Watching 24

One of Fayed’s terrorist pals meets Jack Bauer’s bullet:

Jack said “Just show me your head,” and that’s what this guy did:

Gredenko took a nice walk along the beach, but his arm was cut off so he bled to death. Spectacular plan Gredenko, you terrorist mastermind you:

Alright, I know for sure you’ve all been waiting for this. It’s your chance to win some wonderful Jolt Energy Gum loaded with caffeine.

Here’s the way this contest is going to go. I’m going to put up an image from past seasons of 24, or even the present season. And your job is to come up with a funny and clever, caption, title, or whatever you want to write about the image that is presented. Then just post your clever caption in the comments.

At the end of the week (on Sunday) I’ll pick the one I think is the most clever, and then I’ll contact the winner and send them some free gum.

I hope everyone can have fun with these little contests.

(Note: I do have to give credit to TVsquad.com for the idea for this contest. They do a contest just like this called “Subtle Subtitles”)

Well, what do you say we get on with it.

Here’s your first image. It’s from season 1 episode 1. Good Luck Everyone!

A few of my dreams came true today.

First, was receiving something for free from a PR firm because of my site.

Second, was the fact that the thing I received from the PR firm was none other than 24 Jolt Energy Gum. That’s right, caffeinated gum people. There’s a tiny diagram on the box indicating that just 2 pieces of Jolt Energy Gum equal 1 cup of coffee.

Third, is now I will be able to share my fortune among my readers. Every week we’re going to have a contest. I’ll announce and explain what the contest will be tomorrow. But, you’ll all have a chance to win a pack of Energy Gum. This will be great!

I’ve had a chance to try a piece and I can attest to its ability to give you an uplift. It really is an ingenious way to get caffeine in your body.

I’ve got 24 packs here and I’ll be sending them out after every weekly contest.

Stay tuned for more details about the contest I’m sure you’re all going to love…

Tom Lennox (36)
-Conducted the Cabinet hearing like a C-Span veteran (+3)
-Is making it a regular occurrence of standing up to VP Powers Boothe (+8)
-Bugged the VP’s room (+5)
-Blackmailed the VP into giving up on his suit against President Wayne (+5)
-Called a truce with Karen (+7)
-Lied about why the VP gave up to Karen (+3)
-Tried to stop Wayne from launching the nuke (+5)

Net Gain/Loss: +36
Current Total: 72

President Wayne Palmer (69)
-Didn’t want to be no Roosevelt. Come on what’s wrong with Roosevelt? That wheelchair he had was pimpin’ (-4)
-Took a shot of adrenaline in order to stop Powers Boothe (+2)
-Walked into the Cabinet meeting like he owned the place, take that Roosevelt (+5)
-Amazingly has only one cut on his cheek that needed stitches after being blown up (+3)
-Won’t alienate VP Powers Boothe, such a nice guy. He reminds me more and more of Roosevelt everyday (+3)
-Won the vote in a tie (+5)
-Got Al-Gored when VP Boothe asked for a recount (-4)
-Poor guy was really having some pains. It didn’t look like that Nicotine patch on his neck was helping any either (-7)
-Won the suit (+3)
-Won’t take any action against VP supporters. Roosevelt more and more and more (+5)
-Is adrenaline mad (-5)
-Acted like he was sacrificing himself for the good of the country (-5)
-Apparently the worst side affect to adrenaline is: missile envy (-10)
-Screw the country and everyone else, I don’t want to appear weak (-10)
-Actually launched the nuke just to look strong (-40)

Net Gain/Loss: -59
Current Total: 10

Bill Buchanan (130)
-Recapped last week’s episode in it’s entirety to Jack (+2)
-In one of his funniest recaps ever he told Karen exactly what she had been doing for the past three episodes. Meaning he recapped Karen for Karen (+5)

Net Gain/Loss: +7
Current Total: 137

Nadia Yassir (133)
-Still wants Milo for some unknown, and possibly deeply disturbed reason (-6)
-Lied to Milo in order to get the information Doyle wanted about the parameters (-3)
-Got Milo to refresh her system credentials (+5)
-Only did it so she could spy on his system. Bad future girlfriend (-6)
-Performed the fastest download ever (+2)

Net Gain/Loss: -8
Current Total: 125

Jack Bauer (439)
-Doesn’t trust Grendenko (+3)
-Threatened to kill him on the spot if he warned Fayed (+6)
-Got pinned down by Fayed’s men (-4)
-Added two more people to his kill count (+8)
-Had the best line in the episode when he said, “Just show me your head,” right before he blew one of the guy’s head off (+6)
-Kicked Fayed in the face and told him to “Shut up” (+8)

Net Gain/Loss: +27
Current Total: 466
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Does everyone remember the “bizarro world” episode of Seinfeld? Well, I would like to welcome everyone to the “bizarro world” of 24.

This episode was completely bonkers, and quite a nice change from the formulaic rut that this season was getting into.

First of all, I think Wayne Palmer has gone mad on adrenaline. He wakes up from his coma, he stops the nuclear strike, Vice President Boothe threatens to take away his presidency by invoking the 25th amendment, Tom Lennox helps President Wayne by blackmailing Vice President Boothe, President Wayne wants more and more adrenaline, and then he’s all of a sudden launching the same nukes. I did not see that coming. Apparently President Wayne was just getting a bit of missile envy, and wanted to launch the nukes himself.

More bizarro stuff happened when Rick “Mikey Doyle” Schroder told Nadia to get information on Milo because he screwed up, she got the information and then Doyle destroyed it.

You think that’s the end of the bizarro things? Think again. Gredenko went to meet Fayed with a tracker implanted in his arm. Gredenko tipped off Fayed that CTU was there, and freely gave up his arm to be cut off. After that Fayed was done in by a bunch of hillbillies in a bar, oh sweet irony.

I really liked this episode. Right when we all thought 24 was headed down the same exact direction as it has gone before, they throw this episode at us and show us that 24 still has what it takes to make things exciting.

There are only 8 episodes left, and now I’m left wondering what in the world is going to happen in just 8 hours. With President Wayne gone mad, Fayed in custody, Gredenko lying on the beach with his arm cut off, Tom and Karen calling a truce, Nadia and Milo getting hot and heavy, Doyle actually looking out for other people, and Bill still recapping like crazy, there’s just no telling where 24 can go from here.

BRAVO! 24, BRAVO! Thanks for showing us all that 24 still is one of the most innovative shows on TV.

Best Quote of the Episode:
Jack Bauer “Just show me your head.”

24, review, entertainment, TV, FOX, Jack Bauer

Well, we’re back. Hope everyone’s weekend was great. I’m really excited for this week, it’s a great week of television. The Sopranos are coming back, the Prison Break season finale is tonight, and of course there’s another episode of 24 a little less than 9 hours away.

Last week we found out that it’s only a matter of time before the nukes get launched, President Wayne resumes control of the nation, and Milo and Nadia get it on in the supply closet at CTU.

Lets take a look at tonight’s preview and talk about it after the jump…

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So, a few of you are wondering how many kills that is for Jack this season. Well, as far as the Jack Kill Count Contest is concerned, Jack is up to 14 kills on the season.

He has been picking up the pace over the past few episodes. Since episode 13 Jack is averaging just over 2 kills an episode. If that statistic stays true he’ll end up somewhere in the low 30’s. But, anything can happen in 24. Let’s just hope he goes on one of those rampages like he did in last episode of the first season.

Just thought I’d let you all know that Watching24.com has a Myspace page now. It’s just getting started, so head on over there and we’ll accept you as our friends. It’s mainly a place where people from Myspace can have a way to head on over to Watching24.com. But, all you faithful readers are free to go on over and chat with each other in the comments over there if you’d like, just make sure you comment here too.

Jack added another person to his kill count when the drone pilot died:

This was the guy that was going to kill Brady. Yup he deserved exactly what he got (He’s kind of hard to see. Far left.):

Another guy for the CTU team:

Lastly, Jack added the “3rd Hostile inside the car” to his kill count:

The random comment program has been run, and it has picked…drum roll please…commenter “The Bird” has won 24 Season 5 on DVD.

Thank you to all of you that commented and tried for the contest. Also, thank you for those of you that weren’t trying for the contest but kept your comments coming anyway.

This week, like I said before, has been an awesome week for Watching24.com. FOX is sending me a giant pack of 24 sposored gum made by Jolt to try out. They are sending it because Watching24.com is in the top 10 internet sites that is relative to 24. I think that’s a huge accomplishment and I have all of you to thank for that.

So, stay tuned for more contests. I still have one more copy of season 5 to give away and also I’ll probably be giving away some 24 Jolt Energy gum when I get it in.

Thanks again to everyone and keep the awesome comments coming.

24, FOX, entertainment, Jack Bauer

Tom Lennox (29)
-Still doesn’t like what VP Powers Boothe is doing (+3)
-Tried to stop the launch by telling the VP that Gredenko was in custody (+4)

Net Gain/Loss: +7
Current Total: 36

President Wayne Palmer (58)
-Started “crashing” when the doctor was taking him out of his coma (-7)
-Apparently by “crashing” the doctor actually meant that he’s doing “amazingly well” (+10)
-Stopped the launch of the nuke (+8)

Net Gain/Loss: +11
Current Total: 69

Bill Buchanan (124)
-Oh it’s good to have the old recapping Bill back isn’t it? He was on a recapping spree in this episode (+2)
-Talked Nadia into staying (+4)

Net Gain/Loss: +6
Current Total: 130

Nadia Yassir (122)
-Looks pretty good when she’s all sad an mopey like she’s been falsely imprisoned or something (+4)
-Is apparently one of the “best people” CTU has, who knew? I think Bill just doesn’t want to lose his good looking secretary (+5)
-Really showed what she’s made of and is going to stay on at CTU. That girl’s got spunk I tell ya, spunk! (+4)
-Tried to tell Milo that nothing was ever going to happen between them (+5)
-Two seconds later let something happen between them by kissing Milo back, EWW! I wonder how that scraggly goatee and mustache felt on her face (-7)

Net Gain/Loss: +11
Current Total: 133

Jack Bauer (420)
-Ended up adding to his kill count because the pilot of the drone died (+3)
-The pilot however was their only lead for Gredenko (-3)
-Wahoo, led in another tact team (+4)
-Shot Mark in the leg (+2)
-Acted the most fatherly I’ve ever seen him since the early seasons with Kim. I hope him and Brady get some play dates later on down the road (+8)
-Got the information from Mark (+3)
-Talked Brady through the capture of Gredenko (+5)
-Killed the other hostile that was inside the car (+3)
-Threatened Gredenko with torture (+4)
-Didn’t torture Gredenko at all, bummer (-10)

Net Gain/Loss: +19
Current Total: 439
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They finally have one of the big terrorists in custody, it’s about time.

Although tonight’s episode was a little less exciting as last week, it still had its moments. Didn’t Jack seem very Father like when he was talking to Brady? Those were some pretty interesting scenes, and you knew all would end up well, because the writers of 24 would’ve had to be pretty heartless to kill off Brady’s character.

So, who’s this new guy from Denver that pretended to help Doyle only to go behind his back and then get screwed anyway? For some reason he reminds me of the main terrorist Steven Saunders in season 3. At first I thought Doyle was going to hide the chip and I was pretty angry. But, maybe Doyle has a heart after all. Maybe, just maybe he’ll earn back our respect here at Watching24.com, but it’s going to take a while.

I have a question for all the terrorists that have tried to thwart CTU’s systems in the past. Umm…why haven’t you ever used one of those transponder-relay-chips before? That seems a whole heck of a lot easier than recruiting a mole and then fearing that mole will talk if they’re caught. I’m still not quite sure how that single chip was able to subvert the entire CTU system, but that’s 24 for you.

Now for the most pressing business of the episode, Nadia (oh baby) and Milo (oh no) have apparently hooked up. At first when Milo went in for his kiss I thought he was getting a little more torture out of the way, make sure she didn’t actually know anything else, I mean the way he pulled her hair makes me think that Nadia was secretly liking the choking she was getting from Doyle.

And now we come to the part I didn’t completely understand. So, Sandra Palmer has ordered Wayne be taken out of his coma, the doctor does it. Then Wayne starts “crashing,” his life is coming to an end right? Wait…nope…he’s totally fine, sitting up and talking like he hasn’t just been blown up and in a coma. I really wish they wouldn’t try and trick us with the “crashing” scene. Speaking of “crashing” what the crap has happened to Charles Logan?

One last note, is it just me or has Jack, overall, really taken almost a supporting role in this season? I swear, VP Powers Boothe, hasn’t been in nearly as many episodes as Jack this season, but I’m sure if you add up face time the VP is right up there with Jack. I understand that there is a lot going on in Washington with VP Boothe wanting to launch nukes because someone looked at him funny, but we need more Jack time, and by Jack time I mean Jack running in buildings, chasing people, and saving the world. There’s almost too many stories going on to focus on the things that make 24 what it is.

Go back and watch the first 4 episodes…it seems like a whole other season.

Is it just me or are these weeks just flying by? Here we are again, staring down the barrel at another episode of 24, the 15th episode to be exact.

Last week we were left wondering has VP Powers Boothe really lost all his marbles, is Karen Hayes going to bring President Wayne out of his coma to stop Boothe, and…wait…what…someone’s subverting the system at CTU?

A lot of stuff happened last week. It was a solid episode, nothing fancy, but a solid 24 episode. You know it’s good when Jack is shooting first and asking questions later.

Jack also found out that Audrey was killed in China. She was trying to get Jack out of prison, but it looks like someone got to her first. I’m guessing this isn’t the last we’ve seen of this. We’ve still got 10 hours of show left, meaning the last part of this season could be Jack going “vigilante” trying to figure out what happened to Audrey.

I guess now it’s time for the preview for tonight’s episode. Check it out and we’ll discuss it after the jump…

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So, as I was searching around for 24 news today I came across this rather bitter article about 24, and how it has apparently run out of time.

The author of the article pretty much says that after 6 years 24 has become a mudane, lifeless experience full of cardboard characters and weak plot twists.

24 does have a formula there’s no doubt about that, and a lot of the times we make fun of it in the Character Countdown. However, that formula is better than most shows on TV right now.

I think that 24 still holds as much weight as it always has. You just have to look at the uproar that happened after the first 4 episodes of this season. The author of the article mentions Curtis being killed, and because main characters have been killed over and over, no one cared. But, he failed to mention the impact a nuclear explosion on TV had on the American public. (On a sidenote according to the article people “mourned” Teri Bauer’s death, but “didn’t shed a tear” for Curtis. Who out there actually “mourned” the loss of Teri Bauer? She was the most annoying character of the show.)

The article also sites “poor character development” as a downfall of 24. It’s true that 24 doesn’t give us as much character development as other TV shows, but isn’t that the point? I mean in reality we’ve only seen 5 1/2 days of Jack Bauer’s life. We don’t know what he actually does those other days. How much can you actually learn about someone in a few days? It’s pretty much impossible to know anything about them. There are no flashbacks, no backstories, just the ongoing action of the show.

I for one think all shows have their ups and downs. A few weeks ago 24 had some fairly slow episodes, but they’ve been picking up. And 24 has never been one to dissappoint. I for one will stick with it until the end. I have faith in the show, the actors and the writers.

How about you? What do you think?

If you haven’t yet make sure to sign up for my RSS feed (www.watching24.com/feed) so you can be notified of all new posts, so you can come and comment for your chance to win 24 Season 5 on DVD

24, TV, entertainment, FOX, Jack Bauer

Well, I’m just ecstatic that 24 is back to its old self. There’s a mole inside CTU that’s “subverting the system.” So, I decided that now is as good as time as any to take everyone on a Mole Hunt with me.

I’m going to give you my top 5 guesses on who the mole is and why I think that. Feel free to add your own guesses in the comments, or tell me how wrong I really am.

Ok, lets stop wasting time and get the hunt underway!

1. Milo

My first guess is Milo. There was something about him during this episode that just didn’t seem right. And he’s clever. So, he got shot in the line of duty that would totally not make him a mole right? Wrong, remember Nina? Jack shot her, and she still ended up being the mole. Also, did you notice that Milo was not in the room when Morris just so happened to lose the drone on the satellite feed. Was that because Milo took that time to feed the terrorists the information, you bet it was!

2. Rick “Mikey Doyle” Schroder AKA “Scrotum Face”

This guy is up to no good I can feel it. Right when it’s announced there’s a mole in CTU he tries to divert everyone’s attention to Nadia? She’s the only “Mooooooslum” in the room right, it must be her. You know what, it’s always the new guy. Doyle has a shady past, a craggy face, and an attitude. If it’s not Milo it’s him.
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