sp; ReutersThe new J.J. Abrams series "Lost", about plane crash survivors on a remote tropical island inhabited by odd things such as polar bears and man-eating monsters, is so far proving a hit for the network.
The first part of a two-part pilot aired on September 22nd to an 18.3 million viewership, the network's biggest debut for a show in nearly a decade and the biggest debut for a non-franchised new drama this year.
Thus many wondered whether its fortune would hold, turns out it did. Part Two's airing on Wednesday landed 17 million viewers according to <a href="http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=televisionNews&storyID=6383544" target="_blank">Reuters</a>, easily winning its timeslot and the second most watched show of the night behind the second episode of "CSI: NY".
More importantly, the show retained 91 percent of the 18.7 million viewers who tuned in to the show's premiere last week and 96 percent of its debut 18-49 aged demographic audience. For any new show these numbers are highly impressive. A repeat of both parts this Saturday night also helped the network win for the night with the show easily winning both its timeslots.
The network, which has been struggling in recent years and has been surviving on a small number of hits such as J.J.. Abrams' other show "Alias" and the now defunct "The Practice", also just launched two more salvos this past evening. The black comedy "Desperate Housewives" (starring Teri Hatcher) and quirky legal drama "Boston Legal" (starring James Spader) both debuted to very good reviews overall from critics. Ratings wise we'll learn how they go shortly.
Thanks to 'Castaway'.
