Posted on 02/12/2008 6:21:07 PM PST by RDTF
LOS ANGELES -- "24" co-creator/executive producer Joel Surnow is leaving the Emmy-winning drama.
Surnow's departure is effective immediately. He served as an executive producer on the first eight episodes of Fox's real-time thriller's seventh season that were produced before and into the strike but will not be creatively involved in the remaining 16 episodes, slated to begin filming shortly.
Surnow's overall deal with "24" producer 20th Century Fox TV was up April 30. This week, the writer-producer asked the studio to release him early, to which they agreed.
Instead of signing a show deal to continue providing services on "24," Surnow decided to go for "a clean break" and leave altogether to focus on new projects, sources said. ("24" co-creator/executive producer Robert Cochran's overall pact with 20th TV also expired last year, but he continues to work on the series.)
"Joel created one of the landmark series of this decade in '24' and his contribution to its creative excellence over the years has been immeasurable," Fox said in a statement Wednesday. "While he leaves the show in the incredibly capable hands of the talented Howard Gordon, his input will always be welcome."
In the past few years, since executive producer Gordon took the reins of the 20th TV/Imagine TV series as showrunner, Surnow has been developing other projects on the side, including the "The 1/2 Hour News Hour" for Fox News Channel.
-snip-
The openly conservative Surnow, who jokingly labeled himself a "right-wing nut," has been the most visible of the masterminds behind "24."
He hasn't shied from speaking his mind and made headlines in November when he asked, "Are we nuts thinking Hillary Clinton could be president of this country? Honest to God, just stand back and think about it."
-snip-
(Excerpt) Read more at hollywoodreporter.com ...
reminds me of The Sopranos. Just when I forget about it, it shows back up. At least it’s not a pay channel.
reminds me of The Sopranos. Just when I forget about it, it shows back up. At least it’s not a pay channel.
I’ve loved 24 but it certainly sounds like S7 is one to foget about.
yep. Hope not.
Nooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Joel Surnow is a true conservative and a great American. I am happy to see him escaping a sinking ship. Gordon is vile. I hope he puts out a new liberal “24” and it crashes and burns. I do feel sorry for Kiefer who is under contract to suffer the new regime.
That’s better than anything I can make up; the best satire always has an element of truth. So Jack, having saved the world countless times must now answer for his harsh treatment of terrorists. Is McCain leading the investigation?
Future episodes will look like law and order episodes...CSI Iran, followed by SCI Syria, followed by CSI North Korea.
It will be courtroom drama at its most exciting!
Unfortunately this is probably the final nail in the coffin for the show. Sad. Been a huge fan since the second season was on air, and own the first five on DVD. I had supported it all the way through last year’s sigh-inducing season (six), and was looking forward to it getting started again.
I went to a writer’s panel last July at the San Diego Comic-Con and the writers basically said “yeah, we know last season wasn’t so great, so we’re going to be taking it in a new direction.” That sounded okay I guess, but as more information began to trickle out (Janeane Garofalo? No thanks...) a feeling of dread has set in. Evil Tony seems to be an okay villain choice, I guess, but how the hell are they going to explain away his season five “death”? I’ve also read that, completely separate from the writer’s strike, production on season seven has been nothing less than chaotic, with multiple last-minute plot rewrites. They even at one point considered abandoning the 24-hour format, the show’s hallmark. And now this. I hope I’m wrong, but 24’s future seems bleak.
You mean '24' is still around?
one thing i noticed looking at the picture...
There are no fat people on that show. :)
There was... Edgar. But he bit the dust in S5.
I can’t wait for it to come back on the air. I think it might not be on until January 2009. We might need the show and some entertainment after Obama swears in.
Ping for later...I must watch this. Ugh!!!
Ping for later...I must watch this.
“Jack Bauer will be fighting Global Warming. He will have 24 hours to reduce energy footprint of the CTU water-heaters.”
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No dice. We’ve got Captain Planet to take care of that. Remember when he took down the smog monster?
There was... Edgar. But he bit the dust in S5.
I was thrilled to see him get the boot. I hate Cloe’s ex-husband too. What a weakling. YUK!!!
Fork - done..
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