The Safe House - Expositions

It's been nearly 100 freakin' days since the last new episode of Alias. And somehow, this raging addict has managed to go on living. Miracles do happen, my friends. Testify.

Thankfully, a few members of Team Alias showed up at the recent San Diego Comic-Con (the largest convention in the world dedicated to comic books, animation and sci-fi) to give their starving fans a little fix. In attendance were Alias creator (and my favorite Hollywood honcho) J.J. Abrams, Kevin Weisman (SD-6 techie Marshall Flinkman), Jesse Alexander (supervising producer) and Brian Burk (an associate producer--look out, ladies--after whom the Felicity character Richard was modeled).

J.J. met with fans and offered some insider info. Sorry, can't give anything too spoilery, however. We'll save that for Monday's chat.

Sydmom (Lena Olin) has more than a few tricks up her sleeve, according to J.J. "She affects the whole world of the show," J.J. said, "specifically Sydney and Vaughn." The season will delve into some pretty dark secrets about Sydmom and Jack.

We'll also see "the key" to Sloane (Ron Rifkin) this season and learn why he has such paternal feelings toward Sydney (Jennifer Garner). This will become a much deeper story through the year and involves the motivations behind SD-6. J.J. explained that Sloane was much more Syd's father than Jack (Victor Garber) over the last seven years . He also started to reveal a storyline in which "Sloane almost sees Syd in this one thing..." but decided not to go further. Sounds juicy.

Overall, the new season will be "more clear," according to J.J., and the endings "more satisfying." The cliffhangers will be more than just physical this time around. And last but certainly not least: We'll see much more of Marshall this season.

After meeting Kevin Weisman in person, I gotta say, I'm a big fan. (And not only because he wrangled a cool Alias candle for me from the ABC party last month, which looks dashing on my Vartanwich shrine.)

During the panel session in San Diego, he deadpanned, "I have to say, I'm a little smoother with the ladies in my real life." Then, after everyone burst out laughing, he added, "Or, um, maybe not. I guess we all have a little Marhsall in our lives."

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