Re: FOX decideds NOT to renew '24'
 

I can't see this getting cancelled, since it is still Fox's number 1 or 2 show ratings wise. I think only American Idol beats it. If Fox drops this NBC would pick it up in a heartbeat. They need a hit show.

Re: FOX decideds NOT to renew '24'
 

NBC will just run the broadcast masters thru their rainbow machine

Re: FOX decideds NOT to renew '24'
 

AI beats it, House beats it. Bones occasionally beats it. Yeah, it's probably in the upper tier for Fox in regards to ratings, but it probably also costs more than several of those shows combined.

Re: FOX decideds NOT to renew '24'
 

We watched one or two of the seasons, then we could not spend the time keeping up with it. We just wactched the 1st two nights, the the last 2 nights, this seems to work well for us.

I think 24 has been losing it rating each year and cost keep going up.

Re: FOX decideds NOT to renew '24'
 

Basically Jack being a secondary character is what has killed the show.

Re: FOX decideds NOT to renew '24'
 

A strong season could bring it back. The supporting cast is really weak this year and the villains are weak. Usually 24 has a great main villain, but halfway through this season one still hasn't been revealed. I would like atleast 1 more season to come out to finish things up. As far as it being much more expensive, they could film this thing alot cheaper. They paid this year to film in New York and they've wasted the money. There hasn't been one shot of Jack in Times Square, Central Park, at the Statue of Liberty, or any of the famous trademark locations. They could have filmed this season on a studio lot.

Re: FOX decideds NOT to renew '24'
 

just retire Jack. (completely)

the cat that plays Sayid on LOST will be looking for work

plus he already got some signature Bauer moves... like that classic neckbreak he did on the beach w/ Bernard & Jin

Re: FOX decideds NOT to renew '24'
 

If they ever wanted to replace Jack my vote would go to Lennie James. He could be a great Jack replacement if they borrowed his character from Jericho.

Re: FOX decideds NOT to renew '24'
 

Re: FOX decideds NOT to renew '24'
 

http://www.thrfeed.com/2010/03/fox-cancels-24.html

Official: Last season of '24'

Tick, tick, tick … and done.

After eight seasons, Fox’s “24” is coming to an end.

The groundbreaking action drama will air its final real-time episode in May, the victim of a confluence of circumstances: a swelling budget, declining ratings and creative fatigue.

Yet for fans of Jack Bauer, there remains hope. Studio 20th TV is developing a theatrical film that takes Bauer to Europe, and showrunner and executive producer Howard Gordon says other possibilities are being explored as well.

“There are other possible iterations of Jack Bauer and his world,” Gordon said (full Q&A with Gordon about series ending here).

The writing has been on the wall for the show all season, which Gordon said felt like “senior year of high school” to star Kiefer Sutherland.

Because of the constant upward spiral of cast and creative team salaries, any drama begins to carry serious financial weight after its fifth year. Fox paid a hefty $5 million per episode license fee to 20th TV.

Meanwhile, the show’s ratings dropped 16% this season to a 3.8 adults 18-49 rating including DVR — still healthy numbers for a scripted drama, yet not enough to overcome the program’s increasing cost, a budget that was set to climb once again since contracts for Sutherland, Gordon and other key players expire this season.

Then there’s the show’s creative struggle. How many times have “24” characters declared that a looming crisis will be addressed “within the hour,” or has Bauer struggled to gain the respect of the latest CTU chief? Gordon says the show’s writers felt they had exhausted the real-time possibilities for Bauer and never came up with a truly compelling idea for Day 9.
“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.”

Producers did sniff around at other networks, namely NBC, with 20th TV offering to lower its license fee to $3.5 million to keep the show going. NBC ran the numbers and passed.

As the weeks tick down to the show’s final hour, Gordon promises a strong finish coupled with the current New York-based storyline taking a dark and creatively risky turn for the final episodes.

For fans, the ending of “24,” along with ABC’s “Lost,” represents the departure of one of the few successful serialized action-driven shows on broadcast, leaving a suitcase-nuke-sized gap in the creative landscape. In addition to its unique real-time storytelling model, the drama pioneered the modern-day TV cliffhanger.

Even its scheduling was an innovation — a returning hit that airs in midseason without repeats.

“I’d like it to be remembered as a revolutionary concept,” Gordon said. “I hope the second thing is that we loved this show so much and never did anything less than our best and I hope we delivered to our fans like we feel we did to ourselves.”

Re: FOX decideds NOT to renew '24'
 

http://www.thrfeed.com/2010/03/24-finale-.html

'24' showrunner talks series finale, future plans

Howard Gordon, “24” executive producer and showrunner talks about the the decision to cancel the series and what’s next for Jack Bauer.
THR: What's next for "24"?

Gordon: There are other possible iterations of Jack Bauer and his world -- whether a movie or some other sort of scenario. We're developing the movie, Billy Ray (”State of Play,” “Shattered Glass”) is writing it. It depends on how well it comes out and Fox's appetite. Most importantly it's about ending the show right and doing it with the same level of intensity and commitment that we started with.

THR: When's the soonest that fans could realistically expect a feature film?

Gordon: Obviously the script's still being written. It could be as early as next year depending on how things come together.
THR: Since the setting shifts to Europe for the movie, will CTU still play a role?

Gordon: Yes and no. Jack is really the center of it, catching up with him emotionally and locationally where he is. The opportunity is not to use the real-time aspect and also to do it on a scale the TV show never allowed.

THR: Is there anything TV-related that you're looking to do in the future with the “24” brand?

Gordon: There are conversations about that. If one of the writers came up with a good idea, I'd happily pitch to Kiefer and happily pitch the show to the network -- whether Fox or someone else. We just don't have that idea and that's where everything has to start.

THR: You never pitched an idea for next season?

Gordon: We couldn't come up with something that really satisfied us. We've done everything we feel we can do with that character in this format.

THR: How ending the show come about?

Gordon: It helped that this was the end of a lot of peoples' contracts. There was a deal finiteness in place. Also, every year is a high-wire act. We all look at each other and ask, 'Can we really do this again?' and it's not with complete conviction that we say, 'Yes.' As an act of faith and effort, we get through it. This year Kiefer said it felt like the senior year of high school.

THR: How do you want “24” the series to be remembered?

Gordon: I'd like it to be remembered as a revolutionary concept. The second thing is that we loved this show so much and never did anything less than our best. I hope we delivered to our fans like we feel we did to ourselves. We loved this show from the very first hour to the last hour, so I hope people think of it being consistently at that quality and that it never dipped too terribly -- except for season six.

THR: Can you tease to the rest of the season?

Gordon: We've taken a risk in the last eight episodes. It was challenging to the writers to the actors. We're taking a risk, the show has to do that. Without spoiling what's to come, it's pretty dark and complex and a place that was uncomfortable for us to write and for some of the actors to act. We really swung for the fences. Because the show is as old as it is, this season hasn't really been given its due. But our audience is hanging in there with us and I think it's been a very successful season.

THR: How has this decision creatively impacted the ending?
Gordon: There have been a couple other season-enders that would have been spectacular series enders. Season four, season five and last year. I was more aware this time of ending something that really felt surprising, but not cheap; emotionally consistent. Some will throw their shoes at the screen, inevitably some will be angry, some will say they hated it the last three years. You can't please everybody you can only do the best you can do. I'm hoping people lean forward. I'm hoping the first feeling people have is, "Damn I miss it, I want more."

Re: FOX decideds NOT to renew '24'
 

not unexpected and certainly not sad. while it was a great show that had a pretty good run, it's been awful this year.

Re: FOX decideds NOT to renew '24'
 

Kim getting mauled by a Cougar is the only way to end the series!

Re: FOX decideds NOT to renew '24'
 

Thanks for posting the interview with Howard Gordon ten41.

I know this season hasn't been as good as the rest, but it has had its moments. It's just a shame that after the fantastic and refreshing Season 7, this one will be the last. Just because the season isn't as good as the rest doesn't necessarily mean it should be canceled.

But reading that interview I have to wonder if this "cancellation" wasn't on 24's own terms after all. I don't know if Gordon's answers were a result of feedback he has received regarding the current season or not, but he seems pretty upfront about the show having run its course in the current format and wanting to take it in a different direction on the big screen. If that's true, and the cancellation is a result of lower ratings in addition to the writers, producers, and actors wanting to end it because they couldn't come up with a compelling story for a ninth season, then I am okay with FOX deciding to "cancel" the show.

Based on what Gordon said though, I'm really looking forward to these last 8 episodes. I always figured the show would end with Jack sacrificing himself, but obviously that isn't going to happen if they are going to continue the series as at least one feature film. It will be interesting to see what happens that he thinks will greatly divide viewers.

Re: FOX decideds NOT to renew '24'
 

Interesting that Gordon even mentions how poor Season 6 was, or at least how poorly it was received. Hopefully knowing the show is ending gives the writers something to rev this show up and right this sinking ship.

Re: FOX decideds NOT to renew '24'
 

I don't know if Gordon realizes, but 2011 is the 10th anniversary of the show. IMO, that would be an ideal time to release the feature film (maybe Fall when it originally premiered)

Re: FOX decideds NOT to renew '24'
 

I read Mary Lynn Rajskub's Twitter page and she says they are shooting episodes 23 and 24 right now. And she officially got the news that this is the last season.

http://twitter.com/rajskub

Re: FOX decideds NOT to renew '24'
 

Hopefully the good news out of this is a season 2 for Human Target.

Re: FOX decideds NOT to renew '24'
 

Sad to see it go, but I'll take a movie trilogy now.

Damn, Nip/Tuck, Lost, and 24 ending. DVR will be taking a break next season.

Re: FOX decideds NOT to renew '24'
 

I'll definitely miss 24. I still remember the premiere night - Nov 6, 2001

From high school to career man. Time sure flies

Re: FOX decideds NOT to renew '24'
 

:rip:

It had sometimes been a rocky ride, but I'll defintely miss 24.

Re: FOX decideds NOT to renew '24'
 

Well, at least they hired someone different to write the 24 movie (Billy Ray) He wouldn't have been my 1st choice, but at least I hope he will bring a fresh perspective to the Jack Bauer character and a good story. I think the current group of writers (including Howard Gordon) are completely burned out even if they won't admit it. If they greenlight his script, I hope they would consider bringing back Stephen Hopkins to direct it since he has experience with features and directed most of season 1.

Re: FOX decideds NOT to renew '24'
 

/\ Hopkins on board would be great!

Re: FOX decideds NOT to renew '24'
 

I'm all for this. :up:

Re: FOX decideds NOT to renew '24'
 

It's going to be very interesting with 24 ending, if they will move Fringe to Monday night, or if Human Target is going to fill 24's slot on Monday if they renew it.