Help!  I need a Jack Bauer fix.  And I miss Chloe.

Damn the writers strike.

But there is a light ahead. Fox announced today that the clock will start clicking on Nov. 23 with a special 2-hour prequel to the next season of “24.”

That will get us excited about season 7 which begins in January 2009.

It’s been so long since we last wrote about this series that I forgot the new president will be a woman played by Cherry Jones.  (I wonder if Hilary is the inspiration).  Oh yeah, and the CTU unit was being put out of business so Chloe might not have a job. I also forgot that Janeane Garofalo is joining the cast.

Shot on location in South Africa, Jack Bauer battles an international crisis, while here at home the nation prepares for a new president on inauguration day. Taking place just a few months before the new day dawns, the prequel will set the stage and raise the stakes for season seven, according to the Fox news release.

“We’re excited about the prequel because it explores Jack’s complex emotional state of mind and still has all the signature excitement and suspense that fans have come to expect from 24,” commented executive producer Howard Gordon. “Shooting in South Africa affirms everyone’s commitment to making this season especially memorable for our fans.”

Celebrating its 150th episode this season, the series has resumed production on “Day 7” and will unfold without interruption in its regular time period Mondays beginning in January 2009.

Set in Washington, DC, “Day 7” finds CTU dismantled and Jack Bauer on trial. Bauer’s day takes an unexpected turn when former colleague Tony Almeida) (Carlos Bernard) returns. Meanwhile, President Allison Taylor (Cherry Jones) leads the country alongside White House Chief of Staff Ethan Kanin (Bob Gunton) and First Gentleman Henry Taylor (Colm Feore). 

A national security crisis prompts an investigation by a team of FBI agents including Agent Janis Gold (Janeane Garofalo), Agent Renee Walker (Annie Wersching), Agent Larry Moss (Jeffrey Nordling), Agent Sean Hillinger (Rhys Coiro) and security specialist Michael Latham (John Billingsley).

Although CTU is no longer, Chloe O’Brian (Mary Lynn Rajskub) and Bill Buchanan (James Morrison) are back for another momentous day of shocking events.

Love that Chloe.  And there are some cool Jack Bauer T-shirts out there. Here is one: