Unfortunately for Fox, the trailer surfaced online in a number of places on Wednesday, including on YouTube. Fans of the show who wanted to watch the trailer had to engage in a bit of a cat-and-mouse exercise, as the clip was removed by YouTube, then reuploaded by fans.

The clip I saw was the version created for the U.K. audience, and featured a special introduction by series star Kiefer Sutherland.

In the trailer, he thanked audiences for making the show one of the "most watched shows on television. He then tells the audience that this season they have "pulled out all the stops."

The "24" trailer, introduced by Kiefer Sutherland, begins with Jack Bauer testifying before a congressional committee investigating reports he tortured a prisoner. The committee seems to be lead by "That 70s Show" star Kurtwood Smith, who contributes his trademark sneer to the proceedings.

Bauer's response is classic for his character, as he tells the Senators "Don't expect me to regret the decisions I've made. Because sir, to be truthful, I don't."

Despite the hearings, Bauer is quickly brought into handle a new crisis. A group has launched some sort of an attack on a computer system which has access to many of the country's major infrastructure. Breaching that system would leave all of those systems vulnerable.

But the biggest surprise for Bauer is the identity of one of the masterminds behind the plot. Yes, it's his former CTU coworker Tony Almeida.

It's very tough to tell much from a two-minute clip, although at first glance, the premise seems to be similar to "Live Free Or Die Hard," albeit with a unique "24" twist.

The leaking of the trailer isn't good news for Fox, who has put together a massive worldwide public event for the official premiere.

In New York City, the trailer will be presented by DirectTV and will be broadcast on the giant News Astrovision by Panasonic screen in Times Square at 1:00 pm ET Thursday. It will also be seen live and concurrently by fans worldwide in a number of locations, as well as via Fox mobile channels (AT&T, Sprint, Helio, Verizon VCast Mobile TV and select Jamba portals internationally) and online in the U.K., North America, South America, Europe and Asia.

Mary Lynn Rajskub (who plays Chloe O'Brian) will be in attendance at the Times Square Event, and an online countdown to the event has already begun at a special web site located as www.24trailer.com.