Image Credit: Mario Perez/ABCThe executive producers of Lost still aren’t ready to reflect creatively on the drama’s two-and-a-half-hour finale (as if they ever plan to), but they had plenty to say about the 12 Emmy nominations it received today from the TV Academy. Besides a much-anticipated nomination for Outstanding Drama, the series also earned nods for stars Matthew Fox, Terry O’Quinn, Michael Emerson, and Elizabeth Mitchell. The finale — which was simply titled “The End” — also earned nominations in the writing, directing, music, and editing categories.
“As storytellers, you rarely get to end a story on your own terms,” executive producer Carlton Cuse tells EW. “Most shows kind of fade away or drop dead. We finished our story on our terms. Let’s face it, there were very high expectations for how Lost should end, and for us, it was enormously gratifying that we were recognized for doing a reasonably good job of ending the show.”
Executive Producer Damon Lindelof was particularly surprised by the wave of emotion he felt when Lost was announced as a contender for Outstanding Drama. “I basically started to weep,” he told EW. “I didn’t realize how much I was still holding on. My wife looked at me and asked what I was feeling, and I said ‘relief.’ You don’t want to say ‘Oh, my God I really want a nomination.’ We should just be proud of the work we did. And we are incredibly proud. But the fact that our peers still care about the show ended up meaning a lot more than I expected.
“There is kind of an out-of-sight, out-of-mind factor,” Lindelof continued. “Even with the addition of six nominees, four or five other ones easily could have been in the mix, and nobody would have said boo about it. We’re the only show in mix that is over. The fact that it got a nod in the final season is definitely gratifying.”
As for providing any kind of post-mortem about the finale, Lindelof and Cuse say they would prefer to stay mum. ”We’re not interested in dissecting our intentions and what the meaning of this or that was. It was purposeful ambiguity so fans can hopefully start to own the show for themselves.” And if they are lucky enough to take the Emmy stage come Aug. 29? Don’t expect any answers to your many burning questions then, either. Quips Cuse, “We will be so ecstatic to be on stage, we will be vapor-locked. I don’t know if, in that 30-second countdown, we’ll be able to provide a satisfying explanation for the finale.”
Read more:
‘Lost’: Will Emmy voters give it a fond farewell?
This is awesome!
No, it’s not. The lack of love for Nestor Carbonell after Ab Aeterno pretty much goes to show that this is a joke.
I agree…
Agreed, and thanks for reminding me about his epic performance. Nestor was robbed, for sure.
What, one snub in a good year for Lost invalidates all of the other ones? Pfft. While it’s true that Carbonell was deserving of a nod, at least Lost got so many noms. And Matthew Fox got one! He very much deserved it, and the Emmys actually gave him his due. That alone was enough to not make me wanna give the Academy the finger.
It’s possible that they didn’t show “Ab Aeterno” for the Emmy judges, which was his most fantastic episode in Season 6. Everything else he did, Emmy may not have found substantial enough to merit a nomination. Which is still a pity, but slightly more understandable.
The Emmy nom process, as I understand it, is kind of odd. He was a supporting character, but in his best ep “Ab Aeterno”, he is totally the lead. For people who are only relying on that one episode to show what he did (and as much I find it unfathomable, there are some people who didn’t watch Lost), they may have felt that it didn’t fully demonstrate his performance as supporting character in the same way that Emerson and O’Quinn’s submissions did.
Agreed. TOQ and Michael Emerson were awesome, but Nestor in Ab Aeterno was the best thing about this season. Thinking about that episode helps me get over the horror that was the last 10 minutes of the finale.
Gray – Yes, Ab Aeterno was the submission tape for Nestor. I can’t understand why he didn’t get the nom. A terrible omission!
Zoey, I totally agree with you…I was siked to see Matthew Fox’s name in the nominations. I would be even more stoked to see him win but I am not holding my breath!
I am so happy Lost got 12 nominations and 4 in acting categories. Is that the most the show has recieved for one season ( in respect to acting nods)?
Soooo happy Matthew Fox got a nod! All the other noms are well deserved. Only disappointment for me was the absence of a nom for Josh Holloway….thought he did a pretty bang up job this year.
I agree. Matthew Fox not only deserved to get nominated–but should win it! (I wish Sun was nominated too.) Lost is definitely the BEST show ever.
It would’ve been great to see Holloway get some recognition for his work on the show.
However, the year for Holloway to be nominated was LAST season. He was excellent in “LaFleur” and his performance during the scene where Juliet falls down into the Hatch is what sold that scene, in my opinion.
“Don’t you leave me!”
Oh God, thanks for reminding me of that, Ceballos! Now I’m going to start sobbing at work.
Yes you’re right, last season was for sure Josh’s season. Man I really want to go back and watch that scene now!
Your right last season was Josh’s, this year Fox and Terry owned it.
Like Madd, I too am now tearing up, in the middle of Barnes & Noble no less thinking about “Don’t you leave me.” God I miss this show.
and there goes the tears , thanks for the reminder now to really torture myself I am going to watch that scene on youtube for the millionth time
Definately tearing up, luckily I cry at work all the time, so my boss is used to it.
Just agreeing with everyone else who is choking up remembering Josh Holloway’s preformance last season.
Yea, pretty good point. I think he did some good work this season, but point well taken – he should have been nominated last season.
agree with Smarman. Loved Josh last season. Totally awesome in The Incident and La Fleur. But this year was Matthew Fox (and to a very very slight lesser extent Terry O’Quinn). I also love the nom for Michael Emerson although a little bit more expected but he was awesome this year at making you wonder whether Ben was really good or really evil.
Wasn’t (isn’t) Josh fantastic! It happens a lot in Hollywood, though, really good looking people have a hard time getting taken seriously for their acting abilities! Witness Matthew Fox only NOW getting any recognition!
I definitely think Josh Holloway and Jorge Garcia deserved a nom too, but there are just not enough slots!!! Just goes to show how amazing the entire cast is that there is so much talent to choose from.
Right you are. And there should be a nod for Vincent. Long live Lost.
VINCENT NEEDS SOME SORT OF AWARD.
How the heck anyone can say that Fox deserved a nom or, forbid, a win for the last season? he barely did anything on the show! Only terry O`Quinn had something to do followed by Cusick and Carbonel. And O`Quinn was de facto lead last season, not Fox because MIB was the focus of the show, not Jack.
I can`t wait for Fox to lose to real leading actors Hall, Cranson, Hamm or Lowrie.
Fox barely did anything? Did you watch the final season? I agree that O’Quinn seemed like the lead last year, but Fox definitely earned the nomination this year. I do think that the whole cast was strong this year and many were left out that deserved recognition. Lost definitely deserves the win for best drama.
SO HAPPY Lost got all of these nominations. If Josh Halloway had received one, it would’ve been perfect.
Lost doesn’t deserve an Emmy this year.
I agree
I agree too. They’re just throwing them a bone because they haven’t had a nomination since season 1, and now the show is over. The show should have been nominated back in seasons 2 and 3.
@KaterHater – what are you talking about? Lost was nominated as best Drama in 2008 and 2009, in addition to the win in 2005. It’s called IMDB. Use it.
Lost Rules – the 2005 win was for the 2004 season (Season ONE). Lost’s Emmy wins that year were primarily for the pilot. The 2009 nom was for season FIVE, 2008 for season FOUR. Um so the point about season 2 and 3 is valid. Learn to use IMdB.
gg – re-read what “KaterHater” and “Lost Rules” actually said. KaterHater said lost hasn’t had a nomination since season 1. Lost Rules proved this FALSE. Lost received nominations for seasons 4, 5, and now 6. No one was addressing KaterHater’s point about Lost *also* deserving noms for seasons 2 and 3.
Thanks Anon!
gg – someone needs to go back to reading comprehension class.
You are crazy.
He chose the name “Barack”. Of course he’s crazy.
He’s crazy but he’s right. Too many quality shows left off for this fluff nomination of 12 to lost.
Sometimes the wrap-up gets the awards deserved for the full run (see: Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King).
Granted, but Return of the King in its own right deserved each and every one of those awards.
You ARE crazy; it deserves all 12 and then some.
You can dislike the show, how it ended, the writing, whatever, but you can’t deny that these actors are talented!! And what about Giacchino’s score?? Unparalleled.
Personally I think Lost deserves each and every nom and then some, and I sure hope it wins in at least a few of the categories (particularly I hope Foxy gets his).
Agreed. Matthew Fox’s character was the heart of the show. His performance is what made the season finale so compelling and magnificent. Yes, it is terribly sad that some of the other LOST actors weren’t nominated. But as someone else stated, that just goes to show how talented the cast is. There’s just too much talent and, unfortunately, not everyone can be nominated. Here’s to hoping LOST walks home with a least a few wins–hopefully for best drama, that’s the big one!
Agreed Rebekah. Can you imagine LOST without Jack Shephard? Who else can you imagine giving the “Live together, Die alone” speech? I think all of the actors are talented and all of the characters are integral to the show. And half of them were virtually unknown prior to the Pilot.
As long as they aren’t in for writing or editing this season…
READ the article. They are, and surely deserve it.
I was talking about the season, not about The End in particular. While I wasn’t a big fan of the ending, I thought a lot of the episodes (eg Jacob’s mommy) were horribly written and edited.
Beyond the Sea was written just fine, the problem was the child actors and the fact that it distracted from the overall narrative. Had it been a standalone piece, it was well written.
Like acting, writing noms are based on single episodes. You may have hated the arc or the overall explanation of everything, but someone (several someones actually) liked at least one episode enough to selected it. Last year, Lost was the only show to get a nom in a category dominated by Mad Men episodes.
Lost gets 12 nominations and 24 gets none? WTF….This is a joke right?
Itzen got one for guest starring. Wished Kiefer got one too…
24 was very inconsistent and uneven this season. Itzin definitely deserved his nom.
what? LOST rocks…season 6 was way up there~best since season 1 imho…
THANK YOU! The finale season was terrible and actors, save Terry O`Quinn, the real lead of the season, had nothing to do.
If those clueless jackasses couldn’t “provide a satisfying explanation for the finale” after an entire season’s worth of wasted, useless, insipid shows, then how WOULD they be able to do it in 30 seconds? I hope they get an Anti-Emmy. If they DO win the popularity contest, I hope they get booed offstage. Hacks. Wasted 6 years of our lives.
I feel sorry for anyone who did not feel LOST finale was the best ending ever for a television show. I think it takes some intelligence to comprehend what and how the show had to end. I am sure you probably did not understand much throughout the shows run, probably clicking back and forth between LOST and the crappy shows FOX airs (American Idiot, House, Glee etc….)
I agree that Lost was the best series finale I’ve ever seen. That might not be saying much because I’m only 25, but still.
I agree with the spirit of what you’re saying, but not the specifics. I thought the finale was fantastic, but I would not go so far as saying that it was the best that has ever been.
Um, I understand what happened, I just think the “no-consequences” ending rendered major aspects of the journey insignificant.
Taken on its own, yes the finale was great and satisfied the heart. But it failed to satisfy the mind. Pretty much everything that happened over the six seasons didn’t have one thing to do with the ending. If there had been no Dharma, no time travel, etc. it still could have ended the same way.
Eh it was largely an emotional appeal for the heartstrings. For me it worked, but I understand where you’re coming from.
Glee’s awesome! But I also feel sorry for those who weren’t satisfied by the finale because for me, it was absolutely perfect.
I like the comment that said that the finale satisfied the heart but not the mind. And the whole sideways stuff was simply not compelling enough to justify spending 1/2 of a season on it. That was a major disappointment. Still, it’s one of the best shows of all time IMO and they should win as many Emmys as possible.
And, for the record, the best finale ever goes to Six Feet Under followed closely by The Shield. Both were near perfect.
I am very sick of hearing this condescending sentiment that people ‘feel sorry for those who didn’t think the Lost finale was perfect’. It was deeply flawed and a betrayal of many fan’s reasonable expectations. We don’t want your pity. If you managed to completely switch off your critical faculties and enjoy this sentimental drivel laced with tv-movie style life messages, then great, glad you had fun.
I have plenty of intelligence, thanks, more than enough to analyse this show and realise that we were being duped for six years and prepped for a surprise religious moral. “I think it takes some intelligence to comprehend what and how the show had to end.” It also takes some intelligence to know that sentence didn’t make sense. Many of us paid very close attention to lLost formall of it’s six years, understood and analysed every moment and were expecting a whole lot more from the finale than a bunch of cheesy montages, a cheap and unoriginal twist and a manipulative theme of ‘letting go’.
Well, since you’re taking a couple minutes to comment on a show you hate, I’m guessing “time wasted” isn’t your biggest concern.
Zing!
TJ…no it couldn’t have ended the same way without all the 6 years worth of experiences…all those things led the characters to the conclusion they arrived at…everything was important for them to experience in order to be saved…
They answered all the important questions in the last season. The only “important” question that they dropped the ball on was the one concerning Walt. But that can’t be helped. Other then Walt, questions were answered. If you didn’t realize that, then you must not have been paying attention.
Seriously. There are people out there who think they didn’t answer the numbers question….really?!
Also, we technically have the answer about Walt: puberty.
Why did they have to go back to the island?
I feel like Claire’s storyline wasn’t really dealt with well; why did she wander off that night? But other than that, I thought the final season was as satisfying as it could have been, & I loved the finale.
@Roper: They had to go back to the island because leaving it in the first place left them all feeling empty and unfulfilled, not to mention incurably guilty. On top of all of that, the people they left were quite literally stuck waiting for them to return. Nobody could move on until they returned to the island.
somebody’s all worked up for no good reason huh Justy? Get over it. It’s not that serious. Just because you didn’t like the ending doesn’t mean it was a waste of six years. The simple fact that you have such strong feelings about a show clearly demonstrates what a huge impact the Lost had on your life.
You have your right to be upset over “wasting your time” but frankly I think that’s a copout. You didn’t get the ending YOU wanted so you’re pouting. Get over it. You can keep on feeling self-righteous in your hatred of this show that at one point must have brought you joy, or you can try to accept the show for what it is. And actually, the show provided a TON of answers to questions that we’ve all asked over the years. If you actually take the time to think it through, there were plenty of questions answered, big and small. But there’s no way on earth that every question would get answers. SO GET OVER IT ALREADY!!!!
Jutsy – who’s the “our” you’re referring to? Hope it’s your family b/c this fan was extremely satisfied and happy all 6 years of this fantastic show’s run.
Don’t worry — this is all just a dream, as we’re in purgatory right now.
^Didn’t get the ending, as someone mentioned earlier. The island wasn’t purgatory, you dolt.
Mark, the island wasn’t purgatory…but the sideways world WAS. So RK’s reply is fine. I think perhaps you didn’t get the ending.
I was satisfied.
This belongs wayy up there. What the frell is going on?
Your post is an island oasis of reason in a sea of vapid, squealing tweens who’d be shrieking “EPIC!!!” at just about anything Darlton pulls out of their rear ends.
Why are you here?
Well said.
Evangeline Lilly should have had a nomination too.
She really didn’t have enough quality screen time to warrant a nomination. The Kate-centric episode was widely panned and she was sporadically featured the rest of the season.
her performance in the finale alone should have warranted a nom
Yeah, the finale was the only episode I’ve liked Kate in ever, and Lilly rocked it.
Her performance in that tight black dress warranted a nomination…maybe not an Emmy…but something!
Kate and Jack owned the finale. The scene that sticks with me above anything else is Kate saying to Jack, “I have missed you so much.” In that one line Lilly conveyed the rest of Kate’s life: she lived for a long time, but she never stopped loving Jack.
Thanks J, now you’ve got me sniffling already just thinking about it! Loved that scene.
Why?
110% agree
Agreed, she is really underrated. Her scenes with Jack in the end, and when she shoots Smokey were great. But I guess you can’t nominate the entire cast for emmys.
Well, that’s not entirely true. I mean, look at Modern Family. *Sigh*
She probably submitted herself for lead. She and Josh Holloway both didn’t have much screen time this year. She might have gotten in if she’d submitted as supporting.
I would have loved an actress to be nominated this year, but like everyone says, not everyone can get in. I’m probably one of the only people that actually liked Kate’s episode this year, and Evangeline Lilly had some great scenes with Emile de Ravin and Matthew Fox. I never expected to be as delighted as I was to see Kate and Jack together, but their kiss in The End was heavenly.
Lilly is the worst actress on TV and I hope she`s serious about retiring from acting. She not only didn`t deserve any award but razzie, but she doesn`t deserve to show up on the stage to pick up collective award for Lost if the overhyped crap that was the finale season picks up best Drama over real best drama series.
Yay for Matthew Fox! Woo and hoo!
So happy about the noms, particularly the Jack and Juliet love (Ben and Locke were so good it was almost expected). Hoping Lost finally wins best drama!
I’m very happy they were recognized but even as a rabid fan, they don’t deserve it this year. And I’m one of the people who loved the finale. Breaking Bad and Dexter were better this year, but Lost is still my all time favorite
I don’t think Dexter deserved it more.
the business of self-promoting getting hotter in U.S
while our teaching quality from top to the bottom goes to drain!!! we should do better America !
I took a break after the end of “Lost,” and the final season has really stayed with me and grown on me as time has passed. Was it the perfect ending? No. But, I’ll take a flawed masterpiece over the unambitious dreck that is most network television any day. And, I find that, for me at least, the finale and the last season was imbued with real feeling. This was special, and “Lost” deserves its Emmy nominations and wins.
the business of self- promoting and advertising non-sense is booming while the business of teaching our kids properly is going down to drain that we are aware of it and there is no voice to cure!!
people need to rewatch the finale..omce you know what it all means it makes the finale all the more impactful…hoping emmy voters rewatch and realize just how gratifying and ending it was
The meaning of anything is subjective.
I am bummed that Nestor Carbonell was not nominated. Best Supporting Actor is the toughest category this year and I’m sure he just barely missed the cut. I’m also bummed that Best Guest Actor nominations did not go to Henry Ian Cusick or Dominic Monaghan. I think it’s a given that John Lithgow will win but I would’ve liked to have seen them be recognized. I like Elizabeth Mitchell and all but it seems that her nomination this year is making up for her lack of one last year. She didn’t do a whole lot to warrant a nomination other than be a fan favorite.
I agree, Nestor and Henry Ian Cusick definitely deserved nominations. (I also like Dominic and he’s always good, but I would have liked to see greater recognition of these others. Someone must really like Elizabeth Mitchell because she was hardly in “Lost” this year. I dig her, myself, and hope she gets a series that is worthy of her talents soon, rather than the disappointing “V”.
That’s why she was nominated on the best guest category, because she didn’t have a lot of screen time.
Yeah, people seem to think she;s in for best supporting. She was nominated for guest star. You only need to be in one episode for that.
I understand the nature of the nomination, Katie and Claudia, but I think the Emmy nomination is actually for her performance last year because, IMO, she didn’t make enough of an impression in her short time on screen during “The End.” But she’s a good actress so I’m happy for her.
Agreed – Nestor deserved a nomination.
I love Elizabeth Mitchell but for the life of me I can’t figure out what she did this season of Lost to earn an Emmy nom.
My thoughts exactly, really? She is nominated and not Josh Holloway? Ridiculous!
Either way I hope Lost wins a lot of awards, except the Juliet one.:)
Elizabeth Mitchell was nominated in the guest actress category, so she only had to be in one episode to qualify for this category. I’ve been on the “Get Elizabeth Mitchell an Emmy boat” for years. This is wonderful to see her nominated. All she had to do is raise her eyebrow and she conveyed more honesty and emotion then most actors do with their entire body.
Oh EW is going to milk this. Over the next several weeks:
Photo gallery: 400 Lost Moments that will guarantee it wins as Emmy.
“Doc” Jensen presents a 25 page dissertation on why Jacob’s quest for a replacement is not unlike a quest for an Emmy.
Photo gallery: 150 Lost guest stars that have won Emmys or know people who have known people who have won Emmys.
Teaser interviews with the Lost producers who promise that they will wear something to the awards “that nobody has seen a Lost producer wear at an awards show before”.
Photo gallery: 200 pictures of Jack looking angsty, Ben looking duplicitous (probably with a bruise), and Locke looking contemplative. (For submission to the Emmy voters)
That sounds a heck of a lot more interesting than reading about Lindsay Lohan’s finger.
Indeed.
You are a tool.
To be honest, I wish they would give us all that and more. Can never have too much Lost.
You are very funny.
And I would read every single one of those articles. Twice.
You know what? I would actually read everything you just listed
So would I.
I certainly hope so! I am so tired about seeing stories about vampires and teen crush of the week.