APRIL
2, 2006 --
LPR
has been planning to mention the highly successful Fox Television
series "24" for sometime. It is only coincidence
that this mention should occur a few days after April 1.
Just about everybody knows, of course, that Kiefer Sutherland plays the soft-spoken
(but carrying a big stick?) Jack Bauer.
It is not the easiest thing -- not for me at least -- to catch the names of
supporting cast. March 30th I managed to reach a site that said the role of
Bill Buchanan is played by James Morrison. I also learned that Mary Lynn Rajskub
(known till now as a comedienne) plays the scowling Chloe O'Brian, Jean Smart
is the First Lady, Louis Lombardi -- the late Edgar Stiles; Dennis Haysbert,
the late President Palmer, Roger R. Cross -- Cuirtis Manning, Carlos Almeida
-- the late Tony Almeida, Jude Ciccolella -- Mike Novick, Julian Sands -- Vladimir
Bierko, Peter Weller -- Christopher Henderson and DB Woodside -- Wayne Palmer,
among others in the cast.
I also learned that Stephen Spinella plays Miles Pappazian and that Rick Burke
is played by Martin A. Papazian. So far as I can tell, that is no April Fool,
but a coincidence?
Also not an April Fool is that Carl Edwards last year's Nextel NASCAR Cup's
third place finisher, has a role in the episode aired April 3.
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Carl
Edwards, top NASCAR driver -- and actor.
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(This was confirmed for LPR by Laz Benitez, NASCAR's very able media manager
-- eastern region.)
Intending to mention "24" this LPR posting , I happened to catch part
of a Rush Limbaugh interview of Joel Surnow, co-creator of "24" March
30.
Mr. Surnow's partner is Robert Cochran. What had impressed me, was that "24" clearly
suggested that the politicians should let the pros handle things -- the screw-ups
on "24" seem happen when the politicians take charge.
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Consider,
for example, the character played by Sean Astin, who managed to
make a mess of his responsibilities --deriving from White House
appointment --and ended up paying for his arrogance with his life.
(On the show! -- LPR compliments Mr. Astin on his portrayal.)
Is "24" signaling to the country the ongoing Inside-the-Beltway disputes
over our Iraq policy (whatever it is?), I wondered.
And then I heard the friendly exchange between Mr., Limbaugh and Mr. Surnow,
learning via Google, later, that Mr. Surnow is a conservative, an admirer of
Mr. Limbaugh and had invited him to the "24" set a year ago.
When do the interest group calls to boycott "24"'s sponsors begin?
Could it really be possible that liberal Barbra Streisand is a fan of the program
-- as one on-line source stated?
There is perhaps this possibility why the conservative leaning of "24" has
not prompted an outcry from the left -- for one thing, it portrays the politicians
as incompetent glory-hounds who should leave things to the pros.
(And for this viewer, denials notwithstanding, President Logan evokes a memory
of President Nixon -- and both last names have five letters.)
Perhaps Bill Buchanan (named for the real Pat Buchanan?) -- that is to say,
James Morrison -- for White House Chief of Staff. In very real time.
And also, given the popularity of "24" -- it has been topping the
ratings chart in its time slot -- what if the White House plan to keep a Republican
majority in Congress, this November, is to rely on "24" viewers.
And do nothing about the squeeze on consumers by our aggrandizers, apparently
supported by the Greenspanism that continues at the Federal Reserve.
LPR, and again this is no April Fool, can account, presently, for no other
reason -- other than Operation "24" -- why the White House seems
to be preparing us for the return of the subpoena-wielding, tax-supporting
Democratic chairperson in Senate and House, come next January. No wonder Barbra
Streisand is reported to be a "24" fan.
Perhaps in season 6, "24" viewers will see how crushing gas prices
and strangling credit card interest rates present a very grave threat to the
economic health of the country -- a threat as serious as the conspiracies of
the groups CTU would vanquish if the politicians would let it.
LPR also thanks Mr. Surnow and Mr. Cochran for their real time approach which
has the side effect of telling us how long the commercial breaks become, as
the episode unfolds.
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