Claim: 24 premiered on November 6, 2001.

24 is an American crime thriller television series produced for the Fox network , created by Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran , and starring Kiefer Sutherland as counter-terrorist agent Jack Bauer . Each season , comprising 24 episodes , covers 24 hours in Bauer 's life using the real time method of narration . Premiering on November 6 , 2001 , the show spanned 192 episodes over eight seasons ; the series finale broadcast on May 24 , 2010 . In addition , a television film , 24 : Redemption , was broadcast between seasons six and seven , on November 23 , 2008 . 24 returned as a 12-episode series titled 24 : Live Another Day , which aired from May 5 to July 14 , 2014 . 24 : Legacy , a spin-off series featuring new characters , premiered on February 5 , 2017 , after Super Bowl LI .   The series begins with Bauer working for the Los Angeles -- based Counter Terrorist Unit , in which he is a highly proficient agent with an `` ends justify the means '' approach , regardless of the perceived morality of some of his actions . Throughout the series most of the main plot elements unfold like a political thriller . A typical plot has Bauer racing against the clock as he attempts to thwart multiple terrorist plots , including presidential assassination attempts , weapons of mass destruction detonations , bioterrorism , cyber attacks , as well as conspiracies that deal with government and corporate corruption .24 garnered critical acclaim , winning numerous awards over its eight seasons , including Best Drama Series at the 2003 Golden Globe Awards and Outstanding Drama Series at the 2006 Primetime Emmy Awards . At the conclusion of its eighth season , 24 became the longest-running U.S. espionage/counterterrorism-themed television drama ever , surpassing both Mission : Impossible and The Avengers '' .