The Big Question on 'Lost': Where'd the Audience Go?

Despite ABC's promise of more action and no reruns, a sizable chunk of viewers appear to have lost interest in "Lost."

Don't get seduced by the 18.8 million "Lost" drew for the debut of its third season on Wednesday -- that was about 5 million fewer viewers than the second-season opener. That's not what ABC hoped for.

Wednesday's "Lost" season opener, down about 5 million viewers compared to last season's starter. (By Mario Perez -- Abc)

The network noted that this season's first episode picked up where last season left off, and grew ratings-wise. But by the end of last season, "Lost" had misplaced nearly 6 million of the viewers who'd watched the season starter, and ABC suits were acknowledging they'd mishandled the show, letting too many reruns and plodding, head-scratching story lines drive away fans.

And let's not forget that last season's "Lost" finale, which clocked under 18 million viewers, faced the biggest "American Idol" finale ever, attracting more than 36 million viewers. This Wednesday, the season debut of "Lost" only faced a "House" rerun on Fox.

"You'll find a lot more happens this year in every episode than happened in all the episodes last year," show exec producer J.J. Abrams promised gushing TV critics in a phone call this week, while the show's other exec producers had promised Entertainment Weekly there would be much more "romance and action" this season.

Dammit all to hell!!! Not Good! Not Good!

they're on the other side of the island.

They should have just held Lost back until midseason. I don't like this airing 6 episodes and then they're taking a 3 month break. :mad:

They should have just held Lost back until midseason. I don't like this airing 6 episodes and then they're taking a 3 month break. :mad:

I agree. No matter how devoted the fans are, taking a show away for a long time will turn people off.

Sopranos anyone?

;)

They should have just held Lost back until midseason. I don't like this airing 6 episodes and then they're taking a 3 month break. :mad:
I didn't know this. That's crazy.

Fans are sick of having too many characters who don't get enough screen time. The characters also don't communicate like normal human beings. Add to that the cheesey soap opera quality of season 2 and 3 and the countless plotlines that are brought up and dropped. Lost is going downhill and the ratings reflect that.

I think Lost is getting better by the week. I do wish they would get Jack, Sawyer and Kate out of captivity. That storyline bores me. I'm glad Locke is back. Sad seeing Boone again.

I think Lost is getting better by the week. I do wish they would get Jack, Sawyer and Kate out of captivity. That storyline bores me. I'm glad Locke is back. Sad seeing Boone again.
I think once they start to rescue them it will pick up. I like it when the whole cast is on.

I know one thing. If they aren't rescued soon, I'm throwing in the towel. It's turned into the Jack/Sawyer/Kate show. I was bored out of my mind watching last night's episode. I did like Sawyer's prison flashbacks.

I could have done without the two brutal beatings given to Sawyer. Too violent for my taste.

I didn't know this. That's crazy.


You see Janice, you get into a show and all of a sudden the show begins to slide.




I kid, I kid ;)

You see Janice, you get into a show and all of a sudden the show begins to slide.

I kid, I kid ;)
:lol: It's true though. I think it will get better, but if it doesn't I'm gone. I'm not watching a season of three characters in cages.

My boyfriend only watches half of it before going to sleep. He doesn't seem interested in what happens in the later half. Before, he watched it in its entirety and couldn't wait for the next episode.

I know one thing. If they aren't rescued soon, I'm throwing in the towel. It's turned into the Jack/Sawyer/Kate show. I was bored out of my mind watching last night's episode. I did like Sawyer's prison flashbacks.

I could have done without the two brutal beatings given to Sawyer. Too violent for my taste.

I actually am liking the direction of the story. I am getting a little pissed at the good guys always getting their arses kicked!! It's time for some payback. I thought Saied(?) would have done more after the failed ambush with the boat. You would think with him, Eko, Lock and Sawyer that they would have a pretty good base for rescue and payback.

I actually am liking the direction of the story. I am getting a little pissed at the good guys always getting their arses kicked!! It's time for some payback. I thought Saied(?) would have done more after the failed ambush with the boat. You would think with him, Eko, Lock and Sawyer that they would have a pretty good base for rescue and payback.
I'm pretty sure that's all coming soon.

:lol: It's true though. I think it will get better, but if it doesn't I'm gone. I'm not watching a season of three characters in cages.
Well, the show has always been like that. Certain characters are seen much more for an episode, or even a block of epsiodes at a time. A few weeks back, Sawyer and Kate were hardly shown (During the Sun/Jin episode). It takes time, and I'm sure it'll all turn out well. LOST has the same creators/writers/producers as Alias did, and that show seemed like it was going downhill for a little bit (In it's 3rd Season as well), but it all shaped up very well. It's good to trust a show once in a while. Just stick around, Janice. If there's any show currently worth "throwing the Towel" at, it's those residents over on Wisteria Lane.

I don't know if it is because I watched the first two seasons on tape (dvd) but I am not enjoying this season at all.:(