The 8th season of 24 is about to begin (season premiere January 17 on Fox) and I have mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, 24 has been a kick-ass show with movie-like production values and compelling story lines. On the other hand, after 8 seasons there's a certain been-there-done-that aspect that's hard to ignore.

Last season, Fox and the characters from 24 promoted "green" initiatives like carbon neutrality and hybrid vehicles. After watching the last few seasons, I joked that they were recycling their story lines too.

And that's the problem. Every season, Jack Bauer is cast as the reluctant super agent who wants live a normal life in the suburbs with the woman he loves. In other words, Jack Bauer wants to be me. As Tony Almeida might say, "Yeah... alright Jack." Please.

But the terrorists are relentless and Jack is the only counter-terrorist agent in America who is tough enough, dedicated enough and "man" enough to save America.

Question: Why can't Jack Bauer simply be a guy who enjoys killing terrorists? I'm so tired of the soap opera-like plots involving Jack and his wife, Jack and Audrey, Jack and his daughter, Jack and his father, Jack and his brother, Jack and Renee, etc.

Enough already! Jack is a bad father and a bad lover. We get it. Jack should instead focus on killing terrorists and blowing stuff up because he's really, really good at that.

After watching the trailer for 24: Season 8 (below), I know what's coming. I know that Jack and Renee will hook up, that there will be a massive government conspiracy involving people that Jack trusts and that at some point, Renee will be captured or killed and that Jack will be the last man standing. And Fox knows that I will continue to tune in because 24 is still good television.