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July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Screen & Stage • Series

24

24 is an American action-thriller television series created by Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran for Fox.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

24 is an American action-thriller series created by Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran, known for its real-time format where each season depicts a single 24-hour period. Starring Kiefer Sutherland as counter-terrorism agent Jack Bauer, it originally aired on Fox from 2001 to 2010, returning for a miniseries in 2014.

What it is

24 is a television series that follows Jack Bauer and other Counter Terrorist Unit personnel as they work to stop major threats against the United States. Its defining feature is real-time storytelling: each episode represents one hour of a day, and a full season covers 24 hours. The show ran for nine seasons, including the 2014 miniseries 24: Live Another Day.

Key details

The series premiered on Fox on November 6, 2001, and concluded its original run in 2010. It returned in 2014 with 12 episodes. The show earned multiple Emmy nominations and won the award for outstanding drama series in 2006. In Canada, 24 aired on Global, including the 2014 revival.

Why it matters

24 popularized a high-tension, real-time style of television storytelling that influenced many later series. It became one of Fox's most successful programs and led to spin-offs, including 24: Legacy. Its legacy includes widespread syndication and continued cultural reference for its fast-paced, clock-ticking format.

In short

  • Each season takes place over 24 hours in real time, with episodes matching the hour.
  • Kiefer Sutherland stars as Jack Bauer, a Counter Terrorist Unit agent.
  • The series won an Emmy for outstanding drama in 2006.
  • The show returned in 2014 as 24: Live Another Day on Fox and Global in Canada.
Canadian angle

The series was broadcast in Canada and the 2014 revival 24: Live Another Day aired on Global in Canada, according to French-language reference material.[16]

Quick questions

What is 24 about?
It follows Jack Bauer and the Counter Terrorist Unit as they try to stop major threats, usually over the course of one day shown in real time.
Who created 24?
The series was created by Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran.
How many seasons did 24 have?
It had nine seasons in total, including the 2014 miniseries 24: Live Another Day.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/24_(TV_series)
    Supports: Creator, star, original network, premiere date, total episodes, original run, and series finale date.
  2. Simple Wikipedia — https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/24_(TV_series)
    Supports: Original broadcast dates and the 2014 return as 24: Live Another Day.
  3. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/24-television-series
    Supports: Premise, real-time format, original network years, critical success, Emmy win, and the 2014 revival and spin-off.
  4. Wikipedia (French) — https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/24_Heures_chrono
    Supports: Canadian broadcast note for 24: Legacy on Global and general series facts including episode counts and seasons.