LOS ANGELES - "Lost" will return next month after an absence of eight months, but fans of the TV drama may still feel deprived because of the Hollywood writers strike.
The series, like other dramas and comedies, faces the possibility of a season cut short by the strike, now in its sixth week. Eight episodes of "Lost" have been completed for the series' return Jan. 31 -- half the number originally planned, ABC said Friday.
The network announced this year that the series would end in 2010 after three more years of 16 episodes each.
Most series air 22 episodes a season. ABC decided that fewer episodes of "Lost," aired without reruns interrupting the serial story, would please fans of the show about air crash survivors on a dangerous island.
Whether the entire 16-episode order for 2008 can be filled depends on the duration of the contract dispute between studios and the Writers Guild of America. The strike has sidelined production on dozens of scripted shows, and networks are running out of new episodes.
Prospects for a deal were hurt when talks collapsed Dec. 7. No new negotiations were scheduled.
"Lost" viewers can expect at least a mini-cliffhanger ending, no matter how long the season, the network said.
The stranded islanders were last seen in the May season finale, when they managed to issue a satellite phone call for help that, it appeared, could bring them more trouble.
"Lost," which airs on CTV, is scheduled for 9 p.m. Eastern time on Thursdays, taking over the time slot held by "Grey's Anatomy" -- whose stock of new episodes is down to one.
ABC also announced debut dates Friday for new series including "Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann," the "Dancing with the Stars" spinoff making its debut Monday, Jan. 7. "Cashmere Mafia," starring Lucy Liu, will begin Thursday, Jan. 3, then move to its regular Wednesday slot Jan. 9.
New editions of "Dancing with the Stars" and "The Bachelor" will begin March 17, with a dream-fulfillment reality series from Oprah Winfrey, "Oprah's Big Give," coming March 2.
