With less than two months to go until 24 returns for its New York City set eighth season (it premieres on Sunday, January 17th and Monday, January 18th with the traditional two-night, four-hour event), FOX has released the official cast photo with the new and returning series regulars.
For as cool as last season's cast shot was with the Lincoln Memorial in the background, this one trumps it and then some -- the United Nations backdrop is very, very cool. You have to wonder though... think there's any meaning to the flags that are visible? From left to right, the first three are the UK, the US, and Nicaragua. The fourth one in line is harder to make out. I'm probably reading into it too much, but you never know when it comes to 24 -- anything could be a clue.
If you haven't seen it yet, you can watch the trailer for the new season here and if you really feel like analyzing the cast photo, there's a high-res image here.
You know, I thought we didn't have Charles Logan to kick around anymore. You know, the Nixonian disgraced President from 24? Well, I was wrong. 24 has cast Gregory Itzin to reprise Charles Logan in the upcoming new season.
Itzin -- who's currently been a semi-regular on The Mentalist -- was Emmy-nominated for President Logan, and he really gave it all the shadings and complexities of a dark, corrupt politician. He was a guy you loved to hate, but he had a soft spot and that was his love for his wife. His unbalanced spouse, Martha. When last seen on the show, Martha had stabbed Charles.
As in years past during the World Series, FOX has started up the marketing machine for the new season of 24 and this year is no different. The official trailer for Jack Bauer's eighth very bad day (which has 24's traditional 2-night 4-hour premiere on January 17th and 18th) aired last night.
While it doesn't shed too much light on the new season (which takes place in NYC), one thing is for certain -- despite how we last saw Jack, sick as a dog with Kim by his side, the guy seems pretty healthy now. And a healthy Jack Bauer means an ass-kicking Jack Bauer, retired or not.
It's been revealed that the new season will focus on the assassination attempt of a Middle Eastern political figure played by Slumdog Millionaire's Anil Kapoor. He gets a little bit of play here in the trailer as well as a quick glimpse of the resurrected CTU. But let's be honest -- all we care about seeing is Jack, even though he is a grandpa now. Check it and tell us what you think!
I wasn't particularly impressed with season seven of 24, partly because I really want Jack Bauer to be the kick-ass character he used to be, rather than the sickly guy struggling to survive (well, he's always been struggling, but in more of a kick-ass way).
The show took some heat for some of the earlier implausible plotlines (Really, Jack? You escape from the Secret Service guys and steal a helicopter to save the President? And say what? You spring back to life after being "dead" to find the bombs and save the world?), but that's what I loved about the show.
Stephen Root has had an incredibly prolific career. He may not be a headliner, but you always remember him as something that has influenced pop culture (usually NewsRadio or the movie Office Space). Now he will be adding to his long acting resumé by appearing on the Fox series 24 as a parole officer.
The wonderful thing about Root is how he can play a multitude of characters. To use the previous examples, his character on Office Space, Milton Waddams, is nothing like his character on NewsRadio, Jimmy James. Neither of them are like his character from True Blood, Eddie. Well, you get the idea.
I'm also impressed with his ability to go from comedy to drama and back while mastering both types of performance. Yes, I'm a Stephen Root fan.
This is an incredible gain for 24. I may tune in just to see what sort of character he'll be playing in this one.
I was playing Call of Duty: World at War with my son the other day (hey, I'm the cool mom), and he said, "You know, that sounds like Jack Bauer." I listened, and sure enough, that unmistakable "Fire!" was indeed Kiefer Sutherland, a.k.a. Jack Bauer on 24.
It's always fun when stuff like this happens, where you recognize a beloved TV character's voice elsewhere. I surfed around YouTube and found a video of Sutherland in the recording studio, along with Gary Oldman, who played James Gordon on The Dark Knight, among dozens of other films.
After last season, I've been hoping that Jack gets back to being the kick-ass agent I fell in love with during the first few seasons. I understand that storylines and characters need to evolve over the course of several seasons, but I don't like seeing Jack weak and dying. I like seeing him kick ass and take names.
Hopefully, these characters -- a suicide bomber type, a SWAT agent, and a security guy for President Hassan -- will bring the series back around to its early-season goodness, while still letting the characters evolve (the ones who haven't perished along the way, that is).
Unlike his three older brothers who all died suddenly – and tragically – the late Massachusetts senator Edward M. Kennedy knew that his final days were upon him. In the time he had left, Teddy, as he was known by friends and family, took the time to enjoy his life. That included still getting out on his boat to sail despite being wheelchair bound, as well as viewing all the James Bond movies, as well as 24 action hero Jack Bauer.
What's really fascinating about the latter two facts is that Kennedy was clearly entertained by both Bond and Bauer, men of action who didn't – and don't follow the rules. Bond, for instance, is in the service of her majesty's secret service, but he's a spy with a license to kill.
I'm wondering when David Anders will get his very own show. Not as a supporting character, but a lead role. I think he has proven himself to be a good actor, good with both the dark stuff and the funny stuff, on shows like Alias (Julian Sark) and Heroes (Adam Monroe). I think he could carry a show.
For now, though, we'll have to be content with seeing him in supporting roles, including this new one. Anders has joined the cast of 24 for the 8th (and possibly last?) season. Sources say he'll be in a "handful of episodes."
At least that's what it sounds like 24 EP Evan Katz told EW's Ausiello. According to Katz, some of the things they have planned for the FOX drama's eighth season don't involve a Jack/Audrey reunion.
Can you blame them? 24 has had some doosie plots in the past that are pretty hard to swallow, but the last we saw of Audrey was at the very end of season six, and she didn't look so good. If she somehow ended up in the fold again next year (which takes place in New York City), I can't see people being too happy about it.
Remember when Jack Bauer was happy? You know, back before he left Audrey? Good times. Apparently almost dying at the hands of his one-time best friend last season is going to leave Jack in a happy place at the start of 24's season eight. Okay, that's not the reason.
It's really because he's reconnected with his daughter and granddaughter. I still can't get over America's "hero" being a grandfather. And of course we know it can't last ... wait a minute. Could this be the season they kill Kim? Would they really put Jack through that much more crap? Of course they would!
The stars converged at San Diego to drop cryptic hints about season eight of 24, including some tidbits about Katee Sackhoff, Freddie Prinze Jr. and Anil Kapoor's roles. And it looks like while Jack is playing house with his family, Renee is in a much darker place.
Talk about a wealth of choices! When it comes to the Primetime Emmys in the supporting actor and actress categories for drama, there are a plethora of worthy candidates. Some shows, like Mad Men or Lost, for instance, have multiple choices in the supporting ranks, especially since these ensembles seem to have a hard time determining who's really the lead.
Earlier, I shared my wish list for the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama nominations, and I mentioned that Chloe Sevigny from Big Love would be a deserving selection. A TV Squad reader let me know that Chloe has actually been submitted in the supporting category. Good to know, and with that in mind, I'll start my wish list by talking about that category. (Remember, there are six nominees per category.)
Katee Sackhoff, known mostly as the female Starbuck in the revamped version of Battlestar Galacticawill be joining Jack Bauer to fight terrorists in the next season of 24.
I met Ms. Sackhoff once and she was quite nice, so I'm glad she's found another gig. It even makes sense that she's been cast, since 24 is very much like Battlestar Galactica but with less of a science fiction vibe (particularly if you substitute "Cylon" for "double-agent"). There is likely a lot of crossover appeal.
She is set to play a character named Dana Walsh, a CTU data analyst. Secretly I'm hoping she won't be stuck behind a desk decrypting computer files or anything boring like that and we'll be able to see her take down a terrorist or two (or whomever the enemy is next season).
This is a good casting choice and almost makes up for the show's casting of Freddie Prinze, Jr.
(S02E13) Cause and effect, random selection, grief, life and death... "My father is my hero, he's just decent." Breaking Bad covered all that and more in the season finale, setting up Walter White's life after successful surgery that bought him more time. The question was this when the end credits rolled, what will that life be for the New Mexico science teacher after all that's come before?
Anyone out there who thinks they know is lying because only creator Vince Gilligan has a handle on what's been going on and what's to come. What we do know after watching the season finale is this: Breaking Bad is as good as any other drama currently on television, and that includes Lost, Mad Men, House, 24 and the other potential Emmy nominees for Outstanding Drama Series.
Freddie Prinze Jr. will be joining the cast of 24 for the eighth season as a recently-returned marine and Jack Bauer-wannabe named Davis Cole. I think this is an example of Fox either wanting to expand or continue the franchise without Kiefer Sutherland.
Think about it. Sutherland is only getting older. He can't be Jack Bauer forever. Prinze is a younger, recognizable face (much as all of us want to forget the Scooby Doo movie franchise). This could be the set-up for one of three things: the retirement of Jack Bauer from 24, a spin-off series, or an opportunity to have more negotiating power for Kiefer Sutherland's next contract renewal. It could even be a combination of the three.
So the question to ask is: could the series continue without Jack Bauer, or would that be the beginning of the end? Since the name of the show is 24 and not Jack Bauer, I would think so.
You know, I thought we didn't have Charles Logan to kick around anymore. You know, the Nixonian disgraced President from 
I wasn't particularly impressed with season seven of 
I was playing 
Three actors have 
Unlike his three older brothers who all died suddenly – and tragically – the late Massachusetts 
I'm wondering when David Anders will get his very own show. Not as a supporting character, but a lead role. I think he has proven himself to be a good actor, good with both the dark stuff and the funny stuff, on shows like Alias (Julian Sark) and Heroes (Adam Monroe). I think he could carry a show. 
At least that's what it sounds like 24 EP Evan Katz told EW's Ausiello. According to Katz, some of the things they have planned for the FOX drama's eighth season 
Remember when Jack Bauer was happy? You know, back before he left Audrey? Good times. Apparently almost dying at the hands of his one-time best friend last season is going to leave Jack in a happy place at the start of 
Talk about a wealth of choices! When it comes to the Primetime Emmys in the supporting actor and actress categories for drama, there are a plethora of worthy candidates. Some shows, like 
Katee Sackhoff, known mostly as the female Starbuck in the revamped version of Battlestar Galactica 
Freddie Prinze Jr. 
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