25 Thrilling Insights About the Series '24'

Featuring a quintessential American hero and a relentless stream of terrorist threats to thwart, 24 unintentionally became a defining symbol of 2000s television. Although filmed prior to 9/11, the show debuted afterward, with Kiefer Sutherland portraying Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU) agent Jack Bauer. The series masterfully wove tales of looming dangers and narrow escapes, all underscored by the relentless ticking of a clock. Its groundbreaking real-time format, fitting an hour of in-universe action into an hour-long slot, revolutionized the espionage thriller genre, immersing viewers in the intense pressure of racing against time to outmaneuver adversaries.

From thwarting presidential assassinations to preventing nuclear disasters and cyberattacks, Bauer stopped at nothing to avert crises, often employing morally ambiguous tactics. The show's portrayal of torture as a necessary tool for counterterrorism mirrored the complex ethical debates of post-9/11 America, capturing both the virtues and vices of the era.

A cultural juggernaut, 24 revitalized Sutherland's career, garnered critical acclaim and massive viewership, and surpassed Mission: Impossible as the longest-running counterterrorism-themed series in American television. Dive into 25 fascinating facts about the show, which first aired nearly two decades ago on November 6, 2001.

1. Initially, 24 was conceived as a story centered around a wedding.

Joel Surnow's original vision for 24 focused exclusively on the real-time, countdown-driven format. When he first pitched the idea to co-creator Bob Cochran, the plot revolved around the events leading up to a wedding. However, this premise was soon abandoned in favor of a high-stakes thriller involving a kidnapped daughter, which eventually evolved into a gripping counterterrorism drama.

2. 24 drew inspiration from several aspects of La Femme Nikita.

The TV series La Femme Nikita, adapted by Surnow from Luc Besson's 1990 film, became a cult favorite in 1990s action television. It served as a testing ground for many elements later seen in 24, such as morally complex protagonists, failed terrorist plots, innovative split-screen techniques, and even the iconic surname Bauer.

3. The creators of 24 nearly abandoned the real-time format after the first season.

Thankfully, the majority of the cast, including Sutherland, urged the creators to retain the real-time format. Co-writer Virgil Williams told The Guardian that abandoning it "would be akin to killing Tony Soprano."

4. The real-time structure posed significant challenges for 24's writing team.

While the format offered creative freedom in some ways, writer Michael Loceff told Slate that it also imposed limitations, particularly because characters couldn’t instantly appear where needed. "You might want Curtis at CTU, but if he’s stuck at the airport, there’s no way to get him there immediately. Additionally, since we write episodes sequentially, despite having a general outline for the season, we often find ourselves in tricky situations. For instance, a character might need to perform at their peak, but we’ve just written a plot point where their parent has died. What seemed like a dramatic twist earlier becomes a logistical nightmare when dealing with their emotional state."

5. The ticking clock in 24 fell silent whenever a character met their demise.

The series reinforced its real-time premise by featuring the iconic digital clock during commercial breaks and credit sequences, counting down the seconds. However, during moments of profound loss or sorrow, the clock would appear without its signature beep as a solemn tribute. (This choice likely also prevented the repetitive blaring of the alarm from diminishing the emotional weight of a character's death.)

6. Kiefer Sutherland opted for a real tattoo to streamline production on 24.

Jack Bauer sports a tattoo of the Virgin of Guadalupe, a remnant of his undercover mission with the Salazar Brothers. Rather than enduring lengthy makeup sessions to apply it, Sutherland decided to get the tattoo permanently. This not only saved time but also served as a meaningful memento.

7. Jack Bauer's limp in 24's second season was a result of Kiefer Sutherland injuring himself while exiting his trailer.

In season 2, Jack Bauer survived a plane crash, extracting a large wooden shard from his leg and subsequently limping. While the crash was scripted, the splinter and limp were clever adaptations to accommodate Sutherland's real-life injury, sustained while stepping out of his trailer. The show faced another rewrite when Carlos Bernard (Tony Almeida) dislocated his ankle during a basketball game, complicating an intense fight scene between his character and Jack.

8. Elisha Cuthbert was bitten by the infamous cougar on 24.

While Sutherland injured himself exiting his trailer, Elisha Cuthbert, who portrayed Jack Bauer's daughter Kim, faced a different ordeal: she was bitten by the cougar featured in season 2. The cougar scene in "Day 2: 6:00pm - 7:00pm" is notorious for its exaggerated drama, but Cuthbert's real-life hospitalization added an unexpected twist. Covered in fake blood and injuries for filming, her arrival at the ER caused quite a stir.

9. Sarah Clarke wore the same outfit throughout an entire season of 24.

Nina Myers is a pivotal character in 24, but Sarah Clarke was cast for the role at the eleventh hour—literally. As the show prepared to begin filming, Clarke auditioned and was immediately cast. With no time to design a costume, she wore the same outfit from her audition throughout the entire first season.

10. A season 4 episode of 24 featured a real cell phone number.

Unlike most TV shows and movies that use fake numbers (like 555-5555), 24 displayed an actual cell phone number belonging to a crew member in "Day Four: 11:00am - 12:00pm." Known as the Fan Phone, its voicemail informed callers they had reached the 24 prop phone. Some fans even connected with writers, producers, and designers. The number became a recurring element, with multiple characters sharing it as if it were a communal line.

11. 24 includes a subtle reference to Stand By Me.

Milo Pressman, a character in Stand By Me, owns a junkyard and a fierce junkyard dog. Interestingly, a character with the same name appears in 24. This could either be a remarkable coincidence or a subtle homage to the film that played a pivotal role in launching Sutherland's early career.

12. Mary Lynn Rajskub landed her role in 24 thanks to her performance in Punch-Drunk Love.

Mary Lynn Rajskub's portrayal of Chloe O'Brian became a cornerstone of the show after her introduction in season 3. However, her casting wasn't initially obvious. Known for her stand-up comedy and work on the quirky Mr. Show, Rajskub was invited to audition after producer Peter Lenkov admired her performance as Adam Sandler's domineering sister in Punch-Drunk Love, prompting him to create a role specifically for her.

13. Mary Lynn Rajskub's mother played a key role in convincing her to attend the 24 audition.

With limited experience in drama auditions and still reeling from a disappointing one, Rajskub hesitated to audition for 24. While her agent encouraged her, her mother became her biggest supporter. After learning about the opportunity, Rajskub's mom enthusiastically praised 24, prompting Rajskub to binge two seasons. Enjoying the show, she felt more confident about auditioning. The world owes Mrs. Rajskub for the creation of Chloe.

14. The producers of 24 unveiled the show's fourth season through a viral website featured in an episode.

In Day 3, Stephen Saunders (Paul Blackthorne), an MI6 agent turned terrorist, utilizes SylviaImports.com to enable President Palmer to share a list of global covert sources. Fans quickly visited the site after its episode debut, discovering a special note: "A huge thank you from the 24 team. Thank you for watching, we love creating it for you, and yes, we’ve been renewed for Season 4."

15. Sean Astin's chiropractor played a pivotal role in his casting on 24.

Five years after the release of the first The Lord of the Rings film, Sean Astin joined 24 in its fifth season. His casting came about in an unconventional manner. Astin and Surnow shared the same chiropractor, and during a chance encounter at the chiropractor's office, Astin was introduced to Surnow. After praising the show, Surnow—who was in his boxers—immediately offered Astin a role on the spot.

16. Phone call scenes on 24 were filmed in a unique way compared to other TV shows.

While most TV shows film phone call scenes with a script supervisor reading the other character's lines, 24 took a different approach. Since characters spent significant time on the phone, both actors were present during these scenes. This method benefited actors like Leslie Hope (Teri Bauer), who, despite limited screen time with Sutherland, felt a strong connection to him due to their proximity during phone call filming.

17. The late John McCain was a devoted fan of 24—and even appeared in a cameo during season 5.

Few things encapsulate the Bush-era anti-terrorism drama better than a cameo from Senator John McCain. However, instead of portraying a high-ranking official, he appeared briefly as a CTU staffer handing over a folder.

18. Multiple actors returned to 24—but played entirely different characters.

In a rare move for a TV series (unless it's Law & Order), several actors reappeared on 24 as entirely new characters. Omid Abtahi portrayed Safa in season 4 and later returned as Jibraan Al-Zarian in season 7; Tony Todd played Detective Norris in season 3 and General Juman in season 7; and Anthony Aziz took on the roles of Mamud Faheen in season 2 and Rafique in season 4.

19. David Palmer holds the distinction of being the only president on 24 to complete his full term.

Over 18 years of in-universe time, 24 featured 11 presidents. Dennis Haysbert's President Palmer is the sole leader to serve a full term. Other presidents faced various fates: one was incapacitated during an Air Force One attack, another was ousted due to terrorist ties, one was assassinated, one resigned over an assassination cover-up, and one hinted at stepping down early due to Alzheimer's. Several others served as Acting Presidents under the 25th Amendment or assumed office mid-term.

20. Nearly the entire cast of RoboCop made appearances on 24.

This includes RoboCop star Peter Weller, along with Ray Wise, Paul McCrane, Kurtwood Smith, Jesse D. Goins, and Edward Edwards.

21. Cherry Jones admitted she set aside her principles to join the cast of 24.

During an interview with Terry Gross on NPR's Fresh Air, Cherry Jones was asked how she reconciled her role on a show that frequently and positively depicted torture. Jones admitted, "I compromised my principles. I did it because both of my parents were in serious decline."

Jones was performing on Broadway when she was cast as President Allison Taylor in 24. Accepting the role allowed her to spend several weeks each month with her parents during their final years.

22. Jack Bauer's body count on 24 was staggering.

To put it in perspective, Jack eliminated 270 people over eight seasons. That’s 18 in-universe years, averaging 15 kills per year—far surpassing the tally of your average serial killer.

23. Kim Bauer faced abduction four times, with three of those incidents occurring in season 1 alone.

Dubbed "Spawn" by critical fans, Jack's incredibly unfortunate daughter endured three kidnappings in the first season and another in season 2, orchestrated by a prepper who deceived her about a nuclear explosion in Los Angeles. This doesn’t include the times she was arrested or caught in a convenience store robbery. The only thing missing was her being tied to train tracks.

24. A 24 and Die Hard crossover was nearly a reality.

While specifics are scarce, in 2010, plans were underway for Sutherland to reprise his role as Jack Bauer alongside Bruce Willis's John McClane in a blockbuster crossover film. Unfortunately, the project never materialized.

25. 24 has been adapted into Indian and Japanese versions.

After portraying President Omar Hassan of the fictional Republic of Kamistan, Anil Kapoor secured the rights to adapt 24 for Hindi audiences. He starred as Jai Singh Rathod, a character akin to Jack Bauer, in two seasons. Similarly, Toshiaki Karasawa led a Japanese adaptation, playing CTU Japan Agent Genba Shidō, tasked with protecting Urara Asakura (Yukie Nakama), who was poised to become the nation's first female prime minister.