Last year’s writers strike left America with few new juicy scripted shows to watch on TV this time of year. A show that may have suffered the most was “24.”

“24” is a program that starts its season in January so it can run without reruns until May. Because of the strike, season seven of “24,” which was originally scheduled to air in January of 2008, was pushed back until January of 2009.

“I respect the fact that they pulled it, because they wouldn’t be able to film the whole ‘24’ episodes,” Alex Dawson, film and video studies senior, said. “They would have been able to do like 10, but that’s not what ‘24’ is.”

“24” follows counter-terrorist agent Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) as he tries to save the country over a 24-hour period. The episodes are in real time — each one represents an hour of a day.

To create a bridge between season six, which aired in 2007, to season seven, a two-hour movie special, titled “24: Redemption,” will air on Sunday.

“I’m excited about it, but not as enthusiastic as I would have been a year ago,” Josh Hood, meteorology senior, said. “I believe people have moved on and found other shows.”

Hood said the two-hour movie is airing too far away from the premiere of the seventh season.

“They should’ve waited a little longer,” Hood said. “If it’s good, then everyone will get all excited and now they’ll have to wait two months.”

Although “24” has not been on television for over a year, and its movie return may seem like a cruel tease, many fans are still highly anticipating the two-hour special.

“I’m still really excited to see it, even though it’s only two hours and not the whole season,” Justin Buckner, social studies education junior, said.

Dawson said he thinks the movie will help fans reconnect with the characters before the new season.

“‘24’ fans can be obsessive about the way they watch the show,” he asid.

He said he has even taken away people’s cell phones that went off during the show.

“But I like to watch it with people,” Dawson said. “And I hate people who try to guess what happens. You can think all you want, but don’t say it out loud.”

Hood said that he really enjoys watching the show with friends, and he misses that time in “24’s” absence.

The reason for the lights off and no distractions are to set a mood, Hood said.

“This show draws you in and you feel like you’re there,” Hood said. “It’s like a movie, and when you have the lights on or people walking around it really breaks that [atmosphere].”

“Redemption” is set in Africa, where Jack has been since the end of season six.

“I feel that the last season was not very good, and I’m hoping this season they’ll redeem themselves,” Dawson said. “It better be worth it.”

The seventh worst day of Jack Bauer’s life begins in January on FOX.