Fox's '24' is still smokin'

Sure, he's saved a presidential candidate from assassination, he's saved the president from being overthrown by his own Cabinet and he's saved Los Angeles from both a nuclear bomb and a biological terrorist. But Jack Bauer is just getting warmed up.

Against all odds, the fourth season of Fox's "24" is as hot as ever. The first four hours (Sunday and Monday, 8-10 p.m.) are a can't-miss thrill-ride that begins with the terrorist bombing of a commuter train.

Fans will get sucked into this immediately, despite the fact that, except for Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland), there's only one familiar face left in the cast.

It's been 18 months since the events of season 3. Jack has been fired by CTU's new chief, Erin Driscoll (Alberta Watson), a woman we're not supposed to like, and we don't. But he's landed on his feet, working as the chief of security for Secretary of Defense James Heller (William Devane) and building a personal relationship with Heller's daughter, Audrey (Kim ).

Without giving too much away, Heller is soon kidnapped by Middle Eastern terrorists who have done their best to blend into American society. They plan to put him on trial, convict and execute him on the Internet. And Jack, of course, sets out to stop them.

Which puts him at odds with the woman who fired him from CTU.

But he does still have a friend there — Chloe (Mary Lynn Rajskub), last season's most annoying character who turns out to be Jack's only friend at the agency.

As with the first three seasons, each hourlong episode represents one hour in a day — a "24"-hour period impossibly packed with action, adventure, twists and turns. And, yes, you often have to suspend disbelief. (As in season 2 when Jack's heart stopped beating, but, lo and behold, he was feeling much better a couple of hours later. Or in season 3 when Chase recovered rather quickly from getting hit in the head with a shovel. Or through any of the Perils of Kim Bauer, which were almost laughable in seasons 1 and 2.)

But this is a show that's designed to entertain — something it does extremely well.

So fasten your seat belts and get ready for what looks like another great ride.

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E-mail: pierce@desnews.com