Lost - October 2006 thoughts

I remembered preaching a sermon relating to the TV show Lost a few years back. Today I looked back at what I wrote then. The opening part is all about the now-ended TV show.

Cool.

I have a confession to make: I watch that television show: Lost. Anyone else watch it? I've seen every episode over the last two and now third seasons. I've seen the preview episodes and the compilation episodes. I've been to many of the websites where people discuss theories about the show. I have not traveled to any "Lost" conventions, however. After all, I'm not really into it. (smirk face)

I am intrigued by the characters:

• Jack-- the doctor who wrestles with his temper, his fear of isolation and his guilt over the failures in his life
• Locke -- the survivalist -- and man with the most hope -- who wrestles with a past filled with failure and being "used"
• Kate -- The "girl next door" who wrestles with a past filled with criminal activity and some kind of vigilante behavior.
• Sawyer -- the con-man who struggles with his dishonest past and who is somehow finding a hero buried deep within
• Charlie -- the rock star and drug addict who has never been dependable -- and who has made good and bad decisions on the island
• Mr. Eko -- the warlord who came on board pretending to be a priest and who thought he found redemption but just as soon lost his direction.

There are many more characters on the show -- with more being introduced this week. They don't share everything in common, but each of them has something in their past that holds them back from living their lives fully. Each of them seems to be wrestling with their past -- and maybe they'll confront it and be at peace with before the show finishes.

I'm also intrigued by the title of the program and its multiple meanings

• Lost - As in being abandoned. Nobody knows they're alive and nobody is looking for them (or so they think)
• Lost - as in "lost their way." They all have that thing in their past that has damaged or destroyed them. They haven't confronted their past and made peace with it
• Lost - as in "before being found." They are in the process of finding their way back to wholeness even as they are being sought by people "back home."

Each of the characters is dealing with despair
Each of the characters is dealing with their own struggles and addictions.
Each of the characters is finding their way back

TV

As my favorite shows of this Summer season soon come to an end, (Monk, The Dead Zone, Psych, The 4400, Eureka, Doctor Who and Last Comic Standing) I've got a whole new list of favorites for the Fall!

ABC
Boston Legal – Tuesday, September 25
Lost – Not Until February

CBS
Survivor – Thursday, September 20

FOX
House – Tuesday, September 25
24 – Not Until January

NBC
Heroes – Monday, September 24
ER – Thursday, September 27
Friday Night Lights – Friday, October 5
Medium – Not until January

What are you going to watch this Fall?

TV out the window

I came across this old video from my college days. One of my roommates and I were inspired by SCTV and Letterman. I had purchased a new TV (notice how hi-tech it is!) and we had fun disposing of the old one:

What's on TV?

I really do like to watch TV.
Here's what I've found interesting this summer:

• Monk
• The Dead Zone
• Psych
• The 4400
• Eureka
• Doctor Who
• Mythbusters
• Last Comic Standing
• Criss Angel Mindfreak

What are you watching?

Excellent quote from Raines

I've started watching Raines -- the new, quirky NBC detective show with Jeff Goldblum. Yesterday's episode had a quotable moment between Detective Raines and the wife of his murdered partner.

Raines: How are you doing?
Charlie's widow: I'm cursing God less.
Raines: Well, don't stop completely. I'm sure it's a welcome change from all those people, uh, sucking up and asking for stuff.

TV shows I'm watching

OK -- I've been dreadfully silent. I still don't have anything profound to say and I haven't accomplished anything of value since Tuesday.
But here's a lame attempt at a post. It shows what I find interesting on TV right now:

• Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
• Friday Night Lights
• Boston Legal
• Lost
• Survivor
• Dr. Who
• Heroes
• VeggieTales

I'm also hoping for new episodes to come soon from

• Eureka (It's coming in 2007!)
• 24 (Debuts in January 2007)
• Monk (New Holiday episode Nov . 17 -- new season in January 2007)
• Psych (New episodes in January 2007)
• Saved (There've been some rumors, but still no official word on season 2)

Good thing I still have TIVO.

A Week

I feel pretty relaxed -- and I'm ready for more!

I recorded "Old MacDonald" yesterday. I'd been drinking some of Coca-cola's new Mountain Dew Clone and the citrus had my mouth watering so it was really tough to get through the vocals on such a long song -- but I think it turned out OK.

I also put together another scene in the in-process documentary, "sabbatical". It's about 2 1/2 minutes long now.

In my ample "down time," I watched some television too! I've enjoyed 24, Boston Legal, Lost, Survivor and Monk.

I should probably read more.

Is anyone watching?

OK -- I've watched a little

The Bobsled and the Luge are pretty exciting

Those ice-dancing falls remind me of the Jason Priestly Saturday Night Live sketch from 1992 that showed him falling again and again and again (ooohhh!)

But I'm afraid I, like many others, am not watching much at all.

Congratulations to all the athletes -- I admire your abilities and your determination. I'm sorry I'm not watching too much.

I'm also not watching American Idol -- so there.

Cancelled -- sort of

Oh well -- I watched it

I thought The Book of Daniel was a great show

I hope the unaired episodes will find their way to DVD

But lookie here -- you can catch them online now. I wonder if anyone'll protest . . .

Desperate Parishioners

I've watched the first two episodes (3 hours total) or The Book of Daniel on NBC. This comical drama offers laughable and highly unlikely (at least all at once) situations relating to an Episcopal Priest, Daniel Webster. Here's a list of some of the situations I've seen in just those first two episodes.

• Priest addicted to Vicodin.
• Gay Son.
• Priest's father encourages gay son (not out to grandpa) by setting him up with a girl.
• Gay son is attracted to girl's brother who may or may not be gay.
• Powerful church member gives unwanted advice to priest -- but powerful church member's wife is really the one in power.
• Priest's player Adopted Son with Chinese heritage is in love.
• Girlfriend's mom is racist and forces girl to break up with Priest's adopted son.
• Priest's wife is an alcoholic.
• Daughter is dealing drugs to finance anime dream.
• Daughter steals intellectual property to get animation programs.
• Oversexed adolescent computer genius is smitten with daughter.
• Bishop is sleeping with Priests father.
• Priests Father (also a Bishop) is struggling with Alzheimer's case in wife -- sleeping with bishop.
• Priest's brother in law embezzled 3.2 million dollars from the Parish (money raised to build a school)
• Brother-in-law died of a heart attack.
• Priest's sister in law (widow of embezzling brother -in-law) is gay and somehow part of the embezzling.
• Priest's sister in law's lover is the possible mastermind of the embezzling.
• Catholic Priest tied in with the mob.
• Catholic priest helps priest to find the money -- with the mob's help.
• Money is found -- with strings attached. Church must hire mob-connected construction company to build school.
• Priest has lots of money -- inherited from wife's side.
• Mother-in-law is manipulative and mean-spirited.
• Parishioner's father wants to join -- but is married to parishioner's ex-wife.
• Priest talks to Jesus in person
• Jesus listens well and encourages Daniel.
• God's grace abounds.
  

I found myself laughing out loud at many of the situations Daniel Webster finds himself in. I found myself thinking of similar things I've experienced as a pastor. (Yes, they situations aren't likely (at least all at once) but they are similar to situations every pastor and church faces. I also found very little to be offended by. (Others may find more, but I found almost nothing)

The Book of Daniel is a thought-provoking, entertaining and well-acted new television series that deserves to continue. The underlying theme of Jesus' love, God's presence and God's grace is one I wish all could hear on a weekly, if not a daily, basis. I'm sure we can find much to discuss at the water cooler and in the church fellowship hall about this worthwhile, entertaining, and engaging new show.