Written by Nicole Pedersen

To make up for the episode deficit in the current season of "Lost," ABC has announced that it will extend the final two seasons of their hit show by one hour each. The three year deal signed last year had "Lost" completing sixteen episodes for each of its final three seasons. Because of the writer's strike, this season could only accommodate fourteen shows, so producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse are extending both the 2009 and 2010 seasons by one hour each.

Lindelof and Cuse ruled out any possibility that "Lost" would extend beyond 2010, however. "Carlton Cuse and I worked so hard to get the show to end that I think to suddenly say, 'Oh, I think we got another season in us' would be a betrayal to everybody involved in the show -- but most of all the audience," he said. "It's better to retire your number at the top of your game."

Some people would say that the show has already dropped its game a bit, but if this season has been a little uneven, no one should count out the "Lost" writers – didn't that 'snake in the mailbox' totally blow your mind? Don't you think they are capable of pulling that kind of shit again?

As for how this season will end, Lindelof promised less cerebral surprise and more action: "The finale this year will not be as tricky as last year," he said. "Hopefully, this year it's a little bit more of a straightforward action-adventure narrative. But the ending of the episode will hopefully engage and intrigue people looking forward to the next season of the show."

And how will it all get wrapped up? Well don't expect a "Sopranos" style fade to black, although Lindelof and Cuse do plan to go "into hiding for many, many months" to avoid being asked "what does it mean." Well, it's obvious what it all means isn't it? It has to be a time machine – or a worm hole, or – oh shit, maybe those guys should stick around. I have a feeling they will have a lot of explaining to do.

Feed a bagel to the snake in your mailbox here.