I am exhausted today. Totally exhausted after spending 24 hours with Jack Bauer or rather with the entire seven DVD set of Season 5 (from 2006) of the popular television series 24 starring Keifer Sutherland which I watched from start to finish over the past three days.  And honestly it wore me out just watching it.  It felt as if I was right there with Jack Bauer going through every draining confrontational thing that the ever cool-headed Jack endures from moment to moment - never once having time to stop to just drink some water or even grab a sandwich.  Poor Jack Bauer!

My goal was to watch the entire  season of 24 in real time, as in over the course of one day/24 hour period. * Actually it's 18 hours due to fact that each show is approx 45 minutes,   But even at 18 straight hours, it proved just too exhausting for this viewer. Simply put, I couldn't keep up with Jack Bauer!   Not owning a TV I had never seen the show before.  Of course I had read about it and heard about it from friends who are diehard fans of the show. They told me it was a rare good TV show and addictive viewing. They were right! They just didn't prepare me for the relentlessness of each minute of every hour (episode) of Jack Bauer's day.

Other things I learned from watching 24 include that the word "schematics" is used  a lot and that Jack Bauer utters the word  'dammit' frequently. And I noticed that, despite all the turmoil and danger he finds himself constantly in, he never loses his head or that little shoulder bag of his.  That he or anyone else never seem to have to charge their phone batteries - yet they are on them all the time. Same for their laptops - although they are usually plugged in. They also never laugh or smile, eat food or drink water, or  catch a wink of sleep - as far as I could see from watching Season 5 of 24.   I also learnt, after doing a bit of online research, that there is a Jack Bauer Appreciation Day (May 9th) and that there are numerous spoofs on 24 including an episode of the Simpsons in which Bart prank calls Jack Bauer. (see below).
         

But exhausting as watching 24 for the first time was for me, I am hooked on the great TV show and want to see the other seasons (which should by the way be available in Amoeba's DVD section).  I am told that the earlier seasons were better so am looking forward to checking them out. But first I need to rest some more as I am truly exhausted from my first 24 hours with Jack Bauer.

Meantime if you are a 24 fan and can recommend the best season to watch or offer some of your insights into the popular TV show, please do so in the COMMENTS box at bottom of page. Thanks!