FOX's "24": Season 7 Production Problems

Production on the upcoming season 7 of FOX's clock-ticking action drama "24" starring Kiefer Sutherland will be shut down as of next week giving the writers 3 weeks to come up with better scripts.

The show has been plagued with problems ever since its concluded its Emmy-winning 5th season in 2006.

The follow-up season "Day 6" was a ratings and critical failure despite a very promising opening featuring such over-the-top storylines as a nuclear explosion in Los Angeles.



For this reason, "24" producers decided to refresh the series by taking Jack Bauer out of L.A. and putting him into an exotic location.

FOX executives however nixed the original choice because of an over-inflated budget required for shooting the series in Africa and ordered that the scripts be re-written and the new season set in Washington, DC instead.

This caused a costly delay in production schedule last summer. When the new season of "24" finally began filming, the writers' strike brought it to another halt after only 8 episodes had been completed.



At this point FOX decided not to air a new season of "24" in 2008, as they were no longer able to complete all 24 episodes in time for the January-May schedule, thus postponing the new season till January 2009.

After re-starting production earlier this year and filming a 2-hour prequel movie (scheduled to air on Sunday, November 23) and 10 additional episodes (for a total of 18), lights will go off again come September 15.

FOX is hoping the 3-week hiatus will help improve the quality of the final 6 scripts. When the prequel movie premieres in November, the show will have been off air for 18 months. Will the viewers be back?

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