With its already shortened 16-episode fourth season cut to eight by the Writers Guild of America strike, ABC's castaway serial "Lost” returns to the schedule at 8 p.m. today, hoping that fans' joy at having fresh episodes at long last outweighs their disappointment at getting only half a loaf.

"It appears now as sort of an extended miniseries,” says Terry O'Quinn , who plays the enigmatic John Locke . "I hope w...