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'24' is a Show Full of Surreal Life Lessons
Morning Call ^ | 4/9/06 | Renee A. James

Posted on 04/09/2006 9:53:55 AM PDT by Dr. Scarpetta

If you watch Kiefer Sutherland and "24," you learn to handle 60 minutes of tension, heartbreak and deception each week. And that's just between the characters of the president and the first lady.

But although fans love it, even the most ardent learn to overlook a lot regarding plot devices and characters.

Example: Jack Bauer, toughest guy on the planet and lead terrorist hunter, who can withstand torture, gunshots, drugs and severe mental anguish, found a pretty cool job for his annoying daughter, Kim.

After her stint as a runaway and a troubled teen in season one, she became an agent at the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU).

Kim, whose previous claim to heroic fame was escaping a wildcat while lost in the mountains of southern California, was now among the elite specialists who would save the lives of everyday Americans should the very worst take place. God help us.

(Excerpt) Read more at mcall.com ...


TOPICS: TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: 24; chloe; chloerocks; flank2; jackbauer; jackbauerpowerhour; lessons; tv; wwjbd
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To: HawaiianGecko

The White House was NOT moved to California. Like real presidents, the ficitonal one in 24 has a retreat--Reagan has a "Western White House," Bush #1 had Kennebunkport, and so on.


61 posted on 04/09/2006 10:23:04 AM PDT by MizSterious (Anonymous sources often means "the voices in my head told me.")
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To: SamAdams76

Except for sports, I never watch TV. Almost everything that appears on the screen is pabulum, and seems to have been written by high school drop-outs and directed by an idiot; the actors are mostly Gen X post-adolescents, with all the attendant delusions. Yet, after reading all the posts here on Free Republic about this show, I rented the first DVD of the first season, shows 1-4. Loved it. It's just sufficiently intelligent and well-written to be credible, without the usual Hollyweird agenda, and just spectacular enough to be fun. I'm looking forward now to catching up on four years or so of past shows. It's worth a look, IMO, and that's a recommendation from an arch-conservative who hates TV.


62 posted on 04/09/2006 10:23:23 AM PDT by Jack Hammer
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To: SamAdams76
Start with "Day 1" (season 1). You can get them for free at your local library, possibly. If you skip an episode, it can really throw off the story line :( I don't like many TV shows, I can count them on one hand just about (okay, list: Doc, Sue Thomas, Good Eats, Red Green) but 24 is really decent. Although the episode where the guy was suspended from the ceiling by the wrists and skinned alve with a wire grinder was tough.

Don't watch it while eating dinner.

But I am all for the torturing to gain info on terrorists themes they have :)

63 posted on 04/09/2006 10:24:12 AM PDT by RedBloodedAmerican
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To: CheneyChick

It's only one day without food, water and potty breaks.
Anyone can do that except for pregnant women.


64 posted on 04/09/2006 10:25:30 AM PDT by RedBloodedAmerican
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To: rintense

Same here. He is the most sleazy character on TV. I don't care what party he's supposed to belong to. LOL!


65 posted on 04/09/2006 10:25:43 AM PDT by ShandaLear (Announcing you plans is a good way to hear God laugh. Al Swearengen, 1877—Deadwood)
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To: SamAdams76

Here's my advice to you SAm. I started watching 24 on A&E and watched a few episodes of what I later realized was season 2 (ended up missing a few in between since I didn't realize they were also showing it at night). AFter watching a few episodes, I got hooked and decided to watch season 1 and stopped watching on A&E, Because I had already seen parts of season 2, there was a part in season 1 that did not come as a complete surprise to me, but it blew my husband away.
So, my advice would be, if you don't want to know what comes in the future which is what makes the show even more fun to watch, is to not tune in to other seasons.


66 posted on 04/09/2006 10:25:57 AM PDT by psjones
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To: SamAdams76
So what of this "24" show? Liberal crap? Or is it worth checking out?

I watched last season.That pretty much cured me of any desire to see more.

It's bubble gum. Expertly paced, slick, and fairly suspenseful—but bubble gum nonetheless. I like empty calories as much as the next guy, but the 'running clock' device ran stale after ten or so episodes.

Is it better than most of the crap on television? Yes. But talk about damning with faint praise.

67 posted on 04/09/2006 10:26:55 AM PDT by Wormwood (Iä! Iä! Cthulhu fhtagn!)
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To: MizSterious; SamAdams76
24 is not only a good show, not only a patriotic show, but I think much of its appeal lies in the fact that Jack Bauer is able to do, and DOES, what needs to be done no matter what some weenie boss or politician says, no matter what the repercussions might be. Most of us are frustrated when we feel powerless to act against those who are criminals, terrorists, seditionists. Wouldn't be legal. Might be profiling. Lawyers would raise hell.

But not Jack Bauer. Boss tells him not to go? Knock out the boss and go. Entire US law enforcement community lookinig for you? Not a problem. Some beaurocratic weenie threatens you? Call the President. Weenie shriveled. Some terrorist perp won't talk? Whip out your pocket knife. Guy laughs and says he'll be back on the street by morning? Shoot the flunker in the head. Ahh, I love the smell of direct action in the morning.

68 posted on 04/09/2006 10:27:04 AM PDT by Sender (As water has no constant form, there are in war no constant conditions. Be without form. -Sun Tzu)
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To: HawaiianGecko

In Season 2, a reporter asks Palmer how he feels being "back in L.A.". He flew there from D.C. They even show him on Air Force One.


69 posted on 04/09/2006 10:27:32 AM PDT by DJ MacWoW (If you think you know what's coming next....You don't know Jack.)
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To: rintense
Hmmm. BWIT.

(That's Bruce Willis In Training.)

70 posted on 04/09/2006 10:28:04 AM PDT by Erasmus (Eat beef. Someone has to control the cow population!)
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To: MizSterious

Looks like I'll need to check out the DVDs to catch up. What night and what channel?


71 posted on 04/09/2006 10:29:11 AM PDT by Krodg
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To: Sender
"DOES, what needs to be done no matter what some weenie boss or politician says, no matter what the repercussions might be" Reminds me of Benjamin Gates' (Nicholas Cage) quote from National Treasure where he made the toast while at the Smithsonian dinner party:

"A toast? Yeah. To high treason. That's what these men were committing when they signed the Declaration. Had we lost the war, they would have been hanged, beheaded, drawn and quartered, and-Oh! Oh, my personal favorite-and had their entrails cut out and *burned*! "

72 posted on 04/09/2006 10:29:41 AM PDT by RedBloodedAmerican
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To: CheneyChick
When does Jack eat? Especially around the episodes that would fall in the breakfast/lunch/dinner timeframe, I keep waiting for him to eat, and he doesn't.

Jack doesn't eat, which is why in Season 5 he's too skinny. Check out Season 1, and he's looking more healthy

73 posted on 04/09/2006 10:29:59 AM PDT by Dr. Scarpetta (There's always a reason to choose life.)
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To: Krodg

right now on A&E but see them in order.

Mondays at 9 on fox

http://www.fox.com/24/


74 posted on 04/09/2006 10:30:18 AM PDT by RedBloodedAmerican
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To: DJ MacWoW
The Official 24 Magazine

Gulp. That's nearly a jump the shark sign, IMHO

75 posted on 04/09/2006 10:30:25 AM PDT by llevrok (Illegal immigrants or "colonists" ?)
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To: Krodg

It's on the Fox channel, and it's on Monday nights. Definite addictive qualities, though, be forewarned. :)


76 posted on 04/09/2006 10:31:37 AM PDT by MizSterious (Anonymous sources often means "the voices in my head told me.")
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To: Dr. Scarpetta
Jack doesn't eat, which is why in Season 5 he's too skinny. Check out Season 1, and he's looking more healthy

I mean, he's so talented, he could: drive real fast, talk on the cell phone, shoot bad guys and eat a Power Bar all at the same time....

77 posted on 04/09/2006 10:33:01 AM PDT by CheneyChick
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To: llevrok

Yeah, it's like I told my husband, how come Bauer's cell phone batteries dont' die? LOL, okay, maybe he has a charger in his vehicle.
Season 2 had the torture scene, don't recall seeing any tattoos on his body.


78 posted on 04/09/2006 10:33:18 AM PDT by psjones
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To: Jack Hammer

Very, very good Jack Hammer.

If you haven't seen it, you need to rent "History of Violence", now out on DVD. I just think you'll like it.


79 posted on 04/09/2006 10:33:28 AM PDT by Chuck54
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To: Wormwood

80 posted on 04/09/2006 10:33:59 AM PDT by Dr. Scarpetta (There's always a reason to choose life.)
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