24

24 is too good for network television. The show picks up a year later. Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland), no longer working for CTU, has been an unshaven mess since the death of his wife at the end of the first season. His hottie daughter (Elisha Cuthbert) has landed a nanny job for some jerky rich folks. And former Senator David Palmer (Dennis Haysbert), now President Palmer, has a serious crisis on his hands: a possible nuclear attack in L.A. Jack is the coolest, smartest, and most brutal motherscratcher on TV (and we never thought we’d say that about any Lost Boy). After watching the first two episodes, our only worry is whether they’re gonna have the guts to keep up this kind of intensity for 22 more. While being one of the best shows on TV last year, there were a bunch of episodes during which they killed time rather than people. (We’re looking at you, asshole amnesia subplot.) But it’s a new day (you didn’t think you’d escape this review without a pun, did you?) and here’s hoping that the splattered brains behind 24 make it worth our while once again.