Season four began airing on January 31, 2008, and concluded on May 29, 2008. Production began in August 2007 and was prematurely stopped in November 2007 due to the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike. The original plan was to air all sixteen episodes in one consecutive block, uninterrupted by repeats. After the strike was resolved, it was decided that the remaining story for the season would be condensed into what co-creator Damon Lindelof called a "lean, mean five". This would include a three-hour finale, after Lindelof and Carlton Cuse petitioned ABC. Due to the time lost to the strike there was a mini-hiatus after the eighth episode had aired. The series resumed with its post-strike episodes on April 24, 2008.