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 ...
Eh, I’m not that excited. With Sunrow leaving, and the obvious writing flaws in the show in S6, I’m not that hopeful for S7.
I stopped watching 24 when the PC crap started seeping in. With Surnow gone, the show will become just another liberal propaganda tool and its ratings will continue to drop.
Maybe he will be an important part of an election campaign to help us get the word out to elect PAT FISH. Over the weekend, I was thinking and I think that we should go with a more symbolic name like:
- Thomas Paine or,
- Paul Revere
I dream of the day when a puzzled Brit Hume reads his script, furrows his brow and says to tv audience....
...”folks, it’s just the weirdest thing. Because the polls are reporting an enormous write-in vote for.....
....Mickey Mouse?”
but you can insert your choices. It’s the mass message that appeals. Imagine the humiliation of John McCain if he causes Mickey Mouse...or even PAT FISH....to get millions of votes?
Heh. Well it’s just a dream.
poor Deagder.
After 8 years shows tend to decline due to lack of new inspired ideas and this is probably a good time for him to move and grow something else.
Actually, the preview for Season 7 doesn’t look all that bad. It shows Jack being grilled by congress on torture practices YET it later seems to endorse it by showing Jack preparing to extract information from a bad guy through torture. There might still be hope for the show. But if that scene suddenly shifts to a warm and fuzzy therapist asking the creep about his mother, I’m turning the tube off...
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