Smallscreen News

Fox '24' season in jeopardy, strike fallout

By Stone Martindale Nov 8, 2007, 3:17 GMT

Kiefer Sutherland EPA/PAUL BUCK

"24" and Jack Bauer have been put on hold.

Bauer's seventh season has been delayed for the future, as Fox announced Wednesday that "24" won't be back until the network can air the entire season, uninterrupted.

"The viewers have told us that this is a show that needs to be digested with minimal, if any, interruptions," said Fox scheduling chief Preston Beckman to Variety.

The "24" preemption is one of several adjustments to Fox's midseason lineup as the channel became the first to reveal a strike caused schedule change.

"We've got a plan to keep Fox vibrant right through May sweep and beyond," Beckman said. "We had to make some tough decisions quickly for a variety of reasons."

The delay could mean that "24" may very well miss the year entirely and shift its seventh cycle to the 2008-09 TV season.

Variety reports that like many showrunners, actors and others, the "24" showrunners were among the pickets outside Disney on Wednesday morning; production, does continue on the episodes for which there are finished scripts -- including shoots that are ongoing through Friday in Washington, D.C.

Production on episodes seven and eight are expected to continue until early December according to Variety.

"Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" will move up to 9 p.m. effective Jan. 14 (after a two-hour premiere on Sunday, Jan. 13), while "Prison Break" will stick with its 8 p.m. slot until March according to Fox.

"Prison Break" will pull off the schedule after Nov. 12 to rest, and filling the slot will be "House" repeats.

After original "Prison Break" and "Terminator" shows run out, new reality show, "When Women Rule the World" pops into the 8 p.m. slot on March 10, followed by repeats of "House."

"House" will also remain in its Tuesday 9 p.m. spot (behind "American Idol") until April 1, when "Hell's Kitchen" returns.

A special "House" with guest star Mira Sorvino is still set to air after the Super Bowl on Feb. 3.

Fox announced that "Bones" heads to 8 p.m. starting Jan. 4; on Feb. 22, new show "New Amsterdam" replaces "House" repeats at 9.

Then on March 7, half-hours "'Til Death" and "The Return of Jezebel James" take on the 8 and 8:30 slots.

And on April 11, "Canterbury's Law" will replace "Amsterdam" at 9.