"24" co-creator/executive producer Joel Surnow is leaving the Emmy-winning Fox drama. Surnow's departure is effective immediately. He served as an executive producer on the first eight episodeso f the real-time thriller's seventh season that were produced before and into the strike but will not be creatively involved in the remaining 16 episodes, slated to begin filming shortly. Surnow's overall deal with "24" producer 20th Century Fox TV was up April 30. This week, the writer-producer asked the studio to release him early, and it agreed.
