'Lost' finale lowest-rated to date
ABC's "Lost" towered over competitors Thursday night but nonetheless was the show's lowest-rated finale to date.
Continuing the trend for scripted shows this year, "Lost" (12.2 million viewers, 4.9 preliminary adults 18-49 rating and a 13 share) was down 17% from last year's two-hour closer. Thursday night's episode also tied its previous telecast two weeks ago, which was billed as Part 1 of the finale. Part 1 re-aired last night at 8 p.m. (6.8 million, 2.1/7) to place second for the hour. ABC points out that "Lost" has won its time period every telecast this season.
The critic reviews were very positive. USA Today: "Whether we like where they're headed, we won't know until we get there -- but we just got one great step closer." Salon said the show had "the nuttiest final scene ever in a series finale -- the characters spent three seasons trying to get off the island and they're going to spend the next three trying to get back on?" Chicago Tribune: "I love that, no matter what, twitchy little Daniel Faraday never takes off his tie." Harold Perrineau says his character, Michael, was brought back to merely be punished.Plus some burning questions.
Fox was second with "So You Think You Can Dance" (9.4 million, 3.6/11) retaining its growth from Wednesday. CBS was third with repeats (averaging 7.3 million, 1.9/6). NBC was fourth, with repeats and the time-period premiere of "Last Comic Standing" (4.3 million, 1.9/5) falling 25% from last week's debut. The CW aired repeats (averaging 1.7 million, 0.6/2).