I wanted to do something a little random for the opening day of LOST, so I decided to have another little Annoying LOST fan contest (thanks go to the Onion for starting that meme) and on Friday I asked people to send me annoying tweets with the tag #LOSTblogMe and I’d pick a winner of whichever one I thought was in keeping with the tradition of ‘Annoying LOST fan’. Friday night was a weird night, if you kept up with my Twitter feed you’ll know I was wiped most of the day on Saturday and didn’t get around to selecting a winner until Sunday night. Here is the winning Tweet by the adorable and hardly annoying Jessica Underwood:junderwood: @LOST_BOSS ...becasue yes, I did say what you thought I said -- "time traveling bunnies" #LOSTBlogME
The rest is Jessica’s wonderful interview.
LOSTblog: How long have you been watching Lost? If you’ve been watching since the pilot, can you remember your initial reaction to it?
Jessica: I was a late-comer to the LOST bandwagon. I caught the Season 5, Episode 0 program review on ABC when I was on the road for work. I was working on a sales consulting gig with an ABC station, so I was checking out their programming. And as luck would have it – the stars aligned – and I was hooked. I dove in pretty deep after that – watching 3 episodes a night until I caught up with the rest of the world. I was able to watch the Season 5 finale as it aired.
2. How did Lost get its polar bear claws into you? What about it got you hooked?
I loved the mystery of the program. Any network show that requires a “review” episode is pretty cool in my book. I like that LOST is a cerebral program. It walks the thin line that is usually associated with “time travel” well. It’s very easy to over-do that and slip into the corny territory – LOST has tastefully avoided that – and kept me hooked. Plus, the more I watch and the more scientific and mythology themes are revealed – the deeper I am hooked.
3. Favorite character?
Charlie Hieronymus Pace.
Although in WFTBing, I’ve gotten to like Sawyer more – mainly due to Josh Holloway’s giggly bonus interviews.
4. Least favorite character?
Anna Lucia
5. Favorite episode or season?
On first pass, I enjoyed all the DriveShaft episodes. And I loved learning about the history behind the “You All Everybody” lyrics – bonus footage, FTW! On second pass, the episodes dealing with Constants/Variables really kept me riveted.
6. Least favorite episode or season?
I guess I would say Season 2. It was Anna Lucia heavy – and really didn’t do much for advancing the plot of the Island’s “powers.” Although I loved Rose and Bernard’s reunion.
7. Are you Team Jack or Team Locke?
I will probably piss a lot of people off with this statement, but I am not a Jack fan. I find him stubborn and whiney. Locke/Flocke is just straight crazy at this point. Can I be Team Charlie?
8. If you had to be one of the following, which would it be and why: an 815 survivor, an Other or a member of the Dharma Initiative?
Tough call… While the Dharma Initiative is inherently interesting for all of their scientific experimentation, the Others are interesting for their ties to the Island, but then again, we are led to believe that the Survivors are all “special” in some way – and who doesn’t want to be special? Really, I’d like to be anyone who knows all the answers at this point. J
9. Which character’s demise were you most upset to see happening?
Charlie – no question.
10. Tell us a bit about your site/blog/podcast, i.e. why you started it, how it runs, your post-season 6 plans for it, etc.
You can find me online mainly on my Twitter account @junderwood (www.Twitter.com/junderwood). Currently, LOST is a very central theme to my posts. However, I am also heavy into tech news and TV programming. I’d love to share some conversations and LOST theories with you all! I also have a forthcoming blog covering the state of media – look for an update on my Twitter feed soon!
11. What are you favorite online Lost communities, blogs, podcasts, etc.?
@LOST_Boss (nee @LOST_WFTB) really got me through the long hiatus. I am loving meeting all the Lost fans on Twitter. Also, DarkUFO has a ton of interesting posts.
12. Tell us something interesting/scary/amusing/downright weird about how your time in the Lost fan-verse has changed your life.
Here’s an amusing tidbit. While I was at my parents’ house for Christmas, I set up their Netflix account to sync with their TiVO so they could watch programming instantly on their new TV. After I got it all set up, I used LOST Season 1 as an example. This was apparently all it took to get my mom hooked on LOST. She somehow managed to watch every single episode between Christmas and last week – and it’s not like she’s a stay-at-home mom – she’s a full-time nurse. LOST addiction is apparently a genetic trait.
13. You’re in an elevator with someone who has never seen as much as a second of Lost. You got on in the lobby and you’re both headed to the fifteenth floor. How do you convince them to buy and watch all the DVDs before the elevator gets there?
Hah. First of all, I know my hilarious tweet just won me the honor of “Annoying LOST Fan,” ;) but I’m always hesitant to throw someone into Lost at this point. Obviously, I LOVE the show – but I know it is heavy and there is a ton to watch and catch up on. So, I’m always hesitant to push someone into watching it. But if I had to say something – “time traveling bunnies, ‘nuf said.” ;)
14. Has watching Lost sparked any creative inspiration in your life, i.e. writing, media, art, etc.?
The writing on LOST has reminded me how great network TV can be. Also, the bonus footage from Season 1 was nothing short of awe-inspiring. Seeing how an episode is made, from conception to editing, was amazing. I’m a TV junkie and writer at heart and one of my majors at the University of Wisconsin – Madison was Communication Arts, with a focus in TV programming and production. So this has all reminded me how much I love media and writing. I will hopefully get my media blog off the ground soon and start working on some more creative projects. And obviously, LOST has really helped me make a lot of connections on Twitter – there are a ton of Losties out there! J
15. How do you plan on combating PLDS (Post Lost Distress Syndrome) or do you think we’re all destined to end up continuously re-watching our Lost: The Complete Series Ultimate Box Set for the rest of our lives?
Oh, don’t remind me. I don’t know what I’ll do after the final episode. Probably cry or drink heavily…or both. I just hope this doesn’t all end up being “Hurley’s Dream.”
16. What do you think will be Lost’s legacy?
I think LOST reminded us how far-reaching network TV programming can go. TV programs do not have to be dry, 22-min programs with recycled plot lines. I’m a big JJ Abrams fan (having been similarly addicted to ALIAS back in the day). JJ, Damon, and Carlton are all geniuses in their own right and are very inspiring when it comes to the possibilities of TV and writing. They have pushed their medium beyond its usual bounds.
Thanks again, Jessica!
The rest of you, keep a look out for annoying LOST-ie contents in the future!
