IF YOU FOLLOWED the recent season of "24" on Fox, or on our own Bauer by Hour, you know that the season left Jack fans a little underwhelmed. Nonetheless, "24" is returning for another season, and the folks at Fox have picked a new president to lead our nation through another crisis.
So who is the new president? A woman, President Allison Taylor, to be played by Tony Award-winning Cherry Jones, the AP reports. (Jones is pictured at left playing Sister Aloysius in "Doubt" at the National Theatre earlier this year.)
The notion of a female president isn't new to television — ABC had one played by Geena Davis just last year in its short-lived, much-hyped series "Commander in Chief." But Fox should learn from that show's big mistake: Don't mess with Hyattsville.
Wrote The Post's Allison Klein and Ovetta Wiggins at the time:
In the episode that aired [April 27, 2006], called "Ties That Bind," Davis's character, Mackenzie Allen, watches a segment on the local news about civil unrest in Prince George's during a protest over the high homicide rate and a lack of police protection. She then goes to the Prince George's city of Hyattsville and gets out of her car in front of a restaurant advertising sweet potato pie, pork chops and chitlins.And that sparked an uproar for which ABC apologized. But it was too late. The show was canned by execs for low ratings.
During last season of "24," D.C.'s Anacostia neighborhood was home to a top U.S. terrorist prison. If L.A.-based writers and producers are smart, the new president will steer clear of local missteps.
» "Female President Next for Fox's '24'" [AP via Forbes]
» "Starring Role in ABC Drama Leaves Pr. George's Fuming" [WaPo]
Photo by Craig Schwartz
Express' Matt Swenson, an admitted "24" addict, is set to go through major withdrawal. The following takes place between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m.
JACK BAUER, GUN IN HAND (of course), walks to the edge of a cliff and stares down. The camera stays on him several seconds before fading to black with a silent clock — the ultimate tribute to a fallen hero. And that's the season. A show known for big twists in regular episodes before a shocking conclusion that leads into the next season — such as Jack's wife being killed, David Palmer being poisoned by sexy assassin Mandy or Jack's own kidnapping last year — ended with its biggest twist yet: None at all.
But what does the silent clock mean? Has Jack had enough? Aside from his wife's untimely fate, Jack has killed ex-flame Nina, seen his daughter Kim nearly eaten by mountain lions, left two girlfriends behind (including Audrey Raines last night) and watched his family fall apart: his evil brother was killed by his evil dad, who was then shot by Jack's good nephew before Jack left the dad to be blown up by F-18s (whose attack prevents a war with the Russians). That's not anything Jack can't overcome, especially when real-life Bauer, Kiefer Sutherland, is signed through 2009. Cross the suicide theory off the list.
We're here to say the silent treatment represents the end of an era on "24." Day 6 was lame — everyone knows it. So the producers plan a major re-boot next year. Dare we dream of a "24: D.C." next season? Or more likely, New York will be the setting. It's doubtful any cast regulars will return besides Jack, aside from guest cameos. One wonders if the implausible plot lines and the fuzzy timing of the "real-time" clock are goners, too. Alas, any major reshuffling by a TV show is beginning of the end, delaying the inevitable cancellation which invariably follows the next year. Maybe Jack has only day left in him. Hopefully it will be a good one. Now to the final minutes ...
Continue Reading "Bauer by Hour: Silent Treatment as Season Ends" »
Express' Matt Swenson, an admitted "24" addict, is ready for a new day. The following takes place between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m.
AS YOU MAY RECALL, Fox's "24" opened the season with a bang, literally, when a nuclear bomb exploded in Valencia, Calif. That triggered a chase find the remaining four weapons, something that's old hat to Jack Bauer. Naturally, Jack saved the world from that threat — but he did it too quickly. So for the past three episodes — and presumably next week's final two hours — the show has been focused on a mad search for a Russian computer component. And you wonder why some say the show has gone downhill?
So now the show has degenerated into a tete-a-tete-a-tete between Jack's evil father Phillip (James Cromwell) — who has the computer chip — and acting President Powers Boothe — still distracted over his hot aide's infidelity — and the Russian president, who doesn't want the Chinese to get hold of the device. All bad granddaddy Bauer wants is his grandson Josh, so he can take him to China to ensure the Bauer clan's evil legacy will continue. Facing threats from the mad Russians, Powers is willing to hand the kid over — even though the youngest Bauer is no longer in any danger because uncle Jack is there to protect him — and orders CTU to take Josh to the evil one.
That's where we stand ahead of the two-hour finale next week. Jack will once again have to put national security aside to save a loved one — but will somehow do both — before some major twist tries to redeem the lost season. Is Tony Almeida or David Palmer still alive? We can only hope. Now to the minutes ...
Express' Matt Swenson, an admitted "24" addict, thinks we're going to need a bigger boat. The following takes place between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m.
THERE'S BLOOD IN THE WATER. A bad day has led to a ratings drop for "24" and caused many fans to say the show has jumped the shark — a term that itself jumped the shark eons ago. It's hard to imagine why. It's not like Jack Bauer's dad and brother aided in a terrorist attack or Jack defied a president's orders to save a girl like he's James Bond. And there hasn't been a presidential assassination attempt or an evil vice president ready to step in yet again. Fortunately, too, we've been spared a year where CTU comes under attack. Oh wait ...
The CTU attack was the big event Monday night. The Chinese hired some contractors who speak English to break in, but they aren't after Jack. They already had him once and aren't looking for leftovers. Instead, the bad guys have their eyes on Jack's nephew, who reappears after a two-month layoff and looks like he must be Ricky Schroder's son (he's actually not). Why do they want the kid? Jack's dad is — of course — behind the attack and is helping the Chinese with whatever their grand scheme is.
With that out of the way, we return to the original debate. Yes, this is a bad year by "24" standards. Yet the show seemingly jumped the shark previously when Jack's wife got amnesia in Year 1 and when daughter Kim was attacked by mountain lions in Year 2 only to hit its creative stride last season. Because each day stands alone, the shark is as irrelevant here as "Happy Days" — where Fonzie literally jumped a finned fish — is to today's culture. There is already talk of a major reboot next season. As "Gone with the Wind" reminds us, tomorrow is another day. Now to the minutes ...
Express' Matt Swenson, an admitted "24" addict, takes up Jack Bauer's defense with three episodes to go. The following takes place between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m.
"YOU'RE CURSED, JACK," says former Secretary of Defense James Heller in the latest installment of "24" on Monday night. "Everything you touch, one way or another, ends up dead."
That's his way of saying that Agent Bauer is no longer welcome at family dinners, not after Heller's daughter, the one and only Audrey Raines, is basically a walking catatonic.
But we challenge Heller's statement. So Jack's first wife, Teri, is dead. Ditto for ex-flame/turncoat Nina Myers. President David Palmer and agent Tony Almeida also bit the big one last year (or did they?). But let's not forget, daughter Kim was only almost eaten by mountain lions and secret love Chloe (a guy can dream, can't he?) is in good health. Heck, Jack's dad is still alive, even if Bad Bald Bauer suffered a worse fate earlier this season.
And, for the record, Audrey isn't dead yet. And, oh yeah, there is still a U.S. of A. because of Jack. So Heller really has no right to tell Jack to stay away from his daughter. Or something like that. Now to the minutes ...
Express' Matt Swenson, an admitted "24" addict, wishes Jack Bauer looks like Sidney Bristow. The following takes place between 12 a.m. and 1 a.m.
BACK IN THE DAY, "24" debuted the same time as another spy show, "Alias" did. For a year, there may have even been some real debate which was the better program. Jack Bauer and Sidney Bristow probably attract different fanatics. Then what is known as the J.J. Abrams effect took place, as the writer/director took promising "Alias" and promptly ruined it with one stupid storyline over the next. Hence, "24" is still around and Jennifer Garner found enough time to have Ben Affleck's kid.
Why so much "Alias" chat, you may ask? Because the far superior "24" appears to be dipping into that well, and rest assured, this is not a good thing. Monday night, Jack did almost everything he said he was going to do except make sure the Chinese bad guy didn't get a Russian nuclear component, blow himself up and restore order to the world. Details, details. But Jack did manage to secure the release of ex-flame Audrey Raines, who was kidnapped by the Chinese between seasons 5 and 6 trying to rescue Blond Bauer.
There's just one catch, Audrey's vocabulary seems to have shrunk. "Help me Jack. Keep them from doing this to me," is all she can say. This means either A.) she has been brainwashed to Timbuktu or B.) this is not Audrey, but rather a clone made to look just like her.
Either way, we are in "Alias" territory now with four episodes to go. Now the real question isn't where Jack can save the day but rather if Kiefer Sutherland can save"24" from itself. Onto the minutes ...
Express' Matt Swenson, an admitted "24" addict, knows the witching hour when he sees it. The following takes place between 11 p.m. and 12 a.m.
IN THE SIX DAYS we've gotten to know Jack Bauer, his wife Teri has been killed by ex-flame Nina Myers, his daughter Kim has nearly been eaten by cougars (or were those mountain lions?), his brother has tried to kill him, his father has betrayed him, he has been shot multiple times and, oh yeah, he was tortured two years in China. Why? Because Jack has always put his job ahead of his personal life. Finally — at long last — Jack tells the president, "You owe me one." Wayne Palmer certainly isn't one to disagree, so he lets Agent Bauer risk World War III to save a woman.
But it's not just any woman, this is Audrey Raines, raised from the dead last week. The Chinese have her and are demanding that Jack bring a Russian component from a nuclear weapon $#8212; which Jack just confiscated — for an exchange.
Needless to say, "24" will become "Operation: Save Audrey" for the remaining six episodes. But we ask, is Audrey really worth it? Sure, she's pretty and smart. But is Audrey so much better than Season 2's Kate Warner? She was also blond, pretty and smart. (Jack apparently swore off brunettes after Teri and Nina.)
Kate may have also tried to save Jack in China if they were still an item. Perhaps Kate will still show up. The show's creators have a list of who's dead and who's not, and she certainly is on the not-dead list. Now to the minutes.
Express' Matt Swenson, an admitted "24" addict, can raise the dead with the best of them. The following takes place between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.
WELCOME BACK, JACK BAUER. We are very pleased to report a return to form for "24." There were fake deaths, real deaths, some interoffice tension and Jack playing hero like nobody's business.
Dirty Harry would have nothing on Jack, who goes all "Speed" on us this week by following bad guy Fayed from underneath a truck the villain stole. Whoa.
Jack snaps one guy's neck, then shoots four or five other henchmen before hanging Fayed with a chain lift. By episode's end, Jack has secured the last two nuclear weapons and the world is safe. Except there are seven eight more hours left in the season, so who knows what's up the show's sleeves. Let's just say we've got some — spoiler alert — Raines in the forecast: Audrey Raines that is — end spoiler.
» MY, MY MILO: Seems we have the jealous type running around CTU. He refuses to help Nadia with part of the mission because she — heaven forbid — showed concern for Agent Silver Spoons. Milo even grabs her arm before Morris and his posh accent wonders if everything is OK, love.
» A HAUNTING PERFORMANCE: There is not really one great thing our man from "Ghostbusters 2" did this week except be himself, but Peter MacNicol deserves a shout out for being the highlight of this season. He brings credibility to surreal situations, even by "24" standards. Salut!
Express' Matt Swenson, an admitted "24" addict, is dying to know when Jack Bauer will be the focus of another episode this season. The following takes place between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m.
WHERE'S MIKE MYERS when you need him? When last we saw President Wayne Palmer he was alive and well after coming out of a coma — schwing — and had his eyes on taking back power. Of course, no one wields power quite as excellently as Powers Boothe (it's in the name), so the evil V.P. wouldn't be giving up without a fight over the 25th Amendment.
And while it took Al Gore and George W. Bush more than a month to settle their presidential dispute in front of the Supreme Court, Palmer and his No. 2 get an audience in less than an hour. Sure, why not? Legal questions over running the free world take no time. Alas, the case never really makes it that far because no one outsmarts our man Vigo (Peter MacNicol). Having learned from the all-powerful evildoer in "Ghostbusters 2," Vigo doesn't trust anyone anymore.
This means bugging the Veep's room in the White House bunker — remember there was a nuclear threat on the U.S. half a season ago. Lo and behold — sorry, no Chad Lowe sightings this week — Powers is caught conspiring with his aide (dare we say lover during party time?) to commit perjury. Boothe bows out under Vigoesque pressure, but maybe all this was for naught. Remember the nuke strike the Veep planned that had to be stopped? Now President Palmer is gung ho for it to show he has the power. Exsqueeze me? Now to the minutes.
» GOLDEN HEART: Agent Silver Spoons — little Ricky Schroder — turns over a new leaf, hiding evidence of a screw-up by Milo, his arch-nemesis from the Denver incident, that allowed the bad guys to break into CTU's computers last week. Why? Because Milo can help stop the baddies. Or so Ricky thinks.
Express' Matt Swenson, an admitted "24" addict, knows recycled television when he sees it. The following takes place between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.
INTER-OFFICE ROMANCES, an assassination attempt on the president, the death of Jack Bauer's flame, a possible disaster at a nuclear plant, and a coup d'etat attempt were all "24" staples in its first five seasons.
This year, though, all of those developments are wrapped into one — and that's with two months to go. All that's missing is for a round jolly old man to die saving the day (Morris fans beware).
It's fair to say the show's writers have pretty much run out of original ideas. This show needs a reboot, a fresh start to regain its edge. When the only novelty is Jack working with an autistic computer genius to nab an evil Russian general, you know there are a few problems.
Luckily, each season is literally a new day. So I propose at least one major change next season: Move the show out of Los Angeles. How many times can one city really be on the edge of a terrorist attack anyway? Let New York, D.C. or Chicago get in on the action. Maybe Jack can catch a crook while pocketing one of those delicious crab cakes from Clyde's.
A real chance was missed to make this year a season-long rescue attempt for Jack in China, where Peking duck would be a more appropriate dining choice. Maybe next year, Jack can take no prisoners in the Far East to exact revenge for Audrey Raines' death. But, because there must be a twist (it is "24" after all), Audrey is actually alive and sleeping with the enemy. It could happen.
But back to Monday night's episode, which leads us to the minutes.
» THE POWERS THAT BE: Evil V.P. Powers Boothe is so evil that even Vigo henchman Peter MacNicol is getting squeamish. Boothe goes ahead and orders the nuclear retaliation on the Middle East previewed last week, only to be thwarted. This leads us to ask the question...
Continue Reading "Bauer by Hour: The Days Are Running Together" »
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