Final seasons of ‘Lost’ will have 17 episodes

ABC has made official what the producers of “Lost” have been saying for some time: Fans of the show won’t be shortchanged any episodes.

The network says it will shoot 17 episodes each in the final two seasons of “Lost,” instead of the 16 initially planned when ABC and the show’s creative team hammered out a three-seasons-and-that’s-it deal last year.

The extra shows in 2009 and 2010 will make up for the two episodes lost to the writers’ strike this season, meaning the total number of episodes (48) isn’t changing.

“Lost” has three episodes left this season, all of which executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse consider part of the season finale.

The first part airs Thursday, and the conclusion will run as a two-hour show on May 29. The show is taking May 22 off to make room for a two-hour “Grey’s Anatomy” finale.