Imagine a black television screen. Ominous music plays in the background. Then, like a memory that has been lost in the cobwebs of your mind, letters begins to appear. It takes a few seconds but the word LOST becomes very clear.

Cut to the interior of what appears to be a fancy Los Angeles hotel. All that can be seen are a pair of feet running in expensive shoes. Except for the sound of the shoes hitting the carpet, there is silence. Slowly a rumble begins to build. The rumble turns into shouts.

The next scene shows Stephen McPherson, President of ABC Entertainment. He is trying to stay ahead of a mob of television critics. They are out for blood because it appears McPherson has more interest in comic book fans that the critics.

Welcome to "Lost: The Televison Critics Association Tour."

During a question-and-answer session with McPherson, the ABC boss is asked about reports that a major announcement will be made at the San Diego Comic Con on Thursday. That announcement has to do with ABC's ratings hit "Lost."

McPherson dodges the first questions. He has not been stranded on this island of interviews as long as the critics. He still has enough energy to dance around the barrage of questions as to why any important TV annoucement would not be made to a room full of TV critics.

He bobs and weaves. Then McPherson tries to deflect the questions with humor. First he jokes that a road trip to Comic Con is the solution. Then he quips that the big annoucement will be that Don Imus has been added to the cast. Both attempts fail to amuse.

The pressure continues. McPherson tries the Alternate Story Gambit. He confirms Dana Delany and Nathan Fillion will join the cast of "Desperate Housewives" next season. He even resorts to a discussion of why the first episode of "Cavemen" shown to the critics will be changed to make it more creative. Good luck with that.

Nothing works.

Finally, McPherson is told that he can make the anoucement. The critics wait for what has to be the spoiler or all spoilers. Maybe he is going to talk about a rescue. He might have a clue about whether next year's show will be set in the future or in the present.

Finally, he speaks.

"Harold Perrineau is returning to the show," McPherson says.

That's it? The guy who played Michael in 47 episodes will be back. That's it?! There hasn't been a President avoid so many questions about one topic since President Bill Clinton. McPherson could have saved the information until Comic Con.