"24" may elect female president

[Brian Damage]

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Producers on Fox's "24" are contemplating a female president on the show next season, a decision that could foreshadow real-life events if Hillary Clinton gets the Democratic presidential nod.

The real-time thriller has been popular among Washington's elite, including former president Bill Clinton. He recently said it was one of his favorite shows "even though an uber-right-wing guy writes it." He was referring to "24" co-creator Joel Surnow, an outspoken Republican.

While "24" broke ground introducing the first black president on a TV series (Dennis Haysbert), the show would not be the first to have a female president. In the past few years, ABC's "Commander in Chief" and Fox's "Prison Break" both featured women in the Oval Office.

Sources stressed that no final decision has been made on the role of the president next season and that the "24" creative team ultimately might opt to go in another direction.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter