The typical duration of a season for a television series in the U.S. is 36 weeks.  The typical number of episodes in a season for a series is 24.  That means that there are 12 weeks in which either another show will air or there will be a repeat.  This is for all television series - it is not unique to ABC or the producers of LOST.  I know that there are shows that run a 24 week season (starting in January instead of Aug or September like the rest do) and there are sometimes mid-season replacements that have less of the "season" to account for that don't have a break in their schedule.  However, the math is, that a 24 episode program will not cover 36 weeks - no matter how much people complain about it.  Sure, soap opera type shows can run 5 days a week, but LOST or other night time dramas are a bit more complex than that.

Also, the reason for the repeats, has nothing to do with the writers or producers not knowing what they are doing or what to write or that they don't have a plan.  By necessity, there are only a limited number of episodes that are "in the can" and breaks for holidays are sort of a good thing to give to the actors and grips and camera men and everyone else involved with the production of the show (even the writers and producers).

The reason that it is so noticable with LOST is that each episode leaves you looking forward to the next.  It is a tribute to the show that people are so mad about not getting a new episode every week for 52 weeks a year, but it won't happen.

I ask that anyone that has a solution or feels there is something inaccurate about it what I said to please post in the General Discussion area (on this board) about it. I only ask that you don't make inaccurate generalizations like "FOX doesn't have repeats why does ABC?"  I would also like to compile a list of those shows that have 36 new episodes to cover 36 weeks - give me some titles. I know that Rawhide and Wagon Train did when I was a kid, but I don't remember any lately.  Help me out here....

Thanks,

-Brax

I Found this on the Fuselage - it says it much better than I can. (-Brax)

Yu Kai-lin(Yu lao shi) says:
(Sat Feb 25 10:50:08 2006)
Edited: Sat Feb 25 10:57:30 2006

How Network Schedules Work!

1) Networks make all decisions on when a shows airs, what time it airs, how frequently it airs, what day it airs on, and how often it goes on hiatus. In regards to Lost, that means that ABC is making all these decisions.

2) No one affiliated with creating a Network show has any control, whatsoever, over when a show airs, what day it airs on, what time it airs at, how frequently it airs or how often it goes on hiatus. In regards to Lost, that means that no producer, writer, director or actor can make decisions regarding the show airing schedule.

3) Lost is not the only network show this applies to. This applies to every show that runs in the normal September to May season. Simple math shows this to be true, a standard season can be anywhere from 20-24 episodes, spread out over a 9 month period, making that 36-40 weeks, give or take a few. Repeats and special events, such as sports, awards shows and holiday events are the only way to fill in the gap.

4) There are 3 approaches to handling a season that lasts 12-14 weeks longer than a standard run of episodes. A: You can start the show in January, like 24, and run episodes straight through, leaving September - January open to another series, B: You can split your season in half, like the Scifi Channel does with it's SciFi Friday shows. They do 10 episodes from July through September, then take 4 months off, and then finish the final 10 episodes January through March. C: The final solution is what has been happening with Lost, and Gray's Anatomy, and Numb3rs, and CSI and ER and House, and West Wing, etc, etc, etc and show a few episodes, take two weeks off, show a few more new episodes, take a few more weeks of with repeats, show some more new episodes, etc, and spread out the shows over the full season.

5) This is how Network television has operated for years and years, take a close look at other network shows and their schedules to see the same pattern there.