I guess "24" refers to the amount of months without new episodes

http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/TV/02/14/tv.24delay.ap/index.html

So Fox is waiting until January 2009 before they air any new episodes of 24. To be honest, after the atrocity that was last season, I'm not even that upset about this news. I'm hoping that the longer absence will (a) make the heart grow fonder and (b) provide the writers with even more time to come up with some fresh ideas.

I am curious, though, whether they will be going through with the storyline that would have taken place this season, or if they'll go a completely different direction next year.