conclusion.... Read the full story here. (3:26 AM)

   No one on the TV series "Lost" has yet been able to explain the significance of the number string that seems to follow the characters around. Those playing the "Lost Experience" game, though, may find out soon.
   ABC says the globe-spanning online game, which launched in May, will reveal the meaning behind the 4-8-15-16-23-42 number string -- which has bedeviled Hurley (Jorge Garcia) in particular -- in its current phase. The network also promises information on the mysterious Alvar Hanso and his Hanso Foundation before the game concludes at the start of the show's third season.
   "The reward we've always promised from the Lost Experience is information, which is currency to anyone who is a fan of the show or a participant in this game," says Mike Benson, head of marketing for ABC Entertainment. "This additional form of storytelling allows us to engage current and new fans in a genuinely innovative way while delivering the same extraordinary content that 'Lost' provides as a television series.... Read the full story here. (3:23 AM)

   Executive producer Bryan Burk wouldn't offer many hints about the third season of Lost.
   "We've got big problems," Burk said. "Jack, Kate, and Sawyer, they've got Other issues, and I mean Other with a capital 'O'."
   But executive producer Carlton Cuse was more forthcoming.
   "This year we're looking to make the show brighter, more vibrant," Cuse said at an ABC party. "There's more emphasis on action, adventure, and romance. The show won't be as dark, as internal. There will be more emphasis on character access, less on mythological access.... Read the full story here. (3:15 AM)

   Get ready for Hurley the filmmaker in The Lost Diaries, a new series of mobile-phone episodes, or "mobisodes."
   In a preview shown to more than 4,000 Lost fans Saturday at Comic-Con, Hurley (Jorge Garcia) finds a video camera, which he uses to record events on the island. Plans are for 13 two-minute mobisodes on Verizon this fall, but the early going has been slow. "It has been hard to get it off the ground, because we don't want them to be ... lame," executive producer Damon Lindelof told a filled ballroom.
   The video clips, including previews of extras in the upcoming Lost Season 2 DVD, were accompanied by Season 3 tidbits from Garcia, Lindelof and three other Lost representatives: Daniel Dae Kim (Jin) and executive producers Carlton Cuse and Bryan Burk.
   Here's a little of what to look for in the upcoming season (premiering Oct. 4), which will be split into two parts to eliminate breaks in continuity caused by reruns.... Read the full story here. (4:31 AM)

   An absolutely packed to capacity audience gathered this morning for one of the earliest panels of the day, to see some of the creators and cast of ABC's Lost. In attendance were co-creator/executive producer Damon Lindelof, executive producers Bryan Burk and Carlton Cuse and two cast members; Daniel Dae Kim and Jorge Garcia.
   Preview footage was shown from the upcoming Lost mobisodes -- in which Hurley was seen filming Kate and Sawyer with a video camera he found -- and also some footage from the upcoming Lost Season 2 DVD. After that, the panelists took questions from the audience, which covered a broad range of topics.
   Asked the strangest theory they've heard, Cuse said it was that the entire story was taking place in the head of the dog, Vincent, while Garcia said it was that, "Hurley was Claire's baby grown up, that was on the island ahead of time." Some critics and fans had grown concerned that Lost was making up too much of the story as they go, but Cuse remarked that, "We have an endpoint for the show, we have an overarching mythology for the show," though within that "there's a lot of room for improvisation, to try to keep it organic and reacting to what we see on screen." Lindelof insisted, "We never ask a question on the show if we don't have an answer for it," but pointed out the Michael/Jin storyline as an example of altering something due to the actors; in this case, they had originally intended Michael and Jin t... remain enemies all first season, but the chemistry between the actors led them to change the storyline so that they became friends. However, Lindelof added, "When it comes to Dharma and the Others, you have to write to that and hope that you don't f**k up.... Read the full story here. (4:17 AM)

   Bumps in the night.
   Perhaps it was an homage to "Lost," but for whatever reasons the limited lighting at the ABC stars party made the whole affair turn into blind man's bluff.
   Still, we were able to find enough people to shed some light on what's going on with the network's two top series....
   ... As it turned out, the night was filled with producers ready to spill series secrets. When news that "Lost" producer Carlton Cuse was having an attack of loose lips over in the corner, most critics in the party clawed their way through the crowd to get the low down.
   First, Cuse says, Desmond isn't dead. And we'll be spending the first six episodes - before the show goes on hiatus until next spring - seeing Kate, Jack and Sawyer dealing with life in captivity.
   The trio will be with The Others, and Cuse says we'll discover that The Others are quite different from what we thought. Also, the outside world was introduced in the season finale (and that's not going away, Cuse says), with men at an ice station detecting where the Losties are located.... Read the full story here. (4:14 AM)

   NBC has had a rough couple of seasons in the ratings, but it's earned the respect of the nation's (and Canada's) TV critics.
   The network was the big winner at Sunday's 22nd annual Television Critics Awards, taking home four trophies, including outstanding comedy ("The Office") and outstanding new show ("My Name Is Earl"). "The Office" star Steve Carell won the award for individual achievement in comedy, and "The West Wing" received the Heritage Award, given to a show that has had a lasting impact on television.
   "Grey's Anatomy" earned the program of the year award, which recognizes a show that has a big impact on the pop-culture landscape. It wasn't named best drama, however -- that award went to another ABC show, "Lost," which won its second straight award.... Read the full story here. (4:12 AM)

   The Yu-Gi-Oh TRADING CARD GAME (TCG) -- the world's number one trading card game -- celebrates its 5th year anniversary at the 2006 Comic-Con International with a competitive "Duel" between Lost star Malcolm David Kelley ("Walt") and reigning National TCG champion, 11-year-old Austin Kulman of Bellvue, Wa. The action will take place in the main exhibit hall on Saturday, July 22, at 2 p.m. at the Upper Deck booth (#2829) and will be followed by a meet-and-greet session with Yu-Gi-Oh! fans.
   "I've been collecting Yu-Gi-Oh! cards and have been playing the game for the past couple of years," Kelley said. "I would be really surprised if I were able to beat Austin during this match!"
   Kelley has been a part of the ensemble cast of the Emmy Award-winning Lost series since its debut on ABC in 2004. Kelley portrays Walt, a 14-year-old boy who, upon being reunited with his father, embarks on the ill-fated flights that crashes in the South Pacific.... Read the full press release here. (10:25 AM)

WHAT: Photo Op with Jorge Garcia and his Hurley Lost
action figure presented by Todd McFarlane, Spawn
Creator and McFarlane Toys CEO

WHO: Jorge Garcia, Hurley on the ABC Television Network's Lost
Todd McFarlane, McFarlane Toys - action figure
licensee, Lost

TIME: 1:30 p.m.

DATE: Saturday, July 22

PLACE: San Diego Convention Center,
Comic-Con International 2006
McFarlane Toys Booth No. 2601

McFarlane Toys' Lost Series captures six compelling characters from the series' first season: Jack, Kate, Hurley, Locke, Charlie and Shannon. Each 6-inch Lost action figure will come complete with a detailed base and photographic backdrop, capturing an episode-specific moment in the character's story. In addition, each package will include a detailed prop reproduction, central to the character's story, enabling fans to "own" a piece of the show's mythology. Visit spawn.com for more information. Read the full press release here. (10:23 AM)

   Who killed Laura Palmer? Remember that burning question, the one ABC had all of America pondering endlessly 16 years ago? The network caused a sensation in 1990 when it first aired Twin Peaks, the bizarre serial drama created by David Lynch. The show was a trailblazer in keeping its audience riveted to the plot and characters well after its final scene aired every week on Thursday nights. Twin Peaks became a franchise for ABC and a brand unto itself (Twin Peaks festivals are still held today). Other television shows that have become franchises, from CSI to Law & Order, trod in Twin Peaks' footsteps.
   Today networks face enormous new challenges to create similar excitement—and again ABC is blazing a trail. The loyalty to networks and their power to capture a significant share of what people watch is fading. A recent poll by Bolt Media showed that only a quarter of 16- to 34-year-olds could name all four of the Big Networks. But by taking a fresh approach using new media to create buzz and interest, ABC has managed to replicate its Twin Peaks magic with its hit show Lost, which is centered around plane crash survivors on a tropical island. It is creating a blueprint that other networks are using to think way beyond just TV. "ABC obviously does not see this as just a TV show," says Dan Hill, a new-media designer and author of the "cityofsound" blog where he frequently offers his views on TV. "[The network] sees all of media as the canvas for the show."
   ABC broke new ground using a sophisticated layer of producer podcasts, fake sites, series downloads, and fan outreach to foster a digital franchise. Even before ABC first aired the show in Sept. 2004, the producers two months earlier debuted it before 3,000 mostly tech-crazed young guys at the popular annual comics convention Comic-Con in San Diego (George Lucas tested Star Wars there in 1977). By then the first fan site, www.lost-tv.com, was up and running, initiating fans to the story and characters well ahead of its first showing on TV. Before too long, fans were chattering about Lost on their own online blogs. Once the show was determined to be a hit in the first few weeks, drawing more than 15 million viewers for each episode on average, Lost's producers started their own Web site and blog, putting themselves in the vanguard of Hollywood players connecting directly with fans. "We realized what we had was three things that most shows never have collectively," says Javier Grillo-Marxuach, a former supervising producer and a writer on Lost who just left the show in May. "We had mass appeal, cult appeal, and critical appeal." And, of course, the perfect demographics - tech-savvy kids, mostly male, 16 to 34.... Read the full story here. (10:20 AM)

   "LOST" producer Bryan Burk doesn't want you to think of this coming fall season of "Lost" as season 3.
   "It's more like 'Lost' 2.5," Burk says. "This fall is like a miniseries, then in the spring you'll have season three."
   ABC announced during its portion of the summer press tour for TV critics this week in Pasadena that the series would be coming back for just six episodes on Oct. 4, then do a "Sopranos"-style disappearance until 2007.
   Taking the "Lost" slot will be a "Groundhog Day"-like drama "Day Break," starring Taye Diggs as a guy reliving each day while trying to prevent his girlfriend from being murdered.
   Then "Lost" comes back for a spring run of about 16 uninterrupted episodes that will not include any reruns.... Read the full story here. (10:17 AM)

   On the heels of becoming one of the hottest new directors for Paramount Pictures as well as a new television deal with Warner Bros., "Star Trek XI" director J.J. Abrams may be stepping away from his hit ABC series "Lost" following its third season.
   TV.com reports that while it's not clear what Abrams' plans are after the season concludes, he will be much more active in the series than he has been thanks to previous commitments to the "Mission: Impossible" sequel film as well as former ABC show "Alias."
   "This year, he is back 100 percent," said ABC Entertainment president Steve McPherson during the TV Critics Association press tour in Pasadena, Calif. "He is writing, he is even directing some episodes. Last season, it was tough. He did what he could, but he was away doing MI:3. This year, he is back, working on the show full-time.... Read the full story here. (10:15 AM)

   The good news for "Lost" fans: ABC has listened to you, and has scheduled the show in such a way for next season that it won't have any reruns.
   The bad news: There will be a 13-week gap between the show's first run of episodes in the fall and the unbroken 15- or 16-episode string to close the 2006-07 season.
   Into that long break will go "Day Break," a new drama series that stars Taye Diggs as an L.A. detective who's being framed for murder and keeps reliving the same day, "Groundhog Day"-style, while trying to prove his innocence.... Read the full story here. (10:12 AM)

   Two titan dramas battled for first place in the semiannual TelevisionWeek Critics Poll, and the result is a draw.
   ABC's "Lost," winner of the past three Critics Polls, tied for first place with HBO's "The Sopranos," which has won five previous polls. With "The Sopranos" off the air for the past two years, the summer 2006 survey is the first time the dramas have gone head to head.
   Fifty-three critics participated in the poll, which ranks critics' favorite and least favorite TV series, movies and networks. In addition to "Lost" and "Sopranos," other top shows included ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" and Fox's "24" and "House." Critics' choices for worst shows were Fox's "Unan1mous" and "The War at Home" and HBO's "Lucky Louie." Among networks, Fox was named most improved and NBC least improved.
   More on those later. First, back to the "Lost" vs. "Sopranos" fight: Both shows enjoy the distinction of winning every previous poll for which they were eligible. ("Sopranos" was ranked lower on some yesteryear winter polls, before TVWeek excluded programs that did not air originals in the current season.)
   For the second season of "Lost," critical consensus held that the show provided high-quality writing, great characters and engaging mysteries. A few critics took issue, however, with ABC's presentation of the series, accusing the network of over-milking the cow. "It's not the show's fault that ABC interrupted it with repeats, clip shows and pretty much every gimmick except a televised online chat," wrote Rick Kushman of The Sacramento (Calif.) Bee. "People can be ticked at ABC, but 'Lost' did its job with class."
   Melanie McFarland of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer left this heartfelt message for the series: "You strung me along. You abandoned me for weeks! But whenever we'd meet up, it was magic-pure magic. 'Lost,' I'm hooked, but on some level, I just know you're going to end up breaking my heart … call me!"... Read the full story here. (3:36 AM)

   ABC will run its mystery drama "Lost" for six or seven episodes this fall, then give its Wednesday 9 p.m. (ET) time period over to debuting drama "Day Break" for 13 weeks before "Lost" returns in first quarter 2007, ABC announced Tuesday at the Television Critics Association press tour.
   If the network could run "Lost" for 22 consecutive weeks in the fall, "We probably would," Entertainment President Steve McPherson said at ABC 's TCA executive session in Pasadena, Calif. But he said the production schedule for the show makes that too difficult.
   Waiting until midseason to debut "Lost," as Fox does with "24," "felt like it would be too long off the air," Mr. McPherson said.... Read the full story here. (3:30 AM)

   Don't look for much Lost this fall. The good news: The popular show returns with six consecutive episodes on Oct. 4. The bad news: As previously announced, the season will be split into two parts. After the six-episode run, Lost will be replaced by the Taye Diggs drama Day Break, which will get a 13-episode run. Lost won't find its way back until February, when 16 consecutive episodes will air.
   ABC Entertainment chief Stephen McPherson blamed the split season on "heavy production constraints."
   
As for the show being snubbed by the Emmys, McPherson said, "That kind of oversight is remarkable — and sad. I heard that some members of the Emmy panel had never seen the show. If that's the case, there's a problem with the panel.... Read the full story here. (3:25 AM)

   Lost was nominated for nine Emmy Awards this year; however, it won't be given a chance to defend its title as Outstanding Drama Series, as it was snubbed in that category. This year's nominees for Outstanding Drama Series are Grey's Anatomy, House, The Sopranos, 24, and The West Wing.
   Lost is nominated in the following categories: Outstanding Casting For A Drama Series, Outstanding Cinematography For A Single-Camera Series ("Man of Science, Man of Faith"), Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Drama Series ("One of Them" and "Live Together, Die Alone (Part 1 and 2)"), Outstanding Single-Camera Sound Mixing For A Series ("Live Together, Die Alone (Part 2)"), Outstanding Special Visual Effects For A Series ("Live Together, Die Alone (Part 1 and 2)"), Outstanding Writing For A Drama Series (Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof, "The 23rd Psalm"), Outstanding Directing For A Drama Series (Jack Bender, "Live Together, Die Alone"), and Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series for Henry Ian Cusick as Desmond.
   The Emmys will be handed out on August 27. (12:11 PM)