On top of the cost of producing Lost, Lindelof feared that the ambiguity of the pilot was also enough to scare ABC away. “There was just so many reasons for them to say no. It was just so much easier to say no than it was for them to say yes,” Lindelof said.
Luckily for Lindelof, J.J. Abrams, and everyone else involved with Lost, the studio changed its mind. ABC tested the pilot and to their surprise, the tests went over well with audiences.
On top of that, Lost had some behind-the-scenes luck with the man in charge of everything. Lloyd Braun served as the chairman of ABC Entertainment Group and had a big say in getting the pilot off the ground. Even when he was replaced by Steve McPherson, Braun’s persuasion prevailed through the new lead.
