: The members of this list simply don't make up a large enough population.

You have a good point. TLW really isn't raising the bar in intellectual stimulation here, nor is it really achieving any break-through in originality in the plots it presents (except for "Time After Time" perhaps). The true strength of the show is its presentation and the performance of the actors. Unfortunately, most people won't tolerate weak plots unless there's adequate compensation in presentation or action. Consider "Baywatch". For the most part, the plots weren't very complicated, but the producers knew that their bread and butter was action - drownings, crashes, and such - mixed with swimsuits and healthy bodies. "Xena" is pretty much the same way; lots of action and cheesecake costumes, but with some pretty good satire mixed in.

"The Lost World" just hasn't been able to achieve the right mix of action, cheesecake, and satire. The episode "Nectar" came close with action and cheesecake, but lacked sufficient humor. "Cave of Fear" had the action, but lacked the other two ingredients.

: At this point, it's possible that the Lost World may be in trouble and may not survive for another year. I bet re - writes beginning with the phrase " lets try this to see if we can get our ratings up" are fairly common at Telescene.

I suspect that a major restructuring may be occurring, and I'm hoping that a move towards more action and cheesecake will be sufficient to cover up holes in the plot line. Or maybe the writers will feel more comfortable with the new character grouping and develop better storylines.

:The loss of a key character makes me nervous. I've noticed that an entire suite of shows that might contain Lost World have been tried over the course of the past 5 years.Few have attained Xena status.

Usually, the disappearance of a character will harm a show. Other times, it will improve the show. Look at how the loss of Denise Crosby's character in the first (or was it the second?) season of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" actually improved the format of the program, in my opinion, and allowed it to survive for many more years and even launch a spin-off ("Deep Space Nine").

: - Is our show losing ground because it doesn't appeal to the average 8th grader or Bay Watch fan ?

Hey, don't knock "Baywatch". I'm a fan!

: - As has been mentioned, are the producers trying to deal with fewer characters? Yet, why should that be a necessity? Writers did very well in the development of multiple characters re Xena and La Femme Nikita.

I think its just that the writers want to try a new group of characters. It will be interesting to see if a new character joins the group to replace Summerlee.

: - Could it be there is no direction in the show, no sense of desperation? In reality, if they were trapped on a plateau they would not be hanging out in a tree house. They would be moving.

I disagree. Constant movement requires a certain nomadic lifestyle which I don't think our heroes could sustain without the use of pack animals of some sort. Perhaps if the balloon could be used to transport them into a different adventure each week, that would be believable and would also increase the importance of Malone as the balloon's pilot.

>I wouldn't drop the good Dr. I'd drop the impossible civilizations they encounter. Indians. yes. Spaniards, the ancestors of expeditions launched in the 1500's. Yes. But not the rest of it. Little miss Sheena would be forced to abandon her home and, eventually, she would encounter the bones of her parents and those that went with them. When they encountered raptors, the beasts would operate in packs a la Jurrasic Park. If they encountered strange creatures or the supernatural, it would be a battle with the unseen. Suspense, achieved by what you don't see, beats something you do. A lot could be done with that show.

True, there are a lot of opportunities out there, and each suggestion you mentioned does not require the presence of Dr. Summerlee. Challenger would be suitable as the scientific presence in any action-oriented plot line. The unseen enemy idea is particularly intriguing - good Halloween storyline!