24' Back for Another Day

Jack's back. And he's got a badass new attitude. Last year's TV critics' choice, 24, premiered last week for a brand new season. A few things have changed, but FOX has kept all the necessary elements that made the first season such a success.

For those who loved last year's show, watch the new season. For those who wanted to watch last year's show but didn't want to hop in during the middle, watch it. And for those who hated it last year, watch it again. It seems 24 is going to offer another fantastic year of crazy plot twists, angry wives and Elisha Cuthbert in short skirts.

Last year, the show was heralded as original and groundbreaking. The producers, including Oscar-winner Brian Grazer, have stayed true to the last year's winning formula. The entire 24-episode season is based on the occurrences in one 24-hour period, with each episode following the events of one hour in real-time. This season captures the period from 8 a.m. to 8 a.m. the next morning of an otherwise normal Los Angeles day.

How is this day different from all other days? For one, President (yes, he won his presidential election from last season) Palmer (Dennis Haysbert) is trying to prevent terrorists from detonating an atomic bomb somewhere in Las Vegas. Meanwhile his sniveling National Security Advisor is going behind his back calling on the Pentagon to intervene.

The Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) is called in to crack down on the threat, and former Agent Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) is the only one who can help them. Bauer _disgruntled, depressed and unkempt _ is still reeling from his wife's death at the hands of his ex-girlfriend and CTU partner, Nina.

He's estranged from his daughter Kim, played by the "oh-so-Maximworthy" Elisha Cuthbert, who has landed a job as an au pair for a dysfunctional family. At the end of last week's premiere, Kim fled an enraged father with her charge, Megan Matheson. She has also managed to improve on last year's attire with a sexy one-piece outfit befitting Anna Kournikova.

Another plot twist, which is sure to be untwisted and twisted back up again over the course of the season, involves an interfaith marriage of suspicious Muslim Reza to his stereotypical American blonde fianc?©e, Marie. Scheduled to occur later in the day, the wedding is threatened by Marie's equally-platinum blonde sister, Kate (Australian actress Kate Wynter). Despite comforting comments by their father Bob, Kate suspects her future brother-in-law is evil, and discovers in the premiere that he is indeed connected with a known terrorist. Red herring? With 24, one never knows.

While the show's strength comes from the intricate plot and its plethora of intriguing twists, acting has never been the show's strong suit. There were laughable performances last year and there will probably be more this year. New CTU agent Paula Schaffer, played by Roseanne's Sara Gilbert, seems one-dimensionally na??ve while the NSA staffer Eric Rayburn is cast as snide and crafty. The deliciously evil Sherri Palmer will return (never fear 24 fans!), this time as the ex-First Lady because President Palmer divorced her during the eighteen months since the previous season.

Despite some poor performances by other cast members, Sutherland is on his way for another Emmy-nominated performance. The way his uncontrollable grief seeps through his impulsive character is masterfully displayed during the premiere. His awkward relationship with Kim comes off as incredibly realistic, with much credit due to Sutherland's dedication to Jack Bauer.

The first episode, Hour One, spent most of its commercial-free airtime breaking down Bauer's transformation into a downtrodden widower. The plot picked up momentum in the second half with some exciting action, just like last year's season. All that's known about the nuclear plot so far is that it is the work of a terrorist group known as "Second Wave" _ probably the least threatening name for a terrorist organization ever _ and that the bomb will explode at some point that day.

Bauer's job is to find whoever is responsible for the bomb and shut them down. He starts off by whacking an FBI witness in cold blood, then asking for a hacksaw, all in the name of catching the mastermind of the bomb plot. As you can see, Jack's code of ethics has found a new low since his wife's murder. With Kim once again missing, and a wedding on the line, Jack will of course run into quite a few more obstacles before the day is done.

As Hour Two of the most addicting show on television kicks off tonight, remember to trust nothing anyone says, do not take anything for granted and assume that Jack Bauer always gets his man.