LOST comment - - - - - - --
I'm sure financial considerations played a part in the decision to eliminate the two characters last night on LOST, but one must remember that these were also the two women who were arrested and convicted in separate DUI incidents in December. In fact, "Ana Lucia" chose to serve time in jail (five days was the sentence though she ended up serving about 2 1/2 days) rather than doing community service work - the very thing that can't be tolerated in the long, expensive production days on a hit drama. I think the producers decided to cut their losses with these actresses, especially since the original intention (according to the executive producer) was to have a romance between Jack and Ana Lucia, and those plans were definitely abandoned.
Cynthia Watros (Libby) had already signed to do a CBS sitcom for next season, but though she was listed in the pilot as a guest star, the part was clearly going to be a regular. COntract demands for LOST kept her from being listed as a regular on the new show until the end of this season's LOST. Anyone reading between the lines knew her days as Libby were numbered.