USA: Kiefer Sutherland and the cast of "24" premiere the new season of the hit show

Record ID: 219759

  • Title: USA: Kiefer Sutherland and the cast of "24" premiere the new season of the hit show
  • Date: 22nd November 2008
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) KIEFER SUTHERLAND, SAYING: "We're not trying to re-invent the show, so I think they're going to see a lot of the things that are very familiar about the show, I mean, obviously it's still in the 24-hour time frame, it's going to be a dynamic day, but I think the one thing that constantly changes from season to season is the perspective that Jack has, or that character at that given point."
  • Embargoed: 7th December 2008 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA9WGNJZG3ATQHCH8I68O5GW3IS
  • Story Text: Kiefer Sutherland and the cast of "24" premiere the new season of the hit show.
    Kiefer Sutherland and co-stars of the seventh season of "24" gathered in New York City Wednesday evening (November 19) to premiere the two hour special "Redemption." The episode will bridge the gaps between the sixth and current season of the fast paced action show starring Kiefer Sutherland as ex-government agent Jack Bauer.
    Each season of the popular and innovative Fox TV series spans the time of one day and contains 24 episodes, one for each hour, in real time. Fans can expect new thrills this year, but not a change in the overall format of the show.

    "We're not trying to re-invent the show, so I think they're going to see a lot of the things that are very familiar about the show," says Sutherland.
    "Obviously it's still in the 24-hour time frame, it's going to be a dynamic day, but I think the one thing that constantly changes from season to season is the perspective that Jack has, or that character at that given point."
    The two-hour prequel movie "24: Redemption" will give viewers a head start on the season called "Day Seven." The movie will feature Academy Award-winner Jon Voight as Jack Bauer's (Sutherland) nemesis, Scottish actor Robert Carlyle as his best friend, and actress Cherry Jones playing the President of the United States.
    Actor Jon Voight has long been a fan of "24," and although he hasn't played a role in a TV series in 40 years, he jumped at the chance to interact with Sutherland's character, who he believes is giving James Bond a run for his money.

    "Jack Bauer is great. There is a reason why Jack Bauer is Jack Bauer. You say 'Jack Bauer,' this is a 'Jack Bauer moment,' 'this is a Jack Bauer,' it's almost like a new word in our vocabulary, 'Jack Bauer.' And there's a reason why, many reasons why, but this performance by Kiefer is iconic," says Jon Voight.
    The first season of "24" featured an African-American president, perhaps predicting the 2008 win of Barack Obama for the office.
    This year, "24's" commander in chief is a female, perhaps foreshadowing the political landscape of the United States in the years to come. Actress Cherry Jones, who plays President Taylor, believes the casting of a woman in the role was the only way to keep ahead of the curve, now that reality has caught up with the show.

    "I think the harbinger has passed now, I think we're now trailing on the coattails of reality now on '24,' and I think they would not have remained on the cutting edge if they had basically any other gender assume the presidency this year," says Cherry Jones.

    "24" has been a troubled project since it ended its sixth season in May 2007 with declines in the ratings. There had also been anger expressed towards the show because of its depiction of Muslim terrorists, which several religious groups took issue with, and Sutherland makes clear was not his intent.

    "We were depicting a specific situation and absolutely in no way shape, or form were trying to articulate what we believe the Muslim communities were like in the United States, but it's also impossible to deny that there are aspects of every community that are doing things that are illegal and that are wrong, and that's what we are focusing on, and so we did a PSA to try and really explain that, and I will always be very sensitive to that," says Sutherland.

    "24: Redemption" will air on Sunday November 23. Fox will premiere the first new regular episode of "24" in nearly two years on Sunday, January 11, 2009.
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