Television
Countdown to '24' begins: New players, new dangers

Lord of the Rings star Sean Astin must love characters who face danger. The former hobbit has signed on for the fifth season of Fox thriller 24, joining other newcomers Connie Britton (Spin City), Brady Corbet (Thirteen) and Jean Smart (Designing Women), who will play First Lady Martha Logan.

In 24 time, Season 5 will pick up 18 months later, with hero Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland), having faked his death, now living with Diane (Britton) and her son, Derek (Corbet), as the latest national security threat materializes. A shaky President Logan (Gregory Itzin) is back, as are CTU chief Bill Buchanan (James Morrison) and key operatives Chloe (Mary Lynn Rajskub), Edgar (Louis Lombardi) and Curtis (Roger Cross). Tony (Carlos Bernard) and Audrey (Kim Raver), Jack's last love interest, also will be featured.

As with the fourth season, 24 will begin with a two-night, four-hour premiere on Jan. 8 and 9 (8 p.m. ET/PT) before moving to its regular Monday time slot on Jan. 16 (9 p.m. ET/PT), with no reruns or pre-emptions scheduled until the May finale.

•Bill Keveney

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