My 35 Favorite 24 Characters (No Spoilers)

I love the show of 24 and I decided to rank the my favorite characters, this time minus spoilers for those who may have not seen the show or may have not seen all of it. Here goes with the first (and obvious) favorite character:

1. Jack Bauer –

Where in the world do you start with Jack Bauer? First of all he is the best TV character of all time, barring no one. He suffers tragic loss and extreme pain and torture (as well as inflicting some himself) takes out the bad guys and saves the world from horrific terror attacks, all in 24 hours, time after time! He is very loyal, shows no mercy and looks awesome with a gun and sunglasses. He is a modern superhero who is unforgettable and can always be relied upon to save the day. Plus he’s the one character you never have to worry about dying, no matter how much danger he’s in. He works at the L.A. Counter Terrorism Unit and is a key member of their team, serving in various positions throughout his career and is close to several people who work there, who can always be relied upon to have his back, when no one else does. His family members include his wife Teri and daughter Kim, both of which unwittingly can become involved in the days' events.

Played by: Kiefer Sutherland


2. Tony Almeida-



Tony Almeida is a spectacular, tough and yet emotional character, who is tied in my opinion with my next listed character. He is awesome in his own way, but he isn’t as uncaring and sacrificing like Jack. He cares for his family and friends more than anything and would give up everything to keep them safe. He has been Director of CTU and an experienced agent, who hasn’t always been so lucky in his personal life.  Tony is memorable in many ways and you will find yourself quickly becoming attached to him. Tony may not have always agreed with all of Jack's methods, but he almost always had his back. Sometimes his personal issues took priority, especially when it concerned those he loves.

Played by: Carlos Bernard


(Also 2.) Chloe O’Brian-



Chloe O’Brian is another amazing character who I love just as much as Tony Almeida (which is why she is tied with him in my opinion). She is a senior data analyst, the best and a total computer whiz. She is also someone you don’t want to match wits with, because you will lose, no doubt about that. She is extremely loyal to Jack and would risk everything to help him out, because she knows he's right. She is remarkable character and although she's a bit geeky you will always want her on your side. She was previously married to Morris O’ Brian, who is a perfect match for her. She is known for her grumpy ‘Chloe face’ and is one of the most loyal, most sarcastic characters you will ever meet.

Played by: Mary Lynn Rajskub (pronounced Rice-Cub).


3. David Palmer
David Palmer is one of the most upright and moral characters who is grateful to Jack and the rest of CTU for saving his life many times. He is loyal to Jack and  will always listen to Jack when the CTU agent needs assistance or wants to give advice.  He also has an ambitious and beautiful wife Sherry and two children, Keith and Nicole. He is a great guy who you know will make the right decisions, no matter how tough they can be.

Played by: Dennis Haysbert.


4.  Michelle Dessler-



Michelle was introduced in Season 2 as working for CTU and just got better, becoming one of Jack’s closest and most trusted allies as well as one of his closest friends. She eventually married Tony Almeida and both would go through many harrowing circumstances in which they had to make hard decisions for the other and for themselves. She is a beautiful agent who gets the job done and is committed to keeping her country safe and to stopping the terrorists, even when it involves hard decisions.

Played by: Reiko Aylesworth.


5. Morris O’Brian-



Morris O’Brian is married to Chloe O’Brian and is similar to her in many ways, also being a smart data analyst with sarcasm being a strong point for the both of them. Morris O’Brian is a lovable guy, who might give his superiors a hard time, but is unwavering in his devotion to Chloe, even if he is skeptical of some of Jack’s plans. Overall he is a great agent and good comedic relief for when the days become stressful.

Played by: Carlo Rota.


6. Renee Walker-



Although she is introduced later in the show, FBI Special Agent Renee Walker quickly becomes a strong, capable agent you will never forget. Although she disapproves of Jack’s “the end justifies the means” tactics at first, she eventually goes as far as he does and realizes what needs to be done to keep her country safe and herself alive. Permanently scarred, she later resurfaces as a broken woman and yet is willing to work a dangerous undercover mission for her country, even if it could mean death for the beautiful redhead. She and Jack have a special relationship and had each other’s backs during the eventful days.

Played by: Annie Wersching.


7. Edgar Stiles-



Edgar Stiles was a lovable tech analyst at CTU who was a big help to Chloe on multiple occasions and became her best friend. In Day 4 when nuclear plants were melting down and his mother was at risk, he was willing to risk it all for her, being loyal to family and friends above all and you know Chloe would always do the same the same for him. Although he was a geek he knew what the right decisions were and you could always count on him.

Played by: Louis Lombardi.


8. Bill Buchanan
Bill Buchanan may not come in under the best circumstances or at the best time. But he becomes a great Director and is a good moral compass. He trusts Jack implicitly . He is married to Karen Hayes who is involved with Homeland Security and then as a trusted adviser to President Wayne Palmer. He risks a lot, is committed to making sure his country stays safe and realizes Jack is usually the answer.

Played by: James Morrison


9. Nina Myers-


Nina Myers was Jack's most trusted confidante at CTU who was a big help to Jack in the first season and was totally epic in the other seasons she appeared in. She is formidable nemesis to her enemies and a smart, resourceful woman you don't want to cross.

Played by: Sarah Clarke.


10. Curtis Manning-



Curtis Manning is a field agent like Jack, introduced midway throughout the series. Like Jack he is resilient and perfectly capable of saving his family, friends and country, all while killing terrorists who threaten their safety. He was an amazing agent, and although he doubted Jack’s capabilities and was at times jealous of him, but eventually they learned to work together and were a unstoppable team vanquishing terrorists and stopping their diabolical attacks.

Played by: Roger Cross.


11. Kate Morgan-



Kate Morgan is my favorite new character added in 24: Live Another Day, in addition to being the only one to make it on this list. She is also similar to Jack Bauer (she’s a field agent too) and thinks like him. She is a brilliant CIA agent who is dedicated to the truth and her country. It's so great to watch her and Jack become trusted partners and risk their lives to keep London and their loved ones safe  She has the same great attributes of Renee Walker and Jack Bauer and that’s why I love her.

Played by: Yvonne Strahovski.


12. Sherry Palmer-



Sherry Palmer is a enigma tough to definitively figure out. This pretty woman is the is the wife of Senator David Palmer and seems to be a supporting wife and mother who had a great touch, excited for her husband's candidacy for President and perhaps a bit too eager to be first lady. She is a protective mother who cares about her children, Keith and Nicole and will do what she has to to always keep them safe. She really is a unique character who is cool to watch and figure out.

Played by: Penny Jerald Johnson.


13. Wayne Palmer-



Wayne Palmer, brother of David Palmer, first came on the scene in Season 3.He is a somewhat different from his brother, being more reckless and a little more morally flexible. He is a loyal brother to David and will acquiesce to his decisions, whether he likes them or not. Later on he had some issues, but overall he is a good character and addition to the show.

Played by: D.B. Woodside


14. George Mason-



Somewhat out for himself and being blackmailed frequently, George Mason is a brilliant Director who has a nasty habit of doing the right thing in spite of himself. In the beginning, he is a by-the-book bureaucrat, anti-Jack and generally disapproving of the other agents methods. he becomes more lovable as he goes on with a very satisfying redemption arc. He eventually becoming this great and memorable guy who made grave sacrifices for his country with some help from his fellow agents.  One of the best and most emotional scenes ever is when he brings his estranged son John into his office and tells him how sorry he is that he wasn’t always there for him, bringing himself and his son to tears. He also encourages Michelle Dessler to follow her dreams, all while he is serving his country by trying to prevent terrorist schemes from becoming a reality.

Played by: Xander Berkeley


15. Chase Edmunds-



Chase Edmunds is probably the most underrated 24 character ever. I would describe him as a younger, more level-headed Jack who still gets the job done. Mid way throughout the show he is Jack’s partner on the field and is a great assistance. He is a strong, determined character and could be compared to Batman’s Robin, who is a little hot-headed at times, just like Chase himself.

Played by: James Badge Dale.


16. Mike Novick-



‘Turtleface’ himself has also been around since Season 1 as David Palmer's campaign manager. He gives sound advice and is good a being a part of major (and successful) decisions. He is good at diffusing situations and making beneficial decisions for those he serves.

Played by: Jude Ciccolella.


17. Aaron Pierce-



Secret Service Agent Aaron Pierce is one of the best. He is conscientious and willing to protect all under his charge, usually at risk to his own life. He also first makes an appearance in Season 1 and is in charge of protecting David Palmer, then later Charles Logan and the Logan family and Olivia Taylor among others, eventually he seems to find happiness, but not before going through hell first. He is the perfect example of the man you want at your side to keep you safe.

Played by: Glenn Morshower.


18. Cole Ortiz-



Cole Ortiz is also a late comer, being an agent of CTU New York Season 8 is his first appearance but I think he was a good, engaging character, one to care about, but a little bit of a wild card which always spices things up. He was engaged to co-worker Dana Walsh, a blond agent who went through a lot that day. Cole is a strong, capable agent who although emotional is not to be underestimated and played an important role in the day’s events.

Played by: Freddie Prinze Jr.


19. Audrey Raines-



Audrey Raines is the daughter of Secretary of Defense James Heller who cares an immense amount for Jack and her father. She was a capable and very beautiful woman who assisted CTU when she could. She was good friends with most of the agents, especially Chloe O'Brian.

Played by: Kim Raver.


20. Kim Bauer-



Kim Bauer, who like Jack makes her own rules, is 24’s own damsel in distress. She starts off in Season 1 by playing chess with her dad, Jack Bauer, but things start to go south and she goes through a ton of scary things, before her life returns to some semblance of normalness. She cares a lot for people in trouble and will risk everything to help those that she thinks needs it. Sadly with her dad's turbulent life and her own issues, it is awhile before she can be somewhat happy.  Although she can annoy you at times, I like Kim because she is Jack’s daughter and although she goes through a lot, she comes out on top in the end.

Played by: Elisha Cuthbert


21. Dana Walsh-



Dana Walsh was also introduced in Season 8 and is senior data analyst at CTU New York and is engaged to field agent Cole Ortiz, a seemingly happy and steady life. When you meet her, you admire her grit and capability. You feel sorry as she goes through a load of personal issues, that just don't seem to end.  I like her because she is an unpredictable woman, who keeps you guessing.

Played by: Katee Sackhoff.


22. James Heller-



We meet Secretary of Defense James Heller in Season 4 as an important government man and father to Audrey Raines and psycho son Richard, who hates him.  He is an independent man who strongly believes in the good aspects of the government.

Played by: William Devane.


23. Allison Taylor-



First 24 woman president Allison Taylor has her morals. She does not believe in "the end justifies the means" tactics and is not a fan of Jack Bauer until he saves her life. She will obey the law strictly, no matter the cost and is a woman deserving of the office she serves.

Played by: Cherry Jones.


24. Arlo Glass-



Arlo definitely has major issues, but is a good CTU worker and loyal to it. We meet him in Season 8 with kind of a weird obsession about engaged Dana Walsh, but he quickly shows his worth. He has been the target of Chloe’s sarcasm but is a capable agent, jsut doing his job and helping those around him. A prime example of this is when he was trying to figure out how to help Dana, and making sure Cole could have the information he needed so Cole could help his troubled fiancée. In the end, although Arlo has some really apparent issues, he becomes a great help with unraveling the various problems during the day.

Played by: John Boyd.


25. Teri Bauer-



Teri Bauer is Jack’s Bauer’s beloved wife and mother to wayward Kimberly Bauer. She is worried continually about her husband and daughter and like Sherry Palmer, will risk everything to keep them safe. She is first shown sitting at her dining room table on a laptop when Kim slights her because of her teenage anger at her mom. She experiences the worst day of her life in Season 1 along with her beloved daughter and husband, even though a little bit of happiness manifests itself as well.

Played by: Leslie Hope.


26. Mandy



Mandy is super awesome, even if you didn’t see her all that often,  She is smart, pretty and extremely resourceful and knows how to get the job done.  I love how relentless she is while on a job.

Played by: Mia Kirshner.


27. Omar Hassan-



President Omar Hassan of the fictional Kamistan is introduced in Season 8 and is willing to sacrifice it all for his family and the people of the United States and Kamistan. Involved in peace talks with President Taylor and  then news of an assassination attempts to occur is received at CTU and someone close to him and his administration is revealed to be involved. Fortunately things don't go the bad guys way, thanks to Cole, Jack and Chloe. Hassan becomes paranoid and invokes the anger of those around him, who view him as unstable. Overall he is a great President committed to his family and the people he pledged to serve.

Played by: Anil Kapoor.


28. Brian Hastings-



Brian Hastings comes on the scene during Season 8 as the new CTU director in New York. He is a committed guy, doing everything for the good of the country and almost always obeys his orders. Chloe and Jack sometimes annoy him, but he realizes both of their importance and helps accordingly. He pushes all his employees to do their absolute best and expects no less of himself.

Played by: Mykelti Williamson.


29. Ethan Kanin-



Ethan Kanin is introduced along with President Taylor in season 7 as her conscientious chief of staff. He guides her on the right paths and she heavily relied on him, expecting him to help her make decisions of national importance, in addition to caring for him as a good friend.

Played by: Bob Gunton.


30. Dalia Hassan-



Dalia Hassan is the wife of President Omar Hassan and mother to Kayla (Kila) Hassan, She is a strong woman who does what she needs to fulfill her promises.  She believes in the peace agreement and alliance to be formed between her native country and the United States. At the end of Season 8, it is assumed she returned home with her daughter to Kamistan, a powerful and influential woman.

Played by: Necar Zadegan.


31. Jamey Farrell-



Jamey Farrell is a smart data analyst and single mother who Jack trusts. She is tasked with decrypting various cards and helping Jack figure out the leak located within CTU. She has a mother and a son, Kyle.

Played by: Karina Arroyave.


32. Martha Logan-



Martha Logan is the wife of President Charles Logan. She is extremely emotional and has mental issues. She was a really good friend of President David Palmer evn if they don't see eye to eye politically. She is determined to figure out fishy developments inside the White House and figure out who the traitor is that operating within the White House. Her husband in involved with treaties with the Russian government and she forms a strong bond with President Yuri Suvarov and his wife Anya, who trust her as she trusts them. Although she was seriously an emotional train wreck, she definitely had her great moments!

Played by: Jean Smart.


33. Milo Pressman-



Milo Pressman was briefly in Season 1 helping Jamey try to decode a keycard, but returned as a main character later. He is given a hard time by Morris O'Brian, since he is very uptight. He wanted a relationship with co-worker Nadia Yassir who seems to care for him too. He is very skilled and was instrumental in bringing to an end the terrors of the day. He is a smart analyst who will always want as a part of your team.

Played by: Eric Balfour.


34. Kayla Hassan-



Kayla (Kila) Hassan is the daughter of Omar and Dalia Hassan. She is more sheltered, and loves her father and her mother, but is unhappy when her mother leaves and her father refuses to see her and then she takes matters into her own hands. I like her because she is strong and not super emotional and is one of the most loveliest female characters 24 has had.

Played by: Nazneen Contractor.


35. Dina Araz-



Dina Araz and her family were a cell of a terrorist group in Season 4. She was fully invested in the terrorist plot and making sure it worked, willing to give up and kill just about everyone, to a point. She is a mysterious character who most will be rooting for, even if some of the things she does are less than legal.

Played by: Shohreh Aghdashloo.


36. Olivia Taylor-



Olivia Taylor is the daughter of President Allison Taylor and is introduced to us in Season 7.  She was originally kicked off the campaign after leaking damaging information about her mother’s rival. But now she’s back in the game and seems to be reformed But when she arrives at the White House, tragic events take place and she barely escapes with her life, to take over a high position in her mother's cabinet and to be influential in her decision-making.

Played by: Sprague Grayden.


I hope you enjoyed this list and if you haven't already, watch or finish watching the amazing show called 24. Feel free to comment below and tell me what you thought!

My Favorite TV Shows: Ranked

I love TV shows, movies just can't compare. That being said, I haven't watched many TV shows, I'm picky and most don't appeal. (No vampires, romance shows for instance, just don't like them) Currently these are my favorite shows (from least favorite to favorite) starting with:

23. Burn Notice
(7 Seasons, 2007-2013)

Michael Westen is a spy for the United States...until he receives his burn notice...which essentially means his career is over. Stuck in his old hometown of Miami, he intends to find out who did this and why, not an easy task : With the burn notice tainting his name he is cut off from his usual contacts and has to stay low key, lest he tip off his unknown enemy. His team to solve that important mystery along with others are Fiona, his kooky ex-girlfriend and IRA spy, and his friend Sam, also a former spy. Then there's Madeline, Michael's mother...not the most sane person you'll ever meet.


22. Batman: The Animated Series-
(4 Seasons, 1992-1995)



The best version of Batman in cartoons, it portrays a moody or occasionally happy Batman, (as happy as the Dark Knight can get) a more mature acting Robin and villains with depth and believable back stories. It also incorporates a amazing amount of action and character development in a short 20 minutes. Kevin Conroy does a great job as Batman and Mark Hamill as Joker is just chilling. The one thing I didn't like at all was the new Robin (a child, really) in Season 4 and some of the weird stories. But it is still a great watch (as well as Superman and Spiderman Animated Series, respectively), especially if you like the Dark Knight.

21. Last Man Standing-
(6 Seasons, 2011-2017)



Mike Baxter loves hunting, guns, knives...anything like that. Unfortunately, there isn't a lot of room for that at home with his interesting three daughters and wife, Vanessa. In fact the only other male in the house is his oldest daughter's really young son, Boyd. On top of that, Vanessa decides to work outside of the house again, forcing Mike to take on more parental responsibility than ever before. But his daughters aren't prepared for their old-fashioned, opinionated father to take over. He would much rather be at work where he is surrounded by men at sporting-goods retailer Outdoor Man, which sells items like guns, jerky and camouflage recliners. This is a funny sitcom about literally being the last man standing.


20. Bosch
(3 Seasons, 2014-)



Based on Michael Connelly's best-selling novels, Titus Welliver plays flawed LAPD homicide detective Harry Bosch who deals with some pretty cool homicide cases and work drama. In addition he has a daughter Maddie, ex-wife Eleanor and a partner J. Edgar who deal with issues of their own. It is a great cop show that will draw you in, episode after episode to see what happens to Bosch, his family, and friends. In addition this show features some of my favorite actors and actresses, which is always cool. My only regret about the show is that they are a little heavy on the language, but the rest of it more than makes up for it.


19. Stranger Things-
(2 Seasons 2016-)



Stranger Things is a newer Netflix original that is really quite interesting. A boy named Will Byers disappears in a creepy way in a small Indiana town, prompting his friends, family and the police to look for him and in the process they encounter many other odd mysteries, involving secret government experiments, unnerving supernatural forces, and a very unusual girl who calls herself Eleven.

18. Saturday Night Live-
(42 Seasons, 1975-)



I don't really consider this a TV show, but I guess, technically, it is. The only decade I really liked SNL, would be the 1990s (which was it's peak, in my opinion) it featured comedy greats such as Adam Sandler, Will Ferrell, Dana Carvey, Chris Rock, David Spade and my favorite the perpetually angry (or on the verge of it), Chris Farley to name a few. Some hilarious sketches were published that are super hilarious, 20, 30 years later. Most of the actors and actresses also went on to have a lucrative film career after SNL and are well-known in the comedy world. On the other hand, I'm not a fan of the current sketches. SNL has now become more or less mean-spirited, not as funny, the cast not so great and Alec Baldwin as Trump is terrible.But the stuff from the 90s still provides plenty of laughs... when you're living in a van down by the river!

17. Seinfeld-

(9 Seasons, 1989-1998)



Just about everyone has heard of Seinfeld, a hilarious comedy about 4 zany people and their friends. Years after it ended, it's still watched and laughed at. The comedy about "nothing" turned out to be a huge hit for the NBC network, with 101 million people watching the final episode, and it has earned 3.1 billion in repeat fees since the final episode aired 19 years ago. If you want to laugh your socks off, watch Seinfeld.

16. Three Stooges-
    (1928-1970)


The Three Stooges don't really need an introduction. Just a lot of hilarious jokes, missteps, and slapstick comedy.


15. CHiPs-
(6 Seasons, 1977-1983)



CHiPs (which stands for California Highway Patrol with the i and s added for a complete word) is a cop show that was well known in it's day. It's the fictional story of some of the California Highway Patrol officers, especially but not limited to Frank "Ponch" Poncherello and Jon Baker (main characters) who are motorcycle cops enforcing the law. Other characters include Sergeant Getraer, Artie Grossman, Bear Baricza and Bonnie Clark, who are cops that help solve the case(s) of the day. (which might have personal stakes sometimes) The adventures of Ponch and Jon is always a cool watch. 

14. The Simpsons-
(28 Seasons, 1989-)


The Simpsons, Homer, Marge, Lisa, Bart and Maggie, never gets old and each season adds more laughs. Homer Simpson is a working class nuclear plant employee who lives in Springfield with a family and a host of other hilarious characters. Homer might be a little fat with a unhealthy obsession with food (especially doughnuts!). He is also the funniest character on the show without even trying. Marge is a home-maker who can be the moralistic voice in her tumultuous household. Lisa is the activist who believes in all kinds of causes. Bart is the troublemaker of the family and Maggie is the baby who is a creature of habit and loves her pacifier. The Simpsons is an iconic show that will keep you cracking up in laughter.

 13. Dukes of Hazzard-

(7 Seasons, 1979-1985)



Another popular show in its day, good ol' boys (and cousins) Bo and Luke Duke are always willing to help someone in need or save something or someone, whether the threat comes from bad guys from out of town or from the County Commissioner Jefferson Davis (J.D.) Hogg or Boss Hogg, who is the fat and greedy man who runs Hazzard County with his crooked (and dumb and hilarious) Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane. Rosco also has a basset hound Flash and a even dumber deputy which is either Cletus or Enos (depending on the season or episode). Other important characters are Cooter Davenport, local mechanic and the Duke family's good friend, Uncle Jesse Duke (who is the Duke cousins' uncle) and Bo and Luke's other cousin, beautiful Daisy Duke who is a waitress at Boss Hogg's restaurant The Boar's Nest which also doubles as one of his offices. J.D. Hogg's enemies are usually the Duke boys who manage to foil his plots and who will almost always get away from (and crash his crooked lawmen's cars) the crooked law with their souped up, bright orange Dodge Charger, nicknamed General Lee. Dukes of Hazzard is a great show, full of entertainment and family values.

12. Shooter
(2 Seasons 2016-)



Based on the 2007 movie "Shooter" (based on the novel Point of Impact) The first season starts ,former Marine sniper Bob Lee Swagger is happy with his wife and daughter in a remote cabin, hunting and practicing his skills as a sniper after leaving the military, where he served with honor. His civilian life doesn't last long, though, with the discovery of a plot to kill the president of the United States. His former commanding officer Isaac Johnson, now a Secret Service agent, draws Swagger into the investigation for skills to be put to use to keep the President safe. Let's just say things don't go as planned, leaving Swagger trying to stay alive and keep his family safe.


11. The Good Wife-
(7 Seasons, 2009-2016)



I haven't seen much of this show, but I'm already really liking it. Alicia Florrick is the wife of Peter Florrick who was Chicago's Attorney General until very public scandals ended his term and put him in jail. Alicia decides to stay married to him and resume a job as a defense attorney, while Peter's mother watches their two kids, Zach and Grace. The reason I really like this show is because it puts the emphasis on the cases which are never as they appear. The great mix of family drama and exciting legal cases never fail to hold my interest until the end of the episode.

10. Prison Break-
(5 Seasons, 2005-)



Prison Break is the story of Michael Scofield, a man with a desperate and just borderline crazy plan. His brother, Lincoln Burrows is sent to prison for a murder he didn't commit and is now on death row. Michael (a structural engineer who helped build the prison) has the idea to pretend to rob a bank and get himself incarcerated alongside his brother and then facilitate their elaborate escape. This show follows Michael and his plans, his brother, their fellow inmates (bunch of interesting and quite different characters) and everything that goes into a prison break. A thrilling show that will always keep you hooked.


9. Ties That Bind-

(1 Season, 2015)



Ties that Bind is also a cop show, this particular one is about The McLean family, Allison is the cop of the family and deals with intriguing whodunit cases. Her husband Matt works at home and in construction. Their children Jeff and Rachel also live with them and have a hard time adjusting to life after their bitter teenage cousins, Cameron and Mariah, come to live with them after Allison busted their father and their mother was put in rehab. This show narrates the different criminal cases Allison deals with as well as troubles at home and at the kids' school. This show was amazing, but sadly was cancelled by UP after 1 season (it ended on a cliffhanger!!!), but it's still worth your time.

8. Suits
(7 Seasons, 2011-)



Suits is a legal drama about the employees at Pearson Hardman (the names change many times) specifically Harvey Specter, Mike Ross, Jessica Pearson, Rachel Zane and Louis Litt, all lawyers (with one paralegal) who deal with personal and work issues (one of the biggest ones being Mike never went to law school) and drama as well as legal cases, tough clients and opponents. This show is riveting and extremely interesting if you like legal shows. I really like the main cast in this show even more than the cases which is rare for me.


7. Law and Order: Special Victims Unit-
(18 Seasons, 1999-)


Originally I wasn't a fan of this show, but now I definitely am. Law and Order: SVU follows New York City detectives who deal with special cases, usually involving rape, abuse etc. I enjoy this long running show for a few reasons. I enjoy the cast and their varying but important roles in solving the cases, the other reason is that I enjoy the cases themselves, nothing or no one is how they appear which makes for some interesting television.

6. Impractical Jokers-
(6 Seasons, 2011-)

 

If you want some laughs, turn on Impractical Jokers! This hidden-camera show follows four lifelong friends, (from left to right) Brian "Q" Quinn, James "Murr" Murray, Sal Vulcano and Joe Gatto who take dares to an outrageous level. Ever since they met in school, the four have challenged one another to do ridiculous dares in public.Then they had the idea to turn it into a show. On the show, to find out who is best under pressure, the guys compete in awkward, embarrassing and outrageous things on a hidden camera, with the other guys not only watching and listening, but also telling their friend what to do. If you fail to do or say what the other guys tell you to do, then you lose that specific challenge and might be loser of the episode. At the end of each episode, the loser must perform an extremely mortifying or scary challenge, made up by the other guys. Some cringe-worthy punishments and challenges have been ... skydiving (one of them is extremely scared of heights), running through a creepy, rigged house, dressing like a woman and giving a tech workshop (the inventions are made up by the other guys), meeting your celebrity crush in a Speedo, having your house destroyed by the other guys (while the fourth joker was watching on TV!), giving classes you know absolutely nothing about, taking lie detector test in front of a huge crowd (with the questions from the other jokers), insulting others, sumo wrestling, making a toast (written by the other guys) at a wedding for a couple you don't know, being attached to a machine that simulates labor pains, or giving a food presentation (with the guys ordering you around)...with your mouth pumped full of Novocaine are just a few of the more embarrassing things these guys have had to suffer. This show is absolutely hilarious!

5. The Arrow

(5 Seasons, 2012-)

  

The Arrow is a great show, similar to Batman, but with a little bit more family drama that adds some humanity to The Arrow, a.k.a. Oliver Queen, long-lost billionaire playboy who went on a yacht trip with his father and fiancee's sister, both of whom die, leaving Oliver the sole survivor, but shipwrecked on an island for 5 years until he was rescued by a passing boat, now he is back in his home of Starling City, seeing the familiar faces who thought him long dead. Before his dad died he had said he wasn't the man Oliver thought he was and gives him a small book of names of rich and influential men who are ruining the city like Robert Queen had. His father wants him to stop these ruthless men and be his legacy. So Oliver becomes the Arrow, a green-clad man who wreaks vengeance for the city with his bow and arrow and amazing fighting skills...but not all his methods are lawful and so no one can know the identity of the masked vigilante who will accomplish his mission, whatever the cost.

4. The Flash-
(4 Seasons, 2014-)



Based off the Flash comics, Barry Allen's life changed when his mother died when he was 11 and his innocent father was convicted and sent to prison for her murder. At that time he went to live with Detective Joe West and his daughter Iris West. Now he is grown up, working as a CSI at CCPD in Central City, determined to solve his mother's murder, saving his father and wanting to date the grown-up, beautiful Iris West. Suddenly his life is forever changed when S.T.A.R. Labs head scientist Harrison Wells sets off his particle accelerator which was supposed to be a great step in science, but instead exploded, imbuing certain people with special abilities and Barry is affected and given super speed. Now Harrison Wells and fellow S.T.A.R. Labs scientists Caitlin Snow and Cisco Ramon train him to use his great speed. He and Joe West (still a detective at CCPD) continue to go to the crime scenes as usual, but now most crimes are inexplicable, perpetrated by others affected by the explosion, nicknamed "metahumans". Now the Flash is the only one who can stop it with the help of Dr. Wells, Caitlin and Cisco. Some of them can clone themselves, control the weather, cause vertigo, to name a few cool ones. Iris, unaware of Barry's new abilities starts dating her father's partner Eddie Thawne, which makes Barry jealous and he realizes he may not be able to have the cool powers and the girl. As a superhero Barry is faced with tough and emotional decisions, especially as he realizes that he can change the past and save his mom. Unfortunately much of the decisions Barry makes throughout the show have major consequences that can change his world forever. Evil super villains appear that wreak havoc on his life and the life of his friends and family during each season as well, which is definitely a really cool incentive to watch this unforgettable show.

3. Hawaii Five-0

(7 Seasons 2010-)

Hawaii Five-O originally was a police procedural in 1968-1980 and got revamped in 2010 with new actors with the same premise as the original. Steve McGarrett is approached to start a new task force to get rid of the island's worst criminals, he starts with his father's murderer and recruits Detective Danny Williams (who has just moved from New Jersey for his daughter and is not a huge Hawaii fan), local and old friend Chin Ho Kelly and his pretty cousin Kono to join the task force. They deal with gangs, murders, kidnappers, drug dealers, all dangerous men who are not the island's finest and need to be put behind bars, usually for good. The nice thing is that the cases and the interesting personal drama/mysteries balance themselves out perfectly. This show is really good and all the various cases will keep you always guessing, and usually surprised. I'd recommend this show 100%.

2. Grimm-
(6 Seasons, 2011-2017)

 Grimm Cast (from left to right)- Adalind Schade, Sean Renard, Rosalee Calvert, Monroe, Nick Burkhardt, Juliette Silverton, Hank Griffin and Drew "Wu"

This is one of my favorite shows! Portland homicide detective Nick Burkhardt, descended from a long line of warriors known as Grimms, defends his city from supernatural creatures known as Wesen, which are part human and part animal, which only Grimms and other Wesen can actually see. Fighting alongside his partner, Hank Griffin, colleague Sergeant Wu and friends Monroe and Rosalee, Nick faces off against evil forces who want to do harm to him, his family, friends and to Portland He also has a girlfriend Juliette, mysterious police captain Sean Renard, pretty (and evil) nemesis Adalind Schade and various royal enemies from Vienna, called the Royals, who are an enemy to Grimms and are terrible men who want to rule the world. The show is not for everyone though, due to violence but it's still amazing.

1. 24
(8 technically 9 seasons, 2001-2010, 2014)

Season 5 Cast of 24

 24 is the best show of all time! It easily #1, none can come even close! This is the one show I've ever been obsessed with and for very good reason. Agent Jack Bauer works for CTU (Counter Terrorist Unit) dealing with (terrorists) assassination attempts, nuclear attacks, bio-terrorism, torture, traitors, sleeper cells, other bad guys in 24 hours (hence the name, 24). Each episode is an hour in the show (about 40 minutes for us without commercials) with 24 episodes, each covering an non-consecutive day in Bauer's life. CTU helps stop the attacks with amazing agents, such as Nina Myers, Tony Almeida, George Mason, Chase Edmunds, Michelle Dessler, the list goes on and on of agents who risk their lives to save the world from merciless terrorists, time after time. More than one story goes on in the 24 hours though and we see the President deal with the attacks and internal issues and Jack's wife Teri and daughter Kimberly have a nasty habit of accidentally becoming embroiled in the day's events. This is a show everyone should watch because they will love it. This show has cliffhangers at the end of every episode and is very easy to binge watch and watch the entire season in one sitting. (I've done it multiple times which means 17 straight hours) 24 is amazing!