Soon after the onset of the writers? strike early in November of last year, shows began running out of original material for airing. As a result of the expected drought, primetime programs either reverted to reruns, or were completely pulled off the air indefinitely. Remaining shows were shuffled around to fill in voids in the primetime scheduling block.



When Lost returned with its current fourth season, it was given the 9pm slot on Thursdays, originally held by popular medical drama, Grey's Anatomy.

Since the resolution of the three-month-long scribes? walkout, networks have announced the schedule of return to production for their various programs. They have also given out lists of renewed shows, along with their planned revamped programming line-up.

TV Guide's Michael Ausiello reports that as soon as additional new installments become available for Grey's Anatomy, the series will most likely slide back into the Thursday 9-10pm time slot, bumping the remaining episodes of Lost to the 10pm post.

In related news, Lost is rumored to undergo even more scheduling alterations, this time, with regards to how the current fourth season's 13 episodes will be broadcast. The original plan was to air eight installments in order, before breaking for about a month (four weeks), and then returning with the last five offerings.

Of late, ABC is reportedly considering keeping the eighth episode until April. The alleged revamped schedule would mean seven installments prior to the planned month-long hiatus, and resume with the final six episodes.

According to reports, it appears that the seventh episode will provide a more logical and seamless stopping point than its successor. If this revised schedule comes to fruition, it would result in more back-to-back original material from Lost and Grey's Anatomy come April. If what already looks good on paper proves successful for the network, ABC is allegedly thinking of maintaining Grey's at 9pm and Lost immediately after at 10pm Thursdays.