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24 clock about to stop?

There is speculation 20th Century Fox TV and FOX are set to call it quits on Jack Bauer's action-packed series.

Looks like the clock will finally stop on 24 , according to reports.

Anybody who has been watching the current season won’t be surprised by this revelation, it’s almost painful to see the great Jack Bauer limping along in his eighth outing.

According to Variety, 20th Century Fox TV and FOX declined to comment, but it’s believed that the final decision will be made in the next day or two.

The cost of producing the series has continued to increase, while ratings have dipped.

The studio is said to be considering shopping 24 to other networks, but given the thriller’s age and pricetag, it’s believed interest from other outlets will be limited.

Of course a big screen version has been on the wish-list for some time, with Kiefer Sutherland saying he would be keen to pursue such once the small screen version was over. Writer Billy Ray (State of Play, Flightplan) was recently attached to a feature project which takes Jack Bauer to Europe.

The show is currently airing on 7TWO in Australia but not pulling good figures.

Source: Variety

21 Responses

  1. I’m still liking this season, I mean, it still is 24, I still have an attachment to the Jack character and the Chloe character.The storyline isn’t that bad I think, the writers are still building tension in the right spots ect. Last week’s episode on 7 Two wasI think one of the best of this season to date.

    Having said that it is nothing like season 1 or 5 which where two of the best seasons in my book. I hear the Charles Logan character is coming back toward the end of this season, that should be good to watch.

    I read that the contract to make 24 ends after this season, that’s why they are thinking of pulling the plug now. I hope they don’t and it comes back bigger and (more importantly) Better than this year.

    If it doesn’t come back, then a big screen adaptation would be awesome, as a finale. 2 hours in real time just like Redemption but with more action and a better script. The viewers deserve closure for the Jack Bauer character – it is a great show with dedicated fans and if done correctly a big screen film would be fantastic and make money.

  2. I read sometime back, I think it was one of the US networks websites, that contracts have been signed to make up to session 10. Things may have changed if session 8 is really as bad as the above comments suggest, I haven’t seen any of it yet, so can’t comment. I’ve enjoyed them all, even session 6 my least favourite was still ok. I would have to agree with one of the above contributors that it’s doubtful that a 24 movie will ever be made. I believe this show really deserves to go out in style and in a big bang, not a whimper. For Session 9, get some brilliant script writers and some awesome actors (e.g. Like someone of the calibre of Dennis Hopper, Session 1). It worked for the Sopranos when they brought in Steve Buscemi to Direct and act. Maybe Jack can go out, guns blazing, saving the day but not him self. There’s a script idea! 🙂

  3. The show should have wound up after season 1. When the pin is pulled maybe Kiefer Sutherland can learn how to act again instead of hamming it up.

  4. I still enjoy 24, but would not be sad to see it bow out this season. Its been a hell of a run, and honestly its jumped the shark and returned to its former glory in the last couple of years, so leaving it now would be again before another, possibly perminant, dip in quality.

  5. Sad to say it but the show has had its day. Have watched every season faithfully, but nothing’s been able to top Season 1. I used to count down the days till each season started and watched each episode as it aired. I think it speaks for itself that his year, I’m recording them all and watching them all over a weekend once it’s over. Maybe it’ll be better viewing this way give all the flak it seems to be copping this season from the comments here. 🙁 RIP 24 (just getting in early).

  6. Yeah – I could see this coming for a while now.

    24 has fallen to 8.5 million viewers in recent US airings, well down from the 13 million viewers in seasons 5 and 6.

    The main problem with this season is the poor central storyline – ie. Nuclear rods. So very, very boring.

    And Freddy Prince Junior – WTF? He seems so out of place!

    24 should have made the storyline about a Terrorist facing trial in New York – this has not been done before and would have allowed the writers to make poliical commentaries about the current debate in US over domestic terror trials.

    Finally, heres Selma’s rankings of the best 24 seasons:

    1 5 4 7 2 6 8 3

  7. When it’s fun it’s fun. It’s always had a few ridiculous stories (Kim vs the Cougar) but this season doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. There is no tension or real sense of danger. It’s like it’s been written by amateurs!

    The characters are wasted and the silly side plot feels tacked on to pad the episode out.

    I really think they should have brought more agents in and not centralised the stories around Jack. It’s ridiculous how many times he saves the day. It’s this is it I hope this ends on a high not the whimper it’s been this season.

  8. What this shows has suffered from is poor writing – the concept itself is great and still works. Sometimes, things that happen in the last few seasons are so far-fetched that I’ve wanted to throw the remote at the tv. Hiring Brannon Braga – the man who single-handedly ruined the entire Star Trek franschise – it should be no surpirse that the same has happened to 24. Vale Jack.

  9. Law and Order (the original and SVU) have 31 seasons, CSI (Les Vegas, Miami and New York) have at least 30 seasons, which are shows that are generally solved in a single episode.

    24 on the other hand takes 24 episodes (a season) to solve the crime. Season six was pretty weak, but I’ve really enjoyed the other series of 24, including the current one.

  10. More agreement here. Although I am finding season eight a suitably diverting hour of telly each week, it’s hardly nearing the level of greatness that seasons like two and five attained. Last year’s ‘day’ looked like it was the beginning of an uptick in the show’s quality after the rather rubbish six, but it now seems that it was actually an anomoly rather than an indicator.

    I’ll enjoy what remains of 24, but I’m resigned to it never returning to the heights it once reached.

  11. I’d also to point out to any C7 programmer people who may be reading this / hearing this news, to at least Please let the season play out in its current slot, irrespective of how the show is performing. If there’s one thing worse than an under-performing season, it’s a season thats bumped/dumped.

    Jen, i agree spooks mops the floor with the more recent seasons of 24 (seasons 1-4 of 24 were fantastic stuff). They appear to have much more freedom with what to say and how to say it. As for tom – meh. I just didnt like his character a whole lot 🙂 – even though the guy who played tom was in one of my favourite movies – death at a funeral.

  12. Brisvegas, you’re right about Spooks, except that I loved it from the start, with Tom and Zoe.
    They’ve been through rather a lot of cast members, but just when you think someone will be impossible to replace, another character rises to the occasion.
    Better than 24, in my opinion.

  13. Just echoing the sentiments in the thread, sadly i do think it is time for the show to end. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, i’ve looked at the first 6 seasons as two separate trilogy’s. Although Season 6 was a real dull and boring season, season 7 was a return to form tackling issues the only way 24 knows how, the current season 8 is too much of a mix of rehatched plot points (character escapes previously thought un-escapeable situation, character previously not thought as the mole… Is indeed the mole etc), and wooden acting by the supporting cast.

    Furthermore as much as i’d love to see it eventuate, i don’t see a big screen version of 24 working. For one thing the real time aspect would be thrown out of the window in many aspects. And i think it has come too soon into the lifespan of the series (former watchers of the show, may not be interested in following it).

    The show took me on one hell of a ride over the course of the series, so many twists and turns + plenty of MacGyver + 00-Bauer moments in season 4 + 5).

    I’ll be clinging to the original Law & Order as i don’t have many “favorite” tv shows left on air 🙁

  14. I think the show should have wrapped up the season jack came back from the chinese. That season ended badly (i think it was the season with the dodgy president?). If that had wrapped up better, we’d have been in a much better position for a proper movie (as opposed to the tv “redemption” movie, a disappointing last season (particularly the ending – wtf?) and a lame-duck current season).

    Previously in most other seasons, every 4 hours or so, the story gets put on its head and you have a “woahh – That’s why I love this show” kind of moment (such as Tony being revealed as the bad guy etc) – but this season just really hasn’t had it. It’s full of characters i really dont care about. Apart from jack and chloe and Renee (though caring about her is debatable), i couldnt list many other character names. There’s “starbuck”, “scooby-doo dude”, “guy who was immortal in heros when i used to watch it”, “leoben from BSG dude”, “mr Das boot” and a few others.

    The format is tired, and sadly i dont think the character will make a successful big-screen jump – unless they put jack in space, or something lol.

    And for my final 2 cents – if there are any big fans of 24 who’ve also felt so let down over the past 2 seasons or so, check out spooks. It takes 2 seasons to get properly warmed up (exit tom, enter Adam) – but it’s right up there as a 24 replacement.

  15. It’s probably better this way, ultimately it’s getting tired and boring.. how many terrorists are out there who genuinely launch an attack against America… there’s been like 3 in a decade?

  16. Love the show but good call in my honest opinion. I didn’t watch the last season and very little of season before, started watching this season but never really got into. Same old same old now. Getting predictable with assassination attempts, always a mole in CTU, Jack always gets caught but then free. Had it’s time. And with too many options Tuesday now, i can’t watch it at all now.

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