Josh Wymyczak
Staff Writer
A unique framework and a complex storyline have combined to make for a series that has its fans desperately waiting for the next season to begin. Season six of “24,” also known as day six, kicks off Sunday with a two-night, four-hour season premiere.
This action-packed drama has a unique and complicated structure that contains 24 episodes per season. Each one-hour episode gives a minute-by-minute update, portraying the show in real time so that at the end of a season the audience has gone through only one full day. In true “24” fashion, the show’s Web site features a countdown to the start of the new season.
The show stars Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer, a federal agent who works for the Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU) that averts threats to the nation’s security. During the course of five seasons, Bauer has saved America from terrorists many times over, rescued the President of the United States, stopped bombs and viruses and has even “died” for his country. With his courage, patriotism and self-sacrificing nature, this man does whatever it takes to essentially save the world and easily has been established as the epitome of an American hero.
The show first aired in the fall of 2001, with only 13 episodes scheduled to follow. After just 10 episodes in the first season, Sutherland won a Golden Globe for best performance in a television drama in early 2002, beating out “The West Wing’s” Martin Sheen and “The Sopranos’” James Gandolfini. Ratings skyrocketed, and showed no signs of slowing down when “24” picked up its second Golden Globe as the best television drama in 2004. Sutherland also won an Emmy for his role as Agent Bauer.
The show is up for more statues this year, as “24” is nominated again for best television drama while Sutherland is up for best performance by an actor in the Golden Globes. The show has also received recognition from the SAG awards, being nominated for best ensemble and best actor.
Known for agonizing torture scenes, wild action major characters who are killed off at the drop of a dime, “24” has gained an enormous fan base that shows no signs of depleting any time soon.
Season five focused on the assassination of the ex-president and how Agent Bauer is connected. The season begins with Bauer faking his own death in a hopeless attempt to retire. Terrorists, however, quickly target his friends forcing him to re-enter the CTU. Meanwhile, United States President Charles Logan, played by Gregory Itzin, works to form a terrorism treaty with Russia where terrorists have stolen nerve gas and threaten to release it in Los Angeles.
Bauer then successfully placed a tracking device on President Logan after finding out that the American government was doing inside work with terrorists and planning attacks on U.S. soil. With the President finally under arrest and viewers able to breathe once again, Bauer is told he has a phone call in a nearby hanger. He mindlessly accepts the nonexistent phone call and no sooner is he in another brutal fight; however, even the almighty Jack Bauer cannot beat his way out of this one.
After being drugged, he wakes up on a ship in route to China. The season finale ends with Bauer beaten to a pulp and begging to just be killed — but it is clear that a dead federal agent is useless to his enemies, and Bauer is going to play an important part in bargaining with America.
With such a different structure for a television drama, it is no surprise that critics wonder how it is that television show that takes an entire season to cover one day, frequently kills off main characters, shows torture scenes that are nearly too brutal for prime time and only has one dominating character is able to keep ratings so high and viewers so engaged. In an interview with the television business publication World Screen, “24” creators Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran revealed that the answer lies in the show’s variety. Surnow and Cochran said that they like that “24” does not have to stick to the same layout like most other series. Each season brings in completely new characters, new storylines and new drama.
The uniqueness in the show’s structure has also been an important attention factor to viewers.
“I feel like the real-time aspect draws people into the show more,” senior Jack Thomason said. “The show is on-the-edge-of-your-seat action in actual time and you really can’t wait to pick up where they’ve left off each week.”
“24” clearly adds a different twist, but by giving viewers a minute-by-minute update of a day in the life of Jack Bauer, a connection is established with the audience that makes the show more interactive.
Critics question whether politics have become part of the attraction to the show.
“Americans like to know that they are up to date on social issues, and because ‘24’ focuses on terrorism, a controversial issue in America today, viewers may feel like they are getting insight on what is really happening in their own war on terrorism,” sophomore Blake Kewish said.
Despite the controversies that have surfaced, “24” is still able to shock audiences with its exhilarating plot line and surprising twists even five season later. The award-winning show has raised the bar leaving other dramas scrambling to compete.
There is no doubt that this upcoming season of “24” will serve up as many heart-pounding minutes as the rest, especially with actors Chad Lowe and Rena Sofer signing on to do a few episodes. As far as the future of television world hero Jack Bauer, even avid “24” viewers are skeptical about his seemingly never-ending lifespan. Viewers will just have to tune in to see what happens as the clock ticks on season six of this flagship FOX show.
The two-night “24” season premiere begins Sunday night, Jan. 14, at 8 followed by two more hours of action Monday night at the same time. For more information, visit the show’s Web site at fox.com/24.
01-14-2007
