The J.J. Abrams-verse: Lost, Fringe, Alias

While you're waiting for tonight's blockbuster season finale of Lost, enjoy this fun feature from the folks at Television Without Pity (which has great recaps of Lost and many other favorite shows). It's all about how many of the characters from creator J.J. Abrams' various hit TV series bear some uncanny resemblances to each other. Like Dr. Walter Bishop from Fringe and Dr. Daniel Faraday from Lost -- two wacked-out but endearing geniuses.

Speaking of J.J., have you seen his new Star Trek movie yet? Not only does it have Lost showrunner Damon Lindelof as producer, and Lost composer Michael Giacchino scoring the film, it also has at least one in-joke that only devoted Lost fans will likely catch.

Which is: When future captain James T. Kirk is born, his father, George, is acting as captain of a Federation starship: the USS Kelvin. The Kelvin -- as in Kelvin Inman, the Gulf War vet-turned-Dharmaite who rescued a shipwrecked Desmond and then kept him cooped up in the Hatch for years, punching in The Numbers and pushing that dang button every 108 minutes. And neither Kelvin, let it be noted, comes to a happy end.

JJ Abrams on Stephen Colbert

If case you missed it, JJ Abrams appeared on Monday's epsiode of The Colbert Report.

Although the show was mainly about Star Trek, JJ and Stephen Colbert also discussed Lost, Fringe, Alias and Felicity.

They also joked about hidden clues around the studio that would tell people the secret location of where Stephen would be taking the show in the Middle East.

JJ admits that following the happenings on Lost can be difficult.

Said Stephen: "Lost lost me on the first show."

Previewing tonights show

Tonight we focus on Miles (aka "I hear dead people"). Check out Doc Jensen's required reading before the show. OK, It's not really required, but it is always interesting.

Will we learn the origin of his powers? Will we learn why his parents gave him a name that sounds like ''maelstrom,'' a Nordic term for 'whirlpool?'' Will we learn why he's such a Mr. Snarky Cranky Pants? Recall earlier this season how Daniel Faraday wondered if his freaky freighter friend had been to the Island before; might Miles be Pierre Chang's infant child all grown up? If so, did Young Master Sixth Sense spend any time in Room 23, à la Walt? FUN FACT FROM THE WORLD OF CONSPIRACY THEORY LORE! Time-traveling Miles is currently parked in 1977 — the same year that the Senate conducted an investigation into a secret CIA project called MKULTRA, which conducted research into brainwashing, mind-control, and even psychic powers. Heavy drugs were involved. And allegedly kids were used as test subjects. Very Room 23, if you ask me.

Hmmm... Any Alias fans out there? Remember Project Christmas Tree? Alias was another JJ Abrams show.