"Lost"

J.J. Abrams has a new show on television. This is the same guy who brought “Felicity” and “Alias” to the world. I never saw “Felicity”, but “Alias” is like crack. And I’m not talking regular ol’ street grade crack. I’m talking about the hyper-enhanced crack that the government has developed and tested on monkeys for The Man’s latest experiment with a new riot control weapon.

So this television season, I decided to take on a lover. I have not watched a show with dedicated fervor since Seinfeld went off the air. There have been shows that I have watched and enjoyed, but never made a point see every week. Actually that is not entirely accurate, I did begrudgingly make it through the whole first season of “Deadwood.” But I don’t think that counts as “dedicated fervor.”

Having made the decision to commit myself to a show, I then had to choose a show. Pickings were slim. There is a lot of garbage out there. With a feeling of winning the booby prize, I picked “Boston Legal.” If nothing else, I would get to see Shatner every week; so that would be awesome. The flip side to that is that Shatner could barely be featured and I will have to endure a raft of Spader; and unless he’s reprising his role as 80’s rich jerk-off from “Pretty in Pink,” I can do without him. I hoped that with luck and a little karmic justice the show would be cancelled in five or six episodes and I will have fulfilled my ludicrous decision to see a show through the season.

But, while preparing for “Boston Legal”, which is carried by ABC, I saw a commercial for “Lost.” “From the creator of Alias…” the commercial claimed. My mind made a series of quick connections that only a junkie can understand. J.J. Abrams –> Alias –> Crack –> No Alias until January –> New show, “Lost” –> Alias guy –> New crack? –> Need crack –> Watch “Lost” –> Same as crack. I didn’t even know the premise of the show and already I was a huge fan.

So now I am two episodes in. It is clearly created by the same team that does Alias. Thus far, “Lost” too is fraught with twists and turns and surprises. If you need to get caught up, ABC is replaying the first two episodes this weekend. Otherwise, I’ll see you all Wednesday nights at 8 (7 Central) on ABC.