Interesting article on "24" in a recent issue of The New Yorker. The piece, all about one of the show's politically conservative creators, Joel Surnow, also reveals that "24" is having a negative influence on American soldiers because of its depiction of Jack Bauer as an American hero who tortures terrorists, blatantly breaking American laws.

According to The New Yorker, U.S. Army Brigadier General Patrick Finnegan, the dean of the United States Military Academy at West Point, visited the show's set last fall "to voice their concern that the show's central political premise--that the letter of American law must be sacrificed for the country's security--was having a toxic effect.

"In their view, the show promoted unethical and illegal behavior and had adversely affected the training and performance of real American soldiers," writes Jane Mayer in The New Yorker.

"I'd like them to stop," Finnegan said of the show's producers. "They should do a show where torture backfires."

Interesting stuff. I'd also be happy if no one on the show took a drill to another human being again as happened on this week's episode.

No 'Idol' love: It may be Valentine's Day, but Sarah Burgess of Beaver Falls got no love from "American Idol" last night, getting cut from the show in the Hollywood round. A young woman from Altoona also got the boot.

First Published: February 14, 2007, 5:00 a.m.