An Update on the Jack business. This is from buddytv. It's not confirmed, but here's what they have to say. It's semi spoilerish,, so just to be safe....
Spoiler:
1) Despite wide-spread rumors, Matthew Fox's character, Jack, will not be shot by Juliet when LOST returns on February 7th. In-fact, Juliet will shoot Pickett who is on the verge of killing Sawyer, leaving herself in a precarious position with the others.
2) This isn't necessarily good news Jack fans, however. Fox is already state-side and is going to hosting Saturday Night Live in December. All that time off the island can only mean one thing: he's not filming LOST. Sources close to the set insist that Fox is not part of the reunion that takes place in episode eight...
3) Sawyer, and Kate, return the beach at the end of the episode.
4) Episode nine is the final update on Jack's status. He stayed behind to repair Ben, but will he now get off the island as he was promised or not?