See ya in the next life, Jack (Bauer)

A few weeks ago, I noted reports that Fox was leaning towards making this season of "24" the last one, after which Kiefer Sutherland might star in a "24" feature film.

Well, Fox made the news official a couple of hours ago, and Denise Martin talked to Kiefer and producer Howard Gordon about the last longest day of Jack Bauer's life.

24: Tell me when the cancellation is!!!!!

Last night, reports started coming out that Fox is on the verge of declaring this season of "24" the last, in part because of ratings, in part because of expense, in part because Fox needs timeslots to groom new hits, and the one after "House" is some of the best real estate they have. Both reports agree that it's unlikely another network would pick up such an expensive show, especially since Fox's movie studio wants to go forward with a "24" feature film (which can't be filmed until the show is off the air, due to scheduling problems).

As you know, I've had little patience for "24" these past few years, and abandoned any plans to watch this season after Herc from "The Wire" and Starbuck's hillbilly ex-boyfriend showed up in the third episode. So I'm not the best person to ask whether now is the right time for the show to end, since I'd have ended it a long time ago. I haven't heard great things about the season even from more devout fans, but I almost checked out the recent string of episodes with Rami Malek (pictured above with Kiefer Sutherland) because Malek gives one of my favorite performances in HBO's "The Pacific" (review coming tomorrow).

So for those of you who have stuck with the show through thick and thin, how has this season been? And are you okay with the idea of the show coming to an end? Particularly if you get a big-screen Jack Bauer adventure out of it?

'Human Target' & '24' review - Sepinwall on TV

In my latest column, I review "Human Target," which debuts Sunday on Fox:

"Where's my vest?" one of Christopher Chance's clients demands after she discovers he's been wearing a bulletproof vest while protecting her from an assassin, in the pilot episode of "Human Target." (Sunday at 8 p.m. on Ch. 5)

"I'm your vest," Chance tells her.

Chance is the bodyguard of last resort, the guy you go to when you know your life is in danger but, for some reason, the authorities can't help. He is very good at what he does, but he's also reckless and possibly unhinged.

"Am I crazy?" he tells a man with a gun on him. "I'm assuming that was a rhetorical question."

And, as played by the charming, rough-and-tumble Mark Valley, he's a very entertaining action hero.

You can read the full "Human Target" review here - including a sneak peek at the show's wicked awesome title sequence. At the tail end, I talk a little bit about the new season of "24," which I won't be writing about going forward.

I'm swamped at press tour, but I'll get up some kind of post for after the "Human Target" pilot on Sunday, possibly just to gauge your reaction.