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‘Every Second You Help The Government You’re Spitting On Teri’s Grave!!’ - Herc’s Seen The First Four Hours Of 24 7!!

Published at:  Jan 11, 2009 4:32:36 AM CST

SPOILER ALERT !!





I am – Hercules!!


The Big Twists are back, and so are the impossible choices.

After 2007's underwhelming family-fueled sixth season and last November’s mediocre “Redemption” TV-movie, “24” comes roaring back tonight and tomorrow with four exciting and engrossing hours that place Jack Bauer among a crew of D.C.-based FBI strangers wary (if sometimes admiring) of his by-any-means-necessary reputation.

If you watched the “Redemption” DVD, which contains the first act Sunday’s first episode, you know it begins with some spectacular vehicular mayhem as top computer engineer Michael Latham (John Billingsley) finds his life turned upside down in the space of a minute.



In the season’s second minute we’re reintroduced to Bauer as he testifies before a congressional committee led by dour and judgmental U.S. Sen. Blaine Meyer (Kurtwood Smith), who doesn’t seem at all happy that Jack has employed torture to prevent nuclear weapons from being deployed on U.S. soil. Bauer does not deny torturing, nor does he apologize for it. “Am I above the law? No, sir,” Bauer tells the senator. “I am more than willing to be judged by the people you claim to represent. But please do not sit there with that smug look on your face and expect me to regret the decisions I have made. Because, sir, the truth is, I don't.” No one speaks in Bauer’s defense, and it looks like he’s headed to trial and perhaps another lengthy stint in prison.



Proceedings are interrupted by hot FBI girl Renee Walker (“General Hospital” redhead Annie Wersching), who enters the hearing room brandishing a subpoena and insisting to the lawmakers that Bauer must attend to an even more urgent matter.



In the next few minutes we meet the four main players in Walker’s FBI office, all of whom mirror types we’ve seen in the (now disbanded) Los Angeles Counter-Terrorism Unit:

1) Larry Moss (Jeffrey Nordling), the team’s George Mason-like by-the-book overseer;

2) Renee Walker herself, a field agent who most closely approximates Bauer;

3) Janis Gold (Janeane Garofalo, who supervised Mary Lynn Rajskub as head booker on “The Larry Sanders Show”), a Chloe O’Brien-like computer wiz; and

4) Sean Hillinger (Rhys Coiro, who played obnoxious film director Billy Walsh on “Entourage”), a snippy computer geek in the tradition of Milo Pressman, but with a personal stake in the events fast unfolding around him.

At minute 10 we see sweaty, bloodied Latham, his fingernails all removed, now hard at work for his abductors. Then we see air crews preparing for a D.C.-to-New York flight. Will this be “Die Hard 2”? “United 93 II”?

At minute 13 Jack is in Walker’s FBI office, being shown a recent surveillance photo of Tony Almeida, a former Bauer colleague we saw “murdered” in season five. Jack is told that DNA was extracted from the exhumed corpse buried in Tony’s grave; that DNA did not match Tony’s. (This is not much of a spoiler, by the way. Leaving aside all the publicity attending Tony’s return, Carlos Bernard’s name is in the opening credits, and Tony himself turns up before the first commercial break, supervising Latham’s tormenters.)

We won’t learn until hour four how Tony isn’t dead, but we’ll learn soon enough that Tony is still plenty angry about the light sentence afforded President Charles Logan following the violent murder of Tony’s wife Michelle Dessler. And it turns out Dessler’s demise really did turn Tony into a Very Bad Man.



When we come back from the first set of commercials, we meet the three main players at the White House:

1) New U.S. president Allison Taylor (Cherry Jones), hours away from launching an invasion to designed to stop genocidal African dictator Juma from slaughtering another 100,000 Sengalans;

2) her Novick-like expository device, chief of staff Ethan Kanin (Bon Gunton); and

3) her Martha Loganesque husband, Henry Taylor (Colm Feore), who stubbornly refuses to believe his (and the president’s) stockbroker son took his own life. With his wife distracted by the Sengalese, he undertakes a covert investigation that leads him to his son’s fabulous girlfriend, Samantha Roth (Carly Pope).

(Defeated former president Noah Daniels and presidential advisor Tom Lennox, who returned for “Redemption,” are not in the first four hours of the season proper.)

At minute 24, an airliner lurches, knocking over a nervous stewardess’ cups and saucers. The biggest “24” fun is spring-loaded into its surprises, so we won’t get into what happens after minute 24. Just know that the show feels rejuvenated by its new supporting cast and venue, and a bit more sure-footed than it did at the start of season six.

I’m not sure everything makes sense (do White House advisors really believe Americans would begin rioting if they had to make do without electricity for a few days?), but it does feel like the real “24” is back for the first time in more than two and a half years.


Entertainment Weekly gives it an “B-plus” and says:

… you'll feel the warm glow of sadistic glee that signals a jolly good start for vintage 24 mayhem. …


TV Guide says:

… With CTU now disbanded, Jack "on trial" for his sins and Tony back in the mix, the new season starts off with much promise. … Adhering to the belief (irrefutable fact?) that no day can be as plodding as No. 6, I'm more than willing to see where 24's latest one takes us.


Newsweek says:

… This was supposed to be the season when the writers shook things up, and they have, at least cosmetically. … But the show is still loaded with the same clichés—they've just been moved 3,000 miles east. …


The New York Times says:

… The novelty of the hour-by-hour conceit wore off long ago, and the various plot devices and characters are all familiar. The fun, at least at the beginning of a new season, is in seeing how the creators will rejigger the pieces this time around. The premiere has a promising car crash but not many surprises. …


The New York Daily News says:

… Best of all, the show's long break seems to have rejuvenated its story lines, in which intense, rapid-fire action plays out against the backdrop of a complex, methodical geopolitical chess game. If it doesn't aspire to be "The West Wing," "24" understands the dramatic value of injecting "West Wing"-style political challenges. …


The Los Angeles Times says:

… Mercifully, the action soon pulls (mostly) away from sticky moralizing into a classic bullet-riddled "24" plot. … Sutherland, bless his soul, plays Jack absolutely and brilliantly straight. All super-spies have broken hearts, which they camouflage with martinis or dames or icy blue eyes, but Jack Bauer wears his right on his sleeve, even as he picks up that pen and heads for the first available eardrum. …


The Chicago Tribune says:

… Whether or not you agree with Jack’s position on extreme interrogation, you’ll likely agree that the show’s reliance on the ticking-bomb scenario has grown tiresome. …


The San Francisco Chronicle says:

… After watching the first four episodes, it's clear that despite the familiar adrenaline rush and a (temporarily) tighter rein on the ridiculous, "24" hasn't changed much at all. …


The Denver Post says:

Judging by the first four hours, "24" has successfully kick-started Season 7 with an invigorating change of location, new faces and multiple layers of conspiracies and coverups suited to its venue: Washington, D.C. …


The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says:

… Making Tony a villain seems like a betrayal of the character viewers knew. This season doesn't really kick into gear until night two …


The Sacramento Bee says:

… If there was anything good that came out of the writers strike, it's that it gave producers of Fox's "24" time to get their act together. When the new season premieres Sunday night with two new hours, the electricity, the adrenaline rushes and the fun will be back. …


The Newark Star-Ledger says:

… Of course, the First Gentleman is going to try to leave the White House without his Secret Service detail once you see all the people trying to keep tabs on him. Of course, Jack's FBI handler will have no choice but to take Jack off his leash once it becomes clear there's a traitor in the office and nobody can be trusted. Of course, Jack has to try to strangle someone if it means stopping an impending gas attack. Of course, Kim Bauer is going to go with the crazy mountain man if he'll get her away from the cougar. Under the circumstances created by the "24" writers, it makes perfect sense for the characters to make the same mistakes, over and over and over again, because the story never leaves them another option. But it's still stupid behavior, and the more the characters argue the logic behind their decisions, the more obvious the stupidity - and the plot mechanics that led to it - becomes. …


The Cleveland Plain Dealer says:

… the obvious question is, "Was it worth the wait?" Well, yes …


The Rocky Mountain News says:

… We suspend disbelief because that's what this series calls for, and because the urgency of the performances is compelling. Sutherland's Jack Bauer remains the surliest of lost souls; he's on no one's side but his own. Annie Wersching excels as an FBI agent who takes Jack into her confidence. And Jones continues to astonish as President Taylor, pivoting between motherly angst and steely conviction. Factor in shootouts, car chases, an assassination and a kidnapping (not to mention the requisite double-crosses) and these four hours have a little something for everyone.…


The Boston Herald says:

… feels like a mash-up of all the boring parts of seasons past, minus, of course, that nuclear bomb that hit California. Viewers will be checking their own clocks, waiting for this slog to end.


The Boston Globe says:

… With two action-packed hours tomorrow night and two more on Monday, the series starts off with its usual mind-blowing gusto intact. …


Variety says:

After a subpar "day" followed by a strike-fueled hiatus, "24" gets solidly back to basics … the hero born coincidentally in Sept. 11's wake will improbably survive the Bush administration -- and if this level of quality can persist, perhaps well beyond. … Whatever its flaws, this edition of "24" features smart, crisp and densely woven storytelling whose subplots look to be on a well-orchestrated collision course. Now let's just hope they can keep that up.


The Hollywood Reporter says:

… the now customary two-night, four-hour kickoff finds the series returning to its heart-in-your-throat best, replete with old villains, intricate conspiracies, moral quandaries and political intrigue. What easily could have devolved into self-parody has again become a riveting thriller that hits the ground sprinting. Of course, that also was the case at the beginning of the sixth season, and it didn't last, so we'll have to see if "24" can avoid the dreaded March and April qualitative blues this time around. …


8 p.m. Sunday & Monday. Fox.









"I love love love DR. HORRIBLE’S SING-ALONG BLOG as much or more than just about anything I’ve seen this year." -- Harry Knowles



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    Readers Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 12:22:02 AM CST

    Dammit!

    by chromedome

    better than "First!"

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 12:24:06 AM CST

    ABOUT TIME, DAMMIT!

    by catvutt

    PLEASE let this not be good for 4-6 hours and then turn back to the suck.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 12:28:13 AM CST

    What year is it for Jack now? 2069?

    by monkeybrains

    Not that it matters really Can't wait. Where's Kim?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 12:29:03 AM CST

    We are running out of time!

    by otm shank

    To wait for the start of season 7 that is.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 12:47:19 AM CST

    I am wondering...

    by moviemaniac-7

    ... How many different stories there are to tell in this format. It would have been far more interesting if they had taken terrorists out of the equation seasons ago. Day 3 dealt with drug trafficking (but switched to terrorism soon after), but what if Jack went to join the cops or something and a case was falling apart 24 hours before the trial was about to start. The real time format could be applied to any story, I think, so why stick with the terrorists all the time? Also, season 8 should see Jack doing a Tony and completely switch allegiances and become the bad guy. Then it ends. Still, can't wait for this one to pop up on this side of the ocean. (Ah, bless the wonders of bit torrent).

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 12:48:34 AM CST

    agreed catvutt

    by so-crates

    I have no problem believing 24 is still capable of bring it in the first few hours. In spite of how most of the past few seasons have played out, I think many of us would agree to that. Unfortunately, the real question for 24 has become whether or not it can remain entertaining and plausible (in the loosest sense of the word) in addition to suspenseful for the course of the season. No small feat, that.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 12:52:09 AM CST

    A lot of these reviewers...

    by alynch3

    ...seem to have not done any basic research. They're talking about how the strike gave the writers an extended break to recharge their batteries, but the strike had absolutely no impact on these early episodes. They shot eight episodes prior to the strike. They could've looked this up very easily.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 12:56:20 AM CST

    24! FUCK YEAH!

    by white goodman

    I'm excited. Even though season 6 was a shit sandwich.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 12:56:55 AM CST

    Someone wake Endersmitesfoes

    by white goodman

    There's not enough time!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 1:09:56 AM CST

    Finally. At long last.

    by heckles

    24, BSG, good times.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 1:44:50 AM CST

    Bring back Novick

    by alonzo mosely

    Jude Ciccolella is an underrated actor...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 1:55:24 AM CST

    Uhmmm....

    by bicnowler

    ...Americans WOULD begin rioting if they had to make do without electricity for a few days.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 2:09:22 AM CST

    I've had my power go out for days.

    by hercules

    I didn't riot once. Neither did the neighbors. Unless of course by "riot" you mean "sit on the porch and catch up on some reading."

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 2:43:09 AM CST

    new Battlestar Galactica special tonite!

    by boomers_lips

    "10 Things U Need 2 Know" will air tonight after 24.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 3:00:50 AM CST

    I've had my power cut off for 1 day...

    by boomers_lips

    living in Texas, without the airconditioner turned on, the heat will eventually get to you. I've never rioted or anything of that such, but the thought did cross my mind during the blackout.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 3:22:55 AM CST

    BicNowler

    by levidtinker

    Having grown up in south west florida.(and lived through dozens of powerfull hurricanes) i have gone days(weeks occasionally)with out electricity quite a few summers growing up. I never rioted, my family never rioted, the neighboors never rioted, in fact no one in the area rioted.

    so quit talking out of your butt, about things you dont know.

    yes its an inconvience but you make do and you go on until the power comes back on.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 3:28:44 AM CST

    IT"S COUGAR TIME!

    by xiphos_2

    and I don't mean a slutty 45 year old. I mean an actual cougar will save the day.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 3:40:44 AM CST

    There was that east coast blackout in 1965

    by tangcameo

    There was a lot of rioting and looting then but that was the 60s. I believe it was caused by Scott Bakula and a hairdryer.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 3:41:38 AM CST

    What's can't a slutty 45 year old save the day?

    by tangcameo

  • Jan 11, 2009 3:56:49 AM CST

    The real question is

    by the mcpoyle clan

    if there's any more Pope cavorting in her underwear?Strike or not, the first handful of episodes have never had any resemblance to what follows.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 4:28:02 AM CST

    Take it from someone who works in a call center.

    by iblis_mage

    We answer for a couple of power companies, and...YES, they WOULD riot.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 4:36:37 AM CST

    Pope remains fully clothed.

    by hercules

    And there was no rioting in the '65 blackout and very little looting. There WAS rioting in New York during a short '77 blackout, but the city was coked to the gills at the time.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 4:39:50 AM CST

    Jon Voight

    by titus05

    will Jon Voight resemble Habib Marwan or Phillip Bauer in his evilness?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 4:42:18 AM CST

    If Tony can come back.

    by david cloverfield

    So can the cougar. I hope they'll reveal her as the final big bang.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 5:07:51 AM CST

    YEA!!!!

    by skydemon

    After the let down season 6 was, I'm excited about how season 7 is starting out. I need my 24 fix!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 6:28:59 AM CST

    I have faith in humanity

    by mr. zeddemore

    But if the power went out in four American states, there would be riots.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 6:51:31 AM CST

    Of course there'd be rioting if the power went down!

    by iammrmonkey!

    The average American would flip out after realising that, not only can they not watch "24", but all of their frozen yogurt has melted!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 7:29:54 AM CST

    That's a shitload of characters

    by i dunno

    But still no Mandy. I'm a sad panda.And I don't know about rioting but there'd definitely be looting. No security systems, no cell phones, no way to get gas, it'd be hard to buy things, cops would be hard to get a hold of and their response times would be longer and no American Idol. Come to think of it, there'd be riots too.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 7:32:14 AM CST

    That's a lot of spitting.

    by tonagan

    Maybe they should change the sound of the countdown clock to the pinging sound of someone hitting a spitoon.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 8:01:40 AM CST

    A female president? bullshit

    by punto

    what's next, a black guy? or maybe a muslim! this show is so unrealistic.


    Didn't they have a blackout all over new york and a bunch of other states like 3-4 years ago? I know for sure it was after 2000.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 8:16:35 AM CST

    Blackout

    by titus05

    yup I'm in NYC and there was a blackout a few summers ago...lasted about 1.5 days...no rioting occured...people just mingled about out on the streets...biggest issue was the fact that all the traffic lights did not work so there had to be a cop stationed at every light to direct traffic...for me the biggest issue was no AC...was hot as hell the day of the blackout...was also earily quiet...didn't realize that electricity made so much noise

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 8:24:01 AM CST

    Janeane Garofalo, So much for Liberalism.

    by evilwizardglick

    As one of the many people who demonized Fox News, Rupert Murdoch and Bushco, I find it really sad she has proven to have NO STANDARDS. This is the same goddamned thing Linda McCartney did when she chose animal tested treatments in her fight against Cancer. There is no more " Give me Liberty or Give me Death" it is now " Give me MONEY and I'll see what I CAN DO". Fucking sellouts!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 8:25:31 AM CST

    Titus05, 1960's blackout caused rise in birth rates.

    by evilwizardglick

    Sixties or seventies. People stayed in and fucked and looks like they couldn't make it out for contraceptives.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 8:26:44 AM CST

    Oh please, EvilWizardGlick

    by i dunno

    She's an actress. No liberals can ever work for Fox? That's just silly.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 8:28:40 AM CST

    Regenesis did a Blackout episode.

    by evilwizardglick

    Seems blackouts were occurring on the US grid and the Spooks wanted to know if it was terrorism. Turned out to be mutated bacteria.But the issue of US, and I suppose any intelligence agencies, paranoia and the fact that something could very well mutate to eat plastic, much like the radiation eating biology found at Chernobyl, made for some thought provoking tv. God I miss that show.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 8:30:45 AM CST

    I Dunno, Not the point. No standards.

    by evilwizardglick

    remember when the Baldwins threatened to leave the Us if Bush was elected? Once people had real standards. Codes of conduct they would die for. Now everybody is a idealogical relativist pursuing cash. One leads by example not language.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 8:33:21 AM CST

    No Chloe= a good season already!

    by stuntcock mike

  • Jan 11, 2009 8:34:23 AM CST

    CTU disbanded!? That place ran like a Swiss watch....

    by stuntcock mike

    that cost $4.99 at the airport.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 8:36:03 AM CST

    Janeane Garofalo gotta eat!

    by stuntcock mike

    Tofu and bean sprouts.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 8:43:12 AM CST

    Phil Ochs Love Me, I'm a Liberal

    by evilwizardglick

    I cried when they shot Medgar Evers
    Tears ran down my spine
    I cried when they shot Mr. Kennedy
    As though I'd lost a father of mine
    But Malcolm X got what was coming
    He got what he asked for this time
    So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

    I go to civil rights rallies
    And I put down the old D.A.R.
    I love Harry and Sidney and Sammy
    I hope every colored boy becomes a star
    But don't talk about revolution
    That's going a little bit too far
    So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

    I cheered when Humphrey was chosen
    My faith in the system restored
    I'm glad the commies were thrown out
    of the A.F.L. C.I.O. board
    I love Puerto Ricans and Negros
    as long as they don't move next door
    So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

    The people of old Mississippi
    Should all hang their heads in shame
    I can't understand how their minds work
    What's the matter don't they watch Les Crain?
    But if you ask me to bus my children
    I hope the cops take down your name
    So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

    I read New republic and Nation
    I've learned to take every view
    You know, I've memorized Lerner and Golden
    I feel like I'm almost a Jew
    But when it comes to times like Korea
    There's no one more red, white and blue
    So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

    I vote for the democratic party
    They want the U.N. to be strong
    I go to all the Pete Seeger concerts
    He sure gets me singing those songs
    I'll send all the money you ask for
    But don't ask me to come on along
    So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

    Once I was young and impulsive
    I wore every conceivable pin
    Even went to the socialist meetings
    Learned all the old union hymns
    But I've grown older and wiser
    And that's why I'm turning you in
    So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 8:44:38 AM CST

    Jello Biafra Love Me, I'm A Liberal lyrics

    by evilwizardglick

    I cried when they shot John Lennon
    Tears ran down my spine
    And I cried when I saw "JFK"
    As though I'd lost a father of mine
    But Malcolm X and Ice-T had it coming
    They got what they asked for this time

    CHORUS
    So love me, love me, love me
    I'm a liberal

    I go to pro-choice rallies
    Recycle my cans and jars
    I'll honk if you love the Dead
    Hope those funny grunge bands become stars
    But don't talk about revolution
    That's going a little bit too far

    CHORUS

    I cheered when Clinton was chosen
    My faith in the system reborn
    I'll do anything to save our schools
    If my taxes ain't too much more

    And I love blacks and gays and Latinos
    As long as they don't move next door

    CHORUS


    Rush Limbaugh and the L.A.P.D.
    Should all hang their heads in shame
    I can't understand where they're at
    Arsenio should set them straight
    But if Neigborhood Watch doesn't know you
    I hope the cops take your name

    CHORUS

    Yeh, I read the New Republic(an)
    Rolling Stone and Mother Jones too
    If I vote it's a Democrat
    With a sensible economy view
    But when it comes to terrorist Arabs
    There's no one more red, white and blue

    CHORUS

    Once I was young and had an attitude
    Stickers covered the car I drove in
    Even went on some direct actions
    When there weren't rent-a-cops to be seen
    Ah, but now I've grown older and wiser
    And that's why I'm turning you in

    CHORUS

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 8:45:25 AM CST

    Who wants to write the Obama version?

    by evilwizardglick

    C'mon all you creative geniuses.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 8:49:28 AM CST

    Obviously Jack can't take pain meds, how the fuck does he walk a

    by evilwizardglick

    In the timeline Jack has to be damn near fifty. His body must ache like an old hooker after a gangbang. Since he had that teeny addiction problem we know he doesn't handle pain meds. So how the fuck does he walk, or stand, or even sit without screeching in agony?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 8:56:32 AM CST

    Swayze Death watch?

    by evilwizardglick

    In the hospital. Pneumonia. Just what killed Bernie Mac and a whole slew of others with diseases like Cancer and AIDS.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 8:58:02 AM CST

    CTU ran fine under Clinton, it was the Bush cronies!

    by evilwizardglick

    We all know that. Before Bush CTU was the top rated unit in the country. He leaves office and it gets disbanded.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 9:23:32 AM CST

    Garofalo on Marc Maron & Sam Seder's streaming video show

    by brandloyalist

    Video at maronvseder.com or audio only in iTunes or MP3 format at airamerica.com . She brought a 24 clip of sorts.

    Seder and Garofalo used to do a radio show together, "The Majority Report". Since then, Seder and Maron have both been fired by Air America at least twice each, so far (the same Air America that once took Rachel Maddow from her 9-12 morning slot and exiled her to a 1 hour 5:00 AM show - her worth, in their estimation; the same Air America that gave Rosanne a week long audition to become their new late afternoon host). Janeane Garofalo and H. Jon Benjamin have been regulars on Maron's and Seder's various shows, appearing to do bits and whatnot.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 9:25:39 AM CST

    BUT WILL WE SEE THE JACK SACK?

    by pennsy

  • as a guest star: http://tinyurl.com/82bfv5.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 9:41:18 AM CST

    Damnit! Jack Sack must be present

    by webmonkey

    The "santa-esque" Jack sack must be present. It's the neverending bullet-supplying, cell-phone-carrying, stuff that goes explodie bag that every man wants. Maybe this year, it'll have more "Damnits" it there so that every frat boy in the country gets so wasted before college classes start tomorrow that they can barely breathe. And maybe "24" shows us who should actually be prez: a woman. I don't know about you, but Hill in the White House would scare me into paying my taxes and ducking sniper fire while a young girl reads me poetry. -M

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 9:49:55 AM CST

    EvilWizardGlick...

    by l.h.puttgrass

    Lie down. Put a cool, damp towel on your forehead. Try to relax. It's just a TV show. Actors and such... nothing real. You'll be alright. No worries, mate.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 11:05:27 AM CST

    Whole season in DC I assume?

    by jor-el23

    I hope so, the show needs a change of scenery

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 11:17:32 AM CST

    Herc Isn't the Only One That Has Seen It

    by fedrich519

    Anyone with Bit Torrent and an internet connection can see it.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 11:46:29 AM CST

    Rest assured, there's a Jack Sack.

    by digitalcos

    Although, it's more of a "Have you heard the good news about our lord?" style briefcase thingy. Not an explodie aspect to it. But, it does have the shoulder strap, so, it's got that goin' for it.Hopefully, we'll see something more Jack-appropriate later in the day.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 11:50:41 AM CST

    Wait - you mean there are familiar characters in 24?? No!

    by theseeker7

    Surely you jest! I mean c'mon, every new season they've returned they've done so with a new slate of original, compelling characters thru which to tell a very gripping and intense yet human story.

    umm...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 11:54:40 AM CST

    My dog is called Jack Bauer, responds to Jack or Bauer

    by stormwatcher

    And he's a Jack Russell Terrier so he can pretty much go for 24 hours. Kinda looks like Kiefer did in the Season 2 opener.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 11:54:52 AM CST

    and age has really caught up with Janeane Garofalo

    by theseeker7

    Man, I had a crush on her for the LONGEST fucking time, she was just the epitome of so cuddly adorable. I saw on West Wing she was starting to slip, but was still servicable. The photo though does her no favors. Well and plus she kinda sold out, years ago she got WAY thin to "play the game". Say it ain't so, Janeane.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 12:43:16 PM CST

    I meant the 77 blackout

    by tangcameo

    But it didn't go along with the Quantum Leap joke.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 12:45:39 PM CST

    L.H.Puttgrass, Can you be more full of shit?

    by evilwizardglick

    As a matter of fact it is attitudes like yours that allow these idealogical scumbags to skate. Once again actions speak louder than words. Fucking Ice T plays a cop and Ice Cube does shitty family pics. Once these people were cultural icons. Now they are ALL sellouts. But of course when South Park points out what hypocritical gas bags people like Clooney, Cruise or Rosie are you agree and chortle merrily. You can not have it both ways. Maybe you should learn to discern and develop some perspective or possibly maturity.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 12:48:59 PM CST

    No liberals at Fox? What about Kiefer?!

    by tangcameo

    Kiefer Sutherland's mother, Shirley Douglas, protested the Viet Nam War and hung out with the Black Panthers. Kiefer Sutherland's grandfather Tommy Douglas brought about socialized medicine in Canada. Kiefer wanted to play his grandfather in the Canadian TV movie but 24 and it conflicted - plus in the end the TV movie REALLY sucked.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 12:50:15 PM CST

    “When I see the American flag, I go, 'Oh my God, you're insultin

    by evilwizardglick

    One of her quotes
    “You have to have a lot more dedication to what I'll call 'the machine,' ... I have 20 percent dedication. What's needed is 110 percent. You can't have it with the level of apathy I have.”
    “I feel like the American people are being lied to and manipulated. [President Bush] is trying to force 9/11 and Saddam together.”

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 12:50:37 PM CST

    Wiki entry on her politics.

    by evilwizardglick

    Garofalo has been open and outspoken regarding her progressive political views, appearing in the past with figures such as Ralph Nader (whom she supported in the 2000 election, but opposed in 2004) and Jello Biafra at various events.

    She is an atheist and has participated in a radio interview by Freethought Radio, a show by the Freedom From Religion Foundation.[7]

    Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, she was quoted as saying (in the November 2001 issue of Commentary), "Who would have thought that I'd be angry on behalf of my country? I'm used to being angry at my country."

    She became more prominent as an activist when she voiced opposition to what became the 2003 Iraq War, appearing on CNN and Fox News to discuss it. She said that she was approached by groups such as MoveOn.org and Win Without War to go on TV, because these organizations say that the networks were not allowing antiwar voices to be heard. Garofalo and the other celebrities who appeared at the time said they thought their fame could lend attention to that side of the debate. Her appearances on cable news prior to the war garnered her praise from the left and spots on the cover of Ms. and Venus magazines. Garofalo has had frequent on-air political disputes with Bill O'Reilly, Brian Kilmeade, and Jonah Goldberg.[8]

    Prior to the 2003 Iraq War, she took a position on the threat posed by Saddam Hussein. For example, in an interview with Tony Snow on a February 23, 2003 episode of Fox News Sunday, [9] Garofalo said of Saddam Hussein, "Yes, I think lots of people are eager to obtain weapons of mass destruction. But there's no evidence that he (Hussein) has weapons of mass destruction. There's been no evidence of him testing nuclear weapons. We have people that are in our face with nuclear weapons. We've got Iran and North Korea. We've got a problem with Pakistan. You know, I don't know what to say about that. There's a whole lot of people that are going nuclear. And I think that Saddam Hussein is actually, with the evidence, the least able to use nuclear weapons and the least obvious offender in that area at this moment."

    In March 2003, she took part in the Code Pink antiwar march in Washington, D.C. That fall, she served as emcee at several stops on the Tell Us the Truth tour, a political-themed concert series featuring Steve Earle, Billy Bragg, Tom Morello, and others. Throughout the year, Garofalo also actively campaigned for Howard Dean.

    [edit] Air America Radio

    In late March 2004 she became a co-host for Air America Radio's new show The Majority Report alongside Sam Seder. Garofalo once said getting on the radio was an early career goal. A program advertisement: "The battle to reclaim America from the forces of darkness continues with hosts Janeane Garofalo and Sam Seder." The early days of Air America Radio are chronicled in the documentary Left of the Dial, which includes a debate between Garofalo and her conservative father Carmine, who was initially a regular guest on The Majority Report.

    Garofalo was criticized[10] by some of her listeners for comments she made on her April 28, 2006 show supporting Scientology-linked New York Rescue Worker's Detoxification Program,[11] a controversial treatment for workers now suffering ailments from 9/11 clean-up efforts in New York City.

    On July 14, 2006, Garofalo announced that she would be leaving her co-host position on The Majority Report. Although several reasons for her departure were cited, including her outside acting responsibilities, the relationship between Garofalo and co-host Seder had become increasingly strained, largely due to her support for the Scientology-linked program. Garofalo responded to Seder's opposition to the program, suggesting that he would not have a problem with it if it were linked to Jews rather than Scientologists. Seder, who is Jewish, and his producer walked off the set in angry protest.[12]

    During a July 19 broadcast, while Seder and Garofalo were interviewing actor Jason Bateman, Garofalo cited her reason for leaving the show as precipitated by several "unrecoverable" on-air arguments with Seder; she also said that she regards Seder as the better radio broadcaster and therefore a better choice to continue The Majority Report.

    Her last broadcast as co-host of The Majority Report aired on July 21, 2006. Since then, she has made a few appearances on The Sam Seder Show. She called on October 4, 2006 to discuss the Mark Foley scandal and on October 31, 2006 she was in studio, where she portrayed Katherine Harris in a Halloween skit. Garofalo has continued to portray Harris on the show in numerous appearances following the 2006 elections.

    Garofalo made a series of appearances in New York and Los Angeles with Henry Rollins and former AAR personality Marc Maron in April 2007.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 12:52:48 PM CST

    tangcameo, But he never attacked FNS or Murdoch

    by evilwizardglick

    Now did he? JG is part of the limousine liberal crowd, like Al Gore or Rosie, who want people to do as they say and not as they do. Like I said if South Park used her in an episode people would be all aflutter at the deep observational humor on what a hypocrite she is.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 12:55:42 PM CST

    Well he did mistake that Xmas tree for Murdoch

    by tangcameo

    when he attacked it in that hotel when he was drunk but thankfully it was just an Xmas tree. And JG is looking worse for wear. Couldn't they have just had Chloe transfer to the FBI?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 1:08:44 PM CST

    FREE THE ENDER SMITES FOES!!!

    by mr. nice gaius

    The time is now. Do it!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 1:23:22 PM CST

    There wasn't even rioting during the 98' Ice Storm

    by bigtuna

    I lived in Quebec, went two weeks during bruttaly cold nights in January, with no electricity or water, and while there was the occasional argument in restaurants with generators, people were pretty calm. That was the worst blackout in N.American history.

    Reply to Talkback

  • No rioting. An awful lot of whining, but no rioting.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 1:43:22 PM CST

    Question.

    by boogalooshrimp

    Is everything we'll be seeing tonight filmed last year? Were some things redone? I wonder if such a long break in filming will be noticable.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 2:32:28 PM CST

    I've seen the first 17 minutes...

    by dj_bollocks

    ...as I'm sure many of you whom have watched Redemption on DVD have too... but if you haven't then looky here...

    http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/a137311/2009-tv-preview-the-return-of-24.html

    minus the inevitable spaces !

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 2:38:51 PM CST

    Every time I flip a light switch...

    by losder

    I stab a m'fucker. SAY SUMTHIN.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 3:19:56 PM CST

    Thanks for the Spoiler Warnings!

    by shogunmaster

    I didn't know there were going to be commercial breaks...

    BTW, Naked Mandy licking Naked Kim. Let me write the next season of 24 and you will be seeing 24 hours of this...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 3:21:22 PM CST

    Oh...

    by shogunmaster

    Naked Carly Pope joins in for a mid-season cliff hanger...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 3:38:28 PM CST

    But Obama HATES torturing terrorists!!! :O

    by theghostwholurks

    Guess he'll miss out this season's helping of Jack Bauer saving the country... AGAIN! >:)

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 4:03:12 PM CST

    Hope they fix Carly Pope's eyebrows from Redemption

    by chromedome

    I don't normally even pay attention to that stuff, but her brows were wicked weird and ugly-alien looking.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 4:05:08 PM CST

    New Dammit Game

    by knowledge1027

    How about ever time Jack says Dammit an Angel gets his wings

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 4:06:04 PM CST

    Orrr....

    by knowledge1027

    Somewhere every time he says Dammit a man gets a bj

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 4:33:06 PM CST

    give it a rest already, EvilWizardGlick

    by i dunno

    you made your point. She's in a project distributed by Fox. She's not servicing Rupert Murdock while wearing a T-shirt with Dubya wiping his ass with the Constitution. You don't seem to have a problem with outspoken conservative actors like Arnold, Willis and the Zombie Heston working with liberals.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 5:26:08 PM CST

    On Garofalo and Power Outages

    by mjgtexas

    Garofalo has stated even though she finds torture deplorable, she realizes 24 is a fictional show and she wanted to work with her old pal...Ike left me without power for 9 days at home and 17 days at work. After tiring of smelling like sweat from head to toe and a (fortunately unfounded) fear that Katrina rejects were going to stir up trouble, I traveled to my grandparents in College Station for a few days, where I endured another kind of irritation: 90 year olds who can't hear shit, watch Matlock marathons on WGN, and a home health worker who gives her opinion on anything without me asking for it.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 5:52:29 PM CST

    I was without power...

    by tangcameo

    ...for three minutes this morning when I plugged in the coffeemaker and the toaster into the same crappy outlet.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 6:24:18 PM CST

    Jack's Jacket looks like the one from Phone Booth.

    by cotton mcknight

    Anyone else notice that?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 6:25:14 PM CST

    Wait a second. Is that a new photo?

    by cotton mcknight

    That looks like Jack's son err nephew. I'm not reading the spoilers so I guess I will find out.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 6:35:02 PM CST

    Cotton McKnight

    by whatcokes982

    That photo's from season 6 thank god. If the producers even mention Bauer's evil family this year, I'm jumping ship for good. Saw the first hour, though, and it's definitely great.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 6:36:17 PM CST

    The Jack Sack is with you... always!

    by yackbacker

    Look, he had the Jack Sack in Africa, I doubt he brought it to the Senate hearings (Jack Sack knows too much!) but once the body count starts to pile high enough (say Hour 10 or so) I am confident that the World's Deadliest Manpurse will make his way back into "24." In the meantime, you can find him here: http://thejacksack.com

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 6:39:55 PM CST

    Tony's Head Injury From Season 5

    by mike hunt

    Maybe Tony's head injury made him go nuts like Harvey Dent. It's a perfectly valid explanation!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 6:54:16 PM CST

    MorbidObesity, Just smarter than you.

    by evilwizardglick

  • Jan 11, 2009 6:58:03 PM CST

    Product placement.

    by bangoskank

    Was anyone else annoyed by the amount of product placement there was in the two hour movie, or at least how poorly it was worked in? I know it's a part of network TV, but I was a little surprised they didn't have Jack pretending to be a door-greeter at Walmart as a part of his disguise, or have him take off his shirt only to reveal a body tattoo of the Geico gecko.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 7:08:24 PM CST

    Whoa

    by rich malone

    Billy Walsh returns!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 7:08:57 PM CST

    Oh, and...

    by rich malone

    And he don't do 'suits'

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 7:09:13 PM CST

    That 70's show guy?

    by yubnubrocks

  • Jan 11, 2009 7:11:12 PM CST

    just the change in locale...

    by yubnubrocks

    makes a huge difference!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 7:18:17 PM CST

    The Jack Bauer Power Hour is back!

    by kyle051554

  • Jan 11, 2009 7:19:27 PM CST

    and Tony!

    by yubnubrocks

    what a badass. Makes no sense, but oh well....

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 7:19:56 PM CST

    and from the lack of comments...

    by yubnubrocks

    so far, I'm saying people just aren't watching the show like they used to.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 7:21:18 PM CST

    Dr. Phlox is a TRAITOR!!!!

    by theghostwholurks

    Can't trust illegal aliens... >:(

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 7:24:59 PM CST

    Re: Yubnubr...

    by rich malone

    There loss.....

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 7:26:21 PM CST

    Re: Yubnubr...

    by rich malone

    Opps...I meant 'their"......

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 7:27:38 PM CST

    this is like

    by yubnubrocks

    24: The Next Generation.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 7:49:53 PM CST

    The comments here made 24 that much more enjoyable

    by kronos6948

    hopefully more people will be around tomorrow night for the next 2 hours.

    Anyway, I'm still waiting for full on Jack...we've only seen snippets.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 7:53:22 PM CST

    Good penmanship

    by shellfishh

    I think I sense a handwriting lesson coming soon.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 7:54:26 PM CST

    Is that?

    by shellfishh

    Is that the same guy who was the bomb-happy Irish guy in Sin City?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 8:00:03 PM CST

    First Hour: Pretty Good

    by aquatarkusman

    Surprised nobody's made the "Die Hard II" reference yet with respect to Tony's plan.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 8:00:22 PM CST

    Re:Shellfishh

    by rich malone

    And S. Aces, All About The Benjamins, and a ton of other films with an Irish-Heavy

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 8:00:23 PM CST

    CLASH OF THE TITANS!!!!!

    by theghostwholurks

    Jack vs. Tony... same training, same skills, same contacts, different sides! Who will WIN??? >:)

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 8:01:51 PM CST

    was that

    by yubnubrocks

    an Irish version of the Joker???

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 8:01:51 PM CST

    Very nice first hour.

    by catvutt

    It'll be fine to see old faces, but the new cast looks to have real potential so far.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 8:04:24 PM CST

    EVIL TONY????

    by wackybantha

    NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 8:06:28 PM CST

    I like...

    by shellfishh

    I like the fact that everyone seems to be competent in their jobs. I like this better than the CTU freakshow of incompetents with massive problems.
    And yes, if they crash the plane, I can't beleive no one on staff called shenanigans on the Die Hard 2 plot theft.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 8:07:53 PM CST

    Oh Noez! A mole in the FBI

    by kronos6948

    I thought they abandoned the whole "mole" plotline?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 8:12:23 PM CST

    yes

    by shellfishh

    It was was. Don't you love not having an edit function?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 8:15:28 PM CST

    Hey now...

    by rich malone

    See what I 'can' do! Damn, Tony got cold!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 8:15:59 PM CST

    Is John Williams doing the score tonight?

    by tonagan

    I was expecting an X-Wing to show up on the JFK runway.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 8:17:01 PM CST

    no subject

    by whatcokes982

    Damn being on the west coast. Damnit!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 8:17:32 PM CST

    The sniper...

    by shellfishh

    is Jon Cusack from Grosse Point High

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 8:18:01 PM CST

    youve never seen superheroes like this before!!!

    by thecrimsoncurse

    lame watchmen spot.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 8:21:05 PM CST

    dude, garofalo doesnt look good in that pic...

    by rocklobster800

    which is a shame cos she was insanely cute back in the day...it seems to be around 2001 or so that she takes a major fall. I caught an interview with her on youtube on the conan O Brien show back in 1994 and she was adorable, and hell, Ive even tried to sit through The Truth About Cats And Dogs to check her out..but NOW? it just goes to show that treing to loose weight (particularly whn you didnt need to loose any in the first place) is not always the best option.....

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 8:21:26 PM CST

    CrimsonCurse

    by shellfishh

    Let them market it like a typical superhero movie to bring in the people. As long as the movie is good.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 8:31:14 PM CST

    i know you're right

    by thecrimsoncurse

    but i can't help but feel nausea.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 8:46:00 PM CST

    That's a lot of spit!

    by bass ackwards

    Every second? Phew.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 8:53:56 PM CST

    I wish I had a program that knows

    by kronos6948

    what files are important to delete...but then again, the FBI supposedly has a way to restore them...maybe they should've used Eraser.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 8:56:13 PM CST

    Damn.

    by yubnubrocks

    Least amount of comments ever for 24 (2 hours, too!). Tony, what happened to you???

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 8:58:07 PM CST

    Hi, my name is Shermdawg, and I like 24 again.

    by shermdawg

  • Jan 11, 2009 8:58:09 PM CST

    no subject

    by whatcokes982

    This is definitely not the least amount of comments ever for 24. This is actually a pretty good turnout compared to some of those season 6 talkbacks.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 8:59:10 PM CST

    Evil. Wizard. Gli. Ck. Why so eee-vil?

    by l.h.puttgrass

    Surely you know how screwy the politics of Hollywood are? And yes, I just called you Shirley. I don't know what tweeked your squelch knob and I don't care. I was only suggesting that you might lighten up a bit. The world's crazy enough as it is. But, if you like, go ahead, take Mr. Peabody's "Wayback Machine" back to 1968. Have fun. You'll love it there. Meanwhile, this is a talkback for fans of 24. Let's not turn it into some political, mud-slinging flamewar. I think we all had enough of politics in 2008. Shit! I'm missing the show! Later.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 8:59:29 PM CST

    Shermdawg liked it!?!

    by whatcokes982

    Holy crap. Now I really can't wait for it to start here.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 9:01:20 PM CST

    Good, that. And if it stays good....

    by pennsy

    Heroes is in deeper shit than they are now.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 9:09:41 PM CST

    My brain just caught up...

    by godric

    In case anyone else here is as slow as I am, I just figured out that the President's dead son was the dude with the drug addict friend who gets murdered in Redemption. So, sometime after that, the son dies. And...that will eventually lead us back to Jon Voight.

    I liked this two hours. It felt a lot like a long bit of set up, laying the groundwork for the plot that will pay off soon. Hopefully, tomorrow there will be more explosions.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 9:12:40 PM CST

    Okay, I'm taking bets...

    by godric

    Who thinks the First Husband's Secret Service guy will turn out to be evil?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 9:16:47 PM CST

    Not one single Naked Mandy reference so far

    by mike hunt

    I'm SHOCKED...............Oh, and I would like to make the beast with two backs with the woman who plays Agent Walker. She's HOT!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 9:33:38 PM CST

    Remaining 22 Hours Will Hopefully Reveal...

    by aquatarkusman

    ... that Carly Pope's character is OCD and has to shower every hour. The Jack Bauer Flower Power Shower Hour! Even that little speech about her aunt's tax dodge was hot!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 9:58:15 PM CST

    No Jack Sack yet.

    by skydemon

    stay tuned

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 10:12:52 PM CST

    Freckly but cute

    by chimpjnr

    I liked Jack's new partner, plus she looks like she can really handle herself. How do you go from acting on General Hospital to 24 in one easy step though?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 10:20:54 PM CST

    Jack's traded in the Jack Sack....

    by justinsane

    ...for a KIEFCASE!!!!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 10:31:38 PM CST

    KIEFCASE!!!! (tm, Justin Sane).

    by pennsy

    Das right.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 10:38:29 PM CST

    Renee Walker is a fucking babe

    by yackbacker

    The freckles are a bonus too. Dear lord, good question chimjnr- how did she make the transition. Well, that's acting for you.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 10:55:51 PM CST

    New York Times Quote WTF

    by lane_myers111

    "The novelty of the hour-by-hour conceit wore off long ago" Are you fucking serious ..Yeah seven seasons of one show using a brilliantly new and inventive format that is excellent for building immediate suspense and Threat has really worn off. No what we really want is the conventional format weve seen used in hundreds and hundreds of worthless seasons of boring shit Television re used over and over again. The Real time formula is one that should be applied to lots of other shows from all genres. Its hardly been used at all.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 11:00:11 PM CST

    KIEFCASE!

    by livahd

    KIEFCASE !!!! hahahaa. you win on all levels

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 11:28:41 PM CST

    I hope Renee goes bad so that we can have....

    by chaseguy17

    Jack Vs. Gingervitis jokes.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 11:48:25 PM CST

    First signal of Mole....

    by mindworm22

    ...was when the FBI office boss said "we've got 3 dead at the scene" after the guy Jack and female-Jack were visiting was sniped along with his bouncer-friend. That's only 2 dead. Was it an honest mistake - or is something more evil afoot? A nice start to the season, I must say, except for the heavy handed repetition of "We're the FBI -- not CTU -- we follow the law here!" One thing was missing for me though -- the soul-patch.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 11, 2009 11:49:30 PM CST

    Hopefully this will be better

    by reflecto

    Haven't watched it yet but I have faithfully watched every single year and believe me, the plots DO eventually all become the same and the torture and right wing bias of some of the show's creative personnel (though Kiefer is very liberal) has gotten REAL old. The UN guy was portrayed cartoonishly in "Redemption" and I just am so sick of the same old torture. Every time it's "Jack tortures guy, guy does not give in, Jack tortures him some more, he gets info, moves on to the next guy." It's gotten SO old and in the post-Bush era there has to be a more enlightened view, even for 24. Maybe 24 could avoid changing stripes if the plots weren't all so tired, but I have watched all seven seasons and I'm here to tell you, it's tired. That said I love Kiefer so I hope for the best.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 12:02:03 AM CST

    Great start

    by whatcokes982

    That was two fantastic hours of television. Can't wait to see Jack interrogate Tony tomorrow night!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 12:09:47 AM CST

    Where there's a torture scene....

    by mr spork

    take a drink of an alcoholic beverage of your choice.

    You'll probably get shitfaced pretty quickly.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 12:13:03 AM CST

    I'm likin the new babe redhead partner!!

    by ka dargo

    She sure is purdy!!

    Do we need another mole in the show?? And i guess tony isnt the main bad guy its the african dude.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 12:13:44 AM CST

    24 is back from the dead! Hooray!!!

    by bullet3

    Only 2 hours in and this is already vastly better than season 6. The thing I was most concerned about were the new characters they'd be introducing, and so far, the new characters are really good. As mentioned above, they all seem professional, there isn't constant whining/problems/relationships. And they got Billy Walsh in there! He's really funny in this. Color me surprised, but this season is starting out very high, I'm talking a season 1/2/5 level of awesome.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 12:19:58 AM CST

    Eh

    by world dictator

    Not Great not terrible.

    But at least the first two hours built up to events that actually seem germaine to the overall story.

    The last couple of seasons the first four hours were filled with pointless deaths and explosions meant for shock value.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 12:28:19 AM CST

    Lack of comments was due to Golden Globes...

    by brokenheath

    ... watched it on time-shifting from west coast station. Here's hoping it's a great season. Was famished for months for my faves 24 and Lost to return. How many moles are in the national security? :D They need to do better background checks on the people they hire, lol. And yet another office romance, sheesh. Glad to see Garofalo, I've always liked her. But is there room for 2 funny females in a drama thriller like this... Chloe, where are you?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 12:32:24 AM CST

    RockLobster800 - right on regarding Garofalo!

    by theseeker7

    Dude exactly what I was saying earlier. I was practically flat out in love with this chick from the early 90's on, and yea Cats & Dogs is a great example of her uber-adorableness. Plus I really dug her comedy too. I saw her headlining at the Improv once in LA, and at one point I walked RIGHT past her back in the hallways earlier in the night, I got so giddy like a fuckin geek :p

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 12:41:29 AM CST

    We won't stand for genocide...

    by brokenheath

    ...wish the real U.S. government would have been so honorable with regards to Darfur, but I guess when Sudan is allied with China you don't want to step on their toes. So, this new female President is to be more honorable than past ones...maybe character was written pre-Hillary losing the Democratic ticket, hehe. Having an African leader villain though seems far-fetched, maybe they've run out of plausible ethnicities to use. Sure there are plenty of awful maniacal African leaders but they haven't threatened international interests...yet.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 1:11:46 AM CST

    Third episode is fucking incredible.

    by whatcokes982

    Just holy shit good. I'm abstaining from watching hour 4 until tomorrow night, but it's gonna be hard. If you thought 24 was good tonight, just wait.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 1:34:26 AM CST

    FBI Agent Chesty Freckles

    by xiphos_2

    Is one hot G girl. I'd Mirandizer hard, if you know what I'm saying.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 1:35:10 AM CST

    Damb, I forgot that it was on!

    by mistere

    Thank God for the Internet!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 3:04:18 AM CST

    open up and say AHHHH

    by geek molester

    time to take your pro-war conditioning medicine.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 6:19:08 AM CST

    Not bad

    by the mcpoyle clan

    The change in scenery definitely helps, and the new partner seems like a good fit. She even spits out her own version of "dammit." But it only took them 1:05:00 to out the first mole, and there was no Naked Mandy nor Naked Pope.And, when they revealed that Tony isn't the one giving the orders, but the one taking them, I suspect he might now be what he seems.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 6:20:17 AM CST

    NOT what he seems.

    by the mcpoyle clan

    AICN primitive TB FTL.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 7:14:42 AM CST

    Tony might still be a good guy.

    by i dunno

    I can't believe his wife's death would flip him to the point that he wants to fuck up the whole country. Go find Logan and kill him (is he still alive?) but to turn completely batshit crazy...that must have been some mean pussy to make him go all 'Darth Vader'.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 7:16:42 AM CST

    ...and yes, this TB is ridiculously primative

    by i dunno

    Considering that the TB has to generate more hits than the lame as stories themselves, you'd think they'd drag the technology into the early 2000's.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 7:26:30 AM CST

    Chesty Freckles

    by just pillow talk

    I like it.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 7:41:17 AM CST

    I'm surprised no one....

    by mindworm22

    ...has commented on the "We have three bodies at the scene" comment that the FBI boss made on the phone when the sniper only killed two. C'mon folks? Where are your tin-foil conspiracy hats?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 8:02:27 AM CST

    Tony Sure Went Down Easily

    by aquatarkusman

    "Say, I wonder why our high-tech surveillance camera went out at the last second... let's send the lone guy outside to check it out. Oh no! I am running away now!"

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 8:06:47 AM CST

    baddie

    by titus05

    real bad guy is not the African guy but Jon Voight's character...I think they filmed these early episodes before the strike so Voight was not onboard yet...I'm liking the First Husband played by Colm Fiore...overall even the DC political stuff is interesting this season to go along with Jack's adventures

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 8:08:04 AM CST

    African general

    by titus05

    one more thing...didn't the African guy who met with Tony die in the Redemption movie?...thought he was blown up when Jack's buddy stepped off the land mine

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 8:18:57 AM CST

    Tony did better than I thought he would

    by just pillow talk

    He was never really an ops type of a guy. I think he gave Jack trouble because Jack was holding back. If it was Vampire Jack, his throat would have already been removed.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 8:42:40 AM CST

    Jumping Jack

    by turketron

    How about that pounce that Jack did at the end of episode 2? Totally badass and he got some serious air! Can't wait till the next two episodes, the previews were action packed!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 8:46:08 AM CST

    It's obvious that "24" is a conserative TV show...

    by leafar the lost

    ...since Rush Limbaugh keeps promoting it on his radio shit show. I think that torture should be illegal, even if it would save millions of lives from a nuclear bomb. Our morality is more important than the millions of deaths that would happen from nuclear fallout.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 9:16:07 AM CST

    Leafar

    by jmyoung666

    I am very liberal, and I believe torture should be illegal. However, if an agent has reasonable reason to believe of an imminent threat and that a suspect had knowledge of the details of that threat, I would be fine if they tortured him. Reasonable does not mean he was an arab who did not fully cooperate when the US military bombed his house and killed his daughter. Also, any person involved in the torture should be prepared to go to jail for their actions, but that's a risk the individual would have to make. U

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 9:24:30 AM CST

    Foreigners Know Nothing about Americans

    by maxwell bishop

    Thanks for proving yourself a dumb ass BicNowler. I love when foreigners make blanket statements about Americans when they have no idea what they're talking about. Perhaps your country’s propaganda portrays us as fat, lazy asses who are pampered beyond reason, but news flash for you and all the other little minded idiots…we are the hardest working and most resilient people on the planet.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 9:24:53 AM CST

    ALSO!!!!

    by maxwell bishop

    OH! And 24 kicks ass!!!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 9:31:55 AM CST

    Leafar the Lost

    by maxwell bishop

    Dear Leafar the Lost. Good. I agree. Hopefully you'll be one of those millions of people

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 9:45:36 AM CST

    Janeane Garofalo is tiny !

    by pumaman

    She makes Verne Troyer look like Magic Johnson

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 9:47:50 AM CST

    Damn It Gravitas !!

    by pumaman

    Jack got to say " Dammit " again.

    Now all we need is the return of the 'jack sack ' and we're on for a winner of a season.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 10:47:44 AM CST

    3 things

    by nahdogg

    1. Still more gravitas than LOST
    2. Garafalo is the Mole
    3. Hour 8 Jack will kill 20 Senaglese terrorists and the last one will be our deep voiced friend from Redemption. At that moment Jack will utter the words "Say hello to your brother" snaps dude in half.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 11:01:59 AM CST

    How was it stupid, let me count the ways!

    by _maltheus_

    Ok, first off, Janeane Garofolo is horrible in that role. She seems like she's trying to do her schtick and it's distracting. Chloe was much better.
    Second, a man who spends years designing a firewall would naturally take into account any weakness he can think of. He wouldn't be able to get around it in minutes. Even under the threat of physical violence.
    Third, the senate would never have a public committee like that against some foot soldier. Nor would they declassify those files and discuss them before the cameras. That kind of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington crap doesn't exist in real life. Have the writers ever even watched C-SPAN?
    Fourth, terrorists have control of our infrastructure and that dumb president is about to launch a humanitarian war that in no way benefits America? Even George Bush wasn't that dumb/crazy. Since when do we fight humanitarian wars? Ever? You might be able to argue Bosnia, but that shit certainly wouldn't fly anymore. More Hollywood goofiness.
    Fifth, the wake of that one plane would have seriously fucked up the plane right underneath it. Sixth, if you're trying to stop a bunch of files being deleted, you don't start typing, you go right for the battery. That's right boys and girls, computers run on electricity.
    The problem with this show is that is has far more executive producers than even actors. Seriously, watch the opening credits again, there are like dozens. I honestly think that's why this country is falling apart in so many ways right now. Too many middle managers. Most of the positions more honorary than functional. If you've ever worked in a corporation or have ever been involved in politics at any level, you know precisely what I'm talking about. And even with all of these executive producers, did no one take the time to call the writers out on all the stupid parts? At the very least, they need to leave the politics off the show. Hollywood can't do politics, not their side, not the other side. It's like an eight year old child writing a love story. Actually, the Wire and Brotherhood nailed it pretty good, but that's it. 24 is a kiddy show which should have never gone beyond five seasons.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 11:05:16 AM CST

    Why is '24' singled out as being conservative?

    by i dunno

    It's not the show's fault that douchebags like Rush Limbaugh gravitate towards it. How many movies and TV shows do we all hold dear involve anti-heroes who break the rules and what we would normally consider moral to get the job done? Just because the show happens to be on Fox, home of the absurdly right wing Fox News? Both entities have different people producing them, one has nothing to do with the other.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 11:08:37 AM CST

    Probably shouldn't watch it anymore, then _Maltheus_

    by i dunno

    Problem solved.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 11:11:43 AM CST

    Did I miss something?

    by blackguard

    Possible spoilers if you haven't watched the first 2 episodes yet.




    Is it me or was the Presidents son ALIVE during 24 Redemption? Is this going to be a big sub plot this season? I really hope not.

    On a side note, government agencies need to do better background checks. I'm getting a little tired of "traitors" in the CTU, FBI, etc......

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 11:17:03 AM CST

    They certainly did a number on that engineer

    by chimpjnr

    Took all of his fingernails off, smashed up his face, yet still found time to tape up his glasses...all in the first 10 minutes. And why did they go for his hands of all places? Doesn't exactly expedite his ability to use a tiny screwdriver in a pinch.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 11:21:15 AM CST

    Robocop and the bad guys

    by swampdonkey

    Is that all of them who have appeared on 24 now?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 11:37:13 AM CST

    All great action movies and tv aren't liberal anyway

    by tacom

    If you think about it if they were the good guy would talk it out instead of using his fist or a gunand the bad guys wouldn't be killed. Even when they do have a liberal message like that embarrasing eco movie Steven Seagal was in it's really lame.I'm not talking about ones like DIRTY HARRY or RAMBO:FIRST BLOOD PT II Even the most apolitical ones Iike Raiders of the Lost Ark and are actually attacked by liberal critics for all kinds of stupid things.

    You know Janeane Garafalo may be a lefty contemptuaous know-it-all, but she is HOT. Always has been always will be.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 11:38:43 AM CST

    The truth about American Blackouts…

    by tindog42

    Historically one of the more consistent effects of prolonged electrical blackouts in America has been a notable increase of the birth rate after about nine months. So if by rioting you mean………., well I’m sure you can fill in the blanks.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 11:41:38 AM CST

    BRING BACK MIKE NOVAK

    by chimpjnr

    One of the best characters in 24 history, albeit in a low key manner. He never did atone for what he did to that Presidential aide in Season 2 though.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 11:47:53 AM CST

    Janeane Garofalo

    by hobocode

    Wow. Just WOW. Seriously disappointed in her role. She's nothing more than a poor man's Chloe O'Brien. Is this a fucking a joke? Overall this was a good opening but man I expected more from Garofalo. Pitiful.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 11:52:41 AM CST

    Fucking their brains out, Tindog42.

    by hobocode

    This is an AICN 24 TB, not the Puritan Web Forum.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 11:56:14 AM CST

    Hobo...

    by deejay

    ... how much do you want to bet that Garofalo is the "mole?" After all, we really only have 4 legitimate suspects (unless you count characters with 2 or less speaking lines).

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 12:14:32 PM CST

    Garofalo says she's not coming back

    by i dunno

    for the next season. She said it was her choice. So either she's not the mole and they wanted her to come back but she didn't want to or she's lying to cover up the fact that she is the mole and they kill or arrest her. I personally don't think she is.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 12:28:17 PM CST

    mole

    by hobocode

    I hope so DeeJay. That might redeem the character. And IDunno, if she's not coming back next season that probably means she IS the mole.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 12:32:15 PM CST

    To all those questioning the transition from soap acting.

    by shermdawg

    Have you actually sat down and watched some of them on a regular basis? The writing and acting isn't as bad as you would think. Hell, I'd say a great deal of daytime television is higher quality than a lot of primetime offerings. I've been watching CSI: Miami on A&E here and there over the last few months and the performances on that show, especially Caruso's, is down right pathetic.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 12:34:59 PM CST

    I'm just glad Logan is alive

    by chrth

    I'm pretty much only watching the Mentalist in the hopes that he asks Robin Tunney to pray with him.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 12:37:48 PM CST

    Soulpatch Tony as a Mole

    by chrth

    Did anyone else find it odd that Tony kept wanting to know what was next for his crew?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 12:38:01 PM CST

    Mike Novick and Agent Pierce

    by the mcpoyle clan

    were two of the better characters. The current presidential aide doesn't have any gravitas. And crap, looking for implausibilities in 24, now? A little late, isn't it?That's Ferris Bueller's school secretary? Really? Didn't recognize her.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 12:38:51 PM CST

    The third hour is amazing...

    by disneyfanatic

    The forth is almost as good, but not nearly as good as the third hour.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 12:41:10 PM CST

    Aaron Pierce, Agent of SHIELD was neutered in season 6

    by chrth

    Which is why I prefer to pretend it didn't happen

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 12:42:29 PM CST

    What I kept waiting for

    by chrth

    1) The Senator to call Bauer a Dumbass
    2) Someone to call the Chief of Staff 'Obtuse'

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 1:04:09 PM CST

    Jack/Tony

    by titus05

    the interrogation room scene between Jack and Tony reminds me of the Batman/Joker interrogation from Dark Knight for some reason...anyone else with me?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 1:04:24 PM CST

    There can be no doubt that 24 is a conservative show...

    by leafar the lost

    ...and liberals should not be watching it. If you watch and enjoy "24", then that automatically makes you one of those right-wing, Republican, gun-fucking religious fanatics.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 1:15:49 PM CST

    Leafer...

    by deejay

    ... you're trying to stimulate dialog, aren't you?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 1:18:10 PM CST

    Almeida

    by titus05

    is Carlos Bernard signed on for the entire season or is he just on for a few episodes until the 'real' baddie shows up?...be kinda corny if they kill him off after 5 or 6 episodes

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 1:18:53 PM CST

    Soul-patch = Not a bad guy. New Name - Mole Patch!

    by toshiro-solo

    I haven't yet watched hours 3 and 4, but - my guess: Tony has been working with Bill and Chloe (who have both been featured on promos) in an off the grid way, totally unconnected to the government in order to bring the bad guys down. They know that somehow the government is too compromised, so undertook the operation entirely on their own. They used Tony's story as a way of getting him to appear to flip to the dark side so he can act as their mole. Hence - Mole Patch!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 1:22:36 PM CST

    Cherry Jones is NOT Edie McClurg

    by kdog629

    They are not remotely the same person. Edie McClurg is a fifty-seven year old Missourian. Cherry Jones is a fifty two year old lesbian. And, I don't say that with judgment. Have you seen Sarah Paulson?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 1:42:48 PM CST

    Garofamole

    by cdubbs727

    Thought the first 2 hours were pretty darn solid; lots of good groundwork and while I thought the FBI was just CTU by another name, it was nice to see that the staff there actually seems competent. I hope they plausibly explain Tony's absence and that he makes a strong foil for Jack--I think it might be cheap to make him a good guy in disguise.

    That said, a few complaints:
    1. The terrorists have obviously been watching a few Bruce Willis movies. There was the aforementioned Die Hard 2 hijacking-the-plane sequence, but also accessing the firewall which controls the water, power, etc. is basically the same threat as Die Hard 4.0. although I guess that pushes my dream for a Jack Bauer-John McClane team-up closer to a reality.

    Also, Garofalo is easily the mole or a very obvious red herring. Upon hearing about the sniper, she quickly blurted out "That's where agent Walker is!" which was just a very obvious overreaction. Also, my guess is that she will be outed as the mole pretty quickly and Jack will have to bring in Chloe to take her place, and possibly interrogate her about computer stuff.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 1:48:19 PM CST

    It's not a liberal or a conservative show.

    by _maltheus_

    The torture thing does make it a neo-con show (real conservatives don't support torture), but the presidents are almost always very liberal (and the "Republican" ones are portrayed negatively). Hence the humanitarian intervention in Sengali (sp?). I'd say it was designed to appeal to Republicans and Democrats alike. The differences between the two aren't that far apart anyway. They're both big government tit suckers.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 1:50:54 PM CST

    Why do people always say it's conservative??

    by yodaismyhomie

    I mean seriously..the first two seasons had a black president...the new one has a woman president. Torture doesn't necessarily mean conservative...just because Bush allowed it to take place doesn't make it conservative...I think MOST people would allow torture if the events of 24 were actually taking place....conservative or liberal.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 1:52:16 PM CST

    Hobo & Chrth...

    by deejay

    Hobo... yeah, I'm actually hoping Garafolo is the mole. Making her overbearing (and currently one-dimensional) boss the mole would be way too typical. She's got quite the smart mouth, and doesn't spend enough time using it as a villain. Chrth... Tony is acting very mole-like. I wouldn't be surprised if that was revealed to be the case tonight...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 2:06:13 PM CST

    Why people say it's conservative

    by chrth

    The creator of the show is on record as a conservative. That's why.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 2:50:00 PM CST

    Complaints about realism in 24

    by mattmanreturns

    Yes we know it's not realistic. It exists in a hyper-reality which happens to be very entertaining. I don't want everything to be totally realistic. I like 24 just the way it is.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 2:51:53 PM CST

    About the Presidents's Son ...

    by oldnewbie

    He was alive and well at the end of "Redemption"! He knew nothing about Job Voight and the evil conspiracy so... just confusing; and an annoying subplot having the president's husband working his own investigation (however much I love Colm Feore... check out "Bon Cop, Bad Cop" for a really awesome performance). "24" has always had annoying subplots, but that doesn't mean I have to like them!!

    As for predictions... I think Tony let himself get caught, knowing that Jack would never stop until he did. By getting caught, he hopes to distract Bauer long enough for the true objective of the plan to be put into play. Tony is no longer needed, he has done his part; and so his way too easy capture was planned as soon as he learned Jack was on the case.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 3:07:54 PM CST

    I just watched episodes 3 and 4 (Minor Spoilers)

    by yackbacker

    It gets a lot better from last night. Tony and Jack interacting is something last season missed a great deal. Mike Doyle was too erradic. Tony is a calming force (even if he's a "bad" guy). And the overall plot is shaping up much more definitively. I like where this is headed.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 3:13:03 PM CST

    President's Son...

    by cdubbs727

    I was a bit confused at first last night about this plot thread; as was said, the President's son didn't die during "Redemption." But then I remembered that Day 7 doesn't necessarilly take place the day after the events of "Redemption."

    But I think "Redemption" may have actually been bad for Day 7. We already know that the President's Son was killed by Jon Voight, most-likely. I'm afraid "Redemption" may take the piss out of the season.

    Oh, and did I miss the "Deep Sky" twist last night or did it not happen? Ausiello was saying to look out for those words, but I didn't hear them; assuming it's coming tonight.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 3:17:42 PM CST

    Where's the Bromance Talk Back?

    by melvin_pelvis

  • Jan 12, 2009 3:37:00 PM CST

    When they were talking about terrorists causing a blackout

    by smackfu

    I kind of got the feeling they meant for more than a day. I assumed they meant like...permanently. Of course the government would try to counter-hack it, or work around it, but who knows how long that could be. Maybe weeks. Do you really think if the *whole* country had no power for a period of weeks that it would be the same deal as New York losing power for 12 hours? I'll throw this out anyway, the reason why New York, or even the whole eastern seaboard can avoid collapsing into anarchy, is because there is no fear involved. it's just a matter of inconvenience, you know the power *will* come back on, you know the rest of the country has power, the government and infrastructure is guaranteed to still be operational etc. When you bring fear of the unknown into the equation, when you get people wondering *if* the power will come back on, and *if* there is still a functioning government, then survival instincts start to get pretty strong and people start to act a whole lot less civil. Somewhere around the time when all the food in your fridge has spoiled, and all dry goods have been consumed, that's about the time that *you* decide it's time to go out foraging in the urban jungle. Though you're not technically 'rioting' you are competing with hundreds of thousands of people in the dark for what remains of the non-perishable goods lying around. And that's just as good.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 3:45:25 PM CST

    Mole

    by nudeandaroused

    Having been a fan of this for a while before bailing in season 6, I was intrigued at the optimistic view that some held for this year. I gave it a shot. But really, did we have to have the mole again? Really? What is the point? Very hesitant about this season.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 3:48:34 PM CST

    Nice to see Jack's acid burns on his hand have heeled

    by bigtuna

    nicely. Or maybe they just didn't want to bother with the makeup[ as it kept peeling off during last season.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 3:50:46 PM CST

    Was that

    by lestergroans

    Krazy Eyez Killa as the air traffic controller?! It was, wasn't it!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 4:02:08 PM CST

    Deep Sky

    by elpaw

    That twist is tonight.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 4:05:09 PM CST

    LesterGroans: According to EW TV Watch, it was

    by chrth

  • Jan 12, 2009 4:57:06 PM CST

    Soul patch +good, Goutee= Evil Spock Tony Mirror Univ

    by picardsucks

  • Jan 12, 2009 5:30:56 PM CST

    chrth: thank you. Who my caucasian? You my caucasian.

    by lestergroans

    Anyway, I'm excited about this season if not wary. Been watching since Season 1 and was as disappointed with S6 as most people(especially after the promising first-four). Nail-less fingers crossed.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 5:33:47 PM CST

    Yeah what year is it?

    by anakin whoopass

    The Senate inquiry was about someone Jack tortured in 2002. Was that a reference to any on-screen episode? Day 7 feels like it's somehow 2009 but with all the presidents since the show started that's impossible.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 5:44:45 PM CST

    I don't know what year it is

    by lestergroans

    But my guess would have to be around 2015? I think that's in the ballpark, +/- a couple years.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 6:22:38 PM CST

    Mole...

    by oldnewbie

    NudeandAroused: Agreed. I shook my head in disbelief; amazed that yet another government agency had been compromised. And not just a fictional one, but our very own FBI!! New location, new day, same old formula...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 7:04:35 PM CST

    Can anyone tell me what Redemption was about?

    by somerichs

    I missed it...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 7:07:16 PM CST

    Tony turned evil cos...

    by somerichs

    they tore off his soul patch. Now he gots no soul...Crth, it was a damn shame about Pierce in Season 6, huh? What a shit existence he must be living, taking care of that crazy broad...cos he was every bit as badass as Jack...oh well...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 7:12:58 PM CST

    Somerichs:

    by lestergroans

    Redemption was setting up the season. Since S6 Jack has been globe-trotting, landing recently in Africa to help his buddy Full-Monty teach some young boys how to not be forced into being soldiers while being told by the US Consulate that he has been subpoenaed to show up before a Senate hearing. Unfortunately, Juma(a dictator) starts a coup and tries to force them into being soldiers. Jack and Full-Monty obviously take offense to this. Jack and Full-Monty kick a little ass, Jack promises to get the kids to safety and in order to do so he has to give himself up to the Consulate guy instead of running away.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 7:14:42 PM CST

    Oh, also:

    by lestergroans

    Powers Boothe talked to Cherry Jones about being President and Jon Voight intimidated people(including the President's son's friend who was killed in the episode) and presumably the reason the President's son was (allegedly) killed was because he got close to the same crap his friend was close to(which was that Voight was selling weapons to Juma).

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 7:19:18 PM CST

    YEAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

    by jimmy rabbitte

    Tony's undercover! He's not a turncoat!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 7:19:39 PM CST

    Come on

    by ckuouka

    Did anyone else not already think Tony was undercover?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 7:20:13 PM CST

    Undercover Tony

    by ckuouka

    As soon as he didn't let the planes crash on the runway, I knew he was undercover.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 7:21:31 PM CST

    yeah but...

    by motivotion

    The confirmation was still awesome. i keep saying don't get your hopes up but...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 7:22:06 PM CST

    Ckuouka

    by mr. poohgas

    And I knew while watching Star Wars that Vader was Luke's father...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 7:23:45 PM CST

    Push

    by mr. poohgas

    Chris Evans in Jumper 2: Thrower

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 7:29:22 PM CST

    Push??

    by yubnubrocks

    yea, what the fuck is that. Real original. Kids with force push powers! and a secret agency is trying to kill them!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 7:29:48 PM CST

    Chloe still looks monumentally constipated.

    by jimmy rabbitte

    She needs to eat more fruit.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 7:31:20 PM CST

    Chloe!

    by mr. poohgas

    The bobbleheaded eye-roll returns!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 7:34:52 PM CST

    So, wait...

    by catvutt

    Who exactly are Bill and Chloe working for?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 7:37:20 PM CST

    CatVutt... we don't know yet.

    by jimmy rabbitte

  • Jan 12, 2009 7:37:35 PM CST

    Bill and Chloe . . .

    by jocutus

    Are freelancing. Random acts of counter-terrorism.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 7:41:43 PM CST

    The mastermind of the covert Bill & Chloe task force is ...

    by mr. poohgas

    Disgraced former president Charles Logan, because 24 cannot think of new and creative ideas.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 7:42:24 PM CST

    "Don't fight it."

    by tonagan

    I bet he says that to all the girls.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 7:44:15 PM CST

    Nah, the MasterMind is

    by jocutus

    Sherri Palmer's re-animated head floating in a jar. Directing events via mental telepathy.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 7:44:36 PM CST

    If not Logan...

    by jimmy rabbitte

    ...it could be Powers Boothe's character.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 7:46:41 PM CST

    The Shout is back

    by mr. poohgas

    DO IT NOW ... DO IT ... DO IT

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 7:48:11 PM CST

    Tony and Jack get a room.

    by mr. poohgas

  • Jan 12, 2009 7:50:01 PM CST

    mouse?

    by yubnubrocks

    Does anyone use a mouse with a computer in 24? Ever?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 7:50:09 PM CST

    "Just be glad I didn't break your neck."

    by catvutt

    Definitely some lighter touches so far. Very welcome, needs more of that. I was watching some Season Four a few weeks ago...Jack's 'No, she seems real sweet' about Tony's girlfriend still kills me.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 7:50:11 PM CST

    Jack and Tony

    by whatcokes982

    Kicking ass and taking names!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 7:51:50 PM CST

    so...

    by jimmy rabbitte

    Jack and Tony have a beer and cheat on the soul patch?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 7:52:21 PM CST

    Apple versus Dell!

    by tonagan

    Who will win in the battle of the IT ladies?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 7:54:05 PM CST

    Was there any re-shoot involved...?

    by echobase

    ... in these first few episodes that were filmed before the strike? I wondered whether they changed some stuff around after the break

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 7:54:42 PM CST

    Seeing FBI security run down the hall ...

    by mr. poohgas

    Makes me want to hear the "Hup, hup, hup, hup" sound.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 7:56:15 PM CST

    JACK SACK!

    by hideo kojima

    IT'S BACK BABY!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 7:59:40 PM CST

    Bill Buchannan's dead

    by mr. poohgas

    Because he's going to tell Jack everything ... when they get there.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 8:00:32 PM CST

    JACK & TONY FIGHTING SIDE BY SIDE!!!

    by wackybantha

    24 WWRITERS!!! YOU WERE LISTENING TO US!!!!! AWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 8:10:11 PM CST

    We like to think of it as CTU

    by mr. poohgas

    And here is my hand puppet I like to call him Edgar.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 8:13:41 PM CST

    Okay, so...what?

    by catvutt

    Bill and Chloe do some babysitting on the side for money? How the fuck are they making a living working on their own?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 8:29:13 PM CST

    Jack Bauer does voiceover for..........

    by wackybantha

    ......BANK OF AMERICA!!!!!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 8:29:41 PM CST

    "He'll get out of it."

    by catvutt

  • Jan 12, 2009 8:30:07 PM CST

    Simple

    by jocutus

    Chloe makes money working nights as a call girl catering to high end clients like Gov Spitzer with a bizarre fetish for nerd girls.

    And based on that blue van, Bill is her pimp.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 8:31:20 PM CST

    Somehow, I did not see that coming...

    by godric

    I should have seen that coming. But I didn't see that coming. Tony still working with Chloe and Buchanan...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 8:36:56 PM CST

    "Kennedy survived the Bay of Pigs."

    by tonagan

    "Granted, he was assassinated shortly thereafter, but still."

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 8:54:42 PM CST

    Jack passed his mojo to soap opera FBI gal...

    by brokenheath

    ...putting a crimp in guy's airhose is typical Jack action.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 9:05:37 PM CST

    "This is gonna hurt."

    by lestergroans

    Man, Hour 3 rocked, still waiting to watch hour 4, but so far the season isn't disappointing. Who else is completely buying Tony still being alive even though it's a cop-out because they missed him so very much?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 9:06:28 PM CST

    I liked the Chloe vs Chloe II

    by jubba

    computer hacker vs computer hacker...battle of the furrowed brows.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 9:10:17 PM CST

    24 and Andy Griffth Show Parallel

    by mike hunt

    24 Seasons 6 and 7=The Andy Griffith Show in color. Both shows were something very special for the first five seasons, but it became just another TV show in seasons 6, 7 and (potentially) 8. So far, I really don't give a damn about Sangola or the people there. I enjoyed Redemption more than this season so far, quite frankly!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 9:13:13 PM CST

    Mike Hunt doesn't understand 24.

    by disneyfanatic

    I'm sorry, but nothing about Season 7 thus far has any essence of stink.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 9:21:49 PM CST

    I want to be the first to coin 'Jiminy Chloe'

    by chrth

    Solid if not spectacular. Love the Jack/Tony exchange about things said and necks. I hsve to wonder though ... is Bill and Chloe being played by Mole Pstch?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 9:27:24 PM CST

    Also (and I meant Patch, stupid small keys)

    by chrth

    Does anyone else feel not invested yet? Previous seasons had neighborhoods nuked. So far all we've had was a near-hit (I hate the term near-miss). I don't really feel the threat yet. Down that plane that went to the head of the line! NO CUTSIES!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 9:39:02 PM CST

    buchanan

    by dradis contact

    The most ineffectual of all 24 characters. What's he good at? Investigation methods? Every time he made a suggestion or gave an order at CTU, the recipient was already on it, he just told them to work faster. Today he drove a van and displayed familiarity with the mindset of extremists. He's a super exciting high tension middle manager.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 9:45:19 PM CST

    No real sense of crisis this season

    by chimpjnr

    Perhaps it's just me but I don' really see the crisis this season. Ignoring if we can for a moment the fact that the vast majority of Americans, especially those in power, don't give one, let alone two, shits about Africa, what's the dilemma? Why can't they just withdraw, sort out the situation in their own time, and then return in a few days. Plus, if it were a choice between American lives and foreigners, the President has a responsibility to side with the Americans (and I say that as a non-American living in the U.S.). In other news though, I'm liking the freckly girl. Trying to come up with a snappy Jack-something-or-other name for her and failing. The "Jack Snack" maybe if she becomes a love interest...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 9:47:17 PM CST

    Oh, and Buchanan is channeling the psycho monk

    by chimpjnr

    in Da Vinci Code this season. Right down to the monastic looking HQ. Still, it's easier to detect a mole when there are only 4 of you.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 9:53:11 PM CST

    Jack Bauer or Jason Bourne?

    by nasty in the pasty

    Jack driving a car through the concrete side of a parking garage was taken VERBATIM from The Bourne Ultimatum (and I don't even LIKE the Bourne movies, but I still noticed). Also three DAMMITS! and FIVE Copy That's so far, as well as three NOW!!!s.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 10:00:33 PM CST

    I liked Chloe v. Janis.

    by cotton mcknight

    They were both very hot. And I liked how Janis' computer case had polka dots on it. I also like how the FBI is being portrayed as ineffective bureaucrats. I liked the new Jack Sack. I liked many, many thing. Great start to the season so far. It gave us enough to keep watching- instead of a big splosion like last season, which made us all wonder where they could possibly go from here. There are many ways this thing can go (what happens to the female Jack? She sure was a quick study when it came to torture).

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 10:01:20 PM CST

    I honestly don't know...

    by mr_macphisto

    ...how I feel about this twist with CTU-lite running things out of Bill's loft. Odd turn of events, that.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 10:13:19 PM CST

    Chrth

    by cotton mcknight

    Yeah, the first four hours of last season had a neighborhood nuked. Then what happened? Exactly. They had nowhere to go but down. Reminds me of the old Bugs Bunny cartoon where Daffy Duck goes into a talent manager's office and blows himself up. The talent scout says "great! when can you start?" Daffy says (as an angel), that's the problem- I can only do it once. The point is, the writers seemed to have learned their lesson from that and are taking a measured approach. I am very happy to see it.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 10:20:57 PM CST

    The only burning question so far...

    by garbageman33

    Do Renee's curtains match her drapes? Michelle who?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 10:35:02 PM CST

    That's TWO questions!

    by mr_macphisto

  • Jan 12, 2009 10:49:15 PM CST

    I actually like how they've scaled-down the crises

    by bigtuna

    They've gone WAY too far in recent seasons with Jack taking down the President and nuking part of L.A.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 10:53:16 PM CST

    Aaaahhhh...

    by tiredpm

    ...welcome back, Jack.Right.Garofalo's gotta be the mole: her name's Janis, which is awfully close to the two-headed (faced) Roman god Janus. If Dubaku survived the land mine, any chance Benton's still breathing? I mean, Tony made it out... Speaking of which, how the fuck DID he make it out? Emerson's people were inside CTU and injected him with hypothermic fluid? Good God, they disbanded CTU for incompetence, not brutality.I've got a feeling Emerson is MI6. Oh, and I think they're going to tie ALL the conspiracies in this year, dating back to Nina in Season 1.Finally...Dear Fox,I understand in these tough economic times you're concerned about making money any way you can. However, could you limit your cash grabs to the motion picture division and stop fucking over us 24 fans as well? I speak of the Sprint commercials WHICH GIVE AWAY FUTURE FUCKING PLOT POINTS AND SCENES, YOU CLUELESS FUCKS.Thanks. Oh, and suck all the dicks.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 10:55:22 PM CST

    By the way, as a DC Metro native...

    by tiredpm

    ...can I just say that I love the lack of traffic and that you can see the Capitol from every street on which they are driving? I'm actually not having a go at that, it tickles me every time and just adds to my enjoyment of the show.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 11:06:28 PM CST

    The Jack and Tony Manlove Hour!

    by bigtuna

  • Jan 12, 2009 11:10:17 PM CST

    The real mastermind will be revealed in episode 12

    by batjac

    It's Teri Bauer, Come on---it's so obvious. I swear on Nina Myer's bullet proof bra it is. Swear to Edgar it's the truth!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 11:11:22 PM CST

    Seeing the capitol

    by nasty in the pasty

    Pretty much EVERY movie or TV show set in a city with a well-known landmark will have said landmark visible from freaking EVERYWHERE in the city. For example, check out any movie set in Paris, where EVERY SINGLE WINDOW the camera looks out of will have an unobstructed view of the Eiffel Tower.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 11:21:10 PM CST

    I know...

    by tiredpm

    ...but I don't live in Paris. I lived in DC and now live just outside it. So it makes me laugh. Just like I'm laughing at DC having an FBI field office when the FBI HQ is in town. Big building, Bones features it quite a lot, so did X-Files. I guess 24 didn't get the okay to use it's image, though...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 12, 2009 11:28:32 PM CST

    Oh, and the person who's going to tell me...

    by tiredpm

    ...that there IS an FBI field office and chide me for not knowing that? Suck it. Don't care if there is, it still makes me giggle that the national security crisis is being run out of a field office and not the HQ.Again, not hating on the show, it's the little things in 24 that make me happy that it's back.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 12:02:36 AM CST

    Not bad

    by symphy

    But I still think the series peaked at hour four of last year. After the nuclear explosion went off in L.A., the show has never been able to capture the sense of BUILDING TENSION because, well, there's nowhere to go. The rest of last year was awful (although the last half hour of the last ep redeemed it a little.) Everything this year does feel a little "blah", and there haven't been any HOLYFUCKINGSHIT!!!!! scream-at-the-tv moments yet, which for four hours of 24 (six hours counting the movie), that's the longest OMG-free streak the show has ever had in its history.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 12:03:32 AM CST

    Plot hole?

    by fsjguy

    How did the guy in the hospital know about the kidnapping plan???

    Other than that, awesome episode...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 12:11:04 AM CST

    Hour 4 was exceptional as well

    by whatcokes982

    Episode 3 was incredible, but there was very little drop off after that. A little too much exposition b/t the President and her Sec. of Defense at the beginning, but other than that, a very solid hour. Loved the conversation b/t Jack and Emerson in the basement. Emerson looks to be a quality Christopher Henderson-like bad guy. Hope they don't kill him off too quick. This is the first time I'm actively looking forward to next week's 24 in a long long time.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 12:16:57 AM CST

    Did you all miss it?

    by monkey man zero

    Did I not see the JACK SACK return in episode 4?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 12:29:54 AM CST

    Dare I say....

    by mindworm22

    ...the show has recovered from last year's debacle?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 12:32:16 AM CST

    ok loving this season so far (SPOILERS)

    by oisin5199

    I've been bored with (but still stuck with) 24 for seasons now, but this just feels kinda made of awesome. Pretty much anytime we have the Jack and Tony team, I'm on board (I'm one of those people who stood up and shouted that one season when Jack said he was calling the only person he trusts and Tony showed up). Even though I should have, I did NOT see the Tony reversal coming, and I was thrilled to see it. I like the shadow CTU setup, I like the battle of the techgeeks, Garafolo's character is a nice counterpoint to the usual 24 character. I like how Agent Walker is being set up as a female Jack who's testing her own limits (esp. with the torture thing), I like Emerson (METHOS! But if his character's supposed to be British, why isn't he using his normal British accent?), even the weasly guy with the wife on the plane seems to be more developed than any of the characters last season. I just hope the season doesn't spiral into ridiculousness like it has in the past. I also agree with other posters in that I like the threat - it's believable (well, if you buy the fact that the entire US infrastructure depends on one firewall) in the sense that these guys aren't threatening to blow up the world, just fuck shit up, and that the issue is about intervention vs. non-intervention. It's an interesting conflict. But most of all, I love that it's also about Jack's past, and Tony's past, and Jack saying 'fuck it' I'm in - that he makes the choice, he's not forced into it.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 12:33:24 AM CST

    But here's the twist...

    by mindworm22

    ...that Jack, by season's end will find that Chloe, Tony and Buchanon are all on the bad guy's side and that he will've been helping them, thinking they were on the side of the angels, the entire season until the reveal. SMACK! Chloe lost her Edgar. Bill B. lost everything. Tony lost Michelle and everything else he had. They all fit the MI-6 guy's profile of folks who lost something and could/should hold a grudge.
    Down goes the Wicker-Man!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 12:39:16 AM CST

    This season is starting out exceptional

    by bullet3

    I mean, this is such a step up in quality from last season it reads like a textbook for what works on 24. All the annoying whiny CTU people (like fucking milo) are gone, and the new cast so far is as good as any of the original players (Michele, Tony, Edgar, etc.). I'm loving the FBI agent crossing the line, all the FBI analysts are very likable this time out (mainly because they're cast really well. Go Billy Walsh!), and as mentioned before, the threat isn't so fucking ludicrous. Also, the White House plotline is one of the better ones the shows scene. Man I am pumped to see where this all goes.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 12:47:34 AM CST

    Tony dead for 10 minutes.

    by otm shank

    Wow! I guess "Zombie Almeida" was correct.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 12:52:46 AM CST

    Did Paul Wingfeld (or whatever) get the rewrites?

    by raymar

    Where's the accent? He's SAS!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 1:57:03 AM CST

    It's nerd wars on 24

    by xiphos_2

    Chloe Vs Garafalo! Chloes net Fu was stronger. Mary Jane Raksjub looks alright I must say. She's no Chesty Freckles girl FBI agent but she's none to shabby either.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 3:16:51 AM CST

    Jack + Tony = I LOVE 24 AGAIN!!!

    by wwbd

    Seriously - a QUALITY start.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 4:15:28 AM CST

    Not a plot hole

    by guy who got a headache and accidentally

    The guy knew about the kidnapping plot because he's the one who was going to Tony on the boat so he could tell him to get his team ready for it, remember?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 4:41:28 AM CST

    Don't forget

    by the mcpoyle clan

    Tony has super-healing powers; remember he was shot in the neck, had surgery and was back on the job in less than a day. Death is nothing for him. It was pretty cool when he jumped from the garage onto the truck during the escape.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 6:24:50 AM CST

    Speaking of West Wing did any catch the gage whitney reference

    by enderpilot

    The lawyers for the sniper were from gage whitney pace, the law firm that sam seaborn originally worked at.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 7:26:29 AM CST

    Cotton: That's not my point

    by chrth

    The best moments of 24 are those which have deep emotional resonance: Mason flying to the desert, Jack clutching Teri's dead body, even Logan asking Mike to pray with him while his wife heads into an ambush he set up (although we didn't know it at the time). Even the best part of last season -- after the opening 4 hours -- was the Sec State berating Jack. These are the moments that stick with us because they resonate. This season may be the most tightly written season of 24's existence, but if they don't dispense with the cookie cutter clones in the fake CTU, and if they don't add some tension to the stakes, no one is going to care.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 8:01:10 AM CST

    Rigoddamniculous

    by jacksack

    I have to admit, the show is a bit ludicrous. But, DAMNIT, you put Bill, Chloe, Jack, Zombie Almedia and Agent Freckles together and I'm intrigued.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 8:16:54 AM CST

    "LOOK AT WHAT I DID TO THEM!"

    by turketron

    Jack owned Emmerson's goons and then talked shit about it. Last night was great... I loved the swerve where Garafolo goes down to the servers and you totally expect someone to get killed/tied up/knocked out like in seasons past, but it doesn't happen. That room is always the least secure room in existence on the show.Also loved the return of the Jack Sack moment, Jack and Tony back2back, and I'm loving Freckles Bauer. I can do without the Presiden's husband storyline though, although I'm sure they will tie it into everything it's kind of dragging right now. But then, every season has it's retarded side storyline!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 8:18:32 AM CST

    Hi, my name is just pillow talk

    by just pillow talk

    and I love '24' again. I had left the bandwagon in disgrace at my disappointment with the 6th season, but I am now hooked again like a coked out whore.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 8:36:53 AM CST

    The "Count" so far...

    by webmonkey

    I have counted 5 "damn it"s and only 1 kill so far for Jack. Am I wrong, or did last season have a higher count 4hrs in?
    -M

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 8:58:18 AM CST

    Chloe vs. Janis

    by hobocode

    It WILL happen and it WILL be glorious. the only thing that could make the eventual confrontation better is if they end up being related. God I love 24!!!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 8:58:42 AM CST

    "10's of thousands of American lives" - do we get to choose ?

    by miyamoto_musashi

    Start with those crazies from that Kansas church.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 9:06:12 AM CST

    on a more serious note ......

    by miyamoto_musashi

    Loving Freckles Bauer
    All that pent up anger from being teased as a child , it's time for some ass kicking.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 10:14:48 AM CST

    Worst President Ever

    by _maltheus_

    She seriously doesn't know what to do here? This isn't just a post 9/11 world, it's a post nuke-in-LA world and she's contemplating letting thousands of Americans die in yet another terrorist event, just to save thousands in some other country? Me thinks that would (rightfully) trigger a military coup if she went through with it. I get the whole, not negotiating with terrorists thing, but that doesn't mean she can't wait one day.
    I like the whole rouge unit thing. I was very much against CTU not arresting Jack every time he stepped out of line and broke the law because I hate government hypocrisy. It's clearly self-defeating. But I'm fine with them doing what needs to be done outside the confines of government employ. It's not on my dollar and not in my name and most importantly doesn't risk as much blow back. Pretty much every bad event in the series has been the result of blow back, which kind of nullifies Jack's argument about the necessity of doing the things he's done. He's just been perpetuating the cycle. As freelancers, any blow back should fall squarely on them.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 10:22:14 AM CST

    Maltheus.

    by hobocode

    Juma's troops are about to move in on a refugee camp with mostly women and children and slaughter them with only the opposition's outnumbered troops in place to protect them. Troops there only because of promised intervention by the U.S. You think leaving those people to be slaughtered is ok as long as American lives are spared? There's a reason anti-American sentiment is born and manifested as terrorism. That attitude is one of the reasons.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 10:29:51 AM CST

    pure bliss

    by macgruder

    I had a huge boner last night watching episode 3. I wished for a return of Tony , which I got. What I really wanted was Tony to work again with Jack, which they also delivered. THEN, they brought out Chloe and Bill and I couldn't believe it. Then they had that super escape from FBI and the jack and tony team were back! I am so happy right now. I'm glad I didn't read into any spoilers so far, the surprise was totally worth it. I hope this level of excitement continues this season. I think episode 3 is my favorite episode ever of 24.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 10:38:47 AM CST

    Madame President, you are a dumb, fucking bitch!

    by leafar the lost

    Ok, let me get this straight. There is a terrorist with a device that can bring down airplanes and shut down the power grid of the USA. His only demand is that you not invade a country in Africa. You want to invade his country in order to save the lives of 100,000 people. Let me repeat what this terrorist has...a device that can bring down airplanes full of Americans and shut down the power grid of America. He wants you to NOT invade a country in AFRICA. Am I missing something here you dumb, fucking cunt?! I wish I could bitch slap the actress who played this fictional president. The preview for next week showed us that she was going to invade this country anyway, even though some TERRORIST WILL BRING DOWN US AIRPLANES AND SHUT DOWN THE US POWER GRID! This proves to me that the guy writing this show is a right-winger, because he has written the first female president as the dumbest person ever! Her chief of staff was trying to tell her that this was not an impossible choice. In fact, there was only one choice for someone that wasn't a dumb, stupid bitch! I am going to watch 24 just to see what happens, so whoever wrote this shit has done a good job. But even President Bush wouldn't have invaded this country. Jesus Christ was a stupid bitch...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 10:42:05 AM CST

    HoboCode: You're kidding, right?

    by chrth

    I would love for you to name me one nation on this planet where a majority of its citizens would be ok with sacrificing a number of its own to save an equal number in another nation.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 10:42:28 AM CST

    I meant to write, "Jesus Christ, what a stupid bitch..."

    by leafar the lost

    I am sorry to any Christians that I may have offended. I wish there was an edit button here.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 10:43:51 AM CST

    Great ep. but...

    by nam0krut

    Whats up with Bill Buchanan's hairdo?? He looks like a cross between Roy Batty and Andy Samberg's Space Olympics guy

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 10:45:01 AM CST

    The Redhead is the Mole

    by artaxerxes

    I barely even watched.. maybe 3 and 4 will perk up.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 10:52:59 AM CST

    I'm not saying she's the worst President

    by chrth

    But so far she's the least interesting President. They need to add something to her character besides waffling to make her more compelling.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 11:32:19 AM CST

    re: HoboCode

    by _maltheus_

    It's bad situation to be in, life sucks like that. But as president, her job is to protect America first. The same is true of any leader in any country. What she's contemplating borders on outright treason in my book.
    As for anti-America sentiment in the world, I think that has more to do with the women and children that we kill (through collateral damage, or however you want to phrase it), rather than the women and children we fail to save. In fact, why not let the E.U. handle it since much of the disarray in Africa is a by-product of European colonialism?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 11:42:49 AM CST

    7.2 rating, 11 share last night...very very good.

    by pennsy

  • Jan 13, 2009 11:51:43 AM CST

    I taped the first four hours

    by dr. chim richalds

    Is it as stupid as last year? That season caused me to re-evaluate my interest in the entire series.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 11:58:02 AM CST

    re: Dr. Chim Richalds

    by _maltheus_

    First two hours were kind of stupid, the second two were much better though. 24 zigs and zags all over the place so who's to say until the season is over with.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 12:08:39 PM CST

    Jack IS back!!

    by skydemon

    Season six disappointed on many levels, I reached a point I was forcing myself to watch it because I'm a huge 24 fan, and I kept thinking , surely it's going to get better. It never did. That hiccup behind us, season seven is back on track, I hope the writers of 24 keep up the momentum, and never ever repeat the mistake of season six. It would be better for the show to end on a high note, than to lose it's audience like it very nearly completely did in season six.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 12:17:18 PM CST

    Oh I just noticed

    by guy who got a headache and accidentally

    You think Jack cutting Tony off right after Audrey Raines when he talked about everything Jack's lost so far was kind of a writer joke about ignoring the whole Jack's brother and dad are terrorists bullshit from last year? Like that time Tony was about to explain what "division" was then the phone rang.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 12:18:15 PM CST

    Maltheus

    by toshiro-solo

    It seems to me like her question isn't so much about American lives vs. Sangalan lives, it's more about whether or not negotiating with a terrorist who is blackmailing you is a good policy. You could argue that it's worth the cost of American lives now if it shows "bad guys" that we won't negotiate, no matter what. I don't think it's as simple a call as people want to make it. Our foreign policy, after all, shouldn't be dictated by anyone but us.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 12:28:58 PM CST

    What I love...

    by cdubbs727

    I love the fact that "24's" writers seem to have played me like a friggin' piano. Think of all they did: they promised that CTU was gone and then set up an FBI that really seemed to have the same old CTU premise, including Garafolo as a replacement Chloe and the promise of a mole. I really thought they were going to use that premise and then they brought in Bill and Chloe, working outside the government.

    I love the fact of how the old CTU workers operate now...there's no expendable character in the group. If there's a mole or a death, it's going to be a character we all know and love. And I will be saddened, but not surprised, if they end up all being rogue agents designed to work against Jack.

    Also hoping they keep the FBI in the dark about what Jack's up to. Having a competent FBI force and Renee Walker (aka Vag Bauer) after him is genuinely suspenseful. And let's keep Jack's family out of this season.

    Also, if there's a Day 8, I hope they keep the Jack-operating-as-mercenary/A-Team plotline. Could be more fun.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 12:39:00 PM CST

    re: toshiro-solo

    by _maltheus_

    That's a valid argument to make, but it doesn't seem like the one she's wrestling with. She seems more concerned about saving the women and children. The stakes are also far greater here. We're talking about delaying an invasion to prevent the crippling of the entire infrastructure. Power plants, as well as planes. It's hard to argue that it would embolden future terrorists since it's unlikely anybody would have that much power again in the future. I think it's better to compare this to the Cuban missile crisis. We backed off on invading, despite any kind of non-negotiation policy, because the risk of nuclear war was too great. Policies against negotiation only make sense when they prevent a greater evil from occurring.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 12:44:01 PM CST

    Maltheus

    by toshiro-solo

    That's true; ultimately, I think she would have to stand down. I've just seen a few folks here (you not amongst them) that make this seem like the simplest call ever, and I don't think it would be.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 1:46:41 PM CST

    She-Bauer

    by zyuray2

    Sexy? Check. Likes to torture? Check. I'm in love.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 1:47:12 PM CST

    Why do people who work outside the government wear black?

    by leafar the lost

    Did you notice that last night? Jack had to change into black clothes too when he agreed to work with them. It must be an anti-government dress code.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 1:54:38 PM CST

    Fucking great!!!!!

    by picardsucks

    Hope Lost and BSG are nearly as good.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 2:04:10 PM CST

    Who are those people behind Jack in the top photo?

    by chimpjnr

    Who are they? They certainly don't look like a part of the terrorist unit that invaded the embassy at the end of the 4th episode, which is where it has to be from.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 2:06:36 PM CST

    I love how they pull

    by quintana007

    always some wonder-(plot)-device out the hat to control planes, hack moms coffeemaker or feed the mac with government footage. This show was always stupid and will be forever

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 2:32:18 PM CST

    chimpjnr

    by whatcokes982

    That photo's from season 6. That's Marilyn and her spawn behind Jack. Ugh... Thank God were past were past all that crap.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 2:44:00 PM CST

    Logan Didn't Kill Michelle Dessler

    by mike hunt

    It was actually Jack's brother who ordered the hit.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 3:17:38 PM CST

    "This is gonna hurt."

    by jack burton

    Between that line and "A lot of people say that. Nice to see you follow through.", Jack had some surprisingly funny one liners for him. This season is pretty fun but calling it "new and rejuvenated" is ridiculous. There are bad guys in the white-house, traitors in the FBI, Jack-Tony-Bill-Chloe are working deep undercover, ancillary (boring) subplots galore, this is the same old 24 just with more establishing shots of DC landmarks and a plot stolen from "Live Free or Die Hard". It's been more than 2 years so I'm just happy to see it back and I hope it reaches the same insanity level as the season before last (season 5?).

    And how awesome was Jack's flying tackle on Tony?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 3:25:43 PM CST

    quintana007: Yet you still watch it

    by chrth

    Says more about you than it does the show

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 3:51:45 PM CST

    Sacrificing american lives etc

    by elpaw

    If it was OBL saying withdraw your troops from the middle east or we will kill thousands of americans, what would be the reaction?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 4:08:29 PM CST

    chrth

    by quintana007

    With the exception of season 1 i usually lose interest by episode 6 or 7. Lifes just too short...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 4:41:22 PM CST

    I don't see how the pres could give up to terrorist threats.

    by david cloverfield

    Sure, let's go there, make war that's the right thing to do. 5 seconds later: Oh, wait, this enemy has a weapon that can hurt us. THEY CAN ACTUALLY FIGHT BACK! I guess I was wrong about the war in the first place. I you can only play when the game is rigged, get the fuck out.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 4:55:13 PM CST

    The Jack Sack IS Back !!

    by pumaman

    I saw it when Jack and Tony were escaping the FBI building :-)

    This means the season will be a good'un.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 4:55:20 PM CST

    David Cloverfield...you ignorant slut!

    by leafar the lost

    Did you actually watch the show? The enemy doesn't just have a weapon that can hurt the USA, they have a device that can cripple the fucking power grid, bring down airplanes, and pretty much anything else! All that this dumb president bitch has to do is wait, but she can't make the "impossible" choice. Oh no! She can't give in to terrorist threats! Oh no, she has to invade a country in Africa that is no threat to the USA. In fact, she will be invading another country knowing that this terrorist will shut down the power grid, which will cause the deaths of thousands of Americans, just because she can't give in to a terrorist threat! Oh, and let me be clear, the only thing she has to is delay her decision. You should be president, because you are just as qualified as this dumb bitch!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 5:32:56 PM CST

    Leafar the Lost

    by jub3i

    As opposed to your brilliant approach of letting terrorists dictate the president's policies? Oh gee, we've been threatened. Let's forget our promises to help an ally just so we can maybe save some Americans who want to go shopping at the mall.Your approach is much dumber than storyline being offered by the writers of "24," that much is certain. Who's the dumb bitch again?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 5:33:49 PM CST

    Tony Almeida

    by dradis contact

    They had a real opportunity in this season to do something interesting with Tony. Then he was secretly undercover with the no talent hack Buchanan and Chloe. Chloe is very good so far, I must say. She remarks that he looked good on C-Span. Just the kind of out of place line that comes from her kind of social ineptitude. I liked that.
    They squandered their idea for Tony though. We've seen others from Jack's past who used to be good and are now bad. However, we didn't watch them for several years being paragons of right thinking badassery for years the way we did with Tony. If Tony really was evil for this season, it would have meant a hell of a lot more and affected us more than with the other characters in that position.
    At least agent Walker (Walker, right?) is having a few good characterization moments, as far as her clumsy dialogue will allow.
    I swear every time I see an actor I think has potential these days I wish they had been in The Wire so we could really see what they were capable of. I saw Michael Kostroff in V Mars season 2 the other day. While he does a serviceable job there, it's nothing nearly as good as Levy.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 6:36:36 PM CST

    Great so far!

    by tehdude

    What's with this Firewall bullshit. Did I miss something? I mean 1) why are these systems all linked up in the first place? and 2) why are they connected to the fucking internet? Anyway that aside, it's shaping up awesomely: Jack and Tony ftw!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 7:28:31 PM CST

    Leafar the Lost

    by oisin5199

    I have a hard time taking seriously anything you say, when you use 'bitch' all the time and say you want to slap the actress (!?). Try making your argument again without the misogynist overtones. And yeah, giving in to terrorist demands is not something a new president would want to do. I think it's a perfectly valid dilemma.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 8:15:24 PM CST

    The biggest missed opportunity with 24

    by inactionman

    was after Jack was kidnapped by the Chinese. They should have done a whole season set in China (They could have faked it around LA). With CTU busting Jack out of Chinese prison and escaping the country.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 13, 2009 11:12:23 PM CST

    umm

    by celebritydave

    whats wrong with being a misogynist?

    Reply to Talkback

  • The protagonists in 24 rely a hell of a lot on torture as an expository device and magical Deus Ex Machina this season.


    Previous seasons resorted to torture as a last, desperate tactic at most once per season (not counting Jack Bauer as a target), but this season has already had three instances of torture in four hours, and that's not counting the movie.


    Seriously, though, what the hell? Is this just lazy writing? What happened to Chloe's brilliant hacking skills or Jack Bauer's, you know, actual detective work?


    Damn entertaining show, but it's starting to get damn ridiculous.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 14, 2009 3:27:27 AM CST

    Leafar the Lost

    by david cloverfield

    Thing is, when you chose a principle to go to war by with an enemy that can't really hurt you (at most you put your own soliders to risk) is easy. America's been a superpower for a long time, never fought a war without a huge advantage. You didn't have a war on your own soil, putting your own civilians in danger for a long time. (In Europe, we're used to the idea of losing hundreds of thousands of civilians in a war. That's why we're not so quick to declare it.) But a president, who stands by his principle even if the enemy has the capability to inflict just as much damage to the USA than the USA has to his country, and she still stands by her principles - "Tt was the right thing to do when they had only rocks to throw at us, and it's the right thing to do now, that they have actual guns" is someone to follow. But that's just my two cents, I dunno what americans expect from their president. I'm just saying going to war, then giving it up as soon as the enemy's got an actual weapon shows a very lame, small leader.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 14, 2009 8:00:01 AM CST

    David Cloverfield: It's not that simple

    by chrth

    It's a devil's choice. The only real analogue in US History is the Cuban Missile Crisis, and that's only partially applicable. Right now the President is doing the intelligent thing: considering options. Rushing into invasion would be just as lame,small as immediately cutting and running.
    You're also contradicting yourself. You said "In Europe, we're used to the idea of losing hundreds of thousands of civilians in a war. That's why we're not so quick to declare it", so why shouldn't the US act the same way? It's just in this case, the US didn't know until right beforehand. Are you saying a European nation -- who doesn't declare as fast because of the concern of civilian casualties -- would proceed gungho if they didn't find out until the last second there was a retaliatory possibility?
    (I know, I kinda went all over the place there. Apologies)

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 14, 2009 8:47:33 AM CST

    It was never going to happen

    by tomdolan04

    ...but I wish they'd returned to a lower key Season 1 approach. As someone posted above torture scenes are abundant, DAMMITS are every second sentence and everything seems too...action drama serial number no. 2420 related. The actors seem like just that, actors playing characters where they act dumb/super smart where needed to serve to plot. Additionally as mentioned way above, it is in the personal character moments that the shows true highlights are.

    Dont get me wrong its still great TV, and improved upon over S6 but I rewatched S1 before Xmas and despite its many flaws (and plot holes) the writing and acting blows it out of the water (Palmer and Haysbert deserving special mention), but crucially the characters felt like normal natural people thrown into extrodinary circumstances.

    The whole idea of this 'Deep Sky/A-Team' setup is leaving me cold too. But props to the main actors, they're giving it their all.

    Reply to Talkback

  • First off, let's not forget that she was told about the potential infrastructure problem before she publicly committed any forces. Before she even knew of any connection between the two. She should have put off any invasion until our own house was in order. That's pure irresponsibility on her part.
    Second, the whole point of the non-negotiation principle is not to set a formal precedent. By delaying the invasion, you can argue that she hasn't given into anything. That kind of parsing goes on all the time in Washington. Or she could have punted it off to the Europeans, who presumably aren't also linked into this ridiculous CIP module idea. Or she could have just tried to keep it all secret.
    Third, the stakes are too great here. You don't cut off your nose to spite your face. You don't destroy your country, just because you don't want to accept defeat. I've seen arguments here that it wouldn't be good for a new president to give into the terrorists. Well, how do you think those Americans would feel about starving in the streets for some tiny little country that they've never heard of. That's right it would be pitchfork time and the civil unrest might just be enough to bring down the entire government. And then it doesn't matter what policies the government once had.
    Of course, part of the problem with arguing all of this is that we're dealing with poorly written fiction and all of these things wouldn't be so easy to take down in reality. The terrorists in 24 are always ridiculously overpowered in order to scare us into crying for more daddy government. When it comes to well armed states, we sure as hell do negotiate and weigh our options. Well guess what, Sengala is now one of those well armed governments, on par with North Korea (whom we negotiate with all the time).
    And beyond all of that, you can argue the wisdom of an invasion at all. I'm with our founding fathers when it comes to avoiding entangling alliances at all costs. Now that is the principle that we should apply across the board, not the principle of stubbornness that so many here seem to embrace. America is on the verge of a real collapse right now, in large part due to the exorbitant cost of maintaining the empire. We're clearly heading the way of the Soviet Union. If we'd stop mucking around in other people's countries, we wouldn't be much of a target for anyone. We'd have only Mexico and Canada to worry about and I'm sure we'd get along just fine without a massive military. Almost every hotspot in the world is a direct result of Western powers intervening, redrawing borders, providing arms to one side or another, or in the case of 24, government figures are providing direct support to this Dubaku guy. Hell, you can even make a good case that we wouldn't have had Hitler had we not intervened in WWI. We need to stop bumbling around in affairs that can't possible be managed effectively.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Well, yeah, because the Germans probably would've won

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 14, 2009 11:03:58 AM CST

    Something I want to point out

    by chrth

    People much smarter than us have debated this topic (or similar) for decades and there has never been an unqualified response. I suspect we're not going to find the solution in AICN Talkback.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 14, 2009 12:25:55 PM CST

    re: chrth

    by _maltheus_

    No because it was mostly a stalemate up until that point and the flu was pretty much forcing both sides to throw in the towel anyway. If we didn't make it such a lopsided affair, Germany wouldn't have been saddled with the grossly unfair Treaty of Versailles and Hitler wouldn't be able to appeal to the feelings of the masses that they had so been given the shaft. It probably would have mitigated some of the great depression too since the Germans wouldn't have had to resort to flooding the world with fiat marks, just to keep up. And quite frankly, who cares if the Kaiser won, he certainly wasn't as bad as Hitler and Britain's machinations on the continent were largely responsible for starting that mess in the first place.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 14, 2009 12:30:54 PM CST

    Janis Gold = A Female Edgar

    by banditmania

    Sean Hillinger = A new PeeWee Herman.
    Chloe looks good, though.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 14, 2009 12:57:35 PM CST

    DAMMIT! What's the DAMMIT!! count?!

    by tallboy66

    I think it's at DAMMIT! 4 for Jack Bauer and 4 for everybody else, which makes the total at 8! That was me keeping score in my head over 2 nights without writing it down. Anybody else confirm that, or I'm just gonna go with that.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 14, 2009 2:29:41 PM CST

    There have been an orgy of dammits thus far.

    by darthcorleone

    I don't know the exact count, but it did seem like they were going a little overboard. It seemed like every other character muttered one under his or her breath in hours three and four.Is there an official 24 "dammit" website I can go to as a reference?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2009 11:53:07 AM CST

    Rest assured the cougar will be back

    by jtp8000

    And it will be the final Cylon.
    Ellen Tigh - so it all ties together

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 19, 2009 7:30:31 PM CST

    What, No love for hour 5?

    by kronos6948

    No topic, no TB?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 21, 2009 8:51:11 AM CST

    I was wondering that!

    by joe pineapples a1

    Nobody watching it anymore?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 21, 2009 9:30:23 AM CST

    I 2nd and 3rd THAT!

    by anino

    We should just start one right here right now! Episode 5 was AWESOME as are the first four episodes! Well paced, Jack is Jack and Tony's back--and the new hottie FBI (Chesty Freckles) is the best female lead they've had in a long time! Here here!!!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 22, 2009 4:24:17 AM CST

    Hmmm....

    by joe pineapples a1

    Well, I agree with you - let's get going!
    So far so good, looking better than last season already. The ending of Episode 5 was fantastic. I know she can't die - too damn hot!

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