Culture: 24 - the following takes place between 6am and 7am

24 starts up again for season 6!

As for the threat this time, it is terrorists attacking everyday locations around the country.

They are off to a great start with twists right off the bat and a grisly finish.

What can you say, Jack is a survivor!

For snarky and detailed recaps check out Television without Pity. They usually show up a few days after an episode is aired.

By the way, I didn't catch it, did they mention what was given to the Chinese in exchange for Jack?

A few months back, I caught a CSPAN broadcast where the key producers of 24 and a few of the actors joined real terrorism experts for a panel discussion about the television show.

UPDATE: The event was 24 and America's Image in Fighting Terrorism: Fact, Fiction, or Does it Matter?.

The experts said they loved the show because it is action packed and the actors terrific. They wished real technology described in the show really existed in terms of how fast they could figure stuff out and how well it works. They all agreed, it sure would be great to have a bunch of Chloe's who are that capable!

Mary Lynn Rajskub is the actress behind Chloe O'Brian. She was one of the other panelists. On the show, the character she plays is so serious and at times very much lives up to/down to the stereotype of the computer nerd. The actress however is quite goofy and charming.

The producers remarked that the story ideas are far fetched and that is intentional. One, it makes for great story telling and two, they don't want to give real terrorists real ideas.

So what is the reality check for tonight's opening episodes?

I would guess the scale of success of the terrorist attacks are unlikely. Mounting multiple attacks at multiple locations would require a pretty vast network of terrorists and access to technical skills and supplies. Every person involved in the conspiracy is a source for turncoat information and errors in covering their tracks.

Nevertheless, it wouldn't take very many terrorist attacks on daily life to bring chaos as the US public doesn't have that experience like the people of Israel.

In any case, one hopes the real life people represented by CTU are on the lookout and doing a terrific job.