The following blog takes place between 9:00 and 10:00am on February 24th, 2009. All events happen in real time.
Yeah, Monday nights are reserved for "24" in our house. Last night was no different...and, as usual, agent Jack Bauer didn't let us down. He's James Bond, Dirty Harry and MacGyver...all in one package.
We're into Season 7 now...and I don't think Lisa and I have come to grips yet with the fact that (at the conclusion of this season) we'll have spent an entire WEEK of our lives (168 hours) watching one particular television show. And, although every year (for the past 2 or 3 years) it's rumoured to be the show's final season, Fox-TV has confirmed that "24" will be back for an 8th season. More importantly...Kiefer Sutherland wil be back as well. Beyond that, there is speculation that the show may continue...without Sutherland, which is almost impossible to even imagine.
I'll admit that last year's shows were perhaps the weakest of the series to date...and even wondered if it was time to pull the plug. But, the writers have come up with some good stuff for Season 7. (It was originally planned to premiere in January of '08...but was delayed for a year becuse of the Writers' Guild of America strike. So, .Fox aired a two-hour TV movie this past November, that bridged the gap between seasons).
Set in Washington, DC, "Day 7" opens four years after Season 6. CTU has been dismantled, and Jack Bauer is on trial. The day takes an unexpected turn when former colleague Tony Almeida returns (the ol' soap opera "open-ended death" writing technique!). Meanwhile, newly-elected President Allison Taylor leads the country. And, although CTU is no longer, Chloe O'Brian and Bill Buchanan are back...helping to save the day as "outsiders". There seems to be less emphasis on terrorism this year...and more on corruption from within the government and FBI.
Predictable at times? Sure. But, that's part of the allure of the show. That...and how many times Jack says a certain phrase. Kiefer explains: