Background Information about“Lost”

“Lost” was first aired on ABC on September 22, 2004 and almost instantly attracted a large loyal audience. The series created a buzz and was referred to in other TV shows, song lyrics, commercials, magazines, and other elements of popular culture. As a rookie, it won the Primetime Emmy Award ® for Outstanding Drama Series and also won a Golden Globe for best drama in 2006.

Created by J. J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof, and Jeffrey Lieber, “Lost” deals with the tribulations of plane crash survivors on a tropical island. The premise is that Oceanic Air flight 815 tore apart in midair and crashed into a Pacific Island in such a way that would-be rescuers were not able to find it. The survivors, most of whom are strangers, must work together to exist, and in the process they discover that their island has many secrets. They, too, have secrets and motives that place them in conflict with each other.

The series is shot in Hawaii—including flashback scenes that represent Iraq, Korea, Iowa, and many other places. Because there are many plane survivors and because these people discover “Others” on the island, the cast is large. The size of the cast plus the care that goes into the filming makes it one of the most expensive series on TV.

From the beginning the “look” of the series was an important element. In a way, the island is one of the characters in the show, often presenting the survivors with cruel weather and harsh terrain. These factors enhance the importance of the cinematography team, which is charged with maintaining the look and must also often work in inclement conditions.

In part because of the difficulties of shooting the show, during its first few seasons it sometimes aired as a split season, with some new programs in the fall and some in the spring. In 2007, it was decided that “Lost” would end in 2010 after 117 total episodes. The last three seasons would consist of 16 episodes each that would air only in the spring, uninterrupted by reruns.

“Lost” is produced by ABC Studios, Bad Robot Productions, and Grass Skirt Productions.