To me, the fall television season is all about killing time until LOST comes back on in January. Until then, I will be inundating myself with a shitload of shows - some good, and some, well...we all have our weaknesses. Here are the shows I'll be watching, why I'll be watching them, and how they will fill the LOST-void.


Flash Forward (new show)

Premise: People experience about two minutes of their futures. Is it fated, or can it be changed? And, oh yeah, why did they see it in the first place?

Why Watch: I read this book, and I really liked it, but I cannot begin to fathom how it will transition to the small screen. I know that the plot line has been greatly changed in the series - so much so that the characters are pretty much all new. I'll still watch to see how it plays out.

LOST stand-in: Dominic Monaghan (Chaaaaaarlie!!!!) and Sonya Walger (Penny Widmore), for starters. Also, freaky time traveling/jumping. Finally, a large, complex cast of characters, a very expensive pilot, and science experiments gone arry.

V (new show/remake)

Premise: Aliens come to Earth. You think they're nice, but they're really evil lizard aliens in disguise. They have infiltrated the planet, and now they will take over.

Why Watch: Aliens are always a winner. Plus, the show has been getting great reviews.

LOST stand-in: The show stars Elizabeth Mitchell, who you might know better as poor, poor (dead) Juliet.

Doctor Who specials (season 4.5)

Premise: There are three more specials starring David Tennant as the Doctor before he hands the reins over to some young whipper-snapper named Matt Smith. What will happen to cause the regeneration, and who will the Doctor see from his past. AND THE MASTER!!!!

Why Watch: I plan on watching so that my very heart can be ripped from my chest over and over again. Good times.

LOST stand-in: More time travel; painful death scenes that make me weep for months at a time

Community/30 Rock/The Office (new show/season 4/season 6)

Premise: Joel McHale will be awesome. I want to go there. That's what she said.

Why Watch: Laughing is good.

LOST stand-in: For every 45 minutes of action and suspense, you need at least a few minutes of sarcasm and humor. I mean, what's a LOST episode without Hurley or Sawyer or Miles?

Dollhouse (season 2)

Premise: A sketchy business rents out people with hollowed out minds who have been implanted with false personas. Unfortunately, some of the "vessels" are remembering who they really are.

Why Watch: Joss Whedon made this. By the end of the season, I was way into it.

LOST stand-in: Shady corporations who manipulate others. Plus, I have a feeling that there will be some memory issues very soon on LOST.

90210 (season 2)

Premise: C'mon, as if I have to tell you.

Why Watch: Nostalgia. This is trash at its worst, aka finest.

LOST stand-in: From this show I can get my fill of partially nudity and beaches. And that's about it.

Californication (season 3)

Premise: David Duchovny sleeps with everyone.

Why Watch: See above.

LOST stand-in: Um, this show is really all about Mulder. No LOST connection necessary.

The Vampire Diaries (new show)

Premise: Two vampire brothers, one good and one evil-ish, fall in love with the same girl.

Why Watch: I read this series when I was young, and it was always one of my favorites. I think I'm a bit old for it now, and it will probably be all Twilight-ed up, but I have to at least check it out.

LOST stand-in: Ian Somerhalder (Boone Carlyle) as the evil vampire brother. Yeah!

House (season 6)

Premise: If you don't know by now, you must be completely blind, deaf, and dumb.

Why Watch: Although this show can be redundant, the formula works. It's good.

LOST stand-in: A crazy doctor with a drug addiction...Jack Shephard much?

Sons of Anarchy (season 2)

Premise: The struggle of a (hot) young man in a biker gang, trying to decide what is right and wrong for his life. As the son of the gang's founder and the step-son of it's leader, should he try to start a life of his own or remain loyal to the club?

Why Watch: It's like Sopranos with bikes, leather, and AD Skinner as the leader of the skin heads.

LOST stand-in: This show serves as my violence patch. It's no Sawyer/Jack slug-fest, but I take bloodshed where I can get it. There are also some very serious daddy issues in this one.

Dexter (season 4)

Premise: Can a serial killer live a normal life? Will Dexter ever change, or will he eventually get caught? More importantly, who will he kill next?

Why Watch: Great plot arcs and fantastic suspense.

LOST stand-in: If this sociopathic killer is the closest I can get to Benjamin Linus, I'll take it.

Fringe (season 2)

Premise: An FBI agent, a crazy old scientist, and his mysterious son work together to solve paranormal crimes all linked to a shady corporation.

Why Watch: Great characters, fantastic acting, and unique stories. The best show from last year.

LOST stand-in: Crazy experiments, different dimensions, a mad scientist...yup, works for me. Oh yeah, and it was created by a little someone named J.J. Abrams (creator of LOST).

         Is Lost a Repeat?