A NEW DAY FOR A BEARDED JACK BAUER

Every single day there is more and more evidence how important the Internet has become for the broadcast networks.

New episodes of popular shows are available online for days or even weeks after their on-air premiere, some of them get a special advanced screening before on-air premiere and, of course, there is a bunch of preview clips, trailers and promos, video and audio podcasts, official blogs from TV show writers, TV shows-inspired music videos... the list goes on and on.

Television and the web are merging and the networks know how crucial it is to be at the forefront of change.

Now, FOX has set up a special website that streams nothing but the brand new trailer for their heartpounding thriller series "24" starring Kiefer Sutherland as Special Agent Jack Bauer which returns in January with a 2-night 4-hour season premiere.

casualties in Baltimore and St. Louis as the new President Palmer (that is Wayne Palmer, the brother of the former President Palmer The trailer contains shocking images of the US under attack with over 1000 civilianassassinated in season five) and his advisers played by Jayne Atkinson and Peter MacNicol try to take charge. Obviously it is time to bring back the only man who can salvage the nation and boy, is that an entrance to behold or what!

As the Chinese turn Jack Bauer over to CTU we get the very glimpse of a bearded Grizzly Adams of a Jack Bauer that we had never seen before.

Tortured, scarred and seeing the light of the day for the very first time after months in Chinese captivity, the hero raises to the occasion realizing the day has come to die for a noble cause. Of course. Having said that, the rest of the trailer is quite common over-the-top "24" business, but the image of a bearded Jack Bauer is the one that sticks and will carry through until day six begins on January 14 on FOX for yet another award-winning ratings-smashing non-stop season.