A Kinder, Gentler "24"

Television - Like millions of people, I’m addicted to Fox’s “24.” Each Monday for 20-some-odd weeks of the year I find myself eagerly looking forward to that night’s thrill ride episode, fully willing to turn myself over to the convoluted plot twists and suspend my disbelief that every terrorist threat takes exactly 24 hours to resolve. Yet this season I find myself suffering from a bit from intrigue fatigue.
It’s not that the quality of the show has diminished. In fact, I think it’s still one of the best written, acted, and plotted shows on TV. It’s just that with each successive season the tension level has gotten ratcheted up another notch and my nerves are getting fried. Frankly, I need a break.
So with that in mind, I offer the producers and writers the following outline for next season: a look into an average day in the life of Counter-Terrorist Unit (CTU) Agent Jack Bauer...without any imminent threat...just so I can get some sleep.
Day 7 Season Outline
Episode 1: 7–8 am — Jack is sleeping in his bed at home.
Episode 2: 8–9 am — Jack wakes up and pees; he goes to the kitchen and makes coffee; while it's brewing he gets the paper; he reads the paper and smokes while he drinks his coffee.
Episode 3: 9–10 am — Jack pees again and has another cigarette; he takes a shower and gets dressed.
Episode 4: 10–11 am — Jack walks to the corner store to get more smokes; he hangs out and plays Keno for a while.
Episode 5: 11 am–12 pm — Jack goes back home and watches “Ellen” while smoking; his expression never changes.
Episode 6: 12–1 pm — Jack makes lunch and eats it while watching “Cops”; he yells at the screen every time the cops make a procedural error.
Episodes 7 & 8: 1–3 pm (2-part special) — Jack dozes off on the couch and misses the thousandth airing of “XXX” with Vin Diesel on Fox; when he wakes up he gets pissed and smokes a cigarette.
Episode 9: 3–4 pm — Jack’s daughter, Kim, calls; Jack sees her number on caller ID and lets the machine get it; he pees again and looks to see if there's anything good in the fridge for a snack; he spends 45 minutes eating Ritz crackers with peanut butter while watching “Oprah.”
Episode 10: 4–5 pm — Jack calls CTU computer-whiz Chloe O’Brien to see what she's doing after work; they make plans to meet; he watches “Judge Judy” and smokes 5 cigarettes.
Episode 11: 5–6 pm — Jack splashes cold water on his face and dramatically watches it dry in the mirror for 5 minutes; he changes clothes and leaves the house; he gets in his car and starts driving; he stops at the corner store and picks up a bag of Skittles.
Episode 12: 6–7 pm — Jack arrives at the bar; Chloe is already there doing kamikaze shots and making a sour face after each one; they exchange stilted small talk.
Episodes 13 & 14: 7–9 pm (2-part special) — Jack and Chloe get hammered and she starts doing imitations of former interim CTU director Lynn McGill; Jack does his imitation of former CTU agent Edgar writhing on the floor and foaming at the mouth after inhaling deadly Sintox nerve gas; Chloe isn't amused; they don't talk for 15 minutes; Jack smokes 10 cigarettes.
Episode 15: 9–10 pm — Karaoke begins and Chloe rushes to the stage and does a blowsy rendition of “Beautiful” by Christina Aguilera; there’s not a dry eye in the house; she and Jack exchange sloppy hugs when she gets back to the table and he tells her she is, indeed, beautiful...on the inside; Chloe gives him a dirty look and pouts for a half hour.
Episode 16: 10–11 pm — Jack tries to rouse Chloe’s spirits by suggesting they sing a duet; she resists until he suggests “Hero” by Mariah Carey; Chloe nearly passes out going for a high note and falls off the stage; Jack picks her up and suggests they go home; Jack goes to the bathroom before they leave and calls Chloe’s home phone using an encrypted cell phone and leaves his impression of Edgar’s last breath on her machine; he chuckles all the way back to the table.
Episode 17: 11 pm–12 am — In the parking lot, Chloe tells Jack what a good time she had and gives him a meaningful look; he senses she's going to try to kiss him and fakes his own vomiting; Chloe scowls at him like a wounded chimp because the vomit looks suspiciously like a handful of Skittles; she stomps off without saying good night; after she drives off Jack feels guilty and remotely accesses her answering machine and erases his imitation of Edgar dying.
Episodes 18 & 19: 12–2 am (2-part special) — Jack swills a bottle of vodka and uses the CTU satellite to illegally download Russian porn; he smokes 12 cigarettes and passes out on the living room sofa with his pants around his ankles.
Episode 20–24: 2–7 am — Jack snores loudly on the sofa.


