Do you Tweet? Twitter (as if you’ve never heard of it) is one of the hottest social networks on the Net, where anyone can sign up to post frequent updates on what they’re currently up to. You can even get updates on your mobile phone, if you like. (Find me under @robinparrish.)

Twitter has a lot to offer fans of Lost. Several actors and people involved with the show are Twitter users, and you can sign up to follow their updates. In addition, there’s a huge fan community of Lost fans on Twitter who post news, information, opinions, and much more. Here’s a handy dandy guide to some of the best and most useful Lost Tweeters out there.

Cast
Unfortunately, none of the current stars are Twitter users, but there are several former cast members and guest stars you can follow:

• @dominicmonaghan - starred as Charlie Pace in Seasons 1-3
• @nathanfillion - guest starred as Kate’s short-lived husband, Kevin Callis; now stars on Castle
• @greggrunberg - appeared as Captain Seth Norris in the pilot; currently stars on Heroes
• @cheechmarin - unconfirmed; plays Hurley’s father, David Reyes

Crew

• @jj_abrams - it’s really him, but he rarely Tweets at all
• @therealdamon (Damon Lindelof) - unconfirmed, but appears legit; rarely Tweets

Fans

• @the_island - home base to a very clever circle of Tweeters that post fictional thoughts as if they were all of the characters we know and love on Lost; from there, you’ll find @jack_shephard_, @benlinus, @smokemonster, and many more
• @lostpedia - essential Tweeting for all Lost fans; often posts news and info before anyone else
• @lost_on_abc - another good one for unique news; could be an ABC official account, but unconfirmed
• @darkufo - updates from the most popular Lost fansite on the Net
• @theodi - one of the most comprehensive Lost news sites on the Net
• & more… find dozens of others here and here

If you know of any other good Twitter accounts for Lost fans, be sure and post them in the Comments!

Last Thursday night, JJ Abrams’ Star Trek made its U.S. premiere in the heart of Hollywood, California. Grauman’s Chinese Theatre was the setting for the all-star gala, and several familiar faces from Lost turned out to help celebrate the latest work from Lost co-creators JJ Abrams (Star Trek director) and Damon Lindelof (Star Trek producer). Thumbnails of the stars on the red carpet are below and after the jump; click to enlarge.

Matthew Fox

Image: Pacific Coast News	Image: Bauer-Griffin	Image: Bauer-Griffin
Image: PR Photos	Image: PR Photos	Image: INF

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The PR machine has hit warp drive (sorry) for JJ Abrams‘ big-screen Star Trek, which is now only a few short weeks away. For a little Friday fun, I thought I’d point out some Trek-related time-wasters to help whittle away those hours until weekend freedom arrives.

First, you’ve got to try this Trek Yourself widget thing where you can make a Human Captain, Human Officer, Vulcan, or Romulan out of yourself. It works surprisingly well, as evidenced by this Vulcan version of yours truly (even though the rules say to avoid facial hair and glasses, it worked anyway). Be sure to click “play.”

Iconfactory has a bunch of wicked cool Star Trek icons, folders, and desktop wallpapers you can download and use on your computer, like these:

AddictingGames.com has launched an online puzzle game called Star Trek Academy Trainer, which offers lots of tests of your reflexes and mental acuity. Here’s an example:

Those of you with an iPhone or iTouch (and oh, how I envy you) can download a fun App called Star Trek Phaser that turns your device into a Star Trek laser gun.

Finally, customize your blog or website with the downloadable materials in this Fan Toolkit.

On newsstands nowish is the May 2009 issue of Wired, which was put together with the help of Guest Editor JJ Abrams. You won’t find any spoilers for Lost, but you will find plenty of teasers and cheeky references to all of Abrams’ works, including our favorite island-based show, Alias, Fringe, Cloverfield, and of course, Star Trek. The issue is chocked full of the kinds of stuff that Lost fans and Abrams fans go ga-ga over (there are even hidden easter eggs in the issue), and I highly recommend picking it up.

Probably the best part of the issue is the cover story (which the Wired folks have been kind enough to post online in its entirety), written entirely by Abrams himself, in which he talks about the power of mystery, and how the Internet Age has all but destroyed the wonder of discovery. From Abrams’ essay:

People often ask me how Lost is going to end… I always wonder, do they really want to know? And what if I did tell them? They might have an aha moment, but without context… The experience — the setup for a joke’s punch line, the buildup to a magic trick’s big flourish — is as much of a thrill as the result. There’s discovery to be made and wonder to be had on the journey that not only enrich the ending, but in many ways define it.

I also like this bit, regarding the evils of spoilers:

The real damage isn’t so much that the secret gets out. It’s that the experience is destroyed. The illusion is diminished. Which may not matter to some. But then what’s the point of actually seeing that movie or episode? How does knowing the twist before you walk into the theater — or what that island is really about before you watch the finale — make for a richer viewing experience? It’s telling that the very term itself — spoiler — has become synonymous with “cool info you can get before the other guy.” What no one remembers is that it literally means “to damage irreparably; to ruin.”

Hit the link for the full article, or pick up the issue to get all of the Abramsy goodness. But be warned: there’s some NSFW language in that article (and in fact, the whole issue). Here’s a video from Wired.com that features Abrams and a couple of the mag’s editors discussing the May issue.

Image: Copyright 2009 ©Conde Nast Publications.

Fringe is back this week after Fox put it on hiatus to make way for the juggernaut that is American Idol. Fringe is co-created by Lost’s co-creator JJ Abrams, and his Star Trek writers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. Abrams and his partners have promised some big answers in the remaining episodes of this first season of the show, and anyone who’s been watching knows that the stakes have gradually raised higher and higher as the season has gone on. Look for the various threads of the show to start coming together soon, starting with Tuesday night’s episode, titled “Inner Child.” Here’s what Fox has to say about the episode:

“Inner Child”

Just seconds before a building is demolished, a mysterious mute child that has been living alone underground is discovered. When the FBI’s Fringe Division investigates, the boy forms an unspoken connection with Agent Olivia Dunham. Meanwhile, an especially gruesome serial killer resurfaces and showcases his “artistry” by displaying his work publicly. As the boy gradually assimilates into a new environment, Olivia and the team must race against the clock to prevent the mad man from further macabre.

Fringe airs Tuesdays at 9:00pm EST/PST.

Image: ©2009 Fox Broadcasting Co.

Lost creators JJ Abrams and Damon Lindelof have already signed on to produce the next installment of Star Trek, and the first movie hasn’t even released yet. (It beams into theaters May 8th.) The film seems like a sure-fire hit, having mega-buzz off the charts, even among non-Trekkies. Star Trek writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman will write the script alongside Lindelof. Abrams has not yet signed on to direct again, but he has the option.

Lindelof remained mum on what direction the story might take, saying only that they intend to take their cues from the fans’ reaction to the first movie, and that they will “be ambitious” about the next film’s scope.

Image: Copyright 2009 ©Paramount Pictures.

The final theatrical poster for Star Trek (which is produced by Lost creators JJ Abrams and Damon Lindelof, and directed by Abrams, in case you’re looking for the Lost connection) has been revealed, and I’d call it a study in “geeky minimalism.” Like everything else I’ve seen regarding the Star Trek promotional campaign, I think it strikes just the right note. What do you think?

Image: Copyright 2009 ©Paramount Pictures.

Lost co-creator JJ Abrams is launching his mega-budget big screen reboot of the science fiction classic Star Trek in May, and it looks killer. Even non-Trekkers should dig it. Don’t believe me? Check out the final, full-length trailer for the film right here…

It’s been called the greatest graphic novel of all time — a comic book of literary proportions. And Lost creators Damon Lindelof and JJ Abrams have cited it repeatedly as a major influence for both of them. That alone should make the movie adaptation, which releases to theaters today, of direct interest to any Lost enthusiast who regards themselves above the “casual fan” variety.

But what is Watchmen, exactly? It’s not easy to describe. When it was first released in the 1980s, it was like nothing fans of superhero stories had ever seen before. It dared to take the traditional idea of superheroes and superimpose them into the real world, giving them flaws, unlikeable traits, and even psychoses.

Intrigued? After the jump, I’ve got a full breakdown for you of the storyline, the characters, and I’m throwing in the film’s trailer for good measure.

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Here’s the Star Trek TV ad that aired during the Super Bowl. Star Trek, as if you didn’t know, is the upcoming reboot of the scifi franchise, produced by Lost’s Damon Lindelof, and directed by JJ Abrams.