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Abrams’ “Lost” had an almost completely different cast

Survivors of a plane crash are forced to work together to survive on a seemingly deserted tropical island… J.J. See which A-listers lost one of the most popular TV shows of all time. Sawyer’s character was originally conceived as an older, smooth-talking city crook from Buffalo, New York. However, when Josh Holloway forgot a line during an audition and then kicked a chair and cursed loudly in frustration, the writers liked the playfulness he brought to Sawyer’s character and decided to write Sawyer as a darker, southern drifter. Jin and Sun are married and share the last name “Kwon,” which becomes a major plot point in the final season. However, when Koreans get married, the wife never takes her husband’s last name.

Adapted from Lost: The Journey (2005)

In fact, in Korea, it’s not even allowed to marry someone with the same last name, except in rare cases… [repeat line] Desmond Hume: See you in the next life, brother.. Weird opening credits created by JJ Abrams on his laptop in black and white as a tribute to The Twilight Zone.. With so many quality shows ending or being canceled recently (Friends, Frasier, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel) and so many others declining in quality (The West Wing, Smallville), not to mention the huge increase in turgid and crappy "reality" programming, I had almost written off television as an entertainment medium. I seriously considered ditching my TV and cable subscription in favor of a computer screen and a broadband internet connection. Then came "Lost". I missed the first few episodes, but thanks to BitTorrent, I caught up.

2) Rich, complex characters

Now I’m hooked. There are a few things I like about this show, but here’s a quick list: 1) Great, intelligent, multi-layered writing. There are multiple mysteries, and with each answer you get, more questions arise. Just when you think you have a character figured out, you learn something new about them, often surprising or even shocking. I love watching the different relationships form and develop. 3) Strong performances. This is a remarkable cast of mostly regulars, with a few newcomers, and they’re all stars.

Mira Furlan, Victoria Hamel)

There were even some episodes featuring well-known, talented actors (e.g. 4) Mysterious and captivating setting. Of the four main story elements you learned in school—plot, character, theme, and setting—it’s often the poor, neglected cousin. Not here. The island is dangerous, beautiful, scary, and undeniably interesting. It’s like a character in itself. Part of the fun of this show will be uncovering the secrets of the island.

This isn’t just a desert island soap opera

5) Thematic depth. There are rich metaphors and themes to be had here, such as about moral challenges; about the nature of community and civilization; about our relationship with nature/environment; and spirituality, even mysticism. I’m grateful that this show is a hit. Too often lately I’ve committed to putting on a quality show (“Wonderfalls” is the most recent and much maligned example), only to have it prematurely canceled by a nervous network. I hope "Lost" has a long and successful run – if its creators, cast, and crew maintain the level of quality they’ve demonstrated so far, I’m sure it will.