Tomorrow night begins a new season of "24." I've watched the DVD box set of the first season, and to me there is one main reason the show was so successful. It isn't the "real time" setting. It isn't the brisk pace of the story, although the fact that the story is well constructed adds much to the show. The main reason is the shows two stars, Keifer Sutherland and Dennis Haysbert.
Yes, two stars, not one. Without Dennis Haysbert, 24 would not have had near the success that it did. That becomes apparent after watching the DVDs. Haysbert plays presidential candidate David Palmer, the man whom Sutherland's character, Jack Bauer, is trying to protect from an assassination attempt. Interspersed in this main plot are two sub-plots involving Palmer. The first involves his son Keith, played by Vicellous Shannon, who may be facing jail time for the killing, albeit accidental, of his sister's rapist. This sub-plot leads seamlessly to the second one, involving Palmer's scheming wife Sherry, played by Penny Johnson Jerald.
The sub-plots increase the intrigue of the story, and maintain viewer interest. We are not only eager to see what happens with the assassination attempt but also with Palmer and his family. What makes this work is Sutherland and Haysbert. Sutherland is excellent as the relentless, bend-the-rules Counter-Terrorist Agent. Haysbert has the role of his career as the presidential candidate who is trying to do what is best not only for his family, but also for Bauer's family, who are constantly in danger. He does all of this while keeping his presidential ambitions alive. Indeed, Palmer finds himself in situations almost as difficult as Bauer.
Sutherland and Haysbert are just the top two actors in what is a great job of casting. Leslie Hope, Sarah Clarke, Xander Berkeley, Carlos Bernard and Elisha Cuthbert round out a great cast. The only real stinker is Dennis Hopper as the assassination mastermind, Victor Drazen. His acting is overdone, and the Eastern European accent is phonier than an Ed McMahon TV special.
Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
D, It just occurred to me that I haven't watched one episode of one prime time show since the new season staggered in (Sunday night on Fox will finally start this weekend), but I will make a point of seeing 24 tonight - can they do it again?
2 - David Hogberg
Eric,
I dunno. The NY Times has reviewd it today. While it is a generally positive review, it seems lukewarm.
3 - Nigel E. Richardson
I'm sure the cult appeal of the show will grow now it's available in this format, and "24" parties will spring up, and "24" drinking games -- every time Kim is kidnapped you have a vodka, every time someone's cellphone conveniently dies you have a brandy, every time a character who has had no lines is shot you have a tequila, every time Terri trusts someone who turns out to be evil you have a whiskey.... add your own rules....
4 - David Hogberg
Nigel,
How about every time Kim does something stupid you get to have a shag with Elisha Cuthbert? I could really go for that game.