Image Credit: Kelsey McNeal/FoxIt’s time to say goodbye to another beloved Jack in prime time! In preparation for tonight’s two-hour season finale of 24, EW took a quick jog down memory lane with star Kiefer Sutherland, who plays Jack Bauer, and asked him to reflect on the show’s 2001 debut, how he felt about the negative publicity the show sometimes received, and its lasting legacy.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Back in 2001, did you have reservations about debuting the show after Sept. 11?
KIEFER SUTHERLAND: Huge, massive concerns. It was something that was really transcendent to the population, and it wasn’t about the show. I think we all went through a period for three weeks, that if you weren’t a doctor, a policeman, a fireman, or a nurse, and you weren’t able to actually physically help, you just felt moronic for what you were doing. And me being a professional actor for a living, I think we felt the dumbest of all. So it wasn’t about the appropriateness of the show. But at some point, something’s got to jolt you out of the unbelievable mourning of a situation like that, and the sadness of that kind of day, and movies and television and music and literature are all things that do that.
Is Jack Bauer an anti-hero?
I think so, because my perception of a hero is someone who is victorious at the end of the day, and I don’t think Jack was ever that. From season one, he managed to save his daughter and the incumbent president but he lost his wife, and there has always been something to pay for Jack Bauer. I think one of the reasons the audience has gravitated to this character is because there is a reality in that. 24 worked really well in that gray area.
How did you originally feel about the plan to kill off Jack’s wife, Teri, in the first season finale?
Negatively! I thought it was going to be the biggest mistake of all time. How on earth can you have an audience stay with you for 24 episodes, and then do this to them? It was one of those classic things of underestimating what an audience can handle. It doesn’t change the fact that people sent in thousands of letters and emails, and tens of thousands, all of which started off with, ‘I hate you guys for doing this,’ but at the end of the letter, they somehow managed to work themselves back through to ‘I also love you for it.’
The show was often criticized for relying on tropes like moles in CTU, or someone — or some thing — destroying CTU.
If I was going to do a show about Wall Street, would people be like, ‘Why is there another financial crisis?’ Take a look at the number of people who have been arrested for spying either on a technological level or on personal levels all around the world. It happens. It’s in the world where the show lives. And that’s what the show is.
Talk about the way the show cracked the zeitgeist.
One of the interesting things, and I’ve always taken it as some kind of compliment, is that people forgot that it is a TV show, but talked about it politically as if it happened. It didn’t. A lot of things we were doing to create drama and circumstances were misunderstood.
What about the show’s past depiction of Muslims?
In the second season, we worked with the Muslim community, and I know we did a PSA. But, if you want to just take a look at 9/11, they were Muslims. Deal with it. It’s a fact, and Muslim extremists exist, and we have also done Christian right extremists, and we have also done political, Eastern block terrorists, and those who had financial and religious motives — all kinds. We weren’t going to pretend that the 22 hijackers in 9/11 weren’t Muslim. By the same token, I do believe you have a responsibility to say that this is a show about extremes. And I think you have to do whatever you can to make sure that people understand that this is not a commentary on what you believe people of the Muslim faith are doing. There’s a very, very small group, and so we did everything we could to do that, while protecting the right to tell the story that we wanted to tell.
Jack Bauer became an icon. How did that make you feel?
It’s a double-edged sword. You love the fact that people are enjoying your show, and then there’s the water-cooler discussion in which people start to manufacture what this meant, and what that meant. I think that on some levels, people read a little more [in the show] than was intended.
What were your favorite season finales?
Certainly the first one, just because it set a precedent for us for the rest of the show. I can’t remember the season, but there was one where Jack Bauer gets in the truck, the day is over, and he’s on his way home. Jack comes unglued. And it was the one moment where we got to show that all of the stress, all of the pressure, and all of the terrible things that happened in that 24-hour period do have an amazing, profound effect on this guy.
Your favorite villain?
Nina Myers [Sarah Clarke] was fantastic as a villain because we had gone through half of the first season thinking we were going to be partners. And then the writers turned that around on us! That was certainly an education for me as an actor. I think Nina was the first character I ever saw a T-shirt about. She had betrayed Jack so badly and they had an intimate relationship before that! I always loved that character.
What about tonight’s series ender?
What’s interesting is how it almost goes back to year one, where it’s not about saving the planet. It’s not about a nuclear bomb. It’s not about any of these things. It becomes about two characters. It was much more moving than I had ever anticipated, and for the people that I know who have seen it, I think they felt the same way.
Does it feel good knowing that you don’t have to say goodbye to Jack Bauer because of the 24 film?
It’s a huge relief for me. To go out on what we believe is a very strong high note was really important to us, and we still get to go make this film that we’ve wanted to do for a long time.
What will be the legacy of 24?
That the issues we’re dealing with in 24 no longer exist, and that it is an earmark of a time gone by.
With all the hoopla surrounding “lost” I am shocked EW even made mention of 24. It’s about time! For weeks leading up to the finale it has been all about “lost” Maybe for the rest of the day we can have a few articles, photo galleries, etc dedicated to the series finale of 24? or will this be it…a quick walk down memory lane with KS? Oh well, I guess i will have to make do! Thanks for nothing (or very little)
As a fan of both shows since the start I can honestly say that while most seasons of 24 were very entertaining (although no excuse can be made for season 6), Lost was the better show and deserves the attention it is getting. Just bad timing for 24.
As a fan of both shows as well I feel very comfortable saying that the worst of 24 was still better than anything I ever saw on Lost. FOX just had more integrity in not shamelessley pluggging the end of their show like ABC di.
I also watch both shows and Lost had one good season, its first. It was very good but none of the seasons since have approached that level, and the last sixth season was rushed, muddled and dull and has been the weakest. The obsession with Lost wasn’t about what it was, but what it could’ve been. They piled mysteries on top of mysteries promising a big payoff in the end, that forced you to keep watching, and if they delivered last night, Lost would’ve gone down as one of the “best shows in the history of television!”. But they blew it with the cop out (ie: we have no idea what’s going on, we’re just making stuff up as we go along) so we’ll focus on making everyone cry all night with the reunions and make them get all sentimental so they won’t notice we’re not really answering any of the big questions we’ve built the past seasons on. Let’s bring on the waterworks and go with a finale inspired by Touched By An Angel and just say “it’s open to your interpretation” so we still look like geniuses. To me, that’s lazy writing.
as a fan of both shows it’s embarrassing for any fan of both shows to say 24 touches Lost when they just recycle the same plots OVER AND OVER AND OVER on 24.. what happened in 24 tonight that we hadn’t seen 6, 7 times? S1 and S2, excellent, s3-8 so bland.
Nawwww 24 was better real time baby!!!.
I enjoyed 24, but it got a little stupid and redundant after a while (yes, I watched all the seasons). I mean, EVERY year they had a mole in CTU (this agency must have had the worst screening process in history).
Their timelines were ridiculous – someone would get shot or stabbed, have life threatening injuries, would be in surgery, then back at work a few hour later (they wouldn’t even be out of anesthesia in real life).
The characters would be able to get from one side of LA or New York in 5 minutes, etc when anyone who knows either of those cities knows that is impossible.
This past season the whole Dana timeline (she has an ex-boyfriend show up, helps him and his friend break into a police warehouse, they double cross her, she kills them, his PO shows up, won’t leave – even though he sees that there is a threat to national security, she kills him, then gets uncovered as this year’s mole – all in a few hours, was insulting.
It was a good show, but people who say it was the best ever are not being realistic or honest.
hello that is what 24 is all about duh if you dont understand then dont put any comments. 24 is awsome and it still needs to still be on the air
Yes, it’s pathetic how 24 has been ignored these past fews and it’s been all about Lost Lost Lost. “24″ has been the longer running show, the more groundbreaking show – if there was no 24 there wouldn’t have been a Lost!
So Lost gets multiple EW covers throughout the year including 10 commemorative covers (?!) while 24 gets a small write up hidden in this week’s EW with Glee on the cover?? Glee??? You have go to be kidding me. What a way to show respect to the show that revolutionalized the serial drama and paved the way for all those shows we see now today.
“…if there was no 24 there wouldn’t have been a Lost!”
I highly doubt that. But your enthusiasm is noted!
Actually, Vivi – enthusiasm aside….24 did pave the way for viewers being to experience ways of bending time to tell stories. Additionally- 24 was used as the template in relation to showing all episodes in a row without reruns when the Lost Producers were eyeing an end date and revised structure per season.
Damon Lindelhof himself has cited 24 as a favorite show of his, and 24 achieved the first large audience for serialized dramatic television, which was a huge help in paving the way for L O S T to do the same.
Absolutely right, Jennifer! When I saw the “Lost” issue two weeks ago, I was really looking forward to the “24″ issue…which of course never came! This is the first time I have been disappointed in “EW” – and I’m a charter subscriber!!
I almost wrote the exact same comment you just mentioned to EW weeklys e-mail address that they usually have inside the cover. WE need all of our fans to write to EW and give 24 the credit they deserve!!!
@ Jennifer
I agree with you 100%. I left a comment on the ABC home page basically saying that, I applaud them for giving LOST a proper send off by airing a 2 hr show preceding the finale, as well as a post finale celebration on the the Jimmy Kimmel show. FOX is doing nothing! I guess it’s up to us fans to give 24 a proper send off.
Jennifer, you’re completely right. It’s shameful the way FOX hasn’t promoted the end of this revolutionary show that has been on for almost a decade.
I went into the Lost finale expecting everything, expecting them to shake the world on which I stood and my general pessimissim toward series finales because they are NEVER good or satisying enough. I went into the 24 finale expecting not much at all, as this season was very weak and uneven until the finale 5 or 6 episodes. Well, maybe my bar was a little low, but 24′s finale BLEW Lost’s finale out of the water. I’d rather have an episode about Jack going hardcore, as well as his relationship with Chloe, than people touching each other and going “ohhh I loved you in past life, ohhhh. Lost’s finale did something that is taboo in television, you never waste airtime in the finale on that much past footage, on clip shows. 24 finale was much better. period. And in a lot of ways, I wish it would have been the other way around, but now I know which show I smile at on my wall of tv seasons and which one I shrug my shoulder and say “eh.” Though, at least the end of Lost wasn’t reallly horrible and angering like The Shield or The Sopranos.
You are right on target Jennifer. You go girl!
I hear ya Jennifer. I was soo mad when I saw this week’s EW had Glee on the cover.. I would have bet good money ’24′ would have had a cover article this issue… I don’t get all the hype with Lost myself and I don’t see how it was worth having TEN commemorative covers… now if we got Seasons 1-8 Jack Bauer covers, that would have been awesome.
Now that would have been cool!!!!
I’m a HUGE fan of Lost and not as much of a 24 fan (in middle of season 3 right now on Netflix), but I agree that 24 deserves more respect. Lost is awesome, but 24 deserves as much of a send-off. I’m hoping that the only reason is that last night was the real end of Lost (no movies, etc.) whereas everyone knows 24 will go on in a different medium. But still, it makes me very indignant for 24, especially Kiefer Sutherland. They deserve better!!!!
I’ve read numerous articles about 24 on various entertainment & even news sites. TV Guide.com has covered it extensively and well. 24 was a groundbreaking show, and so was Lost, each in its own ways, and both great shows. I’m a diehard fan of both, but I’ve been ready for 24 to end (and I’ll miss it) for a while. (Lost has deserved all the attention it has gotten.) Just google “24 finale” and you’ll find lots of enjoyable coverage.
TV Guide gave the cover to Lost this week instead of 24 and had way more coverage inside devoted to Lost…
I find it funny that people claim that EW hasn’t supported 24 when the mag has done many articles and reviews on the show over the years. 24 also had two cover stories, and I even that small booklet inserted in an EW issue prior to season 6. It had a synopsis of the first (i.e., best) five seasons and had Stephen King giving his review of season 6′s opener. While I do think EW could have done more with 24′s final hours, ignoring what they have done over the years is kind of unfair criticism. 24 received more support than most other TV shows over the past decade (which even includes the highly underrated “The Wire”, which EW also supported).
Love you, Kiefer! Jack Bauer rules. Can’t wait for the movie. 24 totally rocks. I hope everyone who should gets their comeuppance tonight and that Jack is vindicated, as he should be, because for me, he is a hero. This was always the most edge of your seat, nail biting, nerve racking hour of my week. Thank you for a wonderful wonderful series. Standing O’s to all. Bravo! Bravissimo!
24 should have had a cover instead of glee! love glee, but 24 is ending! will tune in to the series finale! hopefully next week’s issue will have 24
Hope so too, Allie. A 24 cover on EW is a must!
I hope so too. I watched Glee a couple of times but found it boring. 24 has been the best keep you on the edge of your seat show for each of it’s 8 seasons. It should be honored. It will be missed.
::silent clock::
That’s gonna be the moment for me…when that last clock appears on the screen. End of a wonderful ride. EW – DO A COVER!!!
It’s all about the ratings…I’ve heard glee has a major tv ratings in the states..but 24 is the best show I’ve ever seen in my life..well just behind the sopranos..and followed by the first 4 seasons of miami vice
24 seasons 1,2,3,4,5,8…miami vice, sopranos, 1234…best of the best
I think the 24 seasons rank like this:
4, 7, 3, 1, 5, 2, 8, 6
this story has been posted for an hour and a half and has a whopping 10 comments. that says a lot.
It does seem like 24 hasn’t gotten somewhat short shrift … and, that’s a shame as this has been one of its best seasons ever. Sutherland is a revelation; he puts his heart and soul into every scene he’s in. A wonderful actor … I hope movie land welcomes him back. Let’s face it: Another great show bites the dust … sad, sad year, this one!
I am a big fan of BOTH “Lost” and “24″ and seen all the episodes of both, and I can tell you that the past few weeks I have been much more emotionally invested in 24 than in Lost! I think 24 is going out true to its roots and has been terrific that past few weeks. It was interesting (and nice) to see Kiefer acknowledge as much in the comments above.
The final clock countdown tonight to 4:00:00 will likely be more emotional for me than the Losties walking into a bright light and Jack’s eye closing (though Vincent will probably make it close! lol!)
Here come the Hawks, the Mighty Blackhawks………..Lets bring home the Cup Boys.
Hear, hear!
Flyers, Flyers
I sat through the Lost finale last night and pretty much got what I expected… not a lot. I am eagerly looking forward to the 24 Finale tonight. Never missed an episode. I will undoubtedly miss Jack Bauer when January 2011 rolls around. Thanks Kiefer and company for a wild and fun ride! Enjoyed it immensely.
TICK TICK TICK TICK TICK TICK..tick tick tic….The clock has stopped.