As a devoted fan of Lost who watched every single episode multiple times (and yes, I even remember the Hot Pocket scene), I can wholeheartedly say that the attention to detail in this series was nothing short of extraordinary. The writers, directors, editors, and sound designers all worked tirelessly to create a world so immersive and authentic that we viewers felt like castaways ourselves.
On the TV show Lost, it was always a nice change to escape the chaos and mythology. This became especially important by season five, as viewers had to not only deal with the madness but also remember where each character was, when, how, and why – along with who they were (since any character could be dead, possessed, or hallucinating). In episode two of its fifth year, Lost provided a brief moment of humor when Hurley threw a just-heated Hot Pocket at Ben Linus but missed badly.
Back in 2009, live-capturing TV moments as screenshots or GIFs wasn’t common practice on platforms like Twitter, so the scene didn’t instantly gain viral popularity. However, dedicated fan sites for the show Lost were thrilled by it. As one commenter from Television Without Pity put it, “Amidst all the show’s craziness, I can’t help but focus on the ‘hot pocket’, laughing.
In a clever touch, the marketing team behind the show recognized the unique charm of an apparently ordinary scene – the first season-five DVD menu features a snapshot of Hurley heating up a Hot Pocket in the microwave. If you linger on that screen for a while, Hurley returns to grab his snack.
But while that savory, sauce-filled pastry splattering against a kitchen wall holds a special place in the hearts of many fans, the cast and crew had no idea the random gag would have such staying power. When Vulture tracked down several of the people responsible for Hurley’s inept Hot Pocket defense — co-writers Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz, director Jack Bender, editor Mark Goldman, sound designer Paula Fairfield, and Hugo “Hurley” Reyes himself, Jorge Garcia — they had, at best, fuzzy-yet-fond memories of its creation and filming.
In simpler terms, Kitsis remembers saying, “‘It seems like they mixed up the authors; Hurley has never thrown a Hot Pocket,'” to which Adam replied, “Yes, we did, and it was actually your idea.
Deep in the Mythology
To start off, let’s take a moment to recap the events of the second hour of the season premiere, titled “The Lie.” At this stage in the series, the island survivors are being forced through time for reasons that are too complex to summarize now (we’re delving deep into mythology, as Garcia puts it). Meanwhile, off the island in 2007, the Oceanic Six – Hurley, Jack, Kate, Sayid, Sun, and Aaron (Claire’s baby who returned to the mainland at the end of last season) – are concocting a false survival story to hide the true location of the island from their adversary Charles Widmore and his associates. This is merely the foundation for this episode, which primarily focuses on Hurley and his challenges in upholding the title lie.
In his mansion, Hurley is enjoying some solitude when suddenly, Ben Linus, who unbeknownst to Hurley, has allied with Jack and the Oceanic Six for reasons unknown to us, appears from behind. Catching Hurley off guard, Ben’s entry causes him to accidentally fling his eagerly awaited snack at the trespasser. As is often the case in ‘Lost’, the significance of the Hot Pocket transcended its immediate impact.
Previously in Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz’s script, a particular snack represented Hurley’s connection to his mother. As Kitsis explains, they chose something that would remind viewers of Hurley’s childhood with his mom, like when he’d return from school and she’d make him a Hot Pocket for lunch. Each character influenced the mood of their own episode, and Hurley’s episodes were most effective when they blended humor and intense emotion. At the time, Kitsis and Horowitz found the name ‘Hot Pocket’ amusing – it was an inside joke that fit perfectly with the emotional context.
In the revised version, the link between the Hot Pocket and Hurley’s mother was removed, but they found a suitable moment to use it as a humorous response when Hurley needed to react to Ben’s unexpected appearance. Horowitz explains that Hurley is a character who would never intentionally harm anyone, even if he struck Ben, it wouldn’t have hurt him. The challenge was in finding the right balance – making it funny without veering into the excessively absurd.
Hot Pockets offer a nostalgic and versatile appeal compared to regular frozen burritos. They remind us of childhood sleepovers and can be enjoyed as a favorite comfort food even during adulthood and beyond, making them a convenient all-in-one snack solution.
“I Didn’t Really Have Hot Pocket Experience”
On Zoom, director Jack Bender revisits the scene on YouTube to jog his memory. “Ah, there’s the Hot Pocket!” he exclaims. “What makes this fantastic is the contrast of using a Hot Pocket as a weapon – it’s quite reminiscent of ‘Lost’. Despite our efforts to delve deep emotionally, suspensefully, and philosophically, we never forgot to inject some offbeat humor. And indeed, Hurley would have been the one to use a Hot Pocket as a weapon.
Bender quickly decides to introduce the upcoming scene – where Jack resuscitates Sayid after he’s been hit with a sedative dart – by transitioning to a close-up perspective from within the microwave. “You see, it’s not revolutionary filmmaking. I’ve seen other directors shoot inside refrigerators before. But I wanted a broader viewpoint, to catch a glimpse of that ordinary Hot Pocket spinning around, and then see Hurley’s face appear because I knew that would make a striking opening.
To achieve this effect, the prop team detached the back of an operational microwave along with its heating component, enabling the camera to pass through while the carousel and other electrical components continued to operate as usual. Bender comments, “It glows just like it normally would, making the scene even more absurd.” We ensured that it wouldn’t produce a scalding Hot Pocket.
On that particular day of filming, Bender and Garcia recalled it was filled with positivity and levity – not just because Garcia got to don his everyday attire instead of island garb. In fact, a faux pastry crafted by prop master Rob Kyker became the source of numerous takes, with frequent breaks to clean sauce from surfaces or where the Pocket would land whenever Garcia missed his mark.
According to Garcia, it was quite amusing to toss around that rubber Hot Pocket. He admitted he did it frequently. Fake food is simply intriguing to handle and play with, he added. Although he hadn’t actually handled a real Hot Pocket before, its weight seemed satisfactory. It also had a bit of bounce, which made guessing where it would land after hitting the wall quite entertaining. He enjoyed trying to get just the right aim when he threw it; the larger the smear on impact, the more proud he felt – “That’s the one!” He found the whole experience fun.
In the TV series “Lost”, using a Hot Pocket as Hurley’s weapon presented an issue: Since no product-placement deal was established, the show couldn’t explicitly reference its brand name. A memorable line, where Ben comments “That’s just a waste of a Hot Pocket” after it slides down the wall, was intended to be a humorous moment by the writers. However, this line had to be removed during editing because it essentially promoted the product for free.
Following the unexpected moment, Emerson’s unsettling, unyielding stare creates a shift in mood from lighthearted amusement to nail-biting tension. However, it’s not just the acting that keeps viewers on edge; much credit for maintaining this unease is owed to the smart pacing and editing choices made by editor Mark Goldman.
In simpler terms, “Since this scene belongs to Hurley, by maintaining straightforward editing and using camera angles that follow him, it gives off a homely vibe. However, when Ben appears, it disrupts this assumption.” He adds, “If we had emphasized it as a scary moment with spooky music like ‘dun dun dun,’ the humor associated with the Hot Pocket would have been diminished. I strongly believe that a show keeps viewers hooked when the mood changes, and Michael is so captivating that immediately switching to a medium-close shot of him alters the tone. He’s the epitome of calmness, while Hurley is all excitement throwing Hot Pockets.
Very Great Drama
In the microwave-to-countertop scene, things play out in a way that seems genuine, providing a sense of comfort due to its relatability. On the TV show Lost, every aspect – from scripting to acting, editing to visuals, and sound design – was crafted with an aim to create a realistic experience for viewers, encouraging them to imagine themselves in the shoes, or lack thereof, of the castaways.
In a natural and easy-to-read manner: “Bender expresses, ‘The show is about ordinary individuals grappling with bewilderment, anxiety, and the questions – Where are we? How did we end up here? There are monsters after us!’ Our aim was to keep it authentic, ensuring that even when things get absurd, viewers can empathize and invest in the story.
In this scenario, you’re asked to imagine how you would respond if you were in Hurley’s shoes, and this mental exercise is only happening because the minor aspects align. For Paula Fairfield, responsible for the episode’s sound design, it was crucial to make the sounds of the Pocket cooking seem authentic to our ears. This was essential because if the pastry sounded like it was being cooked over coals, the viewer might focus on that inconsistency and overlook the action happening simultaneously.
She explains, “Make it sound like this: ‘Sizzle softly, then a subtle ding, open and close the door quietly, followed by a muted impact – that’s the key. I believe I captured the ding, but the other elements were already in my sound collection. The sizzle was a mild bacon sizzle. When the Hot Pocket hits the wall, there should be a slight slap, dampened, with a bit of crunch and weight to it. It shouldn’t sound too harsh. Overdoing it might disrupt the viewer’s immersion.
As a movie enthusiast, I can’t help but recall a scene that left quite an impact when it first aired and continues to resonate even today. It’s the one where people still talk about it on Twitter and Reddit threads. You know the one I’m talking about? The one in that show that won an Emmy for outstanding drama, where a Hot Pocket somehow found its way into a wheelchair-bound character’s path, as if by magic. And guess who’s laughing about it now? Eddie Kitsis himself, he’s the one who said, “We honestly didn’t expect that a simple snack food would share the spotlight with Locke in his wheelchair!
Garcia mentioned, “We were aware of ‘not Penny’s boat’ and ‘The Constant,'” he said. “With such an intense show, the light-hearted moments are greatly valued by viewers. It’s akin to when Hurley created a golf course. People fondly referred to it as the ‘Hurley creates the golf course’ episode. However, I was like, ‘No, that’s not about Hurley; it’s about Sayid being captured and held hostage! I’m the secondary plot!’
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2024-09-11 17:56