Today’s updates in bullet-point form.  Ready? Go!

11:00AM-12:00PM – Lost: The Final Season Panel (Hall H)  *Spoiler warning*

• The Lost panel kicked off with a video clip of a fake 80’s ABC show called “Mysteries of the Universe” that focuses on the Dharma Initiative.  ABC will be posting new installments of the viral videos on the Lost website.  The first video (the video that was shown at Comic Con) is up on the website right now.  It’s description: “A project discussed for years in and around conspiracy circles. Once thought to be lost, this explosive documentary series has never been seen before…until now.”  After that, an Oceanic Airlines commercial was played.
• Executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse (together, Darlton) told the audience how much they appreciate our support for the show and that the panel’s theme is all about the fan’s devotion to the show.
• They present a video of user generated content relating to Lost.  Many of the video are very funny and creative.
• The winner of the Lost mock theme contest is revealed.  The winning song is played over a short Lost montage.
• Darlton places a small black box on the table and place a piece of paper in it claiming it reads the final scene of the Lost series finale.  It is to be read on Jimmy Kimmel Live after the finale airs to prove they did in fact know where the story was going from the beginning.  They wrap the keys to the box around their necks.
• Q&A takes place; Lindelof – “We will be as honest and forthcoming as we never were.”  Ha!  First fan asked how season 6 will be related to season 1.  Darlton explained that season 6 will bring things full circle and that “You’ll be seeing many characters you haven’t seen since the first season.”  Hmm…Does that mean everything was in fact reset and Juliet was successful in detonating the bomb, thus bringing everyone back?  Cuse: “There was a certain feel [to season one].  They were running around in the jungle. Things felt intense and surprising.  We feel we have a way to do that in the final season of the show that we like, and we hope you will too.  Lindelof: “It’s really our goal to have you watch the final season of the show and not know what we’re going to do next.”  They promise much suspense and continued unpredictability.
• Funnyman Paul Scheer (from “Human Giant”) presented Darlton a personal painting of Cuse, Lindelof, and a polar bear.  Funny, then not so much.  His website: http://damoncarltonandapolarbear.com/dcpb/
• After another fan asked a question concerning flashbacks Carlton responded: “We are doing something different in season 6.  The time travel season is over, the flash-forward season is over. We have something different planned. Hopefully, you will like it, but we are not going to commit to what it’s going to be.”  Hmm, what will the new format be?
• Three videos are played that spark new questions about possible alternate timelines: (1) An America’s Most Wanted host John Walsh talks about Kate Austin and her murderous ways.  Most important tidbit coming from this video–Kate did NOT kill her step father (Wayne Jansenn in the planned explosion earlier in the series.  Walsh says, “But fate would intervene on this tragic evening.”  Apparently, Kate’s stepfather sent his apprentice to lock up his house, and it was he who perished inside the house.  (2) An Oceanic Airlines video was shown.  It is mentioned in the commercial that Oceanic neverhad a crash.  (3) In this clip, Hurley appears in a commerical for Mr. Cluck’s chicken as the company’s CEO.  He is very cheerful.  Apparently he is very wealthy from the money he won in the lottery and his lottery numbers have only brought him good luck.  Hm..alternate reality = Juliet’s detonation of the bomb in fact reset the timeline??
• As soon as this video is over, Jorge Garcia (Hurley) appears in the audience and has some questions for Darlton.  He ask if Juliet was successful in detonating the bomb and thus resetting the timeline for the Losties.  He points out that that seems like it will indeed happen after watching the Mr. Cluck’s commercial.  The numbers and lottery ticket bring Hurley fortune and success rather than bad luck and a ticket to the island in this alternate reality.  Very interesting..alternate reality, anyone?
• Jorge Garcia also asks if every questions is going to be answered in the final season.  Damon responds, “Everything that matters is going to be answered.”  Whatever that means…
• Michael Emerson (Ben Linus) then appears in the audience and starts having a mock argument with Jorge.  This confrontation leads to a video clip of a fake but hilarious resurfaced audition tape of Emerson trying for the part of Hurley before he was casted as Ben.  Although this is meant for laughs, this clip also alludes to an alternate reality, albeit one that involves Ben attempting to get the role of Hurley.
• Darlton responds to a fan question about Juliet’s future on the show: Juliet will be back on the show.  They made sure to mention that if Juliet indeed set off the bomb (and Jack’s plan worked) she will be alive and well, and if she did not, she will definitely be a goner.  They added that the dead Daniel Farraday will also be back on the show in some form or other.
• A fan asks about Richard Albert and wants to know if we will receive a flashback for him to learn his back-story.  The answer was yes.  (It was reported today that Nestor Carbonell will be a season regular and will appear in “16 of the 18 episodes,” he says.  “Obviously Richard doesn’t age, so I’m most curious to know how old he is and if he’s in fact pulling the strings.”
• After a fan asks if Carbonell wears eye-liner off set, Darlton rolls a live feed on the big screen revealing Carbonell applying makeup backstage.  He mutters, “Richard Alpert’s not immortal. You are!”  After comically complaining about his stylist giving him the wrong shade of eye-liner he asked for, Carbonell joins Darlton, Jorge, and Emerson on stage.
• A fan asks if the Lost fanbase is on the right path when they call the ‘man in black’ the biblical name “Esau.”  Emerson responds: “We sometimes deal in Biblical imagery, but we tend to dance in and back away from it. That might be too much, but I like the way your mind is working.”  Hmm…  (Quite impressed with his non-answer answer Damon nods to Emerson–“You’re good at this!”
• Fan asks if we will learn more about the Dharma Initiative.  Darlton says they are moving away from the D.I. as much has already been explained about them in the previous season.  They recommended fans watch the announced “Mysteries of the Universe” videos to learn more.  Another fan asks where the Dharma food comes from and how exactly the food is dropped from the sky.  Darlton says that will be explained this season.
• It is confirmed that Jacob has never been seen by the characters on the island embodied as someone/something else.
• A quick clip is played; it is a montage of Sawyer.  Slowride by Foghat plays behind it.  Following the clip Josh Holloway (Sawyer) comes onto the stage, in character, and mock tazes Lindelof to steal the key around his neck to open the black box and read aloud the final scene from the finale.  Everyone could tell this was very much scripted, but that made it all the more enjoyable.  Holloway opens the box, takes out the peice of paper, and Emerson points out that he can’t even read!  Emerson takes the paper from him and reads it aloud (in a very creepy, Ben-like manner): “Exterior, circus tent, night… As the flames die, we find Sylar and Parkman…What the f–k is this?”  It is a scene from the TV show “Heroes!”  Ha!!  (And so it is confirmed, the whole final scene being written down was a fake out.)
• The last clip is a “In Memorium” montage played over Boyz II Men’s “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday.”  Characters included were Michael Dawson, Libby Smith (this is the first unveiling of her last name), Ana Lucia, Daniel Farraday, and lastly Charlie Pace (who received the loudest applause).  Immediately following this clip Dominic Monaghan appeared on stage and joined the others.  Looks like Charlie will be back after all, in some form or other.  After a quick entrance, Darlton said their thank you’s and goodbye’s.  The final Lost panel is over.  “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” plays the audience out.

Although much was not revealed during the panel, the ode to the fans was very heartfelt and the videos and clips were very funny and entertaining.  Lost: The Final Seasons airs in January 2010 on ABC.  Destiny Found.

*Weird–>”The marketing graphic for Lost season six included all our favorite characters (heralding the return of many of them) but the important thing is that the last character added to the animation was Locke, and he was very obviously facing backward, while all the other characters were facing forward. Ahhh, Unlocke!” (Via EOnline)  I call him “not-Locke Locke.”  (Also, check out www.lostuniversity.org.  Flyers for this new viral campaign were handed out prior to the panel.  Likely an ARG (alternate reality game) leading up to the sixth season.)

 

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1:30PM-3:00PM – Glee Panel (Indigo Ballroom)

•  The season premiere episode was aired for the audience.  Will not give away spoilers, except that Kanye West’s Gold Digger is performed by Glee Club leader Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) and the other Glee Club members.  It’s an awesome rendition.  The episode itself was highly entertaining and very funny.  Four to five songs were performed.  The plot is furthered a lot by the end of the episode.
• After the screening of the first episode, Glee’s producers and main cast were brought on stage.  Cast members included Matthew Morrison (Will Schuester), Lea Michelle (Rachel Berry), Cory Monteith (Finn Hudson), and Dianna Argon (Quinn Fabray).
• This new show is going to be a hit.  It includes drama, hilarity, music, dance, and great cinematography.  It is a very differenttype of show.  It is very hard to compare it to any other show on TV right now (or ever).  Some of the cast mention “Freaks and Geeks.”  When a fan compared it to the “High School Musical” franchise Cory Monteith responded, “It’s like if ‘High School Musical’ had been punched in the stomach and had its lunch money stolen.”
• When asked why the plot develops so quickly in just the first episode the producers stated that they do not intend to play games with their audience.  If something is highly expected to happen, it will happen when it should; nothing will be purposely dragged out over a number of episodes.  Sounds good to me!
• So far, around 56 songs have been written and recorded.
• Future plans for Glee: (1) The talented cast is going on a 12-day 10-city tour this summer to boost the hype for the show.  (2) A Glee soundtrack is set to release this November.  (3) The producers are booking many high profile guests for future episodes.  They include Josh Grobin, Kristin Chenoweth, and Victor Garber.  (4) The producers promise more musical hits for the episodes, including a late-season ep containing both Barbara Streisand and Rolling Stones renditions.

Glee is one of this season’s most anticipated new shows, and for good reason!  Glee is a fresh idea for a TV program.  It is a drama.  It is a comedy.  It is a musical.  Its two main stars, Matthew Morrison and Lea Michele, come from Broadway.  The entire cast are extremely talented actors, singers, and dancers.  It is so original and like nothing else.  The Glee season premiere airs on September 16 on FOX.  Spread the word of Glee!

 

 4:00PM-5:00PM – Fringe Panel (Ballroom 20)  *Spoiler warning*

• The Fringe panel included executive producers Jeff Pinkner and J. H. Wyman, consulting producers Alex Kurtzman and Robert Orci, and main cast members John Noble (Walter), Joshua Jackson (Peter), Jasika Nicole (Astrid), and the stunning Anna Torv (Olivia).
• There was much discussion about the “alternate universes” conception and revelations.  Pinker: “I think we got there quicker than we anticipated.”
• When asked about the controversial image of the twin towers standing during the season finale, Pinkner responded: “We wanted to immediately represent a different reality.”
• When asked about what to expect in the next season: Pinkner: “This season is about maturation … about making decisions for yourself. There’s a lot at stake.”  Robert Orci: “…everyone taking control of their lives and pursuing their own truths.  And a war is coming…when you learn things that are unpleasant, you have to take a side.”
• The Walter-Peter relationship will continue to grow, even more interestingly next season now that we know something Peter does not–the real Peter is dead.  (The Peter we have been witnessing all along is “alternate universe Peter.)  Jackson says eventually Walter’s secret is going to be spilled and this will obviously change the dynamic between the two characters.  Noble on the matter: “There will be no answers early on. We don’t want to let Peter in on that too early. I think it will be toward the second half of the season, I think it will be a massive episode, and I think it will be very ugly.”
• A fan asked a very interesting and quite revealing question to the panel: He is pondering that alternate universe Walter has tried to come into our universe to bring alternate universe Peter back, and that the person who Walter saw in the asylum is the alternate universe version of himself.  When asked if any of this is true Pinkner responded with, “Yes, no and maybe.”
• It was told that Walter and Astrid will share a “very sweet” scene together that reveals more about her and their relationship.
• When asked about Olivia’s FBI partner Charlie Francis (Kirk Acevedo), Pinkner responds: “Rumors of Charlie’s demise were premature. But I do think that Charlie’s going to undergo some drastic changes, which hopefully will be surprising and entertaining. And we’ve already met alternate Charlie as well. He had a scar on his face. Kirk’s part of our family.”  (Kirk Acevedo was supposedly fired from the show after the first season.)  Glad to hear he is coming back!  Wonder what the new and improved (?) Charlie will be like..
• Noble said that screenwriter Akiva Goldsman (A Time to Kill, A Beautiful Mind, i, Robot, Angels & Demons) wrote the season premiere.  Nice!
• Noble on fringe science on the show: “The stuff we do is not that unreasonable,” he said. “Theoretically, it’s all possible.”  Sounds more like his character talking!
• Fourth episode–> Walter and former lab partner William Bell will meet again.  Leonard Nimoy is locked in for season 2.  Sweet!
• The producers mentioned that the series will never involve alien life forms.  That begs the question, What is the Observer (and Observer, Jr.)??
• Also mentioned: Although David Robert Jones is dead, that does not mean we will not see alternate universe DRJ.  Ooooh.

Fringe had a fantastic freshmen season, and a sophomore slump is something that will most definitely not occur.  Season two looks to be a very entertaining and frightening tale that will continue the story between the warring alternate universes and further develop the intricate and layered character relationships.  I am pumped for Fringe season 2 which begins on September 17 on FOX.  And oh yeah, I met the entire cast!

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Comic Con: Day Three is a wrap!  Leaving San Diego today; time to get much needed rest.  Be sure to check out the next and final post on Comic Con 2009 on Monday.  I will summarize all of the TV and movie panels I attended and give an overall rating of this year’s Con.  Have a great weekend, and look forward to normalcy starting to set back in by next week.  That’s right, I’m talking about the latest in tech, TV, movies, music, and hilarity!