“Shut it down” were the last words spoken by Chloe O’Brian at the end of “24” last night. Jack Bauer had gotten out of a jam once again. Bloodied and bruised, Jack looked up toward the satellite camera and the video from the camera faded to snow.

The “24” clock counted down to 00:00:00.

I thought, “Who in the heck will keep America safe now?”

Jack Bauer, after eight seasons and 192 episodes, is with us no more.

Maybe there will be a movie. With close to 9 million viewers last night, I’m sure Jack has one more bad guy or corrupt official to put away. Besides, there are plenty of storylines floating around out here in the real world! The world is still a dangerous place, Jack.

Of course in the last 24 hours, Jack had saved the United States (again) when those in power had been engulfed with corruption. He had lost the girl he loved, Renee Walker, to an assassin. Jack was madder than hell and viewers could not blame him at all for going “Jack Bauer” on the bad guys.

At the end, President Allison Taylor apologizes and tells Jack that she should have listened to him. Presidents need people like Jack Bauer.

“24” came along when America needed it. Premiering in November 2001 (just a few months after 9/11) America needed a hero and Jack Bauer fit the ticket nicely. Jack did the job that others would not (or could not) do.

Jack Bauer was the Patriot that America needed. Thank you for the ride, Jack.