'Lost' Producers Discuss Series' End

disneymac

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http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=247697

Hmm... pretty sure that link isn't going to work - here's the story:


PASADENA, Calif. -- Makers of the tropical island drama "Lost" say they're talking with ABC executives about setting an end date for the series.

There's no sense the finale is coming anytime soon. But knowing they have a deadline will help writers of the convoluted drama lay out how they want the story to end, producers said Sunday in a meeting with TV critics here.

"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 Fox's "The X-Files," said they didn't 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's likely next year that all 22 episodes will run consecutively, much like Fox is doing with "24."

One prominent critic — 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 will be rectified right away for the season's second half as "Lost" goes back to the beach.

"Lost," which is shifting back an hour to 10 p.m. Eastern time, Wednesdays, on ABC's schedule, has seen a 14 percent drop in its audience this year, according to Nielsen Media Research. Producers contend the numbers are deceptive because of a comparison with the second season, when "Lost" was a cultural sensation.

The producers concede that it's a demanding story for viewers to keep up with, and not one that people can join in the middle.

"We want them back," executive producer Damon Lindelof said of the lost fans.

"We really believe in the show and the audience we're getting. But if we write towards getting them back, we may alienate the audience that we already have."

Do you think this means we may actually get some answers?
 
I prefer they end it at x date, rather than drag it on.

I loved the X files but hated it for the last few seasons.
 
I'm a believer that this would have made a GREAT movie!

soo i'm all for an end date, b/c they have too many episodes of fluff!
 
I remember reading a few times that the original "plan" for the show was for a 5 year run but they could possibly stretch it up to about 7 years.
 

I would like to see a end date as well! I cant see them dragging it out for 7 years...YIKES
 
I think if they don't have an end date, they'll keep floundering like they did after the first season (which was great, by the way). Like, did you notice that they introduced the Others like Ana Lucia and the other Others (I can't even remember their names right now :rotfl:) just to kill them off? Like, what was the point of that? :confused3

Anyway, like I said, I think they'll be more focused if they have an end date in sight. I'm glad they realize this too!
 
I really like the show lost and I agree that they need to get back to the island. Just concentrating on the 3 main characters can get kind of boring. Just what else can they do to the main characters?

On a personal note, I used to work with Steve McPherson (ABC guy quoted in the article). I'm really glad he's doing so well. What a super nice person!
 
Having an end date makes sense, especially with a show like this. IIRC, Babylon 5 was made this way; the producer had a plan for a certain number of seasons for the story he wanted to tell. Personally, I always thought they had a plan like this from the start.

7 seasons may or may not be too long, and 5 may be too short (especially if they're making this call in the midst of the 3rd season). 6 may be a good number. Sometimes if a show is on longer than 5-7 years it starts getting a bit old. There are exceptions, though.
 
It's strange because just two weeks ago they were saying how it wasn't their show, that ABC owned it, and that ABC would never let them end it before it wore out.
 
I must say that Im a Lost newbie. Im into early season 2 right now. Im loving it completely. I cry alot when I watch it though. Is that normal? :confused3 I even get a bit spooked when they show a dripping wet Walt whispering whatever. FREAKY :eek:

I would like to think that someday they get off the island or wake up from whatever dream they may be having. The one downside, of course, would mean that I couldnt see 'Sawyer' without a shirt. Love that man.
 
It's strange because just two weeks ago they were saying how it wasn't their show, that ABC owned it, and that ABC would never let them end it before it wore out.

I've heard them say that from pretty early on. I remember reading how when they sat down and mapped out the basics of the show, they figured on about a 5 year arc and when the show got popular they were kinda upset because they knew ABC wouldn't want to let them go at 5 years and force them to drag it on longer than need be.

So I think this was always the plan. . .it's whether or not ABC lets them do their job or not.

Hmm, now that I think about it I wonder if they did that slow half season of Tailies to prove to ABC that it doesn't quite work as well when they drag it out for the sake of dragging it out. :idea:
 
I'm ok with this. As long as they do finalize everything. It's a good show, but we're in the middle of season three and many things still haven't been answered. That's just too long. It needs to come to an end. Hopefully a good one.
 
I think one of the problems for me is the show has a lot of questions, which is great, but tptb only care about a few of them, and only those few will end up being answered...I think the fans, me included, were interested in so much more.

I'll be curious to see if the show holds my interest. I was a rabid fan the first year, started to lose interest the second year, now in the third, I'm pretty meh about it. for me, more than the "will they answer the questions" problem, is the fact that they showed us these great characters in the first season, got me to care about them, and then just basically have shown (and said in interviews) that the people don't really matter, that they are disposable. and that, to me, just stinks. and even the characters they have focused on and kept in the mix, are acting so out of character that I hardly recognize them. remember when kate used to be useful, and a crack shot? now she's just a whiney pita. Sayid used to be smart and thoughtful and facinating, and now he comes up with the dumbest plan ever (I'll never get over the idiocy that was the plan he concocted that ended up losing them the boat and almost Sun).

hey, maybe its the illness that danielle kept speaking of. maybe there is a reason for them to be acting like idiots.

or maybe it isn't, and the show has just changed, and it really is no longer the one that I fell in love with that first season.
 
I think one of the problems for me is the show has a lot of questions, which is great, but tptb only care about a few of them, and only those few will end up being answered...I think the fans, me included, were interested in so much more.

I'll be curious to see if the show holds my interest. I was a rabid fan the first year, started to lose interest the second year, now in the third, I'm pretty meh about it. for me, more than the "will they answer the questions" problem, is the fact that they showed us these great characters in the first season, got me to care about them, and then just basically have shown (and said in interviews) that the people don't really matter, that they are disposable. and that, to me, just stinks. and even the characters they have focused on and kept in the mix, are acting so out of character that I hardly recognize them. remember when kate used to be useful, and a crack shot? now she's just a whiney pita. Sayid used to be smart and thoughtful and facinating, and now he comes up with the dumbest plan ever (I'll never get over the idiocy that was the plan he concocted that ended up losing them the boat and almost Sun).

hey, maybe its the illness that danielle kept speaking of. maybe there is a reason for them to be acting like idiots.

or maybe it isn't, and the show has just changed, and it really is no longer the one that I fell in love with that first season.

::yes:: It irritates me to no end that every episode is a new question and never any real answers. I also hate the way they've changed all the characters - they started them off being people you could care about and now I really don't care - they could kill half of them off and my only reaction would be good, now we can focus on someone worthwhile. I want to know about Hurley. He's pretty much the only reason I can stand to watch the show still - please give me a light moment on occasion!
 
I want to know about Hurley. He's pretty much the only reason I can stand to watch the show still - please give me a light moment on occasion!


He's getting another flashback episode very early in the return:thumbsup2
 
::yes:: It irritates me to no end that every episode is a new question and never any real answers. I also hate the way they've changed all the characters - they started them off being people you could care about and now I really don't care - they could kill half of them off and my only reaction would be good, now we can focus on someone worthwhile. I want to know about Hurley. He's pretty much the only reason I can stand to watch the show still - please give me a light moment on occasion!

I keep waiting on Hurley to wake up and say I am still on Becker...

If you watched that show with Ted Danson Hurley was on it....
 


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