Two quick DVR questions for you, DR Matt H.:
1] If a show goes over the normally allotted time [either on purpose, or if it's an awards show like the Oscars, or a PBS pledge-a-thon, for example], does the DVR know to record longer?
2] If you've selected to record a whole season of a show, does the DVR know to record "special" episodes, like the LOST recap from the other night, for example?
Thanks! 
From what I gather, the guides that are fed to the cable company update their information every few days, so, for example, my DVR knew to go two minutes over the hour last night to record HEROES. However, with award shows, I always tell it to record the show right after it as well since they are unpredictable. I always do that for the TOnys since they are usually good about finishing on time but occasionally will slip over for a couple of minutes.
The networks tell the cable companies how long their episodes are going to last (GREY'S ANTOMY being 75 minutes last week. I didn't record it since I was watching "live," but I saw in the guide that ABC had already furnished that information.)
As for your second question, I think that LOST show would have had to be recorded separately since it was a special and not part of the weekly series. I'm not sure about that, mind you, but I'm thinking on a different day, an odd start time, etc. meant it would have needed to be programmed separately.