'24' is a Show Full of Surreal Life Lessons

Morning Call ^ | 4/9/06 | Renee A. James

[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.

[najida]

Jack Bauer simply must have an autographed 8 x 10 glossy of Ronald Reagan in his office.

So does Gary Sinese's character in CSI: NY.

[Euro-American Scum]

Maybe I ought to start watching that show too.

[Euro-American Scum]

And on top of everything else, Jack has the weaver stance down cold.

[Euro-American Scum]

Chloe (IT uber alles) totally ROCKS

That's certainly true. But she was awesome when she took out some bad guys with an M16 last season. But then, conservative babes with guns are so hot.

[hummingbird]

and he looks so much like Nixon...

Sometimes, I see a flash, like a mannerism or body movement that Itzin uses and it very much reminds me of Nixon. Interesting, isn't it, because if you put similar pictures of them side by side, they don't really "look" alike.

Cosmetically, they don't appear to have given him the 5 o'clock shadow or any other laughable, trite, or superficial similarity to Nixon, but sometimes Itzin moves his jaw in a way Nixon did or the cadence of his speech reminds me of Nixon.

Excellent actor in Logan's role!

Oh, Dr. Scarpetta, only a few hours in "our" countdown...its like when I was a kid on Christmas Eve...I'd want to go to bed early because I knew when I woke up, Santa would have brought all the gifts and the waiting would be over! Yippee!!!!

Attention Deficit is a helluva thing.....

"The waiting is the hardest part." (Tom Petty)

[hummingbird]

If I remember correctly, Vincent Dinofrio is a huge liberal.

Yes, he is. He's great on L&O:CI, but I read somewhere that he went apesh*t (or batsh*t; you have a choice on this one) on the set when he learned Bush had won his second term in office.

Apparently, he has a very volatile spirit, at least politically....especially when it comes to Pres. Bush and conservatives.

He's still hot...(((BLUSH)))

[Dr. Scarpetta]

We were watching Season 2 of "24" last night on UPN. It's strange going back and forth between seasons, but we were dealing with hostility yet AGAIN in the administration towards CTU! LOL

[hummingbird]

"...but we were dealing with hostility yet AGAIN in the administration towards CTU! LOL"

"Same as it ever was...."

[SuziQ]

LOL! I've thought from the beginning that they were trying to make him look like Nixon! His hair, that jutting out jaw, the on the knees praying; all of that was Nixon!

[EdnaMode]

EDGAR!!!! (sniff sniff)

[EdnaMode]

Best.Line.Ever. I just watched the episode with commentary and Mary Lynn Rajskub(Chloe) said that was her favorite line:)

[COEXERJ145]

Edgar.....

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

I usually factor out an actor's political leanings once I'm into the meat of the show, unless they wear it on their sleeve during the show. Tim Robbins may be a total basket case, he's married to Susan Sarandon afterall, but that doesn't make "The Shawshank Redemption" a less good movie.

[EdnaMode]

I like SVU, although they went too political for about 4-5 episodes in November/December. They got back on track since the new year. My fave character on that show is ADA Novak. She's got a lot of spunk and a good sense of humor.

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

I like her too. But there's something about Hargitay that I've never been able to pin down...

[b9]

Jack may be the muscle of the show, but Chloe is the brain. (And the heart--awwww :)

And President Logan (Itzin) is the zit. You just want to POP 'im!

Jonny, have you followed the drama in the 50th district of San Diego - the race to replace the disgraced (R)andy Duke Cunningham?

One of the front runners looks sooo much like Logan (only balder) and his last name, of all things, is "Roach".

[Euro-American Scum]

I've thought from the beginning that they were trying to make him look like Nixon!

I don't know if that was their intent, but they sure succeeded, whether they were trying to or not.

[Euro-American Scum]

EDGAR!!!! (sniff sniff)

Things won't be the same without him. Without a doubt the coolest techno-geek that ever lived.

RIP Edgar. You took one for the team.

[silent_jonny]

One of the front runners looks sooo much like Logan (only balder) and his last name, of all things, is "Roach".

I just Googled Roach--the resemblance between him and Logan is spooky!

[silent_jonny]

Was he one of the actors that was on the communist blacklist during the McCarthy hearings?

Nah. In fact, IIRC, William Holden was Ronald Reagan's best man when he married Nancy :)