"LOST" Gets 5 Extra Post-Strike Episodes (UPDATED)
ABC's hit mystery drama "Lost" which has bounced back in the ratings this winter averaging over 15 million viewers on Thursdays at 9/8c could get as many as 5 extra episodes this spring, in addition to the 8 already produced. UPDATE: Scroll down to the bottom of the post for the latest developments.
According to a groundbreaking agreement between the network and the producers from 2007, the show was set to end in 2010 after 3 abbreviated seasons of 16 episodes which were all scheduled to run from February through May of each year.
But the writers' strike hampered those plans shutting down the Hawaii-based production after only 8 episodes. The network went ahead with the airplay schedule despite the shutdown with the last of the 8 episodes scheduled for March 20.
According to executive producer Carlton Cuse, the cast and crew will try to make five more episodes. Cuse says writers will "accelerate our storytelling" to get to the end point they had already mapped out for this season.
"It's a little bit like driving cross country to Boston. If the goal is to get there two days earlier, we will have to take more interstates and fewer rural byways," Cuse says to USA Today.
The remaining 3 episodes are then expected to be rolled into the next season.
It is however not yet clear how these episodes will be scheduled. The first concern is whether the first of them would be ready for March 27 to ensure the season progresses uninterrupted.
The second concern is whether the show would remain in the timeslot which belongs to ABC's second highest rated drama "Grey's Anatomy." The medical series is expected to be back with 4-7 new episodes this spring.
There are only 9 Thursdays left till the end of the season beyond March 20. Would "Lost" and "Grey's Anatomy" share the timeslot, with the former getting 5 and the latter just 4 new episodes?
Will "Lost" move to 10:00pm to make way for more than 4 new episodes of "Grey's Anatomy"? Or would ABC even extend the season into June to get all of these episodes on the air in the same timeslot?
Just some of the questions for ABC management to ponder as TV production gets back into high gear.
UPDATE: Carlton Cuse has just revealed to TV Guide the 5 extra episodes will not be ready for March 27. In fact, there will be at least a month-long gap between them.
"Lost" is too complex and elaborate of a production to simply churn out 5 new episodes from scratch by early April.
Some of the guest stars may also not be available at this time. The producers are currently trying to figure out how to get out of the mess created by the strike.
As for the 3 episodes, they may air next season or later in the series, but a total of 40 additional episodes beyond the 8 filmed before the strike will definitely air.
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posted by Justin Van De Kamp at
7:00 AM
7 Comments:
I say move the show to 8PM, lol. Well, this isnt so bad. 19 eps. next season, and at least 5 more this season, that's not so bad. I like the idea. As long as we get more.
I think they take a big risk if they move Lost when they've got momentum going. Grey's, for all it's big ratings, hasn't been on for a while and it's likely it won't do as well as it did before the strike. So why take the chance and risk the ratings of both shows?
I say try to get the last 5 episodes done for March 27, then air GA after, during May sweeps.
By the way Justin, is it for sure that we won't lose those three episodes? I'm confused, I've heard contradictory reports that say that we will lose them and others saying they will be rolled in to next season, so does that mean 19 episodes? I hope we don't lose those three episodes...
Great, so TV will still get boring. WAH! This is all we needed. -_-
Roland,
I'm not Justin, obviously, but from my understanding, the storyline this season will be tightened up, while next season's arc may be stretched to fit 19 episodes. In other words, total number of the remaining episodes won't change (so we won't lose anything), but their content may be altered.
Thanks Radek and Justin.
Well that sucks about the month long hiatus, I wonder if it would just be better for them to film the 8 episodes and hold it off for the fall. Either way it'll seem like a "minipod" that we got last season, which could be dangerous. Alternatively, air the 8 episodes as close to Christmas as possible, take two weeks off for the holidays and come back in January, it wouldn't seem like such a break if they did that.
So how likely is this Actor's Strike Justin? Is it just possible, is it likely, very likely, all but definite?
Well, I hear Hollywood's top movie stars are putting pressure on SAG to begin talks with AMPTP early. I think everyone's so happy to be getting back to work that they'll do their best to avoid another strike. So, I wouldn't say the actors' strike is very likely at this point. But I guess everyone is being cautious.
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