Effective immediately, Joel Surnow, co-creator of Fox’s hit action series 24, has resigned from his position as the show’s executive producer. Though he served as executive producer on the first eight episodes of 24’s seventh season–delayed due to the writers strike–he will not work on the following 16.

Surnow’s contract with Fox was due to expire on April 30th, but he convinced the network to let him go early. The vehemently right-wing TV producer said he’d done some “soul searching” (I never realized republicans had souls…) during the writers strike and decided it was best to make a “clean break” with the show so that he could pursue other creative projects.

“After doing 24, I don’t know if I want to do a mainstream show again,” he said. “I like what’s going on in cable; there is an opportunity to stretch dramatically there, which is something I’m trying to do.”

Where Surnow will go now, and what he will do, are both up in the air. Whatever he does, I’m sure it’ll involve a lot of cell phone drama, super fast double closeups and plenty of yelling. The next season of 24, however, will debut (for reals this time) in January 2009.

[photo courtesy of Reuters]

Star of 24, Kiefer Sutherland has been released from prison today after serving 48 days on a drunk driving conviction.

The 41-year-old actor left the Glendale City Jail shortly after midnight and was a model inmate, Glendale Police Officer John Balian said.

“He never gave us any problems, never complained about anything,” Balian said, adding that Sutherland spent most of his time on laundry duty.

Looks like Jack Bauer is getting soft in his old age. Sutherland was arrested for drunk driving this past September for drunk driving while already on probation for a 2004 drunk driving conviction. In addition to his time served in jail, Sutherland will also have to serve “five years probation, complete an 18-month alcohol education program and attend six months of weekly therapy sessions.” However, at least TV’s most decorated and badass real-time counter terrorist agent won’t have to watch the premier of the new season of his hit show from behind bars. The seventh season of 24 is set to premier this month.