JasonEvans says
Now that the strike is over Damon Lindelhoff and Carleton Cuse have spoken to ABC and here is the plan for the rest of this season of Lost.
ABC had originally contracted for 8 additional episodes of Lost. But, only 5 will be produced because there is simply not time to do 8 more.
The 5 episodes will not be ready in time to air as soon as the current block of 8 episodes are done. So, Lost will take a "short" 3 or 4 week hiatus before the final 5 epsiodes of this season will air. The final 5 episodes may go beyond the end of sweeps month-- which could mean we are watching Lost into June. I have no problem with this
The content of the episodes is being adjusted so the overall story will end this season at the same point it was going to be before the strike happened. In other words, the stuff that was supposed to be told in 8 epsiodes will now be told in 5.
The total number of episodes of Lost will remain the same -- meaning that the3 episodes that were not produced this year will be added to the next 2 seasons. So, instead of 32 total episodes in seasons 5 and 6, there will be 35 episodes.
The best news is that we will get a satisfying resolution to this season and it will end at the same point that Cuse and Lindelhoff had planned. Yippeee!!