“The next episode of 24 to air in the States is said to be so “shocking” that FOX has scheduled two encores. ‘The episode is so gripping that two additional airings have been scheduled to ensure viewers an opportunity to catch this critical and controversial turning point,’ said the network in a statement today. ‘Leading into the final heart-stopping hours, this episode will leave viewers gasping and is certain to be the most talked-about hour in the show’s four thrilling seasons.'”
“In the post-9/11 world, torture has hit the public radar in news reports about Abu Ghraib, congressional questioning of Cabinet nominees and, increasingly, as a featured interrogation tactic on … 24. As politicians, pundits and the public debate extreme interrogation, 24 — which is enjoying a surge in critical praise and a 32% jump in viewers this season — has jumped to action …
For 24’s producers, … ‘It goes with the 24 conceit that we need information and don’t have days to break this person …’ Howard Gordon says …
Alistair Hodgett of Amnesty International credits 24 and A&E’s MI-5, which follows the British security service, with realistic depictions that provide ‘a clearer idea of what torture involves … They do more to educate than desensitize.’
Gordon says 24 taps into the public’s ‘fear-based wish fulfillment’ of having protectors, such as Bauer, who will do whatever is necessary to save society from harm … ‘In some ways, he is a necessary evil.'”
“Last season, Carlos Bernard’s “24” character committed treason to save his wife. Can he redeem himself in the eyes of his country? That’s the question Bernard couldn’t resist. “Yeah, that’s part of why I was interested in coming back … Obviously, we stretch the boundaries of believability. We obviously ask the audience to suspend a certain disbelief … I think I like the fact that Tony’s got a deep understanding and commitment to the people around him, and I think he’s got a bit of a temper” …
…”It’s always a drag working with Kiefer, … We have a great time working together …”
After much outrage from Muslims in both the U.S. and the U.K., Fox has aired a Public Service Announcement saying the following….
“Hi. My name is Kiefer Sutherland. And I play counter-terrorist agent Jack Bauer on Fox’s ’24’. I would like to take a moment to talk to you about something that I think is very important. Now while terrorism is obviously one of the most critical challenges facing our nation and the world, it is important to recognize that the American Muslim community stands firmly beside their fellow Americans in denouncing and resisting all forms of terrorism. So in watching 24, please, bear that in mind.”
“With its chirping phones, chronic inter-office sniping and dozens of stressed-out, computer-bound workers, “24’s” Counter Terrorism Unit sometimes comes across as a high-tech version of the British cubicle comedy “The Office.”… …Right there in the thick of all the sniping and the technobabble is computer whiz Chloe O’Brian, who’s not quite as clueless as “The Office’s” David Brent, but then again, she’s certainly not overly concerned with buttering up her colleagues…
…”A lot of people think that she’s so annoying, but she’s usually right. And nobody listens to her,” Rajskub says of her character…”
“Despite a huge marketing campaign, the new season of 24 got off to a disappointing start on Sky One last night… …Early ratings figures show that an average of 610,000 viewers – a 3.5% share of the multichannel audience – tuned in for the first episode at 9pm. The second, screened from 9.55pm, averaged 620,000 (4.1%)…The numbers are down around 400,000 on the premiere of the third season in 2004.”
production assistant on…24 after she messed up a tense scene by yelling in the middle of it… …Sutherland says, “One of the only things that I’m very specific about on our show is that when we actually start to film it has to be absolutely quiet”…
…”We were working on the second floor of a soundstage and we had all the PAs on the first floor telling people when we were rolling to stop working, to stop walking, to stop talking etc…
…”Halfway through a take, for whatever reason, this one PA didn’t get the message clearly… and you hear, ‘Rolling!’ I went, ‘Who the f**k… That was my daughter, right?’…
…”The whole crew finally started clapping because she was the only person who didn’t get yelled at from me… We got her a different job.”
