In an alternative universe, my doppleganger has a job as an accoutant

Apparently, alternative universes are in, at least at Bad Robt. First, the latest "Star Trek" uses it as a way to reboot the franchise. On Tuesday, "Lost" split the storyline in two -- featuring the familiar Losties still stuck on the island and alternative versions who land in LAX in 2004 after their plane doesn't crash.

It's pretty familiar territory to anyone consumes a fair amount of science fiction. If a rock-stupid show like "Primeval" can use it as its foundation, then it's probably something that audiences have a passing familiarity with by this time. Still, it's a bit of a shock when it comes out so clearly on mainstream TV.

There were nice touches in both to show us the differences between the worlds (something easy to bring out in a visual medium, where you don't have to draw attention to the changes), from Jack only taking one bottle of vodka on the plane as opposed to the two he did originally, or the alternative spelling of "Manhatan' on the opening graphic on "Fringe. Despite some odd mcguffins on the later (the science is usually there to just be "mad" as opposed to actually, you know, logical) both ended up being powerful evenings because they hint at the choices that can change our lives.

When you get to the bottom of it, what alternative realities show us is that our actions can have multiple consequences, and can than spell those out in dramatic form. They also show us the unintended ramifications of a single choice. Jack wanted to set everything right with his plan to set off a bomb at the end of the last season, but instead of making it all right, he split the realities -- in the past, the characters are just as muddled as they've always been; while in the present, Juliet is dead and Sayid is gravely injured. On "Fringe," Walter nabbed alterna-Peter as a replacement for his own dead son in the past. This not only opened the door between the universes -- a door that seems to be weakening both at present -- but also was likely a cornerstone of his future madness. (The irony of stealing a replacement for his son, only to be estranged from him for decades cannot be lost here.)