supposedly the writers/producers have a DEFINITE path they want to take. But after the writers' strike happened, they seized production in the middle of season 4. Originally, the LOST producers said that season 4 would be 16 straight shot episodes...meaning no 'filler' episodes at all, just content. With no obvious agreement in sight (until recently), the producers of LOST were thinking about changing a few things so that season 4 felt more complete with only 8 episodes. But now, since all that strike stuff is apparently over, the hope for production of the remaing 8 episodes is alive.
Yeah, I do. Just like how Heroes and LOST last year took a beating when they debuted two/three weeks later than most spring seasons (week after BCS). People get into routines with their TV habits, and I expect that these last-second mini-seasons are going to debut to smaller than normal numbers since followers may not be anticipating them, having already resigned themselves to this spring season being a loss. People will have had 5 some months to find other things to do than watch whichever show is getting wedged back in - I don't think ALL of them are going to leap right back on the wagon; not like they would have in January or like they will in September. Add to this that some shows like Greys are going to be given a new time slot (LOST took over their Thursday spot); that typically also brings about a ratings drop. I also think that knowing the shows are looking at less than 6 episodes is going to be more of an annoying tease than something to get excited about. Also, given the rush job that will absolutely go into this, I think viewers are going to be turned off by several of these mini-seasons. I suppose the networks figure this will help maintain viewers into fall 2008. Toss a few episodes out in April/May so that fans aren't given 10 full months to stop caring. Evan
Having a handful of shows in May will be a lot better in the long run for these shows than asking viewers to wait another eight months for new episodes. The ratings may not be as high as usual, but I don't think they'll be awful. It seems as though people are really missing their shows. I know I'll be tuning in to every show I normally watch that will have new episodes in April/May.
