24: Leading the Right Television Movement?

Are shows like "24" and "The Unit" leading the way for more conservative, Right-leaning television? If you look at the people behind the two shows, and their current popularity, it may be the start of a new trend.

In a recent issue of the New Yorker Magazine, Jane Mayer writes "Whatever It Takes: The Politics of the Man Behind '24'" The article discusses the political leanings of Joel Sunrow, creator and producer of the hit show starring Kiefer Sutherland. While the article strews to the negative because it focuses on the show's penchant for torturing terrorists, it sheds some light on the creative team driving the show.

"For all its fictional liberties," writes Mayer, "'24' depicts the fight against Islamist extremism much as the Bush Administration has defined it: as an all-consuming struggle for America’s survival that demands the toughest of tactics." The New Yorker is approaching this idea has a negative one, although I'm not sure why. The show dares to be politically incorrect, much like The Unit, and identifies modern threats that actually face America.

While the show does feature a number of brutal torture scenes, they are clearly the work of imaginative fiction, rather than enactments of how the military is actually conducting itself. Mayer interviews the lead writer, Howard Gordon, a moderate Democrat, who creates many of the torture scenes himself: "Honest to God," he says, "I’d call them improvisations in sadism." The majority of the article deals with the issue of torture, and how the show may be portraying a negative message to the international audience--a message that suggests that America doesn't play by the rules of interrogation. If anything, "24" should frighten the pants off the international audience; we have a man named Jack Bauer, and he'll foil any plot you can think of in under 24 hours! The New Yorker is very concerned with the message of the show, but it isn't writing articles about how Law & Order promotes shooting Ann Coulter.

Sunrow, the producer, is a self-proclaimed "Right-Wing Nut-Job" who is close friends with Rush Limbaugh (Nobel Prize Nominee). His success with "24" should be inspiring to other conservative writers and producers. Shows like "West Wing," "Commander in Chief," "Law & Order," and others have been for too long presenting just one brand of entertainment to America (whether they readily acknowledge it or not). The fact that "24" and "The Unit" are top-rated shows should not go unnoticed. But Sunrow realizes that he is still a minority in Hollywood, and that it's not easy being a conservative in the industry:

Surnow, for his part, revels in his minority status inside the left-leaning entertainment industry. “Conservatives are the new oppressed class,” he joked in his office. “Isn’t it bizarre that in Hollywood it’s easier to come out as gay than as conservative?” His success with “24,” he said, has protected him from the more righteous elements of the Hollywood establishment. “Right now, they have to be nice to me,” he said. “But if the show tanks I’m sure they’ll kill me.” He spoke of his new conservative comedy show as an even bigger risk than “24.” “I’ll be front and center on the new show,” he said, then joked, “I’m ruining my chances of ever working again in Hollywood.”

The new show that he's referencing is called "The Half Hour News Hour," a conservative counter-part to Comedy Central's "The Daily Show." The article doesn't give many specifics, but the conservative, satirical news show is set to debut on FOX News on Feb. 18. All I have to say is: It's about time.