The Anniversary Brothers Podcast: 24 20th Anniversary

Aaron and Josh are here for their latest TV podcast. This time they’re talking about 24, celebrating its 20th anniversary this month. 24 is an action thriller created by Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran. The series premiered on Fox November 6, 2001. The show follows Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland, Designated Survivor), an agent for the Los Angeles Counter Terrorist Unit. The most unique aspect of the show is its use of real time, depicting a full 24-hour period each season, with an episode covering one hour. The series forgoes storytelling techniques such as flashbacks, time jumps, and slow motion. The original 24 series ended on May 24, 2010, after eight seasons and a TV movie. The 2014 miniseries 24: Live Another Day continues Jack Bauer’s story, while 2017’s 24: Legacy introduces a new protagonist, ex-Army Ranger Eric Carter (Corey Hawkins, Straight Outta Compton). Fox canceled Legacy after one season. Just a small list of supporting heroes include Jack’s daughter Kim (Elisha Cuthbert, Happy Endings), President David Palmer (Dennis Haysbert, Heat), CTU agents Tony Almeida (Carlos Bernard, The Orville) and Michelle Dessler (Reiko Aylesworth, Lost), and intel analyst Chloe O’Brian (Mary Lynn Rajskub, Punch-Drunk Love). Jack faces many villains, including CTU traitor Nina Myers (Sarah Clarke, Bosch), terrorist mastermind Habib Marwan (Arnold Vosloo, The Mummy), and President Charles Logan (Gregory Itzin, Lincoln). 24 garnered acclaim from critics and viewers for much of its run, winning many awards. Kiefer Sutherland won the Primetime Emmy for Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2006, the same year the show won Outstanding Drama Series. Despite the praise, 24 remains controversial for its dismissal of civil liberties, portrayal of Muslims, and depictions of violence and torture. Aaron and Josh look at the show’s pilot, which won the Primetime Emmy for Writing for a Drama Series in 2002. The brothers also discuss the various aspects of the 24 franchise, including its characters, use of real time, and controversies. For a podcast on another series known for killing characters, you can listen to Josh and Aaron talk about Game of Thrones. 24, 24: Live Another Day, and 24: Legacy are streaming on Hulu.