Another 48 hours of 'Lost'

(mario perez/abc)

ABC and the "Lost" producers have finally come to an agreement regarding the end of "Lost." The show will run for three more seasons, but those seasons will be only 16 episodes long. That means there will be 48 more hours of "Lost," which is about two seasons worth of episodes, but they will run across three seasons so that ABC can keep the title on its schedule longer.

"Lost" has lost many viewers this season, largely because of a long hiatus and a move to 10 p.m., but it's still valuable to the network. The show usually lands in Nielsen's weekly top 20, and it draws as many young viewers as does NBC's "Heroes."

Hmm. On the one hand, the deal sounds like a good idea. Each of the 16-episode arcs will be repeat-free. That's the arc length that the show is in the middle of right now, and it's working beautifully. The last few episodes have been really good, and when "Lost" is good, it's fantastic. For many of us who've stayed onboard, the show has become must-see again. A 16-episode season is long enough to draw viewers into a steady rhythm, but not so long that filler episodes are required. Don't like filler.

And how great is it that "Lost" producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse care enough about their baby want to end it well? They will now be able to map out the final stages of the show and time their major reveals for peak effect. Having initiated the deal with ABC, and promised never to continue the "Lost" story in movies or spinoff series, they clearly have enormous respect for their loyal viewers. If only Chris Carter had shown such integrity with his "X-Files," which has become the model of a failed mythology show, one that squandered its audience's good faith as it stretched on and on beyond the possibility of resolution. Let's hope this "Lost" arrangement will inspire other similar end-date deals down the road. The "more, more, more" approach to successful TV too often leads to ignoble endings.

On the other hand, though, the "Lost" arrangement is not ideal. Three more years is a long time, even with the assurance of a predetermined end date. Forty-eight episodes is a whole lot of story line. Also, the show will still be running the risk of wearing out its welcome, as it lingers on the pop-cultural landscape. "The Sopranos" is a good example of a series that has been so obsessed over, and so hyped, for so many years that even many fans are tired of hearing about it now that it's nearing its June end.

Parting should be such sweet sorrow, not sour gratitude.

MATTHEW GILBERT

Ty Pennington, host of ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," apologized to his fans and co-workers yesterday after he was arrested for investigation of drunken driving. "I made an error in judgment," Pennington said in a statement . "We all make mistakes, however this is about accountability. Under no circumstances should anyone consume alcohol while driving. I could have jeopardized the lives of others and I am grateful there was no accident or harm done to anyone," the reality TV host said. Pennington was arrested on a misdemeanor charge shortly after 12:30 a.m. Saturday in Los Angeles . (AP)

A Los Angeles judge yesterday suspended David Hasselhoff's visitation rights with his two teenage daughters after last week's surfacing of a videotape showing the recovering alcoholic apparently intoxicated in his Las Vegas home. "This videotape changes the landscape, it just does," said Superior Court Judge Mark Juhas, who set a May 21 hearing to determine whether the tape is authentic and who was responsible for its release. His visitation order will remain in effect until then. Portions of the video were aired last week on syndicated entertainment shows. The video shows Hasselhoff, 54, wearing only blue jeans, lying on a floor and clumsily eating a hamburger while one of his daughters videotapes him and reproves him about his drinking. Hasselhoff said last week that the tape was made to show him what he can be like under the influence of alcohol. (AP)

"Spider-Man 3" shattered box-office records with $151 million domestically and $382 million worldwide in just days, pulling in more people on its opening weekend than any film ever, according to studio figures yesterday. Domestically, Sony Pictures' "Spider-Man 3" drew 22.5 million people in its first three days, according to box-office tracker Media By Numbers. By comparison, 20.7 million people saw the previous record-holder, "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," over its $135.6 million opening weekend last year . (AP)

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY

We are both very happy but are now working in different areas of the business.' R&B singer Usher, explaining in a statement why his mother, Jonnetta Patton, is no longer his manager.