If you’re a 24 fan, I think you’ll agree –- it’s been a LONG wait between seasons.   And yes, Season 6 was admittedly awful (they shouldn’t include it on the DVD box set), but it sure is nice to see our favorite surly CTU agent, Jack Bauer, back kicking butt and taking names.  Happily, despite his three-year jaunt in Africa doing whatever it was he was doing, he’s still the same old Jack: Hasn’t cracked a smile since 2002, routinely screams “WE’RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME!”, lives by the motto “Torture first, ask questions later”, runs around with a messenger bag, and speaks like he desperately needs a throat lozenge.  Jack’s the best.

That got me thinking (and coming up with any excuse to write about 24) — if the 24 characters had food equivalents, what would they be?  Here’s my take:

Tony = Bread

Like Tony, bread and carbs were once thought to be dead. Now they’re making a comeback.  We like having them around but we’re not sure we can trust them.  Are they good for us? Bad for us?  No one seems to know.

Chloe = Prickly Pear

Both need to be handled with extreme care.  They’re sweet on the inside, but you’ve got to peel off that darn thorny and prickly skin to get to it.

Bill = Tiramisu

“The Dessert of the ’90s” is perhaps not the coolest dessert on the block anymore, but like Bill, it’s classy, reliable and it’ll never go out of style.  Then again, with his suave new look for Season 7, maybe Bill’s cooler than I’m giving him credit for.

Jack = Fugu (Poisonous Blowfish)

* They’re both dangerous to work with.
* They’re both wanted in Asia.
* They both can cause mind-boggling pain.
* Hang around them long enough and there’s a good chance you’ll die.

As for our sadly departed Edgar Stiles?

One word: Sfogliatelle.