20th Century Fox TV and Fox appear ready to end the long running hit of “24” after this season, the show's eighth. Studio and network executives declined comment, but the decision isn’t a big surprise. The cost of producing “24” has continued to increase, while ratings have dropped the author – Michael Schneider – explains. Critics have been busy this year with their share of kicks and knocks about the series eighth season (airing Monday nights at 9pm on Fox). But even as the bell tolls for “24” in primetime, the franchise is far from dead (which is great news for loyal watchers like myself). In the media mindset where there is a guarantee to lose money, producers will do anything to avoid that. Kiefer Sutherland (Jack Bauer and executive producer) and the “24” team have been eager on adapting the show as a feature film, and have made major strides in recent months toward making that long-term goal a reality.

News has always covered subjects that catch people’s attention and differ from their ordinary lives. News is also often used for escapism and thus every day occurrences are not newsworthy. You’re probably thinking: “Why are you talking about the news when this blog is about ‘24’?” In my eyes, “24” is similar to newsworthiness, and I’ll tell you why. Newsworthiness can be seen as a subject having sufficient relevance to the public or a special audience to warrant press attention or coverage. I know “24” isn’t the news you watch at 11 o’clock when you’re crawling into bed, but “24” is different from any other thing you watch on television and it catches people’s attention because it is not ordinary. “24” targets a special audience in the public, and enters real life scenarios, problems, and drama. Sure, there isn’t a nuclear bomb about to blow up in America – but, “24” presents what America (and CTU, Counter Terrorist Unit) would do in a one in a million chance that scenario would come about.

Although it was developed before the attacks of 9/11, which bowed Nov. 6, 2001, in many ways began to mirror the changed world, given real-life fears of terrorism and debates over torture methods. Skein's depiction of an African American president was seen as a groundbreaking precursor to the 2008 election of Barack Obama. The show’s depiction of a female president currently, shakes up some thoughts too since Sarah Palin was running for Vice President in that same 2008 election against Obama and Biden. “24” might not be exactly the news, but it is similar given these examples. In the end, newsworthiness of the story of “24” depends on the audience – as you decide what you do or don’t have an interest in.

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