Another "24" Hours - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brett Ferino · 03-06-2003, 10:55 AM

courtesy of yahoo

Another sleepless night is in store for Kiefer Sutherland--the hardest-working counter-terrorism agent in showbiz will return for a third season of 24.

On Thursday, Fox announced that the drama, which features a real-time action-packed hour per episode, had secured its spot on the network's prime-time lineup next season.

"The audience growth this season for 24 has been phenomenal," said Fox Entertainment pres Gail Berman in a written statement released Thursday. "We're delighted that so many new viewers have discovered what we've always believed--that 24 is the most exciting show on television.

A critical fave since the show debuted in 2001, the round-the-clock drama has until recently posted only modest ratings. Last season, the couch-gripper attracted an average 8.6 million viewers and had been considered on the bubble for renewal. But critical plaudits encouraged Fox to give the show a second chance, which has paid off for the network. To date, an average 11 million have tuned in for the second installment, and the show placed fifth in dramas watched by thrill-seeking 18-49 year-olds during February sweeps.

Those numbers might seem paltry in comparison to Fox's other ratings-grabbers, Joe Millionaire and American Idol, which helped the net dominate sweeps in the prized demos, but after The Simpsons (news - Y! TV), 24 is the second hightest-rated scripted program Fox has on its roster (and eventually people have to get tired of two-faced joes and spotlight starved singers, right?).

More than anything the show has served as a comeback vehicle for Golden Globe winner Kiefer Sutherland (news), who stars as CTU agent Jack Bauer and pulls double duty as a producer on the show. A onetime Young Gun, banished straight to video for duds like Freeway and Break Up, Sutherland has been welcomed back into Hollywood's fickle inner circle for his portrayal of a G-man who protects life, liberty and TV prez David Palmer (Dennis Haysbert).

The Screen Actors Guild (news - web sites) recently nominated the show's stars for the SAG Award for Best Drama Ensemble. Aside from Sutherland (who's also nominated for SAG's Best Actor) and Haysbert, the cast includes Elisha Cuthbert (news), Sarah Wynter (news), Carlos Bernard (news), Xander Berkeley and Penny Johnson.

Given the show's cutthroat storylines no word on who will be around next season, though Sutherland and Wynter both have contracts through next year.

Meanwhile, the perpetually stubbled Sutherland switches sides for his next project, the upcoming release Phone Booth. Sutherland lends his voice to the Colin Farrell (news) feature as a crazy sniper looking for payback. Fox had disconnected Phone Booth from its scheduled release last fall after real-life sniper attacks terrorized residents of Washington, D.C. The movie will now bow in April.

BrandonS · 03-07-2003, 04:33 PM

Did anyone see the 10:00 to 11:00 episode? They found the nuclear bomb with 55 minutes before detonation and had a suicide volunteer fly it as far as possible into the desert and crash the plane to try to make a depression in the sand. It's got to have been one of very few times they've shown a nuclear explosion in a fictional TV series. The president and his advisors had less than 10 minutes to decide whether to ditch it in the ocean or the Mojave desert. Totally action packed episode and very gripping.

03-06-2003, 10:55 AM	#1
Brett Ferino Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 18, 2000 Location: PA Posts: 3,782	Another "24" Hours courtesy of yahoo Another sleepless night is in store for Kiefer Sutherland--the hardest-working counter-terrorism agent in showbiz will return for a third season of 24. On Thursday, Fox announced that the drama, which features a real-time action-packed hour per episode, had secured its spot on the network's prime-time lineup next season. "The audience growth this season for 24 has been phenomenal," said Fox Entertainment pres Gail Berman in a written statement released Thursday. "We're delighted that so many new viewers have discovered what we've always believed--that 24 is the most exciting show on television. A critical fave since the show debuted in 2001, the round-the-clock drama has until recently posted only modest ratings. Last season, the couch-gripper attracted an average 8.6 million viewers and had been considered on the bubble for renewal. But critical plaudits encouraged Fox to give the show a second chance, which has paid off for the network. To date, an average 11 million have tuned in for the second installment, and the show placed fifth in dramas watched by thrill-seeking 18-49 year-olds during February sweeps. Those numbers might seem paltry in comparison to Fox's other ratings-grabbers, Joe Millionaire and American Idol, which helped the net dominate sweeps in the prized demos, but after The Simpsons (news - Y! TV), 24 is the second hightest-rated scripted program Fox has on its roster (and eventually people have to get tired of two-faced joes and spotlight starved singers, right?). More than anything the show has served as a comeback vehicle for Golden Globe winner Kiefer Sutherland (news), who stars as CTU agent Jack Bauer and pulls double duty as a producer on the show. A onetime Young Gun, banished straight to video for duds like Freeway and Break Up, Sutherland has been welcomed back into Hollywood's fickle inner circle for his portrayal of a G-man who protects life, liberty and TV prez David Palmer (Dennis Haysbert). The Screen Actors Guild (news - web sites) recently nominated the show's stars for the SAG Award for Best Drama Ensemble. Aside from Sutherland (who's also nominated for SAG's Best Actor) and Haysbert, the cast includes Elisha Cuthbert (news), Sarah Wynter (news), Carlos Bernard (news), Xander Berkeley and Penny Johnson. Given the show's cutthroat storylines no word on who will be around next season, though Sutherland and Wynter both have contracts through next year. Meanwhile, the perpetually stubbled Sutherland switches sides for his next project, the upcoming release Phone Booth. Sutherland lends his voice to the Colin Farrell (news) feature as a crazy sniper looking for payback. Fox had disconnected Phone Booth from its scheduled release last fall after real-life sniper attacks terrorized residents of Washington, D.C. The movie will now bow in April.

03-07-2003, 04:33 PM	#2
BrandonS Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Aug 18, 2002 Posts: 8,824	Did anyone see the 10:00 to 11:00 episode? They found the nuclear bomb with 55 minutes before detonation and had a suicide volunteer fly it as far as possible into the desert and crash the plane to try to make a depression in the sand. It's got to have been one of very few times they've shown a nuclear explosion in a fictional TV series. The president and his advisors had less than 10 minutes to decide whether to ditch it in the ocean or the Mojave desert. Totally action packed episode and very gripping.