PERHAPS you’ve heard by now: Next winter, ABC’s “Lost” will begin airing its final episodes, bringing to a crescendo six seasons of mind-blowing, spellbinding, time-tripping shenanigans.

But PBS really put the screws to me, held me to every last episode, and I won’t lie: I got through it on bourbon and coke, and I don’t mean cola. So where’s Barney been? Well, rehab.

This week's episode brings a long-awaited reunion ... audiences generally associate with the meeting of a long-lost father. For Barney, the question at hand doesn't seem to be why his dad left ...