As much as I consider myself a fan boy — I am not. I am just a wannabe. Real fan boys and fan girls are rabid. Ruthless. Deadly. Awkward. Clever and smell of musty, mildewy clothing that has been stuffed in the confines of a hamper that can be mistaken for an emptied barrel of hot dog water.

I want to go to Comic-Con, but am pretty content with that fact that I am not going to be there. I get stressed and unbelievably frantic when I cover Wondercon in San Francisco so to head out to San Diego would probably give me an aneurysm and would solidify my contempt and general fear of people altogether. The only reason why I would go is to say that I went — and that’s really not a reason to go. You go so that you can embrace your inner geekdom, preview the latest fan boy-worthy TV & film before anyone else (another reason that I would attend) and possibly get into an intense argument about a make-believe fantastical world with a lonely collector of vintage Battlestar Galactica lunch boxes and monstrous penis-for-fingers anime porn.

In any matter, I know a handful of people who are headed out there this week and I wish them luck (and hope they secure spots in Hall H) and hope they have fun, but at the same time I am glad I am not “working” the event. Handling events like these is kind of like reading a really long, classic novel like “Pride and Prejudice” in its entirety during college — you’d rather just read the CliffsNotes.

Nonetheless, I looked through the Comic-Con and made my hypothetical schedule (which includes shows I have blogged about many-a-time):

Wednesday, July 20 (Preview Night)

6:00-9:00 Special Sneak Peek Pilot Screenings: Alcatraz, Person of Interest, The Secret Circle, and Supernatural: The Anime Series: The only two I care about in this listing is Alcatraz and Person of Interest — only because J.J. Abrams is attached to it — and as you know, J.J. is my hero.

Thursday, July 21

11:15-12:15 The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1: Don’t lie — you know that you’d rush to Hall H for this one. The first three were disasters and this first half of this finale is going to be an epic
rush of squealing delight full of mediocre acting, sparkly diamond skins and shirtless werewolves. Plus, I’ve been attached to this since I interviewed Robert Pattinson for the very first installment. He and I pinky swore that we would be in it for the long hall.

1:15-1:45 A One on One with Pee-wee Herman: Why wouldn’t I go to this?

4:00-5:00 Archer Screening and Q&A: Ah yes, the most politically incorrect cartoon ever made. I yearn to be just like Archer: crude, racist, misogynistic, crass, and unaware of human decency. I have high standards for my cartoons.

4:45-5:45 Robert Rodriguez’s Quick Draw Productions: He’s giving a sneak peek of his upcoming films — hopefully he will throw us a Sin City bone.

5:00-6:00 Beavis & Butthead: Two idiots that I don’t mind seeing on TV again — and compared to the majority of people on MTV, they are geniuses.

6:00-7:00 Entertainment Weekly: The Visionaries: A discussion with Jon Favreau and Guillermo del Toro on the Future of Pop Culture: Cause any pop culture talk with two famous directors is bound to be good.

Friday, July 22

11:15-12:15 AMC’s The Walking Dead: Because we all need some sort of AMC fix before Mad Men…and the fact that they are zombies makes it more fun!

12:15-1:15 Relativity Media: Raven and Haywire: Of the two, Raven is more exciting — because a thriller featuring John Cusack as Edgar Allan Poe is bound to be enjoyable.

12:30-1:30 The Big Bang Theory Screening and Q&A: Soft kitty, warm kitty, little ball of fur…happy kitty, sleepy kitty, purr, purr, purr…

1:30-2:30 Screen Gems: Underworld Awakening and Attack the Block: Totally don’t mind the Underworld Awakening panel, but I am ALL about Attack the Block. I saw it earlier this summer and have anointed myself as a “blockhead.”

3:30-4:30 Entertainment Weekly Presents…Totally LOST: One Year Later: We have to go back! We have to go back! We have to go back!

4:00-6:30 Sony returns to Hall H : The lineup includes Ghost Rider-Spirit of Vengeance (did the first one really warrant a sequel?), 30 Minutes or Less (pretty damn funny), Total Recall (might be a good remake, but probably not) and The Amazing Spider-Man (risky revamp).

Saturday, July 23

1:00-2:00 Community: POP! POP! One of my favorite shows ever. The only reason why I would go to this panel is to stalk the cast and beg them to be an extra on the show.

4:15-5:15 Grimm: World Premiere Pilot Screening and Q&A with Cast and Producers from the New Supernatural Series: Looks like some fairytale fun. Will it last?

5:00-6:00 Charlie’s Angels: Another redux for TV that makes my stomach churn — but could possibly be annoyingly successful — like Glee.

Sunday, July 24

10:00-11:00 Glee: Creator/executive producer Ryan Murphy, creator/executive producer Brad Falchuk, and stars of Glee present a sneak peek at Glee The 3D Concert Movie featuring never-before-seen footage, behind-the-scenes secrets, and Q&A session.

11:00-12:00 Watchmen: 25 Years Later: Forget the movie that got mixed reviews, the graphic novel broke ground as an legitimate piece of literature. I wouldn’t mind listening to the series’ artist Dave Gibbons, colorist John Higgins, and editor Len Wein discuss its legacy.

2:45-3:30 It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia: A panel with Rob McElhenney, Glenn Howerton, Charlie Day, Kaitlin Olson, and Danny DeVito would be the perfect way to end my Comic-Con.

Too bad I ain’t going.

According to Nellie Andreeva from Deadline.com, Abrams the show is going to be executive produced by Abrams and will be “about secrets and the most infamous prison of all time.” It seems like Abrams’s fascination with islands continues as the show will focus on “a group of missing Alcatraz prisoners and guards who reappear in the present day. It chronicles the efforts of a team of FBI agents to track them down and unravel the mystery behind their disappearance thirty years prior.” Jorge (a.k.a. Hugo) will step into the role of “hippy geek Dr. Diego Soto, the world’s foremost expert on Alcatraz.”

Since it takes place on Alcatraz, perhaps they will actually be shooting in San Francisco. That said, if Mr. Abrams is listening, I am so down to be an extra — even if I do get killed in the first episode. After that, I will be more than happy to lend my talents as a failed TV screenwriter.

[Source: Deadline.com]

Please forgive this late blog post. I was extremely busy hobnobbing with celebrities of late into the night – not really. It was more like gawking rather than hobnobbing. Plus I went home around 10:30 p.m. on Sunday after all celebs crawled into their alternate universes of stardom to hibernate before the following evening’s Golden Globes.

Nonetheless, let’s start at the very beginning – a very good place to start. In the morning, I was taking full advantage of the breakfast buffet. However, I still had remnants of a high-school “I am eating alone” complex, but then I got over it fast.

As I sat there, waiting for the first session with ABC president Stephen McPherson, I did what I do best: people watch. The dining area was sparse, so I definitely got more than my fair share of scrambled eggs made from a powder concoction and breakfast pastries suitable for Atkin diet cheaters.

But as I sat there, I noticed Henry Ian Cusick (who plays Desmond on Lost) taking advantage of the buffet like me. There he was. Desmond – scooping scrambled eggs on his plate.

As I continued by breakfast gluttony, I saw more Losties flood in for the session after the president’s panel: Daniel Dae Kim (Jin), Michael Emerson (Ben) and Elizabeth Mitchell (Juliet). As a fan of the show, it was surreal. Unlike Susan, I haven’t grown numb to the celebrity factor of the TCA press tour. Call me unprofessional – I don’t care. I am a spazz and I am not scared to admit it.

But before the Lost session, I was very interested to hear what the ABC president had in store for TV’s most valuable network of the year. Its primary players include: Lost (of course), Ugly Betty (a fave), Men in Trees, Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters. The network also includes some family and Disney stuff – isn’t really my cup of cocoa, but it broadens ABC’s demographic – but if want to hear more about all the TV end of things, visit Susan’s blog because that’s her beat and she would probably strangle me if I would go into an in-depth commentary about these shows. I’m telling the truth – she would kill me. Okay, I’m joking – but not really.

After the informative session with McPherson, it was what I had been waiting for all weekend: the LOST panel. Practically all the cast was there minus Naveen Andrews and Terry O’Quinn and plus executive producers Damon Lindelof, Jack Bender and Carlton Cuse. Of course, I paid VERY close attention to what they were saying about the show’s future (again, refer to Susan’s blog), but I also had to look at the style. The popularity of the revealing a little cleavage wasn’t only apparent with the women…but the men as well.

There is certainly NOTHING wrong with a little man-cleavage.

Afterwards, I got to talk with Yunjin Kim and she looked absolutely stunning in jeans and the casual blouse. Throughout the day I constantly saw Elizabeth Mitchell walking through the halls – and she was constantly well dressed – very poised and beautiful.

Did I mention that I almost hit Josh Holloway with the door when I was exiting the hotel? This was the previous day and he was trying to be incognito in this really “rough and ragged” look via a leather jacket, cap and torn jeans. It wasn’t very flattering. Nonetheless, I wasn’t paying attention when I was opening a door and it barely grazed him. I should’ve “accidentally” hit him with the door so that I could’ve had a conversation with him. But he certainly cleaned up nice:

This panel had to be the best dressed! Actually, I have a slight bias, but that’s okay.

All photos by:Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

A scene from the finale of Lost which made me cry. In turn, it distracted me from entering that “WTF” zone

As I sit here, licking my emotional wounds from the Lost series finale (and waiting for the Jimmy Kimmel special), I am slowly realizing that a lot of questions still haven’t been answered — but I really don’t care.

My eyes even began to mist over during the two-hour “wrap-up” before the big show. I avoided Twitter and Facebook at all costs in order to avoid any and all spoilers. Executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse gave a satisfying conclusion to a series that was a special six year investment of mine.

Bottom line: the show was a character study. The creators made us care so much about these people that in the end, we just wanted to see them happy — and we did. In addition to the usual suspects, we saw familiar faces from the past (Rose! Bernard! Juliet! Vincent! Boone! Shannon!) and wondered why we didn’t see others (Walt? Michael? Mr. Eko? Paulo? Nikki? — maybe it’s good that we didn’t see those).

This forced all those other “mysteries” of the show to the back burner. In turn, they “punked” us. It’s like showing us a bunch of cute puppies in order to distract us from all the messed up shit that is going on in the world. They were very sneaky about this.

Still, even more philosophical queries were birthed in the finale: Did they all go to heaven? Were the “flash sideways” scenes real? Why weren’t Richard and Miles in the church with them? What did the island represent? Am I currently in a flash sideways? Does love conquer all? Why weren’t there any interviews with J.J. Abrams? Did they ever consider an alternative theme song? Why didn’t Drive Shaft perform “You All Everybody” one last time?

For the weeks leading up to the finale, I’ve heard interviews with some of the cast members and the creators and I’ve heard a variation of the following statement: “We wanted to leave it up to the audience’s interpretation.”

That they did.

I’m quite satisfied, moved and unbelievably gracious to have had such a television show in my life — so much that I got so delusional and thought it was real at some points. I even had the opportunity to eat breakfast at a table next to Benjamin and Desmond at a TCA conference in 2007. I even chatted with a bunch of the cast members during that same conference (mainly I stalked Asian American actors Yunjin Kim and Daniel Dae Kim)…ah…the memories…

It may not have tied all the loose ends and answered every single question — but the show is called Lost. Would you expect anything less?

What were your thoughts on the finale? Are your eyes puffy? Or did the finale leave you with a case of TV impotence?

It’s been a while since I wrote about Lost. I really should be all up on it considering the finale is on Sunday — and I am kind of sad.

Nonetheless, the extent of my commentary on the last couple of episodes have been in the form of tweets:

Matthew Fox is really good at crying — I mean, REALLY good.
about 2 hours ago via web

and…

I am still waiting for LOST to NOT make me feel dumb-but it was great to see Allison Janney…and Zac Efron as the young MIB was superb!
10:54 PM May 11th via web

As for tonight’s episode, this is what I learned (there may be some spoilers ahead):

1.) Jacob is a really big Debbie Downer when he tells campfire stories.
2.) Jacob also has a complacent glazed over stare similar to Droopy the Dog.
3.) Everyone is still sad about the loss of Sun, Jun and Sayid. (including myself)
4.) Miles is still around! At least one of the Asians didn’t get auf’d.
5.) Jack’s son can make a mean bowl of cereal.
6.) Danielle Rosseau makes a mean coq au vin.
7.) If you order someone not to talk in the presence of Flocke, he will kill them (Sorry to see you go Zoe. You were annoying anyway).
8.) In the flash sideways, we learn that Desmond has a knack for shopping for appropriate womenswear suitable for a concert.
9.) I wonder if this concert everyone is going to is the much-anticipated Glee concert.
10.) Young Jacob still has an affection for his Willow-esque wardrobe.
11.) Jack teaches us to always have a cup in your knapsack. You never know when you’ll need it to drink holy water that will make you the protector of an island.

The show was one of the most poignant of the season and, most of all, we saw the return of Drive Shaft, “You All Everybody,” Charlie and his new receding hairline.

…but what I got from this episode was a realization that I wanted Charlie’s Drive Shaft ring. I immediately looked it up and found it on eBay!

Why didn’t I think of this sooner?

Jin and Sun get their chance to flash sideways in “The Package”

Last night’s episode of Lost (titled “The Package”) was a big ol’ cock tease. Everyone was waiting for a tear-jerking reunion of Sun and Jin. Instead, Sun gets hit in the head and can only speak Korean and Jin showed us that it’s okay for him to wander about with his shirt off.

Other than that, we also caught on to a couple of other things:

1.) Frederick Koehler (one of the Hydra Island mercenaries) gets his first steady gig since Kate & Allie.
2.) If Jack and the other castaways that are in his group get hungry, they can eat that “stubborn tomato.”
3.) Desmond! We miss you and your chest brutha!
4.) Sun’s hair in the flash sideways looks uber-dowd. Good thing she took off her top to make up for it.
5.) Sayid can feel nothing. Nothing at all. Yet he certainly felt that dart that hit him out of nowhere! (BURN)

I usually get all emotional with Kwon-centric episodes, but not so much with this one – except when she yelled, “I’m pregnant!” That’s when I let out an “OH!” face.

Other than that, I didn’t get much from this episode. I’m sure if I watch it a second or third time, I would find hidden meanings and brilliant geeky parallels to mythology – but I’ll just wait for someone else to fill me in on that stuff.

The Passion of Richard Alpert

That said, here’s what we learned:

1.) Richard was also known as “Ricardo” – which definitely sounds exotic.
2.) Back in 1827, Richard looked a lot like Jesus.
3.) According to Jacob, the sole purpose of the island is like a cork to a wine bottle. Why couldn’t they have just said this in the very beginning?
4.) Richard looks really cool when riding a horse.
5.) The more Hurley wears the red shirt, the more I want Kool-Aid.
6.) We FINALLY know where that Goonies-like pirate ship came from!
7.) We FINALLY get a break from Flocke’s moobs.
8.) We FINALLY understand WHY Ricardo maintained his great physique and dreamy eyes.
9.) Ricardo looks much better with short hair and just a healthy hint of a beard.
10.) The island isn’t hell – it’s just a lot like it.

Above all, this is the first time in a long while that I got misty eyed at a Lost episode. I mean, if you didn’t get tears in your eyes and a lump in your throat during that Ghost-esque scene between Richard, his wife and Hurley (who in this case was Whoopi) then you are dead inside.

For more on my brilliant observations of Lost click here

1.) In the flash-sideways, Dr. Linus has an affinity for cardigans and sushi.

2.) Miles is always full of some great zingers!

3.) Iliana is a mean bitch with a heart of gold.

4.) Richard Alpert never ages because he got the “gift” of being touched by Jacob. Whether or not it was inappropriate touching is yet to be determined.

5.) The ship that Richard, Jack and Hurley stumble upon does not have One Eyed Willy on it; therefore it does not have the Goonies treasure.

6.) The slow motion reunion of Hurley, Jack, Sun, Miles and company is so J.J. Abrams. Speaking of – will he be directing an episode anytime soon?

7.) Sun shows some signs of uncleanliness, but still manages to look the most hygienic.

8.) Oceanic Airlines brand bottled water has a long shelf life. Maybe it was touched by Jacob.

9.) Charles Whitmore thinks he is in Hunt For Red October.

10.) You know those previews that they always show for next week’s episode? They don’t tell us a damn thing.

For more on my brilliant observations of Lost click here

Dogen (left) and Sayid do some male bonding

This week’s Lost episode, “Sundown” was full of action and intrigue, but I took the liberty of noting some of the most important things:

1.) Miles likes to play solitaire.

2.) Claire is in desperate need of a spa day.

3.) We finally know what significance that baseball has to Dogen. Now that we have that question answered, let’s work on some others shall we?

4.) Dogen rhymes with Logan. Logan is Wolverine in X-men. Wolverine has a history with samurais. The movie The Last Samurai starred Tom Cruise. Tom Cruise was in A Few Good Men with KEVIN BACON!

5.) Sun still looks like she is the only one who cares about personal hygiene. Perhaps Claire could ask for a few pointers.

6.) It looks like faux Locke (who has been affectionately referred to as “Flocke”) is starting his own band of Crazies, with Sayid being the latest inductee.

7.) Kate looks hotter when she’s all sweaty and dirty (or maybe that is just something I am now just noticing).

8.) The temple inhabitants have a thing for wood beaded jewelry (please refer to Dogen’s right-hand man, Lennon and his style of layering necklaces).

9.) The smoke monster, as usual, was pissed off and started killing people.

10.) When Sayid whacked Dogen and Lennon, he dumped them into the temple’s ice tea pool of life – is it possible that we may have not seen the last of them?

Next week’s episode is titled “Dr. Linus”. My guess that it is about Benjamin…or Linus, Lucy’s security blanket-toting younger brother with low self-esteem.

For more on my brilliant observations of Lost click here