Nah, the time thing was defenitly a 24 parody. The way it inserts it between the key points, the way it changes by the minute, heck it even uses the exact same sound font! Majority of Japanese reviewers caught that too. (Yes, 24 is aired in Japan, dubbed in Japanese. The Japanese VA for Jack is none other than Rikiya Koyama who played Hakuoro-san in Utawarerumono
)
But then again, parodies are perfectly fitting for this show's theme. Along with the Eva font, Lucky Star doujin, OP, etc.
As for pulling the director... I disagree.
This second season has been going excellent, both in pacing and direction.
It's most definitly in the top five most enjoyable anime this season, at least for me.