Lost Season 6: They Went Out Like Suckers in Many Respects
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By Brian Doherty. Senior Editor, Reason magazine, author of the books THIS IS BURNING MAN, RADICALS FOR CAPITALISM, and GUN CONTROL ON TRIAL, Founder and president of Cherry Smash Records (1993-2001, approx, but closets still full of singles and CDs)
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Invested in five-seasons of LOST-via-DVD, and wondering if you should bother with season 6, having heard all sorts of mysterious whispers hinting that when you get near that finale—run the other way!
What follows is for someone willing to have their viewing experience of Lost ruined by knowing “what happened” to the extent that much of anything happened—or really happened?? [[cue Giacchino scene change sound burst]]. It’s also for those willing to have their viewing experience of Lost ruined by actually watching season 6.
You’ve doubtless heard many times since Sunday night’s hydrogen bomb of a finale that Lost had two types of fans—those in it for the characters, and those in it for the plot and mystery. As that backgammon game back in season one set us up to think, the show is all about dualities of good v. evil. (That its central metaprotagonists, Jacob and Smokey, had little other than their ends distinguishing their manipulative and murdering ways, and since those ends remained obfuscated until the end of the next to last episode, made things a little confusing, yes.)
But the distinction we’re working with here is between those who wanted the show to give us enough unambiguous information to understand its plot, themes, and intent, and those willing to let people with larger stores of cultural reference, more time to think about Lost, than we do explain to us how it all did make sense, or might have made sense, or could be seen as making sense if we squint a lot, read some more books, and are as charitable and forgiving to Lost’s writers as alt-Locke was to alt-Ben.
This is the summation for those of us who wanted from season 6 resolution, wrap-up, or explanation of what we were delighted and fascinated by watching season 1-5 DVDs. But just like all our beloved characters on Lost, in the end we had to be content not with achieving our goals, but just…letting go. Continue reading »
Oh No! It’s COMEDY MELTDOWN 23 – THE END?
EXIT INTERVIEW
Marz Richards (www.renfield.com) interviews Linda Pine!
Linda Pine is the impresario behind Comedy Meltdown, the super-successful comedy revue that took place at the Melt Gallery at Meltdown over the past two years. As Comedy Meltdown comes to a close and a new chapter for the Melt Gallery begins, the ever-inquisitive Marz Richards bothered Linda over a period of hours via electronic communiqué to establish this informative dialogue which we now present to you.
A. Cry into your respective pillows.
Q. Booking anything in Los Angeles is a whirlwind gig, crushing your email and phone lines and consuming your focus. What was the toughest evening you produced during the run?
A. Andy Kindler & Ron Lynch were sick one night and I had to replace both of them on SHORT notice. Of course about 100 people came to the show expecting Lynch and Kindler… I prevented a riot by plying them with Asahi.
A. Howard Kremer hands down wins that award. www.myspace.com/dragonboysuede
Q. The quality of performance at CM was, to my mind, astonishing. Was there something about the room or the booking that contributed to consistent success, or are we just blessed with a lot of kick-ass comedians at this moment?
A. Thank you, to me too. I was lucky to have amazing headliners before the show really had legs, Dana Gould was on our second show for example… If good headliners build it, they will come. www.danagould.com
Q. Do you have secret plans for the future? Divulge them now and ruin the surprise! We won’t tell anyone!
A. Comedy Meltdown World Tour is looking for sponsors. I am also pitching CM as a show for the TV.
Q. I’m big on learning. What is the primary lesson to be learned from your experiences producing this show?
A. Comedians work their asses off.
Q. Could you expand on that a little bit? Are they better promoters? Do they always do more than expected as entertainers?
A. I just mean they go up every night, and sometimes more than once a night. Matt Braunger is a good example, many of the shows he’s done at CM were his second set of the night, but he always has the energy and just kills. www.mattbraunger.com
Q. You’re an actor, but you’ve been quite busy with Comedy Meltdown. Are you going to get back into the great game?
A. Yes, watching these guys and gals instantly produce once they get in front of the mike was inspirational to me.
I need to use that skill at every audition, and remember to roll with the punches.
Q. What did booking this many shows teach you about Los Angeles?
A. That there is always something great going on… and if people show up to CM it means that they passed on any number of awesome screenings, gallery openings, comedy shows, you name it! It’s been very humbling and I am truly grateful that CM found an audience.
Q. This drama may be over, but it’s really not the end. You are curating more than a few art shows at the Melt Gallery at Meltdown through 2010. Tell me about your current installation and what’s next on the agenda?
A. My current show is called An Aurora of Polar Bears: A Children’s Primer. and it’s 26 original works based on terms of venery. My dad, a zoologist, wrote the introduction. I am hoping to make a children’s book (for smart children) out of it. February 27th will be Night of the Knick-Knacks or Return to Oz, all works inspired by the film. http://gallerymeltdown.wordpress.com
Q. Is it safe?
A. Absolutely not.
COMEDY MELTDOWN 23
THE END?
Featuring: Paul F. Tompkins – Howard Kremer
Andrew Donnelley – Heather Thomson – Ron Lynch
Hosted by Jonah Ray
Friday, December 11, 2009 8:00 p.m.
7522 Sunset Blvd, L.A., CA 90046
$8.00 cover charge, sponsored by Asahi beer