24 = 80

I just finished watching season 5 of 24, and besides the usual excitement each time Jack Bauer says "Right now, that man its the only lead/chance to get us to the terrorists/nuclear warheads/conspiracy/(insert bad guy's name)" and then he tortures the living hell out of him, it was satisfying to see that this season got me reacquainted to quite a few 80s icons, who profited from a second coming on prime time TV. They had to wait 15 years for their fellow 80s friend, probably the only cool one, to give them a hand and bring them back to the spotlight:

1. Peter Weller


In 24: One of those tortured bad guys, Christopher Henderson
Better known as: Robocop
So 80s: In the movie, the innovation mecca is, of all places, Detroit. The ending is at some abandoned industrial plant.
Trivia: The bad guy in the movie is Red Forman. He never got to stick his foot up the cyborg's ass.

2. Sean Astin


In 24: Lynn Mc Gill, an obnoxious CTU agent
Better known as: The main Goonie (and recently, Samwise Gamgee)
So 80s: Cindy Lauper soundtrack, Corey Feldman, the Sloth, dorky character steals the girl from the bully, latina maid, dumpbells, bandana, redhaired girl, etc.
Trivia: He was in a movie with Kirk Cameron, where, in 80s style, Cameron exchanges souls with his father.


3. C. Thomas Howell


In 24: Kim Bauer's boyfriend, a therapist
Better known as: Monroe Clark, playing beach volleyball in Side Out, or the guy that picks up the Hitcher, or the guy that disguises as a black man to get into college in Soul Man
So 80s: Beach volleyball
Trivia: His boss in Side Out was none other than Bernie.

4. Julian Sands


In 24: Vladimir Bierko, another bad guy
Better known as: Warlock, the sorcerer
So 80s: Bites the tongue off one of his victims and then spits it on a frying pan.
Trivia: In one absurd movie, Boxing Helena, he's so obsessed with a woman, he cuts off her legs and arms so that she doesn't run off. He was also the pimp in Leaving Las Vegas.

All this, of course, in addition to Jack Bauer himself, who shared considerable 80s screen mojo with none other than the Coreys, Charlie Sheen, Emilio Estevez, Lou Diamond Phillips, Kevin Bacon, Christian Slater, Michael J. Fox, River Phoenix, and of course, the one that left him one day before the wedding, Ms. Julia Roberts.