Freddie Prinze Jr. will be joining the cast of 24 for the eighth season as a recently-returned marine and Jack Bauer-wannabe named Davis Cole. I think this is an example of Fox either wanting to expand or continue the franchise without Kiefer Sutherland.Think about it. Sutherland is only getting older. He can't be Jack Bauer forever. Prinze is a younger, recognizable face (much as all of us want to forget the Scooby Doo movie franchise). This could be the set-up for one of three things: the retirement of Jack Bauer from 24, a spin-off series, or an opportunity to have more negotiating power for Kiefer Sutherland's next contract renewal. It could even be a combination of the three.
So the question to ask is: could the series continue without Jack Bauer, or would that be the beginning of the end? Since the name of the show is 24 and not Jack Bauer, I would think so.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
5-28-2009 @ 12:08PM
Edward said...
What???
24 has jumped the shark.
Or this could mean that Freddie Prinze Jr. is no longer a big name.
I blame Brannon Braga for this.
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5-28-2009 @ 12:14PM
Andrew said...
Will his year of working as a WWE writer help in this role?
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5-28-2009 @ 12:27PM
Sandy Marshall said...
24 is Jack Bauer and Kiefer Sutherland is Jack Bauer. Obviously without Kiefer the show is over and I am sure millions of fans feel this way too. Kiefer is the greatest!
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5-28-2009 @ 12:34PM
amazo said...
he is so going to die. or turn out to be a mole. or both.
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5-28-2009 @ 12:49PM
Malfoy Roark said...
Can the show exist without JB? maybe
Can it exist with freddie prince as the new JB? Hell no.
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5-28-2009 @ 1:04PM
megsmom said...
I watch 24 because of Kiefer Sutherland and Jack Bauer. The show is nothing if he leaves. Freddie will make a good addition, but the show will fold without Jack.
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5-28-2009 @ 6:45PM
Fred Truth said...
You mean Prinze WAS a big name. Now he's a has-been. The diehard 24 fans have not been very happy about this casting. I'm sure he will be alright, but, again, he's a has-been. If they want to groom him to replace Sutherland, the fans won't go along with it.
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5-28-2009 @ 1:18PM
Eric said...
With no Jack Bauer, this show is over
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5-28-2009 @ 2:33PM
D-Bo said...
This.
5-28-2009 @ 2:18PM
Debbie said...
Hey Brad Trechak (writer of this article...) You say the name of the show is '24' and not Jack Bauer. Do you watch '24??' Apparently not!! '24' is Jack Bauer and Jack Bauer is Kiefer Sutherland. I (and many others) watch '24' because of Kiefer Sutherland. Have you ever watched other sitcoms when they replace THE major character?? That's right...the show TANKED!! You take Kiefer away and the show is HISTORY!!!
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5-28-2009 @ 2:51PM
ac said...
If Jack Bauer died and was replaced by a character played by Buffy's husband the ratings would tank faster than you could say "This show has nuked the fridge."
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5-28-2009 @ 3:09PM
David said...
Give it chance you never know! I like the CSI with new lead. Remember NYPD Blue, David Caruso took off and the show lasted another 11 seasons with out him. But I agree Sutherland is Jack Bauer (24). For some reason people don't like change!!!!!!
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5-28-2009 @ 4:09PM
Rico said...
Caruso did ONE season of NYPD Blue. And he's a horrible actor. Dennis Franz carried that series and David Caruso can't carry Dennis Franz's jock strap.
24 without Jack Bauer would be like 007 without James Bond.
5-28-2009 @ 4:37PM
greatone said...
If thought 24 could continue w/o Jack if Tony was the given the lead. However, 24 painted itself into a corner by making Tony evil so I vote no. I will not watch 24 w/o Jack especially if they try to make Agent Walker the new Jack Bauer.
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5-28-2009 @ 4:38PM
greatone said...
If thought 24 could continue w/o Jack if Tony was the given the lead. However, 24 painted itself into a corner by making Tony evil so I vote no. I will not watch 24 w/o Jack especially if they try to make Agent Walker the new Jack Bauer.
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5-28-2009 @ 6:30PM
CMG said...
How on earth did you draw the conclusion that adding a character to the next season = Kiefer leaving the show? They add characters every year!
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5-28-2009 @ 6:53PM
stan lee said...
edward was right........ this is shark jumping to the nth degree. wow.......
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5-28-2009 @ 7:37PM
carol said...
I can't, in my wildest TV watching history, imagine Mr. Freddie Prince Junior, aka "Fred" of Scooby Doo, replacing The Man, f****g Jack Bauer.
However, thanks for providing a good laugh at the thought.
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5-28-2009 @ 9:28PM
Michael said...
24 is all about the trials and tribulations of Jack Bauer. Maybe he could take something of a lesser role (like Jack McCoy in L&O) and have the show's primary character become Freddie? Unlikely, but possible.
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5-30-2009 @ 6:40PM
Beverly said...
No Kiefer = no me! Kiefer is 24!
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