Caffeinated Clint
It was speculated that the current season of “24” (Yeah, the one where Starbuck’s Viper is taken from her and instead she’s left to ride Freddie Prinze Jr) would be it’s last, largely because of a ratings drop in recent times for the once high-rating series, but today it’s been made official. Jack Bauer is to hand in his credentials, gun and the ‘101 ways to use Dammit! in a sentence’ manual at the end of the current, er, day.
The show’s former executive producer, Jon Cassar, announced the show’s demise on his Twitter account this morning.
“News from the 24 set, the crew has been told that 24 has come to an end. There will [be] no Season 9. It’s been a great run, thanx all 4 watching”.
Kiefer Sutherland, whose movie career was essentially in the shitter (“The Cowboy Way” anyone?) when he signed to play Jack Bauer nearly a decade ago, said he’s said to say goodbye to the series but happy that it’s going to go out on a high note.
“This has been the role of a lifetime, and I will never be able to fully express my appreciation to everyone who made it possible,” Sutherland said. “While the end of the series is bittersweet, we always wanted 24 to finish on a high note, so the decision to make the eighth season our last was one we all agreed upon.”
Series showrunner Howard Gordon agrees with Sutherland that the time to silence Bauer was now.
“Kiefer and I have loved every minute of making 24, but we all believe that now is the right time to call it a day,” said executive producer Howard Gordon. “I echo his sentiments of gratitude toward the show’s amazing creative team, as well as the studio and network who have always believed in us and shown us unbelievable support.”
There were rumours that NBC was waiting in the wings to pick up “24” if Fox had axed it – but Jay Leno wasn’t going to move time-slots for anybody, um, I mean, the producers just didn’t think it was a prospect worth looking into.
“If one of the writers came up with a good idea, I’d happily pitch it to Kiefer and then happily pitch to a network, whether Fox or someone else,” Gordon said. “We just don’t have that idea, and that’s where everything has to start.”
But not to worry fans, there’s still a bunch of eps of “24” still to air (including ”a dark and creatively risky” season ender) and, as you’ve likely already heard, a feature film in the works.
”Gordon and I are excited about the opportunity to create the feature film version of 24,” said Sutherland of the Billy Ray (“Shattered Glass”)-penned “24” movie that’s in the early stages of development.
With a film in the works it goes without saying that Jack Bauer obviously survives (unless, of course, they’re shaping the flick around Freddie Prinze’s character!!?) the season… “I think Jack lives”, Gordon told TV Guide. “How he lives is the real question.” Hmmm… anyone else thinking what I’m thinking!? “RoboJack!”
