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Time Is Up for 24 Creator Joel Surnow
Joel Surnow by Daniele Venturelli/WireImage.com
24 co-creator/executive producer Joel Surnow is leaving the Emmy-winning drama effective immediately, says the Reporter. Surnow served as an executive producer on the first eight episodes of the strike-struck seventh season, but will not be creatively involved in the series going forward.
Though Surnow's deal with 20th Century Fox TV wasn't up until April 30, this week he asked for and was granted an early release.
"Joel created one of the landmark series of this decade in 24 and his contribution to its creative excellence over the years has been immeasurable," Fox says in a statement. "While he leaves the show in the incredibly capable hands of the talented Howard Gordon, his input will always be welcome."
Related:
• The 24 You'll Never See: Fox Addresses "Jack-lash"
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Feb 12, 2008 9:16 PM
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What? Oh, man, I was so excited about the strike being over, and now this. Hmm. Well, there's still Howard Gordon. I wonder why Surnow wants out?
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Feb 12, 2008 10:43 PM
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I like the show and all, but I wonder if they're sick of his super conservative views and endless storylines about terrorists from the Middle East. I don't deny they exist, but 7 seasons in a row??? Ugh.
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Feb 12, 2008 10:55 PM
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Well in interest in fairness, Muslim/Arab extremist we're only the villians in three of the previous six seasons (2,4,6) the rest of the time the villians we're either generic eurotrash thugs or evil corporate/government elements.
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Feb 12, 2008 11:22 PM
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This bodes not well 
Whenever a creator/executive-producer leaves mid-season it's not a good sign.
Sigh.
24 has been my favourite show for so long (except for season 6, ugh) so now I have to wonder... if the end is in sight?
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Feb 12, 2008 11:39 PM
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The Middle East does not only encompass Muslims and Arabs. It includes other Eastern Europeans who I believe you might be calling generic eurotrash thugs. The point remains the same. I love me some Jack Bauer, but how about a good old fashioned American nutjob to hunt down? Eric Rudolph anyone? Unabomber much? How about a NATURAL disaster after which there is strife and whatnot? We're abandoning CTU evidently, so that should take away the committment to it only being about terrorism. Maybe this will breathe some new life into the show is all I'm saying.
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Feb 12, 2008 11:48 PM
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I think we should thank Joel Surnow for his contributions to the show, but I think the show will survive without him. Joel's scripts were way too PC and I think the guy is just burned out from doing this show for 7 years.
Howard Gordon has done a solid job as the showrunner and head writer and he has a solid writing staff with David Fury, Manny Coto, Evan Katz and others.
The show is in good hands people.
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Feb 13, 2008 12:15 AM
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Surprising. Not entirely horrible I think either.
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Feb 13, 2008 12:16 AM
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Dominique, in season 1 the main villains were Russians, in season 3 the main villains were Americans. In season 5 the main villains were also Americans. I'm not sure where you're getting the idea that the only villains are middle easterners. It's true that half of the seasons have had middle eastern villains, but it's innacurate to say they all have.
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Feb 13, 2008 12:19 AM
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a) Russia is directly north of Iraq and is included in the Middle East...same longitude. I didn't mean Muslims or Arabs, or I would have said that.
b) Nor did I say "main villains". Every season of 24 ends with some surprising main villain in the last 2 episodes. They go through about 18 non-main villains to get there though and pretty much every season has had one of them from Eastern Europe.
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Feb 13, 2008 3:12 AM
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I'm sad to hear this. I guess he wants to move on since the other eps won't even be filmed for almost a year.
As for the show being about terrorism (as opposed to a natural disaster), this show is about Jack Bauer, a counter-terrorism expert who works for the Counter Terrorist Unit.
It seemed to me that they have made just about every major nation a bad guy - Russia, China, US, Mexico, "Middle East" (did they ever name a country?), etc.
Something tells me this next one may be 24's last season though.
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Feb 13, 2008 9:42 AM
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Dominique, I don't know what you're smoking, or where you learned geography, but Russia is not now, nor has it ever been, included as part of the Middle East.
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Feb 13, 2008 10:14 AM
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That just made my whole day, Kat. Thanks.
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Feb 13, 2008 11:19 AM
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Dominique - I think you just chose the wrong issue to bitch about. While 24's storylines have been a bit repetitive, the nationality of the various villains has been pretty varied. I mean, even Jack's family were the evildoers last season!
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Feb 13, 2008 11:44 AM
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This news is somewhat worrisome, but I'd be more upset if Mary Lynn Rajskub left mid-season.
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Feb 13, 2008 12:39 PM
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