I asked earlier in the program, “Did you people see 24 last night?” and I’ve gotten I bet seven emails now from people that said they’re fed up and they’re never watching it again. And I have got to slap you people back to reality!
One of the moles in this season is this goofy Richard Nixon look-a-like’s chief of staff, guy named Walt Cummings. Well some canisters of nerve gas were stolen from the Ontario airport in a previous episode and it turns out that these canisters of nerve gas were engineered to be stolen by Walt Cummings … and then given to terrorists—these are terrorists from a breakaway republic somewhere in Asia (we all know it’s Russia, Chechens and so forth). And the plan, according to Walt Cummings, is to get the terrorists to take these canisters of nerve gas back their home country so that then the administrations can prove that there were weapons of mass destruction there.
Now people who watched the episode last night think this is the writers of 24 insulting the Bush administration. And chiding the Bush administration for the fact that there aren’t any WMD in Iraq …
What am I going to do with you people?
Number one: IT’S A TELEVISION SHOW!
Number two: The Bush administration, if it were going to plant WMD would’ve already done it. There’s no correlation here. But more than that, that episode of 24 last night—and I’ve watched every one of these episodes from Season 1, episode 1—that episode last night had more plot turns and twists than any single episode I remember. The outing of a mole has occurred sooner this season than at anytime I remember in any of the previous seasons—with the mole getting caught!
But I would caution all of you, this storyline, this WMD, this nerve gas, this supposedly having a mole who is the chief of staff to the president—who knows if this is the ultimate truth of this program? There are still 18 episodes left between now and the end of May and if the rest of them are like last night, we don’t know 10% of where this is going or heading. And I would reign it in, folks …
Maybe some of you people are watching 24 because you think that it’s purpose is to establish the political objectives and foreign policy objectives of the administration and it’s not! The purpose of the program is the same as I have on this program: to attract the largest audience possible and hold it so you can charge confiscatory advertising rates to advertisers. That’s the purpose of the program. And the writers are trying to break new ground and they’re trying to make sure that the program doesn’t get stale. I think they’ve set a new standard! They are nowhere near getting stale—it’s the exact opposite.
But I’ve seen a lot of people on blog sites say “The hell with 24 …. Now they’re getting mad at Bush … to hell with that. I’m not watching it anymore.”
Here’s a sample email:
A friend stated that he didn’t want to watch 24 anymore because he felt last night’s episode was a message about the current Bush White House. He feels the show is delivering a message about there being no weapons of mass destruction and there was a plot within the White House to convince the public that the problem actually does exist when it doesn’t. I disagree. What’s your take on it?
Well I’m giving you my take on it. You can’t compare this current president on 24 to George W. Bush in any way. This guy is the biggest looney-tune wimp that we’ve ever had as a president if he were in there for real.
And here’s another thing. I’ve had a couple people also say to me: “What is it with these love scenes??? I can’t believe it! Jack Bauer is in the midst of saving the country from nerve gas and all of a sudden he’s gotta have negotiations with two women about whether or not he still loves them. Now I will admit I watched that and I was like come on! Get this over with! I understand why it’s there, but let’s move on. Jack Bauer’s not gonna sit around and do this—the real Jack. But that’s another part of the brilliance of the people that do this show, folks! They have to attract an audience. It’s the FOX Network! 18 to 34 is a demo that they prize …
And I don’t wanna sound sexist, but the way you keep women watching a program like this—you think women care about bombs and blood and guts all over? No! You’ve gotta put a love story in there, and then a competing love interest—you gotta put that tension and drama. They don’t overdo it, they get in, get it and get out. But it’s something for everybody who watches the show to glom onto. And I have some female friends that watch the show, and I got emails from them last night: “You know what my favorite part of the show was? Taking Walt Cummings down and when Jack told her he never stopped loving her.” That proves my point!
And of course the idea that a woman would not interrupt you while you’re trying to save the country? [mimics Audrey’s voice] “Uh, Jack, before you go disarm the nerve gas, do you still love me?” Perfectly realistic! Of course it would happen! [mimics Audrey again] “We have to talk. I only want five minutes. Can you help me?” Whatever—this would happen! These guys are brilliant that are doing this show. They know what everyone watching wants out of it.
You people need to back off on this. If you stop watching this you’re going to miss some of the finest writing and production. This is amazing what these people do in a one hour episode—in forty-two minutes—it is amazing what they do!
You could watch the whole Dirty Harry series—all those five or six movies—and everything that happens in five or six Dirty Harry movies happens in one episode of this program.
NOW CHILL OUT, FOLKS! …
It’s a television show!
The idea that there is any association to reality here … I mean, we would love it in certain cases if it were a reflection of reality. Unfortunately we’ll never know. We don’t know if there’s a Jack Bauer in the CIA—we hope there’s a thousand of ‘em! And we hope there are a thousand Jack Bauers telling bad guys: “You’re gonna tell me what I want to know or I’m gonna carve your left eye out first. And if you don’t tell me what I wanna know, I’m gonna carve your right eye out.” And then you put the blade of the knife …
Now with Ted Kennedy … [mimics The Swimmer’s voice] “Oh you can’t do that. That’s threatening torture. That’s inhumane.” Or what have you. We hope those things are going on out there.
But the idea that this administration is going to plant WMD somewhere to prove that they existed … ? I just marvel at it, folks. I’m sorry, but I do.
Link to audio:
http://mfile.akamai.com/5020/wma/rushlimb.download.akamai.com/5020/clips/06/01/013106_9_24.asx
Previous Rush/24 threads:
Rush Visits Set Of 24 ("Folks, it was a huge shock ... I had so much fun.") (4-19-05)
Rush Talks 24 (Chloe "was fabulous!", compares 24's wimpy president to John Kerry) (4-27-05)
Ping! Sorry it's a day late :)
Not just the voice of the Right, the voice of Common Sense.. but I repeat myself.
I wonder if Rush ever criticizes, say, Brokeback Mountain.
The President's wife, (wonderful Jean Smart), looks as if she plans get even with wimpy President whatshisname. Let's hope so.
I watched it and thought it was awsome jack is a kickass portrayal of an American Patriot IMHO
I watched the show Monday night like I do every week, and it never occurred to me that it was in any way trying to associate the plot with Bush or his administration. I guess the people who did must believe everything they see on TV. Jeesh!
Actually, I thought the "24" president acted like I think John Kerry would act. I didn't take this ep to be a slam at this admin, not at all.
this would provide (fabricated) proof there are WMD in asia and the president could sanction a war based on the false evidence - and it all leads back to US oil interests. (This sounds so familiar......)
Excuse me, I'm of the female persuasion, and I would certainly prefer blood and guts, scissors in the neck, etc, all over to Audrey...
I did like Kate Warner, and the Mexican druglord's squeeze who got iced a few seasons back, butI didn't even much like Jack's wife Terry who got killed more than a few seasons back.
I thought the episode on Monday night was GREAT! Especially the part where Walt is getting pummeled by Jack. :)
Dittohead ping - (and "24" spoiler alert). I haven't seen this season yet - all on TiVO, so I can't read it! :-(
bump
"Superman wears Jack Bauer pajamas."
BLEEEECCCCHHH!!! This chick wants to see eyeballs flyin'!!!
BTTT for later perusal. As usual, Rush has NAILED IT!
Well, I'm a woman and I just want to wring Audrey's neck..hated her last season, hated her this season. I think Jack should stay with Diane...at least she doesn't wear pretend eyeglasses!!!
As a woman the love thing with Audrey......puke! The redhead -- blah. Now Chloe rocks. Jack should have at the least drawn some blood on Walt. But the best part was FLOTUS and her expression at the end. That is a woman to be reckoned with. Can't wait for next week's episode.
24 ping