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Sometimes, you have to get what you ask for to realize that you don’t want it. “Lost” (10 p.m., ABC, TV-14) appears to have entered its “answers” phase, and it’s not a pleasant experience.
Last week, we watched Ben’s reaction as his daughter was assassinated before his eyes. We thought for rather painful seconds that Sawyer and Claire were goners. And since they don’t seem to figure in the miserable post-island futures for the Oceanic survivors, we have to assume that their end is just around the corner. Do we really want to see that? I’m not certain that a “Lost” without Sawyer is anything I’d like to watch.
Of course, the questions piled up as well. Ben checks into a Tunisian hotel under an “On the Road” pseudonym, and not, we are told, for the first time. And just how does he control the smoke monster? Is there some kind of valve in the basement? Can we buy it at Home Depot?
Tonight’s “Lost” returns to love-triangle territory as Jack’s failing health inspires collaboration between Juliet and Kate.
Smart shows are all about character development. And while “Lost” piles on the back stories and mysteries behind personalities major and minor, the documentary style of “The Office” (9 p.m., NBC, TV-14) allows viewers to slowly get better acquainted with its characters and their flaws.
Last week’s major revelation involved Ryan’s dangerous dependence on some kind of party drug. It’s hardly surprising that Ryan, the former temp turned corporate wunderkind, would have a dark side.
But the episode was more interesting when it implied that Jim — the series’ dreamboat and most endearing character — becomes decidedly uncomfortable when dealing with a black security guard or Spanish-speaking cleaning staff. He may be cool, but he’s not perfect, and that makes him all the more believable.

southcoasttoday.com

Detroit Police Chief Ella Bully-Cummings lashed out Tuesday at claims by former police Lt. Alvin Bowman that a Detroit cop is responsible for the 2003 shooting death of stripper Tamara Greene.
The chief’s rebuke came as two people close to Greene said she told them shortly before her death that she was about to receive a large sum of money, adding another layer of mystery to her slaying.
At an early evening news conference, with snow swirling around her, Bully-Cummings denounced as “reprehensible” Bowman’s allegations, which he made in a court affidavit that also accused his police bosses of conspiring to derail an investigation into Greene’s death.
“There is no cover-up in this police department into the death of Miss Greene,” Bully-Cummings said, standing on the front steps of police headquarters. “Our officers are doing everything that they can to bring the killer to justice.”
Greene, nicknamed Strawberry, was rumored to have performed at a never-proven party at the Manoogian Mansion in fall 2002. Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has denied that the party occurred, and a state investigation dismissed the rumor — including allegations that the mayor’s wife, Carlita Kilpatrick, assaulted Greene at the party — as urban legend.
Greene’s death also is the subject of a federal lawsuit by her 14-year-old son that accuses city officials of conspiring to derail the homicide investigation.
Bully-Cummings criticized Bowman, who is no longer with the department, for making the allegations in a court filing, rather than coming forward earlier to police with information. She noted that the probe into Greene’s shooting remains open and active.
Bowman has said — and repeated in the court filing Friday — that he tried to move the investigation forward years ago but was thwarted by his superiors. Bully-Cummings became chief in late 2003.
She portrayed that court filing as erroneous — in some cases, recklessly so.

freep.com

Meg Whitman’s 10th Anniversary as CEO of eBay
When Whitman signed on as CEO in 1998, eBay had a staff of 29 and $47.4 million in annual revenue; now it’s at 11,000 and $7 billion plus. But as she marks 10 years of proving there’s a market for fragrantly well-worn size-12 Air Jordans, the "time left" on her tenure is ticking down. Whitman’s impending departure from the top job at eBay is stirring analysts’ hopes that new leadership will bring new growth. After all, as Whitman said herself early in her eBay days, no CEO should serve more than 10 years. –Ellen Gibson
Russian Presidential Election
Mitt Romney must be a bit jealous. In the other big 2008 presidential race, the leader, Dmitry Medvedev, has wealth, corporate bona fides, the blessing of an incumbent that most of the country still likes, and poll numbers around 80%. But the incumbent is Vladimir Putin, who’s expected to become Medvedev’s premier/puppet master and shows every sign of taking the power of the presidency with him. Medvedev, now chair of energy giant Gazprom, says he’ll quit his corporate gig if he wins. His primary goal as president will be to maintain "stability." His chief strategy: "To maintain the capable team of the current president." –Jeff Chu

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And if it wasn’t for her father’s prodding, the diminutive Filipino-American singer with the big voice probably wouldn’t have auditioned a second time for “American Idol” — which means she wouldn’t be standing among the final 12 contestants on the top-rated Fox TV show. She was rejected in the initial stage last year and balked at going back.
“I think she was lacking a bit of that confidence and didn’t want the people close to her expect too much from her,” neighbor Isidra Yokose said Tuesday night at the lobby of Hilton Garden Inn in Miramar, where family and friends have been meeting every week to watch the show, cheer for Malubay — and furiously text in votes on their cell phones, of course.
“She is so incredibly special to us and to the rest of the Filipino community,” added family friend Geny Panaligan-Ke, who organizes the “Watch ‘N Vote 4 Ramiele” gatherings.
“I don’t know where she gets it, but she definitely has the talent, the potential and the confidence to make it,” Yokose said. “We are so proud of her, and we have all the faith in the world that she will make it big.”
Before her good looks, tiny stature — she’s 4-foot-11 — and big voice made her a fan favorite, Malubay worked part-time as a waitress at a sushi restaurant in suburban Fort Lauderdale, where she grew up with her younger sister and her Filipino parents. The family moved to the United States from Saudi Arabia when she was 5.

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