EVOLUTION OF AN IDEA

It’s long been said that there are no new ideas in Hollywood. But we have to admit that there have been some pretty good new incarnations of the old ones.

Patrick Day

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“LOST” -- Premise:

Strangers are brought against their will to a mysterious island paradise where their greatest desire is to go home.

“FANTASY ISLAND” -- Premise:

Strangers pay an exorbitant price to be brought to a mysterious island paradise where their greatest desires are made real.

“THE PRISONER” -- Premise:

A recently resigned government agent plans to retire to an island paradise, but instead ends up in a mysterious resort village where he refuses to reveal his greatest desires, despite heavy prompting.

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“LOST” -- Recurring wierdness:

A killer cloud of black smoke, a dangerous and possibly supernatural group known only as the Others.

“FANTASY ISLAND” -- Recurring wierdness:

Diminutive Herve Villechaize in a white suit screaming, “De plane! De plane!” Mr. Roarke’s (Ricardo Montalban) omniscient powers.

“THE PRISONER” -- Recurring weirdness:

A killer ball of white plastic, a diminutive butler in a black suit, a dangerous and constantly re-cast nemesis known only as Number 2.

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“LOST” -- Debate:

Is the island really Purgatory? Are the Others aliens?

“FANTASY ISLAND” -- Debate:

Is Mr. Roarke really God?

“THE PRISONER” -- Debate:

Did Number 6 really escape the Village?

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“LOST” -- Period cheese factor:

Too soon to tell, but Hurley’s “Dude”-speak and Charlie’s rocker image are good candidates.

“FANTASY ISLAND” -- Period cheese factor:

White suits and guest stars Rich Little, Cyd Charisse, Bob Denver, Robert Goulet and Charo.

“THE PRISONER” - Period cheese factor:

Psychedelia galore, the Beatles’ “All You Need Is Love” played over a machine-gun battle.