The Nine Plus 24 Equals One Very Busy Kim Raver!

No sooner does Kim Raver miraculously (and barely) survive another crazy day on 24 than she ups and innocently walks into a bank where, whammo — more life-threatening drama, as she plays Kathryn Hale, one of ABC's The Nine (Wednesdays at 10 pm/ET). Alas, her latest thriller is perhaps the only new fall series that has yet to get a full-season order. What's the holdup, so to speak? TVGuide.com asked her about that, the new season of 24 and much more.

TVGuide.com: What's going on with The Nine? Do we have a full-season pickup yet?
Kim Raver: I actually don't even know. I haven't heard anything. We're just plugging away until Thanksgiving break, which [started Saturday]. We're off for a week — the first time in, like, history that I've actually gotten that much time. I can actually go back home to New York City, which will be great. I love it there.

TVGuide.com: And we'd love to have you back. Now help me solve this riddle that is befuddling me as well as a lot of the Nine fans who read my daily ratings reports....
Raver: After this question, I want to hear what they're saying. What are the good things, what's troubling them....

TVGuide.com: Oh, we'll get to all of that. But the big question is, why is the show suffering this massive tune-out at 10:30 pm, as many as two million viewers each week?
Raver: Well, Lost goes over[time], to 10:01, so all of the Lost fans go straight into The Nine without a commercial. We're retaining that audience, but then, whether it's men or people not knowing what to expect, they're tuning out at the half hour. But we're still really strong with women. I think the problem is that people want to watch, but after Lost they're pretty spent....

TVGuide.com: That's the problem Invasion ran into last year in the same time slot.
Raver: Right. They want to get on their computer and start talking to their friends. They're interested in The Nine, but then there's a commercial and that's when they tune out, which is unfortunate because I feel like the show is really getting its legs now. The shows are getting stronger and stronger....

TVGuide.com: Last week's episode was really excellent, I thought.
Raver: Cool. I just saw it myself, actually, and I agree, it was a strong show. It takes a while to build a show. I mean, 24 wasn't a huge, huge hit really until the last couple of years.

TVGuide.com: And now it's building every season.
Raver: Exactly.

TVGuide.com: You asked what the fans are thinking, and I know that some say, "I'd rather have a series about what happened during those 52 hours in the bank, rather than their lives after."
Raver: Really? Because I'm hearing the other thing — "I'm curious about what happened in the bank, but I'm really interested in these people's lives. I'm into who they are now."

TVGuide.com: Any interesting reveals coming up, specifically regarding Kathryn and the hostage situation?
Raver: The show that Nelson McCormick directed ["Man of the Year," airdate TBA], is a huge reveal show for Kathryn and for Malcolm, Chi McBride's character. Nelson did an amazing job directing it. You get the first major clue into what happened to Kathryn in the bank. It's going to be a great and pretty powerful episode.

TVGuide.com: In the most recent episode, I thought we might get a Nick-Kathryn hookup, but then he had to get all crazy with the poker gambling and stuff.
Raver: I know! What are the fans saying about Nick and Kathryn? Do they like it? Do they want to see them hook up?

TVGuide.com: I believe a lot of them do, yes. I have to say, you really sold me on the poker lingo.
Raver: Oh, good! Because you know what? I am not a poker player, and I literally the night before was sitting in my room with cards. And on the set, John Billingsley (Egan) was teaching me how to play. [Laughs] Kathryn was, like, running the show in that scene, so I was like, it's gotta be realistic!

TVGuide.com: Has Kiefer [Sutherland, 24] seen The Nine?
Raver: I know that he saw the pilot, and I think he really liked it. I just talked to him the other day. He's so crazy busy — especially with this band he has on his label.

TVGuide.com: Yeah, that documentary [I Trust You to Kill Me] aired on VH1 a few weeks ago....
Raver: It's an amazing movie. Everyone should check it out. You see a side of Kiefer that [the people] who work with him get to see. And the band, Rocco DeLuca and the Burden, is awesome.

TVGuide.com: Now when do you start work on Season 6 of 24?
Raver: Uh, I can't tell you....

TVGuide.com: But you will start work?
Raver: I will, yes. I just can't tell you when.

TVGuide.com: Do you have any idea how busy they're going to keep you? 
Raver: I think pretty busy. It's a matter of juggling it with The Nine.

TVGuide.com: So, you're not going to show up and immediately take a bullet in the neck like David Palmer?
Raver: I hope not, I hope not....

TVGuide.com: When we spoke a little over a year ago, I expressed my surprise that 24 brought back Audrey. But now, you can't imagine Jack's life without her.
Raver: Awww, that's so cute!

TVGuide.com: Have you seen the trailer, with him in the beard? He's looking rather Unabomber-y.
Raver: Is he? That's awesome because it allows him to have this great transition....

TVGuide.com: Just find 15 minutes somewhere for him to shave!
Raver: We did a really funny gag reel last year where he was running off to the bathroom and getting something to drink, all the things the fans ask about. "When does he sleep? When does he eat?"

TVGuide.com: Kiefer once told me that he's always trying to sneak in a bite of food for Jack or...
Raver: A glass of water, yeah, but they cut it out. They don't like it! [Laughs]

TVGuide.com: Will Audrey known where Jack has been this whole time?
Raver: She's searching.... She's been searching for him this entire time. I can't tell you whether she finds him or not.

TVGuide.com: You have a role in Night at the Museum, which hits theaters Dec. 20....
Raver: Oh, my god, they sent me a blooper reel from that and I was falling off my chair. I think that is going to be a great, great movie.

TVGuide.com: Ben Stiller is a night watchman at a museum?
Raver: Yes, and I play his ex-wife, but it's Ben's movie. He's got amazing people with him, like Robin Williams, Dick Van Dyke....

TVGuide.com: I saw the trailer and can't wait to see it. Before we go, how about a final message to fans of The Nine?
Raver: Just stick with us, and tell all your friends about it. We're doing everything we can to make sure that we get to tell you what happened in the bank.

TVGuide.com: And, "Have that extra swig of Coca-Cola at 9:59, to help keep you up."
Raver: Yes, exactly!

In the Nov. 20 TV Guide: exclusive scoop on ABC's Grey's Anatomy, plus an interview with Ugly Betty's Eric Mabius.

Send in your comments on this Q&A to online_insider@tvguide.com.