Jack's back!

Jack Bauer is always right. Always. And if all the other characters on "24" would just remember that, they'd avoid a whole lot of trouble.

Of course, then there'd be no show. And that would be a shame, because "24" remains the most exciting, surprising, jaw-dropping, edge-of-your-seat show on TV.

There are some huge twists that will take your breath away in the first four hours (Sunday and Monday, 7-9 p.m., Ch. 13) — and that's with 20 hours left to go.

Season 6 picks up 20 months after the end of Season 5. And ... I really can't tell you a whole lot about what's going on because I don't want to spoil it for you.

When last we saw Jack, he was on his way to a Chinese prison. And he's been there ever since.

I can tell you that Season 6 is not about Jack trying to escape from prison. He's returned to the United States after his release is negotiated by recently inaugurated President Wayne Palmer (DB Sweeney).

There are reasons for this ... but if I tell you, I'll have to kill you. Or maybe you'll kill me for spoiling the fun.

His imprisonment isn't forgotten, however. This is a somewhat different Jack Bauer after all that he has suffered.

But we are, once again, quickly off and running. Terrorists are killing American citizens on American soil; plots are playing out within plots; good guys turn out to be bad guys; bad guys turn out to be good guys; the fate of the nation hangs in the balance — it's just another one of those days for Jack Bauer and Co.

There are a lot of familiar faces, including Chloe O'Brian (Mary Lynn Rajskub), who's as prickly as ever; Bill Buchanan (James Morrison), who's back in charge at CTU; Karen Hayes (Jayne Atkinson), who has a new job and a new relationship; and Curtis Manning (Roger Cross), who's got a grudge to settle.

And some new faces pop up immediately, like Thomas Lennox (Peter MacNicol), a presidential adviser who seems to have his own agenda; and yet another member of the Palmer family — Sandra (Regina King), the sister of both the current and former presidents Palmer, and a strong-willed advocacy lawyer.

And lots more new characters are on their way, as well as a few old characters who will make return appearances. Including disgraced former President Logan (Gregory Itzin) and the former first lady (Jean Smart) who helped bring him down.