24
As many of you may know, I don’t get television in my house. There’s just not enough good material on cable TV to warrant $15-45/mo. Instead, I pay $17/mo for a Blockbuster DVD subscription (like Netflix). The DVDs work out great, since they’re mostly movies, and we have a projector with a 108″ screen (mine) and a nice Boston Acoustics/Onkyo surround sound system (Tom’s) to enjoy them on.
The problem is, Tom and I have pretty much run out of movies we wanted to watch. So I started renting seasons of TV series. Having just finished a series of my choosing, Arrested Development (AWESOME, by the way), we moved on to one of Tom’s favorites.
If you’re like me, you’ve spent the last few years mildly annoyed by the fan hysteria surrounding the hit show 24. You’ve been confused by those leaving parties early or frustrated by those turning down dates in favor of watching the latest episode of 24.
You’re probably unaware that the name of the show is not a reference to the number of characters in the movie, or some plot element that will be cutely referenced in character dialogue from time to time. The name of the show is, in fact, a reference to its presentation format.
The show runs 24 episodes per season, and each 1-hour episode covers events occurring during the 1 hour following the previous episode. Each season covers the events of a single 24-hour span, and each episode unfolds events in real time.
As an aside, “real time” is a phrase that holds almost no meaning to me any more. My business associate Paul Pilzer uses the phrase to describe almost everything. You can track your visitors to your website in real time. Your HRA participants will receive real-time reimbursements. Repeat ad nauseum.
Anyway, after watching the first two episodes, I was unimpressed. How could a series possibly have enough material for an entire season in a plot spanning a single day? By the end of the second episode (2:00 AM in plot-time), I felt like I’d been introduced to most of the conflicts that would unfold over the next 20 hours of this television show. I was about ready to quit.
As luck would have it, I was bored tonight, so I put back in Season 1 Disc 1 and watched two more episodes.
By the end of the first disc (only 4 episodes in, total), I’d sent a very upset text message to Tom demanding to know why he hadn’t insisted we rent the whole first season at once. Now I have to wait a whole nother day just to find out what happens to (falsely?) accused Jack Bauer, his kidnapped super-hot daughter (are there any other kinds on TV?), his ex-love-affair, the black Congressman who would be President, his would-be assassin, and the other half-dozen characters wound up in this elaborate drama.
To those who know as much about 24 as I did a few days ago, let this be a warning to you. Do not watch this show.Â
You may never see the light of day again.
July 25th, 2007 at 10:55 pm
I recommend LOST (although I’ve only seen about 5 episodes) or House (if you don’t mind medical scenes - the second season finale almost made me pass out about 6 times, but that was a particularly bad one with some mysterious ailment that made this guy’s body parts swell and explode). House is how I imagine Jimmy would be if he ever became a doctor.
July 27th, 2007 at 6:42 am
Pretty much you have a one-day-a-week soap opera. As the World Turns used to move about an hour an episode, I think, with multiple story lines. (My friend Kim Hafen used to watch it all the time and I watched it for a while with her.)
Then we have been busy here watching seasons of Sledge Hammer, the original Addams Family shows (quite entertaining!), and Brisco County, Jr. I think the kids should see several episodes of Gilligan’s Island just for cultural literacy. The Hamlet episode is one of the best ever, especially if you ever had to read it in English class. Beverly Hillbillies is always good. I would like to get Alias Smith and Jones. I like Remington Steele too. Danny used to say he liked Smallville but I never saw it.
July 30th, 2007 at 5:45 am
I watched the first 3 and they were really good. Yeah, watch out.
October 22nd, 2007 at 3:21 pm
Obviously try The Office if you like Arrested Development. Also check out the BBC Series Horatio Hornblower — unbelievably entertaining and well-made.