The sixth and final season of Lost begins next month, but ABC may have plans to extend the series beyond its natural conclusion. Unwilling to let one of their most lucrative franchises go, the network is considering a spin-off.
For ABC and its parent company Disney, this is the only way out of their Catch-22. Part of what made Lost so successful and arguably revived it after a second season creative slump was the decision to set a definitive end date. Without that promise of eventual resolution, the show might never have grown into the eighth highest rated show of the 2008-09 television season.
But that success came with an expiration date, and ABC is reluctant to say goodbye to so successful a show. Although the more immediate plans for continuing Lost involve multimedia expansion, such as comics, games, special edition DVDs, and the much-rumored "Lost: The Ride", ABC executives ultimately see the franchise's future as being on TV.
"We've been talking about this for a couple of years now," says ABC marketing exec VP Mike Benson. "We want to keep it alive but make sure we maintain the integrity of the franchise. We're not about milking this thing for all that it is right now; it's important to see this live for years to come."
Lost showrunners Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse have made it clear that they want nothing to do with any spin-offs or continuations, but ABC executives seem to be prepared to move on without them:
"Damon and Carlton laid such groundwork, it's going to be a challenge for us, and we have to rise to the occasion," [executive Marla] Provencio says. "We have to find different, creative and innovative ways to keep the fans happy and to keep the franchise healthy."
Mike Benson compared ABC's plans for the Lost franchise to what Paramount has been able to do with Star Trek. Their goal is to maintain the basic premise and appeal of the show in new locations with a new cast, and this could be realized through both movies and a new TV show.
Honestly, the idea of a Lost spin-off, whether it's called Lost: The Next Generation, AfterLost, or (shudder) Lo2t, sounds like a bad parody of what shameless network executives would come up with, but here we are. Satire, you are once again obsolete.
Goddamnit Disney I thought you were smarter than this
I was up till 5am last night watching this show. I'm hooked, can't deny it.
And man, Locke just knows too damn much. He's too perfect. Ever since what I assume is looking into the eyes of the island creature, dude just doesn't act all that human. Never seems to make a wrong step, always knows what is going on. So suspicious.
About to start episode 17, ...In Translation, which based on the title can't be about anything else except Sun's husband finding out about her english.
Which kinda bones their adaptation of the Dark Tower for a while. Alas.
Also, offhand can anyone tell me of any other instances where smokey emits that bright white flash besides at Juliet in the episode "Left Behind"? I am trying remember if it happened to another character or not. Because given the way the S5 finale ended....
We don't actually see it, but someone comments on it
SPOILERS (I'm spoilering shit now out of concern for Cilla)
I can't tell if that helps my little theory or hurts it.
I was making the connection with Juliet and the white flash based on whatever exactly ends up happening at the end of S5. I guess that Locke could still be connected to that event, depending on what the context of "They're coming" is. Probably a stretch, but still interesting to think about those one, maybe two white flashes unique to two characters doing something cataclysmic on the island.
I hate the fact that I am spoiling stuff for one dude, but to ruin Lost for him might hurt me more. The show is all about discovery
Yeah Cilla DO NOT CLICK ON ANY SPOILERS IN THIS THREAD.
I can't believe that they want to do spin-offs. It's not like Star Trek. It's not a series of episodic adventures. It's self contained. the story and the characters are intrinsically linked together!
I'm loving the season 5 finale theories here guys. I don't think that's what happened but I like hearing new ideas.
Oh man, this high school science teacher guy who volunteered to help get the explosives just fucking reeks of red shirt. He's probably supposed to though.
And I totally called it being
Locke who hit Sayid, though he seems a little more truthworthy overall now. Kind of crazy insane though.
Posts
I guess it says something about him that I really don't care that I messed this up!
this whole show is pretty creepy
reminds me a little bit of an arg, just on the TV.
MUSH! MUSH!!
Cilla's going to be our Time Capsule!
That sounds fun
Goddamnit Disney I thought you were smarter than this
But really I know if they made a spin-off series I would at least give it a shot
And man, Locke just knows too damn much. He's too perfect. Ever since what I assume is looking into the eyes of the island creature, dude just doesn't act all that human. Never seems to make a wrong step, always knows what is going on. So suspicious.
also it's so hard to not react to your Locke comments knowing whats coming.
Unless I'm wrong of course.
I loved the talk between locke and ben about the elephant in the room. Season 5 locke is awesome
"...i was wrong"
The ending to that one was really good too. *cue teary-eyed emotional reflective music*
*rrrkk*
"Son of a bitch"
Clearly the best line ever is "you guys got any milk?"
lost dvds are $20/season at best buy today
$35 each for blu ray
the fifth is $26
When season five came out, Amazon had all the Blu-rays in one big set for $110.
That's crazy.
Naturally I was a gigantic faggot and didn't have $110 at the time!
Sometimes things can be really nice if they're just, you know, finished and wrapped up nicely
The only reason I started watching Lost was because they announced an end date
Also, offhand can anyone tell me of any other instances
We don't actually see it, but someone comments on it
SPOILERS (I'm spoilering shit now out of concern for Cilla)
I hate the fact that I am spoiling stuff for one dude, but to ruin Lost for him might hurt me more. The show is all about discovery
I can't believe that they want to do spin-offs. It's not like Star Trek. It's not a series of episodic adventures. It's self contained. the story and the characters are intrinsically linked together!
I'm loving the season 5 finale theories here guys. I don't think that's what happened but I like hearing new ideas.
Oh man, this high school science teacher guy who volunteered to help get the explosives just fucking reeks of red shirt. He's probably supposed to though.
And I totally called it being