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‘Lost’ fans await show’s fourth season

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Where other shows have suffered from declining quality (I’m looking at you, “House,” “24,” “Heroes,” “Prison Break,” et al.) “Lost” is an island of excellence.

p. Bad puns aside, the third season finished stronger than any before it, and the preliminary reviews of what lies ahead look to only exceed what’s already passed. Before I can say anything else, however, I must warn you: If you don’t want the episodes that have already aired spoiled, you really shouldn’t read any further.

p. For those of you still with me, I can’t contain my excitement in telling you that after an extended break of nearly eight months, Jan. 31 will let us heed future-Jack Shepherd’s pleas and return to the island at last. And not a moment too soon, as more and more mindless reality shows fill programming blocks each week.

p. The fall out from the writers’ strike has begun, and “Lost” may be the only safe patch of land in a sea of television that never fails to horrify. Couch potatoes are given a choice between the lesser of two evils, as terminators and disturbingly muscular American Gladiators vie for their attention. I honestly can’t imagine a time when our televisions have needed quality programming more than now.

p. Thankfully, the show remains top-notch even after three years of its well-known, tried-and-true formula of character-centric episodes sprinkled with exciting and telling flashbacks (and the occasional ones that are just a bore — I’m looking at you, Claire). The curveball twist during the third season finale marked the end of the series’ traditional format. In an emotional and depressing character portrait of leading man Jack Shephard, fans were treated to what were the most shocking flashback scenes yet.

p. The scenes depict Jack Shephard as far removed from the character with whom audiences have been acquainted for three years. He’s addicted to pain killers, a raging alcoholic, suffering from depression to the point of suicide and sporting a nasty beard. The flashbacks were powerful and moving in themselves, but audiences were doubtlessly wondering exactly how it all relates to the action on the show.

p. Suspicion of the writers was not unwarranted either. Several episodes in the third season centered on flashbacks that were of little to no importance, and at times were just plain boring. I’m sorry, Kate, but at this point we’ve grown tired of watching you flee the police while leaving a trail of broken hearts in your wake. And just how many times have we seen you con someone out of their fortune, Sawyer? The sad truth is that the well for pertinent character information is running dry. I don’t blame the writers though, I’m actually amazed they’ve done it so well for three seasons.

p. This flashback was no dud, however — for the first time, it served as the season’s final scene, outshining the island-focused action and seizing the climax for itself. The payoff came in the final moments, when a tearful Jack met a mysterious woman at the airport — who turned out to be none other than Kate Austen. Jack shouted his final line, “We have to go back!” and “Lost” junkies around the country all gasped at once. Analysts say the moment registered a 4.0 on the Richter scale.

p. At that moment the fan was not only hit, but destroyed. Jack’s flashbacks in the finale were in fact flash-forwards. J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof, the producers of the series, quickly came forward and revealed that the next season will focus on life before the island, on the island and after the island. What’s a viewer to do? Feed the addiction and watch more, of course.

p. What does this mean for the show? Besides the promise that Jack and Kate (and up to six others, advertisements have touted) make it off the island, the change blows a good number of popular theories out of the water. But it also promises answers. And that seems to be the buzzword that has fans excited most.

p. Without a doubt, the success of “Lost” lies in its mystery, but after three years of asking, “Where the hell are they going with this?” after nearly every episode, many viewers are burned out. Indeed, the show’s ratings dropped to an all-time low this past season, and some critics cite a lack of faith in an attainable conclusion as the principle cause (Mr. Eko would be ashamed). With rescue certain for at least some of the characters, fans can rest assured that the writers know what they’re doing.

p. Also since the last season, Abrams and Lindelof hammered out their contracts with ABC, cementing the show’s lifetime to a grand total of six seasons, with the remaining three lasting only 16 episodes each. Abrams stated that the shorter episode order was designed to reduce the filler between important episodes and allow each episode to be substantial within the ongoing storyline.

p. How the writers’ strike will affect the fourth season is unknown. As of now, only eight episodes are finished and no more have been written. The eight episodes will not be a condensed version of the intended 16, the unfortunate circumstance that befell and ruined the finale of “Heroes.”

p. “Lost” will return Thursday, Jan. 31 at 9 p.m. on ABC. If your memory needs some refreshing or you’re a newcomer, tune in at 8 p.m. for a summary of the show so far, since it’s difficult to simply jump into midway.

Sinfonicron produces ‘Pirates of Penzance’

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The Sinfonicron Light Opera Company presented the musical “Pirates of Penzance” this past weekend, produced by Timothy Kaufmann ’08 and directed by Dan Plehal ’09.

p. The student-run production was fantastic, and left its audience recounting hilarious one-liners and humming memorable songs. It was clear that the cast, which spent two weeks of winter break preparing the musical (doing everything from rehearsing to set construction), loved this production and put their hearts into it. The product was truly outstanding.

p. ‘Penzance’ tells the story of a young man named Frederick, who is mistakenly apprenticed at a young age as a pirate until his 21st birthday. Now that his service to the “glorious” Pirate King and his band of harmless pirates is complete, Frederick’s undeniable sense of duty leads him to rid the seas of these ruffians. Complications arise, and their island is invaded by a group of lovely daughters, the likes of which Frederick has never before seen. The plot quickly thickens, however, and chaos erupts.

p. Though the musical’s humor is in the lyrics, the cast brought the production to life through humorous choreography. The original script leaves much for interpretation and the actors, led by choreographer Kelsey Meiklejohn ’09, took full advantage of physical movement and slapstick comedy in every scene. Their musical nod to “Pirates of the Caribbean” during a fight scene delighted the audience.

p. Fantastic vocal performances were showcased in ‘Pirates,’ as nearly every principal character exceeded expectations. Josh Garstka ’09 brought boyish charm to his lead role, creating a humorous musical number when he encounters beautiful women his own age. Barret Armbruster ’10, shone as the Pirate King, delivering each line with impeccable comedic timing. His vocal performance was the strongest in the musical and the twinkle in his eye was visible even from the balcony. His counterpart, Rolfe Shiflett ’08, was delightful as well — his hilarious accent added flavor to every line and his performance of “I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major General” was well-done.

p. Maurene Comey’s ’10 beautiful soprano voice filled the theater and, although there was some difficulty understanding her lyrics, she was lovely nonetheless. Mary Myers ’10, who played Frederick’s desperate-yet-loveable nanny, stole the first scenes of the production. The delightful scene of Myers desperately clinging to Frederick’s leg to convince him of her worldly beauty was priceless. In addition, the flexible Brent Schultheis ’08 gave new meaning to physical comedy. It was a real disappointment he didn’t make an appearance in the first act.

p. The members of the ensemble of pirates, police and daughters did a great job, causing my eyes to dart from actor to actor. Everyone seemed to be having fun as their gestures and body movements stayed true to their characters. The interaction between the sophisticated daughters and the rowdy pirates was quite entertaining. Notable performances included Anna Hunter ’10, Jake Nelson ’11 and Chris Bassett ’08.

p. The student orchestra of over 20 students also did an exceptional job. On opening night they seemed a bit off, but most likely that can be written off to first-night jitters. Their overture was complemented by a skull and cross bones lit on the curtain, a perfect way to begin the musical.

p. The students that presented ‘Pirates’ should be proud; it was truly a wonderful performance. It surpassed most productions put on by the College’s theatre department. I will be awaiting Sinfonicron’s show next year, with hopes it proves as entertaining as this one.

Heath Ledger’s tragic death at age 28 leaves loving fan distraught

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May 11, 2001 — a day most eagerly awaited by my group of giggling preteen friends.

p. While this date may seem fairly innocuous to most, to us it represented the pinnacle of our social existence at the time: Heath Ledger Day. Dressed to impress, with platform sneakers and body glitter, we went to the local theater for the eagerly anticipated opening of “A Knight’s Tale.”

p. My childhood bedroom is still covered in memorabilia dedicated to Heath — from a picture of him with Heather Graham (on which I craftily covered her face with my own) to notes penned with pink ink signed “Liz Ledger” to the Vanity Fair spread I stole from my aunt years ago to adorn various middle school binders and notebooks. Of course, don’t forget, the pinnacle of my collection: A silver frame embossed with “My Boyfriend” holding three separate pictures of Heath (much to the chagrin and dismay of my “real” boyfriend, a certain reviews editor who has not yet made the cut into the frame).

p. Needless to say, I’ve been with Heath for quite a while now.
The fact that Heath had such a young end is tragic in itself, yet is more tragic still in light of the accomplishments he was on his way to achieving. I first saw Heath in the Australian film “Two Hands” (which I own thanks to a $2 bargain bin at the local video store) in which he plays a man who owes $10,000 to the mob and is consequently on the run. This film gained him exposure due to its several nominations in the Australian film circuit.

p. We became better acquainted in his breakout role in the United States — one we all still embrace and enjoy: “10 Things I Hate About You.” Amid the wave of teen movies popping up during our middle school years, wedged between “She’s All That” and “American Pie,” it was a gem hidden beneath mountains of movies about teen angst. Not only is this movie based on the classic Shakespeare comedy “Taming of the Shrew,” but it contains wonders such as Heath’s performance singing “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” while dancing on the bleachers, igniting girls’ fantasies everywhere. Heath won over the female audience with his exotic accent, bad-boy attire and sexy smile and gained the hearts of males with his cynical quips.

p. I feel that Heath and I forged a friendship with his appearance as the squire looking to “change his stars” in “A Knight’s Tale.” Not only did this offer hours of beautiful footage of Heath with his new (and later, trademark) blonde curls, but it offered undercutting comedy to those familiar with Chaucer or the Black Prince.
Yet the Aussie grew and matured, gaining even my mother’s respect with his more recent and mature performances. In “Monster’s Ball,” Heath hit audiences with his most powerful moment when he angrily shouts at his father, “You’ve always hated me, haven’t you? Well, I’ve always loved you.” Followed by his immediate suicide in the film.

p. “Monster’s Ball” marked the beginning of a change for Heath — street credibility as an actor who was so much more than a teenage heartthrob, proven by the critical response to his acting ability in “Brokeback Mountain.” Nominated for both an Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Actor, Heath’s talents were finally recognized. Although he did not win either of these prestigious awards, he still managed to win the title of “Best Actor of 2005” from the New York Film Critics Circle.

p. The loss of this rising, talented star is softened somewhat by the reassurance that he will be starring in the upcoming Batman movie “Dark Knight” — thankfully, filming had finished before his untimely death on Tuesday.

p. What makes this such a devastating loss for me, and for many I know, is the loss of one of our greatest adolescent memories. We grew up with Heath. He showed up in middle school, jumping on the teen movie bandwagon as his first experiment with acting in Hollywood. As we began high school and branched out, Heath, too, began to come into his own with more adult roles, like those in “Ned Kelly” and “The Order,” trying to discover who he was as an actor. Then, when we had hit our stride, we graduated high school and began to really spread our wings in our first years of college, as Heath gained his first Oscar nomination for his critically acclaimed role in “Brokeback Mountain.” It’s not just his movies we will lament, but what he represents: memories of our innocence and adolescence.

p. So please, dig through your VHS tapes, find “10 Things I Hate About You” and join me in commemorating one of the greatest performances for our generation.

p. __Liz Pedraja is a Flat Hat columnist. She promises she still loves her “real” boyfriend more.__

Keys to the game: ODU vs. William and Mary

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**When the Tribe has the ball**

p. __Consistent Execution__
Head Coach Tony Shaver has been preaching this all season, especially during this six-game streak. During this span, the Tribe has shown flashes of solid offensive execution, while at other times the College has gone cold for long scoring droughts. If the Tribe can operate within its offense by creating open shots with persistent ball movement and hitting cutters, the College will find itself with good looks at the basket and a chance to win. Moreover, the Tribe must dictate the pace. Allowing ODU’s backcourt an opportunity to run will only hinder the College’s chances.

p. __Work Inside-Out__
Some of the College’s most successful offensive stretches have come when the Tribe dumps the ball into the high post and either looks for an open lane to the basket or kicks the ball out for a three-point attempt. If the College can force ODU’s defense to collapse when the ball enters the paint, the Tribe will have open jump shots. In order for the Monarch defense to close in, the College will have to prove it can score in the post and finish on opportunities around the basket.

__Value the Ball__
In its most recent CAA victory at Drexel, the Tribe committed 26 turnovers. A repeat performance against the Monarchs would be devastating. ODU comes into the game third in the CAA in steals per game at 8.1 and Monarch senior Brandon Johnson leads the league in steals per game at 2.8. In the first five games of the winning streak, limiting turnovers proved vital for the Tribe as they averaged only 13 per game.

p. **When ODU has the ball**

p. __Talk, Talk, Talk__
The Tribe’s match-up zone entails lots of switching on the defensive end, which means communication is critical. The College’s defense has keyed its winning streak and keeps the Tribe in games when its scoring slows. Therefore, when switching on screens or “showing,” talking becomes vital. Miscommunication will only lead to defensive breakdowns and easy scoring chances for the Monarchs.

p. __Battle of the Boards__
In the season’s first meeting between these teams, the Monarchs grabbed 15 offensive rebounds, which led to 18 second-chance points. Only James Madison University has snared more offensive rebounds than ODU during the Tribe’s past six games. Holding its own on the boards will allow the Tribe to limit the Monarchs’ second-chance opportunities and possibly propel the College to a win.

p. __Control Gerald Lee__
The 6’10” sophomore forward leads the Monarchs in points and rebounds, and provides ODU with its most consistent interior production. If the College can limit Lee’s touches and keep him off the glass, the Tribe will force ODU’s offense out of the paint and to the perimeter, where the Monarchs shoot 33.9 percent from three-point range and where the College holds its opponents to 30.6 percent shooting.

Six in a row for Tribe

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__After overtime win at Drexel, the College hosts rival ODU __

p. Senior captains Nathan Mann and Laimis Kisielius combined for 15 of the Tribe’s 17 final points as the College (10-8, 6-2) held off the Drexel University Dragons (9-11, 2-6) in overtime for a 73-72 victory, earning its sixth-straight CAA victory.

p. “We tried so many times to give it away,” Head Coach Tony Shaver said in a postgame interview on the Tribe radio network. “Just a chance to ice the ballgame and [we have] a turnover, maybe a bad shot, and we let them back in it. But the guys kept finding ways to win.”

p. Despite 26 turnovers, the Tribe earned its first-ever win at Drexel due to strong shooting, especially from three-point range. The College connected on 14 of 26 from long distance as Mann knocked down a career-high six triples, finishing with 18 points.

p. His three consecutive treys in the latter stages of regulation kept the Tribe in position for a win, pushing the lead to 65-61 with 1:41 remaining. However, turnovers on the College’s next two possessions led to four Drexel points and the 10th tie of the contest. The Tribe had a chance to win, but Mann could not connect on a tough baseline jumper.

p. In overtime, Kisielius hit two three-pointers to push the College’s lead to 71-66, but three empty Tribe possessions allowed the Dragons to claw back within one with 1:31 remaining. The College countered with sophomore Danny Sumner’s layup to push the lead back to three at 73-70. Drexel’s Scott Rodgers made a basket in traffic to close the margin to 73-72, and when Tribe junior forward Pete Stein missed on the other end, Drexel found itself in a position to win the game. With 8.8 seconds remaining, the Dragons inbounded the ball and proceeded to call a timeout with 3.5 seconds remaining after nothing developed offensively. Tramayne Hawthorne received the inbounds pass and launched a deep three-pointer that missed, sealing the Dragons’ fate.

p. Kisielius paced the Tribe with 20 points, while Sumner added 14 of his own. Drexel center Frank Elegar dominated for stretches of the game, leading the Dragons with 24 points and 15 rebounds, but struggled down the stretch and committed some costly turnovers.

Tennis: Men, women host matches at McCormack-Nagelsen

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Fresh off a come-from-behind 5-2 victory over no. 38 Old Dominion University Wednesday, the 43rd-ranked men will play two matches at the McCormack-Nagelsen tennis center Saturday. The first match against no. 15 Wake Forest University will begin at 10 a.m., while Longwood University will battle the Tribe at 6 p.m. The women, ranked 15th in the nation, will look to rebound from a loss against no. 7 Northwestern University when the team hosts no. 21 Wake Forest at 2 p.m. Saturday.

CAA Men’s Basketball: VCU’s 7-1 conference record good for first in standings

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All 12 CAA teams were in play Wednesday night in an evening that provided little clarity to the extremely tight race for the conference title. The top five squads all were victorious as VCU, George Mason, Delaware, UNC Wilmington and the Tribe all maintained their positions at the jam-packed top of the standings. Heading into the weekend, VCU maintains the top spot at 7-1 in conference play while George Mason, Delaware and the Tribe all sit a game back at 6-2.

Women’s Basketball: Tribe prepares to face off against Drexel Sunday

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The College will travel north to battle Drexel University Sunday in an attempt to knock off one of the top teams in the CAA. The Tribe (8-10, 2-4 CAA) will need to shut down hot-shooting junior Nicole Hester and reigning CAA Rookie of the Year Gabriela Marginean to challenge the streaking Dragons (10-7, 5-1 CAA), who enter the contest as winners of nine of their last 10 games. Senior Kyra Kaylor, the College’s all-time leading scorer, will look to rally the Tribe following a hard-fought loss to George Mason on Thursday night. Drexel fell to Towson University 57-52 in overtime Thursday as well.

Upsets prove that hoops madness has only just begun

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The magic of college basketball is building up again as we slowly approach March.

p. The 2008 season, much like the 2007 season, is being taken over by talented freshman, thanks to the new NBA age limit. Last year, Kevin Durant was the first freshman ever to win player of the year honors. 2008 will likely see another freshman take the award as Kansas State University freshman forward Michael Beasley has emerged as the early front runner. Beasley has been an absolute monster, leading the nation in rebounds per game (12.6), and is ranking fourth in points per game (24.6).

p. This past week has been the most eventful thus far this season. The University of North Carolina saw its 17-game winning streak and no. 1 ranking fall at home to an unranked Maryland Terrapins squad Saturday. Maryland is a team that struggled early but could find a place in the rankings if it avoids getting beat up in the tough ACC. The Terrapins are third in the country in field goal defense and has a potential star in forward James Gist (22 points, 13 rebounds vs. UNC). North Carolina, the highest scoring team in the nation, rebounded after the Maryland loss with a 98-82 thumping of the University of Miami (Fla).

p. Fourth-ranked UCLA also lost Saturday, at home to unranked USC in a game that featured three extremely talented freshmen, as the Trojans’ O.J. Mayo and David Jefferson got the best of Bruins’ 6’10” center Kevin Love. The three freshmen have been leading their teams and combined for 59 points and 22 rebounds in the game.

p. Tuesday, fifth-ranked Tennessee had its 11-game winning streak snapped at the hands of mediocre and unranked Kentucky. Preseason All-American Chris Lofton (13.8 ppg) is leading a Volunteers team that ranks first in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio. Kentucky, a perennial powerhouse, is having a tough time adjusting to playing without long-time coach Tubby Smith. Meanwhile, Smith is experiencing immediate success with his new team, starting out 12-5 at the University of Minnesota, a team that won only nine games last year.

p. Amidst the usual chaos stand two undefeated teams: Memphis (17-0) and Kansas (18-0). Memphis is ranked no. 1 for the first time since 1983, boasting five wins against teams in the RPI top 50. Meanwhile, Kansas is a deep, experienced team finding success through their unselfish play (Kansas ranks third in the NCAA in assists per game). In addition, the Jayhawks have the second-best field goal percentage in the country and lead the nation in scoring margin (24.3 ppg).

p. With regular season games like the Tennessee-Memphis matchup set for Feb. 23 and two Duke–UNC games on the schedule, there will be much excitement left for the regular season. One thing is for sure, however: the teams at the top will have a few more bumps in the road before the madness starts in March.

p. **Andy’s top 5 teams**
1. Memphis
2. Kansas
3. UNC
4. Duke
5. UCLA

p. __E-mail Andy at raandrews@wm.edu.__

The Road to Richmond: Student Impressions

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p. Printed below are first-person student accounts of the Road to Richmond lobbying trip, which took place last Tuesday. Students traveled to Richmond to lobby Virginia senators and delegates on the importance of funding higher education.

Erica Chiusano ’08

p. “I feel a strong connection to this college and went on this trip because I want future generations of W&M folk to have the same wonderful opportunities I did. For me, it was the faculty that really made a difference in my life, so I was pushing hard for the professor salaries.

p. The Virginia representatives definitely saw the value of education and responded well to the energy and passion we brought as W&M students. We aren’t some lame lobbying firm that paid random people to go to the capital. We were students that hauled ourselves up at 5am to ask for money that we’ll never see in our own time at the college. That’s how much we love the school.

p. The representatives responded especially well to W&M’s emphasis on public service. Our college teaches us to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. We volunteer, serve and support causes for the advancement of societal interest, not just our own. The call to service is something that politicians understand (or at least pretend to understand).

p. And I think that W&M is unique from other colleges in that respect. Investing in our college is actually an investment in our community, state, nation and even the rest of the world, so if they’re smart, they should fork over the cash.
I’m glad I had the opportunity to storm the capital and run my mouth about why W&M is great. I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Rock on W&M.”

Alexander Douglas ’09

“I spoke to Del. Chuck Caputo and found him to be very cordial. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to stay for the second half of the trip to visit legislator’s offices. I enjoyed the experience but the real question is whether or not William and Mary’s budget will be restored.”

Alan Kennedy-Shaffer, J.D. ’09

“For the uninitiated, lobbying at the General Assembly can be daunting. But the students who carried the William & Mary banner to Richmond on Tuesday did so with both poise and passion. We argued for sufficient funds for our College valiantly, and hopefully the budget will reflect our efforts.”

Adam Rosen ’09

“The Road to Richmond serves as a unique opportunity to put a name, face, and image to the normally invisible constituency of higher education.”

Emily Shroder ’11

“Road to Richmond was a great experience. As a freshman, it’s still surprising to me when alumni are so excited to see current students and speak with them about W&M. I just went to the breakfast, so I didn’t get to talk to many delegates, but I did see some of their staff members and was encouraged that they seemed to really care about our school and our experience here.”

Cristin Toutsi, Graduate Student ’08, School of Education

“Overall, the trip was a great opportunity for us to converse with members of the General Assembly. Delegate Plum was the most interesting to speak with as he seemed to understand the issues facing Virginia’s system of public higher education along with W&M’s priorities and points of interest. I felt like he understood how we (as students) are affected by the decisions coming out of Richmond. We also enjoyed talking with Delegate Scott, and Delegate Joannou. We were grateful for the time and attention we received.

The breakfast was also another opportunity to meet and talk with officials from the Department of Planning & Budget and the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. I was encouraged that several of these staff members made time to talk with us about the educational issues important to us.

Overall, this experience helped me to understand more about state government, members of General Assembly, and issues facing Virginia’s system of higher education; and more specially, William & Mary.”

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