The former Jack Bauer admits he failed to book his next angle properly
Summary
– Kiefer Sutherland admits he expected huge offers after 24 but realized he didn’t politic for them
– The actor credits UK fans for putting 24 over when US audiences were slow to react
– Sutherland cuts a promo on streaming services for charging fans to watch commercials
Kiefer Sutherland is entering his late fifties and realizes he is no longer the leading event player he was thirty years ago. The man who made Jack Bauer a household name admitted that he thought opportunities would be handed to him after his legendary run on 24 ended. He confessed that the phone did not ring because he failed to create his own angles and relied too much on past glory.
The veteran actor credits the United Kingdom fanbase for saving his career-defining show from an early cancellation. He explained that 24 took a long time to catch on with the American audience, but immediately caught fire overseas. Sutherland believes the show would not have seen a second season without the strong reaction from the British crowd.
Sutherland also took time to compare his run to that of his father, the legendary Donald Sutherland. He noted that his dad emerged during a golden era of creative writing, when the scripts were unmatched. Kiefer admitted he had to make choices based on financial responsibilities early in his career rather than strictly artistic ones.
The former CTU agent then turned his attention to the current state of television booking. He rejected the modern trend of eight-episode seasons, claiming it prevents fans from forming a genuine connection with the product. He compared the old twenty-four episode format to a marriage and the new short seasons to a meaningless affair.
Sutherland closed his interview by taking a shot at streaming services for their business practices. He called out the irony of platforms charging subscription fees while still forcing viewers to watch advertisements. The actor expressed frustration that companies are making people pay for content that used to be free on network television.
