Shocking news about 24's explosive fourth season finish
by David Hochman
It's a wonder the creative forces behind 24 aren't in federal custody after this season. First they kidnapped the secretary of defense, then they tried to blow up every nuclear reactor in America. Now, after crippling Los Angeles with an electromagnetic pulse, they've blasted Air Force One out of the sky with the president on board.The worst thing is, inside the show's writers' room on the 20th Century Fox studio lot, there's not even an iota of remorse.
"We thought we might to scale back this year, but we just couldn't control ourselves," jokes Joel Surnow, 24's creator. "it's too much fun asking each other, 'So, what's the next outrageous twist? [Who] are we gonna kill? How can we wreak terror on western civilization?"
Die-hard fans are saying that this is the most adrenaline-soaked season yet of the popular series, in which counter-terrorism agent Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) struggles through the hairiest days of his life. (Each season takes place within a 24-hour period, with each episode spanning one dramatic hour of it.
But as Day 4 comes to a close, the biggest question isn't whether Jack will end up with his girlfriend, Audrey (Kim Raver), or whether Audrey's estranged husband Paul (James Frain), will survive his gunshot wound, or even whether the good guys at CTU can foil the maniacal terrorists from Nukes "R" Us. The real dilemma is whether those dastardly 24 writers can deliver enough zing to outdo the last three sensational season enders.
Surnow isn't worried. "This isn't just our best finale-it might be our best episode ever!"
Details about the remaining five episodes, including the two-hour season ender on May 23, are top secret. (My husband always offers to help me run lines," Raver says, but I'm like, 'you can't know these things'") However, having been briefed by, um, top officials close to the show, TV Guide is now a few ticks ahead of the 24 clock, which is why we demand you STOP READING HERE unless you have a taste for highly classified (and exclusive) plot information.