Carlton: Five more episodes
The WGA strike is officially over. The 48 hour formal vote ended today with a 92.5% mandate. See industry source Daily Variety for full details.
In immediate fallout, Lost executive producer Carlton Cuse met with his bosses at ABC about continuing Season 4, and reported the results of that meeting with TV Guide's Ausiello in an exclusive interview.
The two main points from that interview:
1) The aim is to produce FIVE more episodes of Season 4. This is three fewer than the eight scheduled before the strike occurred; the season's total will be 13 eps.
2) The entire order of 48 episodes for Seasons 4-5-6 will still be delivered-- that leaves 35 episodes to be split between Seasons 5-6.
In other words:
Season 4 is to be re-written to end with the same storyline elements as previously written, but in only 5 episodes. The three "lost" Lost episodes will somehow fill in the story arc of the remaining last two seasons.
Another lesser point is that there will be at least a 4 week hiatus between the broadcast of 4x08 and the new 4x09. Note that this may push the final episode of the season beyond the end of the Nielsen May sweeps period, so we may have been lucky to get even five eps. Read the rest of this fascinating interview here.
66 comments:
I do not like the "crunching 8 episodes of content into 5" idea, just to end the season by the end of May.
What is criminality of TV shows extending into summer?
three more than that won't hurt, go on, you know you wanna make 8!!!
This is AWESOME. When I heard more episodes, I was thinking 1 or 2, maybe 3 at the most... but 5? Totally WAY more than I was expecting.
OK, the 4-week hiatus kinda sucks, but that compared to the... how long was the season 3 hiatus? At least we have Via Domus to hold us over, right?
Wow. 5?
ABC is just turning off more fans by their backshelfing of Lost. When Lost goes off, so will ABC's ratings.
I don't mind the idea of condensing the season into three less episodes. I'm sure the writers can pull it off.
It's fantastic the three "lost" episodes will find their way into the episode order in future seasons.
Overall, it's a much better alternative to having the 48-episode order reduced to 45 episodes. However, that said, I do agree the best outcome would be ABC allowing three additional episodes to be produced/aired. As inferred earlier, three weeks into the Summer is NOT a big deal.
Lost is not the show you can/want to blindly tinker with. Whilst I have faith, I hope reducing the season by three episodes does not turn out to be "colossal dick move".
Perhaps we should send peanuts to the ABC HQ to convince them to allow the season to air as previously planned? ;)
I don't think they'll "crunch" 8 episodes of content into 5. They'll more likely move some storylines to a later season. E.g. how many times have we been told that Rousseau's flashbacks will be in season 4 or 5 - clearly they haven't decided themselves yet.
As for ending the season in May - I'm guessing that all the actors would have to sign new contracts to keep them on a few extra weeks, and I reckon many of them will already have summer jobs lined up, so keeping them on Lost would prove very difficult.
Anyway, quit complaining. 5 episodes is great. Think of the poor 24 fans who won't get anything at all this year.
Just don't do any more "Stranger in a Strange Land" filler episodes.
Meaningful flashbacks/forwards and meaningful on-island plot movement please.
I enjoyed the ping-pong contest, but let's just focus on getting the story told now, hm?
I'm psyched we're getting five more! I'm guessing it was ABC's call to cut the season short by three, but I'm glad we'll get those down the line.
My guess is that those three will be tacked onto season 6, making the last season an extra-long season!
Yay Lost!
I'm just wondering if the Orchid orientation film is ever going to come into play this season, or if that too has been moved later.
They should really make 8 more instead of 5 to develop the characters and season more so we can actually feel for the characters even more, especially if one of them dies.
This move by ABC is really a suprising one... Ramping up a production like Lost for 5 episodes when it would be just a easy and cost effective to finish the full 8 is ludicris in my opinion. Cost isn't really the issue here, ratings are. ABC is just underestimating the Lost fans' dedication to the show. Fans WILL watch during the summer. Don't disappoint them ABC.
5? Ok if Lost is a show with a beginning, middle, and an end, how are they going to make this season work? I mean, if most questions are designed to get answered in the latter part of the season, how can they shorten it and not have it lose value? I think that they could make 8 if they wanted to and that to say "maybe 5" is a big disappointment. This show has such a hardcore fan base, why wouldn't they do everything possible to keep us interested? is next season going to be 19 episodes? i mean, cmon, give us what we want.....nay, what we NEED.
It's not as easy as some people think it is. Someone pointed out that actors have summer projects. There is a possibility of an actors strike in June. Also, someone else said that ABC is concerned only about ratings and they should not worry because Lost fans would watch. You don't know that. They didn't watch when it was against American Idol. It was DVRed by most people and I would bet that that would happen in the summer, too. The fans will SEE the episodes, but people who WATCH it - that is, live - will drop in the summer. That means one thing: Advertisers will pay less for commercial time. Even if ABC felt fans would watch it in summer, it is the Ad companies who need to be pursuaded of that, not the network.
You know what would be a smart move for the writers, assuming they got what they wanted in terms of getting a percentage of dvd sales.....Show the 3 "lost" episodes in the Season 4 Box set. That way ABC, the writers, and the fans all win.
We would get our episodes and they would get cash. Would solve alot of fan resentment and would increase dvd sales...just a thought
Five episodes? I don't think so. The number sequence doesn't go 4-5-15-16-23-42... there's an 8 in there!! That means you owe us 8 episodes.
5 episodes is MUCH better than I was expecting; I was afraid we would get nothing more this year and season 5 and 6 would be 20 episodes each. The Lost writers are skilled professionals and have had to make changes before. I'm just glad they are going to give the season a proper ending; I hope it's as good as the last one!
Okay i'm really happy with the agreement. You guys need to realize that a show like 'Lost' is not easy to produce. It's not a typical show where it's shot on a set at Universal Studios (aka Desperate Housewives), this show requires everyone to fly back to hawaii, re-set up everything, get every actor on the same schedule, etc. It's not an easy process. And i would rather have 5 quality episodes over 8 quantity ones. At least we didn't lose the 3 other episodes, we'll get them in the upcoming years. No big deal. Stuff happens. Every show 'Lost' something this year. We should be happy with what we got. If you really think 'Lost' would be able to roll over into summer, that's stupid and that's suicidal for ratings. While it probably could maintain a lot of viewers, summer ratings are very low and it would cause dis-interest in the show when it returns next year. This is ultimately the best decision that could be made considering the situation. Good job ABC, good job producers.
I'm worried that they're going to mess up the story now by rushing the season because they're changing what they originally had planned.
I don't think there's anything to "mess up." With a show like this, there are infinite possibilities. This re-write might give the producers a chance to do something better than they had originally planned.
If they are going to cut material out, we the viewers won't even notice. That is, we won't have a "complete" season 4 to judge the redone season 4 by, anyway.
Honestly, I don't care that they cut it down to five episodes. Now the writers will cut all of the useless scenes like sex scenes and get more down to the story. And thats all we really want, right?
According to Ausiello, the break will be after 4x07. Even though 4x08 was shot before the strike, the season breaks better after 7 so 8 will air with the new five. 7+6 instead of 8+5.
They've also announced that LOST will move to 10PM after Grey's when it and Ugly Betty return. I'm sad to see it at the later time, but it should be a powerhouse night of ratings for NBC.
And nobody "owes" anyone 8 episodes. There are logistical limitations on creating and airing shows, to do 8 would probably require a second break and go into July, not June.
At least 13 episodes are better than 8.
i am actually very very very pleased with this decision -
My reason being that the last 5 episodes of the season are going to be soo extremely fast paced, and have soo much good stuff shoved into them that those episodes will ROCK!
We won't get anymore "stranger in a strange land" or that Nikki and Paulo episode(don't get me wrong, both of them episodes were interesting for more back story, but they didn't answer the important questions).
Someone mentioned putting the lost LOST episodes into the season 4 box set - but that doesn't work because those episodes do not exist yet - they are not cutting 3 episodes out of season 4, they are just moving these episodes to other seasons for more time to develop season 5 and 6 and possibly to address the smaller plot lines that will inevitably be cut from season 4, but the main story is going to be consolidated into 5 episodes.
The only bad thing about this is the 4 week hiatus between eps 8 and 9, but thats understandable.
Who cares if there will be a 4-week hiatus! I think we all can wait! The question is another one: will the 13th episode be a 2-hour episode, like all the season finales?
As happy as I am that there will be more episodes, it is disappointing that the 8 remaining will be condensed into 5...
Heroes did a similar thing to end the season because of the writer's strike and it ended up being terrible. Don't do the same thing ABC. It can't hurt just to make 3 more can it?
i definitely think that 13 episodes is better than 8 but i also feel that the full story won't get told as far as the lost fans' expectations will go...
that's 3 flashbacks/forwards that will have to be cut from this season. it is possible to cut the story but not the off-island features...
if they can squeeze in the extra 3 episodes by maybe doing double episodes for the last 3 weeks that could be effective...
production team get working!!
I like the idea of condensing the episodes. It means the last five episodes will have more of a punch. When they started out writing this season they already knew what the finale was going to be, so they might move inconsequential stuff to later episodes, but the story should play out the same.
Maybe they agreed to 5/13 because some of the numbers are changing...
4-5-13-15-23-42! Big reveal in episode 4x13!
Anonymous said...
I'm just wondering if the Orchid orientation film is ever going to come into play this season, or if that too has been moved later.
2/13/2008 8:03 AM
4X02 maybe ? Bear in the frakin' dessert ? ? ring any bells ? hmmmm
Noooo! Don't get me wrong, I'm glad the show is returning, but with condensed episodes? Why couldn't they just call season 4 eight episodes, make season 5 24 episodes, and then have season 6 be 16 episodes? That makes more sense, and no condensing is required.
OMG! I HATE THIS SOOOO MUCH! :( this sucks, i want those 3 extra episodes:( it will end waaay 2 soon! ad a 4 week hiatus?? no! i will die :( now im sad
Well, Lost has a habit of stretching the plot out with extraneous character drama. So 5 over 8 sounds good to me.
Fans would watch the show regardless of time of year, but after Nielsen closes up shop for the summer in May, there's no point. They're only doing five because even with that, one or more episodes probably won't be counted ratings wise they way they want.
I just don't know how they can condense 8 shows to 5. Their is just so much that needs to be told and I hope this does not compromise anything. That being said, I can't wait. Don't really know how I am going to last the 4 week break. Hope that includes a 2 hour season finale.
They should not underestimate the power of Lost and should definitely film all 8 episodes as originally conceived to ensure the integrity of the story. If it's about viewers in the early summer, I guarantee I would be watching regardless of when the episodes air.
Show a little vision, ABC!
The reason that the ending of The Prisoner was such a disappointing mess was that the final 5 episodes were ordered to be crunched down to 2 by the TV network.
That doesn't bode well for LOST -- but fortunately, this isn't the ENDING of the series that we're talking about...
BOOOOOOOOOOO!! I want a new lost show every day 4 ever
I'm happy to hear this news.
When I first heard of the writers strike, I knew that it would cause production of shows to be interrupted and would (probably) resolve with better contracts for writers when the strike ended.
I didn't anticipate the very welcome side effect that storylines would be compressed and won't drag on with filler and puffery. If the end result is that tv shows have shorter, more intense storylines then I hope this trend continues.
The show is extraordinary until now.
The ending of this LOST season does not have to coincide with the ending of the TV Season.
They can continue without pressure with the 3 last episodes in the next TV season without condensing the content.
They can start next TV Season a couple of weeks earlier and end it a week later.
"Heroes did a similar thing to end the season because of the writer's strike and it ended up being terrible."
Actually, I think the situation with Heroes was the exact opposite. The START of season two was terrible, those were episodes done without knowing if the strike was going to happen. Episodes toward the end of the season (when they had to tie things up because of the strike) were a big improvement, though still nothing close to season 1. And the changes to Heroes were done pretty last minute and only changed the last episode or two. In the case of lost they have weeks to plan things and can plan all five episodes at once, as opposed to a last minute edit scramble.
LOST this season looks like they have a handle on things and have some great episodes completed and planned. Taking something great and condensing it (which will include delaying some flash forward/flashback material) shouldn't really make much of a difference at all.
The big complaint about Lost is that it can dawdle a bit - I don't think picking up the pace even more is necessarily a bad thing. I trust these guys, they are masterful writers.
The way I see it, I'd rather have them add episodes to Seasons 5 & 6 to end the story in more detail than stretch out this season's plot. I'm sure the people in charge would've pushed for all 8 episodes if it was crucial.
MAKE IT 8!!!
Why not just be satisified in knowing that the producers are emphasizing quality over content?
Maybe they'll come up with another creative off-season game to paticipate in..
why not just have the remaining eps be 2 hours each? :) wishful thinking, i know...
Terrible idea.
What they should do is make all the remaining eight episodes, and AIR THEM WHEN THEY ARE READY.
Actually, it makes perfect sense. Every main character finishes with a centric episode. For the last 5 they only need to cover Claire, Sawyer, Locke, Ben and Jack.
It's not that ABC thinks people won't watch in the summer, it's that they just don't want to WORK into the summer. It's not 'quality over quantity', it's just laziness Carlton. And it's going to make those episodes seem rushed, incomplete, and off. And all these 'anonymous' comments saying they approve of this and that 5 is more than they were expecting are probably just one of the producers trying to pass themself off as a fan. No true fan would want LESS episodes.
"why not just have the remaining eps be 2 hours each? :) wishful thinking, i know..."
Since the problem is actually shooting the episodes in time, how would that help? They just physically can't produce the episodes quick enough to have 16-17 hours worth done by the end of May.
"What they should do is make all the remaining eight episodes, and AIR THEM WHEN THEY ARE READY."
Did you even read the responses here? Doing that would go well into the summer when audiences are smaller and advertisers willing to pay far less. While your request would satisfy fanboy fantasies, it would be a financial disaster for ABC and thus has no basis in reality.
Laziness? Are you serious? Anonymous, get over your entitlement complex. Sure, we all want 8 episodes. But They only have time to make 5 without it ending up seeming, as you say, rushed, incomplete, and off. It's just not viable to air them in the summer, for the reasons people have said.
I already feel short-changed by the fact that they had decided to make the final 3 seasons cpnsist of only 16 episodes (vice the usual 22). Now they're going to shorten an already stunted season by 3 more episodes - I just think that's unsatisafactory. They ought to make the other 3, regardless of their relationship to a "normal" season ending date in May. Maybe ABC doesn't care since we're already a captive audience - it's not as if real fans won't watch what they give us. I guess I just feel cheated. Thanks ABC & WGA!
Writers strike - OMG how I hate this! Lost is a masterpiece of art, you cannot cut 3 episodes out of the concept without ruining it. This is so ... ARGH!!!!
they should make the eight that they wanted to in the first place and air them in the fall continuously and then season five starts as planned in Feb. 2009. it'd be the best thing to do, it'd be like season 4 and season 4.5 but it'd be better than an incomplete season 4. i see another backlash like that of season 3, they should see it coming. the only explanation is if ABC wants them to do it this way.
ABC should push LOST (or vice versa) to do the original plan of 16 to reward LOST fans for our patience with all the hiatuses we have/will endure/d. They'll do fine with May Sweeps because that will be when the upcoming hiatus ends and we'll all be watching those episodes.
I understand the writing process is difficult and time consuming, but you've all just had a few months off from work. You can put in some overtime to finish up this season, can't you?
why not just do some double episodes?
how hard could that be?
8 into 5 is easy with 3 doubleheaders!
How's that for sweeps?
then the world can continue to spin its happy way...
Well think of it this way
Less episodes towards the end of a season means less questions and more answers condensed into a smaller space of time...
"Now they're going to shorten an already stunted season by 3 more episodes - I just think that's unsatisafactory."
Quit whining about being shortchanged. They have already said that they will add those three missing episodes to next season. So they ARE making those three episodes, we'll just be seeing them later.
They promised 48 episodes, and we'll be seeing all 48. Please read the full details before whining about it.
Well the producers already screwed us with this idea that 16 episodes makes a season. So now its 13 episodes. Next year 10? Besides I thought the whole point of knowing there would be only 48 more episodes, that the story lines would be worked out. It seems to me the plot outlines should've already been done and it's just a matter of fleshing out the dialogue. What were the writers doing prior to the strike?
wow i was worried firstly, but it's okay that the producers move the 'lost' Lost episodes to the next seasons. So S04 has 13 eps and S05 maybe 19 eps. if that way, no problem
Someone mentioned American Idol beating Lost with live viewers.. thats because us true fans like to Tivo and rewatch the episodes...and lets face facts its way more enjoyable skipping through commercials.
I think they need to give the true fans a shot and see how it does in the summer with a full 8 more eps.
As someone who works in television (ABC News, in fact), I know how EXTREMELY hard it is to arrange a deal like this... and we should all breathe a sigh of relief. Most companies would either place the season on hold, as we saw with Fox's 24 and bring the entire season around to the 09 season, or else done what we like to call a "fast wrap," in other words they would have written one cop-out fanalie epidose and left the rest for next season. It is a relief that we're even getting 2 more, let alone 5! Most studios don't make choices like that, especially during sweeps. Thank goodness!
will we be waiting until february again for season 5?
I love how all you seem to talk about the US schedule like Lost is only on in your country. I'm sure ABC are making as much selling this abroad as from the US deal.
Don't forget that these people are human too. You will get your full requirement of episodes, as it has been agreed in contract by ABC for an amount of hours of television, not an amount of seasons. It isn't the productions fault that they've lost 3 episodes. Frankly, 3 months of strike and only losing three episodes is hardly a chore, when you consider there is NO 24. only half a season of Heroes (which won't come back till Autumn now, and you will not lose any shows at all.
Jim. Yes I'm pretty sure ABC make much more money abroad that domestically on Lost (Sky One's deal with them in the UK covers the cost of production on its own) but ABC are the lead channel, and as such we have to think about their scheduling.
To be honest. I hate the current schedule. Fans forced it into its current situation and it frankly sucks. I would much rather 8 episodes in the Autumn, and 8 episodes in the Spring, then we don't have a 8 month wait for fresh content, but its the fan bases fault. The fan base constantly nag and moan about the show's scheduling. I've got to the point now where I would just like the fans to shut up, and let the production team get on with the show in the vision THEY want.
I'm also seriously considering switching off anonymous comments, because its only those anonymous commenters that are complaining that there won't be 8 episodes. It'll be these same anonymous commenters that would complain that they are airing Lost whilst they are supposed to be going on holiday too.
I recently starting watching Lost for my first time, from the beginning, and am now halfway through Season 3. The first two Seasons were really, really good, and I've heard that the fourth season's pretty good, but my only problem is that NOTHING IS HAPPENING! Jack has been at that stupid Others place for like eight episodes, and Sawyer and Kate have just been arguing. I also don't know (or really care) what's happening with Locke and crew because the only episode I've seen of them recently is that stupid Desmond flashback one!
I can see why Season four, five and six were shortened to 16 episodes. The show started to drag. Season three could have been done in sixteen episodes easily.
Hopefully, an even shorter Season 4 will help us not sit through a LOT of boring stuff (I really have trouble caring about any of the Others. Their secret natures are really starting to just bug the poop outta me!) Hopefully Season four will just tell us the good stuff and get on with it.
This does scare me about adding episodes to other seasons... I hope we don't end up with three unnecessary episodes at the end of Season six. Filler sucks.
Хорошая новость. Пускай снимают: непонятно кто им сказал, что сериал не рейтинговый!
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