24 is returning early to the Fox network, having been previously delayed by the writer’s strike and Kiefer Sutherland’s DUI jail time. The series was originally not going to make it to television until early 2009.
The new series, which was originally due to air Stateside in January 2008, will now not go out until January 2009.
To help fans make the transition over the long break, a made-for-TV prequel is planned for the autumn. The two-hour special will be set in Africa a year after the events portrayed in day six.
“(Jack’s) a soul in turmoil and has been moving from place to place trying to find somewhere he can be at peace,” explains a source. “But he winds up in Africa in the middle of a coup.”
The programme will lay the groundwork for next season’s action which begins and ends at 8am and plays out against a Washington backdrop.
Is Fox bringing back 24 for a special event to test how audiences feel about Jack Bauer now that Kiefer has done some jail time? I’m not sure how much Kiefer’s reputation has been sullied by the drink driving arrest and prison sentence. While it was hardly a first offense, in fact I think you might describe his drinking as a ‘problem’, people didn’t seem to react the same way they did when Paris, Nicole and Lindsay were arrested. Maybe there’s a different standard for women when it comes to a DUI arrest.
It’s possible the network is also hesitant to commit to a full length series because of the anticipated actors strike. I hope the strike doesn’t go on for too long, if it does go ahead. Another season of tv like this one and I’ll turn my television into a fish tank.
Just for a laugh, here’s Kiefer getting arrested for the new series. It’s like a reenactment for those of us that missed the real life drama. Will this be shown on 24 or America’s Most Wanted?
Picture note by Celebitchy: Kiefer Sutherland is shown on the set of “24” on 5/11/08, thanks to Splash News.
I think the reason why people react better to Kiefer’s DUI than they did when Paris, Nicole and Lindsay got arrested, is because Kiefer Sutherland is actually a good actor and is not a stupid idiot. That’s makes all the difference. The guy’s got a drinking problem. Now Paris, Nicole and Lindsay ARE a drinking problem. They have no talent whatsoever and they are stupid idiots who are famous for no reason.
I totally agree with the above comments! And I think Kiefer has learned from his mistakes whereas those so called famous women will never learn!
The reason everyone gets so upset when Paris, Nicole and Lindsey are arrested is because they never do their time. Kiefer screwed up just like the rest of us, and he took his punishment. The girls keep screwing up but they are so fragile that they will not take the responsibilty for their actions.
I have to agree with the above–I think the reason for the difference in public reaction is because while Paris and Lindsay and company whined and moaned and cried and made a HUGE deal about their week or two of jail time and ensured that they were in the news for months because of it, Kiefer kept his arrest as quiet as he could, didn’t make excuses for himself, never tried to insist that he hadn’t done anything wrong, and served his sentence humbly and obediently.
He also served his *full* sentence, unlike Paris and Nicole and Lindsay.
However–and this is speaking as a huge fan of 24 from way back in the early days–they really, really need to let that poor show die already. There is nothing more they can do with Jack Bauer. The show jumped the shark seasons ago. Season 6 was one of the worst trainwrecks I’ve ever seen on television, and everything I’ve heard about season 7 just makes me cringe. I like to pretend the series ended after season 5, cliffhanger ending or no. Rest in peace, 24. You were awesome a few years ago.