As series finales go, “Lost” was no “MASH.”
Still, the final episode of ABC’s sci-fi drama easily won the night, with 20.5 million viewers catching all or some of the two-and-half-hour show, which ran from 9 p.m. through 11:30. ("MASH’s" 1983 series finale was seen by over 105 million viewers — albeit viewers from another era as far as the TV business is concerned.)
In terms of the adult 18-49 demographic, “Lost” averaged a 5.8 rating/15 share and 13.5 million viewers. Both key benchmarks were easily the best of Sunday evening and they powered ABC to victory among the Big Four networks.
It was the best season finale for “Lost” in three years, and the best ratings performance for the show since February 2008.
ABC further capitalized from 7 p.m.-9 p.m. with retrospective special “Lost: The Final Journey,” which scored a 4.0 rating/13 share among adults 18-49 while averaging 9.8 million viewers.
In fact, the network was able to extend the benefit into late night, with the specially themed “Jimmy Kimmel Live: Aloha to Lost” generating a jump for “Kimmel” of 3.2 million total viewers above the show’s season average.
