Lost has always been awesome no matter the season, get the facts straight. 

ABC did the right thing, an end date was needed so we wouldn't be stuck with filler episodes and they ordered less episodes after going for like 23-25 episodes per season.  Lost went to another level after that.

Don't know why other networks don't practice it as many shows would benefit from it.  I think they do it in England all the time with their shows.

It shouldn't be applied to all shows, sitcoms don't need it.

I doubt other networks will follow with setting end dates, but what they should all adopt should be less episodes for all the series they have.

FX & HBO consistenly deliver quality tv series and they all keep their series within a 10-13 episode range per season.

It would definitely make sense for other networks to do this.  And they do do it in England all the time.   Look at hits like the Office and Extras.  Both went only two 12 episode series.  Although even that to me is a bit too short.  But those are sitcoms and really don't need a cap.  Hispanic television does it all the time too.  My grandmother used to tell me that all the cheesy soaps on Telemundo only last one season that way you don't end up having to watch demonic posessions, trips to hell, and multiple character resurrections like the US soaps have.  None of these examples are genre shows but having a shorter lifespan and ending strongly is always better than fading from greatness to complete garbage like the X Files.

I agree Hanso.  Everyone screamed when they had the six episode mini season about the sshow was dead and there was no way to get it right.  If they would have kept the season intact there wouldn't have been such a gap and cause for everyone to freak out.

Even Carlton and Lindeloff stated that because of the orders for full 22-24 episodes some of the episodes had to be filler.  But when they set the end date they were happy because they wouldn't have to write anymore of those episodes like How Jack got his tattoos, or why Hurley kas kankles. (that was a joke)  But it makes sense.  I have always been loyal to this show and I don't know what I'll do when next season is done.  Maybe re-watch each season from the start.......no wait I do that on rainy days in the summer.  Oh well!!

I know for a fact that Japanese programming limits the number of seasons a series can run (often times, one season is enough).  This can also be seen in anime where you have an entire story told over the course of 25-30 episodes.

I think it would be in the best interest of the studios, writers and even actors to start putting limits on how long a tv series can run.  Sitcoms as mentioned before don't have to follow this rule, because most episodes lack continuity and can be pretty random, like the Simpsons.  But for something like 24 or something with an even longer sense of continuity Lost, X-Files, Prison Break, Fringe, and the best of all Terminator:TSCC :p  it'd be best to put a cap on the number of seasons that a story can run.  There's usually a plot established early on in these shows that DEMAND resolution, and often times, studio execs would rather be short sighted and milk a cow until there's nothing left but dust.  The X-Files is like this, and as a result, it will kill future DVD sales because there was no ending...why waste your time on a story that was never finished? 

If a series is a hit, and you're approaching your final season, it would then be easy to greenlight a spin-off series with familiar faces, plenty of new ones (and actors/writers/directors).  Terminator, for instance should now focus on John's development in the future and journey back to the past.  This kind of thing would also, again be great for DVD sales, because if the spinoff sucks, people can just pretend it never existed and just buy/enjoy the original series. 

Smallville btw should be a candidate for a cap.  The show's getting ridiculous, unless they do something involving the existence of a multiverse and how right now Clark SHOULD in fact be Superman, but in this Universe, the Red S wil NEVER appear...instead you get a guy who's sexually ambiguous :p

DDiaz, your grandmother is right about Telemundo's cheezy soaps. I've only watched a few, but knowing that a firm resolution is coming makes them more fun. (There's been so many genre shows on TV lately, that I've neglected my telenovelas. There's usually a good one on each year.)

I'm hoping that Lost's success will be a lesson to the other networks. I love Medium, but they're covering some weird ground lately in an effort to come up with new stories. Same with House.

All this talk of abreviated seasons and no one mentions HBO, Showtime, or AMC?  Dexter, Madmen, and Breaking Bad are three of the best dramas still broadcast and all of them operate on the 13ish episode season.  Dexter contains itself to season long arcs while Madmen & Breaking Bad focus on the characters.  

There is no hard rule with regards to series/season length when it comes to whether  a show will be good or not.  The abbreviated seasons & end date served BSG and continue to serve Lost because these are shows about a destination.  The characters are on an incredibly unique journey and part of what intrigues us so much is just where the hell the journey will go.  TNG, DS9, the West Wing, Gilmore Girls, 24, and whatever other crazy nonsense shows people watch aren't about an end goal.  They just provide us with a set of interesting characters and we get to see them get into new and interesting quandries week to week without obessessing over the unsolved mysteries.

Excuse me but I brought up HBO and their shortened seasons.  Thank you very much.

Let the records reflect that hanso mentioned both HBO and FX with regards to their shortened seasons.

Here's a couple of links I found through Superman Homepage for some videos for this week's DOOMSDAY epsidoe of Smallville.  The first clip is a scene with Rokk of the Legion telling Clark about what is about to happen.  The other clip is a little preview of the big showdown (minus special effects) between Clark and Doomsday.  CLIP SPOILER---->  Clark gets his ass handed to him!

Smallville Webclip - Doomsday
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inBNC3eKSPo

Smallvile Doomsday Director's cut scene -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUKswaEq1SE