Jack Bauer Is More Powerful than Ever

All “24” fans out there must be thrilled. They don’t have to wait until January 11 in order to welcome Jack Bauer after 18 months of suspension, as just a couple of months before the seventh season of the series debuts on Fox, the network will air “24: Redemption,” a television production that should throw Kiefer Sutherland back in the midst of action.

Although the two-hour long film can be seen as a bridge between Jack’s treacherous past and his even more treacherous future and thus between the show’s Season 6 and Season 7, “Redemption” can also be considered an independent movie that should need no previous knowledge on our hero’s adventures.

All we need to know is that Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) is now in Africa, after more than three years of voyaging around the world so as to escape his own past. He works at a school in the fictional country of Sangala, where he helps an old pal, Carl Benton (Robert Carlyle) to manage an institute for young boys that provides rescued child soldiers with food and education. Nevertheless, Jack Bauer faces two main problems: in the first place, he finds out that the African country where he is living is menaced by rebels and, secondly, that the United States government has issued a subpoena in order to make him testify about the torture techniques he once used.

While the Presiden-elect of the U.S., Allison Taylor (Cherry Jones), is preparing to take the lead, her predecessor, Noah Daniels (Powers Booth), tells her about General Juma’s (Tony Todd) plan of organizing another coup, advising her to keep the U.S. away from the affair.

A year and a half has definitely brought Jack Bauer back on his feet and I think he’s more powerful than ever. Therefore, we should expect him to save the day once again and give Ms. Taylor a hand.

Via efluxmedia.com

Kiefer Sutherland starts jail term

Kiefer Sutherland, star of the hit television series "24," was formally sentenced on Wednesday to 48 days in jail for drunken driving, and his lawyer said the actor would begin doing time immediately.

Sutherland will serve the 48 days consecutively rather than in two separate stints as had been previously planned in order to prevent a conflict with the production schedule of the Fox network show.

Fox announced last month it was suspending production on the series due to the screenwriters' strike, so there was no longer any need for Sutherland to break up his jail term into two parts.

Sutherland, who turns 41 later this month, was arrested in September while still on probation for a 2004 drunken driving offense.

In October, he pleaded no contest -- the equivalent of a guilty plea -- to a single count of driving with a blood alcohol level above the legal limit.

Prosecutors agreed then to recommend he serve 30 days for the new offense plus 18 days for violating his probation in the 2004 case.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Stuart Rice endorsed the plea deal and the sentence during a brief hearing attended by the actor on Wednesday. The judge gave Sutherland until March 30 to complete his jail term.

But Sutherland's lawyer, Blair Berk, told Reuters the performer decided to turn himself in on Wednesday evening to begin serving his sentence immediately. The celebrity Web site TMZ.com later reported the actor was being booked.

In addition, Sutherland was placed on five years' probation and fined $510, according to Assistant City Attorney Dan Jeffries, who said the actor also was ordered to enroll in an 18-month alcohol education-treatment program and to attend six months of weekly alcohol counseling sessions.

The Canadian performer, the son of screen star Donald Sutherland, won an Emmy Award last year for his role as the terrorist-fighting agent Jack Bauer on "24." The show averaged 13.5 million viewers last season.

Via reuters.com

Kiefer Sutherland gets 48 days in jail

The Emmy-winning actor who plays all-American hero Jack Bauer on the hit Fox TV series pleaded no contest to a single DUI count yesterday in a deal that leaves little room for one of his signature TV escapes.

Sutherland must serve 18 days starting Dec. 21 to pay for the fact that his recent drunk-driving bust violated the probation terms of his 2004 DUI conviction. Cushy house arrest with electronic monitoring is strictly forbidden. He then must serve another 30 days by July, with no Paris Hilton-style reprieve, officials said.

"He has to serve the time ... [There's] no credit for overcrowding," said Frank Mateljan, spokesman for Los Angeles city prosecutor Rocky Delgadillo.

Sutherland, now a twice-convicted drunk driver, was busted last month after making an illegal U-turn in West Hollywood and flunking a breath test at the scene.

"I'm very disappointed in myself for the poor judgment I exhibited," Sutherland, 40, said in a statement. "I'm deeply sorry for the disappointment and distress this has caused my family, friends and co-workers on 24 and at 20th Century Fox."

Fox issued a statement of support for Sutherland reiterating its commitment to a "long relationship" with him. The actor must also complete an 18-month alcohol-education program and get therapy.

Via nydailynews