| What's good on TV these days? Gone are the | | | | offsprings. This twice-a-week (now thrice) show |
| golden days of half-hour gameshows and soap | | | | attracts at least two kinds of people: the aspiring |
| operas, with the exception of maybe Hollywood | | | | stars and their fans. Every year, thousands of |
| Squares and General Hospital. So what's new in | | | | hopefuls went the extra mile to take that one |
| the menu? Come the new millenium, the world is | | | | shot at stardom, or to simply make fools of |
| slapped with some programs never before seen | | | | themselves (intentionally or not).The first section |
| on television. Here, I would like to compare two | | | | of American Idol sees the process of finding the |
| of television's recent prized possessions.Lost | | | | needle in the haystack to pick the best of rest by |
| If given only one word to describe this | | | | three contrasting (though not necessarily |
| incomparable piece of fiction, it would be 'unique'. | | | | contradicting) judges. This is one thing never |
| You won't be able to find a similar show anytime | | | | before conceived, never before televised method |
| soon; it's genre ranges from mystery to | | | | of making stars out of singers. The filtering |
| suspense and maybe even thriller. Taking place in | | | | process gives a chance for the people at home |
| a faraway jungle-island, Lost is a depiction of | | | | to start liking some of the lads and lasses they |
| several very different characters together, or | | | | see on the tube. Once the jaded shows begin, |
| sometimes separately, facing the dangers the | | | | fans can vote for their favourite performers to |
| island has to offer. How could one fabricate an | | | | keep them in the competition week after week. |
| intricate, believable story with this setting? The | | | | A system like this gives the audience a chance to |
| creators of Alias managed to pull it off with | | | | determine the outcome of the show, making this |
| impressive results.Adding to its uniqueness is that | | | | television show a two-way transaction. Hence the |
| every episode focuses on one character, a | | | | mass appeal.Everything about this show is |
| portion of his/her past (with cleverly placed | | | | absolutely, or relatively new in the face of the |
| flashbacks), and how each of them overcomes | | | | world. Singing competitions often don't get |
| the difficulties in their hearts. While the plane crash | | | | televised, viewers only get to sit and watch |
| survivors deal with conflicts within themselves, the | | | | before this, and they don't have to adore fictional |
| secrets of the island slowly unfolds. None of them | | | | characters anymore. It's the real thing: the winner |
| could imagine what lies beyond the sandy beaches | | | | proves him/herself to be the most likable (nobody |
| and the green jungles. There is even a hint that all | | | | said it's a talent show, it's all about America's |
| of them might be there because of destiny. (I | | | | chosen one). All in good effort to produce albums |
| would not call these spoilers, there is so much | | | | that people would rush to the stores to buy; a |
| more to the story)The first season has earned | | | | profitable collaboration of television, record |
| itself an astounding array of awards, much | | | | companies, and the phone company.Comparing |
| deserved undoubtedly. | | | | these two very different television shows may |
| If shows like The O.C and Smallville are breaths | | | | not be give you a new outlook on them. But my |
| of fresh air, Lost would be an oxygen tank. Even | | | | conclusion is that the realm of TV has expanded |
| through half of season 2, the end doesn't look | | | | its borders tremendously over the past decade. |
| anywhere close. So much of open space for | | | | Entertainment through the same medium cannot |
| story-telling, a whole island, in fact. Five full stars, | | | | be generalized anymore; it's a whole new world |
| hands down.America currently awaits episode 15 | | | | with different continents.A communications |
| of Season 2 while Malaysia anticipates its third | | | | student at HELP University College, Kuala Lumpur, |
| episode on AXN-Asia.American Idol | | | | Malaysia. A Chinese urbanite making sense of the |
| An ocean-consuming success that has gained | | | | world and noting observations. Just a amateur |
| world-wide following even up the fifth season; this | | | | blogger aiming for the sky. |
| is American Idol. Reality TV has no prouder | | | | |