This is just me, but I say go out and rent season 2 and 3 on DVD, it's a little over 2 weeks till season four starts, if that's not enough time to watch all of em record the season 4 episodes that come as you're watching 2 and 3 then when you finish them watch the taped episodes then join in with the regular sceduale.....
I know I didn't start watcing 24 til the second season, I got hooked and when it was on Holiday break I bought season 1 on DVD and plowed through it, heh.