绝不能错过的5部美剧之24

24 is an American serial action/drama television series. Broadcast by Fox in the United States and syndicated worldwide, the show first aired on November 6, 2001, with an initial 13 episodes (the next 11 episodes were later ordered). 24 is the second longest-running espionage series in television history, behind the original Mission: Impossible series by number of episodes and The Avengers by longevity of broadcast.

24 is broadcast in real time, with each season depicting a 24-hour period in the life of Jack Bauer, who works with the United States government as it fights fictitious terrorist threats to the United States. Bauer is often in the field for the Los Angeles Counter Terrorist Unit as it tries to safeguard the nation from terrorist threats. The show also follows the actions of other CTU agents, government officials and terrorists associated with the plot. The first six seasons of the show were all based in Los Angeles and nearby locations—both real and fictional—in California, although occasionally other locations have been featured as well—most notably, Washington, D.C., where a portion of the episodes took place during the fourth and sixth seasons. Departing from tradition, the seventh season is set primarily in Washington, D.C. Season 8 is to take place in New York City. It may also be the last season of the show.

After leading actor Kiefer Sutherland won a Golden Globe for his role in the first 10 episodes, the ratings of the show increased, leading FOX to order the second half of the season. After six seasons, it was confirmed that FOX has ordered a further two seasons to be produced. A feature film based on the show has been written, with a working title of 24, and was scheduled to be filmed in 2007 for a 2008 release, but plans for production were put, and have remained, on hold to focus on the series.

The seventh season, originally scheduled to premiere on January 13, 2008, was initially postponed in the wake of the 2007-08 Writers Guild of America strike to ensure a nonstop season, a trademark of the show since the start of its fourth season in January 2005. It was officially postponed until January 2009. To help offset the strike-induced delay, 24 returned on Sunday, November 23, 2008 with a feature-length TV movie, titled 24: Redemption, that takes place nearly four years after season six and "set up the story that [launched] season seven".