Lindelof speaks on the line

Enjoy that first "Missing Pieces" episode? Yes? No? In either case, get used to new Lost content for the forseeable future dripped out in these 2-minute morsels, as the writer's strike enters double digits in terms of days.

As one who writes on a almost daily basis here, you can correctly assume that you know my allegiance for this strike. I don't claim to be an expert on the minutiae of the details (luckily, others here at Zap2It are experts), but I completely sympathize with those trying to make a living as writers. While movies may be alternatively an actor- or director-ruled medium, television really belongs to the writer. That's not to belittle any contribution made by acting, producing, or behind-the-scenes talent involved in the television shows you watch on a daily basis, but the imprint of the writer is so overwhelmingly strong that I feel comfortable in assigning their supremacy in this medium.

Lost, especially, is driven by the work done at the writers' table, spearheaded by producers Damon Lindelof and Carleton Cuse, two men who also wrote a little episode called "Through the Looking Glass" that not only demonstrated their plotting prowess, but their writing chops as well. Given the episodic nature of Lost, it's incumbent upon the writers to keep the story straight, to keep the story moving, and to keep the story consistent. Given the structure of Lost, with its lack of linearity, huge backstory, and complicated mystery, this is a daunting task, and one that to date they've done successfully.

Check out this clip to see why Damon feels this strike is necessary. His point is one I've made here before: television not shown on a "television" is the inevitable future, and right now, that future has no economic upside for the Writer's Guild of America. Until the Guild feels they are guaranteed residuals in the new marketplace, the true "missing pieces" will be the last eight episodes of Season 4 of Lost, and any subsequent seasons we as fans so highly anticipate.

Ryan also posts every 108 minutes over at Boob Tube Dude.