Saunders: The world needs Jack more than ever in season 5

Published January 14, 2006 at midnight

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I often chuckle when a network sends a "do not divulge the plot" memo along with a preview of a show.

Often this is part of the public relations game - an attempt to create a mind-set that what I'm about to see is really stunning stuff. The pitch: If the plot is outlined in print, the readers' fun will be destroyed.

Such a notation arrived with the DVD containing the first four hours of the fifth season of Fox's 24, which premieres Sunday.

And in keeping with the dramatic theme of 24, the memo was almost threatening. Included was the warning: "Our continued ability to send these preview mailings to you depends on your cooperation."

Wow. The Fox PR staff is really caught up in this espionage mind-set.

But dramatic memo aside, Fox makes its case. It would be a disservice to viewers to detail what happens in the first 10 minutes of Sunday's opening.

And there's also pragmatism in my decision to follow Fox's plea. A long, written dissertation about the pulse-pounding opening wouldn't do it justice.

So I'll tell you just enough to whet your viewing curiosity. Fans of the series know that last season's finale ended with Counter Terrorism Unit agent Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) "dying." That cliffhanger was a prelude to new adventures, as Bauer begins another frantic 24 hours to save the U.S. and possibly the world from devastating terrorist attacks.

(For the uninformed, each episode represents one hour. Thus Jack Bauer has 24 hours, over 24 episodes, to prevent the ultimate disaster.)

Since his orchestrated "death," Bauer has been living for 18 months under an alias (Frank Flynn) and working as an oil digger in Bakersfield, Calif. To add to the realistic disguise, Bauer-Flynn is "living" with a local woman (Spin City's Connie Britton).

But his life spins quickly out of control during a series of devastating events that will affect Bauer, the people around him and, of course, the nation he serves.

Unlike the previous four seasons, which built up to major confrontations, this fifth edition immediately moves into the tragedy and disaster mode. And there are major problems on more fronts than in past seasons.

The main enemies this time are an eastern European bloc of terrorists who, during the first two nights, make the previous 24 villains look like bingo players in a church basement.

The head of this sinister operation is Vladimir Bierko (Julian Sands), an oil billionaire cut from the same villainous cloth as the James Bond bad guys.

Several cast members return from last season's fourth day, including Bauer's love interest, Audrey Raines (Kim Raver), along with Tony (Carlos Bernard) and Michelle (Reiko Aylesworth) who are running their own security firm and thus get involved with Bauer's bloody espionage activities.

Also back is Mary Lynn Rajskub as Chloe O'Brian, Bauer's loyal agency pal who's as fast on her computers as she is with sardonic one-liners. Bauer's irritating daughter, Kim (Elisha Cuthbert), also returns. Her meddlesome misadventures earlier in the series often detracted from the major plot.

President Charles Logan (Gregory Itzin), still shellshocked from Day 4's major nuclear threat, returns. But the most fascinating character living in the White House is his wife, Martha (Jean Smart), a chain- smoking, pill-popping first lady whose actions and attitude probably will heavily affect Bauer's war on terror. Is she unstable or strong?

Also new is Sean Astin of Lord of the Rings fame, playing Lynn McGill, a know-it-all bureaucrat sent by President Logan to oversee operations at the Counter Terrorism Unit. Followers of 24 know how Jack Bauer detests authority, particularly when it comes from young know-it-all Washington bureaucrats.

I recall watching the first hour of the series when it premiered. While mesmerized by the style, drama and action, I wondered how producers were going to sustain such a format over an entire season. Four years and four days later, Jack Bauer is still saving us from disaster as the clock ticks on.

Watching most dramatic television is an exercise in suspending reality. You don't suspend reality while viewing 24 - you throw it away.

Enjoy the upcoming relentless scenarios.

The next 24

• What: 24 begins its fifth season with a pair of two-hour episodes

• When and where: 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday and Monday, Fox31

Dusty Saunders is the broadcasting critic. saunders@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-892-5137

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