24 || The obsession explained

If you’re a regular you'll have heard me mention 24 alot. Let me tell you why... [Includes NO season 5 spoilers]

About the show:
A per one-hour episode drama which centers around Jack Bauer, an American intelligence agent at the Counter Terrorist Unit [CTU], based in Los Angeles. Bauer is America’s best and last hope against international terrorists, drug trafficking and just plain evil. Each episode covers one hour of real time and an entire season’s story takes place in one day- This means the audience experience every suspenseful and stressful moment right along with Jack Bauer.

Some 24 facts:
- Completing an entire season, including pre- and post-production work, takes ten and a half months.
- Season 3. A Mexican airplane appears briefly during Salazar and Bauer's landing on Mexican ground. The logo on its side reads "Aeromexicana". The name is comprised of Mexico's two largest airlines "Aeromexico" and "Mexicana".
- During Season 2, President Palmer takes a flight aboard Air Force One. Reportedly, the sets used were the same used for the film Air Force One.
- The crew tried to keep all the cameras at eye-level to add an extra level of realism.
- Two episodes are filmed simultaneously over a period of 15 days.
- In season 2, Tony Almeida's ankle injury was added to the script as actor Carlos Bernard had really injured his ankle while playing basketball during a break in filming.
- All cast members are required to have their hair trimmed every five days.
- Each plot or story line per season has their own director/screen coordinator to ensure the show remains consistent and are no character or prop flaws due to a season being one day everybody has to be looking the same throughout the 10 month filming.
- In the Series Premier [12:00am - 1:00am] a main shot of the 747 exploding was removed, the show had its premier delayed a month and this scene cut as well as further storyline changes, due to the attacks on the World Trade Center. Nearly all later references to the plane explosion were also removed.
- Each episode is supposed to take one hour of real time, but in actuality, three minutes are gradually added to the timer during the commercial breaks. The last three minutes of air time are used for viewing commercials, station identification, and scenes from the next episode.
- Shots of a satellite in space in the first episode were taken from Enemy of the State
- When aired in America the show brings in $850,000 each minute an episode.
- It brings in $150 million pounds of revenue from on-air advertising in one season.

Some 24 top 5's:
Ways to convert a non-fan into a 24 addict-
- Tie them up, place their feet in a bucket of water, and surround them with electrical equipment - as Palmer said, "everyone breaks eventually."
- Invite a non-fan to your house in addition to some 24 addicts. The fans talk about how great 24 is, while the non-fan feels that they're missing out on something, and will want to see it. Now's the time to get out your DVDs.
- Depending on their gender, show them a picture of Kiefer Sutherland or Elisha Cuthbert.
- Make a tick tock noise at them for so long they agree to watch it just to shut you up. One episode in and they'll be hooked.
- Explain the full potential of a hacksaw and a wet towel.

Memorable quotes-
- Tony: "Either fire me, or get out of my chair."
- Jack: "I'm gonna need a hacksaw."
- Jack: " Your gonna have to trust me"
- Mason: "Maybe you should have taken more English lessons. Trade means we get something too"
- Nina: "When he sees me he'll shoot me and then turn the gun on himself."; Jack: "We'll make sure he doesn't turn the gun on himself."

Why I love it:
This show leaves you sitting watching in sheer disbelief... they are not afraid to do stuff like blow up planes, set off bombs or suddenly kill off lead characters. Each episode always leaves you feeling like you want more- each episode is like watching a full movie. You can NEVER guess what will happen next and the twists and turns go to the very very end. They use such a variety of camera positions and shots and they spilt the screen at times so you can see whats going on in the story in different places or with other people. Sometimes you can be following 3 or 4 people at one go. Such a great show you really have no idea.

Test your fan knowledge in some 24 games or Buy 24 on sale!

'If everyone on 24 followed Jack's instructions it would be called 12'