ShareThis"Lost" is wrapping up its penultimate season in amazingly fine form.
Sure, most of the season has been a chronological nightmare. The characters and the island have flashed through time. Viewers had to pay attention in each episode to where or when the scene was taking place.
Despite that, "Lost" caps off its season (9 p.m. EDT Wednesday, ABC) as one of the most durable hours on the tube, and, in many ways, one of the sturdiest adventure programs ever.
In its fourth season, "Lost" has found a way to mainstream itself. Many of the mysteries that confounded and teased viewers for years were made clearer. "Lost" is still a puzzler, but now that puzzle is starting to come together.
The season finale has the castaways in another dire situation. Jack (Matthew Fox) wants to proceed with a scheme to set things right on the island, but his decision gets strong resistance. Meanwhile, the interesting dynamics between Locke and Ben reach another dimension when Locke assigns Ben a difficult task.
"Lost" is revealing itself in ways it never has before. No longer a drama about island castaways, "Lost" has redefined itself as a high-octane sci-fi adventure -- complete with a story that covers past, present and future. The island is a time nexus. Many different sources -- including scientists and a giant corporation -- want to manipulate it for varying agendas.
The residents of the island seem to be pawns. But, as true to the ways of "Lost," that's never fully the story.
No matter the outcome of this finale, "Lost" will undoubtedly keep the mysteries thriving and fans wanting more.
Other highlights for the week of May 10 to 16 (all times EDT; listings subject to change; check local listings):
SUNDAY
-- "How Bruce Lee Changed The World" (8 p.m., History). I don't know if he changed the world, but he made watching "The Green Hornet" a lot more fun.
MONDAY
-- "24" (9 p.m., Fox). Jack's latest scheme directly endangers his daughter -- again.
-- "The Soup Presents: Fameless, Shameless and Aimless" (10 p.m., E!). The pop-culture review comedy looks at people who had their 15 minutes of fame for being shameful.
TUESDAY
-- "Dancing with the Stars" (9 p.m., ABC). The final four compete to be in next week's finale.
WEDNESDAY
-- "American Idol" (9 p.m., Fox). It comes down to two.
FRIDAY
-- "General Hospital" (3 p.m., ABC). The mysterious Holly (Emma Samms) is back to stir up trouble again.
-- "Prison Break" (8 p.m., Fox). The saga of the jailbirds comes to a head in this two-hour series finale.
-- "Hotel Babylon" (9 p.m., BBC America). Paula Abdul, John Barrowman and Michael Landes check in, but not at the same time. That would be weird.
SATURDAY
-- "Mad TV" (11 p.m., Fox). The sketch show rolls out its final episode.
(E-mail Terry Morrow of The Knoxville News-Sentinel in Tennessee at morrow2(at)knews.com.)
TV HILIGHTS
