An Open Letter to the Creators of Lost

Dear JJ, Damon, and Carlton,

Once again you three have managed to set the web abuzz with your show and for once it’s for activities off screen that don’t involve drunken driving. Your recent panel discussion about the future of the show has captured our imagination once again. During the panel you shared some information that brought both great joy and great sorrow to my heart.

The burning question on the mind of most Lost fans has been how long will we have this show around for and at said panel, it appears you gave us some idea. First of all, I think all of us Losties appreciate the fact that you are being as honest about this as possible. You noted that while some shows have a path planned out that will last for only a certain amount of seasons, you three are more or less at the mercy of the ratings and the network. If you keep your ratings strong ABC has committed to 7 seasons of the show. I again praise you for the fact that you admitted to giving us mostly half answers to the key questions as a way of somewhat satisfying the fans and giving you options to further explore the answers way down the line if the show lasts that long. You also admitted that if the show gets an early wrap sign, you three have agreed on how to give us answers fast and furious. In short, it seems like you have your act together in terms of planning the long term future of the show.

The short term future of the show seems to be the one giving you guys fits lately and that was further evidenced by your harebrained scheduling idea that was revealed at the panel. Instead of airing Season 4 in fall of ’07 you announced that you are going the 24 route and won’t be starting until January ’08. Before I start ranting let me say I actually have enjoyed your mid season break. Sure I’ve missed the show but I really only notice it when an ad airs or it comes up at a dinner party. In reality I think the break has been good for fans and hopefully for you as well. Let me also say that I have no problem with idea of a January premiere for some shows. 24 rarely ends on a cliffhanger and even when it does, like last year, it’s not so much of a mystery but more of a lead in to the next season. However you guys thrive on cliffhangers and dangling answers. I think your ratings would have been even worse then they currently are if you had waited until January of 07 to show us what happened to the people in the hatch. (Ok bad example since you did come back in the fall and still haven’t really shown us what happened to those fools in the moments after the white out.) My point is that waiting for answers is part of the fun of the show but to unecessicarily wait due to scheduling whims is another. Oh and don’t look now but you aren’t exactly ABC’s pride and joy anymore and you leave yourself open to being stuck in a crummy time slot when you come back in the middle of the TV season. Please reconsider this maneuver, for I believe if you stick to it, you’ll have to start writing that series finale sooner then you think.

Thank you,
Elliot the Self Loathing Pop Culture Fanatic