Today is a sad day for fans of Fox's 24 as the final two hours in Jack Bauer's latest long day have aired and the show has ended its run after eight years. This evening, we will know Jack's fate, at least for now, and how the day ends.

After the finale, 24 makes its long anticipated jump to the big screens of movie theaters. Many think it will be a smooth jump and that the show will easy make the conversion from television series to big feature production. I'm just not so sure.

One of the things that made 24 such a hit and caught the attention of the American public was method it used to tell it's story each season. They did this by presenting the episodes in real time which is where each episode makes up an hour of a particular day, and the 24 episodes cover just that day. This worked to help keep viewers' interest as they were always left, in the tradition of show business, begging for more, wondering how Jack would handle the mess he was in at the end of the hour.

While the story, adventures, and misadventures of Jack Bauer and CTU kept fans hooked, the real time factor can not be ignored. By confining themselves to this format, it helped keep the story continuity very smooth, and not interrupted. Let's face it, folks ... while flashbacks are great for filling out the storyline, in this show's case, it would have taken away from the show more than help it.

It has already been announced that when the 24 movie comes out, it will be a regular movie and not in the real time format. Frankly, I'm concerned that this might work against the film. Without the real time format, 24 simply becomes another good television show attempting the transition. It will be a true challenge to the writers of the film to make the story powerful enough to make up for that handicap. I hope they do as I want to see more of this franchise.

Whatever the fate of the movie when it comes out, 24 leaves the air with numerous accomplishments, presenting its story the way they wanted. Each year, the writers, crew, and cast worked together to present their story in the manner they wished, untainted by outside pressures.

You add up all of the factors that made 24 a hit and it boils down to one fact. The show was and is great television. It entertained, got people to think, and kept them coming back for more. In the entertainment business, you can't ask for more than that.

So, farewell for now Jack and CTU. All of your fans will be waiting to see what the movie has in store for you. I hope it is as big a hit as the series has been.

In closing, with all respect to the polls, I personally liked Cherry Jones best as President on the show. But I am prejudiced on that point, being a native of Paris, TN.

Till next time!