Tag Archives: sawyer

To Sawyer, Not Raising Tax Rates Means a ‘Tax Cut’ as She Frames Debate Through Liberal Prism

Posted on September 8, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

If your income tax rate stays the same next year, would you consider that a “tax cut”? ABC anchor Diane Sawyer sure seems to think so. Adopting the Obama/Democratic spin as fact, that maintaining the same income tax rates in place since 2003 constitutes a “tax cut,” even though taxpayers would pay the same amount on the same income, she led Wednesday’s ABC World News: It will be the big battle to the finish line in November, and this is the question: How big a tax cut will you get next year? In her very text sentence, however, she incongruently, but accurately, recognized Obama’s wish to return rates for some to their pre-2003 level would constitute a hike: “And should taxes increase on the wealthiest Americans?” The subsequent story dealt only with Obama v Republicans on income tax rates for 2011, and a FICA tax cut is off the political table, so Sawyer must have been talking about the income tax, not any FICA rate change. Sawyer’s no rate change equals a tax cut thinking matches the reasoning from liberals who fret over the “cost” and “paying for” continuing the rates set in 2003, as if all the money in the economy is the government’s, and so not letting the Bush tax cut rates expire – maintaining the status quo – means a “tax cut.” Sawyer opened the Wednesday, September 8 World News: Good evening. It will be the big battle to the finish line in November, and this is the question: How big a tax cut will you get next year? And should taxes increase on the wealthiest Americans? We have an exclusive interview with the President tonight. He walked into the lion’s den today, challenging Republicans on taxes and the economy. The Republicans, quick to fire back. That interview with President Obama amounted to an Obama soundbite from an interview conducted by George Stephanopoulos which will run on Thursday’s Good Morning America.

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The Pathetic Promo for CNN’s Pathetic ‘Parker Spitzer’ Program

Posted on September 7, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Just what you’ve all been waiting for – the pathetic promo for CNN’s pathetic “Parker Spitzer” program premiering October 4 (video follows with commentary): Our dear friend Ace of Spades comically wrote Tuesday this reminded him of the sexual tension between Sam and Diane on the hit ’80s sitcom “Cheers.” Hot Air’s Allahpundit noted :  This feels exactly like a trailer for a Nora Ephron comedy about two TV journalists bantering their way through life. Even the whimsical jazzy soundtrack is Ephron-esque. Is that what they’re going for? The coveted “When Harry Met Sally” demographic? I could be down with that, but if they’re going to try it, I want other conceits from the movie too. Like, they could have Kyra Phillips and John King on occasionally in the Carrie Fisher/Bruno Kirby quirky best-friend roles. Even worse, I see more of a “Sleepless in Seattle” or “You’ve Got Mail” dynamic. After all, despite oozing with saccharin, “When Harry Met Sally” was a darned good film. As for the silly giggling noises Parker was making during this promo, I don’t want to have what she’s having. Exit question: Do you care what either of these people has to say about anything?

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The Pathetic Promo for CNN’s Pathetic ‘Parker Spitzer’ Program

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ABC’s Diane Sawyer Promotes ‘Change Agent’ Arianna Huffington and Her ‘Innovative Solutions’

Posted on September 7, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

ABC’s Diane Sawyer gave Arianna Huffington a rare gift on Tuesday night: An entire World News segment devoted to promoting the left-winger’s new book, Third World America: How Our Politicians Are Abandoning the Middle Class and Betraying the American Dream , and her Huffington Post site. Though a matching ABCNews.com posting described Huffington as a “liberal commentator,” no iteration of liberal passed Sawyer’s lips. As if Huffington’s book does any such thing, Sawyer wondered: “What if we pulled together in one place all the innovative ideas for creating jobs?” The generous on-screen heading beneath Huffington’s picture: “Change Agent.” After highlighting Huffington’s wish to absolve troubled mortgage-holders of much of their responsibility, Sawyer trumpeted: Arianna Huffington’s new book is called Third World America, and on her Web site, she’s been gathering innovative solutions to keep that Third World from happening. The articles posted on the Huffington Post page with “innovative solutions ,” a page the ABC segment displayed, sound more like the usual liberal carping: “Work Until You’re Dead? That May Be the Only Option for Many Americans,” “Thousands Crowd Atlanta Area Housing Authority for Section 8 WAITING LIST, Fights Break Out,” “The 10 Highest-Paid CEOs Who Laid Off the Most Workers: Institute for Policy Studies” and “Income Inequality: ‘The Most Profound Change In American Society In Your Lifetime.’” Huffington hailed: “It’s one person’s idea, like, that’s what I love. It’s like, somebody imagined that, and is making it happen.” Sawyer then showcased an idea that’s failed: “One solution we heard about, Gene Epstein, a self-made millionaire who’s going door to door in Philadelphia, asking every small business to hire one more employee, just for six months. He says if ten percent of businesses do that, one half million people will be employed.” She had to acknowledge, however, he’s “got only one signature.” Not raised by Sawyer in her friendly session with Huffington – the title’s racial overtones. Imagine if a conservative had written a book warning President Obaam’s policies could turn the U.S. into a “Third World” nation? From the Tuesday, September 7 ABC World News: DIANE SAWYER: And finally tonight, what if we pulled together in one place all the innovative ideas for creating jobs? Arianna Huffington has just written a book which begins with some tough statistics about Americans faltering in this economy. SAWYER TO HUFFINGTON, IN MOCK DISBELIEF: Every 30 seconds, someone goes bankrupt in America. Every 30 seconds? ARIANNA HUFFINGTON: Every 30 seconds. And almost three million homes were lost in the last year and about three million or more are expected to be foreclosed in 2010. SAWYER: Foreclosures on mortgages. You think it should be required that every one be negotiated? HUFFINGTON: We need to help people in the middle class who are losing their homes. SAWYER: You don’t think there will be a wave of people shouting, “it’s just not fair, I scraped and saved to make my mortgage payment”? HUFFINGTON: There’s an awful lot that’s happening that’s not fair. But I feel that’s something that, in the end, is going to have a positive impact on every community in the whole country. SAWYER: Arianna Huffington’s new book is called Third World America, and on her Web site, she’s been gathering innovative solutions to keep that Third World from happening. HUFFINGTON: It’s one person’s idea, like, that’s what I love. It’s like, somebody imagined that, and is making it happen. SAWYER: One solution we heard about, Gene Epstein, a self-made millionaire who’s going door to door in Philadelphia, asking every small business to hire one more employee, just for six months. He says if ten percent of businesses do that, one half million people will be employed. GENE EPSTEIN, BUSINESSMAN: People will be buying, stocks will be moving, people will start spending the cash that they’ve had in hand, waiting to spend. SAWYER: So far, he’s undaunted, though he’s got only one signature, a carpet company. EPSTEIN: Businesses have created what we are in the United States. Why can’t they be the salvation for what we are in the United States? SAWYER: Just one person, six months. You think you can pay it forward that way? HUFFINGTON: Yes, I totally believe you can pay it forward. Truth is that democracy’s not a spectator sport. When people take action, it’s the greatest antidote to despair. SAWYER: The rest of the interview’s on ABCNews.com, and give us your innovative ideas.

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Bartiromo: GOP-Controlled House ‘Most Important Near-Term Catalyst’ for Economy

Posted on September 7, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

As the not-so “recovery summer” draws to an end, many are scratching heads, wondering what it will take for the economy to pull out of this recession. According to Maria Bartiromo, host of CNBC’s “Closing Bell,” it will be political change in Washington, D.C. In an appearance on NBC’s Sept. 7 “Today,” she said the best stimulus would be a Republican-controlled House of Representatives. “This is probably the single most important catalyst for the stock market right now,” Bartiromo said. “I think that the perception of confidence, the perception that perhaps we won’t see tremendous change in terms of higher expenses in 2011 if we were to see the Republicans gain control of the House, it will probably be a positive for the stock market. Bartiromo’s appearance on “Today” was to promote her new book, “The Weekend That Changed Wall Street: An Eyewitness Account.” In her estimation, A GOP takeover would create confidence and induce people spend more money. “That could create a rally and believe it or not, rallies like that make people feel richer,” she continued. “They get a better perception out there and they get people to spend more money. So that’s probably the most important near term catalyst.” It’s estimated that corporations are sitting on at least $1 trillion that if freed up and put back into the economy, it could rescue the country from this recession.

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Bozell: Congratulations to ABC News on Departure of President David Westin

Posted on September 7, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Congratulations, ABC News! You are now free from the 14-year reign of the news president that helped drive your ratings into the ground. Under his leadership, Westin continually promoted some of the most liberally biased reporters in news, including George Stephanopoulos , Diane Sawyer , Christine Amanpour and Bill Weir .  He hired an Obama donor as ABC’s new Senior Medical Editor in the midst of the healthcare debate and ignored the 83,000 Americans who petitioned him to ensure that ABC reported the truth about Obama’s government takeover of healthcare. Westin neglected to address the obvious conflict of interest in George Stephanopoulos’ daily strategy phone call with Rahm Emanuel, and failed to keep his promise that ABC News would offer ‘objective’ reporting on the War on Terror in 2003. He even had the gall to suggest that the Pentagon was a legitimate terrorism target in the wake of September 11th. Two years later, he banned any ABC News personnel from wearing a patriotic flag lapel pin . ABC should seize the opportunity to replace Westin with a president who will deliver what the American people want and deserve – real journalism. It’s ABC’s only glimmer of hope for surviving in the news industry.

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Bozell: Congratulations to ABC News on Departure of President David Westin

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‘The Switch’: Fluid Situation, By Kurt Loder

Posted on August 20, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman and the search for a kid in a cup Jason Bateman in “The Switch” Photo: Miramax “The Switch” is set in that fantasy Manhattan, familiar from Woody Allen movies, in which everyone seems to be a highly compensated white professional and all ethnic coloration has been drained away. The movie wants us to care about these people’s problems — which include things like imaginary medical maladies — but many viewers may wish that such trifling complaints were the only ones they had. Jennifer Aniston plays Kassie Larson, a top TV producer who’s facing 40 and desperate to have a child. Jason Bateman is Wally Mars, a stock trader who was once Kassie’s boyfriend but is now simply her best pal — although of course he still secretly pines for her love. Kassie has never found the right guy to have a family with, so she’s decided to go the artificial-insemination route. She’s found the ideal donor in a guy named Roland (Patrick Wilson), who’s both a hearty jock and an assistant professor of feminist theory at Columbia University. Obviously Mr. Right, at least for purposes of impregnation. Do women desirous of offspring actually throw “I’m Getting Pregnant” parties at which their chosen sperm donor arrives bearing baby juice in a plastic cup? Kassie does. Unfortunately, Wally is among the many friends in attendance, and he gets drunk, stumbles into the bathroom, finds Roland’s cup, accidentally spills its contents, and then — using a magazine photo of Diane Sawyer for stimulation — brings forth his own seminal contribution, which he leaves to be passed off as Roland’s. Wally is so drunk that the next day he doesn’t remember doing this. Two weeks later, Kassie announces she’s pregnant. She relocates to Minnesota to raise the child she’ll soon be having. Seven years later she returns to New York with her little boy, Sebastian (Thomas Robinson). She reconnects with Wally — who’s still in the dark about what he did at the party that night, and doesn’t realize Sebastian is his son — but also with Roland, who quickly develops a romantic interest in her. And so forth. Romantic comedies aren’t often an arena for violence, but this one’s different — the movie’s script continually manhandles its characters into situations of brazen implausibility. The picture does have some funny moments, mostly provided by Jeff Goldblum, as Wally’s distracted boss (Goldblum always seems to have another, more interesting conversation going on in his head while he’s delivering his character’s lines); and by Juliette Lewis, who enlivens a few scenes with her blowsy, wisecracking energy. (“I’ve had orgasms that last longer than his relationships.”) And Robinson is unusually engaging as little Sebastian — he’s a cute kid with a surprisingly wry intelligence. It’s too bad that Bateman, so expert at underplaying comic characters, has a character here that’s so thinly conceived it can’t bear much underplaying. Wally — who exhibits none of the sharkish

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ABC Hypes NAACP Indictment of Tea Party as Racist, a Smear the Network Stoked

Posted on July 13, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Four months after ABC’s World News spent a weekend defaming anti-ObamaCare Tea Party protesters as “very ugly” with “ reports of racial and homophobic slurs ,” citing “protesters roaming Washington, some of them increasingly emotional, yelling slurs and epithets ,” Tuesday’s newscast, unlike those on CBS and NBC, credentialed the NAACP ‘s charge that the “Tea Party movement is a threat to the pursuit of human rights, justice and equality for all.” Sans any ideological label, anchor Diane Sawyer set up the full July 13 story: “The nation’s oldest civil rights organization, the NAACP , has just adopted a resolution this evening at its annual convention condemning quote, ‘racist behavior by Tea Party members.’” Reporter Dan Harris relayed: The NAACP points to the racial epithets allegedly hurled at black members of Congress by Tea Party members during the health care debate and to the racist signs that critics say they spotted at Tea Party events to support its conclusion that the “Tea Party movement is a threat to the pursuit of human rights, justice and equality for all.” Going to a Tea Party leader who is black, Harris pressed: “We’ve all seen the signs. There have been signs that compare Baarck Obama to a monkey, there have been signs that have had the ‘n’ word on them. When you see those signs, how do you feel?” Harris, however, did at least quote Sarah Palin’s tweet asking: “Are liberty-loving, equality-respecting patriots racist?” And, citing an ABC News/Washington Post survey, he noted “the biggest reasons people join the Tea Party are politics and ideology, rather than views on race.” Earlier NB item on Tuesday afternoon about an ABCNews.com post headlined: “Michelle Obama Rouses NAACP Before Vote Condemning ‘Racist’ Elements of Tea Party” Back in March, NB archive: Saturday, March 20 : “ABC: Anti-ObamaCare Protest ‘Turned Very Ugly’ with ‘Racial and Homophobic Slurs’” Sunday, March 21 : “ABC’s Sawyer: ‘Protesters Roaming’ DC, ‘Increasingly Emotional, Yelling Slurs and Epithets’” Plus, from March 21 : “CBS: ‘Mean from the Start’ Health Debate ‘Turned Even Nastier Yesterday’ with ‘Racial Epithets’ and ‘Sexual Slurs’” From the Tuesday, July 13 ABC World News: DIANE SAWYER: Also on politics, a controversy surrounding the Tea Party. The nation’s oldest civil rights organization, the NAACP, has just adopted a resolution this evening at its annual convention condemning quote, “racist behavior by Tea Party members.” Tonight, the   Tea Party is fighting back and here’s Dan Harris. DAN HARRIS: The NAACP points to the racial epithets allegedly hurled at black members of Congress by Tea Party members during the health care debate and to the racist signs that critics say they spotted at Tea Party events to support its conclusion that the “Tea Party movement is a threat to the pursuit of human rights, justice and equality for all.” At the group’s annual meeting in Kansas City, the resolution had plenty of support. UNIDENTIFIED MAN: When we turn on the television and see posters and fliers that send very frightening messages to our community, we have to address it. HARRIS: Tea Party favorite Sarah Palin called the resolution “divisive,” asking today on Twitter: “Are liberty-loving, equality-respecting patriots racist?” David Webb is the co-founder of the New York City Tea Party. DAVID WEBB, TEA PARTY 365: I think the NAACP, in its march towards irrelevancy as an organization, needs an enemy to maintain its power base. HARRIS, TO WEBB: Let me push you a little bit. WEBB: Sure. HARRIS, TO WEBB: We’ve all seen the signs. There have been signs that compare Baarck Obama to a monkey, there have been signs that have had the “n” word on them. When you see those signs, how do you feel? WEBB: They’re offensive. They don’t belong there, but there will always be fringe elements. HARRIS: The biggest reasons people join the Tea Party are politics and ideology, rather than views on race. But today, the NAACP rejected the charge that it’s playing politics. BENJAMIN TODD JEALOUS, PRESIDENT, NAACP: We have no problem with the Tea Party, we have a problem with the Tea Party tolerating racists in their ranks. HARRIS: This race-based fight shows no signs of letting up. The NAACP is planning an anti-Tea Party march on Washington this fall. Dan Harris, ABC News, New York.

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ABC Hypes NAACP Indictment of Tea Party as Racist, a Smear the Network Stoked

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Networks Democratic Congressman’s Street Scuffle, But ABC Pounced on Catty Crack About Boxer’s Hair

Posted on June 15, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

None of the three broadcast evening newscasts had even a few seconds last night for video of Democratic Congressman Bob Etheridge physically grabbing and yelling at an unidentified student attempting to ask him whether he supports President Obama’s agenda. But last Thursday, after Republican senate candidate Carly Fiorina was caught making a flip remark about Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer’s hair, ABC’s World News ran a full report on that “caught on tape political moment.” Worth noting: Back on June 10, George Stephanopoulos was sitting in for Diane Sawyer. But last night, Sawyer was back in the anchor chair. In introducing last week’s report from correspondent Jonathan Karl, Stephanopoulos touted the Fiorina flap as “ the latest caught off guard, caught on tape, all too candid political moment.” The Etheridge scuffle would surely fit that same standard, but ABC’s World News had no time on Monday to mention that embarrassment for the Democrats. Fiorina’s campaign had previously been mentioned by World News in round-up pieces about this year’s elections, but Thursday’s item about her gaffe was the first report focused exclusively on her candidacy, a Nexis search reveals: FILL-IN ANCHOR GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: And now, to the latest caught off guard, caught on tape, all too candid political moment. Just hours after she became California’s Republican nominee for the Senate, Carly Fiorina forgot that for candidates, the camera is always hot. Here’s Jon Karl on an old lesson, learned again. CORRESPONDENT JONATHAN KARL: Year of the woman, maybe. MEG WHITMAN, GOP NOMINEE for CA GOVERNOR: What a great night. KARL: Year of the political outsider, undoubtedly. CARLY FIORINA, GOP NOMINEE for U.S. SENATE: Yeah, anyway, that’s what they said. KARL: But even if your name is Carly Fiorina and you’ve never run for office before, there’s one old rule that still applies: Beware of the open mike. FIORINA, SEARCHING FOR SOMETHING ON HER BLACKBERRY: I can’t find this thing. KARL: Still basking in her primary victory, Fiorina was waiting for an interview on KXTV in Sacramento when she started musing about her opponent’s hair style. FIORINA: Lauda (sp?) saw Barbara Boxer briefly on television this morning and said what everyone says, “God, what is that hair?” So, yesterday. KARL: But it happens. Even to political pros. Jesse Jackson, talking about cutting off a part of Barack Obama’s anatomy. [on screen: “I wanna cut his n_ts off.”] George W. Bush calling a reporter a CLIP OF GEORGE W. BUSH, 2000: (bleep). CLIP OF DICK CHENEY, 2000: Oh, yeah. Big time. KARL: Judging from Fiorina’s reaction when she realized the mic was on, that won’t be happening again. Jonathan Karl, ABC News, Washington. STEPHANOPOULOS: That lesson is burned in.

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Networks Democratic Congressman’s Street Scuffle, But ABC Pounced on Catty Crack About Boxer’s Hair

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‘Lost’ Stars: What’s Next?

Posted on May 24, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Evangeline Lilly has a project lined up, while Josh Holloway takes a more relaxed approach to his post-‘Lost’ career. By Josh Wigler Jorge Garcia, Matthew Fox and Evangeline Lilly on the penultimate episode of “Lost” Photo: ABC After six seasons of action-packed adventure and routinely confounding mysteries, the story of “Lost” is over — no more Jack, no more Sawyer, no more anybody. But just because the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 are no longer gracing the television screen week in and week out doesn’t mean we’ve seen the last of the actors who play them. Fans are already used to seeing former “Lost” actors in other places. Elizabeth Mitchell is the star of “V,” for example, while Ian Somerhalder is one of three crucial characters on “The Vampire Diaries.” Soon, viewers will have all-new avenues to enjoy the work of their other favorite “Lost” actors too. Take Evangeline Lilly, for instance. The actress, who played fugitive Kate Austen on the series, has gone on the record with her intentions to take a break from acting after “Lost.” But Lilly, who previously held a small role in “The Hurt Locker” as Jeremy Renner’s wife, already has her first post-“Lost” gig lined up in the form of “Real Steel,” a futuristic boxing drama starring Hugh Jackman and fellow “Lost” alumnus Kevin Durand. Daniel Dae Kim, meanwhile, is not only staying on television, he’s also staying in Hawaii. The former Jin-Soo Kwon becomes Chin Ho Kelly next fall in CBS’ remake of “Hawaii Five-O.” Kim stars opposite Grace Park, an actress who knows a thing or two about ending a fan-favorite series in the form of “Battlestar Galactica.” Sarcastic pilot Frank Lapidus’ real-life counterpart, Jeff Fahey, has plans of his own too. He’s part of an all-star cast, including Lindsay Lohan, Jessica Alba and Robert De Niro, in “Machete,” based on a fictional trailer created for Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino’s “Grindhouse.” For some actors, the future is a bit unclear. Matthew Fox has long been attached to the comic book adaptation “Billy Smoke,” though a full year has elapsed since the latest major update on that project. Likewise, actor Nestor Carbonell is often mentioned for the role of Khan in the developing “Star Trek” sequel, though the rumor remains unconfirmed. Many “Lost” vets are taking things a bit easier. Josh Holloway and Jorge Garcia, for instance, have no immediate plans beyond returning to Los Angeles to find new work. Michael Emerson, meanwhile, is hoping to return to his roots as a stage actor. But if Terry O’Quinn has his way, it won’t be long before Ben and Locke reunite on the small screen. O’Quinn, who surprised audiences with his turn as the villainous smoke monster in the final season of “Lost,” has reportedly pitched producers on a television series starring himself and Emerson as two middle-aged hit men getting by in suburbia — a show that would certainly help struggling “Lost” fans through major bouts of withdrawal. What do you want to see next from your favorite “Lost” stars? Let us know in the comments! Related Photos The Sexiest Men Of ‘Lost’ Spin-Offs For The Characters Of ‘Lost’

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‘Lost’ Stars: What’s Next?

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What Is ‘Lost’ All About, Anyway?

Posted on May 21, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘Lost’ star Michael Emerson and MTV News try to make sense of mysterious plot before series finale on Sunday. By Josh Wigler Cast of “Lost” Photo: ABC “Lost” is not simply about a plane crashing on a mysterious island. It cannot be classified as pure science fiction or jungle adventure or any other number of genres. There are numerous philosophical issues at the core of “Lost,” but distilling the series into one idea isn’t just a daunting task — it’s a virtually impossible one. But that won’t stop Michael Emerson, who plays the eerie Benjamin Linus on the hit series, from trying. “On the surface, ‘Lost’ seems to be a universal survival adventure,” Emerson explained of the concept in a message recorded for MTV News. “But as it goes along, it becomes revealed to be much more than that: a science-fiction and time-travel drama; an allegory of sin and redemption and past lives and hope for the future. “It’s a lot,” he ultimately conceded. We’ll try to clarify his explanation with some additional details. The series debuted in 2004 with a simple premise: Oceanic Flight 815 crashes on a tropical island with a handful of passengers miraculously surviving the accident. But this is no ordinary island: in addition to the expected wild boar and exotic birds, there are polar bears, an indigenous group called the Others and an ancient monster made out of black smoke. Our heroes are tasked with facing down these forces, while struggling to survive and find a way off the island. But when a lucky few finally manage to escape, it becomes apparent that these men and women were never supposed to leave. They were always destined to carry out a higher purpose in this jungle of mystery. As the show progressed and the mysteries deepened, “Lost” kept itself grounded through a compelling cast of characters: Jack, a heroic doctor with an obsessive need to fix everything; Kate, a fugitive with nowhere left to run; Sawyer, a conman hiding the heart of a hero; Hurley, an overweight multimillionaire with an unlucky curse; Sayid, an Iraqi torturer looking to put the past behind him; Jin and Sun Kwon, a married couple with trust issues; Claire, a pregnant woman unsure about becoming a mother; and Locke, a paraplegic whose spine is healed by the island, leading him to believe that he and his fellow survivors were always meant to be here — an assertion that Jack initially rejects. But Jack began to view the island from Locke’s perspective once it was revealed that the enigmatic Jacob brought the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 to the island — the skeptical Jack included — in an effort to find his successor as the island’s ruler. Before he could finalize his replacement, Jacob was murdered by Ben, the disenfranchised former leader of the Others who felt neglected by Jacob. Ben carried out the deed at the request of the vicious smoke monster, which is actually Jacob’s brother and eternal nemesis posing as a deceased John Locke. With Jacob dead, the monster simply needed to kill his brother’s remaining candidates, which would allow him to finally leave the island and explore the outside world. In addition to the already-dead Locke, the monster succeeded in killing half of these candidates: Sun, Jin and Sayid. A ghostly Jacob was able to reach out to the rest of candidates to warn them of what was at stake: If the smoke monster is allowed to leave the island, the outside world would succumb to his might. Furthermore, the monster should be prevented at any cost from gaining access to a sacred light at the heart of the island. In order to protect this light, one of Jacob’s candidates needed to volunteer to take up the mantle as guardian of the island. Jack volunteered for the position and was given instructions on where to find the light before the monster could get to it. But the monster currently has his sights set on something else: Desmond Hume, a tragic hero with a unique relationship to the space-time continuum as a result of exposure to electromagnetic energy — an energy that permeates the island’s all-important light. With Desmond’s help, the monster believes, not only can he leave the island, but he can destroy it too. The rub is that Desmond’s whereabouts are unknown. Last seen trapped in a well, he’s apparently escaped since then. Desmond’s ability to destroy the island might have something to do with his knowledge of a sideways universe where Oceanic Flight 815 never crashed and landed safely in Los Angeles. He is one of few people in this sideways universe who remembers his time on the island, something that he’s hoping to fix. As the finale looms, Desmond’s mission to awaken our heroes’ sideways selves remains an mysterious factor in the show’s end game. Indeed, there are countless characters, organizations and enigmatic entities that could have a huge impact on how “Lost” concludes. With so many questions still dangling unanswered, there’s really only one certainty at this point: On Sunday night, this confounding, occasionally frustrating and enormously entertaining journey will finally reach its end. How do you hope “Lost” will end on Sunday? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos Counting Down To The ‘Lost’ Finale! Related Photos Spin-Offs For The Characters Of ‘Lost’

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What Is ‘Lost’ All About, Anyway?

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