Watching 24

Good afternoon, everyone!! Sorry for the post delay today. A minor emergency came up last night and kept me from being able to get the post typed up and all until now. With no further delays, here is the premiere, part 3! In case you missed them, here are parts 1 and 2.

We begin the episode with the President listening to a message from the General with Ethan. She is not happy about the situation and wants to see what they can do about getting that code the terrorists stole changed. She’s told it’ll take 6 days to do it, which is time they really don’t have. She then says she wants Almeida brought in and interviewed immediately.

Renee’s boss confronts her about the little side mission she went on with Jack, furious she lied about where they were going. She argues that there is a mole within the FBI and they had to work more discreetly. He lets it go, but orders here to run everything else by him from now on. Jack doesn’t like that, but Renee insists they can trust him.

Janis is preparing Tony to be interrogated, even asking if he’s comfortable enough (they really are taking this ‘no torture’ thing seriously). While she’s doing that, Jack and Renee are discussing the mole situation. She insists that everyone is being watched very closely, although the others in the office are not happy about the restrictions they’re under now.

Dubaku, meanwhile, is furious to learn about Tony’s capture. He wants to move now so he can get back at the US for his brother’s death before any other setbacks happen.

Back at the FBI, Jack is trying his best to get them to let him interview Tony, since they have a long history. They finally agree and Jack confronts Tony about what he’s been doing, demanding answers. Tony won’t talk, though… except for going off on an anti-government rant that ends with Tony accusing Jack of spitting on Teri’s grave by continuing to help the US. Jack, obviously, doesn’t take that well and is led out of the room, with Tony using the phrase ‘deep sky’. It’s an old CTU code and Jack calls the number it’s talking about…. Bill Buchanan answers the phone and he tells Jack he will have to call back on a more secure line.

While all that’s going on, Henry is talking to Ethan about the death of the Taylor’s son. Ethan argues against the theory, making it clear people are starting to wonder about his sanity and reveals that his son was under investigation for insider trading, but the President had kept it quiet. He later gets into a fight with the President over withdrawing their forces from Sangala, something she is opposed to. Meanwhile, Henry calls Sarah to apologize for his behavior. She says she has to meet with him in person.

Later, Bill calls Jack and informs him that Tony isn’t a traitor. He, Bill, Chloe and a couple others are working in secret to try and stop all the corruption in the government. He tells Jack they need Tony out of the FBI offices. At the same time, Tony is being interrogated by Larry. He’s showing pictures of the horrible things done to the people of Sangala, trying to appeal to his conscience. Tony won’t budge, leading Renee to ask if they should try some other tactics. Larry doesn’t like hearing that, thinking Renee is starting to think like CTU and says he wants Jack out of the investigation entirely. She doesn’t like it, but agrees to do with he says and prepares to get Jack de-briefed.
Meanwhile, Janis thinks she’s found the mole (Sean). He just happens to walk in as she’s looking at the records he accessed and shouldn’t have, making her freak out and finally confront him. He denies having done anything wrong and says he just wanted to find out if his wife had ended up on one of the planes.

Now that Jack knows what Tony’s up to, he jumps into action, attacking Renee so she can’t stop him from leaving the room. In typical Jack style, he goes through several people to get to Tony, helping him escape…. (part 4 to come tomorrow) I leave you with a little clip of the fight that led to Tony’s capture, along with some White House action. Enjoy and thanks to JonasHodges for posting.

As promised, I’m here to fill you in on what happened on the second half of the premiere. During the last episode, Air Traffic Control noticed an irregularity in their signals. Now, they’ve lost all communication with a commercial flight and Tony’s group now has control of the plane. They’re directing the plane as though they are ATC.

The FBI is busy with an interrogation gone wrong last episode. A man named Shekter had been shot by snipers whiled being interviewed by Renee and Jack regarding Tony’s whereabouts. This episode, the FBI has sealed off the building to catch the shooter. Jack is getting suspicious about the whole situation and is convinced that the fact this shooter was able to take the guy out when he did is proof there’s a traitor in the FBI (I guess they’re taking the new CTU thing pretty seriously). Renee doesn’t believe it, though.

Meanwhile, ATC is trying to get in touch with passengers on the plane to try and get word about the hijacking. Before they can, Tony calls ATC and has them check a video feed that shows two planes about the collide, one of them being the one he and his group is controlling. At the very last second, he yells to the pilot to pull up on the controls and the crash is avoided. Tony then tells ATC that was just a demonstration and they’ll see the real thing if they don’t get what they want. Later, the President is informed of what’s going on and starts demanding the FBI get some answers and take care of the situation. She has also met with the Prime Minister of Sangola to discuss taking care of the General and how to move ahead from there. They have the press secretary give a news conference about it.

Jack, meanwhile, is sitting in an FBI car waiting for the sniper to be captured. While sitting there, an agent turns to him and starts telling him that he supports Jack and thinks the Senate hearings are wrong. Jack’s grateful for the support, but he says it is fair… the people can hear the truth and decide how far they’re willing to go. Jack asks to get some air and the agent lets him. While Jack is standing outside, he notices someone in FBI clothes walking away that sets off his spidey sense(tony sent someone to help the sniper get out) and tips off Renee. She checks into it and finds out the man is not, in fact, one of them and wants to report it. Jack convinces her to follow him instead. She agrees and they leave, arousing the FBI’s suspicions. Her boss questions her and Renee lies about where they’re going. He doesn’t believe her and spys on them, coming in time to catch the end up a big fight involving Tony.

Towards the end of the episode we find out that the surviving Dubaku is plotting against the US because he considers them responsible for his brother’s death. Also, Henry (the president’s husband) confronts his son’s ex, accusing her of knowing more than she says because he found money in an offshore account she received only three days after his son’s death. Stay tuned tomorrow to read how the rest of it all turns out. See ya next time!

I leave you with some commentary and a peak at what’s to come in hours 3 and 4 courtesy of bigedude44 on youtube. Enjoy!!

Well, now that the four-part premiere is over, I’m here to give you the rundown on all the action. I’ll start with part one tonight and post another part each day for the next few days. Enjoy and feel free to discuss the episode in the comments section.

The episode opens with a man and his daughter arguing because he won’t let her use a cell phone while they’re in the car and he’s talking on one. They suddenly get rammed by another car and masked men with guns jump out from all over and take the guy hostage. One of the masked men tells the victim (whose name is Lafen) he’s going to help them fix something.

Meanwhile, Jack is being interviewed by the senate committee about torture practices. The man interviewing him offers to let him come back later with counsel, but Jack refuses. He wants to just answer the questions. The man nods and asks about someone named Hadad. Jack admits to torturing him and refuses to apologize for his actions. He says that the terrorists don’t care about the rules, so you can’t always play by them when trying to stop one of their plots. The argument is stopped by a woman who comes in and demands to take Jack. Turns out, the FBI needs him to deal with a pressing threat involving technology. She takes him to the office to fill him in, although the FBI ain’t exactly thrilled to see him. They look down on CTU and make a couple cracks about their methods. The agent, Renee Walker, tells Jack about several thefts recently and reveals that Tony Almeida is behind them. Jack is in shock and can’t bring himself to believe Tony’s alive, much less evil. She challenges him to find him so he can prove himself right. He agrees to help. The camera cuts to Tony threatening a man.

At the White House the President is debating with Ethan about how to handle the Sangala situation. She ends up coming to the conclusion that there is going to have to be a military response.

Now that Jack is one board with the investigation, he’s been introduced to other staff, including an analyst named Sean Hunter. He’s going to help gather information. Another staffer, Janis, is freaking out about the threat, knowing if someone got through the firewall that was breeched, they could do major damage in almost every way. Renee calms her down and gets her back to work. Meanwhile, Renee has decided that since they have to interview a suspect who knows Jack very well, they may as well use his bad reputation to get him to talk. She promises her boss she’ll keep Jack on a short leash.

Finally… the President’s son is dead, the victim of an apparent suicide a little while back. Her husband is convinced that there is something more going on and is determined to learn the truth.

Good morning, everyone!! Later on tonight, I’ll have a recap of the two hour premiere for you. For now, I wanted to share a little run down of Kiefer Sutherland’s appearance on the David Letterman show. Most of the interview focused on Kiefer’s label and his rodeo days (and the fact 24 has lasted 7 seasons. Letterman was amazed, mentioning that every couple of minutes).

From what he said, it sounds like Kiefer is going to sign a new band to his label soon. They’ve also just finished the last project they’re planning for release this year. The label is a small operation and apparently is making nothing right now. It’s more a labor of love more about just getting new music out there. We’ll see how that all goes with the music business getting tougher lately.

Letterman was really fascinated with Kiefer having been in the rodeo and wouldn’t let the subject go, asking Kiefer to talk about how he got into it (he thought it’d be fun to do during a break between films), about how you don’t make much and the moment that made Kiefer decide to step away from it. He apparently saw a guy lose a thumb, something that he said happens often in that line of work. After that, he decided it was time to try and get back into the acting business. The interview showcases one thing I like about the guy, despite his occasional issues: he’s humble and can laugh at himself. If you want to see what I mean for youself, check out the video below. It’s courtesy of littlebritainuseusa (don’t worry, it’s spoiler-free!):

Good morning again. Hope you’re all having a great Friday and ready for the weekend ahead. I know I sure am! I’m also ready for that Kiefer talk show appearance tonight, which I will be recapping for you all later on. Check your local listings to see it for yourself.

So, there’s a lot of pre-premiere buzz out there, with most of it being very positive. Still, there’s a lot of talk as well of how 24 is adapting to the changes in our real world and addressing some of the controversies about the use of torture in getting information from suspects, a debate the left and right have serious disagreements on. We all know that Jack is not above getting his hands dirty to get the job done and some say that 24 has influenced some of the people serving in the armed forces to use these methods, which is part of the reason for the trial of Jack and exploring this issue more. Some of the people involved even participated in a docmentary about the issue that gets shown to people just joining up. Should be interesting to see what the outcome of the show’s debate will be. We already know from some of the quotes and promos released Jack isn’t exactly apologizing for anything.

On another note, I thought I would share more pictures from the 150th episode/Season 7 premiere party that was held the other day. Almost everyone you can think of was there and it looks like they were having a great time. Below are three pictures.

This one is of Glenn Morshower, who has played Aaron in pretty much every season of the show.

Next, we have Annie Wershing who will, of course, be playing Jack’s FBI partner.

And finally, Keifer. I guess he really needs no introduction…. well, that’s all for now. Take care and I’ll see you all again soon.

Hello again! With only four more days until the premiere, more reviews are coming out and they’re all raves. Variety, TV Guide and Hollywoodchicago.com have all praised the first four hours of the season, saying they are “smart”, “crisp” and that it’s an “excellent” premiere. And no, those are not quotes that I’m taking out of context. I have to say that this definitely gives me hope for the episodes to come.

There’s more good news out there… with the start of the season, there are all kinds of stories out there about the cast and the show. One in particular, from buddytv, discusses some of the changes this season and how the cast has reacted to it all.

Location manager John Latenser talked about how tough it was to shoot in Washington due to all the different districts. All the different jurisdictions kept them wondering if they were actually allowed to shoot in a spot only a few feet from one they knew they could film on. They did say, though, that taking the trip to do some filming has given the show a new energy and was exciting for them all. Especially once they found out they have several fans in high places. Check out the full story for yourself here.

There are also a couple of new interviews out there, courtesy of the FoxFix. One is with the producers and another is with John Voight. You can check them out below. They pretty much cover a lot of the same stuff we’ve talked about here, but it’s an interesting watch.

Ask Ausiello also has a little information for us. It’s not very spoilery, so I won’t put it behind a cut. According to him, you really wanna watch out for the words “deep sky”. Apparently, something big happens very quickly. Well, that’s all for now. Take care and I’ll see y’all next time. By the way… don’t forget that Kiefer’s being interviewed this week.

Good morning, everyone… I have some spoiler action for you today to give you a taste of what’s to come. The following information was discovered between 8 PM and 9 PM. My write-up about it occurs in real time If you don’t want to find out anything about the season, you shouldn’t click on the cut. How’s about checking out one of these blogs instead? See ya next time and take care For those brave enough to continue, follow the link… (more…)

Good morning, everyone I thought that today, we should look back and maybe catch up with some of the former members of the cast. Let’s start with 24’s very own love story: Xander Berkeley and Sarah Clarke.

Since his time on 24 ended, Xander has busy with a guest starring role on the series Jericho and is scheduled to do the voice of Mysterio in The Spectacular Spider Man. He’s also been busy with his art, a talent he put to use on 24. He actually designed a lot of the make up that was used when his character, George Mason, was dying from radiation poisoning.

His wife, Sarah, has been busy since her days playing Nina Myers. She guest starred on two series (House and Life) and has a role in one of the biggest movies out there: Twilight. She plays Renee Dwyer in the film. She’s also featured as a voice actor on the 24 Game and has been busy caring for their child.

You might remember Glenn Morshower as Aaron Pierce (who, by the way, is known as the only actor besides Kiefer himself to have appeared in all 6 seasons of 24 so far. Let’s see if he keeps the streak going in season 7). He’s been spending his time on a one-man show called The Extra Mile. It’s described as part comedy, part life coaching and everything in between. It’s so popular, it’s even attracting celebrities. He wrote it all, too. In addition to this, he came in 6th on the World Poker Tour in 2008.

Finally, we have Leslie Hope (Teri Bauer). She’s been spending her time guest starring on shows like House, Commander-in-Chief and Private Practice. She also has a part in the movie Never Back Down. She plays the mother of a troubled teenager who got thrown off his football team for fighting.

Well, that’s about it for now. I’ll fill you in on some of the other cast over the coming week as well as any news and promos out. Take care and see ya then

Good morning, everyone!! So, did anyone watch the repeat of Redemption last night for the first time? Any repeat viewers? If so, I’d love to know everyone’s thoughts on it and if it’s got you excited for the big premiere. Personally, while some parts left me wondering what they were thinking, I enjoyed it and think it’s a mice set up for what’s to come. And it’s always good to see Jack back in action.

Speaking of the big premiere, it’s only one week away (January 11th) and there is already some buzz out about the premiere and the season in general. One mention in particular came from E! reporter Kristen. She ranked the series number 2 in 10 Most Exciting Winter TV Premieres poll. I can’t say I disagree with that (except maybe ranking it at number 1 instead). Especially since it’s taken so long for a new episode to make it to air. Other shows on the list include Lost, Battlestar Galactica and American Idol. As usual, the premiere will start with two episodes airing back-to-back on the 11th with two more episodes following on the 12th. For anyone new to the show, they do this to make sure they can air all 24 episodes by the end of the TV season while not going on hiatus for weeks or months at a time and messing up the momentum. I’ve actually always admired that about FOX. They make sure to schedule it in a way that’s good for the show and the fans, even delaying the series premiere all this time to make sure that tradition stays in place. Go behind the cut for a description of the first two-parters. That’s about it for now. Take care and I’ll see y’all next time. (more…)

Good morning, everyone and happy Friday! Now that things have slowed down after the Holiday season, I got a chance to peek at the official 24 site and thought I would point out a couple of things to those who haven’t been to the site yet. This was actually my first time checking out the site and I like what they’ve done.

They have a section where you can actually watch old episodes online, which I’m sure will be very helpful to everyone out there who’s new to the show or just wants to see some favorite episodes again. I know there are some things I would love to see again- like Michelle’s adventures in the contaminated hotel a few seasons back. Talk about a strong character!

Another great feature is the Dossiers they’re releasing. They’re fake documents from the government’s files on Jack Bauer detailing all the things he’s done over the years that wasn’t quite kosher. You get a few tidbits via text before a button comes up to play a video giving more detail into the investigation. It’s pretty cool and a unique idea.

Finally, it looks like the creators of the show and the cast really took that Africa plot to heart. There’s a link on the site to a documentary on child soldiers. Several cast members participated in the video by doing voice overs. Congrats to all involved for trying to bring this kind of thing out in the open more… that’s always the first step towards making a change.

To see it all for yourself, follow the link here. Or, if you’d rather, why not visit one of my fellow bloggers? Take care and I’ll see you all again on Monday.

Good morning and a Happy New Year to you all! I hope everyone had a fun (and safe) time last night. Since the premiere is only 10 days away now (Jan. 11), I thought I would post some info about when current and former 24 actors are gonna be on TV the next week or so to tide everyone over. Let’s start with the man himself, Kiefer Sutherland.

You can catch him in FX’s airings of The Sentinel on January 3rd (6 PM) and January 4th (1:30 PM). You can also see him in the classic movie Stand By Me, airing on January 5th at 1 PM. That’ll be on AMC. Also, TNT will be playing A Time to Kill at 6 PM on January 10th. He’ll also be on the Late Show with David Letterman on January 9th at 11:35 PM (CBS) and BIO’s Biography series at 4 PM. That one airs on premiere day.

Mary Lynn Rajskub will also be in other things this week. She’s in Dude, Where’s My Car? at 1 PM today and 12 AM on the 2nd. FX will be playing it. You can also catch her in several showings of Little Miss Sunshine on USA. The times are January 3rd (9 PM), January 4th (6 PM) and January 11 (3 PM).

Finally, James Morrison will be in Encore’s showing on The One at 11:30 AM on January 10th. Haven’t had enough? Wanna see some more old timers? They’re on TV too!

You can catch Eric Balfour in TMCe’s showings of RX at 3 PM on the 8th and 1 PM on the 11th. Also, Louis Lombardi is going to be in several movies this week. There’s Confidence at 1:35 PM today and 5:20 AM tomorrow (IFC) and Beverly Hills Cop on Comedy Central at 4:30 PM on the 9th. Finally, he’s also in The Usual Suspects on AMC. That airs on the 7th at 1:30 PM and the 8th at 12:30 AM and 8:30 AM.

Finally- if you missed it, FOX will be repeating the 24 movie on January 4th at 8 PM. That’s about all for now. Take care and I’ll see y’all tomorrow. Have a great one!