spoiler-ish

  I liked the flash-forward- no different really than a murder mystery giving you the murder at the beginning and then jumping backwards to fill in the pieces.  In terms of Lost, I thought the flash-forwards definitely added a new element that made me more invested in watching.  That said, I found Jack's downward spiral really depressing (as it was meant to be), and the 'real world' just isn't as cool as unraveling retro sci-fi-ish mysteries in a tropical paradise.  I think the writers had a lot of discipline- they have this big cast, and every episode work to reveal something important about one of the characters that adds to the overall plot. (imho)

 Lost flashbacks >> James Hurley season 2 plotlines.

"Did they scoff the whole damn Smörgåsbord?" (Audrey) 

"Gimme a donut!" (Coop)

I just mean that even though there were things I didn't like about the flash-forwards in Lost, I thought they were much more entertaining and plot-critical than, for example, some of the 'creative' plot lines in TP.   Maybe the flashforwards did limit creativity a bit by forcing the plot through a certain set of events, but I thought in general they were well done and kept me involved in the story.

"Did they scoff the whole damn Smörgåsbord?" (Audrey) 

"Gimme a donut!" (Coop)

I think the Flash-Forwards were an ingenious way to keep the show fresh. The flashbacks (at least for the characters we already were familiar with) were getting tiresome, especially in a show that has such a complex plot. And introducing new mysteries into a character's already eventful past, would have been exasperating.

The only downside to the flashbacks was that when we finally saw the Oceanic 6 land it was always going to be underwhelming, as we knew exactly what was going to happen. But even this moment was done very well, as it was so emotional for the characters. I suppose though, until I have watched Season 4 I won't be sure whether the flashforwards still work even once the mystery of how the present links with the future has been solved.

The decision to make flashforwards definitive, certain to occur, was very relieving. In Heroes, they've followed the route of showing the future, but it is hard to care at all, because we know it will probably be changed. It also always makes me think (perhaps a bit too philosophically for Heroes) that if there is a future where the world was destroyed then hasn't all that suffering already been experienced, making any attempt to create another future less desperate.

 http://www.cookingwithcum.com/

 almost got this for the wife for christmas, then remembered how much i enjoy being alive

 the book, not peter north

 i still dont know if i'm happy or embarassed that thread is named after me

 i'll never be more famous on the internet.....famous for being a grumpy asshole

 to be fair that shirt joke was stolen part and parcel from andy kaufman

 i'm still surprised lowtax went for it

"Harry, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don't plan it, don't wait for it, just let it happen. Could be a new shirt at the men's store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot, black coffee. Like this."  -Dale Cooper

"Harry, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don't plan it, don't wait for it, just let it happen. Could be a new shirt at the men's store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot, black coffee. Like this."  -Dale Cooper

QUOTE: QUOTE:I'm glad I never tried one of Nefud's world famous cinnamon rolls. You should try his sticky buns... there's fudge in the middle.

"Harry, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don't plan it, don't wait for it, just let it happen. Could be a new shirt at the men's store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot, black coffee. Like this."  -Dale Cooper

 i'm most famous for my overboiled cold linguine

oh wait that's not sexy