There is only one prime-time network TV show that I watch regularly, and the season premier was tonight: Jack Bauer is back for another season of 24.

Sure, its a bit far-fetched, and sure, no one can get around LA with no traffic in the middle of the day and always find available parking, and sure, Jack was just tortured 15 minutes ago and is now torturing someone else. But the show is great. Its perhaps the best suspense-driven, action-oriented weekly show around, and the real-time thing still works (for the most part).

It also captures (ok, makes an effort to portray, but they do a better than just about any other show out there) the real tension in this country over the war on terror. Its got civil liberty debates, torture (everyone gets tortured, it seems–and, one of the best scenes from tonight, not tortured enough, it seemed!), and the like.

Plus, did you know these facts about Jack Bauer?

–If everyone on “24” followed Jack Bauer’s instructions, it would be called “12”.
–There have been no terrorist attacks in United States since Jack Bauer has appeared on television.
–Lets get one thing straight, the only reason you are conscious right now is because Jack Bauer does not feel like carrying you.
–On a high school math test, Jack Bauer put down “Violence” as every one of the answers. He got an A+ on the test because Jack Bauer solves all his problems with Violence.

And, I’m hooked on the show. Every Monday night from here until May, I’ll be watching. And, thanks to the wonders of my Dish DVR, I won’t even miss any shows in March!

Filed as: 24