ABC to air 'Flash Forward' promos during 'Lost'

By Nellie Andreeva & James Hibberd

ABC is so excited about its new project Flash Forward the network has plans to start marketing the show before its even officially ordered a series.

When viewers tune in for the 100th episode of Lost next week, they will be served an extra dose of mystery. Sources said ABC will launch a stealth promo campaign for Flash during the episode, in which Daniel Faraday (Jeremy Davies) will come clean about what he knows about the island.

While questions from the dense mythology of Lost probably will be answered in the episode, the commercial breaks are sure to raise a host of new ones. Viewers will see perplexing snippets that might direct viewers to a Web site.

The mystery spots will in fact be for Flash. They are said to be part of an elaborate marketing campaign for the drama, which has not been officially picked up but is quietly being positioned on ABC's schedule for next season. ABC has used several online Web sites to promote Lost over the years; sites designed to expand on various aspects of the the show's complex mythology. 

Several summer programs are getting early starts next month as networks jockey to use their in-season momentum to launch post-season programs. But promoting a new show for next season in April -- a program that hasn't even been formerly announced yet -- is extremely unusual.

Fox is making a somewhat similar early move with its musical drama Glee, which will air one episode after American Idol next month before launching the show in the fall. Both Flash and Glee are expected to have marketing campaigns that help ramp up excitement for the projects through the summer.

From the moment in September the Flash spec script by filmmaker David S. Goyer and Star Trek veteran Brannon Braga landed at ABC with a series commitment, the project has been considered a perfect companion for Lost. Yet with Lost airing in midseason, ABC promoting Flash suggests the network may be considering the show for fall rather than trying to air the shows on the same night..

Based on Robert J. Sawyer's sci-fi novel, Flash starring Joseph Fiennes, chronicles the aftermath of a global event in which everyone in the world blacks out for 2 minutes, 17 seconds and has a mysterious vision of the future.