Getting people to talk is a snap. Getting them to share is an art. Having a purple couch helps.

That's what local filmmakers Cheryl and Michael Johnson discovered when they plopped a purple couch in the middle of public streets, squares and parks (including Balboa Park) and invited people to sit down and share their stories. And once they settled into those plush cushions, the interviewees spilled the beans in many colorful ways.

Love. Loss. Birth. Death. Life's big topics (and plenty of small ones) all had their day on the couch, and you can see the results when the Johnsons' documentary “Purple Couch” airs tonight at 9 on KPBS/Channel 15 (Cable 11). Make yourself at home. Everyone else did.

– KARLA PETERSON

'Lost' will return to Wednesdays

ABC will premiere season five of its serialized drama “Lost” Jan. 21, according to the network.

ABC will air a clip show at 8 p.m., followed by the first and second episodes of the new season at 9 and 10 p.m. respectively.

The series will return to its normal 9 p.m. Wednesday slot the following week.

Season four of “Lost” was scheduled on Thursday's at 9 p.m., but the new season will return the series to Wednesdays, where it made its debut on the network.

ABC had scheduled “Private Practice” in the Wednesday slot and will announce its new time slot later this week.

Olbermann renews MSNBC contract

MSNBC has voted for four more years of Keith Olbermann and the top-rated “Countdown With Keith Olbermann,” it was announced yesterday by MSNBC president Phil Griffin.

The new four-year agreement calls for Olbermann to continue as host of “Countdown”; additionally, Olbermann will play a prominent role in MSNBC's coverage of all major news events. He'll also continue to co-host NBC's “Football Night in America.”

– COMPILED BY PAT MCGRATH FROM NEWS SERVICE REPORTS