List O' Links for Friday, March 7th, 2014

Hello one and all! With more seasonable temperatures than we've been getting lately expected this weekend, hopefully we'll be able to thaw out a bit from this cruel winter. Get warm and cozy with these fun links!

Here are 31 reasons why my hometown of Philadelphia is the most underrated city in America. Woo hoo!

There is a new theory surrounding the identity of the character of Andy's mom in the Toy Story movies, and it's an intriguing one. What do you think?

The recent controversy surrounding a possible feud between 12 Years A Slave director Steve McQueen and screenwriter John Ridley reminds me of a slightly similar situation a few years back. Learn about TV writer Jeffrey Lieber, the unsung creator of the series Lost.

This blog was McDonald's Talk Central for awhile, so here's a throwback to that era. Here are Pop Rewind's 7 Missed McDonald's Items. At least some of it is better left in the past.

If you're a fan of classic Top 40 radio like I am, you may enjoy, or may have already heard, this hilarious audio, the famous (among radio fans) NINE tape. This recording, never intended for public listening, is a spoof of the tightening of Top 40 formatics that was happening in earnest at the time the tape was made, the early 1970s. Enjoy!

Finally, the University of Pennsylvania discovered an unusual item in their archives--centuries-old plans to launch warfare by strapping small animals with rocket packs at their enemies. History, folks.

Have a great weekend!

Finally, My Thoughts On The Lost Series Finale

I hope that Lost fans who read this blog will still be interested in reading my thoughts on the finale five days after it aired.  I'll get right to it!

The best part of the finale was the resolution of all the main characters' emotions and motivations on the Island.  These characters were tortured souls from the very first episode, so to see them finally at peace was touching.  Despite many complaints from other fans, I loved that the alternate reality of the last season turned out to be a way station to "heaven," created by the characters themselves.  I never once saw that coming, but once it was revealed, I was totally on board and happy to see everyone ready to "let go, and move on."

Of course, like many others, I would have loved to have received more answers to the Island's many mysteries.  Why did pregnant women die on the Island?  What exactly was the "Hurley bird?"  Was the craziness that took over Rousseau, Sayid, and Claire the sickness mentioned in earlier seasons, and if so, what was the antidote we saw?  Did Jacob force the characters to cross paths before the plane crash?  What's the story behind the music group Geranimo Jackson?  Did Libby remember Hurley from the mental institution?

I can't fault finale detractors too much for being upset about the lack of answers, and I believe the case can be made that these and other questions should have been addressed at some point.  But I disagree when they say that the show was more about these mysteries than the characters.  The show was about both equally.

Still, what they did with the characters was so beautiful, I'm not that upset about the unresolved mysteries.  I suppose the creators believe it's good to leave some mysteries unresolved, and perhaps time will reveal that they are right.  I've had a great time following this show for the last six years and I thank everyone involved for a fantastic show.  Rest in peace, Lost!

Cool Fan-made LOST Series Finale Trailer

Lost cocreator and executive producer Damon Lindelof sent via Twitter a really cool trailer for the upcoming series finale airing May 23rd.  The trailer is completely fan-made rather than professional, but it is amazingly well done.  Take a look!

What the hell am I doing blogging at 11:30 on a Saturday night?

LOST Cast Audition Tapes Part 2

As promised, here today are more audition tapes of the cast of Lost, for the roles of Sun, Jin, Boone, Shannon, Claire, and Sayid.

LOST Cast Audition Tapes

With Lost coming to its eternal conclusion in a matter of weeks, enjoy these audition tapes of the cast way back when.  Today I feature Matthew Fox (reading for both Sawyer and Jack), Josh Holloway, Evangeline Lilly, and Jorge Garcia (also reading as Sawyer).  More tomorrow!

LOST: The Answers Song

Frustrated that Lost isn't giving you enough answers?  So are these guys.  From the creators of Butt Drugs!

Before They Were LOST

Rounding out my unofficial Lost Week, I present a few clips of Lost stars before the show existed.

Josh Holloway, a former model, appeared in some interesting places. First, here is the music video for Aerosmith's "Cryin'". Look for Josh at the 3:25 mark as a purse snatcher in a diner. Hey Sawyer, let go of Alicia Silverstone's handbag!



Next, here's Josh in a blink-and-you-miss-him moment in an Old Navy commercial.



Finally, here he is in a bit part on an episode of CSI as a valet.



Next is possibly the fan favorite of the entire series, the amazing Terry O'Quinn. He has a long and steady career as a character actor, and is more diverse than you might imagine. Here is one brutal scene from the 1980s thriller The Stepfather, in which he plays a psychotic killer.



Here is a much more different side of O'Quinn from the 1989 movie discussion series The Big Picture, on which he was promoting The Stepfather II. I had no idea he played guitar and sang blues! And he's really good, too!



Here he is in the 1990 film The Rocketeer (which you should see because its awesome) playing, of all people, Howard Hughes.



Lastly for O'Quinn, here he is on his previous "genre" TV show, Millenium.



Finally, here is a fun 10-minute film parody of The Fast and The Furious, titled The Slow and the Cautious, starring none other than Jorge Garcia, Lost's Hugo "Hurley" Reyes.

The Slow and the Cautious | Movies & TV | SPIKE.com

I hope you enjoyed this week's Lost goodies. I'll get back to a greater variety of stuff next week. Thanks!

Sonic Weapon Fence: LOST Tribute Band

Since this has turned into an unofficial Lost Week here at the blog, I'll keep it going. Today I want to bring your attention to a cool band called Sonic Weapon Fence, which performs songs in tribute to Lost. Their first EP The Oceanic Six is available for free download at their site here. I downloaded it last year and it's been on my mp3 player ever since. They now also have a second collection of songs available for purchase at iTunes and CD Baby. Their songs are clever, fun, and tongue-in-cheek. Check them out; you'll be glad you did!

LOST: DHARMA Orientation Video: The Remix

Lost would have been a totally different show if this had been DHARMA's orientation film!

LOST Meets BAYWATCH

Continuing the Lost theme established yesterday, enjoy what would happen if Lost were more like Baywatch. Excellently done!

LOST's Michael Emerson in Prison Training Film From 1992

If you're a big Lost fan like myself, you'll get a kick out of this clip. This is from a film made in 1992 used to train prison workers. When one prisoner becomes unruly, it's up to the prisoner's counselor to talk him down--Michael Emerson, aka "Ben Linus!" Take a look!



I'd like to see what the Others would do for this man!

Michael Emerson Interview on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

Tonight is the season 5 finale of Lost, one of my favorite shows. In honor of this milestone, I present an interview actor Michael Emerson gave for the new program Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Emerson first received notice as a villian on The Practice and has achieved equal notoriety as the cryptic Benjamin Linus on Lost. The highlight comes at the end of the interview, in which Emerson gives a pseudo-chilling rendition of the classic children's rhyme "Little Boy Blue" Benjamin Linus-style. Enjoy!

Previously on Lost

On the eve of the season 5 premeire of Lost, here is an amateur film titled "Previously on Lost," about one man's attempt to catch up with the previous four seasons in one weekend. Funny stuff!