does "24" have to have JACK BAUER?

Does "24" really have to have JACK BAUER saving the world 5 times over?
I mean,
"24" is a franchise, but does it really need kiefer? It would probably
be reasonable to assume that you can cast an unknown, and with the
franchise so popular, that it would still attract an audience.

marc0ni...

Yes, Jack is necessary because he has been the single consistent
element throughout the series. The audience has come to see him as the

Quiet Desperation...

I can see both sides here. I like JB, but if Sutherland wanted to hand
the baton off to someone else, I'd give it a chance.

Jack Bauer's Spunky Sidekick, Ian J. Ball...

You could do it, but you have to hit the jackpot/thread the needle on
casting - if you replace KS with, say, Tony Danza or Majandra Delfino,
you could kiss the baby.

Ian (And, no, I don't really have anyone in mind to replace KS. But I'd
know him(less likely: her) when I saw him(her)...)

dependable soldier in the midst of the chaos. Replacing Jack would mean
having to re-create that same relationship with another character over
another period of several seasons, so I don't see "24" working without
Jack.

As far as "24" being a franchise, what are you talking about? "24" has
NOT spawned multiple versions of itself (like L&O and CSI, for
instance) nor even any spin-offs. Nor could "24" multiply itself
without diluting the uniqueness of the original.