Time's up on "24"

According to Variety.com, Fox Broadcasting is set to announce that long-running television action drama "24" will call it a day at the end of the current eighth season. Citing rising production costs and declining ratings, the show's producers and star, Kiefer Sutherland, are looking to bringing the Jack Bauer character to the big screen. "Shattered Glass" writer Billy Ray has already been hired to write a screenplay that will put CTU agent Bauer in Europe. There is no time frame as to when the show might make the jump to movie screens.

As a longtime fan of the show, I have to say that I think the time is overdue to retire "24", at least on television. With the exception of the so-so third season, the first five years of the show were some of the most enjoyable. But once the show hit Season Six (and right after they won the Emmy for Best Dramatic Series), the show hit a brick wall. Season Seven was an improvement, but the concept was beginning to grow tiresome. Season Eight has been okay so far, but outside of its New York City setting, it really is bringing nothing new to the table.

A big screen film or two should give Bauer and the "24" universe a chance to really let loose on the adult content. Granted, the movie won't be 24 hours long. But Jack should be able to say more than "damnit!" when things go wrong, and the blood and body count should soar to "R" rated levels.