In the US, 24's two-part premiere peaked at 11.50 million and its second night double-bill peaked at 11.45m, but since then it's been a steady decline. Episode 5 managed 10.69m, episode 6 fell to 9.76, episode 7 perked up to 10.18, but now the eighth episode has dropped to 8.49.
To put that in perspective, last season's lowest ebb was 9.6m (for its finale, worryingly enough), and it tended to hover around the 11m mark for the majority of the year, so it's very disappointing that the current season has dropped to such a low so quickly.
In a heavily serialized show like 24, slips like this can spell certain doom, as it's a tough show to get back into -– even if the producers turn things around and positive word-of-mouth spreads. Once people lose track of a handful of episodes, they're just less inclined to jump back in. Maybe a few would make a mental note to pick up the DVD box-set if their friends tell them the season improved, but that doesn't help Fox or 24's chance of renewal.
So, is it all over for Jack Bauer's adventures on the small screen? Should Fox accept the show has lost it grip on the world's consciousness and quietly attempt to revitalize the concept on film?
