Here's hoping the world-saving business pays overtime.
For the second time in as many months, production on the seventh season of 24 has been delayed while writers for the drama attempt to play catch-up on plot points for the forthcoming season.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Jack Bauer & Co. will now begin their evildoer-foiling counterterrorism duties two weeks later than initially planned, with the shooting start date pushed back from Aug. 27 to Sept. 10.
The writing staff sought the postponement to complete enough scripts to get a running start on the new season before the cameras begin to roll.
The delay is yet another setback on what's shaping up to be quite the trouble-plagued start to the fall TV season for Kiefer Sutherland's real-time posse, which is coming off its worst received season, both critically and in the ratings. To make matters worse, Emmy voters failed to honor the perpetual nominee with a nod for Best Drama Series. Sutherland did manage to scrape by with a Best Actor in a Drama nomination, however.
Back in June, production on the upcoming season was initially delayed when Fox honchos scrapped the planned Africa-set storyline due to prohibitive costs, forcing producers back to the drawing board for a new world-in-peril plot. While details are scarce about the new season, producers have confirmed they are looking to break with tradition and base the action in a city other than Los Angeles.
The powers that be have also indicated there will be some major casting shakeups this year, with Sutherland's Bauer and Mary Lynn Rajskub's computer-savvy sidekick Chloe the only confirmed returning stars.
Last month, Fox announced that Tony winner Cherry Jones would be joining the fold, signing on to play the series' inaugural female commander in chief, President Allison Taylor.
Jack Bauer's seventh worst day of his life kicks off—in whatever incarnation—in January 2008.
At least for now.