Can you imagine if the world of TV's 24 was real? So many terrible things have happened over five seasons to the fictitious U.S. — nuclear explosions, fallout, the downing of Air Force One, a handshake attack on the president — that if it were real, it would be a paranoid and scary place to be.
So I tried to imagine what journalism of the 24 world would be like. What would be the commmon knowledge of everyone upon the death of Palmer and the hostage crisis at the airport? Here are a few mock news stories that represent what could have been written as of Hour 5 of 24's new season.
U.S./Russia Treaty Signed in the Midst of Tragedy
LOS ANGELES (AP) — With a handshake of hope the United States and Russia signed a historic arms accord today. At the same time, the hostage crisis at the Ontario airport and the assassination earlier this morning of former President David Palmer called for Presidents Logan and Suvarov to stand strongly in the face of international terrorism.
Before the ink was dry on the treaty, President Logan announced that counterterrorism agents successfully ended the Ontario airport siege with no further loss of innocent life. "This will perhaps stand as a symbol for the day." said Logan just moments ago, "It is a day that has seen tragedy. But the American people, the people of the world, must know that we, the United States and Russia, are committed to combating terrorism and will not fold in the face of it. I know that President Palmer would stand with us today. May he forever rest in peace."
Though it was a clear day at the Logan retreat in Los Angeles, the cloud cast over the proceeding will not soon be forgotten. TV networks aired live footage from the Ontario airport, including the execution of one hostage, James Hollister (38) of Visalia, and of another hostage, an unnamed teenager, held at gunpoint. The effective raid on the supposed Russian terrorist cell by the CTU brought some closure to the morning's events. It gives the world a chance to catch its breath.
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That story covered the Logan treaty (what a sucky president he is. Esp. compared to Palmer) and the airport drama. Next is a story that eulogizes Palmer and speaks to some of the crazy events of his administration. Can you imagine a president who gets divorced, nearly dies from a viral attack, is around during a nuclear explosion, has an ex-wife that gets murdered and then drops out of the race a month before the election? It would be insane!
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Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
excellent angle on the show, Chip, brings up some important points - no matter how absorbing the show, it certainly isn't "real"
2 - Mary K. Williams
Excellent Chip! They do say that truth is stranger than fiction, let's hope that's not the case here!
3 - DeAnna Spencer
That was a very creative take on 24. Keep up the good work. I can't wait to read the next "news story".
4 - Bliffle
Some of these events may still happen, according to the latest al jazeera news on OBL. You remember OBL, the man GWB refused to chase down after 9/11. Gee, that would mean GWB will have to bear some responsibility for what harm OBL causes.
5 - Victor Lana
I like the way you handled this, Chip (and your high regard for Palmer, though a fictional president, is appreciated). I wonder what the news reports will be like about our hero, Agent Jack Bauer? (Now, I look up at the ceiling and a milky cloud forms over my head):
Slick and swarmy anchor person:
This just in, ladies and gentleman. By all accounts the hostages were saved by the intercession of Special Agent Jack Bauer, the man who single-handedly saved former President Palmer's life a number of years ago; he also saved the lives of millions of people in Los Angeles by preventing a nuclear (nookular?) attack two years ago.
Strangely enough, Agent Bauer supposedly died 18 months ago in a gun battle at CTU Headquarters here in Los Angeles. His amazing resurrection, while happily providing a deterrent to this act of terrorism, is causing rampant speculation about corruption and a widespread cover-up intiated by the Logan administration.
Just an idea. Looking forward to more of your "news" releases.
6 - chip
Good job Victor! The Jack Bauer story itself would be one for the ages. His name would pop up amongst all kinds of conspiracy theories related to the Palmer assassination and events from previous years. It would be like JFK times 100 if true!
What's interesting about the journalism angle is that the general public in the world of "24" knows very little about what actually happened, compared to what we watchers know.
7 - Victor Lana
You're exactly right, Chip. In the 24 world no one knows that hotel was filled with a deadly virus, or that nuke went off in the desert, or Jack saved LA from a weapon of mass destruction. In some odd way it makes Jack even more the hero.
8 - chip
Total geek moment here I know, but in season two the public heard rumors of a bomb exploding in the desert and of a mushroom cloud. It caused riots in several cities as panic took hold. That confusion and uncertainty was probably never resolved in many minds by season five, who knows what the official government story was?
Thoughts like this make the 24 landscape that much more rich and intricate. I don't think that the creators had that in mind when starting season one. I was even against there being a season two since it seemed insane that another really long day would befall Bauer and LA. Or at best I hoped they would get rid of the "real time" aspect. Now at season five with def. more to come along with a possible feature-length film, I am ready to suspend my disbelief and get deeper into the fictitious world its created.