'Lost' reveals third-season changes

KAHUKU, Hawaii -- The hatch is history.

That was just one of the secrets revealed by cast and crew of theTV drama "Lost" when they gathered Tuesday to mark the release of theDVD set "Lost -- The Complete Second Season."

"The hatch has definitely had its moment," confirmed executiveproducer Bryan Burk, referring to the mysterious underground bunkerthat was the set for much of the series' second-season drama. "Let'sjust say it was one big explosion."

Though it was last year's Emmy-winning drama, "Lost" is not amongthe current crop of nominated series, nor were any of its leadingactors recognized.

"My first reaction to it was, 'Good.' I don't want us to becomethat show that becomes so righteous, so above everything else, thatwe're untouchable," said Evangeline Lilly, who will serve as apresenter at the Aug. 27 Emmy telecast.

"When we started, our big question was, 'Will anybody even watchthis show?' " Lilly said. "And then when people started watching, wewere thrilled. And then when we got recognized critically, we werebeside ourselves. So, when we didn't get nominated, all we had to dowas remember where we came from."

"Lost" fans can expect some big changes when third-season episodesbegin on ABC Oct. 4.

There won't be any more frustrating repeats. "Now, when 'Lost' ison, it's on," writer and executive producer Carlton Cuse explained."And when it's off, it's off. And when it's on, you know it's anoriginal 'Lost.' "

Producers said six all-new "Lost" episodes will air in consecutiveweeks this fall; the season's remaining 17 new episodes will bescheduled without interruption from midwinter to late spring.

As for the story: If the first season was all about the originalplane-crash survivors adjusting to their new lives on a desertedisland, and the second season was all about the so-called "tailies"(those who were in the tail of the plane, whom the originals hadthought were dead), "this year," Lilly said, "we've opened this up toanother whole other people, a whole other location, a whole otherfacet through which we can tell stories."

Michael Emerson, who plays the leader of a ruthless group known asthe Others, noted, "What I know is that [viewers] get to go live withthe Others, where they learn a little more about their life and,hopefully, their mission, their agenda, whatever that might be. Maybewe'll get to warm up to them."

Cuse said the new season will include more action and adventure,and that new characters could well serve as love interests. And, headded, Sawyer (Josh Holloway) and Jack (Matthew Fox) will definitelybe competing for the romantic affections of Kate (Lilly).

But don't expect the show to get all soft.

"There'll be a lot of love. There'll be a lot of comedy," Burksaid. "But we can never forget that these people are in a very darkplace."