3 posts tagged “lost”

LOS ANGELES - ABC is attempting to rescue once-hot "Lost" by ending the show — in 2010. Bowing to the fact that convention isn't working for the drama about plane-crash survivors on a surreal island, the network is taking the unusual step of turning "Lost" into a limited-run series.

It will run for three shorter and uninterrupted seasons until its "highly anticipated and shocking finale" in the 2009-10 season, ABC said Monday.

The series, which saw its ratings drop this season amid complaints about scheduling, an increasingly meandering plot and unpopular new characters, still must prove itself to disenchanted viewers to survive. 

Josh Holloway

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"Due to the unique nature of the series, we knew it would require an end date to keep the integrity and strength of the show consistent throughout and to give the audience the payoff they deserve," ABC Entertainment President Stephen McPherson said in a statement.

Typically, networks milk a series until it runs dry of ratings and then drop the ax.

Last January, "Lost" producers said they were talking with the network about setting an end date.

Executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse have agreed to remain with the show, now in its third season, through the end, ABC said. Lindelof created the show with J.J. Abrams and Jeffrey Lieber.

"We always envisioned `Lost' as a show with a beginning, middle and end," Lindelof and Cuse said in a statement. "By officially announcing exactly when that ending will be, the audience will now have the security of knowing that the story will play out as we've intended."

A total of 48 episodes will air over the next three seasons, with 16 episodes running without a break each season in the style of Fox's "24." That will take care of viewer complaints about reruns that left them dangling.

ABC's effort to make this a two-part season for "Lost" by pausing midway to make room for another show, the quickly canceled "Day Break," also proved a flop. Serial dramas with complex plots, like "Lost" or CBS' "Jericho," have found it difficult to regain viewers after a break.

The average number of episodes for a series is 22, which isn't enough to stretch through an entire season without reruns or a hiatus.

"Lost" once drew an impressive 20 million-plus viewers as it helped raise ABC from ratings purgatory, gained cultural-phenomenon status and won the 2005 Emmy for best drama.

But in its third season "Lost" took a nose dive, with recent episodes drawing 12 million or fewer viewers. A time-slot change, to 10 p.m. EDT Wednesday, which put it up against CBS' "CSI: NY," was a factor.

Viewership numbers also don't reflect how many people save the shows on their digital video recorders to watch more than 24 hours later, and "Lost" gains viewers when the DVR audience is taken into account.

[via Yahoo! News]

Hiro fights T-Rex

It's nearly that time of year again where my unapologetic television habit comes to an abrupt end. It's not going to be so painful this time. Last year I enjoyed watching "Invasion", "Threshold" and the ungodly cheesy, albeit fun "Surface". Despite the fact "Invasion" started out slowly, but came to a great crescendo and a stellar season finale, and left me hanging all for nothing! All three shows were not renewed/canceled for the 2007 season. That was a bummer after last year's TV hiatus.  Even the early Fall season's much critialy touted "The Nine", which I couldn't get into, which had the benefit of  following "Lost", couldn't make a go of it.  It seems networks aren't willing to build a following  for thinking persons shows and the sci-fi genre is all but dead on the major networks. With the dumbing down of America, is the rise of game shows, reality TV and shows like "American Idol", "The Apprentice" and "Dancing with the Stars". Of course there are a few modern day "Melrose Place" shows like "Grey's Anatomy" and "Desperate Housewives". All are quick ratings hits, as they are truly mindless TV. That's fine, but a little variety and sticktuitiveness for the rest of us would be welcome. Frankly, I don't think "McDreamy" or "McTreemy" are all that and a bag of chips. I'd rather watch Anthony LaPaglia any day, one of my favorite actors who has had many a stand out series canceled before it's time. Come to find out that "Without a Trace" is starting to flag in the Sunday night ratings. Figures.

IMHO, the two best shows on network television are "Heroes" and "Prison Break". I still have been tuning into "Lost", and although it's moving a slightly better pace than in prior years, still fails to move at a pace that reveals enough to keep my frustration level with the show at bay. "24", a perennial favorite in the past has been darn near unwatchable for me. They have forgotten the formula that made the show an exceptional standout. The show has fallen prey to lack of character development, tired plot lines which require one to suspend reality to the point of absurdity, and have not made us care about any of the people in the show as individuals. It's slick Hollywood production and nothing more this season. I say kill Jack and come back next year with a hunt for his killer or end the series gracefully. How many more times can Jack Bauer be beaten, whipped, made to feel cheap, be left for dead and then cling to the bottom of a moving semi for 10 miles at full speed while talking on his cell phone at the same time and we still believe?

Thankfully "Heroes" and "Prison Break" deliver unique story lines (not the same old doctor/hospital or police/crime drama) well paced action, character we care about and that are well developed, intricate multi threaded, believable plots. It's reminiscent of the great Charles Dickens who mastered the art of intricate, interesting and suspenseful story telling, like his masterpiece, "Bleak House". (If you didn't see the PBS rendition of this classic with Gillian Anderson, I suggest it's not to be missed.) Both shows are well cast and there is lots of eye candy. I'll be glued to this season's last 5 episodes of "Heroes" which resumes after a long hiatus April 23rd. They've saved the cheerleader, now it's time to save the world...

PS. It looks like it's going to be a while before any of us X-philers get a File fix. The lawsuit between Chris Carter and Fox over syndication profits has finally settled and he is at work on a script, which will be a stand alone episode not related to the unfinished series business regarding the ongoing alien conspiracy (details). Potential release date for the movie? Don't hold your breath...2012. Gee, I could be dead from the effects of global warming by then!