Back for the final countdown

During its breathless, ticktock eight-season run, 24 has given viewers many delights, apart from Jack Bauer's crazy knack for staying alive.

The dedicated but declining audience for this thriller fondly recall President David Palmer, a black man in the White House who may have helped normalise that concept for white voters. But as Oval Office residents go, no one on "24" can overshadow Charles Logan, the former chief executive who commanded the fifth season as scoundrel, boob and treasonous schemer.

Deliciously played by Gregory Itzin, President Logan stayed busy at his waffling cover-ups, secret deals with terrorists, even an implicit role in Palmer's assassination - all of it done (as Logan never tired of saying) "in the best interests of the country".

Ultimately thwarted by Bauer, Logan resigned and was placed under house arrest.

But in TV drama as in the real world, disgraced politicians don't necessarily vanish. They hatch a way to rehabilitate themselves.

So hail to President Logan in the person of Itzin, who returns in the May 7 episode, then continues through the remainder of this season, Day 8, which was recently pronounced the last.

"It's pretty nifty to be invited back to this groundbreaking show and be part of how they wrap up the story," Itzin says over breakfast at a Times Square hotel.

This season's crisis focuses on a global peace accord gone sideways, with a threat to nuke Manhattan and the execution of a key Middle East leader thrown in.

Logan is brought in to consult with President Allison Taylor. "I'm a little more of a pragmatist, a realist," said Itzin, meaning his presidential alter ego. "President Taylor needs somebody to whisper in her ear and take her to the dark side, because she's such a good person. She's such a straight arrow."

Itzin's next project has him playing another villain. He is starring in the Broadway production of Enron as world-class scoundrel Kenneth Lay.

Years before Bernie Madoff, Lay became the poster boy for white-collar crime. Found guilty in May 2006 on numerous counts of securities fraud, he died two months later died of a heart attack before his sentencing.

"Money scandals are hardly new to the human condition," Itzin noted. "Venality and trying to beat the system, along with excuses, continue in others. But the entertainment value of this piece I think is huge. I'm kind of used to playing villains. What I like to do is to find why they're villains, and show the humanity in the midst of it."

Itzin, who turns 62 this month, is a seasoned actor who has appeared on scores of television shows including LA Law, The Practice and Boston Legal. After his initial run in 24, he had a recurring role on The Mentalist. "But 24 put me on the map after years of being a journeyman actor," he said. "It was the most fun I ever had in front of a camera."

His 24 stint began in the fourth season, as three episodes that featured Logan grew to nine. He dominated in the fifth season, then returned briefly for the sixth, when Martha, his former first lady, tried to stab him to death.

On the 24 set since late last year, Itzin carries on through the finale - which begs the question: How will 24 end?

"They played around with different endings," he sort-of confided. "One was a Jack-rides-into-the-sunset kind of thing, which made me go, 'Ahhh, that would be nice.' And then they said, 'But we're not going to do that ... ."'

LOWDOWN

Who: Gregory Itzin as disgraced former US President Charles Logan returning for the final series of 24
Where and when: C4, Fridays, 8.30pm

- AP