There are very few television shows I enjoy watching enough to be sure I am in front of the TV for each episode. Not much comes out of the left wing paradise of L.A. and Hollywood twists my fancy and sparks my intrigue. As a matter of fact, to me, Hollywood has so little talent to point to that the most profitable movies are either recycled 1980's memorabilia (Transformers, Indiana Jones) or comic books (300, Watchmen). Network television is the only place originality and true creativity can be found. And there are only two shows that I truly enjoy: House and 24.

I have been a 24 fan ever since my dad introduced me to the series 3 years ago. The iconic American cowboy doing what he has to do to defend his country and it's people from the threat of terrorism. Regardless of whether or not Washington and it's suits agree with his methods, Jack Bauer is going to do what he has to to protect everyone around him. This is the type of man I want protecting me and my family. But, this past season has started to leave a bad taste in my mouth.

It seems that the show has taken a sharp turn off stage left. The show has taken up a personal crusade against Global Warming, pitted private security companies as the enemy of the show. They even went so far as to cast the left wing radio bomb out and D-lister Janeane Garofalo who has no credible acting talents worth mentioning (trust me, I looked). All of this pales in comparison to what almost pushed me over the edge.

Now, I unfortunately can't make every episode. Sometimes school, work, my writing, or my wife just seem to take precedent over a TV show, but something Glenn Beck said on one of his radio shows caused me to go back and find the episode on hulu. NOTE: Spoiler Alert!! Skip the next paragraph if you don't want to spoil anything.

In case you haven't seen it, the antagonist of this season  is private security company Starkwood (oddly similar to Blackwater, wouldn't you say?). In true cliche fashion, the real trouble begins when Starkwood gets ahold of some biological weapons. Through a series of twists and turns, Jack is exposed to the biological agent. After talking to an FBI doctor, she tells him about an experimental treatment using.... wait for it.... Stem cells.

Now I don't really take issue with stem cells per say. Rather my bias is against embryonic stem cell. The stem cells the doctor of 24 referred to were adult stem cells (much like bone marrow transplant) which show much more promise than embryonic stem cells. So, while 24 might be slowly liberalizing its message, they are not quite there yet, but this did make me realize that I have subconsciously put 24 on notice. I was ready to write 24 off after hearing Beck talk about it. Luckily for them, I am known for formulating my own opinions instead of relying on someone else's.

So be warned 24. You are on notice. Your popularity and success was founded on your portrayal of reality. That evil does exist, and the best way to deal with it is to obliterate it. Not bargain and talk to it. If Jack Bauer talks appeasing and playing nice, you are going to loose your audience. But then again, it wouldn't be a surprise if it did happen. I forgot to mention one Hollywood's true talents... taking good, original ideas and, like a fabled anti-alchemist, turn the gold into crap.

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