Damon Lindelof finally explains the Lost finale

In a revealing On The Verge interview, Lost creator Damon Lindelof has finally explained his take on the Lost season six finale…

The fact that two years on, a 25-minute YouTube video in which the creator of Lost, Damon Lindelof, lays bare the reasoning behind that season 6 finale is being passed around the internet like a well-thumbed copy of Forever at an 1980s high school, is a reminder of just how strongly fans still feel about Lost’s send-off.

Interviewed for On The Verge about upcoming Ridley Scott film Prometheus, Lindelof was confronted about fan disappointment with the Lost finale, and engaged in almost half an hour of tussling about his reasons for writing the ending.

“I take responsibility and authorship for Lost, and in terms of my own feelings about the ending, I make no apologies for it”, Lindelof says, adding later “It’s the story I wanted to tell".

“It’s not that I didn’t care about the mythology of the show, it’s just like, many shows have come and gone that are very focused on their mysteries and their mythologies and their ambiguity and there is no worse scene in the history of genre than the Architect explaining to Neo everything that happened in The Matrix, and I wasn’t going to [rude word] touch that with a ten foot pole.”

It's a detailed discussion that takes in the controversial endings of other hit TV shows, the “filler” episodes that came as a result of network indecision about when Lost would end, Lindelof’s least favourite episode, and why he’s unlikely to ever do Lost: The Movie. It is, in short, the interview that Lost fans have been waiting for since 2010.

Dish and Networks Sue Each Other Over Ad-Skipping Auto Hop

Dish sued the big four television networks over its new ad-skipping Auto Hop feature Thursday, even as Fox, NBC and CBS filed their own lawsuits to stop Dish from offering the technology.

The networks accused Dish of copyright violations. As of late Thursday, ABC had not sued, despite being named in Dish's suit.

Dish, meanwhile, sought a federal court's "declaratory judgment on questions" related to Auto Hop, which allows viewers to skip commercials when they watch previously aired shows.

Dish, which appears to have filed first, said it was suing because "the Major Television Networks have threatened it with litigation" intended to stifle Auto Hop, which it debuted May 10.

Fox was the first to make good on that threat Thursday, and NBC and CBS soon followed.

"We were given no choice but to file suit against one of our largest distributors, Dish Network, because of their surprising move to market a product with the clear goal of violating copyrights and destroying the fundamental underpinnings of the broadcast television ecosystem," Fox said in a statement. "Their wrongheaded decision requires us to take swift action in order to aggressively defend the future of free, over-the-air television."

NBC said it was suing "in order to keep over the air broadcast television a strong competitor." Its lawsuit, like Fox and CBS's, said it depended on ad revenue to produce shows.

That echoed a statement by CBS CEO Les Moonves (right), who told last week that AutoHop was "illegal" and asked, "How am I going to produce 'CSI' for $4 million without ads? I can't do that. I can't give the audience that kind of quality."

Dish, the nation's third-largest pay-television provider, contends that the Auto Hop technology is like a more advanced form of fast forwarding. With the touch of a button, viewers can decide not to watch the ads on recorded shows that aired the day before. (See ad, above.)

"Consumers should be able to fairly choose for themselves what they do and do not

want to watch," David Shull, Dish senior vice president of programming, said in a statement. "Viewers have been skipping commercials since the advent of the remote control; we are giving them a feature they want and that gives them more control."

But networks made their distate for Auto Hop very clear at last week's upfront presentations to advertisers, when they suggested it was a threat to ad-supported television.

In its lawsuit, Fox said Dish's "PrimeTime Anytime" service -- which includes the Auto Hop feature -- is a "bootleg broadcast video-on-demand service" that "makes an unauthorized copy of the entire primetime broadcast for all four major networks every night." (It does indeed record all the network shows, though Dish would take issue with the "unauthorized copy" language.)

"To make matters worse," the lawsuit says, Dish allows customers to view the shows commercial free.

The service makes the shows available for eight days.

Prior to Thursday's filings, the three networks that have sued -- CBS, Fox and NBC­ -- rejected ads for the Hopper Whole-Home DVR, the device that features the PrimeTime Anywhwere service and AutoHop function.

Joe Dempsie on 'The Fades' series two: 'It's a shame it was axed'

Joe Dempsie has revealed what series two of The Fades might have involved.

Dempsie played villain John in the BBC Three paranormal drama, which was axed in April after a single series.

"By the time we found out that it wasn't going to be recommissioned, we'd kind of guessed as much anyway, because you don't usually wait so long to hear," the actor told Digital Spy.

"I thought a programme like that really was a chance for a channel like BBC Three to move away from 'My Boob Job and Me' [-type shows] and a lot of the stuff that you usually identify with them.

"I don't know if maybe that was part of the problem - if people don't know that good drama lurks on BBC Three, they're not going to find out about it."

The Game of Thrones actor confirmed that a second series would have explored the past of his character John.

"I'm not sure of any definite plans, but I think there was an idea that the show might have visited John at a time before he was a Fade," he said. "You might have had a chance to get to know the John that was.

"I think it would've been really interesting and it would've been great for me as an actor to have a go at playing around with that, but I don't know anything more specific than that. I guess we never will."

Dempsie added that he was sad when The Fades was axed, calling BBC Three's decision "a shame".

"It was such a strong ensemble performance and I think [creator] Jack Thorne is someone who, if you've got the chance to delve into his brain at any point, then you should just grab it with both hands.

"I think series two would've been really interesting, so... it's a shame that BBC Three decided not to pick it up, but they've got their own budgets to handle and decisions to make - I don't really know what happened behind-the-scenes."

Science Acquires Off-Network Syndication Rights to "Fringe"

Repeats of the series will begin airing on the network in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Science today announced that the network has acquired the off-network syndication rights to FRINGE, the acclaimed dramatic series from creators J.J. Abrams (Lost, the Star Trek and Mission: Impossible movies), Alex Kurtzman (Star Trek, Transformers) and Roberto Orci (Star Trek, Transformers), and executive producers Jeff Pinkner (Alias, Lost), J.H. Wyman (The Mexican, Keen Eddie) and Bryan Burk (Lost, Alias, Star Trek, Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol). The agreement with Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution grants the network the rights to the four existing seasons of the series as well as the upcoming fifth season which debuts on FOX this fall (Fridays 9/8c), as well as behind-the-scenes features and unseen bonus footage. FRINGE will begin airing on SCIENCE in the fourth quarter of 2012.

"FRINGE is the kind of smart, lean-forward programming that our viewers gravitate toward. The combination of compelling characters and excellent science-themed storytelling make this franchise a huge addition for our network," said Debbie Myers, General Manager and Executive Vice President of SCIENCE. "We're going to deepen the audience experience with FRINGE by giving them more of the access to the writers and creative process than ever. We're also going to work with our cadre of leading experts to explore the real-world science that provides the foundation for these completely engrossing narratives."

"We couldn't be more pleased to be in business with SCIENCE," said Ken Werner, President, Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution. "By licensing the off-network rights to 'Fringe,' they are acquiring a program with a devoted audience that will further bolster their programming schedule and bring new viewers to the network to discover compatible programs that fit perfectly with their television viewing tastes."

FRINGE explores the ever-blurring line between science fiction and reality, where hybrid monsters tear through sewers, thieves walk through walls and portals open to parallel universes. Unable to police a world in which science has advanced beyond our wildest dreams - and nightmares - FBI Special Agent Olivia Dunham (series star Anna Torv) seeks help from eccentric 'fringe' scientist Dr. Walter Bishop (John Noble) and his jack-of-all trades son, Peter (Joshua Jackson). Under the direction of Special Agent Phillip Broyles (Lance Reddick) and assisted by Agents Astrid Farnsworth (Jasika Nicole), Charlie Francis (Kirk Acevedo) and Lincoln Lee (Seth Gabel), the Fringe Team investigates unusual incidents that defy human logic and unimaginable events that threaten our very existence on a universal scale.

Irrevocably linked to a parallel "other" universe by the machinations of a younger Walter Bishop trying to save the life of his son, Olivia and alternate-born Peter must bridge two universes while wrestling with questions of identity and destiny... and a multiverse threatened by the mysterious Observers. With the help of Nina Sharp (Blair Brown), who runs Massive Dynamic, the omnipresent corporation founded by Bishop's former lab partner, William Bell (recurring guest star Leonard Nimoy), the Fringe team imagines and tests the impossibilities while investigating unbelievable events, macabre crimes, and mystifying cases involving pyrokinesis, neuroscience, cryonics, genetic engineering, astral projection, and other fantastical theories. When the unimaginable happens, it's their job to stop it.

Exclusive: FOX's "Hell's Kitchen," "MasterChef," "So You Think You Can Dance" to Take Two-Week Break Against NBC's Olympics Coverage

FOX isn't taking any chances against NBC's coverage of the 2012 Summer Olympics as "Hell's Kitchen," "MasterChef" and "So You Think You Can Dance" will all take a break from originals during the 17-day period (July 27-August 12).

Said developments - as well as a host of other scheduling moves - were confirmed to the site exclusively this afternoon. Other highlights include the return date of "Mobbed" (Saturday, July 14); finales for its Thursday entries "Take Me Out" (July 26) and "The Choice" (July 12); "Touch" repeats taking over Saturdays at 11:00/10:00c beginning August 4; and new post-Olympics homes for "Hell's Kitchen" and "MasterChef."

Here's a breakdown of what to expect for the rest of the summer:

Mondays (June 4-July 23)*
8:00/7:00c - "Hell's Kitchen" (Originals)
9:00/8:00c - "MasterChef" (Originals)

Mondays (July 30-August 6)
8:00/7:00c - "Hell's Kitchen" (Repeats)
9:00/8:00c - "Hell's Kitchen" (Repeats)

Mondays (as of August 13)
8:00/7:00c - "Hell's Kitchen" (Encores)
9:00/8:00c - "Hell's Kitchen" (Originals, New Time Slot)

Tuesdays (June 5-July 3)*
8:00/7:00c - "Hell's Kitchen" (Originals)
9:00/8:00c - "MasterChef" (Originals)

Tuesday, July 10*
8:00/7:00c - "MLB All-Star Game"

Tuesdays (June 17-July 24)*
8:00/7:00c - "Hell's Kitchen" (Originals)
9:00/8:00c - "MasterChef" (Originals)

Tuesdays (July 31-August 7)
8:00/7:00c - "MasterChef" (Repeats)
9:00/8:00c - "MasterChef" (Repeats)

Tuesdays (as of August 14)
8:00/7:00c - "MasterChef" (Encores)
9:00/8:00c - "MasterChef" (Originals)

Wednesdays (May 30-June 27)*
8:00/7:00c - "So You Think You Can Dance" (Originals)

Wednesday, July 4
8:00/7:00c - "New Girl" (Repeat)
8:30/7:30c - "New Girl" (Repeat)
9:00/8:00c - "New Girl" (Repeat)
9:30/8:30c - "New Girl" (Repeat)

Wednesdays (July 11-July 25)
8:00/7:00c - "So You Think You Can Dance" (Originals)

Wednesdays (August 1-August 8)
8:00/7:00c - "So You Think You Can Dance" (Repeats)

Wednesdays (as of August 15)
8:00/7:00c - "So You Think You Can Dance" (Originals)

Thursdays (June 7-July 12)*
8:00/7:00c - "Take Me Out" (Originals)
9:00/8:00c - "The Choice" (Originals)

Thursdays (July 19-July 26)
8:00/7:00c - "Take Me Out" (Originals)
9:00/8:00c - "Glee" (Repeats)

Thursdays (August 2-9)
8:00/7:00c - "Raising Hope" (Repeats)
8:30/7:30c - "Raising Hope" (Repeats)
9:00/8:00c - "New Girl" (Repeats)
9:30/8:30c - "New Girl" (Repeats)

Thursday, August 16*
8:00/7:00c - "NFL Preseason: Cincinnati at Atlanta"

Thursdays (as of August 23)
8:00/7:00c - "Raising Hope" (Repeats)
8:30/7:30c - "New Girl" (Repeats)
9:00/8:00c - "Glee" (Repeats)

Fridays (June 1-July 20)*
8:00/7:00c - "House" (Repeats)
9:00/8:00c - "Bones" (Repeats)

Fridays (July 27-August 10)
8:00/7:00c - "House" (Repeats)
9:00/8:00c - "House" (Repeats)

Friday, August 17*
8:00/7:00c - "NFL Preseason: Detroit at Baltimore"

Fridays (as of August 24)
8:00/7:00c - "House" (Repeats)
9:00/8:00c - "Bones" (Repeats)

Saturdays (May 26-July 7)*
8:00/7:00c - MLB/NASCAR Coverage
11:00/10:00c - "The Finder" (Repeats)
12:00/11:00c - "30 Seconds to Fame" (Repeats)

Saturdays (July 14-July 28)
8:00/7:00c - "Cops" (Repeats)
8:30/7:30c - "Cops" (Repeats)
9:00/8:00c - "Mobbed" (Originals & Repeats)
11:00/10:00c - "The Finder" (Repeats)
12:00/11:00c - "30 Seconds to Fame" (Repeats)

Saturday, August 4
8:00/7:00c - "UFC ON FOX 4"
11:00/10:00c - "Touch" (Repeat)
12:00/11:00c - "30 Seconds to Fame" (Repeat)

Saturdays (August 11-August 25)
8:00/7:00c - "Cops" (Repeats)
8:30/7:30c - "Cops" (Repeats)
9:00/8:00c - "Mobbed" (Originals & Repeats)
11:00/10:00c - "Touch" (Repeats)
12:00/11:00c - "30 Seconds to Fame" (Repeats)

Saturdays (as of September 1)
8:00/7:00c - "FOX Sports Saturday: College Football"
11:00/10:00c - "Touch" (Repeats)
12:00/11:00c - "30 Seconds to Fame" (Repeats)

Sundays (June 3-June 17)*
7:00/6:00c - "American Dad" (Repeats)
7:30/6:30c - "The Cleveland Show" (Repeats)
8:00/7:00c - "The Simpsons" (Repeats)
8:30/7:30c - "Bob's Burgers" (Repeats)
9:00/8:00c - "Family Guy" (Repeats)
9:30/8:30c - "American Dad" (Repeats)

Sunday, June 24*
7:00/6:00c - "American Dad" (Repeat)
7:30/6:30c - "The Cleveland Show" (Repeat)
8:00/7:00c - "FOX's 25th Anniversary Special" (Repeat)

Sunday, July 1*
7:00/6:00c - "American Dad" (Repeat)
7:30/6:30c - "The Cleveland Show" (Repeat)
8:00/7:00c - "The Simpsons" (Repeat)
8:30/7:30c - "Bob's Burgers" (Repeat)
9:00/8:00c - "Family Guy" (Repeat)
9:30/8:30c - "The Cleveland Show" (Repeat)

Sunday, July 8
7:00/6:00c - "American Dad" (Repeat)
7:30/6:30c - "The Cleveland Show" (Repeat)
8:00/7:00c - "The Simpsons" (Repeat)
8:30/7:30c - "Family Guy" (Repeat)
9:00/8:00c - "Family Guy" (Repeat)
9:30/8:30c - "Family Guy" (Repeat)

Sunday, July 15
7:00/6:00c - "American Dad" (Repeat)
7:30/6:30c - "The Cleveland Show" (Repeat)
8:00/7:00c - "The Simpsons" (Repeat)
8:30/7:30c - "The Simpsons" (Repeat)
9:00/8:00c - "Family Guy" (Repeat)
9:30/8:30c - "Family Guy" (Repeat)

Sunday, July 22
7:00/6:00c - "The Simpsons" (Repeat)
7:30/6:30c - "Family Guy" (Repeat)
8:00/7:00c - "2012 Teen Choice Awards"

Sundays (July 29-August 5)
7:00/6:00c - "American Dad" (Repeats)
7:30/6:30c - "The Cleveland Show" (Repeats)
8:00/7:00c - "The Simpsons" (Repeats)
8:30/7:30c - "The Simpsons" (Repeats)
9:00/8:00c - "Family Guy" (Repeats)
9:30/8:30c - "Family Guy" (Repeats)

Sunday, August 12
7:00/6:00c - "American Dad" (Repeat)
7:30/6:30c - "The Cleveland Show" (Repeat)
8:00/7:00c - "The Simpsons" (Repeat)
8:30/7:30c - "The Cleveland Show" (Repeat)
9:00/8:00c - "Family Guy" (Repeat)
9:30/8:30c - "American Dad" (Repeat)

Sundays (as of August 19)
7:00/6:00c - "American Dad" (Repeats)
7:30/6:30c - "The Cleveland Show" (Repeats)
8:00/7:00c - "The Simpsons" (Repeats)
8:30/7:30c - "The Simpsons" (Repeats)
9:00/8:00c - "Family Guy" (Repeats)
9:30/8:30c - "Family Guy" (Repeats)

Richard Hammond, 'Total Wipeout' team reunite for 'The Secret Service'

Richard Hammond is to host a new hidden camera comedy series for BBC One.

The Secret Service will launch in a Saturday evening slot in 2013.

The six-part series will follow Hammond and his 'secret service' - a specially trained team of actors and comedians - who can be hired by members of the public to pull off absurd pranks on friends and family.

"Richard has proved to be an enormous treat for the Saturday night audience with his own unique brand of humour," said Mark Linsey, BBC One's controller of entertainment commissioning.

"I think the viewers are going to enjoy his Secret Service as much as they have Total Wipeout."

The new series is from Initial - an Endemol company - who previously produced Total Wipeout for BBC One.

"Following on from the great fun we've had with Total Wipeout, we're delighted to be working with Richard Hammond again," said Nick Samwell-Smith, creative director at Initial.

"This exciting new hidden camera show... will make for great family viewing on Saturday nights."

Total Wipeout was dropped by the BBC in March, after running for four series.

The Secret Service was co-created by Richard Hammond, Richard Osman (Pointless), Nick Samwell-Smith, Catherine Lynch and Andy Rowe.

TV Tonight 25th of May 2012

The daily list in alphabetical order, of all the new episodes airing.

    20/20 S34E44: "Season 34, Episode 44"
    8 out of 10 cats S13E05: "Series 13, Episode 5"
    A League of Their Own (UK) S05E06: "Series 5, Episode 6"
    Acayip Hikayeler S01E07: "Kontrolsüz / Uncontrolled"
    Accel World S01E08: "Temptation"
    Alan Carr: Chatty Man S08E05: "John Bishop, Cuba Gooding Jr, Plan B"
    America's Most Wanted S25E25: "Season 25, Episode 25"
    Ancient Aliens S04E12: "Aliens and Cover-Ups"
    Better Homes and Gardens S14E17: "Series 14, Episode 17"
    Big Brother Sverige S08E84: "Del 84"
    Blockbusters (2012) S01E10: "Series 1, Show 10"
    Come Dine With Me S18E89: "Series 18, Come Dine With Me"
    Coronation Street S53E106: "Fri May 25, 2012 [Episode 2]"
    Coronation Street S53E105: "Fri May 25, 2012 [Episode 1]"
    Dateline NBC S21E50: "FR2136"
    Days of our Lives S47E140: "Ep. #11850"
    De Zonen van Van As S01E10: "Season 1, Episode 10"
    Deal Or No Deal (UK) S07E246: "Episode 1926"
    Doctors S14E37: "Divine Intervention"
    EastEnders S28E85: "May 25, 2012"
    Emmerdale S41E125: "May 25, 2012"
    Eureka 7 (JP) S02E07: "Episode 7"
    Fake Britain S03E05: "Series 3, Episode 5"
    Fashion Police S07E21: "Season 7, Episode 21"
    General Hospital (US) S50E40: "#12568"
    Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden S22E190: "Season 22, Episode 190"
    Great British Menu S07E35: "The Olympic Feast - 35"
    Have I Got News for You S43E07
    Hollyoaks S18E105: "May 25, 2012"
    Home and Away (AU) S25E90: "Episode 5525"
    Horrible Histories S04E11: "Series 4, Episode 11"
    House Hunters S48E104: "Downtown San Francisco vs Bay Area Burbs"
    House Hunters International S25E107
    Jennie Garth: Little Bit Country S01E06
    Jeopardy! S28E180: "Show #6385"
    King (2011) S02E13: "Wendy Stetler"
    Ladykracher S07E10: "Kein Papier"
    Ladykracher S07E09: "Kackkuh"
    Late Night with Jimmy Fallon S02E278
    Later... with Jools Holland S40E06
    Lip Service S02E06: "Series 2, Episode 6"
    Live with Regis and Kelly S29E193
    Masterchef Australia S04E18: "Masterclass 3"
    Medaka Box S01E08: "TBA"
    Melissa & Tye S01E05: "Viva Las Vegas"
    Neighbours S28E100: "Episode 6410"
    Piers Morgan's Life Stories S07E07: "Jimmy Tarbuck"
    Poms in Paradise S02E09: "Series 2, Episode 9"
    Real Time With Bill Maher S10E18: "Season 10, Episode 18"
    River Monsters S04E12: "Untold Stories"
    Sakamichi no Apollon S01E07: "Episode 7"
    Salatut elämät S14E170: "Antilla on ikävää"
    Say Yes to the Dress: Bridesmaids S02E14
    Say Yes to the Dress: Bridesmaids S02E1
    Stand Up for the Week S04E05: "Series 4, Episode 5"
    The Block S05E36: "The Block Unlocked"
    The Bold and the Beautiful S26E46: "Ep. #6330"
    The Chase (2009) S05E79: "Series 5, Episode 79"
    The Dead Files S02E07: "Deadly Attraction"
    The Dr. Phil Show S10E167: "Inside the Other Side"
    The Ellen DeGeneres Show S09E168: "Matt LeBlanc, Olivia Munn"
    The Graham Norton Show S11E07
    The Half Hour S01E06: "Nick Vatterot"
    The Half Hour S01E05: "Brendon Walsh"
    The Jeremy Kyle Show S07E178: "May 25, 2012"
    The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson S08E88: "TBA"
    The Project S04E124: "Season 4, Episode 124"
    The Revolution (2012) S01E85: "Season 1, Episode 85"
    The Ricky Gervais Show S03E06: "The English"
    The Singing Bee S05E06: "Season 5, Episode 6"
    The Tonight Show with Jay Leno S20E93
    The Ultimate Fighter S15E12: "Season 15, Episode 12"
    The View S15E168
    The Young and the Restless S40E45: "Ep. #9914"
    Thuis S17E195: "Season 17, Episode 195"
    True Justice S01E09: "Brotherhood: Part 1"
    Tyler Perry's House of Payne S07E61: "Payneful Matrimony"
    Tyler Perry's House of Payne S07E62: "What You Know About Me"
    Van Der Vorst Ziet Sterren S05E05: "Season 5, Episode 5"
    Very Important People S01E05: "Episode 5"
    Would I Lie To You? S06E07
    WWE Friday Night SmackDown! S12E87: "Season 12, Episode 87"