Well, season 4 of Lost kicks off this January 31st. This is an amusing video recap of the entire story up to now in 8 minutes, 15 seconds. It’s no substitute for watching the series, but it will catch you up if you got bored half way though season 3, like me.

Channel 4 will be airing the first double length episode of Lost in the UK as the bread in a reality TV sandwich with a 30 minute Big Brother special airing between the two hour long halves of the Lost premiere at 8:30 and 10:00.

Channel 4 have been making noise about their plans for a cross media bombardment to ensure everyone knows about the show for months now, and we’re seeing the results of their labour.

David LaChappelle directs a particularly inexplicable promo for the show that’s been putting off plenty of people who might otherwise be interested in tuning in. You can view the trailer here but be warned it involves the cast involved in some bizarrely surreal slow motion dance routine amongst the wreckage of the plane while repeating voice overs claim, “all of us are guilty, all of us are Lost”.

It just comes across as weird.

I don’t get it. What was he thinking?

For those in the UK who haven’t seen the show yet, this trailer is unrelated to the quality of the series itself.

Lost recently won a ‘Prism Award‘ for Charlie’s struggle with heroin withdrawal. The award for “Television Drama Multi-Episode Story Line” went to Lost for the episodes, “Pilot”, “House of the Rising Sun” and “The Moth”.

The Entertainment Industries Council, Inc. (EIC) annually presents the PRISM Awards for outstanding accomplishments in the accurate depiction of drug, alcohol and tobacco use and addiction in film, television, interactive, comic books, music, and video entertainment.

“Lost” won for Television Drama Multi-Episode Story Line for the episodes “Pilot,” “House of the Rising Sun” and “The Moth,” in which Dominic Monaghan’s character, Charlie, overcomes his heroin addiction. “Lost” is produced by Touchstone Television. (from ABC

Here’s more detail on the upcoming and last remaining episodes in the current season of Lost.

“THE GREATER GOOD”
WEDNESDAY, MAY 4 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET)
Fans awaiting the fallout from Boone’s death get more questions than answers as Sayid puts his Republican Guard interrogation skills to good use to get the truth out of Locke. The hour, which reveals the heartbreaking events that put Sayid on Flight 815, also explains some of Locke’s more sinister maneuvers. And while some of his recent actions actually have been for the greater good of his fellow survivors, Locke may not have the chance to right the worst wrong once someone decides to take justice into their own hands.

“BORN TO RUN�
WEDNESDAY, MAY 11 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET)
The truth about Kate continues to come out as the castaways draw battle lines in the sand. Fittingly it all starts with stormy weather. Realizing that the monsoon season will soon be upon them, Michael and Jin scamble to complete the raft in hopes of shoving off sooner than later. But dark clouds roll in after someone’s deadly move to secure themselves a seat on the boat casts suspicion on several survivors. Including Freckles herself. Though it looks as if she may be too busy recalling the tragic history of her toy plane to be bothered with such treachery.

“EXODUS, PART 1″
WEDNESDAY, MAY 18 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET)
A castaway’s omen about the looming monsoon season triggers a war for seats on the nearly completed raft and a possible plot against one of its architects. Meanwhile, Jack and Locke reach a tentative truce over that mysterious hatch, though neither Sayid nor Walt are at peace with the pair’s plans for it; and more of Kate’s past is revealed after the threat of rescue pits her against an all-too-informed Sawyer.

“EXODUS, PART 2″
TWO HOUR SEASON FINALE
WEDNESDAY, MAY 25 (8:00-10:00 p.m., ET)
Jack suspects foul play when Michael becomes violently ill while building the raft. Meanwhile a secret from Kate’s past is revealed, the mysterious hatch is shown to a few of the survivors, and Walt gives Locke a warning.

“THE GREATER GOOD”
WEDNESDAY, MAY 4 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET)
After burying one of their own, tempers flare as the castaways’ suspicions of each other grow — and an unlikely survivor vows revenge. Meanwhile, Claire and Charlie struggle to calm her newborn.

“BORN TO RUN”
WEDNESDAY, MAY 11 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET)
Jack suspects foul play when Michael becomes violently ill while building the raft. Meanwhile a secret from Kate’s past is revealed, the mysterious hatch is shown to a few of the survivors, and Walt gives Locke a warning.

“EXODUS, PART 1″
WEDNESDAY, MAY 18 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET)
The French woman — Rousseau — shocks the survivors by showing up with a dire warning about “the others.” Meanwhile, Michael and Jin ready the raft for sailing.

“EXODUS, PART 2″
TWO HOUR SEASON FINALE
WEDNESDAY, MAY 25 (8:00-10:00 p.m., ET)
The castaways on the raft are surprised at sea by something unexpected. Meanwhile, remaining islanders attempt to blow open the hatch, and a visitor to the encampment might be a threat to Claire’s infant son.

27 April 2005
“Lost: The Journey” (8/7c)

ABC invites new and avid “Lost” viewers to take a fresh look at one of this season’s most talked about shows. “Lost: The Journey” promises to explore the series in a way that will bring new viewers up to date — but which current viewers will also find illuminating. From the back stories of some of the most interesting characters on television to the mysteries of the island, “Lost: The Journey” will provide an insightful glimpse at the lives of some of the survivors of the doomed Oceanic Airlines flight 815. Narrated in a linear fashion and culminating from the pieces of the back stories told over multiple episodes in the series, “Lost: The Journey” focuses on the flashbacks of a core of characters, illustrating who they were and what they were doing before the crash. In addition, the island itself will be explored - culled from events that have taken place - which may reveal some of its secrets.

It’s not clear whether the episode contains any new mysteries or answers any existing questions, but hopefully it will provide some insight into what’s actually going on in this crazy place. We still know so very little about what’s going on on this island, or why anyone is there….

Update:
There’s a great article over at STLToday.com which explains more about what the 1 hour Lost special is going to tell us.

Lost? Join the club.

ABC’s “Lost,” one of the biggest hits of the current TV season, is also one of the most addictive. But at this point, if you actually claim to know what’s going on, you must be J.J. Abrams or Damon Lindelof, who created the thriller and swear they have its mythology firmly mapped out in their minds.

Our minds, meanwhile, are full of questions.

Is Boone really dead? Should we worry about Claire’s baby? What’s up with those mysterious, deadly lottery numbers? Will someone else really die in the season finale, and if so, who?

ABC won’t answer those questions in Wednesday night’s special, “Lost: The Journey” (7 p.m. on Channel 30). Still, the hour-long recap is, for once, not just a cheap way to stretch out a hit show. This time, it’s a public service.

Digital Spy reports that the ABC Series ‘Lost’ will begin airing in the United Kingdom on Channel 4 from ‘early August’.

Apparently the show was supposed to air in January, but was postponsed due to the success of another ABC show, “Desperate Housewives“.

The terrestrial network plans to launch a full on marketting campaign to ensure that by August, “Everyone will know about it.”