24

How many times do you have to save the world before you start getting some respect? Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland in the role of his life) has already done it for three full days now—we can't wait for the cumulative DVD box set, 72—but every season, he's starting at square one again. Today he's hanging with his new girlfriend, comfortably situated in his new job that doesn't involve being a counter-terrorism agent, when things get insane. Without revealing any of the incredible surprises, we will tell you that his girl gets snatched and a radical Muslim group plans on doing something utterly evil on the Internet. (And we're not talking about pop-up ads.) After last year's so-so season, filled with soap opera subplots, this season is back to where it should be. With the exception of Sutherland and one or two familiar faces, the entire cast has been overhauled, and as long as the show manages to keep the action tight, today could be the best day yet.