Boothe and Lowe add guest star power

LOS ANGELES -- What's the perfect Valentine's Day gift for viewers who hate romance, but love watching ultra-intense men battle terrorists?

For FOX, the answer is a special double-dose of "24." The network has scheduled a two-hour "24" event for Monday, Feb. 12, two days before the most lovey-dovey day of the year (but conveniently in the midst of the February sweeps period).

The event will cover the hours between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. and will feature guest stars Chad Lowe and Powers Boothe as a "savvy politico" and the vice president, respectively. FOX's description of the episode's plot -- "The nation continues to reel from the terrorist attacks and Agent Bauer battles unthinkable circumstances" -- is somewhat less than helpful.

The defending Emmy winner for outstanding drama series, "24" premiered last week with a two-day, four-hour launch that exceeded the show's fifth season premiere by five percent among adults 18-49 and 14 percent in total viewers.