24 New and Notes - Random Info

From today's AA column at TVGuide online :

Question: Well, Michael, I've got to hand it to you. You said way back when that David Palmer would play a key role in this season's 24. I thought that meant he would actually be in a lot of episodes, but I guess he had to die soon, and I never expected it to happen so quickly. And Michelle, wow, I definitely didn't see that one coming. I hope Tony is all right. — Alex

Ausiello: Yeah, Tony's OK, but he just barely missed his date with death, according to executive producer Howard Gordon. "Originally, both Michelle and Tony had perished in the blast," he tells me. "And it just felt so tragic and so awful." Plus, he adds, "we smelled an opportunity" to have Tony survive, undergo "a miraculous, 24-style recovery" and return later in the day to avenge Michelle's death.


Question: Why would 24 kill off Michelle? I'm never watching again unless they bring her back and say they had to pretend she was dead in order to protect her. — Kerry

Ausiello: "We ran out of story [for her]," says Howard Gordon. "She and Tony had been back and forth so many times and had finally settled on some happiness and, in true 24 fashion, the world of their jobs and of their work wind up turning a happily ever-after into a tragedy, which is, honestly, the only place for them to go." (BTW, I suspect there's no love lost between producers and Reiko Aylesworth. Just a gut feeling.)


....and TVGuide online's Breaking News column :

24 CASTS VEEP: Who can 24's President Logan count on, if not weaselly Walt? A rep for Ray Wise tells TVGuide.com that the actor — currently appearing in Good Night, and Good Luck, and well-known for playing Laura Palmer's deviant dad on Twin Peaks — has been cast in the recurring role of Logan's V.P. and will first air March 6. This can only mean one thing: Bob is behind the new terror attack.


Some thoughts -
~ Nice that they didn't whack Tony.
~ Too bad about Michelle.
~ So President Putz has a VP. Anyone have a stealth bomber or a stinger missle handy?