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The LOSTBlog.com Interview: Jen and Liz of The Washington Post’s Lost Central

by Erin on Feb.18, 2010

LOSTBlog is honored to have exchanged questions and answers with The Washington Post’s Jen Chaney and Liz Kelly of “Lost” Central!  They are the hosts of the weekly live Q&A session “Talk ‘Lost’ with Jen and Liz” and are the contributors of the weekly “Dueling Analysis” post, as well as other Lost-related posts at LOST Central.  You can follow them on Twitter here .

Along with the standard 16 questions prepared by our Cath Howard, LOSTblog Editor Jon Stueve added in 7 more to make it 23 questions.

1. How long have you been watching Lost? If you’ve been watching since the pilot, can you remember your initial reaction to it?

Jen: I have been watching “Lost” since the pilot: Sept. 22, 2004. It’s hard to remember my initial reaction specifically, but I know I was certainly intrigued. And I remember thinking the effects and scope of the show seemed bigger than what we usually see on television; it almost had a blockbuster-movie quality about it.

Liz: I was a late adopter. For some reason I had an aversion to island-themed shows since “Lost” debuted around the same time as “Survivor.” But eventually I rented the first two seasons on DVD. I think I watched them in under two weeks and was voracious for more.

2. How did Lost get its polar bear claws into you? What about it got you hooked?

Jen: I’m an anxious traveler and flier, so I think the show initially tapped into some subconscious issues I have. (If I were in a plane crash, could I survive? How could I survive? Would there be a hot doctor who also survived and could remind me of the importance of living together and dying alone?)

But I think the sci-fi and supernatural elements also attracted me. The notion that some unseen monster was out there and capable of harming people, including Greg Grunberg, drew me in. But “Walkabout” – when Jack suddenly sees his dead father roaming around the island – may have been what definitively sucked me into the “Lost” vortex.

Liz: I guess I would have to say that the show grabbed me from the outset — the way we’re brought into the immediacy of the crash almost made it feel like it was a traumatic experience I had experienced along with the Oceanic 815 passengers. So how could i turn my back on them after that? I cared about these people with whom I’d shared that trauma.

3. Favorite character?

Jen: Oh, such a hard question. I like so many, but I think I have to say Hurley. As much as Liz and I sometimes bust on Hurley for being Mr. Comic Relief, I think he’s much more than that. There’s so much humanity in Hurley, so much there that so many people can relate to. He’s insecure at times. He’s often confused about what the heck is going on (like many of us). But he’s always trying to make the best of his situation, no matter what. I think if I met any of the “Lost” characters in real life, the one whose friendship I’d most want to win is Hurley’s.

Liz: Well, if forced to pick I guess I’d have to go with Sawyer. He’s not the most complicated of guys, but he’s reliably witty, surprisingly intellectual and, well, hot.

4. Least favorite character?

Jen: Equally hard question. Nikki and/or Paolo is too obvious. I’m going to say Elsa, because she tried to kill Sayid.

Liz: This will come as no surprise to Jen: Kate Austen. Why? She’s completely selfish and has at various times made life hell for Jack and Sawyer.

5. Favorite episode or season?

Jen: Episode has to be “Through the Looking Glass” because it worked beautifully on pretty much every level (action, tension, genuinely touching and, with its flash-forward, hugely surprising). Season-wise, though, I have to go with a tie: seasons one and two. Unless, of course, season six comes on strong and surpasses them.

Liz: That’s a tough one. Until season 5 I would have gone with “The Constant.” The Desmond/Penny love story was told exquisitely. But now the season 5 finale (“The Incident”) may have taken the top spot on my list because of the Juliet/Sawyer goodbye. Not to mention the well done plotting and action of those eps.

6. Least favorite episode or season?

Jen: Least favorite season is portions of season three. And least fave episode is “Stranger in a Strange Land.” Obvious, I know.

Liz: Season 3, though upon a second watching it isn’t as bad as I’d initially thought. Maybe that is because the second time around I was already inured to the annoyances that were Nikki and Paolo.

7. If you had to be one of the following, which would it be and why: an 815 survivor, an Other or a member of the Dharma Initiative?

Jen: An 815 survivor. They’re the stars of the show, after all.

Liz: Hmm. I think I’d be an Oceanic 815 survivor because unlike the Others and the Dharmas, the Losties at least have a modicum of free will.

8. Which character’s demise were you most upset to see happening?

Jen: Given my obsession with Boone, you’d think I would say Boone. But the real answer is: Charlie Pace.

Liz: Most upset? Hmm… I have to say I was pretty dismayed when Ana Lucia bit it. I know she wasn’t the most popular character, but I liked her. She was a strong woman.

9. Tell us a bit about your site/blog/podcast, i.e. why you started it, how it runs, your post-season 6 plans for it, etc.

Jen: Liz and I started doing our dueling analyses during season three. (I think blogging about “Lost” occurred to both of us sooner, it just took a while to actually get it going.) We started it because we loved the show and could see how much chatter and excitement it was generating on the Internet. The blog then blossomed into broader coverage that included our weekly chats, our “Lost” book club, the “Lost” Madness contest and stories we’ve written for the print edition of the Post. (We even hosted a fun “Lost” happy hour in D.C. prior to the season five premiere.)

In terms of how the blog part runs, Liz and I begin the dueling analysis immediately following each episode. We each make lists of key points, then IM back and forth with each other, sharing thoughts, arguing about Kate, etc. After that, Liz edits the transcript into a readable form, I re-read it and make any additional needed tweaks, and then our editor takes a look the morning after the episode, makes any additional changes and publishes it live.

Post-“Lost,” I am not sure what we’ll do. We work for a mainstream media organization that covers a wide range of topics, so I think we probably will close up shop sometime after the show winds down.

Liz: I’m sure Jen covered this, so I’ll concur w/ her.

10. What are you favorite online Lost communities, blogs, podcasts, etc.?

Jen: Too many to mention, so I’ll just touch on a few. We love Doc Jensen, for sure. Damon and Carlton’s podcast is a must-listen. DocArzt, Dark UFO’s invaluable screencaps, the analyses by Nikki Stafford and JOpinionated … oh, so many others.

Liz: Lostpedia is really a go-to site for me (as it is for every Lost fan). I’m also a big DarkUFO fan and, of course, a big follower of the gazillion Lost-centric Tweeters.

11. Tell us something interesting/scary/amusing/downright weird about how your time in the Lost fan-verse has changed your life.

Jen: I don’t know if this qualifies as interesting/scary/amusing or downright weird. But I think watching “Lost” – which requires such an intense level of scrutiny – has made me a better viewer/analyzer of other elements of pop culture, from other TV shows to film to books. My primary job is to cover movies for the Post and I know that I’ve been able to catch more details in films because of the “training” from watching “Lost.” It’s made me take all of my analysis up a notch.

Liz: Well, I guess I’d have to say the moment at Comic-Con 2008 when — after waiting in line for hours to get into the Lost panel — one fan collapsed in the audience before it even started. Now that’s dedication.

12. You’re in an elevator with someone who has never seen as much as a second of Lost. You got on in the lobby and you’re both headed to the fifteeth floor. How do you convince them to buy and watch all the DVDs before the elevator gets there?

Jen: I say: “‘Lost’ is the most important show of the first decade of the new millennium. If you don’t watch it, you will miss one of the most enriching pop cultural experiences in your lifetime.” Granted, that will only take me to, say, the fifth floor. But it should get my point across.

Liz: I show them my hand-drawn flipbook comic that chronicles all the action in Lost from seasons 1 – 5. Kidding.

13. Has watching Lost sparked any creative inspiration in your life, i.e. writing, media, art, etc.?

Jen: As I mentioned above, I think it’s made me a much more creative viewer of all kinds of media. And I also think it’s made me think more deeply about what I personally want to write. I’ve dabbled in fiction here and there, and the show has certainly inspired me to return to that and try doing some fun things with my own story-telling. Story-telling that, you know, no one will probably ever read.

Liz: Well, since I get paid to watch and write about Lost, I mainly just feel lucky. No macaroni art hiding in the closet, tho.

14. What are your hopes for Season 6 and based on what you’ve seen so far, how likely do you think it is they’ll be met?

Jen: My hopes are that we’ll get the crucial questions answered. But more importantly, that we’ll feel emotionally fulfilled by what happens in this last season of “Lost.” After this most recent episode (“The Substitute”), I feel more confident that that will happen.

Liz: Answers. And based on the third episode (“The Substitute”) I think we’re making some progress.

15. How do you plan on combatting PLDS (Post Lost Distress Syndrome) or do you think we’re all destined to end up continuously re-watching our Lost: The Complete Series Ultimate Box Set for the rest of our lives?

Jen: Wow. I am dreading that final moment, but even more than that, the week after that moment, when we’ve had a few days to digest the finale and it starts to sink in more deeply that the end has come. I suspect I’ll keep reading theories and reactions for a bit, then take a break. And, after a while, start the continuous re-watch.

Liz: Heroin.

16. What do you think will be Lost’s legacy?

Jen: Legacy is an interesting word, because it implies, perhaps, that some shows may continue to emulate “Lost.” And I’m not sure they can. It’s an expensive show to produce, and it’s an incredibly complex and intelligent show, one tailor-made for dissection on the Internet. I think it’s going to be a while before we see something on TV that works on all of those levels again.

But as I suggested in an earlier response, I think we’ll look back on this series as one that really captured something about where we were as a society in the ‘00s, not only because it’s about coping after a disaster (very post-9/11) but more importantly, because it taps into our desire for deeper meaning in our lives. With the many crises that have befallen us in the past decade or so, from 9/11 to Hurricane Katrina to the economic recession, I think more people have been asking themselves the tough, big-picture questions, about their purpose and their spirituality. And “Lost” taps into all of that. It’s about coming out on the other side of a tragic event, and trying to figure out how to go on and find your place in the universe. I think the show would have been a hit no matter when it arrived. But it hit at the absolute right cultural moment.

Liz: A show that was — much like its premise — both behind and ahead of its time. A show that lived a natural life — birth to death — on its own terms. Legacy is a tough term, though, because it implies that Lost is something that can be replicated. I’m not sure that’s possible.

17. You’ve hosted some wonderful people on the Q&A portion of your site.
Can you recount some of your favorite discussions?

Jen: Well, having Henry Ian Cusick on was great. He couldn’t have been nicer and more thrilled to answer the fans’ questions. And every “Lost” blogger or insider we’ve had – from Jeff Jensen to JOpinionated to Paul Scheer – has been great fun and brought an engaged audience to the chats with them.

Liz: We always enjoy having EW’s Jeff Jensen as a guest, but all of our guests have been truly interesting and added so much to our regular discussions
– JOpinionated, DocArzt, Paul Scheer…

18. After you’ve watched an episode of LOST do you like to sleep on it, or immediately delve into a discussion of what it means and start wondering about the next episode?

Jen: We have to immediately delve into it. That said, if something occurs to one of us in our dreams (hey, it’s happened) we still have the capacity to make an addition or change in the morning.

Liz: Well, since Jen and I do this for a living, we actually jump into a private online chat session as soon as the show ends each week. That grows into our weekly analysis which is posted first thing each Wednesday morning.

19. Have you done a complete series re-watch in preparation for Season 6?

Jen: We did a rewatch (and corresponding series of chats) for seasons one through three. And I rewatched some of season five, too. I didn’t get to do a complete rewatch of season four because of time constraints. I wish I had, though.

Liz: Yes.  Well, first, rewatching reminded me how good this show was from the get-go. And it also helped to reinform me not only about the plot, but the nuances of each character — and character development is such a big part of the show, I think its important to know who each one is to know where he or she will go. It was also just darn neat to watch with hindsight knowledge — f’rinstance, watching Sawyer and Juliet interact in the earlier shows knowing that once they arrive in 1977 they will fall in love.

20. How has social media changed the way you do business as a professional journalist?  Has it made it easier or more challenging to stay focused? Or, is it a temptation to follow after shiny things?

Jen: I think it’s definitely made it more challenging to stay focused, even though I embrace the concept of social media. My job encompasses a lot more than just blogging about “Lost,” so on any given day, I’m trying to keep up with news/theories about the show while also doing 8 million other things. With more people sharing information about the show, it’s super-easy to get sucked into a bottomless pit of “Lost” information. That’s challenging as far as getting work done, but great because it fosters more dialogue, and introduces us to even more theories that didn’t occur to us.

Liz: In a big way — I’m an online junkie as it is, but old media (for whom I work) is increasingly recognizing the value of social media in getting out our message. That’s why you’ll find Jen and I on Facebook, Twitter and anywhere else Lost-lovers gather online.

21. If you had 20 minutes off the record with Damon Lindelof or Carlton Cuse (only one) whom would you corner, and what questions would you ask?

Jen: I’d corner Damon, just because he co-created the show and has been there since minute one. I’d probably ask him to tell me more about the ending of the series, just in terms of the extent to which it differs from what he and J.J. Abrams originally envisioned. I’d also want to get – since we’re off the record – a better sense of how much of the blogs and fan Internet response he read on a regular basis and how it affected him. I’m sure I’d have other juicy questions, but I can’t tell you what they are, because they’re off the record.

Liz: I would be happy with either and since I’m sure Jen asked all the appropriate complicated questions, I might concentrate on inquiring about how Lost has affected their lives. I mean, do these two pinch themselves when they wake up every morning or what?

22. I know you’ve plugged my LOST Themed Disney Attraction petition, and I thank you for your support.  How realistic do you think it is to believe that LOST will live on in pop-culture after the last hour of this series airs?

Jen: I think it’s pretty realistic. There are enough core “Lost” devotees that I think Drive Shaft coffee mugs and “Lost” books will continue to proliferate after the final episode.

Liz: Totally realistic. If Star Trek can do it, Lost is a sure-fire ongoing phenom.

23. The very last minute of LOST has aired, and the credits are rolling.  After crying and hugging and mourning, what’s next for the both of you?

Jen: Well, certainly chatting with our “Lost” community online. And then, I guess, focusing on the other aspects of our job more closely.

This may sound cheesy, but it’s the honest truth. In nearly 10 years at the Post, covering “Lost” has been the most fulfilling thing I’ve done, because of what it’s brought to my life and also because of the way it’s connected with our readers. So even though I’ll continue covering movies and pop culture, I suspect I’ll feel a little, well, lost when it’s all over.

Liz: Well, by the time the finale airs I will be reaching the end of my pregnancy, so I may just be headed to the hospital!

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Thank you so much Jen and Liz from everyone at LOSTBlog!
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