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