SPOILERS!!!

Latest from TV Guide's Ausiello:

Question: What does the strike mean for Lost? Any idea how many episodes they finished pre-strike? Is it still scheduled to air some time in February? — Mike
Ausiello: Why do I suddenly feel as if I'm talking to myself, Mike? Why do I also suddenly feel like I'm not going to like what I have to say? At least I know the answer to that second part — it's because I don't like what I have to say. If the strike extends into the new year, there is a chance ABC may opt to hold the eight completed episodes until 2009 (that's not a typo). Under that scenario, Lost would have 24 original episodes (eight from this season, 16 from next) that could run uninterrupted from January until May — much like a certain Fox drama that features a ticking clock.

Says Lost cocreator Carlton Cuse, "Damon [Lindelof] and my concern about running the [eight] episodes we will have made is that it will feel a little like reading half a Harry Potter novel, then having to put it down. There is a mini cliff-hanger at the end of Episode 8, but it's like the end of an exciting book chapter; it's not the end of the novel. Damon and I didn't write [the ending of Episode 8] differently [with the looming strike in mind]. We wrote it to be the ending of Episode 8." In any case, he concedes that the decision to hold or air the episodes isn't ultimately theirs. "It's really [ABC honcho Steve MacPherson's] call," Cuse notes, adding, "No one was happy with the six-episode run last season."

Question: Now that the writers are on strike, whatever will I do to get Lost scoop? — Maribeth
Ausiello: You can ask, for starters. Have I ever let you down? Whenever the current eight episodes air, keep an eye out toward the end of the run for Zoe Bell, whom Carlton Cuse calls "the stuntwoman extraordinaire, from the Tarantino flicks [Kill Bill: Volume 1 and Grindhouse. She definitely will make a splash."

Question: Now that the writers are striking, we may be on limited scoop time. Doesn't that make you want to give us some Heroes scoop? — Sue
Ausiello: Actually, it makes me want to double my Prozac dosage. But giving you Heroes scoop comes in a very close second — and the scoop I'm about to give you is good. I'm hearing from multiple very reliable sources that when (and if) Heroes kicks off the second half of its season, it'll look very different from what was initially planned. Let's just say the complaints from fans and critics about the overabundance of new characters and weak overarching story have not fallen on deaf ears, and that changes are being made to return the show to its winning Season 1 formula. In related news, this would be even more exciting if there wasn't a friggin' strike going on!

Question: I am beyond thrilled about the new Joss Whedon and Eliza Dushku project! You should get a bonus for that kind of scoop. — Beth
Ausiello: I couldn't agree with you more. And I haven't even told you yet what Joss told me about Eliza's leading man. Yep, a male character will be involved with her Echo alter ego, but, Whedon noted, "not in a buddy way. Their relationship will take some time to come together and will be constantly evolving." If you're thinking Buffy and Angel, Part Deux, think again. "Echo is not capable of having a true love," he insists, since she becomes someone new, body and soul, every week. On the other hand, he contradicts, because of that, in a way, "She'll have a true love every week. It's part of her plight that when she feels something strongly, it gets taken away from her. And the person she's closest to in the show, her relationship with him will not in any way be simple. Nobody in this piece comes away clean." Man, I'm confused already — and I love it!

Question: Could I please have some Buffy scoop? A girl can dream, can't she? — Jenni
Ausiello: Yes, a girl can dream. Hopefully, a girl can also push play on our video player, 'cause the latest episode of the Ausiello Report vodcast contains an answer to a question I know has been on the minds of Whedonverse disciples since last Wednesday: Might a Buffy alum, like, say, oh, James Marsters, be in contention to play Dollhouse's male lead? What are you waiting for — push play!

Question: What's the deal with the new character Molly on Prison Break? Who will be playing that role? — Jo
Ausiello: Molly's arrival has been delayed a bit, and for once the strike is not to blame. Well, not entirely. Producers are apparently having a tough time finding the right actress for the part.

Question: Thank god Michael finally found out about Sara on Prison Break. Got any scoop? — Don
Ausiello: Naturally, while I had Paul Adelstein on the horn, I asked him for his thoughts on Sara's controversial head removal. "I actually knew the head in the box was coming, and it was very upsetting," he admitted. "I still found it shocking, even though I knew it was coming…. It was upsetting as a fan of the show to see the character go that way."

Question: Got any details about a possible appearance by Jason Voorhees on Supernatural this season? — Victor
Ausiello: Yes, and they're all contained in this week's Ausiello Report vodcast!