I Kinda Want To Be A Christmas Wizard

Seriously, I would like to be a Christmas Wizard for some reason.

I love Community.
I love schmaltzy, over the top Christmas specials (to a point, that is).
I love clever digs, even at things that I also happen to love.

Therefore, I was destined to love the December 9th episode of Community: "Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas." It was produced in purposely lo-fi stop-motion animation and told the story of a mildly delusional Muslim boy and his group of friends (among them a devout Christian, a Jehovah's Witness, and at least one atheist) searching for the true meaning of Christmas at Santa's workshop at the North Pole. All along the way, they take some friendly shots at the conventions of classic Christmas specials, among other things.

(They even managed to add a bonus piece of the puzzle to my quest for resolution with a certain TV show).

If you're still tracking with me, and you enjoy having a few giggles check out the episode below.

I would love to see more TV comedies do things with such blatant disregard for the homogenizing standards behind a lot of today's 30-minute sitcom fare, as Community does (along with a handful of others) on a near-weekly basis. It's also nice to see some prime time exposure for the handiwork of Dino Stamatopoulos, who had a big hand in bringing this episode to the screen. No surprise, considering his resume so far.

Photo credit: NBC

Long Live "The New Man In Charge"

"Quiet over there! We're working on the greatest DVD special feature EVAR!"

I'd like to say that I'd been going back and forth on filling in the last material pieces of my obsession with Lost as yesterday's release date for the final season and complete series on DVD (and of course, blu-ray). I'd like to say that, but I'd be lying. There wasn't really any chance I could resist snagging shiny new discs filled with Lost-ness.

That's not to say that I was looking forward to yesterday's releases with quite the same single-minded fervor that I had all of the previous sets. Maybe I wasn't 100% pleased with the way things shook out back in May. It could be that I was little more gripey about season 6 than any prior season. Perhaps it's because I had to somewhat reluctantly accept the series finale as a decent ending only after doing a lot of conversing and internet scouring. All of those might have derailed my usual level of anticipation, but even combined, those factors could not overpower my compulsion for completion.

Additionally, in all of the previously mentioned scouring, I found intimations that there would be some real treats contained on those shiny new discs that would totally be worth my while. With that baited hook firmly in my mouth, I made a pit-stop on the way home from work yesterday to get fully reeled in.

With some trepidation and a hint of optimism (while breaking from my personal protocol about such things), I practically ignored the first 5 discs and immediately popped in disc 6, going straight to the special features contained within.

I clicked on "The New Man In Charge" and sat back.

As soon as the opening shot appeared on my TV screen, I was sucked right in. I hung on every word and image I heard and saw. And when those 12 wonderful minutes were over, I felt great about Lost all over again, in a way I definitely did NOT feel back in May.

I'm not going to give away anything too specific here, just in case anybody reading this hasn't seen it yet, but plans to. I will say that if you had the same massive lingering question that I did, then you pretty much HAVE to watch it. (Even if, unlike me, you didn't stand up and yell "That's complete horseshit! What about him, you dicks!?!" when it was over.)

It only took 12 minutes to give me the warm and fuzzies that I wasn't sure I could have about this show ever again. Sure, those 12 minutes maybe could have been worked into the last 18 hours of the series, but after watching them on their own last night, I think they work best this way. At least they did for me.

It's nice to be able to make up with an old friend.

"Let's never fight again."

And now, if you'll excuse me, the mega-box containing more tchotchkes than you could shake a frozen donkey wheel at is singing it's siren song to me and my wallet.

I Think This About Sums It Up

So, it's taken me a week to really figure out where I stand on the series finale of Lost, and I'm in a pretty good spot now. I'll admit I've been taking some serious so-called "wiki walks" through Lostpedia all week, and seriously want to watch the whole thing over again as soon as it comes out on Blu-ray come August. (Come on, employment!) I was a little upset on Sunday night, but now I'm back to being, as they say, "all-in" with this show.

That said, and even though I'm not now, nor was I ever, in the "I demand answers to EVERYTHING" camp, I only really wanted TWO answers, this is pretty good stuff right here from CollegeHumor.com:

Thanks to my buddy Wes for hipping me to this on Facebook.

Is Lost Island Actually Kamp Krusty?

Over the last six seasons of TV, I have avoided about 98% of the discussion involving Lost, both off and online. I am absolutely enthralled with the show, but never felt like I needed anyone else's input on it to enjoy the living hell out of it. I'd rather just let the show do its thing. I was one of those people that actually loved every answer leading to more questions, so I avoided all manner of spoilers and speculation. I didn't need to engage in any of that as I was sure, especially after the finite schedule for ending the show had been released, that it would all get taken care of.

After the final season premiere aired, I admit that I peeked at a couple of forums to see what the general buzz was. (BAD Goat!) I was kind of amazed that there were people upset that all of the island's mysteries hadn't been resolved after one night. "These people just don't get it," I thought, as I resolved to keep my optimism in place that all would be revealed in due time.

Answers Are Coming… Answers Are Coming… Answers ARE Coming…

Sure, I was a little concerned that the show had introduced an entirely new set of characters, and even an entirely new reality. Yes, there were only so many episodes left. And yes, the next few episodes dealt WAY more with the "Altverse" than I, or anyone else, would have liked. Still, I remained confident that the layers of the onion would start coming off at a furious pace at some point.

Right?

Now, with just two and a half hours of TV left for Lost to tell me a story (which will probably be more like 90 minutes of actual show), I have to admit that I'm a little concerned. There have, as usual, been a lot of answers that beget questions over the last few weeks, but isn't it about time to start answering questions with, well, answers? I'm not looking for super hardcore, midichlorian-type explanations of things that we shouldn't necessarily understand. I just want some gaps filled in. Is that so wrong?

In all honesty, the only two items I have left on my own personal "MUST BE ANSWERED OR I WILL BE PISSED" checklist are:

• What about the Dharma Initiative?
• WTF with Walt?

The entire "History" episodes over the last few weeks have been amazing, in my opinion. In fact, a few more of those throughout the season, and I think everybody would be a lot happier (especially in place of ANOTHER episode demonstrating how Kate thinks of herself first all the time).

I'm still sitting in the corner repeating my mantra, and looking forward to the big blowout on Sunday night, hoping that at least a whole bunch will be revealed. I'm just hoping that when the answers do show up, they're a little bit more satisfying than Damon Lindelof introducing Carlton Cuse in a makeshift clown costume.

You didn't actually think you'd get REAL answers, did you?

Please, TV, don't let me down!