24: Controversy or Permissible?

24's Main Character Jack Bauer

            Television (TV) has been apart of our generation’s lives, and we grew up with access to a variety of TV shows throughout the years, ranging from a wide variety of content. When our parents were in their childhood they were limited as to what TV shows were on, and the content in the programming. Today, the content on TV is much different than it was 25 years ago.

            11 years ago, a Middle Eastern country attacked our nation and the United States (U.S.) experienced the devastating terrorist attack, which is now referred to as 9/11. Not even two months after this devastating attack did the United States broadcast the first episode of Fox's new series 24. 24 was a series about the United States being under attack by terrorist cells around the world (focused on one area per season) and how the United States used the Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU) to try and stop these horrific events from occurring on our own soil.

The producers believed that because the show aired only a couple months after the terrorist attacks on the U.S. that the show was doomed right from the beginning. However, the response to the show exploded with popularity because terrorism is what was on the American citizens minds. Mikita Brottman wrote about how we as Americans are fascinated by destruction in her short story, The Fascination of the Abomination. It is something that we do not see on a normal occasion and when something like this happens, we like to watch it over and over. This is what is believed helped 24 become such a successful show. On top of the show gaining its popularity quickly, the show also was introduced with David Palmer running for president. The significance in this is that he was African American, which in return probably brought more African American viewers on watching the show. The show was heading into its 8^th season (eight years later) when President Obama was elected into office. It has been believed that because 24 introduced the concept of the having an African American President that it may have actually helped Obama's political campaign to becoming our 44^th president.

Season Five's Main Character Cast:
Tony Almeida, Edgar Stiles, Bill Buchanan, Chloe O'Brian,
Jack Bauer, Audrey Raines, Curtis Manning,
First Lady Martha Logan, President Charles Logan.

            Now, even though the show was popular among viewers 18-49, there were people who were not happy about the show and the message the show was sending about certain aspects of war, specifically torture. The show was put under major scrutiny by 3 FBI agents, and the dean of the United States of America at West point saying that it was sending soldiers the wrong message and that torture was acceptable in order to get what they want. The Parents Television Council (PTC) also tried to persuade sponsors from buying airtime for 24. The writers and directors of the series made it clear that the show was pure fiction and that the realization of any type of interrogation or torture is not realistically reflected in the show.

             24 originally aired Tuesday’s on Fox. Tuesday was the day that the terrorists attacked us on 9/11. The show was competing with NBC’s Frasier and CBS’s NYPD Blue in a prime time slot, so the show either needed to succeed or it would face cancellation quickly. The show relied mostly on commercial advertisements for the next episode, along with some internet banner advertisements on various websites. The show eventually moved to a Sunday night timeslot for seasons five to eight after the football games would air on Fox. This gave the show a big advantage as many viewers would watch the football game, and then something action packed would air on TV and catch their attention.

            What could have been one of the worst TV shows ever produced due to the timing and airing of the series turned out to be an Emmy award winning TV drama that captured the attention of a wide audience. One of Fox’s most successful shows was 24 along side with House, Bones, and now Glee.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_reaction_to_24_(TV_series)#Controversy_and_criticisms
http://collider.com/24-movie-not-filming/152222/
http://addictedto24.blogspot.com/2010/11/november-6-2001.html