Fox's 24 and Agent Jack Bauer Going Green

The environment does not seem to be a central concern on the Fox TV drama 24. The terrorists transport their stolen nuclear weapons in big SUVs, even though the Toyota Prius probably has a big enough trunk for at least a "suitcase" nuke.

Agent Jack Bauer would get better fuel economy if he didn't drive everywhere at break-neck speed (again, usually in a gas guzzler). Of course, most of the vehicles he commandeers end up as flaming wrecks, so he's taking polluters off the road.

But since 2007, the show's producers have committed themselves to rendering the current seventh season of 24 to being carbon neutral. Agent Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland), filmed in what appears to be a hallway at the Obama White House, even recorded a PSA urging us all to do our parts about global warming.

According to Executive Producer Howard Gordon, "We looked at how we produce the show, and realized that there were some substantive changes we could implement which would make a real difference....We think this will be the beginning of a conversation with our millions of viewers that will hopefully inspire them to take action around the world."

Of course, those millions of viewers can't see that the show is:

• Using 20-percent biofuels to power generators;
• Adding hybrids to the fleet for location shooting and production assistance (thus reducing gasoline consumption by 1,300 gallons);
• Rewiring a stage to use electricity rather than diesel power;
• Buying green energy for all on-stage production work;
• Neutralizing the impact of multiple car crashes by buying carbon offsets.

Fox told the New York Times that the genesis of greening 24 began last year when Rupert Murdoch was impressed by an Al Gore presentation. Murdoch commited Fox owner News Corporation to going carbon neutral by 2010, with 24 as a beachhead.

The world of 24 is graced with a female president, Allison Taylor, after two African-American presidents. Still, it's hardly a liberal world view that prevails. Fox can't have the tight-lipped Agent Bauer pause the mayhem to deliver environmental speeches as did Steven Seagal at the end of his enviro thriller On Dangerous Ground (see below). I'd say it leaves no one in doubt as to where he stands, but after watching to it you may conclude otherwise.

If you want to see a more butt-kicking scene from the movie, click here (recommended for mature readers only).