12,300 People Think LOST Should be ‘Put out of its Misery’
I’ve received some frantic emails over the past 24 hours about this infamous poll on MSNBC that calls for LOST to be canceled. My first reaction is, who cares. The type of people who actually participate in these kinds of polls are either too bored to be using good judgment, or are the type who love to express negativity. But fear not, I’ve done the math and as you can see in the headline of this post, the mere 12k people who don’t like LOST and would like to see it canceled are hardly a vocal majority.
For those of you who are still worried about this, let me put it in another way. Polls that ask you what you hate for the sake of proposing a change are self invalidating. Taking the data from a poll like this to a network executive would probably result in a few moments of mildly amused chuckling, and little more. When you ask people to pick from a list the show they like the least, you are not really asking for the respondent to have any meaningful experience or opinion based response, you’re just asking them which show they don’t like. Is it so hard to believe that a majority (if you think 15% is a majority) of people would pick the weirdest, most challenging show of the bunch?
Worse yet, the poll is prepared with bullets written by a guy named Andy Dehnart who, if you don’t know him, is the editor of reality blurred which devotes itself to the ‘intriguing’ world of Reality Television. (Or, as I like to call it, Un-Reality Television.) When you keep in mind that Mr. Dehnart’s intellectual pursuits include ‘Big Brother’, ‘The Bachelor’, and ‘The Surreal Life’, his arguments for why LOST should get canceled are actually a little humorous:
"Let’s be honest: The only reason to watch “ LOST” any more is to see how it ends, so let’s just end it now and then we can all relax. The show’s producers recently said they were talking to ABC about planning a firm end date for the show, which would help the show’s writers avoid having to create newer and more banal, pseudo-intellectual mysteries. Most importantly, the network needs to stop wasting the talents of its amazing, capable cast. This season, characters were ignored for weeks on end with no real payoff. It’s time for “ LOST’s” castaways to find their way home, or not, just as long as they do something."
This reminds me of the rants of another individual who, in the end, didn’t seem to be really watching the show either. At best, Mr. Dehnart is sampling the biggest complaints from this season, but they are dated about 12 episodes ago. The mini-season is nothing but a mildly unpleasant memory for most of us who are actually following the story. What is more amazing is there is not a single abysmal ‘Un-reality’ show among the polls choices; perhaps that isn’t so amazing when you think about it.
@#$Z those people, this just means that there are 12,300 people who don’t watch the show.
Comment by Jay — April 17, 2007 @ 10:26 am
Great writing Doc, I agree. This guy hasn’t a clue and he doesn’t deserve one.
Comment by Rust — April 17, 2007 @ 10:31 am
I agree to doc. These people obviously hav no taste in what realy is good tv. If they dont like certain then they shouldnt ruin it for others. Long live lost!
Comment by Willow — April 17, 2007 @ 10:38 am
Figures someone on MSNBC would call for a show on another network to be canceled. Afraid?
Comment by Keith — April 17, 2007 @ 10:48 am
What an idiot. LMFAO. Lost is easily the best show to ever air on television. Those 12,300 people are worth less than a penny to the network and the revenue this show brings them. Being a former MSNBC employee I can tell you - not everyone they hire is a highschool graduate. When we were hiring for the Olympics in Torino they let anyone capable of breathing come work for us. Morons.
Comment by Sito The Stampede — April 17, 2007 @ 10:56 am
What is that site of NBC to say that?? Those people are a sons of a ……… well… Lost is the best series of the history, and they must shut up.
Comment by David — April 17, 2007 @ 11:04 am
total morons.
anyone read that part in huck finn where the mob goes to hang that guy? that is the state of our country. Not just in politics or religion, but in EVERYTHING. The mob mentality rules. If everyone else is doing it, why not I?
Probably some teenager sat and refreshed his vote for hours while his mommy brought him cookies and milk.
Three cheers for LOST! =)
Comment by peter — April 17, 2007 @ 11:09 am
It doesn’t help that they put Lost at the top of the list.. but many of the other programs aren’t even talked about. It’s a self confirming poll and useless.
I DO agree that Lost SHOULD have a firm end date though… this show would really start to drag if it goes beyond the intended 4.5 seasons.
Comment by Tom — April 17, 2007 @ 11:18 am
You can’t just skip to the last page of a book….
Someone just doesn’t get it. Now, if it goes beyond 5 seasons, I’ll be the first calling to end it!
Comment by Tom — April 17, 2007 @ 11:19 am
Agreed, nice article doc.
These people have nothing better to do than critisize an exellent show. Well, its their life.
Comment by Jeebus — April 17, 2007 @ 11:20 am
I totally agree, Doc–well written. Let the uncultured flock, and while they’re watching the umpteenth season of ‘Big Brother’, we can dwell in our “psuedo” mythological happiness.
Comment by The Pearl — April 17, 2007 @ 11:21 am
I can’t even imagine how it is within the bounds of legality to put a poll up on your networks site that calls for a vote to determine which show on another network should be cancelled.
Maybe they wouldn’t be quite so bitter if all the Lost fans out there couldn’t see through thier sad attempt to make “Heroes” thier network’s “Lost”. Don’t get me wrong..I watch Heroes and it’s ok…but it has nothing compared to the depth of Lost. If you go to the Heroes webpage, there is links all over it like: “Come tell us your theories!” and “Suresh’s Map!” it’s ridiculous. Someone should let them know that if they want the fanbase to respond in the same way that we have to Lost, they should provide a show worth looking into that doesnt presume that the viewer can’t handle a storyline much deeper then that of a child’s novel.
And for those out there who find “Friday Night Lights” more entertaining then “Lost”, my suggestion to you is to keep cracking your budweisers and nodding your head as if you understand when people speak to you with words with more than one syllable. But leave the polls to the people who can think for themselves.
Rock on Carlton and Damon, keep it coming.
Comment by Harbringer17 — April 17, 2007 @ 11:33 am
People’s fear of what they can’t comprehend usually manifests itself into hatred (or at least dislike). There is nothing wrong with enjoying reality shows, but I would suggest that someone who is a big enough “Big Brother” (or such) fan to read this guy’s articles would have a tough time wrapping their brains around ALF…
Comment by cap10tripps — April 17, 2007 @ 11:44 am
Harbringer17 - That’s a lot of hate. For someone who claims to be so intellectual as to grasp the “subtle nuances” of Lost and network television as a whole, you seem pretty ignorant to the fact that Heroes was never meant to be anything more than a comic book on television.
Don’t kid yourself, Lost doesn’t require a PhD to understand or enjoy.
Comment by icyone — April 17, 2007 @ 11:55 am
icyone,
its true, LOST does not require a Phd to understand. However, i think harbinger has a good point. NBC is hardly an objective entity when it comes to who should be canceled, right?
As for how esoteric these shows are, I think any show that requires/begs thought outside of the time you’re watching will inevitably be compared/linked with LOST. I’ve never watched Heroes, but if the website says ‘Post your theories!’ it sure sounds like their at least taking cues from lost, if not outright plagiarizing!
Just a thought or 2
Comment by peter — April 17, 2007 @ 12:02 pm
@icyone
If it was never meant to have any depth to it, or if it isn’t making the attempt to rally a fan base to theorize or speculate the way that we do on Lost fan sites, then they should change their marketing. Take a look at this site http://www.nbc.com/Heroes/ and tell me that it isn’t a sad attempt to mimic the phenomanom that Lost has established.
I agree, if you are the type of person to take what they see at face value and have it fed to you, then Lost could be veiwed simply. However, to delve into some of the deeper theories of lost and the science that could potentially support them, it does actually take a fairly active mind/imagination.
You must have missed the part where I stated that I actually liked Heroes for what it was, it’s the marketing of the network that I find repulsive. Especially when they post a poll that calls for the cancellation of a show that they are clearly trying to imitate. You may also be “ignorant” of the many marketing statements that have been made that compare these two shows. It’s ok though. I forgive you. Even if you drink budweiser and haven’t understood my multi-syllabled words.
On a side note, Lost may not take a P.H.D. to understand, but what I mean by phenomanon is that it is the first show in history to breed speculation to this degree among veiwers. To my knowledge, no show in the past has inspired people to watch it in freeze frame mode, taking screen caps of any small thing that could potentially be relevant to help one better understand the things that are a part of the story without them having to forcefeed it to you.
I’m not sure what your relationship to Lost is, but if you are a casual viewer (which seems unlikely since you are at a fan site) then I hope that you blindly stumble into some of the deeper aspects of the show that are it’s true magic. And if you are an avid fan, then you should stop flaming supporters for making obvious statements. Go look at the Heroes website and try to make an argument that substantiates your claim that “It was never meant to be more”. They are dying for it to be more, it just doesn’t have half the soul/cast/story/intensity that it takes.
Comment by Harbringer17 — April 17, 2007 @ 12:14 pm
Peter, I think YOU have a very good point and I will not argue it. NBC is not an objective source when it comes to matters like this. It’s akin to Fox News or CNN running a poll on their website about political issues. The website attracts a certain demographic with certain views. In NBC’s case, it attracts NBC viewers. Whether that means they vote against NBC’s competitors, who knows? It’s a non-scientific poll, as are 99% of internet polls.
Harbinger however had a totally different point in mind - that NBC is bitter because Heroes is trying to emulate Lost but is, in his misguided opinion, failing miserably. This is not a post to discuss Heroes vs Lost, but to say that Heroes fails because it is light on intellectual undertones is to say you do not understand the style of the series, and may perhaps, have never seen an episode.
As far as “plagiarizing” Lost, who was first on the scene? Lost or X-Files? X-Files or Twin Peaks? If the internet had been as prevalent when Twin Peaks was on the air, would you now say that Lost is plagiarizing Twin Peaks? I recall there being an article posted perhaps on this site or another Lost site regarding whether or not X-Files would have stayed strong for 9 years had there been an internet to support an ARG similar to the one Lost had following season 1.
It’s easy to toss around what-ifs, but it is important that people not get carried away in fan-boyism.
Comment by icyone — April 17, 2007 @ 12:21 pm
Doc, did I ever tell you how much I love you? ;D
This is well-presented and written, and will hopefully allay the fears of anyone who was worried by that travesty of a poll.
Comment by Louise — April 17, 2007 @ 12:21 pm
Hey guys, I happen to love Heroes. I don’t look at it as a ‘cash in’ in anyway. Heck, you’d have to be nuts not to try to emulate LOST to some degree, but remember that LOST itself is just a perfection of tried and true story-telling techniques; it doesn’t have imminent domain.
Comment by docarzt — April 17, 2007 @ 12:31 pm
Many Heroes fans are jaded Ex-Losties, who like their stories to have some mystery and flash but also nice and tidy. Heroes is good and I can’t wait for it to come back on, but it is no lost. There’s nothing to talk about beyond what the episode was about.
This poll means nothing. I seriously doubt that ABC is taking it seriously. Esp coming from NBC. One look at the list and one can see it’s mostly OLD shows or really dumb ones. I think Lost is the newest show up there. I don’t understand this “lets band together and get LOST off the air” mentality. For what reason or purpose?
I could see if Lost were exeedingly bad or is it demoralized babies or something really heinous. But really it’s just a Wah Wah machine of people who liked Lost , but didn’t like where it went, took too long for the payoff and it confuses them. Those are the real reasons.
Comment by RazzleDazzle — April 17, 2007 @ 12:39 pm
Doc, I think you’ve nailed it in one succinct sentence. Lost can’t claim ownership of anything surrounding the show, when you look back.
Science fiction television is predominantly associated with online message boards and rampant fan-bases. It would border on impossible to claim that any show with online theory speculation is copying Lost. Is rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated, for example, trying to be like Lost? Any show that exhibits a rich mythology, whether it be Lost, X-Files, Heroes, Babylon 5, et al, will draw some kind of online fanbase with all kinds of speculation/theorycrafting. If anything, Lost can claim to be the first of the “new generation” of shows where the producers actively encourage and fund such activities.
And Harbinger, when it comes to marketing, it’s a little shortsighted of you to blast NBC for marketing Heroes like Lost while failing to realize that ABC markets Lost to be nothing like what is aired every week.
Comment by icyone — April 17, 2007 @ 12:42 pm
I’m fairly certain that a person who spends a majority of their time watching reality based programming is in no position to critique scripted television. Why would they even bother?
It’s just hateful propoganda from a channel that’s trying to distance itself from it’s current scandal of allowing a bigot like Don Imus to have his own show.
Poo poo to MSNBC!
Comment by El Prez — April 17, 2007 @ 12:46 pm
Here we go with the “Heroes” debate again. I haven’t watched enough to have an opinion (I’ll be renting the DVD’s), but can we conclude that there is nothing wrong with being a fan of a show that may have borrowed from the most groundbreaking television series I’ve seen in my 31 years? While “LOST” is my all time fav, I admit that there are plenty of elements from another great one, “The X Files.” Icyone makes a good point with his sort of family tree of scientific fiction series. One thing though, while LOST fits in with those shows, it has really created a brand new genre. The continuous type of brain stimulation LOST offers sets it apart…
Comment by cap10tripps — April 17, 2007 @ 12:57 pm
Oh, I’m so in a mood to kick that guy’s ass.
Comment by Jenn — April 17, 2007 @ 1:01 pm
Good point Prez. How much crdibility could someone have after firing someone and claiming moral ground when it’s perfectly obvious the only reason Don Imus was canned is that someone called them (NBC) out to finally make him accountable. Where were the high and mighty when Donny Douchebag called Patrick Ewing an alpha leader (a reference to the dominant gorilla of the pack). It was mildly discussed, he said it was a distasteful joke, and politicians/celebrities continued to clamor for Imus-hole’s support. Pitiful…
Comment by cap10tripps — April 17, 2007 @ 1:05 pm
Ok. I take it back. The “Post your Theories!” and “Suresh’s Map” links have nothing to do with Lost. Lost is easy to understand. Heroes is an equally well thought out show with just as much to offer. I probobly haven’t seen an episode of Heroes even though I said quite clearly that I have. I have in fact watched every episode.
Doc, I’m not saying that Lost has iminent domain over all things mysterious. I am however claiming that it is a far more involved show with a lot more to offer the creative thinker. I am also stating that the marketing ploys that are available as links on the main page, clearly seem to indicate that they would like to see a similar response from their fan base in regards to hypothesizing. I didn’t claim that they were “plagurizing”. It just seems obvious to me that they think that they can air a show that has some questions you would like to see answered and that they expect people will be crawling the internet with the same buzz that Lost has created. I disagree, and think that it is ridiculous, because of the exact reason stated above, that Heroes just doesnt have half the depth that Lost does….which is what creates the buzz. This isn’t a Heroes vs Lost thread, these comments are me defending my point of view vs. icyone who seems to think I harbor great hatred towards a show that I watch weekly. You can defend all you like that NBC isn’t trying to worm thier way into the internet hype that is LOST, but it seems pretty obvious to me from looking at thier webpage. My argument is that you need a more involved show to create that kind of hype, not just an ongoing series that leaves questions at the end of an episode.
And while it may be true Icyone, that were the internet as readily available when shows like X-Files and Twin Peaks aired, that people would have convened and theorized more, the writers just didn’t put enough easter eggs into the show to create the same kind of buzz. That in my opinion is what makes this show special and different, is that the writers respect and appreciate how many people are paying so close attention to every detail, and the masterful way in which they keep us guessing, while developing the plot at the same time. It is something to be marveled at, and while not taking a PHD to understand, certainly sets it far beyond other shows on many many levels.
This is quite litteraly the first time that a show has created this kind of interaction between the fan base and the story. It has it’s own special magic to it that shows like Heroes do not, and thus, while it is cute that they put little links like that on thier site, they seem to be looking past the fact that it takes much much more than that to hold peoples attention in the way that sites like Doc’s and other forums for LOST do.
Comment by Harbringer17 — April 17, 2007 @ 1:08 pm
Usually in a discussion like this (by the way, more props for Doc who gives us the space to do this) nobody is wrong. You take what you will from everything you watch, read, and listen to. I like how we can go back and forth, taking in each others thoughts here. It rings true to LOST…
Comment by cap10tripps — April 17, 2007 @ 1:19 pm
Why should lost be canceled? I bet anyone who voted is anyone who cant watch it at 10pm >.>
Comment by Mattyrewls22 — April 17, 2007 @ 1:27 pm
DocArzt:
If we can get back to LOST for a moment…I just read your Catch 22 preview on Buddy. Can you give us more information on the Season 1 regulars who are being courted to return? I assume that you are not talking about Michael, Walt, Rose or Bernhard.
Comment by gusteaux — April 17, 2007 @ 1:38 pm
you know, thats something that bugs me about LOST. Michael and Walt.
I know Harold Pari…whatever… has an incredible A-list movie career now and all, but can’t they get him back to finish up Michael’s arc? His character is totally unresolved in my book. What he did is character suicide and he has yet to redeem himself. Plus, how the the HE&* did he make it anywhere on a gas-powered boat? what, is he on Tom Hank’s island from Castaway now, talking to a volleyball?
as funny as it sounds, even with all the craziness and unresolved threads in LOST, this is the one that bugs me most. Its probably that way because it seems as though it will be left without being brought up again, out of sight, out of mind…
anyone with me?
Comment by peter — April 17, 2007 @ 1:52 pm
Ok this guy has a point. Firstly, he tells us…
what am I saying? He is quite the hypocrit: People are watching Lost to see how it ends? Isn’t that what people watch Big Brother for? To see who wins? Just one contradiction among the many.
Comment by rickyduck — April 17, 2007 @ 2:10 pm
Lost was supposed to run 5 seasons.
As long as they don’t try to milk it, then Lost will not be canceled, no matter how many polls other networks make.
We can revisit this poll in 2 years near the end of Season 5.
Comment by blackrockbob — April 17, 2007 @ 2:27 pm
Hmm.. is it possible that Mr. Dehnart voted 12,000 times? Or maybe each vote gets another 2 votes….
Comment by iowalost815 — April 17, 2007 @ 3:15 pm
Oh I definitely agree with you Harbinger, and it wasn’t even necessarily targeted at you. I just wanted to calm the fire. LOST is the best of the two, and for that reason NBC would be daft not to cop its model. On the other hand LOST benefited greatly, I think, from the competition. We are seeing episodes now that were produced during the times that Heroes began to pull more favorable reviews. I don’t think with recent episodes you’ll find many Heroes fans talking smack, but then again… isn’t the point of this whole post and discussion about how infantile talking smack is?
Comment by docarzt — April 17, 2007 @ 3:18 pm
iowalost815: I think it’s possible Mr. Dehnart hasn’t been watching LOST for a while…
Comment by docarzt — April 17, 2007 @ 3:28 pm
Well, if Lost is in “misery” then I guess it’s true that misery loves company because there are still millions of people watching and tons on sites like these. If Lost is what misery is like then count me miserable.
Comment by bdub — April 17, 2007 @ 4:26 pm
F those geeks
Comment by solomonk — April 17, 2007 @ 6:23 pm
Again with the complaining about people who don’t like Lost? WTF? Get over it, already.
Comment by Jello — April 17, 2007 @ 7:08 pm
Jello stfu they werent complaining about lost as much as not wanting anything to be trying to shut lost down and considering ur on one of these sites you shouldnt want a huge vote trying to shut down lost either
Comment by DMS — April 17, 2007 @ 7:17 pm
Jello stfu they werent complaining about lost as much as not wanting anything to be trying to shut lost down and considering ur on one of these sites you shouldnt want a huge vote trying to shut down lost either
Comment by DMS — April 17, 2007 @ 7:17 pm
sorry posted twice
Comment by DMS — April 17, 2007 @ 7:18 pm
Bravo!! Excellent column, DocArzt. I agree wholeheartedly, keep up the good work. Applauding you from here.
Comment by mj — April 17, 2007 @ 8:44 pm
Crap like this poll comes at a dime a dozen. It has no impact on LOST and reflects nothing about its health in terms of viewer interest.
If we listened to what every idiot who comes along says, we’d all be watching “Dancing With the (has-been) Stars.”
Polls be damned, I know what I like and I’d rather be watching LOST.
Comment by Lance — April 17, 2007 @ 9:28 pm
“Jello stfu they werent complaining about lost blah blah blah”
You’re dumb.
Comment by Jello — April 17, 2007 @ 10:21 pm
If Lost gets cancelled I might commit suicide.
Think about canceling lost twice before doing it, because you’ll have blood on your hands!!
Comment by Alvaro Salvagno — April 18, 2007 @ 1:03 pm
Why do people complain about the things that they can change. Change the channel, don’t watch the show. Move on with your life!!!! Lost Rules!!! face it Andy Dehnart, get a life. Go complain about your own pathetic life.
Comment by Chef Ra 76 — April 18, 2007 @ 6:29 pm