The clock is ticking on ‘24’

Hey, remember “24”?

You know, the FOX show starring Keifer Sutherland that garnered both critical acclaim – including the 2006 Emmy for Best Drama Series – and a major cult-like following during its first five years on the air?

Even though it’s known for its real-time influenced plot, highly unbelievable leaps in logic and sometimes ridiculous story arcs – the cougar from season two comes to mind – “24” still remained relevant.

But now that relevancy is in question. With the release of a brand new trailer for season seven and a set premiere date of Jan. 11, 2009, there’s a chance that audiences don’t care that much about “24” anymore.

First, the sixth season, which aired in 2007, was categorically the worst in the show’s history. It followed the Emmy-winning fifth year that stunned audiences by making eyes roll at every turn.

The plot was nothing more than recycled points from previous years and even the most dedicated fans couldn’t find much redeemable about those 24 hours.

Even the show’s writers admitted season six lacked any direction and they had “tacked on” the latter half of the plot. Clearly, there’s an issue when even the people writing the stuff don’t believe in it.

Secondly, the Writer’s Guild of America strike delayed the production of season seven immensely.

After vowing to refresh the plot for the seventh year, filming one third of the season and even releasing a fairly entertaining trailer last fall, nothing came of it.

Once the strike ran through the first of the year and the show’s usual premiere date of January, FOX decided to simply cancel any airing of season seven until 2009, more than 18 months after the last episode aired in May 2007. And though they’re trying to combat the fan’s withdrawal with a two-hour movie event this November, chances are good fans won’t be coming back in droves.

Consider this: Two shows that debuted last year to critical acclaim and moderate ratings success, “Pushing Daisies” and “Chuck,” were held back from returning to TV after their initial runs in fall of last year after the strike ended.

When they returned this season, their premieres were down 55 percent and 27 percent respectively from their season- one debuts.

Now obviously neither of those shows has the established, long-term fanbase that “24” does, but they were also off the air for a much shorter time period.

Add the extended layoff with the perceived decline in quality and suddenly you have a formula for failure.

So when the show returns in November with this two-hour movie, it will be interesting to see if the audience comes back and even more interesting if the whole thing is actually good.

The clock is ticking on “24,” and it doesn’t look good.