24 Questions

    Since it’s a 24 Tuesday and the show won’t be back for another <gasp!> three weeks, all we can do is talk about it. And it looks like TV Barn might have the scoop on what’s in store for next season. They got their hands on a focus group questionnaire, and it gives an idea of what the writers and producers are considering.    Speaking personally, I really don’t care if they change the time slot. Any time is fine with me, since this is definitely a show for which I’ll arrange my schedule. Having another high-quality hour-long drama on Sunday at 9 would be kind of fun though. It would be like the old days, back when I gave a crap about Fox Sundays.
    As for the other questions, 1) I would think CTU would have to be involved somewhat, but it might be a nice change to have the secondary characters all out in the field rather than staring at computer screens for the whole season. Then again, there have been so many moles in and out of CTU I’m surprised the military hasn’t scrapped the whole thing already.
    2) It worries me that “the American president” might not be involved. This echoes rumors I’ve read that Dennis Haysbert might be leaving the show. The President definitely needs to be involved: case in point this current season where the Presidential subplot is the weakest yet. Dennis Haysbert has great screen presence and I really like the character of President Palmer (I’d vote for him), and it would be a shame to lose that just because the writers can’t think of anything better for him to do.
    3) The writers probably feel shackled by the 24-hour framework, but I really feel they will just have to live with it. It’s what makes the series unique, it’s also a large part of why it makes for such riveting viewing. They’re stuck with it and they should make the most of it.
    4) Since the first three seasons have been so tied to Los Angeles, it’s odd the producers are considering a different location. I assume they’re only going to pretend LA is some foreign land. Maybe they can shoot in the Californian desert and make it look like Jack Bauer is cleaning house in the Mideast. In short, relocating the characters would not bother me.
    5) We’ve already seen an assassination plot, a nuclear bomb plot, and a biological warfare plot, so it seems like the writers are running out of national threats. Still, it’s almost a given that terrorists would have to be the bad guys — if CTU is going to stay involved — and that the threat has to be of some great significance — if only to get 24 episodes’ worth of mileage out of it. And it better be of “national significance” — so as to keep President Palmer involved too.
    And finally, if Jack still gets to yell and shoot people and beat people up, then I don’t mind if he switches jobs. If he moves to the suburbs and has to cope with two precocious teenaged daughters who are just learning about boys while he fends off the advances of the overly amorous head of the PTA and keeps his head above water managing the lovable and well-meaning lunkheads who work at his failing pulled-meat restaurant with hilarious consequences then I might have a problem.