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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"24" Sneak Peek to Premiere October 25

FOX will unveil a new extended "Day 7" trailer for its clock-ticking thriller "24" at www.24trailer.com and in New York's Time Square on the iconic News Astrovision by Panasonic next Thursday. Check out the details the network released about the new season set in Washington and scheduled to premiere January 13, 8-10pm.

"Day 7" opens with CTU dismantled and Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) on trial. Bauer's day takes an unexpected turn when former colleague Tony Almeida (Carlos Bernard) returns.

Meanwhile, Madame President Allison Taylor (Cherry Jones) leads the country alongside White House Chief of Staff Ethan Kanin (Bob Gunton) and First Gentleman Henry Taylor (Colm Feore).

A national security crisis prompts an investigation by a team of FBI agents including Agent Janis Gold (Janeane Garofalo), Agent Renee Walker (Annie Wersching), Agent Larry Moss (Jeffrey Nordling), Agent Sean Hillinger (Rhys Coiro) and security specialist Michael Latham (John Billingsley).

Although CTU is no longer, Chloe O'Brian (Mary Lynn Rajskub) and Bill Buchanan (James Morrison) are back for another momentous day of shocking events.

After the 2-hour premiere, "24" moves into its regular timeslot on Monday, January 14 at 9/8c and will run uninterrupted all the way into June.

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"24" Endangered by Sutherland's DUI Arrest

The production on FOX's Emmy-winning, but troubled drama "24" which finally began after two delays a couple of weeks ago, may be endangered once again if the show star Kiefer Sutherland is sent to prison, following his DUI arrest on Tuesday morning which violates his 5-year probation stemming from an earlier arrest. Check out the pics of the star taken at a FOX party hours before the arrest, after the jump.


As Hollywood trade press reports, Sutherland drove straight from the set of "24" to the party, which took place at hotspot Area celebrating the launch of FOX's fall season, and was offered a company limo service but declined.

He was then arrested early Tuesday on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. He tested over the state's legal blood alcohol limit of 0.08% and is scheduled to appear in court Oct. 16.


Sutherland is scheduled to continue his work on "24" today, so his 3-hour stay in jail on Tuesday morning did not affect the production. The actor however faces a maximum sentence of one year in jail as well as additional trouble for violating his probation from a similar 2004 conviction.

Time will tell if his legal problems affect the already troubled production of "24."

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Kiefer's 24-Style Citroen Ad

"24" may have lost some luster in the past season on FOX, but that can't be said for this funny Citroën ad Kiefer Sutherland filmed in São Paulo, Brazil which was inspired by the Emmy-winning series. Argentinian actress/model, Araceli González also stars. Thanks to Cibele for alerting me to this great ad.

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400th "Simpsons" Goes "24"

Can you believe it has been 18 years already? As yet another season of FOX's "The Simpsons" ends with a one hour finale tomorrow night (Kiefer Sutherland makes another voice cameo in a "24" spoof called "24 Minutes") some feel compelled to ask - how long can the show go on?

The animated series premiered in 1989 having started as short segments on "The Tracy Ullman Show." Being able to appeal to masses, it quickly grew into a 5 billion dollar business for the News Corp. Co. which own FOX Broadcasting.

The producers believe their success in unbelievable in today's climate of reduced ratings as more and more viewers find alternative entertainment on DVD, The Internet and other platforms.

Although the show has reached the point when it no longer needs to produce new shows and if it were to go off air it would continue to make a lot of money for decades to come, it appears "The Simpsons" may eventually exceed "Gunsmoke" (20 years, 633 episodes) as the longest running scripted series of all time.

Despite the fact the show ratings have now gone down to an average of 8,7 million viewers this year, with The Simpsons Movie opening July 27, a video game due later this year and a Simpsons theme park ride, the franchise won't be going away any time soon.


In tomorrow night's episode: Principal Skinner ushers the students of Springfield Elementary into a new era of sneaking, snooping and snitching with the opening of the school's CTU Counter Truancy Unit with Lisa heading up the operation.

Homer is sent on a mission to dispose of a container of yogurt so far past its freshness date that it could be toxic, but the reeking yogurt falls into the wrong hands.

With the help of Jack Bauer (guest voice Kiefer Sutherland) and Chloe O'Brian (guest voice Mary Lynn Rajskub), Bart and Lisa must stop bullies Dolph, Kearney and Jimbo from releasing the ultimate stink bomb at the school's annual bake sale.

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24's Kiefer Sutherland In Men's VOGUE Magazine

Check out the latest (January/February) issue of Men's Vogue Magazine for a special fashion feature with FOX's 24 star Kiefer Sutherland.

The magazine says Kiefer lives his life at full gallop both on his TV series "24" and on his ranch where the photoshoot for the feature had taken place.

According to the magazine, Ruper Murdoch's FOX pays the actor over 10 million dollars per year to play Jack Bauer on the award winning series and Bush's war council allegedly studies his anti-war tactics.

Read more about 24

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Do Not Mess With Jack Bauer

The man who "killed" 136 people in five heart-pounding days in the "24" universe on FOX was crowned "Big TV Star" at the VH-1 "Big In 06 Awards" on Saturday. Yesterday, FOX announced Rick Schroder will join their blockbuster series.

The actor was presented the award by Eva Longoria and thanked the fans saying filming 24 has been one of the most exciting experiences in his life.

Meanwhile, FOX has announced Rick Schroder formerly of NYPD Blue will join the award-winning cast of "24" as forceful CTU Operative Mike Doyle who teams with Jack Bauer to execute crucial field operations.

Chad Lowe (ER), Powers Boothe (Deadwood), Peter MacNicol (Ally McBeal), Regina King (Ray), James Cromwell (Babe), Kal Penn (Harold & Kumar), Marisol Nichols (In Justice), Alexander Siddig (Syriana), David Hunt (Everybody Loves Raymond) and Harry Lennix (Commander in Chief) have already joined the FOX blockbuster series that begins its Day Six with a 2-night 4-hour event January 14 and 15.

All these exceptional actors will again be joined by the outstanding Jean Smart and Gregory Itzin who reprise their roles as First Lady Martha Logan and the disgraced former President Charles Logan.

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FOX CASTS JACK BAUER'S FATHER

Six Feet Under star, James Cromwell (Babe, L.A. Confidential) is joining the cast of FOX hit counterterrorist drama 24.

The actor who is currently filming Spider-Man 3 will play father to federal agent Jack Bauer (played by Kiefer Sutherland).

In addition to Cromwell, FOX has also announced casting British comedian Eddie Izzard as a 'villanous accomplice" whom Jack Bauer will hunt and torture.

Cromwell and Izzard join Kal Penn, Peter MacNichol, Regina King, Marisol Nichols, and Harry Lennix as new cast members in the show's sixth season scheduled to premiere in January 2007 on FOX.