'Lost' comes to an end

PASADENA, Calif. — The producers of "Lost" aren't under any illusions. They know they're going to get slammed by some of the show's fans when the series airs its final episode on Sunday.

"We're going to get killed," said executive producer Damon Lindelof. "Not by everyone. At least we hope not.

"But there's no way we can meet everyone's expectations."

No, there's not.

What began as a pop-culture phenomenon in September 2004 ends its 120-hour run with a two-hour finale that will answer a lot of questions. Or so we're promised.

But not all our questions. Because Lindelof, executive producer Carlton Cuse and their team want to leave some room for debate.

And, perhaps, some wiggle room in case everything doesn't entirely fit together. Cuse admitted they "cooked the mythology" of the show between the end of the first and the start of the second season, and have been adjusting ever since.

For the actors, Season 6 has been both exciting and a bit melancholy. Appearing before TV critics while filming the final episodes, Evangeline Lilly (Kate) said she was moved by a montage of scenes from the first five seasons.

"I was whispering to my cast members, 'I am going to cry like a baby when this show ends,' " she said. "It's become so nostalgic for us to look back over six years. ... It's been so intense that for it to come to an end is going to be life-changing."

"Everyone's really getting that sense of camaraderie and nostalgia and it's just been fabulous," said Josh Holloway (Sawyer).

"Personally, I'm just feeling a tremendous amount of gratitude ... that we're getting to end something while anybody still cares and while we still kind of love each other, as opposed to everybody saying, 'It's about time,' " Lindelof said. "This is sort of a once-in-a-lifetime or once-in-a-career experience for a show.

"As I was walking onto the stage, I was sort of experiencing a sense of 'I can't believe they're going to actually let us get away with this.' "

Get away with exactly what we won't know until the finale airs. But, certainly, "Lost" has tested the boundaries of what viewers will accept, tested their patience, tested their credulity.

"I don't think any of us could have possibly foreseen the journey that it's been," understated ABC Entertainment President Stephen McPherson.