Twenty-four years ago, viewers across the country became engrossed by television like nothing seen before. This came with the debut of a show using a revolutionary real-time format, with each second on the screen equating to one second ticking on the viewer’s clock. And that show, with a plot written down to the second, was 24.
24 debuted on televisions across the country on Nov. 6, 2001. It ran for a total of nine seasons, each of which captured a day in the life of federal agent Jack Bauer and a supporting ensemble as they fought to prevent terrorist attacks across the country and beyond. All but the ninth season consisted of 24 episodes, each one representing one hour in the lives of the characters. To reinforce the real-time concept, a clock would be sporadically displayed on the viewer’s screen, keeping them informed as to the time of day in the show itself.
The real-time format solidified the importance of every second of the story. With no shortage of action-packed sequences, it was easy for viewers to absorb themselves in the struggles of the characters.
24 had a slew of crucial, breath-holding seconds, but the hour-by-hour, or rather, week-by-week story was just as important. 24 was a product of the pre-streaming era, and by missing a week, you’d run the risk of missing heaps of destruction teasing to ensue. For this reason, viewers gathered in front of their televisions once a week to witness what became known as the “Jack Bauer Power Hour.”
24 was undoubtedly a pioneer of the real-time format, but other shows have tried their hand at it since. A more recent and highly regarded example is The Pitt. An Emmy Award-winning show just coming back for its second season, The Pitt chronicles a 15-hour workday for the staff at a Pittsburgh hospital as they rush to save the lives of their patients while battling workplace and personal conflicts.
The Pitt, unlike much of today’s television, airs one episode a week. Appointment television was used in the past with shows like 24, but is not as common with today’s streaming platforms. However, this disappearing style of television keeps viewers engaged week to week.
The storytelling experience of television becomes prolonged once viewers are prompted to pause and take in smaller doses of content over a longer period of time. Appointment television sparks suspense, discussion, and mulling anticipation of what’s to come. It’s that anticipation that makes viewers feel invested, or rather immersed, in the story itself.
The immersive storytelling of television such as the shows discussed above can serve as a break from reality. And for many students, that is exactly what they need once in a while.
Entering our second semester of the year, looming exams seem to be drawing closer and closer. And looking at the calendar, workdays are just shy of sparse. Not to mention the ever-piling work and the growing sense that the time to perfect your grades is slowly shrinking.
It’s easy to feel as though the resume-building and mounting to-do lists come above all else. Yet, it’s okay to take a break or find a distraction. Or rather, a show to immerse yourself in. And shows like 24 and The Pitt, which prioritize audience engagement, are a great place to start.
While The Pitt is as relevant as ever, 24 can feel a little out of date with its monstrously slow technology and less-than-impeccable camera quality. But besides a fitting anniversary, 24 is proving to have modern relevance in yet another way.
Original fans may have been led to believe that after nine seasons and a movie installment, 24 was gone for good. But in recent months, Kiefer Sutherland, the star of 24, has teased otherwise. While few details have been aired, those that have seem to imply that the return of 24 is still in the earlier stages of development, with a script drawn up but a financial deal still in question. Nevertheless, the prospect of returning to the action-packed life of Jack Bauer once more is reason for old fans and newcomers alike to invest in the show.
With The Pitt knee-deep in its second season and more real-time action on the horizon, there is no shortage of deep storytelling experiences. There seems to be no better time to become immersed in the revolutionary style that first took hold twenty-four years ago.
