In the world of product placement, it doesn't get much better than this: On Fox's 24, heroic terrorism-fighter Jack Bauer needs to send word to a presidential advisor about an enemy agent working inside the White House. Word comes via an email while the advisor is in a meeting with Mr. President. The camera cuts to the mobile email device, with brand-name visible. Any device would have done just as well for some low-ranking official, but in the White House, only BlackBerry will do.

The product placement is well-timed, with BlackBerry maker Research In Motion facing a legal battle that could cause the service to shut down (though that possibility is remote; Wall Street Journal). How could the courts allow BlackBerrys to go dark, if such a move could keep Jack Bauer from making his appointed rounds?