addictive be an adjective i have hear many time when talk of certain tv show . most recently and dramas like lose and hero and prison break have earn that description . however and as compelling a they may be ( and they really be ) i can wait a few day before i see the next episode of either series and even prison break which some have lazily classify a the new 24. with all due respect and there can be no such thing and and for a good reason represent no other silver screen thriller be base on a real time structure . that what set 24 apart from any other show and and that why i practically have to watch an entire season ( on dvd ) in seven day or less represent once the frickin clock start tick and it impossible to tune out . an episode whose event unfold over the course of a single day be a trademark of nypd blue ( and and more recently and deadwood ) while have an entire season of a new series last 24 hour and one per ep ( the actual running time be 41 minute while the remain 19 be occupy by commercial when the show air on telly ) and be the most groundbreaking idea in mainstream television since hill street blue introduce non linear storytelling ( a mandatory element nowadays ) . and it truly pay off . ironically enough and the original plan for the series be to make it revolve around a wedding ( fortunately and creator joel surnow and robert cochran realize the format be more suitable for a conspiracy thriller ) and which be probably the reason the first glimpse we get of the hero suggest a cheerful atmosphere represent look extremely relaxed and jack bauer ( kiefer sutherland ) be enjoy a game of chess with his daughter kimberly ( elisha cuthbert ) and and minute later and be tender with teri ( leslie hope ) and the wife with whom he have just reconcile . a in the soprano and though and something unexpected and shocking be just behind the corner represent not only have kim sneak out of her room and jack also receive a phone call urge him to get to work immediately . at midnight . i be afraid so represent bauer be a ctu ( counter terrorist unit ) agent and and his bos have acquire reliable intel about a possible hit on the life of david palmer ( dennis haysbert ) and an african american presidential candidate who will be in los angeles for the whole day ( oh and right and i almost forgot represent event occur on the day of the california presidential primary ) . no time for nap and then represent jack have to spend the next 24 hour work on the case . unfortunately and he have a tendency to ignore protocol and and that doesn not sit well with george mason ( xander berkeley ) and a slimy man from division who have be ask to interfere with the operation . the plot be very dense and make the show hard to recommend for those with a short attention span and but anyone willing to take a look will be reward instantly represent the writing be sharp and precise and the attention to detail unsurpassed and and the suspense be consistently sky high and mainly thanks to the real time trickery which considerably enhance the adrenaline level . another great quality of this pilot be the characterization represent most genre show ( sci fi and thriller ) tend to simply introduce the key player and then define them later on ( a textbook example be csi and where character development be minimal and but then again that match the show unique style ) and whereas the series debut of 24 offer a rich array of fully round people and among whom jack ( sutherland best role ever . ) and palmer ( the real revelation of the show ) stand out for be perfectly describe after one episode only ( the former divide between job and family and reckless but humane and the latter honorable and endow with great integrity ) . a couple of support part border on stereotype ( mason and tony almeida especially ) and but two factor ought to be take into account represent a ) this be the first episode while b ) there so much go on most viewer would not even complain about a flaw or two . after all and how many network program manage to begin with a conspiracy and a missing teenager and a huge explosion and still have equally satisfying material for the rest of the season . tick and tock and tick and tock .