After months of rumors, Fox finally confirmed yesterday that this season will be 24’s last. But don’t expect Jack Bauer’s face to explode in the last episode; the show will live on in a film and potentially a spinoff.
There’s plenty of blame to pass around for the show’s cancellation, which some have been predicting for months. Not only are 24’s ratings declining and its costs becoming prohibitive, but the writers are completely spent. Showrunner Howard Gordon says the writer’s had “exhausted the real-time possibilities for Bauer,” according to the Hollywood Reporter. They also haven’t been able to come up with a good idea for Day Nine. But even with all of those problems, 20th Century Studios tried to pitch the show to NBC after Fox passed on a ninth season. The Peacock turned it down even after the studio offered a discount. And when NBC turns you down, that’s when you know it’s time to give up.
Fox cancels ‘24’ [HR]
