Written by Nicole Pedersen

 

On Friday EW.com reported that Fox's signature series "24" was shutting down production – again. 20^th Century Fox soon confirmed the story, adding that the two week pause would not affect the show's "Day 7" debut - still scheduled for January 2009.

And why the delay? Seems that series showrunner Howard Gordon was not at all satisfied with the quality of scripts turned in for the final six episodes of the season… and why should he be? The writers only had twelve months to get them just right.

The one-time audience magnet "24" had shot eight of their 24 episodes for "Day 7" when the writer's strike hit. Because everyone knows that a series whose main conceit is "real time" action probably could not keep the excitement pumping if their season was divided by months of down-time (and if "Day 6" is any indicator, even airing all 24 episodes back-to-back is no guarantee of audience enthusiasm), Fox decided to delay the season by a full year.

The extra time ostensibly allowed Gordon and his writing staff to craft a seventh day that would reignite passions for "24," which on the heels of ridiculous plot turns and lazy scripting in season six saw its viewership fall off precipitously. Gordon wants things to go differently this year, which is why he called for a production halt beginning September 15^th after filming on episode eighteen wraps.  

"We had a couple of scripts that we weren't happy with," Gordon told EW.com, adding that his "only, only, only concern at all is getting it right."

Really? Only a couple of scripts you weren't happy with? What, was the torture not "enhanced" enough? Or maybe the villains were a little too nuanced? I guess we'll all find out in January when "24" makes its not-at-all anticipated return to the Fox lineup.