Three nods in one night for ‘24’

Jack Bauer’s long, long days have finally paid off.

Fox’s “24” picked up three Emmy Awards on Sunday for drama, lead actor Kiefer Sutherland and director Jon Cassar. Sutherland has been nominated every year since the show went on the air late in 2001, but Sunday marked his first win.

“Every once in a while, you’ll have an evening that just reminds you that you are given too much, and this is that evening,” Sutherland said. “This experience that has been ‘24’ has been nothing short of remarkable for me.”

Backstage, surrounded by the show’s cast and producers, Sutherland beamed and said having his father in the audience was icing on the cake. “We weren’t two actors at that point. We were just a father and his son. We’re going to have a nice dinner tonight -- this is cool.”

The spy thriller based on the counterterrorism unit in Los Angeles grew even more popular this year, increasing its audience by 14% and receiving more Emmy nominations (12) than any other series.

The wins mark the first time Fox has won an Emmy for drama and for lead actor in a drama.