It’s such a perfect idea for a TV series that it’s a wonder somebody didn’t think of 24 before its 2001 launch. Those willing to suspend disbelief far beyond normal expectations got a cracking good spy thriller, while everybody else could tune in to see how silly things got. With each real-time hour adding up to a single day in the life of CTU agent Jack Bauer, things did tend to get a little silly—and there was so much catching up and beeping clock—but the show held it together (and kept the conceit!) through eight seasons. The upcoming 24: Live Another Day, which debuts tonight, condenses Jack’s day down to 12 hours, which is actually a great idea. No time for cougar attacks, then.
