TV chiefs discuss end date for island drama Lost

Makers of the tropical island drama Lost say they are talking with ABC executives about setting an end date for the series.

There is no sense the finale is coming any time soon but knowing they have a deadline will help writers of the convoluted drama lay out how they want the story to end, producers say.

“Once we figure out when that will be, a lot of the questions will go away,” said Carlton Cuse, an executive producer. Lost is in its third season.

The producers, citing rival Fox’s The X-Files, said they did not want to wear out their welcome. “That was a great show that probably ran two seasons too long,” Cuse said. “That is a cautionary tale for us.”

Lost is due back on ABC’s schedule next month following an extended hiatus after the season’s first six episodes and will air uninterrupted through May.

The schedule was a direct result of fans’ complaints about reruns disrupting their concentration in past seasons, producers said.

It is likely next year that all 22 episodes will run consecutively, much like Fox is doing with TV hit series 24.

ABC Entertainment president Stephen McPherson said he thought the first six episodes this season concentrated too heavily on the stories of Jack, Kate and Sawyer at the expense of other members of the large cast.

The producers said that would be rectified right away for the season’s second half as Lost goes back to the beach.

Lost has seen a 14% drop in its audience this year, according to Nielsen Media Research, but producers say the numbers are deceptive because of a comparison with the second season, when Lost was a cultural sensation.