24 GEEK

Not 1/2 bad

2010-01-02T17:41:00.000-08:00

Oh yeah - almost forgot to mention....

I got caught up on 24 - even finished it actually - and I'm happy to report that I really liked it. After the muddled storytelling mess that preceded it, last season was a heck of a comeback for the Bauer franchise.

Some high and low points -
1. The return of Tony - albeit evil and scarred Tony

2. The loss of one Bill Buchanan (rest in peace Silver Fox)

3. The return of one Kimberly Bauer (accompanied by a husband and a grandchild for Papa Jack)

4. The introduction of a proper foil for old favorite Chloe O'Brian - hello Janis Gold!

5. (Although I never thought I'd say it) The introduction of a proper foil for Jack - hello Agent Freckles a.k.a. Renee Walker (played in oh so scrumptious style by Annie Wersching)

6. The surprising return of White (House) Knight Agent Aaron Pierce!

7. Yet another annoying President - hello Ally Taylor (as always - a moment of silence for President David Palmer)

8. Last season's winner of the Sherry Palmer Character Close To The President That We All LOVED To Hate - presidential daughter Olivia Taylor.

9. Lastly - because he needs his own space....a special shout out to SAC Larry Moss. Larry, you started off as one of the most annoying characters we've ever seen on the show and unfortunately you were taken from us just as we started to warm to you. As much as it pains me to say it, you will go down in history (with Ryan Chappelle) as one of the annoying guys who died too soon. We'll miss you.

In the words of President Jed Bartlett (sorry for the show hopping..) - WHAT'S NEXT?

ON SUNDAY JANUARY 17TH THE NEW SEASON BEGINS WITH ANOTHER TWO-NIGHT 4 HOUR EXTRAVAGANZA!!!!!!!

If that's not enough to get your blood flowing it's time for you to rush out to the local Blockbuster (or just add it to your NetFlix queue), grab any of the first 4 seasons of the show and watch Jack get his screaming, torturing, terrorist fighting groove on! I'm out of breath even typing it.

Cya back here real soon - same Jack time, same Jack channel.

Twenty-Ten

2010-01-02T14:21:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Welcome Twenty-Ten!

What is the New Year plan for the space here at 24geek?? At this point there is none. Too many times I go on a blogging hiatus only to return with grand plans to write something every day or just not be as absent as I've been over the last XXXX period of time.

This time I am doing nothing of the sort. Whatever happens happens...and if we are all lucky you'll have something interesting to read going forward in the foreseeable future.

The fact is that I always have a ton of random thoughts bouncing around in my head. It's the writing about them here that is the difficult part. If it's not some useless television or pop culture observation, I have been leery to write about it in this space.

24geek - keeping the "personal" out of "personal blogging".

Is it my intent to change that?? I'll go as far as to say - hopefully. Will this space still be filled with useless TV and pop culture observation?? But of course! It IS a decent portion of what I actually have floating around in my brain. With any luck I won't be afraid (there's that word) to take a chance and really write about what or how I'm feeling.

My feeling at the moment - how lucky I am to have the family and friends that I have. Back in the middle of November, very unexpectedly, my job was eliminated and I found myself back in the hunt for a new job. Based on what I do (AR, Credit and Collections) and the time of year it was (the last 6 weeks of fiscal year 2009) my prospects for a new job were very limited. Facing up to the realities of the current economy have made this a scary time and have taken away - in a small way - from my enjoyment of the holiday season. That said - being able to still enjoy the holiday season with the above mentioned family and friends as well as being able to volunteer some of my now abundant time at my daughters school has made me realize the blessings that I have in my life. Yes, things are difficult but they could be much worst. It's definitely all a matter of proper perspective. Keeping that perspective has been a major challenge over the last 6 weeks. Tomorrow is January 4th - the first business day of Twenty-Ten. I am confident that it not only marks that day but also the beginning of a new year of job possibilites and opportunities. Wish me luck in my quest and let the new adventure begin.

Behind - - - WAY behind

2009-03-13T20:29:00.000-07:00

So I've fallen behind this season. Not too far but far enough. I promise to share some thoughts once I catch up.

Until then - please be patient with me.

Please.

FBI Rodent

2009-02-18T09:02:00.000-08:00

Sean Hillinger.

He's not just a strange adulterer anymore.

The Mole revealed

2009-02-17T09:34:00.000-08:00

So I heard/read that last nights episode revealed who the FBI mole is.....I happened to be in bed and asleep last night at 9:30p so unfortunatley I am still blissfully unaware.

The plan is to watch tonight and report in to anyone who might actually care tomorrow.

I'll bet you can hardly wait.

24 Day 7 3pm to 4pm

2009-02-15T16:28:00.000-08:00

I apologize if this week’s effort comes of as a bit underwhelming. While I thoroughly enjoyed the hour, when it came time to recap I just felt like I came up empty. I guess it’s up to you to decide…

Day 7 3:00pm - 4:00pm

President Taylor makes a speech to the nation about the terrorist attacks and she pledges her commitment to Sangala. Meanwhile, Vossler brings Henry to Dubaku. Henry accuses Dubaku of murdering his son.

GOTTA GIVE THE MAD PROPS TO HENRY. AFTER A SLOW START THE MAN IS SHOWING SOME SERIOUS SPUNK.

Jack, Buchanan and Renee bring Matobo to the White House. Renee and Matobo assure the President that Jack is on her side. Jack explains that there is a mole inside her Administration working with Dubaku and he needs to go around the FBI and Homeland to uncover the source. Dubaku calls President Taylor and tells her that he has captured her husband. He demands she withdraw her forces in Sangala and deliver Matobo to him. He starts to cut off Henry's finger to get her to acquiesce. Ethan learns that Gedge helped abduct Henry and killed Samantha. This confirms Jack's story, and he pledges to try to bring Henry back himself. Taylor is unsure if she can trust him. "With all due respect, Madam President, ask around." Jack says. She agrees.

THIS WHOLE SCENE IN THE WHITE HOUSE WAS PRICELESS…AND WAS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHY PRESIDENT TAYLOR ANNOYS THE HECK OUT OF ME.

SHE’S ALL HAPPY TO SEE MATOBO – ALL CANDY CANES AND BUTTERFLIES – THEN ONCE HE IS GONE THERE IS NO THANK YOU TO THE BAUER BUNCH FOR GETTING HIM BACK….SHE’S ALL – NOW I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE…..WELL – DUH! OF COURSE THEY’LL EXPLAIN EVERYTHING TO HER. MADAM PRES - HOW ABOUT YOU KNOCK OFF THE ATTITUDE AND SHOW SOME GRATITUDE!

AFTER THEY TELL HER THE STORY SHE “FINDS IT ALL HARD TO BELIEVE” AND STARTS GOING AFTER JACK AND TONY LIKE IT’S ALL THEIR FAULT THIS IS HAPPENING.

AFTER ALL THAT – SHE GETS THE CALL FROM COUNT DUKU. HE HAS HENRY. JACK VOLUNTEERS TO DO ALL IN HIS POWER TO GET HIM BACK AND SHE HAS THE BALLS TO SAY SHE’S UNSURE IF SHE CAN TRUST HIM?

THE PROPER RESPONSE TO THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN – “F-U MADAM PRESIDENT. YOU CAN GET YOUR DAMN HUSBAND BACK YOURSELF.” THE ALTERNATIVE - "WITH ALL DUE RESPECT MADAM PRESIDENT, ASK AROUND." REALLY WASN’T HALF BAD.

Jack asks Renee to search Gedge's phone records, and she says she will need Larry to do it. She calls Larry's cell and begs him not to tell anyone she is alive because the FBI is corrupted. Yet Larry wants to meet her in person to prove that she is not under duress.

I CAN’T BEGIN TO EXPLAIN HOW MUCH LARRY ANNOYS ME. HE ANNOYS ME MORE THAN PRESIDENT TAYLOR – SO YOU CAN TELL IT’S A HELL OF A LOT.

WHEN RENEE CALLED I THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO START CRYING RIGHT THERE IN THE HALLWAY.

At the FBI, Sean doesn't understand why the President is ignoring the fact that the CIP is still out there. He thinks they are being kept out of the loop. Janis realizes that Sean is having an affair with Erika, and he confesses that it is true.

THE FBI WHISPERER HAS RETURNED….I SURE AS HECK HOPE THE REASON THAT SEAN AND ERIKA ARE HAVING AN AFFAIR IS BECAUSE ERIKA IS THE MOLE AT THE FBI. THERE I SAID IT….CAN YOU THINK OF ANYONE MORE USELESS SO FAR. IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE….WHICH PROBABLY MEANS IT’S NOT EVEN CLOSE TO TRUE...AND IF THAT’S THE CASE – THEN WHY THE HECK EVEN HAVE THE SEAN/ERIKA AFFAIR STORY??

Renee and Jack go to Lafayette Park to meet Larry, who says that Gedge spoke to Vossler and that Vossler used to be Special Forces in Sangala. Jack questions whether Vossler has a family, and wants Renee to go to his house. Larry thinks that forceful interrogation is not the way to go, but Jack is insistent because it is "necessary." Larry faces off with Jack about Renee turning into a torturer like him.

I WOULD THINK THAT SECRET SERVICE AGENTS WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT BETTER VETTED BEFORE GETTING PLACED ON THE WHITE HOUSE DETAIL….OR HAVE I JUST READ TOO MANY POLITICAL THRILLERS??

SIDENOTE: AGENT VOSSLER – THE PRESIDENT OF THE HORRIBLE TV HAIRCUTS CLUB CALLED. IT’S YOUR TURN TO BRING COOKIES AND PUNCH TO THIS WEEKS MEETING.

QUITE THE LOW BLOW BY LARRY GOING OFF ON JACK LIKE THAT. DO YOU THINK HE WOULD EVER THINK THAT FORCEFUL INTERROGATION IS THE WAY TO GO?? PERHAPS IF IT HAD TO DO WITH RENEE HE MIGHT…AND LARRY – DON’T GO BLAMING JACK FOR RENEE’S ACTIONS. SEEMS LIKE SHE’S BEEN STANDING PRETTY CLOSE TO THAT LINE FOR A WHILE NOW AND JUST NEEDED THE RIGHT MOTIVATION TO TAKE THE STEP. IN THE END SHE IS THE ONE MAKING THE DECISION.

Dubaku gets a call from his girlfriend Marika and claims he will not make dinner because he has a "stack of shipping requests." Marika's sister Rosa accuses her of not knowing anything about "Samuel" the importer. Although Rosa is trying to protect her, Marika will not listen.

UMM – WE CARE ABOUT THIS WHY? THIS SEEMS TO BE ONE OF THOSE POINTLESS TANGENTS THAT THE WRITERS LOVED TAKING US ON IN SEASON 6.

MOVE ALONG PEOPLE – NOTHING TO SEE HERE.

Renee arrives at Vossler's house and takes his wife and baby hostage at gunpoint. She handcuffs the woman to the table, not allowing her to tend to her crying child.

ADD THIS TO THE LIST OF UNCOMFORTABLE SCENES WE’VE HAD SO FAR THIS YEAR. AT NO TIME DID I EVER THINK THAT FRECKLES WAS EVER GOING TO HURT MRS.VOSSLER AND THE BABY BUT BEING A FATHER, I COULD IMAGINE MRS.VOSSLERS FEAR AND HELPLESSNESS IN THE SITUATION. FRECKLES DID A GREAT JOB OF CONVEYING THE INNER TURMOIL SHE WAS DEALING WITH. NICE ACTING.

Larry searches Vossler's location and Jack follows, crashing into Vossler's car. Vossler will not give up Henry's location, and Jack calls Renee who puts her phone on speaker. Vossler speaks to his wife, who is frightened. Renee goes to the baby out of the woman's eyesight with her gun, and Vossler is forced to confess to Jack where Henry us. Renee has tears in her eyes as she gives the woman her baby. When Vossler attacks Jack with a knife, Jack fights back but Vossler is stabbed in the stomach. Jack leaves him and hijacks a car on the street. He calls Renee and tells her about Vossler's death. She admits that she cannot handle this, and Jack asks if she wants out. She is determined to stay.

ABOUT 10 MINUTES OF MAJOR INTENSITY HERE. AGAIN – NO REAL THOUGHT THAT THERE WOULD BE ANY HARM DONE TO THE VOSSLER’S (AT THE HOUSE) AND NO REAL FEAR THAT JACK WOULD BE TAKEN OUT BY THE KNIFE (HE IS JACK BAUER AFTER ALL).

BRAVO TO RENEE FOR KEEPING HER INNER DEMONS AT BAY AND DOING WHAT IT TAKES TO GET THINGS DONE.

ENJOYED WATCHING JACK STOP THAT GUY AND STEAL HIS CAR. THAT’S WHAT I CALL A CAR—JACKING!!! COME ON PEOPLE – I HAD THE SHOT SO I TOOK IT. I’LL BE HERE ALL WEEK. DON’T FORGET TO TIP YOUR WAITRESSES!

Ethan and Buchanan devise a plan to send a Matobo look-alike to Dubaku in order to buy time.

NOT THE WORST IDEA I’VE HEARD SO FAR TODAY….

Sean asks Larry why Homeland is lowering their security level when the CIP device is still at large. Larry brushes him off. Renee calls Larry and asks him to keep Vossler's death quiet. He is furious that she is going against the rules like Jack.

SO FUNNY WATCHING LARRY GET ANGRY…HIS FACE TURNS ALL RED AND SCRUNCHY AND HE STARTS HUFFING ABOUT. IT’S LIKE WATCHING A 7 YEAR OLD FREAK OUT BECAUSE HE CAN’T PLAY WITH HIS PLAYSTATION 3……OF COURSE HE AGREES TO DO IT BECAUSE IT’S FRECKLES AND HE CAN’T SAY NO TO HER.

Rosa calls "Samuel" and says that she knows that no one with his name has emigrated from Sangala. She threatens to tell Marika the truth unless he breaks up with her.

LOVED THIS CONVERSATION….COUNT DUKU ASKING HER – HAVE YOU TOLD ANYONE ELSE ABOUT THIS??? I’M YELLING AT THE TV – YES – TELL HIM YOU TOLD THE NEWSPAPERS, TELEVISION, ALL YOUR FRIENDS, THE MAILMAN…..EVERYONE!!!! NOPE – AND WE KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS….ROSA IS DOOMED.

When the Matobo decoy arrives at the meeting site, Dubaku gives the order to blow up the car. Taylor watches in horror over the satellite.

SHE’S 2 FOR 3 NOW……TWO PLANES DOWN AND OUT AND THE SECRET SERVICE AGENTS AND THE DECOY OUT. SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN 3 FOR 3 IF NOT FOR THE BAUER BUNCH TAKING OUT COUNT DUKU’S LAIR…..OH YEAH – SHE’S NOT SURE SHE CAN TRUST JACK……(SHAKING HEAD)……ANY OTHER BRIGHT IDEAS MADAM PRESIDENT??

Jack and Renee meet at the location Vossler gave up behind a grocery store. Dubaku calls his men at the hideout and order them to kill Henry. Before they do anything, Jack and Renee raid the premises and a gunfight ensues. One of the guards shoots Henry in the chest. Jack rushes to his side and has Renee call for an ambulance.

OH DEAR. POOR HENRY. HE’S BEEN A REAL PUNCHING BACK FOR THE TERRORISTS SO FAR. AT LEAST THEY DIDN’T ENGINEER LATHUM HIM AND BLOW HIM UP. NOW THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN PRETTY HARD TO SURVIVE…

I'm sorry folks but that's all I've got for ya this week. Hopefully the entertaining creativity will return in the coming weeks. I hope you are all around to find out. :)

24 Day 7 2pm to 3pm

2009-02-09T16:37:00.000-08:00

I’m sorry but after having my doors blown off for the first 6 hours – this week’s episode was a bit underwhelming. Yes – lots and lots of neat stuff happened but it seemed to be more of a transitional episode than a game changer. Maybe I’ll be inspired as I make my way through the re-cap.

And off we go…

Day 7 2:00pm - 3:00pm

The Matobos are brought to Dubaku's hideout inside an office building. Meanwhile, Renee helps Jack, Tony and Buchanan infiltrate the building where they have tracked Matobo.

COMMENT: I’m liking Freckles as part of the team. I think she thrives on living on the edge. The question is how will Larry feel about her when she eventually returns as a changed FBI agent? I can’t wait for that exchange…”Time to grow a set Larry!”

At the FBI, Janis looks for potential firewall breaches and she sees weird activity over Kidron, Ohio. She calls the plant manager at a chemical plant there, and he mentions that his he has lost control of safety valves on toxic insecticide tanks. When he tries to shut down the tanks, they do not respond. Janis tells him to evacuate the premises. The President is briefed that half the town of Kidron would be killed by the plant leak.

COMMENT: In a shout out to Star Trek, the plant manager should have been wearing a red shirt since he’s not going to live past the 2nd commercial break…..

Janis pulls up the operating procedures of the tanks and walks the plant manager through releasing pressure on the valves. Unfortunately, it leaks the insecticide into the sealed room where the plant manager is. He sacrifices himself to save his workers.

COMMENT: Is it just me or do you think when they designed the place they should have designed the plant so that the manual pressure release valves weren’t IN THE SAME ROOM where the pressure FROM THE TOXIC GAS gets released? And if that’s how it is set up – how about a haz-mat suit somewhere REALLY close by just in case someone needs to manually release the pressure? If you want to have the plant manager die saving the town of Kidron, OH, can you come up with something a little better than that? Sheesh. Plant Manager Dude – we hardly knew ya!

Also – Janis seems to be taking it all so personally….oh yeah – I forgot….she’s weird!

Dubaku sees Jack and Tony entering his building. Fearing he will be caught, he orders the CIP module to be disengaged so that they can escape. At the FBI, Sean sees the firewall breach close. Janis notifies the plant manager, who says that the tanks are shutting down. Yet he is already infected and dies on the scene.

COMMENT: Doesn’t seem like Count Duku had a very good escape plan in place just in case his lair was discovered. He struck me as someone who is usually a bit more prepared for stuff….oh well.

As for Plant Manager Dude – bummer.

Btw – that is some SERIOUS insecticide. What exactly is it supposed to kill (besides plant managers)? Yikes.

Jack, Tony and Buchanan raid Dubaku's hideout in a shootout. Renee rescues the Matobos. The CIP device is destroyed. Dubaku grabs Latham, the captured engineer who built the CIP device, and rigs him with explosives. When Jack and his team find Latham, Dubaku sets off the bomb and escapes from the building.

COMMENT: Talk about a guy who has been bumming since the start of the day – poor Engineer Lathum. He and his daughter get hit by two trucks, he gets kidnapped and beaten, he builds this device that takes down two airplanes and instead of being let go when he is no longer of any use, Count Duku BLOWS HIM UP to cover his escape. Today would have been a good day to call in sick eh?

Ethan Kanin is annoyed because he cannot get in touch with Agent Gedge or Henry Taylor. With the national security threat still in place, Ethan reluctantly tells the President that her husband is missing after trying to drudge up information on their son's death.

COMMENT: My GOD – President Taylor annoys me. Not quite in the sniveling incompetent way that Charles Logan did but rather in the way she reacts to everything that happens like she’s 12. She tries to sound all serious and in control but it never works. I hate to say it (because it’s the ultimate insult) but actually – she IS like Logan - Charles Logan-lite.

Agent Vossler hears the Secret Service radio alert for Gedge and tries to call him. The ringing wakes Henry. Vossler holds Henry at gunpoint. Dubaku calls Vossler and orders him to bring Henry to him alive.

COMMENT: It’s about time Agent Vossler woke up and went to check on Gedge. How long did he think it was going to take to kill Samantha and frame Henry??? I mean – Hank (I refuse to refer to him as the First Gentlemen) and Gedge were out for quite a while after their tumble off the 2nd floor loft (Gedge much more so than Hank). You’d think he would have gone up for a quick looksie.

So now Hank’s been kidnapped and about to be turned over to Count Duku….Wow – the Henry storyline just keeps twisting and turning.

Jack convinces Buchanan that they need to bring in help from the feds to find Dubaku. He believes that Matobo can help them access President Taylor because they don't know who else they can trust. Matobo calls the President and asks to meet her privately at the White House. She is confused, but agrees.

COMMENT: “She is confused, but agrees.” Truer works have never been written. I have to admit to being a bit leery of Ethan. So far he’s given us no reason to think he is secretly a mole and that usually makes him the perfect candidate for that kind of thing. We’ll see.

Jack is surprised when Tony leaves instead of accompanying him with the Matobos.

COMMENT: No Tony? Why do I get the idea he somehow ends up back in the mix very soon? Because he's one of the main characters that's why!

Dubaku arrives at his apartment and there's a knock at the door. It is his girlfriend, an American woman named Marika, who calls him "Samuel." He hides his gun. She reminds him that he is supposed to come to her place for dinner. When she leaves, Dubaku calls Vossler to arrange for Taylor to be brought to him.

COMMENT: WHOA….A girlfriend for Count Duku. What a nice little twist. You know she’s going to end up in the middle of this mess when she comes by looking to borrow some sugar or something. Give the woman a red shirt!!

Just how long has he been in the country that he has a girlfriend and seemingly a whole life here?? Hmmm – that Count Duku is quite the evil dude.

So – looking back I have to admit there were some interesting moments this week. What’s going to happen when Jack/Bill/Chloe/Tony/Freckles (there’s gotta be a better name for them --- I'VE GOT IT...THE BAUER BUNCH!) get President Logan…ooops sorry……Taylor involved with their little group outside the government?

Although the episode seemed a bit FBI lite, we were treated to Larry going off on Sean for something trivial as he gazed longingly at a photo of Freckles on his computer as well as Janis bonding uncomfortably with the Plant Manager Dude. We can only hope for more of the unintentional comedy that is the FBI under Larry’s command.

So what’s next??

Two words – Hostage Henry!!

24 Day 7 - 1pm to 2pm

2009-01-28T19:45:00.000-08:00

Day 7 1:00pm - 2:00pm

Larry expands the search for Jack and Tony because they abducted Renee. Sean intercepts a phone call saying that Renee can be killed because they don't need her.

IT IS A REAL HOOT WATCHING LARRY GET ALL BENT OUTTA SHAPE DUE TO THE ABDUCTION OF RENEE. HE KILLS ME….

EXPANDING THE SEARCH BECAUSE THEY ABDUCTED RENEE??? SHOULDN’T THEY BE EXPANDING THE SEARCH BECAUSE THEY HAVEN’T FOUND JACK AND TONY???

Buchanan and Chloe arrive at the construction site where Tony has sent them. They dig up Renee, who is passed out. Buchanan pumps her heart and injects her heart with adrenalin to start it. Renee breathes. They explain that they are working with Jack, outside of any agency to uncover Dubaku's breach of the U.S. government. They plan to use Matobo to get to Dubaku.

DEFINITE PULP FICTION MOMENT THERE WITH THE NEEDLE. GOTTA HAND IT TO RENEE FOR IMMEDIATELY WANTING TO CALL LARRY TO LET HIM KNOW SHE IS ALIVE….NOT SURE WHY SHE HAS SUCH A MAJOR PROBLEM UNDERSTANDING THE NEW MOTTO WHEN IT COMES TO THE FBI – TRUST NO ONE. (X-FILES IS IN THE HOUSE – WOOP WOOP!)

In the van, Jack asks Emerson why he hasn't told Tony how he got him out of CTU. Emerson says that he was helped by Christopher Henderson, who purposefully missed Tony's artery when he "killed" him. Henderson wanted Tony alive. Emerson says that Tony chose to stay with his team because he was angry about what the government did to Michelle.

SCARRED TONY REARS HIS HEAD….ALONG WITH EMOTIONAL TONY. WAS THAT A TEAR MRS.GEEK SPOTTED ROLLING DOWN HIS FACE? SO THEY SLOWED HIS HEARTBEAT DOWN SO IT “APPEARED” HE WAS DEAD….YOU’D THINK THEY WOULD BE A LITTLE MORE THOROUGH THESE DAYS TO MAKE SURE HE STILL HAD A HEARTBEAT – NO MATTER HOW SLOW IT WAS! JEEPERS.

When the van arrives at a hangar, Emerson grabs Jack from behind. Tony pulls his gun on Emerson, saying he doesn't want to kill the Matobos. Jack urges Tony to take the shot and he does so reluctantly. Tony rushes to Emerson's side to tend to his wounds. Emerson refuses to forgive him. He then dies.

OOOH – GURGLING BLOOD. MRS.GEEK IS NOT THRILLED AT THIS LATEST DEVELOPMENT. UMMM – ABOUT THE WHOLE “PLEASE FORGIVE ME” LOOK TONY WAS WORKING ON RALPH WALDO…WHATS UP WITH THAT? DUDE WAS EVIL AND YOU TOOK HIM DOWN. I KNOW HE SAVED YOUR LIFE AND WAS YOUR BEST BUDDY (IN EVIL) BUT ENOUGH ALREADY – MOVE ON.

Jack calls Buchanan and tells him to come. He informs the Matobos that he is really working to stop Dubaku, and he needs to deliver both of them to Dubaku to get inside.

THE MOST IMPRESSIVE PART OF THE WHOLE MATOBO SITUATION – MRS. MATOBO. SHE’S AWESOME. I HOPE SHE GETS TO HANG OUT FOR A WHILE.

Ethan advises President Taylor to prepare to pull back troops because they need Matobo's support, and he is now missing. She is firmly against this.

IT’S HOUR 6 AND I AM ALREADY SO DONE WITH PRESIDENT TAYLOR….HOW SAD IS THAT?? I MEAN I UNDERSTAND THE WHOLE “CAN’T GIVE IN TO TERRORISTS” THING BUT DECISIONS NEED TO BE MADE BASED ON REALITY – AND SHE SEEMS TO HAVE LOST THAT ABILITY. CAN WE RAISE DAVID PALMER FROM THE GRAVE? PLEASE…

Dubaku orders Nichols to dump all of Emerson's crew. With no caving from the President, Dubaku wants to next target an airplane heading for Washington. He calls the White House and tells Taylor to look out the window. She sees two planes collide and fall to the ground. He threatens to harm more if she does not comply. The President meets with the Cabinet, who all agree that they need to withdraw their troops because they cannot protect Americans from Dubaku. Taylor does not give in.

COUNT DUKU CHANGING THE RULES? HE’S DEFINITELY GOT SOME SPUNK (NOT AGENT FRECKLES SPUNK BUT THEN WHO DOES?).

UMMM – GOTTA SAY THAT WATCHING THE TWO PLANES COLLIDE AND FALL FLAMING TO THE GROUND WAS A LITTLE TOO REALISTIC FOR ME. MRS.GEEK AND I SAT THERE IN KIND OF A STUNNED SILENCE. IT WAS VERY SIMILAR TO WATCHING A NUCLEAR BOMB GO OFF IN LA A SEASON AGO. JUST SOMETHING YOU DON’T WANT TO ACTUALLY SEE ON TV.

WAS SOOOO HAPPY TO SEE THE SECRETARY OF STATE GO OFF ON THE PRESIDENT!! I AM SORRY TO SEE HIM GO (JUST BECAUSE HE SEEMED TO REPRESENT THE VOICE OF REASON) BUT I WOULD HAVE HAD NO RESPECT FOR HIM HAD HE JUST SAT BACK DOWN WITH HIS TAIL BETWEEN HIS LEGS. HE WILL BE MISSED.

Buchanan drives to the hangar. As Chloe fits Matobo with a transmitter, Jack tells Renee that she would have never believed him had he told her the truth earlier.

“I’M A STAY AT HOME MOM!” CLASSIC CHLOE. STILL WAITING FOR THE INEVITABLE CHLOE – JANIS THROWDOWN!

NICE TO SEE JACK AND AGENT FRECKLES GET SOME FACE TIME TOGETHER….AND NO FRECKLES – YOU NEVER WOULD HAVE BELIEVED HIM HAD JACK EXPLAINED THIS ALL TO YOU BEFORE HE PUT YOU IN A STRANGLE HOLD, KNOCKED YOU OUT, GOT YOU CAPTURED BY THE TERRORISTS, SHOT YOU IN THE NECK (INSTEAD OF THE HEAD), BURIED YOU UNDER A TARP AND LEFT YOU FOR DEAD….UMMM – SORRY.

In Samantha's condo, Henry Taylor sits on the couch paralyzed. When Samantha arrives home, she is surprised to see him there. He is unable to speak. Gedge stabs her from behind, as Henry watches helplessly. Ethan calls Gedge, looking for Henry. He is furious that Gedge allowed Henry to get near her, and Ethan orders him to return him to the White House. Gedge hangs up and puts Henry's fingerprints on the knife used to kill Samantha.

OTHER THAN THE INCIDENT WITH THE PLANES – THIS WAS THE MOST UNCOMFORTABLE/INTERESTING STORY OF THE HOUR. NO MORE ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ FROM THE HENRY STORYLINE!!! WHO KNEW?? (THE WRITERS DID – THAT’S WHO!) GOING INTO THIS I WAS SURE THAT SOMEHOW SOMETHING WOULD GO WRONG WITH THE EVIL PLAN BUT I HAD NO IDEA WHAT THAT MIGHT BE. WOULD SAM SURVIVE?? WOULD HENRY?? WOULD THEY BOTH??

ONE OF THOSE QUESTIONS WAS ANSWERED IMMEDIATELY WHEN GEDGE PLUNGED THE KITCHEN KNIFE INTO SAMANTHA’S BACK……UMMM – GOTTA SAY THAT THE SOUND EFFECT WAS WAY TO REALISTIC….IT WAS ALSO QUITE FUN WATCHING HIM WIND UP AND PLUNGE THE KNIFE INTO HER CHEST….NOT…. I’M WINCING JUST THINKING ABOUT IT.

HEY – LOOK THERE…….HENRY MOVED HIS HAND!!

Tony greets Nichols at the hangar, telling him that Jack and Emerson are dead because he wants to keep the payment for himself. Tony hands over the Matobos. As Nichols' men are about to shoot Tony, Jack takes them out. Tony sends Nichols off with the Matobos. Chloe is tracking them.

I HAD FORGOTTEN FOR A MOMENT THAT NICHOLS AND HIS TEAM INTENDED TO KILL TONY AND THE REST OF THE GANG ONCE THEY HAD THE MATOBOS SAFELY TUCKED AWAY…..SO I WAS A LITTLE ANTSY WHEN THEY SHOWED UP WITH A SUV FULL OF MEN.

FEAR NOT FRIENDS!

JACK BAUER.
HIGH POWERED RIFLE.

NEED I SAY MORE??

Gedge rigs a rope to make it look like Henry hung himself. Henry musters up whatever strength he can and fights him. The two fall over the loft balcony, and Henry lands on Gedge, who is killed.

WAY TO GO HENRY!!!!!!! OR AS I WROTE IN MY NOTES……..HENRY – SWEEEET!! YOU MIGHT JUST ADD SOMETHING OF VALUE TO HOUR NUMBER 7 AFTER ALL…..I KNOW – I KNOW…AS ALWAYS (EXCEPT FOR SEASON 6) THE LESSON IS – TRUST THE WRITERS.

Annoyed that President Taylor will not give up, Dubaku sets up the next target -- a chemical plant in Ohio that, with a leak, will kill almost 18,000 people.

NOT.
GOOD.

WHAT’S IT GOING TO TAKE FOR PRESIDENT TAYLOR TO REALIZE THAT STICKING TO HER PRINCIPLES IS ONLY GOING TO GET MORE PEOPLE KILLED??? INTERESTING THAT ETHAN AND HOMELAND SECURITY DUDE TIM ARE ALREADY QUIETLY WORKING TOGETHER TOWARDS THE GOAL OF TROOP REMOVAL.

DO I SENSE SOME SORT OF IMPEACHMENT DOWN THE LINE?? ALL I KNOW IS THAT SOMETHING HAS TO CHANGE.

THIS EPISODE WAS A LITTLE BIT FBI LITE. NOT MUCH OF LARRY, SEAN AND JANIS AND THEIR UNINTENTIONAL COMEDY. I’M SURE THERE WILL BE PLENTY MORE DOWN THE LINE….DON’T WORRY - I CAN WAIT.

I DO HAVE TO SAY THAT SO FAR I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS NEW SEASON. THE STORYLINE LINE HAS HAD ENOUGH TWISTS AND TURNS TO KEEP US ALL ON OUR TOES AND THERE HAS BEEN THE TEASE OF MUCH MUCH MORE.

QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS?
-WILL PRESIDENT TAYLOR COME TO HER SENSES AND GET THE TROOPS MOVING OUT OF SANGALA??
-DOES SHE EVEN CARE WHERE HER HUSBAND IS??
-WILL TONY AND THE GANG GET THEIR HANDS ON COUNT DUKU BEFORE HE CAN DO MORE DAMAGE WITH THE CIP UNIT?
-WILL HENRY BE ABLE TO GET REVENGE (JUSTICE) FOR THE KILLING OF HIS SON??
-WILL HE REMEMBER TO GRAB THE MURDER WEAPON WITH HIS FINGERPRINTS ALL OVER IT BEFORE HE FLEES SAMANTHA’S APT??
-WHO IS/ARE THE LEAK(S) IN THE FBI?
-WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH SEAN?? WHY IS HE WEIRD?
-WHY IS JANICE SOCIALLY STUNTED? IS THAT HOW IT IS WITH BRLLIANT FEMALE COMPUTER ANALYSTS ON THE SHOW??
-BILL AND CHLOE TO THE RESCUE!!!!!
-WHAT IS THE TRUE NATURE OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LARRY AND FRECKLES? PLEASE CONFIRM A PRIOR OR CURRENT RELATIONSHIP. I GET THE FEELING NOW THAT THEY DATED PREVIOUSLY, BROKE UP BUT STILL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER. HE’S STILL PINING FOR HER AND SHE DOESN’T WANT TO MAKE HIM FEEL BAD.

INQUIRING MINDS WOULD LIKE TO KNOW!!

The first 4 hours

2009-01-20T14:37:00.000-08:00

I apologize that I've glossed over the first 4 hours of the day only providing general thoughts and observations of the gang so far. I also completely left out any sort of observation on the 24: Redmeption movie. Bad Geek!

Now that I have found a format that works for me, I may take the time to go back and fill in the blanks a bit on 8:00am to 12:00pm and the movie.

Feel free to wait (it won't be long) or....

If you immediately need a little more meat on the proverbial 24 bone - here is the link to summaries of the first 4 hours of Day 7 (courtesy of Fox.com)....

Any questions let me know.

24 Day 7 - 12pm to 1pm

2009-01-20T12:14:00.000-08:00

Before we get all into it……just a few thoughts on the first 4 hours of the day.

A BIG welcome back to Jack!!! The first 4 hours have been really (really) good. The storyline so far has been engaging and well told. There seems to actually be a coherent story with a point this season and the leaps of faith have been few and far between (so far).

Some first impressions of the gang –

JACK – what’s there to say? He’s back with attitude. Loved him putting Neil Perry’s Dad (DEAD POET’S SOCIETY SHOUT OUT) in his place during the Senate hearings and telling Agent Freckles and the FBI – if you want to get things done you need to do it my way.

AGENT RENEE WALKER – I like Agent Freckles. She’s got spunk. Hopefully they have big things planned for her today…..although its looking a little bleak at the moment.

PRESIDENT ALLISON TAYLOR – Seems like she’s got a nice head on her shoulders and isn’t afraid to mix it up with her team. I liked that she let her Sec of State have it. She’s getting a little bit annoying now that the (stuff) is hitting the fan. Of course everyone can’t be President David Palmer (a moment of silence if you will).

HENRY TAYLOR – ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ…..(yawn) Is he off the screen yet??

CHIEF OF STAFF ETHAN KANIN – I’ve got no major vibe so far from Shawshank Redemption’s Warden Norton. He seems to just be going along for the ride. He’s either a Mike Novick (trusted advisor through and through) or he’s going to be the mole. I like that he prefers to protect American citizens before Sangalans….but maybe that’s just me.

AGENT LARRY MOSS – HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA…….the guy just kills me. His reactions towards Jack in the first 4 hours have had me falling off the couch in laughter (ok – not quite off the couch but still – giggling loudly). You get my point. Possibly the worst FBI agent in charge ever depicted on 24. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

JANIS GOLD – giggle. Pure entertainment. Socially awkward. Brilliant. Just a joy to watch on the screen. Can’t wait for her and Chloe to have a showdown. It’s inevitable.

SEAN HILLINGER – Welcome to 24 – Entourage’s own Billy Walsh!!! You are just plain weird. Where do they find these guys??? Can’t wait to see how the Sean-WIFE-Erika 3-some plays out….and what else they have in store for him.

And last but certainly not least – our old favorites…….

TONY ALMEIDA – so happy to have you back Tony. Even happier that you are still Good Tony rather than Evil Tony. Sorry you are still scarred Tony. It’s going to be fun watching you and Jack take on the bad guys again…..how about smiling a bit more ‘kay?

CHLOE O’BRIAN – YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What more is there to say?

BILL BUCHANAN – Our favorite CTU lead is back….AND WITH SCRUFF!! (even better - NO KAREN!!) Not sure where this little group “working outside of the government” is going to end up but I for one am along for the ride!!!

Now without further ado….hour 5.

DAY 7 – 12pm to 1pm

Larry Moss briefs Agent Remick about the Matobo situation. He learns that Tanner's lawyers are going after the FBI and calls Renee, who is on her way to the scene. "We got the information we needed," is her only answer. Larry demands that she return to the office, but she refuses, blaming herself for Jack's escape. Renee shuts off her mobile phone.

AGENT FRECKLES HAS GONE OFF THE RES...APPARENTLY A FEW HOURS WITH JACK WAS ALL IT TOOK TO UNLEASH HER INNER BAUER.

AS FOR HER BOSS - AGENT MOSS KEEPS CRACKING ME UP WITH ALL THE TORTURE TALK AND THE FACT THAT NO ONE SEEMS TO RESPECT HIM AT ALL. HE SURE IS SNAPPY FOR A SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE…SHOW A LITTLE TACT LARRY….

Sean speaks to his wife, who has landed. She wonders if he had something to do with her flight getting priority. He says she got lucky.

SEAN IS WEIRD…WHAT IS HIS DEAL?? THIS WHOLE THING WITH HIS WIFE IS JUST STRANGE. IT DOESN’T SEEM TO HAVE A POINT….AND THE ONE THING THE WRITERS HAVE DONE SO FAR THIS SEASON IS MAKE SURE THINGS HAVE A POINT….FRANKLY IM JUST AS CONFUSED AS YOU.

Locked in the safe room, Matobo tells his wife Alama that the people who have come for them work for Dubaku. He will not give up the names of his allies. She realizes that they want to use her to get him to talk. Alama encourages him to be the leader that the people of Sangala need. Sean calls Matobo's security guard, and Emerson sees the FBI number on the man's phone. Tony and Jack are insistent that they cannot leave without Matobo. Jack thinks he can flush him out with gas before the SWAT teams arrive.

JACK DOESN’T JUST THINK SO…HE IS QUITE ANIMATED ABOUT IT. THE 74TH RULE OF 24 – WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING CHEMICAL WEAPONS FROM HOUSEHOLD CLEANING PRODUCTS YOU DON’T ARGUE WITH JACK! LEARN IT. LIVE IT. KNOW IT

BY THE WAY – IT STRUCK ME AS VERY ENTERTAINING HOW THE ID ON THE PHONE SHOWED UP AS “F.B.I.”…..SUBTLE…REAL SUBTLE.

Jack whips up something in the kitchen and blows it into the safe room's ventilation. Emerson warns Matobo, who doesn't want his wife to be sacrificed. Alama is afraid to die and opens the safe room door. Emerson's team carries them out into a waiting van.

SEE. JACK KNOWS BEST. WAS IT JUST ME OR DID THE WIFE SEEM PHYSICALLY STRONGER THAN MATOBO?? NO SELF CONTROL BUT SHE DID MANAGE TO GET THE DOOR OPEN. PROPS TO ALAMA…

Tanner's lawyers arrive at the FBI, but Larry doesn't let them question Janis because of the national emergency. Meanwhile, Renee arrives at the Matobo house and calls Larry about the abduction. One of Emerson's men finds her and takes her hostage. Renee curses at Jack, who convinces Emerson not to kill her, and they load her into the van as well. They pull away before the SWAT team arrives. "I can't believe I trusted you," Renee sneers at Jack.

CAN YOU BELIEVE THE BALLS ON TANNERS LAWYERS?? WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU NEED TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THINGS (AND YOU WERE SENT BY THE AG HIMSELF) BUT THERE IS SOME SERIOUS (STUFF) GOING DOWN….CAN’T IT WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW?

AGENT FRECKLES IS BUMMING. HASN’T SHE LEARNED THAT THERE’S ONLY ONE PERSON WHO CAN TAKE ON ALL OF THE BAD GUYS ALONE – AND HIS INITIALS ARE J.B. I DO LIKE THAT SHE’S STILL GOT A BIT OF SPUNK….ALTHOUGH SHE NEEDS TO SETTLE DOWN A BIT. CALLING OUR BOY A LYING S.O.B…..UMM - KEEP MOUTHING OFF AT THE GUY WITH THE GUN. THAT’S ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA.

BIG YELLOW VAN?? COULDN’T THEY FIND SOMETHING SLIGHTLY LESS CONSPICUOUS??

Despite Ethan's argument, President Taylor still wants to authorize the military action in Sangala because she refuses to give in to terrorist blackmail. She is shocked to learn that Matobo was abducted by Jack and Tony, which now affects the U.S. invasion. Yet Taylor wants to find Matobo first before she meets Dubaku's deadline.

AFTER STARTING OFF THE DAY WITH A BANG – PRESIDENT TAYLOR IS STARTING TO REALLY ANNOY ME…..AND WHY IS IT THAT SHE ALWAYS SEEMS SO SURPRISED WHENEVER SHE IS TOLD SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED?? WHEN SHE FOUND OUT MATOBO HAD BEEN ABDUCTED SHE NEVER CONSIDERED IT COULD HAVE INVOLVED TONY AND JACK??? HELLO??? WELCOME TO DAY 7!

AS FOR THE AUTHORIZATION OF MILITARY ACTION – LET THE FOLKS IN SANGALA FEND FOR THEMSELVES FOR THE TIME BEING. IS COUNT DUKU GOING TO KILL EVERYONE THERE IMMEDIATELY IF YOU TURN THE CARRIER GROUP AROUND?? JUST TURN IT BACK AROUND NEXT WEEK WHEN THE U.S. HAS RECOVERED THE CIP UNIT AND THIS LATEST CRISIS HAS PASSED!! IT’S NOT CAVING IN TO TERRORISTS MADAM PRESIDENT – IT’S JUST A TEMPORARY CHANGE OF PLANS. GOTTA LEARN TO ADJUST ON THE FLY BABY!!

Janis picks up that there's something going on between Sean and another girl in the office named Erika. She assigns Sean a task. Larry is upset that Renee has been captured.

JANIS CRACKS ME UP. SHE IS CHLOE LITE. I GUESS SHE’S THE FBI WHISPERER – PICKING UP ON THE VIBES BETWEEN SEAN AND ERIKA….APPARENTLY SEAN ISN’T THE CONCERNED HUSBAND WE WERE ALL SUPPOSED TO THINK HE IS….THE QUESTION NOW IS WHY MAKE SUCH A BIG DEAL ABOUT GETTING YOUR WIFE’S PLANE DOWN SAFELY IF YOU ARE SLEEPING WITH ERIKA?? LIKE I SAID BEFORE – SEAN IS WEIRD.

WATCHING LARRY MELT DOWN BECAUSE FRECKLES HAS BEEN TAKEN HAS BEEN SO MUCH FUN. THINK THEY’VE GOT SOMETHING GOING ON??? YEAH – ME TOO. I DO LIKE THAT HE ACTS LIKE HE’S THE ONLY ONE WHO CARES SHE’S BEEN TAKEN.

Emerson gets a call from Nichols. His source at the FBI said that Renee found out about their Matobo abduction by breaking Tanner. They detour to a construction site to kill Renee.

YOU THINK FRECKLES IS DONE THINKING THAT JACK IS THE LEAK INSIDE THE FBI?? SINCE WE’RE TALKING ABOUT THAT – WHO DO YOU THINK THE MOLE IS??? ONLY TIME WILL TELL.

Janis notes to Sean that she thinks Larry has feelings for Renee.

THE FBI WHISPERER HAS STRUCK YET AGAIN.

Dubaku is concerned that the American troops have not withdrawn in Sangala. Nichols encourages him to use the CIP device to cause another attack and convince the President otherwise.

COUNT DUKU IS A LITTLE JUMPY. HOW LONG DOES HE THINK TROOP WITHDRAWAL TAKES??? IT’S NOT LIKE CLEARING A BAR AT CLOSING TIME….GIVE IT A FEW MINUTES WHY DON’T YA….JEEPERS.

Agent Gedge tells Henry he will have a friend help decipher the thumb drive, and they head to the friend's house. Henry says he cannot take the evidence to his wife until he can prove his theory about his son's murder. They arrive at a condominium and Henry sees photos of his son on the mantle. Putting on rubber gloves, Gedge tells him that it is Samantha's apartment. Henry realizes that Gedge killed Roger. Suddenly, Henry falls down, almost paralyzed. Gedge spiked his coffee with a neuromuscular paralytic. Gedge says that Roger was "looking into things he shouldn't have."

DANGER WILL ROBINSON!! DANGER!!! UP TO THIS POINT THIS STORYLINE HAD PRODUCED NOTHING MORE THAN A BIG “ZZZZZZZZZZZZ” IN MY NOTES….OH HENRY. AT LEAST I WON’T MISS YOU….

Gedge calls another agent, Vossler, who is tracking Samantha. Their plan is to make it appear she killed Henry. Vossler approaches Samantha and says that Henry believes she is in danger. She goes with Vossler to her apartment.

MRS.GEEK COMMENTED “WOW – SHE’S PRETTY TRUSTING.” MY RESPONSE – “IT IS THE SECRET SERVICE.” I’M THINKING THAT IF YOU ARE GOING TO TRUST SOMEONE WHEN YOU CAN’T TRUST ANYONE, THE SECRET SERVICE IS A DECENT PLACE TO START….EXCEPT IN THE LAND OF 24 (AND A TON OF SPY NOVELS OUT THERE).

Sean intercepts a call with mention of Renee. They hear Nichols instruct Emerson to kill her. Meanwhile, the van arrives at the site. Emerson instructs Jack to shoot her. Jack walks her out toward a ditch, and whispers in her ear to trust him. He points his gun at the back of her head and fires. Renee falls to the ground, still alive but with blood on her neck. Emerson sees Jack roll her into the ditch and place a plastic tarp over her body. Emerson orders Jack and Tony to bury her. Renee watches silently in fear as they shovel dirt on her.

OF COURSE JACK GETS THE “KILL” ASSIGNMENT….AND JACK AND TONY GET THE “BURY” ASSIGNMENT. CONVENIENT - BUT RALPH WALDO IS KEEPING AN EAGLE EYE ON THEM. (THAT LAST STATEMENT WAS SPONSORED BY THE MOVIE “EAGLE EYE”, CURRENTLY AVAILABLE IN STORES ON DVD AND BLU-RAY DISC).

OKAY – A PRETTY CREEPY WAY TO END THINGS….CAN’T EVEN IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO FILM THAT SCENE – NEVERMIND HAVE IT ACTUALLY HAPPEN. I LIKE AGENT FRECKLES AND DON’T WANT THE 5 HOURS I’VE INVESTED IN HER SO FAR TO GO TO WASTE. SHE’S GOT SOME SPUNK AND HAS ALREADY SHOWN A WILLINGNESS TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET INFORMATION. IT’S ALMOST TIME TO GIVE THAT WOMAN A LAMP AND A BOTTLE OF WATER!.

Some thoughts on next week -
* Looks like Henry and Samantha are doomed....but could they have a trick up their sleeve??? Well planned murders always seem to go wrong
* Looks like things are going to get a bit tense for Jack and Tony
* Where o' where are Bill and Chloe?? Time to get them further into the mix.
* Who's the dude in charge of the bad guys??? What's his deal??

I'm officially re-hooked. How about you??

24 returns!

2009-01-12T09:25:00.000-08:00

Yes I watched last night.

Yes I was impressed. Very impressed. So impressed that after each 15 minute break I kept saying to Mrs.Geek, looking pretty good through the first 15 mins...30 mins...45 mins...etc.

I like the new characters. I like the story. I like that Tony has returned (Mrs.Geek isnt thrilled he's now evil and is hoping he'll be "turned" by the end of the day). I like the new FBI agent Jack is working with. I don't like her boss (and boyfriend - come on can it be anymore obvious?). I'm not thrilled with the First Gentlemen....but I do like Madame President.

....and after the first two hours - WE GET IT - TORTURE IS WRONG! Let's move on shall we.

All in all I was pleasantly surprised.

You can all (all 3 of you) look forward to a more detailed breakdown once the next two hours are complete.

I'm really glad Jack is back.

2...4...9...14

2009-01-07T11:53:00.000-08:00

what do these numbers represent??

(2) the number of days until the mid-season premiere of psych! I am definitely psyched.

(4) the number of days until the 2hour Season 7 premiere of 24! JACK IS BACK!

(9) the number of days until the first of the final 10 episodes of Battlestar Galactica! Who will the final cylon be??

(14) the number of days until the Season 5 premiere of LOST!

Phew...it's going to be quite a January.

DVR disaster.....and Redemption 24-style

2008-11-26T15:06:00.000-08:00

So for reasons unknown to me, for the 2ND time now - my DVR failed to record something after I set it up to record. No real disaster there geek - you say. Well - the event that it failed to record........wait for it......

24: Redemption.

After what seems like years (because it pretty much has been that long) of waiting for Jack Bauer to return to my TV screen - FIOS DVR has foiled me yet again.

The bright side to this dark side of the moon - it's available for viewing online (thanks to the gang at fox.com) and it's available on DVD (along with a 15 minute clip of Season 7). Crisis averted.

Armed with that little bit of info - I did take some time to check out the beginning (first 20 minutes or so).

First impressions-
WOOO - guns and stabbing people in the neck....Jack is officially back.
Hello Tom Lennox. Nice to see you again.
Mr. President - you are still a prick.
new MRS. President - pretty spunky. I like it.

Looking forward to the rest of it and the coming season 7.

Who Knew? (Thanksgiving cooking edition)

2008-11-26T14:27:00.000-08:00

So it's become one of those semi-traditions that I make a french meat pie as part of our Thanksgiving dinner. This a good thing for many reasons - it's reminds me of Thanksgiving (and Christmas) as a child since its something that I grew up with and have loved for years and years, most people who eat it seem to agree that its pretty darn good, and most importantly, its easy to make so there is very little I can do to mess up the cooking process.

You just heat up some meat, add in some mashed potatoes, chopped onions and then flavor to taste with some allspice and Bell's Seasoning. Throw that into a pie crust and bake the whole thing for about 35 minutes at 375 degrees. Pretty simple huh??

Well - it turns out that trying to find Bell's Seasoning here in Oregon is quite the project. Who knew that it was some kind of New England diety that can pretty much only be found in one of the original 13 colonies - along with Devil Dogs and coffee syrup, prime ingredient in the official drink of the state of Rhode Island.

So after checking Safeway and Fred Meyer, I (with the help of family and friends and the internets) tracked some down at the local Whole Foods. God bless the good folks there.

Chaulk that up as a lesson learned for this Thanksgiving 2008.

Happily - we will now be able to enjoy a properly seasoned meat pie. Phew!

Happy Thanks and Turkey Day to you all.

For your 24 reading pleasure

2008-11-22T10:22:00.000-08:00

If you are so inclined, here are a few articles about tomorrow nights movie...

from:
NEWSWEEK

USA TODAY

ATLANTA JOURNAL CONSTITUTION

SALT LAKE TRIBUNE

WASHINGTON POST

Or you can just go right here to Google News and link to one of the other 200 or so articles about it from around the globe.

Never let it be said I don't like to share.

Jack is back

2008-11-21T13:59:00.000-08:00

After a long writers strike induced hiatus from 24 related content, now is as good a time as ever to mention what you all probably already know.

Jack is back.

Sunday night at 8pm on Fox, it's 24: Redemption, a 2hour pre-quel/bridge to Season 7.

Even after the disaster that was Season 6, I am quite excited at the prospect of more Jack Bauer. I'll be giving it a fair chance to impress me and bring me back for more.

What about you???

thank you 2008 red sox!

2008-10-19T21:44:00.001-07:00

unfortunately the red sox season came to a close tonight - just 4 wins short (5 if you count tonight) of a 3rd world series championship in the last 5 seasons.

rather than being crushed, instead i basked in the healthy glow of the 2 championships we do have in my lifetime and the never-say-die attitude that this team showed us the whole year.

game 5 was sureal....once in a lifetime...something i will always think about with a huge smile on my face (not unlike THE game 7 in 2004). :: smile ::

while i'm saddened at the loss of my favorite baseball team just short of the prize - i also realize that April is a long way away.

so - Papi, Youk, Pedie, Beck, Les, Paps and all the other Red Sox, thank you for 2008.

i've already begun counting down to April 2009.

....and now it's the Phillies and Rays for the World Series title.

the sound you just heard is Fox executives leaping from the nearest tall building.

wall street bailout??? you tell me.

2008-09-30T15:02:00.000-07:00

So i just got this instant message from my sister saying that apparently - McCain's latest idea is to ask the American public what we think they should do to fix the financial crisis.

Are you EFFING kidding me?

How about this...I think in order to fix the financial crisis that the federal government should give any family making less than 150K a year, $1million tax free.......middle class financial crisis solved.

What's his next "solution" (hail mary) going to be??? If I'm elected President - 3 days a week will be "President for a Day" days at the White House.

I can hear it now - "sign up to come in and solve the problems of average Americans all while getting to sleep in the Lincoln bedroom."

Each person gets a single line item veto to use at their own discretion.

Funny? Frightening.

The Debate

2008-09-27T18:56:00.000-07:00

So yeah - I watched.

Wait - before I get to what I thought why don't you all go here, take a look at who I'm supporting, make a quick donation, and come on back for my 2 cents.

Welcome back.

Back to the debate. I watched....and I thought it was good. I don't think either candidate delivered that knock out punch (to use a metaphor that's already been grossly overused) that everyone would have been talking about today. I thought it was pretty even across the board.

That said - it was GREAT to read that the consensus out there was that Obama won the debate. I think he let several chances go by where he could have slammed McCain but I also think that was his plan. I believe he is looking at the debates as a 3 part mission. In the first, the goal was to look even handed, smart and "Presidential". Mission accomplished (no aircraft carrier needed!). I expect that in the 2nd debate he will take a few more shots and be a bit more on the attack and in the final debate, he will bury him.

Last night was a debate about foreign policy. It was supposed to be right in McCain's wheelhouse but instead of coming off as knowledgeable and as a wise old foreign policy sage, he came off as snarky and a bit condescending. Just like everyone at the love-fest they called the Republican National Convention.

How's that working out for ya these days??

Next up....the train wreck that is Sarah Palin and the VP debate.

The popcorn is in the microwave!

Big Brain News of the Day

2008-09-27T18:45:00.000-07:00

from the good folks at UCLA - apparently prime numbers go pretty darn high.

it looks like they managed to discover a 13 million-digit prime number!

the result of all that brain power - a chance at $100k.

i think my only shot is the lottery.

pimping USA network

2008-07-15T15:15:00.000-07:00

psych returns for an all-new season THIS FRIDAY NIGHT at 10pm on USA network.

be there or be square.

holy ---- its summer!

2008-07-15T14:48:00.000-07:00

i figured that now is a good a time as any to dust off the 'old keyboard and get back into the middle of this whole "blog" business that used to be a bit part of my life.

its not like anything major has happened in the last 6 months like WE BOUGHT A HOUSE! yep - we are now the very proud owners of our very own 3 bedroom 2 1/2 bath townhome on the outskirts of beaverton, oregon. we're not quite into hillsboro but we can see the city line from our window....not that there is anything at all wrong with the great city of hillsboro. we've kept ourselves busy getting settled but there is still so much to do. no real surprise there. its just a very rewarding feeling to be paying ourselves each month (so to speak) rather than pissing away rent money into someone elses pocket.

but - rather than spilling 6 months worth of experiences out in one big geyser i think i'll just splash out a bit here and there and ease back into things. i've got to keep you (all) on your toes and wanting more right???

bye for the moment.

the countdown to DARK KNIGHT is down to 3 days.

yeah i'm pretty excited too.

sweet

2008-03-06T20:58:00.000-08:00

just saw this bit of news on....24!

24 Makes Up for Lost Time This Fall

The producers of 24 on Wednesday began securing cast members for a two-hour movie that will air in the fall and bridge the prolonged, strike-induced gap between Seasons 6 and 7. The "prequel," as the Reporter is terming it, will effectively set the stage for the show's January 2009 return.

What's the title going to be, "2"?

Production on the Washington, D.C.-based Season 7, which had eight episodes in the can before the work stoppage hit, will resume in April.

so we've got that goin' for us now - which is pretty cool.

looking forward to the prequel.

18-1

2008-02-06T13:05:00.000-08:00

So...things didn't quite go according to the "master plan". The Patriots record setting offense was reduced to rubble and the defense couldn't protect the late lead and lost by a fingertip.

So what's a Pats fan to do? Get over it. Sure, the last few days have been a combination of denial and running screaming from the room every time Eli Manning shows up saying he's going to Disneyworld. Other than that I'm just fine.

Honestly - I was able to put things into perspective pretty quickly. 3 Super Bowl titles in 7 years is nothing to sneeze at. As for the "perfect" season. We all know that no one was ever going to give them the credit they would have deserved because of Spygate and an un-healthy hate of all things Patriots. Would it have been cool? No doubt. But now it's gone and we all have to deal with it.

I am already looking to the new baseball season and enjoying the resurgence of the Boston Celtics.

There is more to life than football.

But man it would have been REALLY cool.

The Big Game!

2008-02-02T20:49:00.000-08:00

Yeah yeah yeah. The new season of LOST is REALLY good! Lots of new questions and an appearance by our old pal - SPOILER ALERT - Charlie! More on that later.

For now its all about Super Bowl 42. By this time tomorrow night the NFL will have crowned itself a new champion and if all goes according to the "master plan", for the 4th time in 7 years, the name on the trophy will say Patriots.

I've got 3 words for you....MVP - Wes Welker.

I'll be donning my 83 home jersey and cheering he and the rest of the team on to victory.

Darn its going to be a blast!!!!

GO PATRIOTS!!!!!!!

Santana to Gotham City

2008-01-30T10:09:00.000-08:00

What better way to make a triumphant return to the blogosphere (on the eve of the return of LOST) than to comment on Johan Santana and his apparent move to New York.

How can I say that with a straight face?? Because it's the Mets we are talking about and not the hated Yankees.

My reaction?? Good for the Mets. Good luck in 2008.

Am I upset that he didn't end up playing for the Sox?? Not really. I will be happy to enter 2008 with the current crop of vets and youngsters populating the roster. The same vets and youngsters that won the World Series this past October. With Sir Joshua of Beckett leading the charge I expect another season of kicking ass and taking names.

So bye bye Johan. Have a blast in the National League winning your 3rd Cy Young award! We are certainly happy to not have to face you anymore in the AL.

Lastly - thank you for not ending up with the Yankees.

On to Florida!

Ummm guys?

2007-12-01T10:40:00.000-08:00

Since the end of October I have been sitting around basking in the warm glow of another (yes I just typed the word ANOTHER) Red Sox World Championship, the Patriots weekly assault on the NFL, its teams and all time records, and the new Gang Green Boston Celtics (who as we speak own the best record in the NBA at 13-2). I sat back and watched Theo and his Band of Renouned re-sign Curt Schilling to a below market deal (thanks Curt) so he can finish his career in Boston (with a 3rd championship dare I ask???) and sign the goodest (sure I made that word up) third baseman on the planet Mike Lowell, to a nice shiny new deal. Great we all thought. Now we can sit back and enjoy the winter. Maybe grab some middle relief, maybe another bat or something. You know - take it EASY.

Then the Twins had to go and make all world pitcher Johan Santana available to the highest bidder. Since MLB has no salary cap the "highest bidder" is one of approximately 5 teams. There's no way the Royals or Nationals get Johan. Step right up Red Sox, Yankers/Chokers (or whatever you'd prefer to call them these days), Angels, Mets and Dodgers. You see it's not just about having the prospects to give up for him. You also have to pony up the $150million extention as well. YUMMY.

So Johan becomes available. So of course the Red Sox (and Chokers - I'm going with that) have to get involved. With dueling prospect packages. The problem is not the $$$. It's which prospects the Twins want. Perhaps you saw this kid Ellsbury in the playoffs last year. Batted .400. Stole the "base that fed a country". Broke hearts all the way from Bangor to Newport. Well - the Twins want him. Oh yeah - and the kid who threw the no-hitter last September. They want him. The Twins are like the Air Force. AIM HIGH.

Well now this just keeps going back and forth. Chokers up their prospect package. Sox change theirs around. Back and forth they go.

Then I see this note in the news yesterday. Another ace may be available next to a little picture of Eric Bedard of the Orioles. DING. The light goes on. This is the same Eric Bedard who was leading the league in K's with an ERA around 3 before he tweaked a muscle in his side and had to shut it down in September. So - why not bid up the deal with Santana but hold firm on the Lester, Crisp and two minor league studs package while also reaching out to the Orioles about Bedard.

I hardly think it's that crazy an idea.

Ummm Theo? You listening??

First Snow

2007-12-01T10:09:00.000-08:00

After yet another self imposed blogging hiatus, I couldn't think of a better time to make my triumphant return than the first snowfall of the season here in Beaverton. I do have to clarify that when I say first snow I don't mean a sea of white as far as the eye can see and snowballs and snow angels....we could only be so lucky. Instead we have been treated to lots of big fluffy flakes falling harmlessly to the ground against a backdrop of pine trees for a beautiful holiday view. It's been enough to bring a smile to my face, inspire a load of phone calls to relatives and friends living outside of the Pacific NW, and most of all get my 5 yr old daughter outside in her pj's in sub-freezing weather to catch some snowflakes on her tongue (a task at which she was wildly successful).

I remember as a child (as well as a young adult and adult I must admit) hearing snow in the forecast for the first time of the season and practically not being able to sleep from the excitement. I would peer out of my bedroom window looking for the falling snow against the light of the streetlights and was always immensely disappointed when there was nothing yet to see. I remember sitting in class at school looking out the window just waiting to see that first flake fall from the sky and then along with the rest of the class, rushing outside once it had officially begun.

After moving to CA from the East Coast and living there for 18 yrs, I never realized how much I missed the snow until last year when the family and I moved to Oregon. Last November we got a bit of snow (I wrote about it on the blog) and I was again filled with that excitement. In January we actually got a real snow-STORM here where my wife and daughter actually got to play in snow for the first time (my wife was born in LA, my daughter in Palo Alto, CA). It was such a blast!!!!

We certainly won't get a big dump today but the first fluffy flakes of the year are certainly a welcome sight for sore eyes.

WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS!!!!!

2007-10-28T22:01:00.000-07:00

A picture is worth a thousand words...

SWEET!

SEASON 7 trailer!!!

2007-10-25T13:05:00.000-07:00

The Season 7 trailer is up and running !!!

After being extremely disappointed with last season (along with most folks out there) - surprisingly I am totally pumped for next season. The fact that the trailer looks totally cool certainly helps.

3 words - TONY IS BAD.

I can't wait for January!

Wes Welker and Dustin Pedroia

2007-10-22T13:06:00.000-07:00

The same person?

I think so.

I've never seen both of them in the same room at the same time.

You decide.

American League Champions!

2007-10-22T12:35:00.001-07:00

I'm so pumped...but in a subdued way. I don't know why.

The 2007 playoffs have been so different than 2004. Well - both years featured the utter destruction of the Angels....but the ALCS had a totally different vibe. The desperation just wasn't there. The 86 years of pressure was gone. There were no Yankee ghosts to excise. This year it was all about baseball. Two great teams playing great baseball. So even when the Sox were down 3 games to 1 there wasn't any panic. There was just the steadfast belief that given time, the hits would start falling in (and out of the park), the law of averages would even out and the Red Sox - the same team with the best record in baseball this year - would put it all together.

And so they did.

And now its onto the World Series.

7 down. 4 to go.

ALCS here we come

2007-10-08T08:55:00.000-07:00

(AP photo)

Wow. That was FUN!

Is it supposed to be that easy or are the Red Sox really playing THAT well?

I can only speak for myself when I say that right now I'm cautiously optimistic. I think that comes from the years upon years of pre-2004 disappointment ingrained into my SoxFan DNA.

The 2007 Red Sox? They look awesome. They are hitting top to bottom. Everyone seems to be getting hot at the right time (hello Manny and JD) and the pitching staff has been rolling. As we have learned from every talking head in the country - getting hot in October is the key to winning the WS. What a surprise.

So now we get to wait for 5 days, let the boys rest their alcohol soaked bodies and ready themselves for the Indians or Yankees.

Enjoy the time off guys!! You have earned it.

Don't Get Me Started

2007-10-02T19:04:00.001-07:00

The Democratic Congress and their lack of a set of balls.

That's all I'm going to say for now so I don't throw something at something.

GRRRR.

Fall Tv

2007-10-02T18:50:00.000-07:00

What Mrs.Geek and I are watching this fall season -

Heroes
Bionic Woman
Grey's Anatomy
Big Shots (which I keep calling Hot Shots)
Survivor: CHINA
Desperate Housewives
Brothers and Sisters

Will probably check out -

Friday Night Lights
Journeyman
Pushing Daisies
Supernatural (if we can make the time - otherwise its DVD time)

Really enjoyed over the summer -

psych
The 4400
Burn Notice
(USA network rules!)
Entourage (Medillon aside)

Can't wait for -

LOST
24 (no really)
Battlestar Galactica

Need to catch up on -

The Dead Zone

Not really interested in (that are being shoved down my throat)-

Cavemen (please)
Dirty Sexy Money

This should be fun.

Let us not forget

2007-10-02T18:38:00.000-07:00

A few 2007 NFL football fun facts to nibble on...

The New England Patriots are 4-0.

This guy Tom Brady is pretty darn good.

Oh yeah - so is this Moss character.

All Mike Vrabel does is catch touchdowns.

Adalius Thomas can run very fast...like wide receiver fast.

I've heard that Glendale, AZ is pretty nice in February.

Next up at the Razor - the Cleveland Browns.

It's ON!

2007-10-02T18:35:00.000-07:00

The 2007 baseball playoffs are here.

Ladies and Gentlemen - start your engines.

Tomorrow. 6:35pm EST. Angels v. Red Sox at the Fens.

11 wins to go.

Be there.

24 news and notes - TONY LIVES!

2007-09-19T13:05:00.000-07:00

Near the end of Season 5, we all bowed our heads in silent tribute when everyone's favorite CTU agent (after Jack of course....and probably Bill...well - don't forget Chloe....err - you get the point), Tony Almeida, was killed.

Not. So. Fast.

According to the friendly folks at Fox - "when the seventh season of "24" returns on Jan. 13, 2008, CTU will be dismantled and Jack Bauer will be in trial in Washington DC, where the show will now be set instead of the subterranean Los Angeles headquarters of the former Counter Terrorist Unit where the first six seasons have been set."

More importantly - Tony Almeida will be back!!!!!

"Tony's uncertain fate near the end of Day 5 left the door open for his return," executive producer Howard Gordon said in a press release. "And since there was no silent clock at the conclusion of his last appearance -- the '24' tribute to a major character's demise -- we always kept this as a possibility."

ROCK ON!!

Other Day 7 tidbits:

Jack Bauer will be on trial for "his actions in the pursuit of justice." Yeah - whatever!

Chloe O'Brien and Bill Buchanan will both be back!

There will be a host of newcomers as well including Cherry Jones as President Allison Taylor (so much for Wayne), Janeane Garofalo as FBI agent Janis Gold, Colm Feore as First Gentleman Henry Taylor and Bob Gunton as White House Chief of Staff Ethan Kanin.

Day 7 begins with hour long episodes on Sunday Jan. 13th and Monday Jan. 14th rather than the 2-hour episodes that started the last two seasons.

I'm sure the Fox folks are doing that solely so that I will have the ability to re-cap the first two episodes quickly and not fall hopelessly behind....right?

24 news and notes - Day 6 complete

2007-09-18T13:28:00.000-07:00

So...we FINALLY finished watching last season’s 24...Actually finished it a bit ago but just getting around to putting fingers to keyboard to let you all know.

What did I think?? On a scale of 1-10 it was about a 4. I, like most people out there, had major issues with the convoluted and recycled storylines, the killing of practically every regular for no apparent reason other than shock value and the fact that they left us hanging a number of plot points – almost too many to remember.

Some comments and random questions:

Will Agent Doyle ever regain his eyesight? Do we really care? Do we really want to have to put up with his Jack Bauer-lite attitude? Most importantly – what the heck actually happened in Denver?

Is Charles Logan dead or alive? Where have they got Martha locked up (I mean she’s just GOTTA be locked up after stabbing Chuck with a pen)? Is Aaron still close by to provide her with flowers, fresh fruit and her daily meds?

Will we ever get official confirmation that Josh is Jack’s kid or are we left on our own to just assume the season’s most obvious sub-plot?

Wayne Palmer? Dead? Alive? Vegetable? Yet another unresolved plotline we have been expected to discuss amongst ourselves. The problem – we really don’t care. Find a way to bring back David and we’ll do backflips!

Speaking of coming back from the dead – HELLO Secretary Heller! It was great to see that after high speed car plunge off a cliff into the ocean that he was no worst the wear. Even so – could he have been any more harsh to Jack?? You are cursed. Everything you touch dies. OUCH.

What about Lisa Miller?? Brain damaged? A government witness? Do we care?

Bill Buchanan is simply the best. He and Jack are like 24’s own Butch and Sundance...errr – how about the Lone Ranger and Tonto? We here in the land of the Geek love Bill and look forward to him playing a significant part of the coming season. Karen? Not so much. Oh well – you need to take the good with the bad right?

By the end of the season Tom Lennox had won me over with his deft way of telling it like it is while playing both sides of the fence and showing a (surprising) sense of moral character. Of all the folks at the White House this past season – he is who I will miss the most.

So Chloe and Morris are going to have themselves a little analyst! You think that the first words out of its mouth will be some sort of sarcastic crack?? Yeah – me too. Should be fun watching Chloe be a mom.

As for the plot points that they actually decided to resolve (horribly!!) – You’re telling me that the best that they could do with Papa Bauer is have him end up shot by Josh?????? And then lectured by Jack before being blown up. Level of satisfaction for the American viewer – no more than a “so-so” on the satisfaction meter. Phil needed to suffer...oh well maybe next time. Come on writers!!!!!

The biggest disappointment of all...one word...CHENG! After kidnapping Jack and torturing him in a Chinese prison for 18 months then kidnapping his lady-love and torturing her as well – all we get is a slightly burned face and CTU custody? I for one wanted to see Jack get himself a little bit of payback...well – I didn’t really want to see it but I certainly wanted to know that it was happening. We got to see Jack shoot a suspect full of pain inducing drugs and attempt to suffocate them with a plastic bag – and that was family! Couldn’t Cheng at least lose a finger or a tooth or something?? Is that too much to ask???

Strangely enough – I am looking forward to the new season with a hopeful optimism. With it being so crappy this season it has nowhere left to go but up...right?? We still have a while to wait for the new season to arrive. Until then you’ll all just need to put up with me babbling about the new fall TV season, summer gems that have already passed us by, Red Sox baseball in October, Patriots football ‘til February (Super Bowl is Feb.3, 2008) and a slew of other random goodies I feel fit to print.

So sorry for lagging on everyone’s favorite CTU agent.

failed miserably

2007-08-28T20:29:00.000-07:00

Back in July I promised to make an effort to post something (anything) on this blog each day.

Here's where the failed miserably comes into play.

Rather than feel like I'm apologizing to some enormous group of people that come to this blog daily to see what I will come up with next, I feel like I have been a disappointment to myself. I know what a difference it makes each day to write about something that has pushed its way to the front of my brain.....or current events (BYE BYE GONZO).....or the summer of TV.......or the upcoming fall season (and all that it has in store for us).

Instead I have found myself making excuses or finding something different to do rather than take a minute or two to write.

Am I going to make some ridiculous pledge again to be here everyday? Nah....Instead I will be realistic and say - I'll do my best to be here.

There is SO much going on that I can comment on....and Mrs.Geek and I only have 4 hours left to finish 24.

Wish us luck.

Let's shuffle

2007-07-24T22:24:00.000-07:00

First a short back story....I do dishes. It's kinda my job around the house. We have a dishwasher but it's not currently working so it defaults to me. To pass the time when I'm scrubbing away I have taken to throwing the buds in the ears and listening to my iPod. Sometimes I choose a particular artist or album while other times I just press shuffle and off we go.

Tonight was a shuffle. It turned out to be not just any shuffle but a perfect 20 song shuffle. It took me 20 songs to do the dishes and cut up a watermelon for summertime consumption.

Since I consider this to be some sort of musical planetary alignment I just had to share.

Here goes -

1. Meditate . . INXS (something old)
2. 61 Seconds . . The Outfield
3. How Deep is Your Love . . Bee Gees
4. Livin' for Your Lover . . Chris Isaak
5. Cool Change . . Little River Band
6. Surrender . . Elvis
7. City of Blinding Lights . . U2 (a top-5 favorite)
8. It Must Be Love . . Madness
9. Knowing Me Knowing You . . ABBA
10. Wise Up . . Aimee Mann
11. Another Idea . . Chris Isaak
12. Big Bottom . . Spinal Tap
13. Devil's Party . . INXS (something new)
14. Talkin' About A Home . . Chris Isaak
15. Cadillac Car . . James "Thunder" Early
16. I Go To Extremes . . William Joel
17. Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting . . Elton John
18. Character Flaw . . Joe Ely
19. Running To Stand Still . . U2 (another top-5 fave)
20. Desperado . . Eagles

As you can see my musical tastes exist far on this side of obscurity with a healthy lean towards the 80's. There are times I step to the dark side but they are few and far between. Not trying to defend or justify. It's just who I am....and I dig it.

Though this hasn't been a ton of typing tonight, its enough for now.

More later.

ps. I got the new Harry Potter book at midnight friday night (didn't dress up or anything but still had a blast). I'm only about 200 pages in so SHHHHHHH......don't tell me how it ends. I must say - it's pretty darn good so far. Off to read.

Go SOX

2007-07-18T19:52:00.000-07:00

You'd think I'd be freaking out.....the Red Sox just dropped yet another one run game to the Kansas City Royals (yep - the frakking ROYALS) while the Yankees "edged" Toronto 6-1 to creep within 7 games of first place. Here we go again.......I say again - you'd think I'd be freaking out.....but I'm not. The thing is I LOVE the Sox and watching them play just well enough to lose and continue their post all-star case of the shits....it sucks. But I was watching TV this morning before work and I came across the last 20 minutes or so of the HBO special "Reverse the Curse of the Bambino". In case you can't guess it's an hour long special about the Red Sox 2004 post season and their World Championship. I happened to turn it on right near the end of game 4 just as Brian Roberts stole 2nd base and watched it through the game 6 highlights of Curt Schilling's bloody sock. Since I needed to finish getting ready for work I pressed the record button on the DVR vowing silently to watch it later when I had time.

Fast forward to about 30 minutes ago. I'm looking for something to watch and I see I have 11 minutes of the RtCotB on DVR. So I of course fire it up. I'm watching it and smiling and then crying - like I always do when thinking and talking about the 2004 ALCS and World Series and I realize - no matter how the Red Sox are doing these days or how they do for years to come - nothing can ever take away the memories and the feelings that incredible 2004 team inspired. They will always make me smile and that little 8 game slice of baseball history will always mean the world to me.

Go Sox.

A week?

2007-07-16T10:10:00.001-07:00

Has it really been an entire week since I last posted something??? SHAME ON ME. What good is making a committment to do something so simple as spew some misc. jibber jabber if I'm not going to take the time to do it.

So what was the week that was??

Per my simple request - the American League hung on to win the All-Star game this year (for the 10th year in a row) assuring that the Red Sox will open the World Series this year at home versus the San Diego Padres.

USA television is back for the summer. With the return of psych on friday July 17th coupled with their (good) new show this summer burn notice (not the crappy one with Debbie Messing about the wife in Hollywood.....STARTERS WIFE) and of course the old favorites DEAD ZONE and The 4400, USA has again become required viewing in the Geek house.

It's finally cooled below solar surface temperature here in the Portland metro area - so that's nice. Still very much enjoying the warm summer nights here along with the awesome lightning storm we had last thursday evening. After spending close to 18yrs in California, I had forgotten there is this little thing called weather in the summer? How refreshing.

Gotta go for now.

More later.

The News is Out There

2007-07-16T09:45:00.000-07:00

News from the Land of the Totally Pumped!!!

Just saw this little tidbit!

July 16: Apparently, there's even more truth out there

X-Files fans can rejoice, as star David Duchovny revealed that plans are well underway for another theatrical movie based on the Fox series.

"I think we're going to do a movie in the fall," the actor told USA TODAY. "I'm actually supposed to get a script next week," penned by creator Chris Carter and longtime writer Frank Spotnick. Carter also will direct the film.

Duchovny and co-star Gillian Anderson are committed to the project, which Duchovny expects will begin in November. The first X-Files movie, released in 1998, grossed almost $190 million worldwide.

Duchovny says it may be tough at first to re-inhabit the role of Fox Mulder. "I don't want to be imitating myself; it'll have to be organic." Meantime, he's starring in Showtime comedy Californication, premiering Aug. 13.

Allow me to join the (I would assume) lengthy list of people to say - it's about time!

HR Derby

2007-07-09T22:00:00.000-07:00

Baseball's All-Star game is being played tomorrow night in San Francisco. As a HUGE baseball fan and a former Bay Area resident I'm kinda bumming I'm not there for the festivities. Mind you - a ticket would be out of the question but wandering around the park amid all of the hoopla would be cool. Alas - it was not meant to be. Should MLB decide to re-locate a team to the Portland area and then award the city an All-Star game I'd be pretty pumped. Check back with me in about 10 years and we'll see where things stand.

To alot of people the All-Star game means the HR Derby. Everyone likes to watch major league baseball players hit HR's. Don't forget - chicks dig the longball. The thing is - I end up having a couple of issues with the HR Derby. For one - it can get a bit boring. Ohhhh - there goes another one.....that one measured 474 ft.......oooohh - there goes another......Now that I really think about it I don't think it's that the HRD is boring, it's that I'm getting tired of Chris Berman. Tonight - if I had to hear another one of his "BACK BACK BACK - GONE! All the way to Alcatraz (or Sausalito or Half Moon Bay etc...)" I was going to throw up in my mouth. Just as Charlie Steiner cannot call a baseball game if the fate of the Western world depended on it, Chris Berman should not have anything to do with baseball on any level. Put him in the studio with Tommy Jackson and other assorted athletes/analysts (YAY Steve Young!!!), and he shines with his nicknames and "He could go ALL THE WAY"! I guess that's what happens when you've been doing the same thing for 25 yrs. He has his place in the world - it just wasn't working for me tonight during the HRD.

By the way - did you see Vlad Guerrero hit that one 503 ft!!!!!! Holy moly - I thought he was going to hit the glove. Pretty cool stuff huh?

All said - I am looking forward to the game tomorrow night. This new generation of players are something special and will be fun to watch for years to come. Nothing like watching the best of the best show their stuff. Go American League! We need the home field advantage for the World Series so the Red Sox get 4 games at The Fens.

Misc. Tidbits
> Wasn't part of the No Doubt/Gwen Stefani love fest that has been going on for years but I now have to admit she's got me hooked. I'm listening to the No Doubt remake of It's My Life as I write this and I just LOVE her voice. It's seems like nowadays everything she does is good. Glad I have officially joined the party.
> Started re-reading the INXS autobiography again last night. With the new Harry Potter book on the way I'm not sure why I decided to pick it up again but after reading just a few chapters I'm reminded why I'm such a big fan of the band and their music. If you are curious about their lives and rise to fame check it out. It's worth the read (and the re-read).
>Back to Gwen - HELLA GOOD rocks!
>As I mentioned yesterday summer is officially here. Tomorrows forecasted high - 101.....yikes. This should be fun.
>For my listening pleasure - here's a 10 song shuffle from my iPOD
1. American Idiot - Green Day
2. Love Bites - Def Leppard
3. Fat Bottomed Girls - Queen
4. Voyage Around The Moon - The Saturn 5
5. Viking Juice - INXS
6. Funeral In The Rain - Chris Isaak
7. Peace On Earth - U2
8. Dreams - Van Halen
9. Da Do Do Do, De Da Da Da - The Police
10. Love and Affection - Nelson

On that note - I'm off to bed......"I can't live without your Love and Affection....I can't face another night on my own...."

I'm Back

2007-07-08T22:01:00.000-07:00

With little fanfare - 24Geek is back.

First of all - I STILL have yet to finish watching this season of 24. I have about 4 hours left and contrary to conventional wisdom these days, I am looking forward to watching them. Once I do you (all) will be the first to know.

Much has happened since I last posted something back in April but until now I always found some sort of reason not to jump into the Land of Blog and write about it. What has changed??? Nothing really except I have re-committed to the idea of trying to write and post something every day. I've decided that it doesn't have to be earth shattering but rather it just needs to be something.

My wife is in the midst of writing her first novel (has been since March) and also is working The Artist's Way so she spends a ton of time writing - but still doesn't get to write as much as she would like. For a while I was writing morning pages each day but I found I'd rather get an extra 30-45 minutes of sleep then spend the time putting pen to paper to write about whatever thoughts or feelings were clogging up my brain. Smart?? Probably not but it is what it is.

What I have decided to do instead is make sure that I write something (ANYTHING) each day here just to keep the artistic juices flowing. Do I have any idea what each day might bring?? Not a chance but at least at the end of the day I'll feel like I shared.

Today was a productive day. This is a good thing. One of the reasons we up and bolted from the Bay Area was due to the housing prices (along with just about everything else) being outrageously priced - and hence being WAY out of our grasp. Owning a home is something we have wanted for quite a while and the move to Oregon opened up that possibility. So...we've been looking around at the different homes, townhomes and condos that are being built in the area to see if we could find something that we liked. Fortunately we did (very much actually) and took the time today to sit down with a lender to find out exactly how things stand for us, what we might qualify for right now, and some steps we can take to put ourselves in the best possible position to get a loan. This is where the productive day kicked in. The individual that we spoke with (that would be you Adam), took the time to explain the home buying process , reviewed our credit (which turned out to be pretty ok...), gave us some steps to take to improve our scores and left us feeling optimistic about the idea of buying our first home.

Now the plan is to take those steps to move further down the path to buying. It's going to take some work (most good things do) but in the end we know it will help. I'm sure I'll end up writing more about all this as the days go by so for anyone out there who might care - stay tuned for more.

Misc. Tidbits :
> LOST - the 2nd half of the season absolutely rocked and the season finale was...WOW!
> If I had to vote for President tomorrow...John Edwards gets my vote. There's something about him that has me hooked. 560 days, 21 hours and 23 minutes until our National nightmare comes to an end.
> Saw the movie Pursuit of Happyness today - quite an inspirational story...but bring the kleenex. Hey, what do you want?? These things get to me.
> Another good flick - Chronicles of Narnia. Finally got the chance to see it and really liked it. Loved the book so I was glad they managed to pull it off.
> Two words - HARRY POTTER. The summer of Potter begins July 11th.
> Still haven't seen Spider Man 3 or Pirates 3 (or Casino Royale for that matter) but I will....in the near future.
> Dang it's going to be hot here in Oregon over the next few days. The forecast is calling for temps in the mid-90's for most of the week. No it's not Vegas hot (that's just plain crazy) but for those of us NOT living in the desert it will be warm. Thank heavens for the POOL!
> The Red Sox have a 10 game lead in the American League East at the All-Star break....WOW!
> The Yankees head into the break under .500 for the first time since 1995. Couldn't be happening to a more deserving group of guys.
> Alex Rodriguez is an incredible baseball player.
> I can't wait to see the New England Patriots in action this season.

Time for me to go to sleep.

Day 1 is done.

Stay tuned Bat-fans. See ya tomorrow. Same Bat-time. Same Bat-channel.

G'night.

In the midst of tragedy...

2007-04-16T16:22:00.000-07:00

Seems El Presidente definitely wants to make sure he doesn't forget to placate his voter base.

Here's the statement from the White House regarding today's shocking shootings at Virginia Tech:

"A White House spokesman said President Bush was horrified by the rampage and offered his prayers to the victims and the people of Virginia. "The president believes that there is a right for people to bear arms, but that all laws must be followed," spokeswoman Dana Perino said."

The President believes that there is a right for people to bear arms???? What the hell does that have to do with being horrified by the rampage and offering his prayers to the victims????

Guess he just wanted to make sure the NRA didn't get any sort of crazy idea that he might be thinking of taking away their guns.

UNBELIEVABLE!

On Dissatisfaction Hiatus

2007-04-12T20:21:00.000-07:00

I apologize for weeks and weeks of nothing but this season has me completely uninspired.

I'm 2 (or 3 episodes) behind and the last few I did see have been a jumbled mess of storytelling.

Rumor has it that this past monday's episode was pretty good. I'll have to catch up and see if its true.

::sigh::

Come on Jack! Give me something to work with here.....

UNBELIEVABLE

2007-03-05T18:59:00.000-08:00

Sorry I'm a few days late with this but I have been stunned since I heard/read/saw Ann Coulter's wildly offensive comment regarding John Edwards on friday.

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised because it is Ann Coulter (and now I'm talking about her which is exactly what she wants) but at what point does this woman draw the line? Apparently there is nothing she will not say. With any luck people will continue to respond to this the way they have - by denouncing this kind of hate and demonstrating that there is absolutely no place for it in our society.

Unbelievable!

24 news and Notes - 1pm - 2pm

2007-02-26T20:40:00.000-08:00

I’m not even going to try and pretend that I have no idea what is going to happen in the coming two additional hours that I have to re-cap. All I’ll try and do is give you an idea of what I was thinking at the time something happened. At this point its all I can do. If it actually came true – well then – my predictability point from the last post is indeed true. That said I mind as well just get to it – eh??

1:00 P.M.
As Jack choppers to look for Morris, Chloe has trouble helping him because she cannot get the satellite to respond. Milo sees that she is distraught over Morris, and it is making her slip up.

COMMENT: Chloe? Slipping up?? Hmmmm….a disturbing trend to say the least.

1:01 P.M.
Buchanan lets Jack know that Graem has died from cardiac arrest, which was most likely caused by the interrogation. Jack asks him to break the news to Marilyn when she arrives at CTU.

COMMENT: …and the hits just keep on coming for Jack.

1:02 P.M.
Milo alerts Buchanan that Chloe’s mind is on Morris instead of her job. Despite her uncharacteristic frustration, Chloe assures them that she is fine. Buchanan relieves her of her post and Milo helps Jack track Morris. Chloe sulks.

COMMENT: Chloe sulks….hahahahahaha….Love the lemon face! I used to hate it but now there is only love for the one they call Chloe.

1:04 P.M.
As Rita drives, Morris tells McCarthy that CTU is already on their tail.

1:06 P.M.
McCarthy sees the helicopter and realizes they are being followed.

COMMENT: Welcome to the Land of Implausibility!!!! You mean to tell me that the CTU helicopter couldn’t follow McCarthy from far enough away not to be spotted?? Of course last time I checked it wasn’t really that easy to spot a helicopter from the ground when you are fleeing a scene. Whatever….so disappointing.

1:07 P.M.
Jack loses sight of them when Rita hides the car under a freeway overpass. He orders the helicopter pilot to put him down on the ground.

McCarthy goes to hotwire another car, leaving Morris alone with Rita. He brings her up to speed that McCarthy plans to use him to trigger the other nuclear bombs. CTU doesn’t know that she even exists, so she could walk away free if she lets Morris go.

1:08 P.M.
The chopper touches down on an eighteen wheeler truck and Jack gets out on foot.

COMMENT: Cool helicopter landing…I’m just saying.

1:09 P.M.
McCarthy comes back to unlock Morris and put him in the stolen car. Rita questions him about his involvement in the nuclear threat. “What this is about, is about seven million dollars,” he answers.

Jack comes upon McCarthy’s car but it is empty. CTU cannot find which vehicle they have escaped in. The TAC team arrives and picks up Jack.

1:10 P.M.
Fayed calls McCarthy and tells him where to meet. McCarthy pulls over to plug the address into the GPS. Suddenly, Rita shoots him dead. She pushes McCarthy’s body out of the car and takes over the wheel. Morris’s relief is only short-lived because Rita plans to turn him over to Fayed and take the money herself. Since CTU doesn’t know she exists, she is in the clear.

COMMENT: WHOA…She just shot him!!! Finally something I didn’t expect. Rita – you’re in way over your head but let’s just go with this now shall we?

1:16 P.M.
Wayne Palmer asks an unhappy Lennox if he will still support his policies even though he doesn’t believe in them. Before Lennox can answer, the President gets word that Assad has landed at Andrews Air Force Base.

1:17 P.M.
Feeling spurned, Lennox tells Reed that he intends to resign because he no longer has influence over the Administration. Lennox isn’t so sure that Wayne has the courage to lead the country.

COMMENT: How is Lennox now like some sort of spoiled brat who isn’t getting his way?? Come on writers – pick a personality and run with it.

1:19 P.M.
Reed secretly dials a man named Carson on Capitol Hill and informs him that Lennox’s proposals were rejected by the President. Their “plan” is dependent on Reed having access to the White House, and Lennox’s resignation will deter that. Reed wants to let Lennox in on the plan in hopes that he will reconsider quitting.

COMMENT: Hmm – apparently Reed isn’t the lacky we all assumed that he was…I’m sorry but I just can’t get used to Chad Lowe trying to act all evil…it just doesn’t work.

1:21 P.M.
Marilyn and Josh arrive at CTU. Buchanan tells her that Graem suffered a fatal heart attack, and she assumes that it was because of something Jack did.

COMMENT: Is it me or does ‘ole blue eyes not seem very shaken up about the demise of Graem??

1:22 P.M.
Jack finds McCarthy’s body. A witness said he was shot by a female who was accompanied by a man fitting Morris’s description. The phone on McCarthy’s body had a call that came in from an encrypted ID. Jack sends the data to CTU for tracing.

1:23 P.M.
Rita drags Morris into Fayed’s building and explains to the terrorists that she works for McCarthy. Morris points out that he is not an engineer, but Fayed knows that he works for CTU. Fayed won’t give Rita the money until Morris detonates the nuclear bombs. Morris courageously refuses to do so, and Fayed has him beaten up.

COMMENT: Let the terrorist torture begin…

1:29 P.M.
Milo is having difficulty tracing the call made to McCarthy’s phone. Chloe offers to try, apologizing for her earlier behavior. She comes up with an address of the call’s origination. Jack heads there with the TAC teams. Because of Chloe’s actions, Buchanan agrees to allow her back to work.

COMMENT: How nice of Bill….

1:31 P.M.
Assad is escorted into the White House bunker. If Fayed detonates any more bombs then Wayne will not sign a peace agreement. Wayne wants Assad to make a public address asking Islamic communities worldwide for help bringing down Fayed. Assad is hesitant because his people will assume he has become an American puppet. Wayne will not back down.

COMMENT: Wayne showing some balls. This is what we like to see. He’s no David (who is?) but then who is??

1:33 P.M.
Jack arrives at Fayed’s building, where TAC teams are in place.

1:34 P.M.
Buchanan has satellite position of the building, but they don’t know which apartment Fayed is in. Jack asks Chloe to trigger the building’s fire alarm.

COMMENT: Pretty amazing what they can do remotely huh?

1:35 P.M.
Fayed’s men torture Morris and they stop when the fire alarm sounds. Residents exit the building. Fayed knows that CTU has found him.

1:36 P.M.
With time running out, Fayed plunges a power drill bit into Morris’s shoulder. Morris screams in pain. Fayed threatens to do him more harm unless he helps them rig the trigger.

COMMENT: Power drill eh? Ouch.

1:37 P.M.
Rita becomes scared and says she will give up the money if they let her go. Fayed shoots her, and she falls dead. Morris says he will do whatever Fayed wants.

COMMENT: So much for the “Rita the undercover government agent” storyline I was hoping for….

1:43 P.M.
Lennox expresses his frustration to Reed about Wayne using Assad in a televised speech. This will convey that America has declared that terrorism works. Reed brings up the idea that there may be others who have the same notions as Lennox and would want to see the Vice President lead instead of Wayne. Lennox is appalled and wants to know who he is talking about. Reed becomes evasive. Although he disagrees with Wayne’s policies, Lennox does not advocate the President’s removal. He notes that Reed’s intimations are grounds for treason. Reed doesn’t say anything further.

COMMENT: So – they want to take out the President…Another recycled storyline…

1:45 P.M.
With the apartment residents evacuated, CTU is able to trace infrared on who is left in the building. Chloe and Milo determine the apartment number.

COMMENT: Love the techie geek infrared stuff…

1:46 P.M.
As Fayed breathes down his neck, Morris works feverishly on the computer program.

1:47 P.M.
Jack and the TAC teams quietly raid the building.

1:48 P.M.
Morris completes his task and Fayed orders him to arm one of the bombs. After it works, Fayed instructs his men to kill Morris.

1:49 P.M.
Suddenly, an explosion rips through the apartment. Jack and the CTU teams engage in gunfire with Fayed’s men, taking them down. Fayed escapes unnoticed. None of the agents outside saw him leave.

COMMENT: Of course Fayed escapes….and no one sees him….could we expect anything less?

1:50 P.M.
Jack finds the armed nuclear weapon. He radios to CTU.

COMMENT: Gulp…of course we know that Jack is not going to blow up so a bit of the tension is diffused. Such is the life of Jack Bauer.

1:55 P.M.
While reading the schematics on her screen, Chloe guides Jack in disarming the bomb. The agents find Fayed’s escape route in a crawl space cut out of a wall. They think Fayed slipped out onto a medical helicopter that was spotted taking off nearby.

COMMENT: Come on CTU TAC teams….you need to do a little better job securing a perimeter…sigh.

1:56 P.M.
Jack gingerly follows Chloe’s instructions with shaking hands. He deactivates it with a sigh of relief.

COMMENT: Anyone out there surprised??

1:58 P.M.
Morris tells Jack that the reprogramming device he was forced to build will allow Fayed to detonate the other bombs. Jack is furious that Morris made the device work.

COMMENT: Oh come on Jack…back off! Morris is not a super agent like yourself. What the heck did you expect??

1:59 P.M.
Lennox gets an alert over the wire that Fayed still has the capability to arm the remaining suitcase nukes. He calls Reed. “That talk we were having in my office, I don’t think I misunderstood you,” Lennox says. Reed warns him not to speak over the phone until he has a secured location. Lennox hangs up, unsure of the dark road he is about to undertake.

COMMENT: Lennox and Reed together again…I can hardly wait.

So – where are we at??

+ Fayed has 3 more nukes and the ability to detonate them whenever and wherever he feels like.
+ Forces within the administration are secretly planning on removing Wayne from office (most likely permanently).
+ Chloe is pouting.
+ Morris has been drilled.
+ Jack’s dad is a bad man.
+ Jack sister in law is a former flame.
+ Jack’s son (errr – nephew) is….well we’ll just have to see what he is.

Next hour coming up!

24 News and Notes - 12pm-1pm

2007-02-12T10:21:00.000-08:00

Before I get into this past weeks recap I do have to talk about the fact that 24 has become a bit – dare I say – predictable. Mrs.Geek and I (along with most of the viewing public I expect) were well ahead of every “shocking” twist this episode had in store. Was it a bit disappointing?? A bit? Was there some sort of satisfaction in doing this?? Not really. Will this trend continue?? I’m not sure. Since it began 24 has shown the ability to push the envelope and surprise us with the lengths it’s been willing to go to shock us. Because of this I believe we have developed the ability to look forward and in some ways expect the worst most shocking thing. Do I have a point?? I’m not really sure….

Onto the show -

12:00 P.M.
Wayne watches news reports of the nuclear blast, affected by what he is seeing. When Lennox comes in, Wayne is suspicious of his involvement in Karen’s resignation. Lennox suggests that Karen quit because she knew she couldn’t stop his new plan for the Administration. Wayne is resistant to sign Lennox’s executive orders, knowing they will abuse power and civil liberties. Yet Lennox makes a strong argument and Wayne despairingly tells him to convene his cabinet.

COMMENT: Oh dear – is Wayne going to actually give in and allow himself to be manipulated by Tommy-Boy? I certainly hope the hell not! We are still waiting to find out why the heck Tommy is such a trusted member of Wayne’s inner circle when they clearly don’t see eye to eye on so many things… Writers – we’re waiting.

12:03 P.M.
Lennox lets Reed know that they have succeeded and that the President is ready to sign the order. “Getting rid of Karen was distinctly unpleasant, but she left us no choice,” Lennox says.

COMMENT: What a couple of dirtbags!

12:04 P.M.
Karen tells Buchanan that she resigned, but she refuses to tell him why. She abruptly hangs up on him, and when he calls her back Karen does not pick up the phone.

COMMENT: What the hell is this insanity???? Why in the heck is Karen not telling Bill what the heck is going on???? Can you tell I’m a little pissed with Karen?? Obviously she Is hiding something. Time to spill it Karen!

12:05 P.M.
Chloe reports to Buchanan that neither Jack nor the support teams are answering her calls.

COMMENT: Bill is thinking – another one of Jack’s support teams bites the dust…Mrs.Geek and I are thinking – how can these teams be so inept that they always wind up dead?

12:06 P.M.
Graem goes to his house to erase all of his hard drives.

12:07 P.M.
Captive in the van, Phillip wearily admits that everything he ever did was for Jack. Phillip only now realizes that he pushed him away. After Jack left, Graem was all he had left.

COMMENT: The first of several Bauer family moments this hour.

12:08 P.M.
After arriving at a cement plant, Jack and Phillip are lead out in handcuffs. Phillip offers the men double whatever Graem is paying them, but they don’t accept. Phillip refuses to get on his knees at a freshly dug grave. With the men distracted, Jack is able to wrestle one of their guns with his locked hands. He shoots both men. Phillip grabs the keys and releases the handcuffs.

COMMENT: Sorry folks. That was WAY too easy. My suspicion antennae are up and twitching.

12:09 P.M.
Jack uses the dead man’s cell to call Buchanan. He lets him know that his brother lied to him and tried to have him killed. Buchanan sends a field team to Graem’s mansion. Jack wants Burke the torture specialist brought in too.

COMMENT: Is Jack really ready to torture his brother?? I guess so since Burke is on the way. Wonder what Dad thinks about this whole thing.

12:10 P.M.
McCarthy phones Fayed because he has found someone to program the triggers for the bombs. McCarthy emails Fayed the engineer’s photo and background. “He’ll need to be coerced,” McCarthy warns.

COMMENT: Mrs.Geek and I instantly deduct that it will be someone we know. Obviously. See what I mean?

12:15 P.M.
Fayed’s call is intercepted by the feds, and the CTU team hears McCarthy notifying Fayed about someone to detonate the nuclear weapons. Morris attempts to salvage an image file that McCarthy sent to Fayed of the engineer.

12:16 P.M.
Jack meets up with the field team outside Graem’s mansion. Although Phillip wants to go with him, Jack says he will need to question Graem alone and do “whatever it takes to find out what he knows.”

COMMENT: We all know what that means. Hide the lamps and plastic bags!!

12:17 P.M.
While Graem works feverishly on his laptop, he lies to Marilyn about what’s going on. Suddenly, the CTU teams raid the house. Graem pulls out his gun, but he is surrounded. Jack and Graem are locked in a standoff, but Graem gives up his weapon. Jack has an agent upload all computer hard drives to CTU.

COMMENT: Now let the fun begin!

12:18 P.M.
Jack drags an angry Marilyn into another room. She doesn’t believe that Graem would try to have Jack and Phillip killed. He tells her about Graem’s involvement with the nuclear bombs. While she believes that her husband is capable of such things, Marilyn does not know about any of his dealings. Jack promises to look after both her and Josh, but Marilyn only wants to leave. “I’ve seen what happens when you try to protect people,” she shouts. Jack orders for Marilyn and Josh to be transported to CTU.

COMMENT: WOW Marilyn! Talk about gutting Jack like a marlin. He’s just trying to help.

12:20 P.M.
Outside the house, Marilyn sees Phillip and asks him if what Jack said about Graem is true. She takes Phillip’s silence as confirmation.

12:21 P.M.
As Agent Burke sets up a camera to monitor body temperature, Graem claims to Jack that he doesn’t know where McCarthy is. Burke sees that Graem is lying about something. Jack calls for Burke to bring in the interrogation setup.

COMMENT: Oh goodie! Get the needles out!

12:28 P.M.
Milo lets Chloe know that Morris’s brother was exposed to radiation and is in critical condition. Milo wants to keep this from Morris, but Chloe disagrees.

COMMENT: What is this?? Edgar all over again??

12:29 P.M.
Chloe brings Morris the bad news. Morris is confused because his brother wasn’t supposed to be in Valencia. He tries calling the hospital but cannot get through.

COMMENT: Brother not supposed to be there? DANGER WILL ROBINSON!!!

12:30 P.M.
With no information on his dying brother, Morris gets up to leave. Chloe convinces him to stay and finish decrypting the photo that was sent to Fayed.

COMMENT: Hmmm – so maybe it’s not Morris (like we ALL think it is)…

12:31 P.M.
Jack checks in with Buchanan and learns that Fayed found an engineer to detonate the nukes. Jack realizes his time is running out, and he presses Graem to tell the truth. Burke prepares a syringe of hyocine-pentothal to induce pain, but Graem still claims that he doesn’t know McCarthy’s whereabouts. Graem is injected with a small amount and winces in agony. Jack is disturbed to see his brother go through this torture.

COMMENT: Do we see this as Jack getting soft or just becoming more human? Discuss amongst yourselves…

12:33 P.M.
Jack clutches Graem’s head and begs him to give up what he knows and forestall any more pain. When Graem offers nothing, Jack has the levels of serum increased. Graem launches into a series of spasms and Jack holds him tight for comfort.

COMMENT: Cringe.

12:34 P.M.
When Graem is still tight-lipped, Jack urges Burke to go even higher with the IV. This prompts Graem to confess that he arranged for the assassinations of David Palmer, Tony Almeida and Michelle Dessler. He even arranged it so that Jack would come out of hiding to take the fall. “Today wasn’t the first time I’ve tried to have you killed, Jack,” Graem says with spiteful pride. Jack reacts in heartbroken disbelief.

COMMENT: Okay you got me here….HOLY TRUTH SERUM BATMAN!!!!! Graem admitted to all of last seasons crap. Whoa.

12:36 P.M.
Graem claims his actions were for his country, and he says that the two of them are the same. “We are not the same!” Jack yells in rage before throwing back Graem’s chair. He charges Burke at gunpoint to increase the serum to a deadly level and then threatens to kill Graem. As Jack points his gun at Graem’s temple, he looks up and sees his father in the doorway. Jack suddenly stops in his tracks. He has Burke shut down the IV drip on Graem and walks away in silence.

COMMENT: Come on Jack. He told you all that stuff and all you did was push over his chair?? Hit him with something hard. Draw blood. I’m so disappointed…

12:40 P.M.
Lying in a hospital bed, Walid conveys to Sandra that he is ashamed for spying on the innocent men in the prison. She gets a call from Wayne, who apologizes for what happened to Walid. Sandra tells him that the inmates only saw the information on the internet. Wayne’s administration is detaining people who might be able to help, but they are afraid to come forward because they will be imprisoned or deported.

COMMENT: ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ……oh excuse me. I fell asleep there for a while. Easily the most boring part of this entire day.

12:42 P.M.
Distracted, Morris is unable to make the image clearer. He downloads an unlicensed hack to help further the task.

Jack briefs Buchanan on what Graem disclosed. His brother doesn’t know where McCarthy is. Buchanan lets him know that Morris is working on the image of the engineer to be used for the nukes. He sends a chopper to pick Jack up.

12:43 P.M.
Jack approaches his father, who is visibly devastated by what he has witnessed. Jack consolingly says that he cannot blame himself for Graem’s choices. Yet Phillip is more upset at how the family has treated Jack and the time lost between them. Jack asks Phillip to return to CTU.

COMMENT: Bauer family moment #2. still not sure I trust Dad but what can you do. I don’t trust anyone. (thanks to my X-Files roots)

12:50 P.M.
Morris gets the plug-in to work and the image begins to sharpen. Since it will take a few minutes, he leaves it in Milo’s hands so that he can go tend to his brother. Chloe kisses Morris goodbye as he walks out.

COMMENT: NOOOOO – don’t let Milo leave the building!!!

12:47 P.M.
From the airborne cabin of Air Force Two, Vice President Noah Daniels congratulates Lennox about the plan he has pushed through. “To be honest, I didn’t think this President had the stomach for the cure,” Daniels growls.

COMMENT: Creepy VP alert. This guy is going to be nothing but trouble. Makes you wonder how the heck he ended up on the ticket with Wayne.

12:48 P.M.
Lennox puts Daniels on speaker phone as Wayne enters the bunker conference room. It is filled with generals, cabinet members and advisors. Wayne explains to the group that Lennox’s plan sacrifices rights and freedoms granted by the Constitution. To implement it would be a mistake. Lennox argues his case, but Wayne is insistent that the American Muslim community is the country’s best line of defense. Daniels suggests the President hear from some other sources, but Wayne stands firmly by his decision.

COMMENT: WOOOO HOOOO!!!! Right on Wayne!!! It’s about time you grow a set and start acting like the President! Nice to see Tommy-Boy eat a little crow.

12:53 P.M.
As the image materializes, everyone at CTU is shocked when Morris’s face and resume is revealed. Buchanan orders an APB on Morris’s car and he tells Jack what has occurred.

COMMENT: Everyone at CTU is shocked?? Good morning. Welcome to the show. No one watching in America was shocked!!! As soon as he left the building he was doomed.

12:54 P.M.
Chloe reaches Morris on his cell, and patches Jack and Buchanan through. They tell him that his brother’s illness was a setup and that he was the engineer McCarthy was looking for. Morris is shocked and goes to turn his car around. Suddenly, McCarthy pulls alongside Morris and fires at his windshield. CTU can hear the gunshots and McCarthy ordering Morris out of the car. Buchanan rouses a shocked Chloe to pull up the satellite so they can find him.

COMMENT: Okie….Let’s see how this one plays out now. Is it me or could Morris have done a little bit more to get away?? Oh well.

12:55 P.M.
Rita helps handcuff Morris inside their car as McCarthy calls Fayed to tell him he is on his way. McCarthy makes it clear that he is only delivering Morris. Fayed will have to make him cooperate.

COMMENT: More torture…I can’t wait. (not)

12:56 P.M.
Jack boards the helicopter.

At the mansion, Burke allows Phillip to speak to Graem in private. Graem is proud of himself for taking whatever Jack did to him and not revealing Phillip’s involvement in the plot. He assures his father that he won’t tell Jack anything, no matter how much worse the interrogation gets. They successfully convinced Jack that Phillip was innocent. Their plan is for Graem to take the rap and for Phillip to get him released in time. “The company lives on,” Graem says.

COMMENT: NO NO NO – don’t let Dad alone in the room with Graem. Only bad can come of it…..Just like we suspected – Dad is evil. Non-surprise #717 this hour….sigh.

12:58 P.M.
Despite Graem’s confidence, Phillip isn’t so sure that his son will hold firm. Graem tells Phillip that he loves him, and Phillip returns the compliment. Then Phillip apologizes and injects Graem’s IV with a full dose of hyocine-pentothal. As Graem convulses, Phillip covers his mouth so no sound can escape. Graem’s body goes limp, and Phillip kisses him on the head.

COMMENT: Told you he shouldn’t be alone with Graem. Bye Bluetooth – we hardly knew ya!

12:59 P.M.
Phillip bellows that his son has had a seizure. Burke and the other agents try to revive Graem. “If you people kill my son, I swear you’re gonna regret it for the rest of your life,” Phillip threatens.

COMMENT: Hmmm – the angry grieving father card. Let’s see how long that play works.

Dad vs. Son. Let the adventure begin.

24 News and Notes - 11am-12pm

2007-01-30T10:52:00.000-08:00

An all around solid episode – nothing spectacular just good stuff across the board. Onto the show ->

11:00 A.M.
Karen confronts Lennox about his progress on detention centers without the President’s authorization. She accuses him of setting dangerous precedent, but Lennox claims he is only taking defensive actions in light of the nuclear threat.

COMMENT: Back to not liking Tommy Boy again…wow – that was quick.

11:03 A.M.
Lennox turns to his Deputy Chief of Staff, Reed Pollock, to help get Karen off his back so he can focus on his proposals for the President.

COMMENT: Welcome Chad Lowe! Both Lowe brothers are back on network TV.

11:05 A.M.
Nadia expresses her concern to Buchanan that the new internal security mandate requires all personnel with Middle Eastern backgrounds to succumb to new clearance restrictions. She will now be hindered from working on all sensitive files when they need her the most.

COMMENT: A little surprised that Bill left her hanging like that…but if my Nadia mole theory comes to fruition then he did the right thing.

11:06 A.M.
At Graem’s mansion, Jack threatens to suffocate his brother to get the truth. Graem fakes crying that he doesn’t know where their father is. When Jack goes to use the plastic bag again, Graem admits that Phillip went to see one of his employees named Darren McCarthy. The Russian general gave their company BXJ smaller nuclear weapons to dismantle. Graem had hired McCarthy to handle it, but didn’t check him out. McCarthy stole the nukes and sold them to the terrorists. Graem and Phillip didn’t report it because they thought they could take care of the situation privately. Phillip put together a security team and staked out McCarthy in Simi Valley. Jack unties Graem and forces him to go there.

COMMENT: Gray is such a wuss…I expected more balls from the head of the Bluetooth Group….That said - I wouldn’t exactly be in any great shape if my sibling tried to suffocate me with a plastic bag.

11:09 A.M.
As they leave the house, Graem orders his wife to stay in the house with Josh. Jack and Marilyn trade a look.

COMMENT: A look…and so it begins.

11:10 A.M.
Jack calls in McCarthy’s address to Chloe.

11:15 A.M.
Despite Morris and Milo sniping at each other, the CTU team determines that they can look for Fayed in the opposite direction of the nuclear fallout and through the technology he is using to track that fallout.

COMMENT: Well how about that…they actually managed to accomplish something.

11:16 A.M.
As they drive to Simi, Graem accuses Jack of implicating the family. Jack assures him that CTU’s only interest is to stop further bombing.
Jack briefs Buchanan on his family’s involvement through McCarthy. He still isn’t sure if BXJ has any other links. Graem notes Jack’s lack of loyalty to their family. “If I were you, I wouldn’t talk about loyalty,” Jack says pointedly.

COMMENT: What is up with Gray? Why is he being such a wimp?

11:17 A.M.
McCarthy works the phone to find someone who can reprogram a nuclear trigger. His girlfriend Rita complains that she doesn’t feel safe and he gets annoyed. Rita softens with the thought of the seven million dollars he is expected to reap. Fayed calls McCarthy, and learns that the search is taking longer than expected.

COMMENT: I’m still thinking that Rita is a government plant…what other use can she possibly have?

11:18 A.M.
At Anacostia, Sandra watches as the FBI agent sends photos of the detainees in Walid’s circle to CTU.

11:19 A.M.
Morris is prevented from cross-checking the Anacostia inmates because he’s waiting on a manifest from Nadia. Milo asks Nadia why she hasn’t sent it out yet, and she claims that she is “backed up.” Nadia doesn’t want to tell him that her security clearance has been altered.

COMMENT: Why the heck doesn’t Nadia just tell him what the hell is going on??? Why have him waste his time having to go speak with Bill?? Just silly!

11:20 A.M.
Milo approaches Buchanan about Nadia falling behind in her workload. Buchanan covers for her until Milo objects. Buchanan confesses that Nadia was flagged because of her Muslim background. Milo is outraged.

COMMENT: Why the heck is Bill being so coy about it? Just tell Milo what is going on?? Share information people!!!!!!

11:21 A.M.
Buchanan calls Karen about the new racial profiling of agents affecting his team. Karen blames Lennox and wants to address the issue with the President.

11:22 A.M.
In the prison, Walid asks Salim and the other men about the four nuclear weapons still at large. One of the men, Heydar, smuggled in a cell phone and has been in contact with the terrorists.
Sandra listens in, and the FBI agent explains that he will need Walid to get the phone so they can place a trace. He wants Walid to stay inside to keep talking to the inmates.

11:23 A.M.
Reed gives Lennox a paper with names on it. Lennox approaches Karen and asks her to tender her resignation because she covered up her husband’s incompetence. Over a year ago, Fayed was held in custody and Buchanan signed off on his release. Karen explains that Fayed was not a prisoner at the time. Lennox points out that the incident was covered up at Homeland Security, and he shows her the paper with all the people willing to testify against her. Karen is adamant that she did nothing illegal or improper, and she threatens to uncover his secrets in return blackmail. Yet Lennox has the proof in his hands and he again demands her resignation.

COMMENT: KAREN – TAKE THE PAPER, WALK INTO THE PRESIDENT’S OFFICE AND TELL HIM WHAT TOMMY BOY IS TRYING TO DO!!!!!! Mrs. Geek and I were practically yelling at the TV in frustration!...sigh…

11:31 A.M.
When they arrive at McCarthy’s office building in Simi, Jack has Chloe check all the vehicles in the area to find out if any are registered to McCarthy.

11:32 A.M.
Milo covers up for Nadia when Morris questions her slow work. Milo admits that Buchanan told him the truth. He illegally logs her in on his I.D. so that she can work properly.

COMMENT: Watch – she’s going to be a mole and Milo just screwed up BIG TIME!!! I’m not buying the whole “she’s been in this country since she was 2. she’s a republican” argument. It’s the perfect cover.

11:33 A.M.
With the CTU agents outside standing by, Jack and Graem break into McCarthy’s office.

11:34 A.M.
Jack opens up McCarthy’s computer, but it is systematically shredding files. Jack hears a noise, and handcuffs Graem to go investigate. He finds his father Phillip with two security guards.

COMMENT: Hi Dad.

11:35 A.M.
Jack chides Phillip for not alerting the authorities to BXJ’s involvement when the bombs went off. Phillip says he was only trying to protect Graem from going to prison. Jack goes to call CTU, and Phillip asks him to let them handle it themselves. Graem blames Jack for never putting family first, like he did when Teri was killed. This enrages Jack, and he goes to slug Graem. Phillip gives in and says they will do it Jack’s way and turn their information in.

COMMENT: Ooooh – Gray. Playing the “Teri” card. Very bold of you.

11:36 A.M.
Graem refuses to accept Phillip’s decision. He gives a nod to the other guards, who grab both Jack and Phillip at gunpoint. Graem takes Jack’s cell phone to prevent him from calling CTU.

COMMENT: Ooops. Had to see this one coming though…Gray was only going to be a wimp for so long.

11:40 A.M.
At Anacostia, Walid notices Heydar read a message on the cell phone window. Walid walks in front of him and falls to the ground. When Heydar helps him up, Walid pick pockets the phone.

COMMENT: So exactly where did Walid learn his pick pocketing skills??? Give me a break!

11:41 A.M.
The FBI agent gives Walid a number to dial so that CTU can trace the phone. Chloe logs the phone’s SIM card and the agent signals Walid to return the phone. Sandra implores for Walid’s release, but the agent needs to find out what else these men know about the bombs.

COMMENT: Settle down Sandra…Also – asking Walid to return the phone to the guys pocket without being found out? Come on – what’s he going to do?? Bump into him again?? Mrs.Geek had the right idea – go back to the place they originally “bumped” into each other and drop the phone on the ground….I mean – DUH! Do we have to think of everything?

11:43 A.M.
Karen tells Wayne that she is quitting, and he asks if it has anything to do with her feud with Lennox. Karen will not give him the details. “You know what to do, Sir,” she emphasizes before asking to be reassigned to CTU in Los Angeles. Wayne approves military transport for her.

COMMENT: AWWW – come on Karen. Just tell him!!!!!!!!! The whole “re-assign me to LA” thing is such a lame plot device to get her and Bill together. I just knew she’d be asking to go…sigh…

11:46 A.M.
As Karen leaves the President’s office, she bumps into Reed and he asks her to hand something to the President. She tells him to give it to Lennox instead. Reed quickly calls Lennox with the news that Karen is out.

COMMENT: Slime. Pure slime.

11:55 A.M.
McCarthy and Rita check into a motel so that he cannot be located.

COMMENT: Ok – whatever.

11:56 A.M.
Chloe looks up the log from Heydar’s phone and finds that none of the numbers are connected to Fayed. The phone’s browser has logged onto a terrorist website that had all the information. The inmates are not actively involved with the bombings. Sandra orders the FBI agent to get Walid out.

In the yard, Heydar realizes his phone is gone and he points to Walid. The other men grab Walid and find the cell phone. Heydar and the crowd of men start attacking Walid.

COMMENT: Ooops. All that kicking and punching must be quite uncomfortable….

11:57 A.M.
Sandra runs into the yard with a guard who pulls them off. Sandra tends to Walid, crying.

COMMENT: Why is it I feel absolutely no sympathy for Sandra? I feel like this is just going to make her more of a royal pain in the ass…I can’t wait.

11:58 A.M.
Graem’s men lead Jack and Phillip out of the office building in handcuffs. Outside, the CTU agents are dead.

COMMENT: These CTU security teams just suck at being Agents. They just keep ending up dead. Bummer.

11:59 A.M.
As Graem goes in another car, Jack and Phillip are loaded into a van.

COMMENT: Wow – Gray sure is Mr.BigShot bad guy now that he has a gun and doesn’t have a plastic bag over his head. Don’t worry – he and Jack will meet again….very soon.

Not quite the explosive shocking 24 that we have been treated to so far. Karen’s blackmail ouster was a bit of a shock – but I still think it could have been avoided. It will be interesting to see if she just shows up at CTU – Los Angeles or if she gives Bill a head’s up call.

It looks like we have settled into the storytelling portion of the show so I think we are safe from any major developments for a bit – but we will still be treated to Jack yelling louder and louder to get people to do what he wants.

Think that will work with my daughter?

24 News and Notes - 10am-11am

2007-01-26T11:09:00.000-08:00

Still sitting here stunned that they blew up Valencia…but much more is in store in hour number 6.

10:00 A.M.
The White House team watches news reports of the bomb blast in Valencia, which is just outside of Los Angeles. Luckily, the wind is blowing the radiation away from populated areas. Karen learns that there are four more nuclear weapons. Although the Secret Service moves the President to the bunker, Wayne wants to give a televised speech to the public within the hour.

COMMENT: I’m sorry but I’ve seen the LA basin from the air – away from populated areas?? Where exactly might that be?? The only unpopulated area near LA is the ocean…oh well.

10:03 A.M.
Milo gets word that all field agents in the area who were engaged with hostiles were killed in the blast.

COMMENT: From the “Goes Without Saying” file…

10:04 A.M.
Karen calls Buchanan from the bunker and is relieved to find out that the CTU office was not affected. Buchanan cannot confirm whether Fayed was killed in the blast or whether the other four nukes are still at large.

COMMENT: Bill and Karen…aww. Can only imagine how she must have felt to see that bomb go off and know her hubby’s right there in the neighborhood.

10:06 A.M.
Chloe is overwhelmed when she finds out that Curtis is dead. She tells Morris that Jack quit because he was forced to kill Curtis.

COMMENT: As is most of CTU?? No?

10:07 A.M.
Mass panic ensues on a street in Granada Hills. Fayed drives in a van, telling a man named Darren McCarthy on the phone that the bomb went off when the feds found his location. Both the engineer and the trigger were destroyed in the blast. Fayed offers McCarthy double the price to find him someone who can replicate the trigger device for the remaining four warheads.

COMMENT: Okay – who’s this McCarthy guy and why the heck is he working with Fayed?

10:08 A.M.
Amid the fleeing people, Jack stands alone, silently looking at the mushroom cloud. A man approaches him for help because his helicopter crashed into a roof and there is someone stuck inside. The man had no idea that a nuclear bomb went off.

10:09 A.M.
Jack runs to the crash site and climbs to the roof of the building. The helicopter teeters on the edge. Jack opens the chopper door and pulls the survivor out just before the craft topples to the ground and explodes into flames.

COMMENT: Just when we thought he was out – they keep pulling him back in!!! He saves the guy and we get to see a really cool explosion as well. All in all a good scene.

10:11 A.M.
Jack phones Buchanan, who tells him that there are still four more bombs. Jack asks to be picked up even though he intended to quit. “Not after this,” Jack says, looking at the mushroom cloud.

COMMENT: Look out Fayed – Jack’s coming for you!

10:16 A.M.
The White House compiles a list of countries that might be funding Fayed. They all claim to disavow the attacks. An Admiral advises the President to bomb all of these countries to send a message. Wayne says they will only retaliate against the enemy. Karen reports that CTU assesses that the bomb was meant for a more populated area. The scientist Numair was responsible for triggering it, and he was killed in the blast.

COMMENT: LOVED when Tommy Boy shut the Admiral down! I actually liked Tommy in this scene. Could the tide be turning?

10:18 A.M.
Fayed has the other four weapons with him.
Assad arrives at CTU. He pledges to Buchanan that he is not their enemy today.

COMMENT: No handshake from Bill?? I guess Assad still has a bit to prove.

10:19 A.M.
Buchanan briefs Assad on the four other bombs still at large. Assad had no idea that Fayed possessed nuclear firepower. He had sent Fayed to meet with a Russian general a year ago about weaponry, but nothing transacted. Chloe starts looking up the name Dmitri Gredenko.

10:25 A.M.
Morris compiles a list of Los Angeles people who conducted business with Gredenko. One of them is Phillip Bauer, the chairman of BXJ Technologies. This is Jack’s father.

COMMENT: Jack’s father?? Who knew he had a father??...(wink wink)

10:27 A.M.
Buchanan calls Jack to tell him about his father’s link to Gredenko. Although Jack hasn’t spoken to his father in over nine years, he wants to question him alone.

COMMENT: Oh boy – this should be fun. “Hi Dad – how have you been? Are you doing business with a terrorist?”

10:28 A.M.
At the Anacostia Facility, the FBI agents tell Sandra that they will need to wire Walid so that they can pick up more terrorist cel chatter from the inmates. Sandra is outraged because Walid isn’t trained for this.

COMMENT: Baby Palmer – shut up and go sit in the corner! How can she be SO ANNOYING!

10:29 A.M.
Walid approaches Salim in the prison yard and asks if he has heard anything more about the attacks. Salim says nothing. The FBI agents make a show of grabbing Walid. The other inmates watch and listen as Walid is interrogated about his terrorist activities. The agents quietly explain to Walid that they are wiring him. He follows along as they pretend to rough him up. They let him know that he is to say the FBI asked him about Fayed. The agents give him a bruise under his eye for effect.

COMMENT: Walid working the yard. Nice.

10:30 A.M.
Afterwards, Salim goes to Walid, but he doesn’t want to talk. The agents confirm that they have a clear signal from the wire.

10:31 A.M.
Jack phones his father’s San Marino mansion and speaks to Sam, the servant. Phillip left mysteriously and didn’t take his cell phone. Sam says he tried to find him through Jack’s brother as well. “Where’s Gray?” Jack asks.

COMMENT: His brother?? Jack has a brother?? A father and a brother? Wow.

10:32 A.M.
Liddy, the head of security at the Bauer mansion, overhears Sam’s conversation. Liddy phones Graem Bauer, Jack’s brother, to tell him that Jack is in Los Angles looking for their father. Graem is the leader of the Bluetooth power broker conspirators who were controlling President Logan. “Damnit, we should have killed Jack when we had the chance instead of handing him over to the Chinese,” Graem says. “We tried,” Liddy responds.

COMMENT: Holy s*** moment #3 this young season – Jack’s brother is the head of the Bluetooth Group!!!!! (getting dizzy – head spinning – must sit down)

10:38 A.M.
Jack calls Graem, who acts completely surprised. Graem claims he and Phillip attempted to get him out of China. He also says he has no idea where their father is, and he promises to call back.

10:39 A.M.
Jack calls Chloe to look up his brother’s address because he doesn’t want Graem to know he’s coming.

COMMENT: Ooooh this should be REALLY good!

10:40 A.M.
Graem returns to his house and is greeted by teenage son Josh. His wife Marilyn is shocked that Jack is back in town. Graem accuses her of still having feelings for Jack, whom she used to date before they were married.

COMMENT: Wait – Bluetooth (I’m sorry – Gray) has a family?? His son Josh?? Jack’s got a nephew?? His wife had the hots for Jack?? Ooooh – this is going to get REALLY REALLY good!

10:42 A.M.
The White House staffers argue over the wording in the President’s speech. Lennox believes that this is the perfect opportunity to act more aggressively. Wayne wants the message to be more calming rather than coming off as a policy dictum.

COMMENT: There’s the old Tommy Boy we know and love.

10:43 A.M.
As McCarthy works the phone looking for a bomb expert, he picks up his girlfriend Rita. She is eager to flee the city, but McCarthy says that they have a change of plans and are staying because a lot of money is on the table.

COMMENT: Girlfriend Rita? The point of Rita is???? Should we really care about Rita?? Writers – my head is spinning. Please don’t waste my time. Unless “Rita” is some sort of undercover government agent – I’m thinking she is a waste of my time and energy.

10:44 A.M.
McCarthy calls Fayed to tell him he will have someone for him within the hour.

10:49 A.M.
Nadia is convinced that Assad really does want peace. Buchanan thanks Assad for his intel and ships him off to Washington, per order of the President.

COMMENT: Wait – Assad is leaving us?? He’s going to Washington why?

10:50 A.M.
Milo gets word that the FBI has a wired man inside the Anacostia Detention Facility and they may have a lead on Fayed.

10:51 A.M.
As Salim defends Walid as “one of them” to his fellow prisoners, Sandra argues with the FBI agent that Walid should not be participating in this. The agent says that Walid is doing the right thing and that the guards on the inside know to protect him.

COMMENT: Sandra – SHUT UP! They aren't forcing Walid to do anything!!(argh)

10:52 A.M.
Salim approaches Walid, who feigns reluctance to talk. Walid finally admits that the guard confiscated the phone number of Abu Fayed from him. Salim invites Walid to join the other inmates.

10:54 A.M.
Jack shows up at Graem’s mansion. Graem hugs him but Jack does not respond. They haven’t seen each other since Teri’s funeral. Jack demands to know where their father is, but Graem avoids the topic.

COMMENT: On a scale of 1-10 on the Awkward Hug Scale that was about a 12. Loved when nephew Josh entered the room to meet Uncle Jack. Mrs.Geek commented it’s like looking at a male version of Kim. She delivered the line of the night after the exchange between Josh and Jack. Josh asked if they could talk a bit later and catch up and Jack says he’d like that. Mrs.Geek adds – BECAUSE I’M YOUR FATHER. I’m thinking – YES. It would be the perfect twist. We’ll see if she is right. (I think she will be)

10:56 A.M.
Jack slugs Graem and knocks him out. He ties Graem up in a chair. Jack grabs him by the throat and threatens to hurt him if he doesn’t give up information. Graem says he is already hurting him. “Trust me, I’m not,” Jack says intently.

COMMENT: HAHAHAHAHA – possibly the funniest scene of the night. Jack slugging Gray. Is it me or is Gray a huge wimp?? My first thought when Jack grabbed the lamp (to get some wire to tie him up) was that he was going to use the lamp to shock the heck out of him (a la Paul last season). I guess I can never look at a lamp the same way in Jack’s hands.

10:57 A.M.
Before he goes on live television, Wayne confesses to Lennox that he doesn’t want to let the public see how scared he is. Lennox assures him that bravado would be no more appropriate than fear.

10:58 A.M.
Despite Jack’s demands for the truth, Graem swears that he has no idea where Phillip is. Jack is not swayed. He takes a plastic bag and begins to suffocate his brother.

COMMENT: WHOA! Not quite a nuclear explosion but still another shocking scene of Jack torturing his own brother. I’m thinking he and the rest of the family have some real issues to work through. Ya think??

I for one really enjoyed this episode. Always nice to get one or two real shockers thrown in there and the Bluetooth Group connection revelation was just that. It’s going to be fun to learn more about Jack and his family. I look forward to seeing if Mrs.Geek is right and that Jack has himself a son as well.

Phew – all caught up.

Questions? Comments?? Let me know.

Have a nice weekend.

24 news and Notes - 9am-10pm

2007-01-25T21:21:00.000-08:00

I could waste time trying to explain how and why I have already fallen behind on re-capping season 6 but instead I’ll just say two words and get to it…”So intense”…now onto the show.

9:00 A.M.
Neither the Palmdale officers of the satellite can find Numair in the area near the prison. Buchanan is frustrated because Numair is a nuclear engineer and can build a bomb.

COMMENT: I’m thinking they could have done a little bit better job keeping track of the prisoners…There’s this concept called headcount. Anybody heard of it?? Guess not…

9:02 A.M.
Milo asks Morris for help on the search, but Morris claims he is doing a task for Chloe. Chloe denies assigning any work to him. Milo tells Morris off and orders him to do what he is told.

COMMENT: Can we PLEASE drop the whole Milo/Morris “bitching like they’re 12” storyline?? It is completely a waste of time…there’s enough going on at CTU to keep us interested…let’s move it along…

9:04 A.M.
Karen lets the President know that a suitcase nuke might potentially kill hundreds of thousands of people. “Get me Jack Bauer,” Wayne intones.

COMMENT: Atta boy Wayne – now you are talking!!

9:05 A.M.
Jack is with Assad and Curtis going over the wreckage at the storage facility. Curtis makes it clear to Assad that he is still the enemy. Wayne calls Jack and asks him to take charge of the search for Fayed. Jack isn’t sure if he is up to the task, but has dutifully accepts the President’s request.

COMMENT: Okay – we get it…Curtis has an issue with Assad (how big an issue?? Soon we will see)

9:06 A.M.
Jack pleads with Curtis to accept Assad as part of the investigation because he is invaluable. Curtis snidely questions what the Chinese did to Jack that would affect his judgment. Assad interrupts with news that a PDA was found in the blast site. It says that the “visitor” arrived last week. Assad says that this is a code for a nuclear weapon. He thinks Numair must be the key to making the device operational.

COMMENT: WATCH YOURSELF CURTIS!! That’s Jack Bauer’s judgement you’re questioning. Don’t EVER question his loyalty or judgement. That’s #213 of the 712 Rules of Jack Bauer (patent – and list – pending)

9:08 A.M.
Jack warns Curtis that nothing is more important than finding Fayed and Numair. Yet just in case, Jack calls Chloe to secretly run a cross check on any relationship between Curtis and Assad.

COMMENT: You’d think that they might have checked any connection out a while ago wouldn’t you?? Must have been short-staffed at CTU yet again… sigh .

9:09 A.M.
Numair arrives at Fayed’s safe house and he examines the nuclear device. It still requires Ahmed’s component to reprogram the trigger.

9:10 A.M.
Ahmed orders Ray to deliver the component to Fayed, but Ray refuses. Ray threatens to destroy the component unless he knows his family is safe. Ahmed will only release one of them, and he lets Jillian go. Ahmed instructs Jillian to drive away and call her husband on the payphone to prove she is safe. He warns her that he will shoot Scott if she calls the police.

COMMENT: It wasn’t quite Sophie’s Choice huh? Interesting move letting Jillian go after Ray’s no-brainer choice to have Scott released. That Ahmed is a tricky little wounded terrorist huh?
9:11 A.M.
Jillian calls Ray from the road, and both aren’t sure whether Ahmed will kill Scott regardless of their actions. Ray doesn’t want to risk it. He phones Ahmed from the payphone and receives an address to deliver the package to Fayed.

9:13 A.M.
Despite her husband’s wishes, Jillian calls 911.

COMMENT: Gut instinct on this move is thumbs up to Jillian.

9:19 A.M.
Chloe tries to break up an argument between Milo and Morris by laying the cards on the table. She dated Milo a few times, but it didn’t work out so she got back together with Morris. She orders the two of them to get over it. Both men are a bit embarrassed and return to work.

COMMENT: So Chloe dated Milo (heehee)…It’s still insane that they are squabbling like they were…interesting story though.

9:21 A.M.
Buchanan puts through Jillian’s call to Jack. She explains that Ahmed is holding her son captive so that her husband will deliver a package to someone named Fayed. Jack heads to Jillian’s house. Curtis is reluctant to have Assad accompany them on a tactical mission, but he follows Jack’s command.

9:22 A.M.
The President meets with an ambassador from a Middle East country. While the ambassador is not one hundred percent sure, he has reason to believe that Assad wants to negotiate towards peace. This corroborates Jack’s claim. Karen wants to lock down cooperation with Assad. Lennox is hesitant to form such a partnership with a known terrorist.

COMMENT: The jury is still out on Tommy Boy. I’m figuring it’ll end up being pistols at dawn for him and Karen.

9:24 A.M.
Wayne calls Jack and tells him he wants to make a formal arrangement with Assad. Wayne speaks to Assad and offers him full protection and a pardon for past crimes in return for his help finding Fayed and a commitment to furthering peace. Assad asks for the pledge in writing. Jack tells the President that he is glad he did not have to make that decision himself.

9:25 A.M.
Lennox intercepts a call from Sandra and refuses to disturb the President. She is angry that Walid is still being held in prison. Sandra threatens to embarrass the Administration in order to protect Walid. She says she will hold Lennox personally responsible if anything happens to him.

COMMENT: It took some guts by Tommy Boy to cut off Baby Palmer like that but after watching her for the first few hours of the day – I don’t blame him for a minute. She needs to get over herself – and quickly!

9:26 A.M.
Walid is lead into the Anacostia Detention Facility in Washington. Salim, the man who Walid stood up for in the lineup, recognizes him and says, “Before this day is over, they will all pay.” Although he doesn’t understand Arabic, Walid listens intently as Salim speaks to another man.

9:28 A.M.
Ray arrives at Fayed’s safe house with the package. Fayed is not pleased, but intends to keep Ray alive as a bargaining chip in case something goes wrong.

9:31 A.M.
Ray tries to explain that Ahmed will release his son if Fayed gives the OK. Fayed calls Ahmed and chides him for involving an outsider. He orders Ahmed to kill the boy.

COMMENT: Was that surprising at all to anyone?? I didn’t think so.

9:37 A.M.
Lennox advises the President to keep Assad’s official pardon hidden from the public, and he and Karen are able to work up a statement that is palatable to the press. Lennox confides to Wayne that he is still not comfortable colluding with Assad. “It makes me appreciate your loyalty all the more,” Wayne says.

COMMENT: Yet another cryptic comment between Wayne and Tommy Boy. What the hell is really going on there???

9:38 A.M.
Jack and his TAC team pull up to the Wallace house and scan the perimeter.

9:39 A.M.
Inside, Scott questions why Ahmed is still holding him captive when his father completed the task. Ahmed is about to kill Scott, who begs for his life.

COMMENT: Scott just needs to be quiet and stop talking.

9:41 A.M.
The TAC team raids the house and Ahmed shoots back. Ahmed is about to fire at Jack when another agent shoots Ahmed. Jack calls for the EMT because he needs Ahmed awake enough to tell him where Ray took the package. Yet Scott remembers the address and tells the agents. Jack quickly calls it in to Buchanan.

COMMENT: Mrs.Geek and I were screaming at the TV – “Scott and Jillian know!!” and reciting the address to them ourselves. Not sure if that helped but we were there for them too!!

9:48 A.M.
With the location of Fayed’s safe house now known, Chloe pulls up satellite images of the area. Buchanan calls the White House with the news that they may have found the suitcase nuke.

9:49 A.M.
Sandra visits Walid at the Anacostia Facility. He tells her that he overheard some of the inmates repeat an Arabic phrase he didn’t understand. He thinks it has connections with the terrorist attacks. Walid must convince Sandra to forget her lawyer tendencies and pass on the phrase to the FBI. They kiss goodbye.

COMMENT: She still doesn’t get it does she?? What part of “it may have connections with the terrorist attacks” did she miss?? In case you all hadn’t guessed, she’s bugging me.

9:50 A.M.
Jack gives Assad the pardon from the President. Assad wishes him luck and shakes his hand.

COMMENT: Nice moment between Jack and the former terrorist.

9:51 A.M.
Curtis is angry that Assad has been given a pardon by the United States government. Jack explains that it is up to neither of them. Curtis seemingly accepts this.

COMMENT: Curtis – still pissed. Danger Will Robinson!!!!

9:52 A.M.
Jillian returns home, and Jack explains that his team will try to save Ray. Chloe tells Jack that she found a connection between Curtis and Assad. After Desert Storm, Assad’s men ambushed Curtis’s squad and beheaded some of his soldiers.

COMMENT: Oh s***! This is going to end badly.

9:53 A.M.
Jack finds Curtis outside with his gun held up to Assad’s forehead. Jack tells him to put down his weapon by order of the President. Curtis refuses. Jack says that he gave Assad his word that he would protect him. As Curtis keeps his gun trained, Jack begs him to stop. “I can’t let this animal live,” Curtis says. Jack shoots Curtis in the neck and the TAC members shuffle Assad to safety.

COMMENT: No *** here – holy shit! He shot Curtis. Wow. The first unexpected casualty of the new season.

9:55 A.M.
Jack drops his gun and raises his hands in a gesture not of surrender but of despair at Curtis’s death. Jack walks away in tears. He vomits and falls to the ground.

COMMENT: We feel your pain Jack. We definitely feel your pain.

9:56 A.M.
Buchanan calls Jack after hearing what happened and tries to bolster his spirits. “Tell the President I’m sorry,” Jack says. “I can’t do this anymore.” Buchanan beseeches him to continue with the mission because he is needed. Jack says he is done and hangs up. He continues sobbing.

COMMENT: Well we all know he’s not really done – but it was still quite a surreal moment to see Jack totally broken.

9:57 A.M.
Buchanan remains pensive and a bit shaken by his conversation with Jack. He gets word that Ahmed died of his wounds. CTU and the White House teams watch on monitors as the TAC teams get into position at Fayed’s safe house.

COMMENT: Gotta love Bill.

9:58 A.M.
Numair completes work on the suitcase nuke. One of the guards sees the TAC teams and gunfire erupts. Ray ducks to the ground. Amid the shooting, Numair detonates the nuclear device.

From where he is, Jack can see the mushroom cloud in the sky.

The White House team is in shock. Wayne orders Karen to put the entire military at the disposal of the Los Angeles response teams.

COMMENT: WOW…they actually had the bomb explode….I know its just TV but no matter how you look at it, it’s a totally chilling image watching a mushroom cloud erupt over Los Angeles.

9:59 A.M.
As CTU watches the video in horror, Milo alerts them to a warning from the FBI. An Arabic phrase was overheard at one of the detention centers. Nadia translates it: “five visitors.” There are four more nuclear weapons out there

COMMENT: So one isn’t enough. There are 4 more? It’s going to be a LONG season.

So a nuclear bomb has just exploded...where the heck can they go from here??? I could pretend to speculate about hour number 5 like I haven't already seen it - but then I already have so that wouldn't be nice. There are too many juicy nuggets of information (including a Bauer family stunner!!!) to chew on so I promise to have a re-cap up within the next 24 hours.

Promise.

24 news and Notes - 8am-9pm

2007-01-22T20:13:00.000-08:00

Better late than never....I apologize but you know how it is. It's hard to write about an hour when you know what happens in the next hour....No excuse - just the truth.

Enjoy this little slice and there will be more in a bit.

8:00 A.M.
As he follows Fayed’s handler, Assad picks up Jack. Fayed phones the handler Masheer and orders him to drive to another location.

8:01 A.M.
Buchanan tells the assembled White House staff that Jack averted the Los Angeles bombing. He was then spotted working with Assad. Yet they have not heard from Jack since they neglected to heed his warning about Fayed.

COMMENT: How about from now on the plan is “Listen to Jack”. That seems to have worked pretty well in the past – no?

8:02 A.M.
Fayed calls the President, demanding that the U.S. release the Palmdale “enemy combatants” within the hour. Wayne does not trust him because he has reneged on his promises before.

COMMENT: That Wayne Palmer is a sharp one eh?

8:04 A.M.
Since releasing the Palmdale prisoners is probably not Fayed’s end game, Lennox and Karen argue that they cannot negotiate with Fayed. Wayne insists it’s the only way to buy them time.

COMMENT: No negotiating with the terrorists Wayne….you know the rules.

8:06 A.M.
As Masheer heads north out of the city, Jack senses that it will be harder for them to follow without being noticed. They will need to get CTU to track him on satellite. Assad refuses to work with CTU because they attacked him, but Jack says it’s only because Fayed convinced them that he was the enemy. With no other choice, Assad begrudgingly gives in to allowing CTU to assist.

8:07 A.M.
When Milo orders him to vet the Palmdale list of prisoners, Morris thinks his talents could be used more wisely. Chloe interrupts their argument and tells Morris to grow up.

COMMENT: Getting a little tired of the whole Milo/Morris thing…Not a very professional bunch there at CTU are they?

8:08 A.M.
Jack calls CTU to get Chloe to trace the handler on the satellite. Because of the recent attacks’ overloading the satellites, Chloe figures it will take at least ten minutes for them to reposition. Plus, there are no traffic cameras in that area. Jack must follow the handler until the satellite is on track. Buchanan directs Curtis to head towards them. Curtis is surprised that they are now working with Assad.

COMMENT: Can it be anymore obvious that something is going on with Curtis. It’s a little heavy handed by the writers.

8:09 A.M.
A businessman is getting into his car when Jack attacks him, stealing the vehicle. Jack races to catch up with Masheer, who is about to enter the freeway. Jack slams into Masheer’s car. He gets out and accuses him of bad driving. Assad pulls up and claims to be a witness, defending Masheer. Jack pretends to be angry at them for protecting their own kind. He says he doesn’t want to wait for the police to arrive. Jack peels out.

COMMENT: Neat plan Jack.

8:11A.M.
With Masheer’s car totaled, Assad offers to drive Masheer to wherever he has to go in Newhall. Masheer is in a hurry and agrees to the lift. Assad discreetly dials Jack’s phone and puts it on mute.

8:12 A.M.
Jack and CTU are able to hear Assad’s conversation with Masheer. Masheer tells Assad he will guide him to Newhall. Buchanan redirects Curtis there.

COMMENT: I love the magic 24 cell phones…all that driving around and not once does he lose the signal and drop the call…certainly not on a Cingular plan.

8:13 A.M.
Fayed gets word that there is increased activity over the Palmdale area. His plan is working, but it will be too late for the Americans to respond once the prisoners are released.

8:14 A.M.
Ahmed takes Scott back to the Wallace house at gunpoint. The entire Wallace family is taken hostage. Ahmed forces Jillian to treat his wounds. She encourages him to see a doctor, but he doesn’t have time. Unable to walk, Ahmed orders Ray to deliver his package. Ahmed threatens to kill Jillian and Scott if the police show up at the house.

COMMENT: Ahmed can’t deliver the package but he did manage to walk across the street with Scott just fine??

8:21 A.M.
Morris questions why Chloe took Milo’s side over his. She thinks he always wants to be fired from whatever job he is doing.

8:22 A.M.
Karen updates the President on Jack’s alliance with Assad to find Fayed. Wayne still wants to proceed with loading the prisoners at Palmdale, per Fayed’s demands. Unless Jack can get Fayed within the hour, they have no other option.

COMMENT: Wayne Palmer is officially a big wimp.

8:23 A.M.
Assad comments out loud the name of an exit that he passes. Chloe makes note on the satellite tracking.

8:24 A.M.
Jack pulls off and gets into Curtis’s car as they follow Assad. Curtis asks Jack if it bothers him that they must work with Assad, a known terrorist. Jack doesn’t know what to think anymore. Jack notes that it isn’t their call. “We’ll see about that,” Curtis replies.

COMMENT: Uh oh….

8:27 A.M.
Scott sneaks a knife into his pocket, but is unable to stab Ahmed.

COMMENT: Put the knife down Scott. Stop trying to be a hero. Just sit down and do what you are told…..jeesh.

8:32 A.M.
Over a hundred terrorist prisoners are lined up at the Palmdale Military Prison. One of the prisoners is named Numair.

8:33 A.M.
Lennox informs Wayne that his sister was arrested because she deleted personnel files requested by the FBI. Sandra is being detained in a provisional detention facility.

8:34 A.M.
As they arrive at the detention facility, Sandra apologizes to Walid because it was all her fault he was arrested.

8:35 A.M.
Wayne calls for Sandra, furious. He has ordered her release. Sandra says she would rather defend civil liberties against his Administration’s violation of them. She demands Walid’s release instead and vows that there is nothing incriminating in those files. Wayne will not do that, saying that Walid shouldn’t worry if he is truly innocent.

COMMENT: Baby Palmer is annoying. Is she paying attention at all to what is going on around her???

8:36 A.M.
Sandra demands to speak to Walid. The FBI agent won’t let her because Walid is being held under the revised enemy combatant statute. “Is the law being completely thrown out the window?” she asks before being escorted out.

COMMENT: I enjoyed the back and forth between Baby and the FBI. Funny stuff.

8:37 A.M.
A man named Salim being held in detention refuses to cooperate with the National Guardsmen corralling him, and Walid steps in to assist the man. A Guardsman slugs Walid with a baton and sends him off for interrogation. Salim looks at Walid in gratitude.

COMMENT: Is that necessary?

8:41 A.M.
As Assad drives in the town of Newhall, he questions Masheer on who he is meeting. Masheer is cagey about his answers. Chloe gets the address where Assad is dropping off Masheer and pulls up data on all the buildings within a mile radius.

8:42 A.M.
Masheer gets out of the car, and Assad tells Jack that the coast is clear. Despite Jack’s insistence that they work with him, Curtis treats Assad like a prisoner instead of a collaborator. Curtis has his men take Assad into custody. Jack earnestly promises Assad that he will take care of him.

COMMENT: Curtis – stop being such a jackass!

8:44 A.M.
Chloe tracks Masheer to a storage warehouse. The TAC teams see him open up a storage locker. There are crates with Czech writing and ammunition. Jack radios Buchanan that Fayed isn’t there, but Buchanan wants to move in anyway. Jack thinks it’s too risky. Masheer sees an agent and fires. The TAC teams shoot back. Masheer detonates a grenade, and the entire storage locker explodes.

COMMENT: Again – they don’t listen to Jack and what happens? Failure.

8:46 A.M.
Jack lets Buchanan know that the suspect is dead, and that the laptop he had in storage was probably damaged in the fire. Buchanan quickly notifies the President that the suspect committed suicide rather than be arrested. With Fayed not captured, Wayne has no choice but to release the prisoners at Palmdale.

8:47 A.M.
The Guardsmen load the Palmdale prisoners onto a plane according to Fayed’s demands.

8:53 A.M.
Ray delivers Ahmed’s package to a man at an electronics parts store. The man opens it and sees bundles of cash. He says he will need an extra $50,000 in order to get the component Ahmed was purchasing. Panicked, Ray calls his house. Ahmed orders him to do whatever it takes to get the item or else he will kill his family.

8:56 A.M.
Ray knocks the man over the head with a lamp, and the man reaches for his gun. Ray fights him off and pounds the man’s head on the ground. Ray accidentally kills him.

COMMENT: Whoa Ray!

8:57 A.M.
Chloe is able to recover the most recently accessed data file on the laptop in the damaged storage facility. It is a wiring schematic for an object that looks exactly like the component Ray was sent to pick up. Chloe sends it to Jack. Assad recognizes it as a nuclear detonator. Curtis lunges at Assad, furious that he knew about this ahead of time. Jack must pull Curtis off of Assad.

COMMENT: Settle down Curtis…

8:58 A.M.
Assad says that there is a reference file at the bottom that reads “Sovtel 3.” Nadia knows that this is a Russian suitcase nuke. She says that one had been missing and was suspected to have gone to a scientist with terrorist ties named Hasan Numair. Chloe uncovers an old surveillance photo of the man, and Assad knows him as an acquaintance of Fayed. Chloe finds that Numair is a terrorist being released from the Palmdale prison. Assad says that Fayed’s plan all along was to force the United States to free Numair.

COMMENT: Nuclear bombs? Oh dear…

8:59 A.M.
Buchanan has Nadia warn the President that he is stopping the Palmdale release. He notifies the Guardsman on duty to look for Numair on the plane. The Guardsman cannot locate Numair among the prisoners.

Meanwhile, on an empty prisoner bus, another guard finds Numair hiding in the back. “Hurry up,” the guard tells him. “Fayed is waiting for you.” Numair runs out of the bus unnoticed.

COMMENT: Is that our first mole of the season??? I think so (Ahmed doesn’t really count because he doesn’t work for a government agency).

Sour Grapes?

2007-01-15T20:16:00.000-08:00

Let me start this post by saying what an amazing, talented football player I feel LaDainian Tomlinson is. From everything I have seen and read, he carries himself on and off the field in an extremely classy way.

That said - I think it smacks of sour grapes for him to be whining about the Patriots players showing "No class" by celebrating at midfield after eeking out a hard fought closely contested victory.

In case you hadn't heard he was upset after the game because several of the Patriots players were doing Shawne Merriman's sack dance on the Charger logo at midfield. He said the players showed no class and that maybe it comes from their coach.

No class?? For celebrating a playoff win?? A hard fought one at that in which they were clearly outplayed but through sheer force of will (and because they kept their heads about them and made the big plays when they needed to) they won!

LT made no mention of the headbutt by Chargers DB Drayton Florence (a simply moronic move) or the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty (after an extra point no less) by one of his offensive linemen that cost his team field position by making them kick off from their own 15yd line. Maybe these are "classy" acts in his mind or more likely - he was upset not at the Patriots celebration but his own teams inability to get it done when it mattered the most.

He did say that the Patriots were the better team yesterday and that he hoped that the Chargers would learn something from this loss.

That sounds alot more like the LT we have all come to know and love.

24 News and Notes - 7am-8am

2007-01-15T19:16:00.000-08:00

No introduction needed…hour 2.

7:00 A.M.
Fayed and Sabir go looking for Jack in the tunnels under the river but they give up because they must focus on finishing their mission. They don’t see Jack, who is only a few yards away. Jack escapes.

COMMENT: Convenient but it works.

7:02 A.M.
When Morris cannot locate Assad on the satellite, Milo remarks that Jack might have died for nothing. This annoys Chloe.

COMMENT: Chloe needs to be careful. For the last 5 “days” she has been the Queen of the insensitive comment. Settle down Chloe. He’ll be fine.

7:03 A.M.
Jack breaks into a parked car that has a cell phone left inside. He calls CTU and explains that Assad is not responsible for the bombings. Buchanan cannot rescind a Presidential order to stop the attack on Assad. He puts Jack through to the White House.

COMMENT: Ohhh – good thing he found a car that had a cell phone in it (wink wink)….Say it with me – convenient but it works.

7:05 A.M.
As Wayne listens to Jack’s plea, neither Karen nor Lennox is convinced that Assad is innocent. Karen remarks that Jack’s ability to assess the situation is faulted by his current state. Jack insists to Wayne that they capture Assad to find out what he knows. Lennox encourages the President not to let his history with Jack affect his judgment. Wayne continues with plans to assassinate Assad.

COMMENT: Wow – Karen. Pretty quick to throw Jack under the bus. Of course Tommy is over there chirping in Wayne’s ear like a bird. I just don’t like him. Good job to the 24 writers making me not like a character in record time.

7:07 A.M.
Jack uses the cell phone’s GPS navigation to plug in the coordinates that he memorized Fayed saying. This is Assad’s location. Jack finds the car’s key in the visor and he drives off.

COMMENT: Not only did he find a car with a cell phone – but he found a cellphone with GPS tracking….screaming SPRINT product placement….oh well.

7:08 A.M.
Ray Wallace gets nowhere trying to locate Ahmed’s father in the police department. Fayed calls Ahmed’s cell, and he finds out Ahmed doesn’t have the package that he needs. Fayed orders him to go retrieve it. Ahmed makes up an excuse to the Wallaces and leaves.

7:09 A.M.
The CTU and White House teams watch the monitors as the Cobra helicopters are en route to target Assad. Buchanan confirms that Curtis has a squad who will be in place at the site.

COMMENT: The whole Cobra helicopter viewscreen thingy (like how technical I am??) was really cool. My thought – if Curtis has a squad in place at the site why can’t they do what Jack wanted and just raid the house and take Assad captive?? We wouldn’t get to see the cool Cobra helicopter viewscreen thingy – that’s why!! It’s the only logical explanation – other than the obvious - they just like blowing shit up.

7:10 A.M.
Jack arrives at Assad’s safe house and sneaks inside the property gate. He distracts a guard and knocks him out with some chopped firewood. He takes the man’s gun.

COMMENT: Chopped firewood in LA?? Where it never gets below 50 degrees?? Say it with me – convenient but it works.

7:11 A.M.
Jack enters the house. Assad recognizes him and raises his weapon. Jack explains that Fayed set him up and they are about to be hit. Jack says that there is a transponder in the house, but the guards say they already searched the premises. One of the men has it on him and is betraying Assad.

7:13 A.M.
Jack puts up his hands and Assad orders his men to empty their pockets. One named Omar does have the transponder. Jack surrenders the gun to prove he is telling the truth. Assad grabs Omar and runs out with Jack as the other two men try to secure the computer files.

7:15 A.M.
Jack, Assad and Omar barely clear the house when it is slammed by missiles. Buchanan reports to the President that the target has been destroyed.

COMMENT: See – blowing stuff up is cool.

7:19 A.M.
Attorney Sandra Palmer is alarmed when the FBI demands personnel records at her Washington office of the Islamic-American Alliance. Sandra adamantly refuses to turn over anything without a warrant. Frustrated, she calls her brother -- Wayne Palmer.

COMMENT: So David and Wayne have a sister….who’s an attorney….working for the Islamic-American Alliance?? WOW. Looks like she’s a little feisty like her Mom. That could mean trouble. COOL.

7:21 A.M.
Sandra tells Wayne that the search was unfounded. She suggests he check out his aide Lennox, who she is convinced has been slowly destroying civil protections. Wayne is quick to defend Lennox, but agrees to look into the matter later.

COMMENT: Has Lennox got something on Wayne??? Wayne seems like a pretty intelligent guy but he seems to be “deferring” to Tommy-Boy a bit too much. Let’s keep an eye on this shall we??

7:23 A.M.
Walid Al-Rezani, the head of the I.A.A., kisses Sandra tenderly and thanks her for keeping up the good fight.

COMMENT: ….and she is dating the head of the I.A.A??? Yahtzee!!

7:24 A.M.
Buchanan reports to the White House that Assad’s body has not been found. Assad is still alive.

7:25 A.M.
Fayed arrives at another warehouse. A man named Nasir is being fitted with a vest of C-4 explosives. He tells Fayed that he will not fail. Fayed promises that Nasir’s family will learn of his sacrifice.

7:31 A.M.
Jack breaks into an abandoned house. He and Assad carry the unconscious Omar into the empty premises and hide out. Assad tells Jack that he has gotten his people and the governments that support them to agree to a ceasefire with the West. Fayed is trying to sabotage that. Jack finds some clothes left in the house and changes.

7:32 A.M.
Chloe does an aerial frame enhancement of the satellite feed before Assad’s safe house exploded. She sees that Jack is the one helping Assad flee. She shows Buchanan the image, and he wants to keep it a secret. He knows that Jack must be right and is using Assad to find Fayed. Buchanan has Chloe look for new chatter on Fayed.

COMMENT: Please explain why Chloe is the only one to discover this “secret” image?? Wouldn’t the crack CTU staff be looking at any satellite coverage they had of the target to try and see if they could figure out why Assad wasn’t killed?? (sigh)

7:33 A.M.
Jack steals a car. He tells Assad that they need to use CTU’s resources. Assad is distrustful of CTU and is determined to find Fayed alone.

COMMENT: Makes sense since they have been trying to kill him for years and just shot a missile into the house where they believed he was. Good call Assad.

7:35 A.M.
Jack aggravates Omar’s open wound but Omar claims to be unaware where Fayed is. Suddenly, Jack stops. He is oddly reluctant to inflict any more pain on the man. This uncharacteristically disturbs him. He tells the puzzled Assad that he could see it in Omar’s eyes that he wasn’t going to talk.

COMMENT: Hmmmm – my thought was Jack saw himself in Omar after his time in China. He’s going to have to work on getting the ole Bauer mojo back. Find the man a decent lamp and an electrical outlet….

7:36 A.M.
Assad sticks his knife into Omar, who gives up that he knows where Fayed’s men are going to meet. After Omar gives him the address, Assad kills him. Assad goes to leave but Jack is frozen. “I don’t know how to do this anymore,” Jack whispers.

COMMENT: New rule – don’t mess with Assad. I particularly liked Assad’s response to Jack’s line…”You will.”

7:41 A.M.
The FBI returns to the Washington I.A.A. office with a warrant. As Walid takes the agents to uncover the files, Sandra grabs an employee’s computer and starts typing furiously. Sandra informs the FBI agents that she has erased all the employee files. Despite the fact that she is the President’s sister, Sandra and Walid are arrested for obstructing official business. The agents impound every computer in the office.

COMMENT: Huh? Erased all the employee files?? Wassup with that?? Not sure what the heck is going on with Baby Palmer. It’s going to take a bit to figure her out.

7:44 A.M.
Ahmed chops a hole in the drywall of his house and unearths a box that he sticks into his backpack. Stan, the angry neighbor, enters the house and beats Ahmed senseless. Ahmed pulls a gun from the backpack and shoots Stan twice, killing him.

COMMENT: Stan you got what you deserved you moron. Ahmed’s got himself a kill.

7:45 A.M.
Scott Wallace runs across the street to help his friend Ahmed. He arrives in the aftermath of the fight and tries to call emergency because Ahmed is injured. Ahmed pulls his gun on Scott and threatens him to follow his orders.

COMMENT: Ah young Scott. I admire where you are coming from little brother but you should have just stayed at your house. Was it just me or was Scott just a little too up in Ahmed’s business?? Giving him his good luck necklace?? Looks like he is going to need it.

7:50 A.M.
Jack and Assad pull up to the location that Omar supplied. Assad spots Nasir and another man named Masheer. He can tell that they are Fayed’s men. One is wearing an explosive vest. Jack realizes Fayed is setting up another bombing. Jack and Assad follow the two men into the subway station.

COMMENT: Jack and Assad seem to work well together….spotting terrorists and explosive vests from a distance…

7:51 A.M.
The bomber Nasir clutches the detonator in his right hand. The second man is only the handler, who will leave once Nasir is on the train. The handler Masheer will lead them to Fayed. As the train pulls up, Jack instructs Assad to follow the handler. He is going after the bomb.

COMMENT: I liked the nice story about the bomber and the handler…it’s like a little terrorist bedtime story.

7:52 A.M.
Jack boards the train with Nasir. Assad follows Masheer out of the station. Masheer calls Fayed to let him know that Nasir will martyr himself when the train arrives at Union Station. Masheer gets in his car and drives off.

7:53 A.M.
The train ticket agent approaches Jack, who tells him that he is a federal agent and that there is a suicide bomber on board. The agent moves away quietly.

COMMENT: I’ve gotta try the old “I’m a federal agent and there’s a suicide bomber on the train” routine when I don’t have a ticket. I wonder if that would work on a bus??

7:54 A.M.
Jack sees Nasir palm the detonator. He lunges for Nasir’s hand and wrenches it backwards. They struggle, and Nasir is knocked toward the back door of the car. Nasir grabs the detonator. Jack quickly kicks Nasir hard so that he crashes through the back window of the train as the bomb explodes. The flames shoot into the tunnel and the passengers are knocked back. No one is seriously hurt. Jack slams on the emergency brake and the train screeches to a stop. He runs out the back of the car.

COMMENT: That was a pretty cool way to have the guy explode and not hurt anyone. I’m just sayin….It was a little weird how Jack didn’t say anything to anyone – he just jumped out the back of the train and took off. 20 months in a Chinese prison apparently eroded his social skills a bit.

7:56 A.M.
Masheer calls Fayed from Union Station to report that there was no explosion and that he can see a cloud of black smoke blocks away. Fayed watches a news report of explosions in Baltimore and Chicago. He is confident that their other attacks are going off as planned.

COMMENT: More attacks. Wonderful…Anyone have ANY idea why the attacks are happening??

7:57 A.M.
Milo updates Buchanan that, besides the other two bombings that just occurred, there was also a suicide bomber in Los Angeles. Nadia gets word that a passenger identifying himself as Jack Bauer prevented the bomb from killing innocent people. Buchanan wants visual confirmation from security cameras that it was Jack.

7:58 A.M.
Karen notifies the President that CTU intercepted a cell call between Fayed and the men orchestrating the bombings. Wayne realizes that Jack was right.

COMMENT: See that Wayne?? Time to start listening to Jack and not so much to Tommy Boy. I assume Karen will be issuing an apology as well?? Well – we’re waiting….

7:59 A.M.
Jack emerges from the subway tunnel’s emergency exit and gets a call from Assad, who is following the handler. Jack orders him to keep tailing the handler so that they can find Fayed.

Not bad for the first couple of hours.

Fox has promised us a shocker at the end of hour 4.

My speculation?? They blow up the White House.

Who knows….for those of you on the East Coast (if there are any of you out there)…you already know.

I can’t wait to find out.

Chat soon.

24 News and Notes - 6am-7am

2007-01-15T13:54:00.000-08:00

Welcome all to DAY 6!!!! Leading up to the big 4-hour 24 spectaculicious premiere I tried to collect some information (new characters and the actors coming aboard) without reading about plot points and any potential spoilers. Mission accomplished as I went into last night knowing who to expect to see but not knowing what they would be doing.

My initial impression is that we are off to a good start – a violent and bloody start but a good one. Nothing in the first two hours really blew me away (pardon the pun) but the promise of things to come has some real potential.

Onto the show -

6:00 A.M.
A newscast reports the terrorist bomb attacks in ten U.S. cities. Evidence points to Islamic militants.

COMMENT: Ah the old Islamic terrorists again…. Don’t they ever learn??

6:01 A.M.
On a Los Angeles street, a Middle-Eastern man is refused entry to a bus because he looks suspicious. On that same bus is a young man listening to a music player. The player has an extra wire running to his bag. The man calmly presses a button, and the bus explodes.

COMMENT: I’m guessing that Middle-Eastern gentleman won’t be as upset now about being late for work…..ya think?

6:02 A.M.
Special Advisor to the President Thomas Lennox debates National Security Advisor Karen Hayes in the White House Oval Office over the creation of detention facilities for locking up Muslims. Lennox tries appealing to President Wayne Palmer that this has legal precedent, but Wayne will not be swayed.

COMMENT: Talk about bringing everyone back into the mix….Karen Hayes - NSA?? Nice work Karen! Wayne Palmer - PRESDIENT!!! This should be fun. Peter McNichol doing his best Karl Rove impression arguing for stepping all over the Bill of Rights and Muslim internment? Tommy’s going to be a ton-o-fun today isn’t he? He’s got that whole shifty personality thing going on that screams MOLE but who knows.

6:04 A.M.
Karen interrupts the discussion when she gets news on the attack in Los Angeles. CTU suspects that Hamri Al-Assad is behind the terrorism. Karen notes that her analysts believe his death will stop the organization from attacking again. Lennox has no faith in this plan, but Wayne ultimately declares that CTU must assassinate Assad.

6:05 A.M.
At CTU, Milo Pressman asserts his seniority over the sarcastic analyst Morris O’Brian. Chloe tells Morris to make an attempt to fit in. He responds by grabbing her from behind. Chloe doesn’t turn down the attention, but she doesn’t want their relationship on display at work.

COMMENT: Welcome back Milo! Back and giving orders! First extended impression of Morris O’Brian – LOVE HIM. Irreverent and intelligent. He’ll be the perfect foil to my favorite scowling analyst – Chloe!!! A little ass-grabbing at work? WOW – how far she has come.

6:06 A.M.
Chloe tells her superior Nadia Yassir that she got a weird military request from Homeland Security. Nadia confirms that this is the assault on Assad. They will find him by using Jack Bauer. Chloe is surprised when Nadia tells her that President Palmer negotiated the release of Jack from a Chinese prison. Nadia refuses to give Chloe any more information, but says that Buchanan is meeting Jack at an airfield.

COMMENT: Interesting way Nadia just drops the Jack Bauer bomb on Chloe….you’d think she would have had a little bit more tact. Shouldn’t she be even a little aware of Chloe’s previous connection to Jack? The jury is still out on her.

6:08 A.M.
A Hercules C-130 military transport lands at Ellis Airfield in the darkness of the early morning. Buchanan and Curtis approach the plane as Chinese soldiers escort a bearded and shackled Jack to the tarmac. Cheng Zhi, the head of security from the Chinese Consulate who kidnapped Jack eighteen months ago, hands Buchanan the papers for transfer.

COMMENT: Welcome back Jack. Looking not-so good. I was pissed how smug Cheng Zhi was. Maybe somewhere down the line Jack could get a little revenge??? Is that too much to ask?? Hmm?? Please??

6:09 A.M.
As the handcuffs are removed, Curtis notices that Jack’s hands have been badly burned. Curtis takes the silent Jack into the nearby hangar. Cheng tells Buchanan that Jack has not spoken in all the time he has been captive.

COMMENT: Jack looks like hell.

6:10 A.M.
Buchanan explains to Jack why he has been released. Abu Fayed has agreed to give up his compatriot Assad in exchange for Jack. Fayed wants revenge for what something that happened in Beirut. Jack finally breaks his silence and asks about Audrey and Kim. Buchanan says that neither of them knows he is back. “You keep it that way,” Jack whispers.

COMMENT: Touching that the first word out of his mouth is “Audrey”.

6:13 A.M.
Curtis allows Jack to clean up. Jack looks in the mirror for the first time and sees the scars on his body.

COMMENT: Ouch.

6:19 A.M.
Buchanan calls Karen and tells her that Jack is much worse than he expected. They tenderly express how much they miss each other before hanging up.

COMMENT: Karen and Bill got married eh? Good for them working the whole bi-coastal relationship.

6:20 A.M.
Chloe confronts Nadia about Jack’s whereabouts because she cannot reach Curtis or Buchanan. Chloe threatens to blackmail her, and Nadia finally admits the truth about why Jack is being turned over to Fayed for retribution. Fayed’s brother bombed the U.S. Embassy in Beirut in 1989. Jack captured him, and Fayed’s brother died during interrogation. Once they turn over Jack, Fayed will have full access to CTU’s surveillance so that they cannot track him. Chloe is incredulous that President Palmer would have authorized this.

COMMENT: Chloe playing hardball with the blackmail. Nice way to bring us up to speed on the Fayed story.

6:23 A.M.
Morris sees that Chloe is upset. She tells him what is happening.

COMMENT: How cute.

6:24 A.M.
Curtis and Buchanan drive the clean-shaven and newly dressed Jack to the drop point. Wayne calls Jack and cannot find the words to express his emotion. Jack stoically accepts the President’s apology.

6:25 A.M.
With Jack’s fate hanging over his conscious, Wayne questions his own ability to run the country. He wonders whether sacrificing Jack is a mistake. Lennox strongly disagrees, and says that Wayne’s brother David would have made the same decision.

COMMENT: Bold move Tommy bringing up David.

6:27 A.M.
Karen accuses Lennox of preparing detention centers for Muslims even though it goes against the President’s order. Lennox wants to be ready with the centers because he is sure the President will change his mind.

COMMENT: Tommy’s a little to sure of himself and his disregard for anyone who opposes him. He just kind of brushed Karen off. She should have punched him.

6:28 A.M.
Over the phone, Fayed instructs Buchanan to handcuff Jack at a river access tunnel. Jack explains to Buchanan that he is ready to give up his life if it is on his own terms.

COMMENT: Interesting comment by Jack….but Mrs.24Geek was furious that they would just chain Jack to the river grate without any guarantee that Fayed would do what he said he would. She’s got your back Jack!

6:36 A.M.
Jillian and Ray Wallace watch the terrorist attack events unfold on television in their Los Angeles home. They argue over whether or not their son Scott should go to school. Scott comes in to tell them that the FBI is arresting their neighbor Yusuf.

COMMENT: They should have just dressed this family up in red shirts (like the doomed landing party security guys on Star Trek) because these guys have “sacrificial family” tattooed all over them.

6:38 A.M.
The Wallaces look out the window as Yusuf’s son Ahmed appeals to the police that his father is innocent. A neighbor named Stan chases Ahmed, who locks himself into his house with fear. Scott wants to help his friend, so Ray goes to Ahmed’s house.

COMMENT: Chases Ahmed into his house and threatens him?? What kind of morons actually do this kind of stuff?? It just blows me away that this kind of behavior happens out of fear and prejudice…..(and so ends my one line after-school special).

6:40 A.M.
Stan breaks down Ahmed’s door and enters the house. Ray intercedes and is forced to threaten Stan, who leaves. Ray offers Ahmed to stay at his house. Ahmed refuses, but Ray won’t take no for an answer.

6:41 A.M.
Buchanan calls Nadia at CTU and she lets him know the military is ready to take out Assad.

6:42 A.M.
Morris secretly shows Chloe a satellite feed that’s not on the government grid. They can look up the location where Buchanan dropped off Jack.

COMMENT: Told you I liked him…. Going off the government grid to try and track Jack.

6:43 A.M.
Fayed pulls up to Jack in the tunnel. “I’ve been waiting for this for a long time,” Fayed snarls. Fayed’s men knock Jack out and put him in the truck.

COMMENT: All I could think is that Jack has been in a Chinese prison for 20 months and never spoke….Other than hurt him some more – there isn’t a whole heck of a lot that Fayed’s going to be able to do to him. I guess with these guys its all about the pain.

6:44 A.M.
Fayed receives a warning call from a computer tech named Sabir who has intercepted a private satellite from a government frequency scanning the tunnel. Fayed calls Nadia, and she denies any such satellite. Fayed warns her that there will be consequences. Milo checks the system and sees that the rogue satellite is coming from Chloe’s station. Nadia orders Chloe her and Morris to quickly reposition it. Sabir confirms that it has been done.

COMMENT: OOPS. Strike one for the O’Brian’s.

6:45 A.M.
Fayed threatens to not give CTU Assad’s whereabouts because of the deception. Nadia speaks to him in Arabic to try to appeal to him but he hangs up.

COMMENT: Nadia speaks Arabic? MOLE ALERT!!!! (heehee)

6:46 A.M.
Buchanan enters CTU and yells at Chloe. He would fire her but he cannot afford to lose the manpower. “We may have sacrificed Jack for nothing,” he sighs.

COMMENT: Can someone explain how CTU is always short on manpower? Best part of their exchange – Bill: Will you look at me when I’m speaking to you? Chloe: I’d prefer not to sir. Priceless.

6:52 A.M.
Karen calls Buchanan, and he is forced to tell her that Chloe’s actions may have broken the deal with Fayed. Karen is furious with him, but then apologizes for lashing out.

COMMENT: Whoa Karen – take a couple steps back will ya? It’s not Bill’s fault.

6:53 A.M.
Jack is dragged into Fayed’s secret warehouse. Sabir gets word that Fayed’s money has been transferred and that no other satellites have been following them.

6:54 A.M.
Jack is brought into a torture room. He urges Fayed to call CTU, but Fayed punches him repeatedly. The men hook Jack up to a heart monitor. Fayed threatens to do to Jack what was done to his brother. Fayed pierces the bundle of nerves on Jack’s shoulder with a knife. Jack takes the immense pain calmly. Then Fayed splashes the wound with a liquid that makes Jack scream in agony. His heartrate speeds up. Once again, Jack implores Fayed to give CTU Assad’s location. Fayed says that Assad is a traitor who wants to compromise. He tells Jack that CTU is about to kill the wrong man. Assad isn’t behind the terrorist threats. He came to America in order to prevent Fayed from performing the attacks.

COMMENT: Nice of Fayed to lay out his plan for Jack (sigh). Not a big fan of the torture scenes….nobody likes to watch people get pierced with hard metal objects….

6:56 A.M.
Fayed stabs Jack in the back with something sharp, causing Jack to keel over. “You will die for nothing,” Fayed says. Fayed calls CTU and tells Buchanan that he put a transponder at Assad’s location. As Fayed gives CTU the coordinates, Jack memorizes the numbers. Buchanan has the military on call to take out Assad.

COMMENT: That big long metal object looked very uncomfortable. Jack – always the super agent!

6:57 A.M.
Morris consoles Chloe by explaining that Jack knows what it takes to serve the greater good. Chloe cries on his shoulder.

Before Fayed can torture Jack even more, he is interrupted by an urgent phone call from someone. It’s Ahmed, who says that the FBI took his father. Although Ahmed is conspiring with Fayed, his father is innocent. Consoling Ahmed, Fayed says that his father was meant to be sacrificed.

COMMENT: There it is – the first twist of the season. It’s not a biggie but it is decent. Ahmed aint so innocent.

6:58 A.M.
When the one man guarding him looks away, Jack rips off the heart monitor with his teeth. The beeps go monotone to signal his heart has stopped. The guard comes rushing over to fix the monitor and Jack lunges his head and bites the man hard in the neck. Jack spits out the flesh and the man passes out. Jack manages to take the man’s key and free his hands.

COMMENT: Passes out?? Where I come from that’s what we call DEAD. Ladies and Gentlemen – I give you Hannibal Bauer!

6:59 A.M.
Fayed instructs Ahmed over the phone to deliver the hidden package. Fayed returns to the torture room to find Jack missing. He sees an open door and has his men go look for him. Jack is actually hiding below the floor under a grate

COMMENT: Coolness. Jack is on the loose yet again. Don’t think there won’t be some sort of Bauer-Fayed throw down later in the day. It’s a $49.99 pay-per-view event if there ever was one.

I’m not one to pretend to speculate about an hour I have already seen so there won’t be any questions at the end of this first hour.

I’ll try and get hour 2 up before hours 3 and 4 roll around tonight.

WOW

2007-01-14T20:57:00.000-08:00

Now thats what I call winning UGLY....the key word being WIN.

So they continue on towards title number 4.

Now comes the match-up for the ages - Super Bowl 40-A....Manning vs. Brady....Colts vs. Patriots.

Time to go clear the calendar for next Sunday.

WOW.

the 80's strike back

2007-01-04T18:46:00.000-08:00

Chew on these two 80's themed nuggets....

After 18yrs of waiting...Indiana Jones will return to the screen in 2008! Filming begins later this year with a May 2008 release date. Oh goodie goodie goodie goodie.....

If the rumors are true, 2007 could feature THE musical reunion everyone has been hoping for. Word on the street is the Police are tossing about the idea of a reunion and tour of England and North America to celebrate the 30 anniversary of the release of "Roxanne". Now wouldn't that be something.....

2007 is off to a brillaint entertainment start.

Of course, let's not forget that 24 returns in 10 days! I say again....oh goodie goodie goodie goodie.....

Happy New Year!

2006-12-31T18:41:00.000-08:00

A Happy and Safe New Years to all!!

Here's to a spectacular 2007!

Merry Christmas

2006-12-25T12:11:00.000-08:00

To all 3 of my readers

::wink::

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Have a safe an happy holiday!

Ok - I'm hooked.

2006-11-29T16:46:00.000-08:00

When it comes to TV I'm usually one of the people who manages to get on board with something before it turns into a cultural talking point. I did it with Twin Peaks, X-Files and with shows like 24 and LOST. So when NBC rolled out Heroes this Fall, I thought it looked pretty cool and I wanted to give it a shot to see if it was going to live up to all the hype. As it turned out I only got to see bits and pieces of the premiere episode (all of which looked extremely interesting) but thought I had missed the boat because I hadn't gotten to see every little bit of it from the beginning.

Flash forward to last week. I had family in town for the holiday. They asked if I watched Heroes. I told them no but that it looked very interesting and I wished I had gotten the chance to see it from the beginning. They proceeded to say how great the show was and that I should definitely try and see it if I had the chance.

Low and behold - I'm looking at the DVR guide on the TV today and see that SciFi channel is running a Heroes marathon (the first 6 episodes). COOLNESS!! I programmed all 6 eps to record and then went back and watched the first episode from start to finish.

Needless to say - I'm hooked!

I've gone in and added a season pass for it on the DVR and am planning on heading on over to nbc.com (or iTunes) to try and fill in the missing 3 (or 4) episodes once I have gotten through the remaining 5.

Interesting premise. Lots of intrigue and un-answered questions...and a high school cheerleader doing all sorts of disgusting things to try and hurt herself. I say again - COOLNESS.

Now I can't wait to see episode #2 - and beyond....

Brrrrrrrrr it's chilly....

2006-11-28T21:06:00.000-08:00

20 degrees. I know cold is a relative term but still that's pretty cold. It's also the forecasted low here in Beaverton tonight.

Currently it's 27 degrees.

Big whoop you say...I agree. I say that only because I grew up back East and have experienced this kind of weather plenty of times. The thing is that I lived in California from September 1989 until about 2 months ago.

I'm not used to this kind of cold...but I can deal with it.

Just thought I'd share.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

2006-11-28T15:54:00.000-08:00

One of the neat things about moving to Oregon from California was the possibility of getting to see some snow fall after approximately 15yrs without it. Well - what do you know? On Monday morning we were treated to snowfall here in Beaverton. Within seconds I was 12 years old again looking to the sky in wonder at something so beautiful. I woke my daughter so that for the first time in her life she could see snow falling from the sky. Her take - the snowflakes taste like sugar...from the mouth of a soon to be 5 year old.

It snowed for a while 3 separate times on Monday leaving us with a bit of a dusting and smiles all around.

Peace on Earth??

2006-11-27T14:23:00.000-08:00

Please oh pretty please can we stop the insanity? Just looking at a few headlines on cnn.com and came across these two beauties -

A man KILLED another man over a $20 college football bet! I say again - killed a man!

::sheesh::

A woman in Colorado is being threatened with a fine of $25 a day until she takes down a Christmas wreath with a peace sign on it. The reason?? Some residents say it's an anti-Iraq war protest or a symbol of Satan. Symbol of Satan??? Come on people!! It's a Christmas wreath!!

Check out Homeowners Association president Bob Kearns. He ordered the committee to require Lisa Jensen to remove the wreath, but members refused after concluding that it was merely a seasonal symbol that didn't say anything.

Kearns then fired all five committee members.

There's this little thing called freedom of speech...take a peek at it Bob.

::sigh::

Oh yeah - I almost forgot. Pamela Anderson and Kid Rock are getting a divorce. Wow - who could have EVER seen that one coming???

Matsuzaka to Me

2006-11-14T20:40:00.000-08:00

I apologize for the poor Laugh In pun but it is the best I can do on short notice.

That said - the object of my pun is 26 yr old Japanese righthander Daisuke Matsuzaka - the free agent ace my Red Sox paid a reported $51.1 million dollars just to negotiate with!

Is he worth it?? If you look at his numbers over the last 3 years in Japan you can't argue with his success.

Some positives (simply put) -
1. he is 26 yrs old and theoretically has his best years ahead of him
2. he is an EXTREMELY talented pitcher with an incredible combination of power and control that very few players have ever had
3. the Yankees didn't get his negotiation rights!

Stay tuned in the next 30 days for a sure to be ugly negotiation with his agent - the devil's right hand - Scott Boras.

Ultimately I believe this bold move will be worth every penny spent and will help the Sox atract other free agent talent currently on their radar. This move clearly shows the Sox are serious about doing whatever it takes to fill the needs they have and make this team the favorite for the 2007 World Championship.

That works for me.

LOST lost

2006-11-11T11:46:00.000-08:00

I understand the idea behind ABC's brilliant move (insert sarcasm here) having Lost going off the air until February 7th, 2007...No repeats. Do I agree with it?? Hell no! I have to admit that it will be nice to have 16 straight weeks of Lost when it returns but 13 weeks - I mean who knows if I'll even have cable in 13 weeks.

It seems to me that these days the networks are all trying so hard to be different with their scheduling that they end up out-thinking themselves and end up causing a bigger mess than they had to begin with. I don't understand the idea of greenlighting a serialized show like Vanished (or Kidnapped or the CW Network classic Runaway) and then canceling it before it actually has the time to present the entire story. I mean - the network knew exactly what they were getting into when they decided on that course of programming and someone somewhere out there is going to be pissed because they liked the darn show. But then they all can't be Lost, 24 or Heroes. Also - the whole idea of canceling shows after they have been on one or two weeks??? What the heck is that all about??? If that was how you planned on dealing with it if it sucked then you never should have put the thing on the air in the first place. Simply nuts.

Of course this is just one humble person's opinion....We'll see how the whole LOST "vacation" experiment works out. I'm hoping for the best. As for it's replacement? ABC is trotting out Day Break. The show certainly looks interesting but isn't this just Groundhog Day with guns? It's stars Taye Diggs so my wife will make it required DVR viewing.

Put a show on the air with Michael Vartan, Johnny Depp, Matthew McConaughey or Taye Diggs in it and she's hooked.

Oh well - what can you do?

Uplifting TV News of the Week (UTVNOTW) - Take a looksie at this!
Nice to see a network with a little vision. Bravo NBC.

The Full Monty - 2006 Mid-Term Election Style

2006-11-08T12:23:00.000-08:00

WOWZA...talk about a 180 degree turn!!

The Dems now control the House and barring a re-count disaster will take Montana and Virginia to give them the 49 dem (and two independent) seats they need to control the Senate.

Like icing on the cake - this morning's announcement that Donald Rumsfeld is resigning.

I say again - WOWZA!

Well Dems - you've been handed keys to the new Porche. Have a great time tooling around the neighborhood but DON'T GET IN A WRECK!

AMERICA AND THE WORLD ARE WATCHING.

New Geek

2006-11-06T18:49:00.000-08:00

In homage to a very hopeful Democratic changing of the guard in tomorrow's mid-term elections - I decided to make a few changes here at The Geek.

Made a quick change to the site template and added in some additional links to make your viewing and reading experience the best that it can be - in this price range.

I apologize to all 3 of you readers out there about slacking off so terribly. I have no excuse to use other than the fact that my family and I recently moved 700 miles north to Beaverton, OR - home of Nike and currently, a heck of alot of rain.

I'll do my best to get back in the saddle and fill your heads with the tasty little nuggets of useless information that you have come to expect.

...because that's why I'm here.

24 Season 6 trailer - - - TODAY!

2006-10-24T10:31:00.000-07:00

What kind of 24Geek would I be if I didn't take a quick second away from my busy life and mention that the Season 6 trailer is premiering TODAY in about and hour and 35 minutes.

Head over to here and take a peek.

It looks CRAZY good!

24 News and Notes - Season 6 TRAILER

2006-10-04T09:20:00.000-07:00

From our good friends at tvguide.com -

24 Returns with Trailer, Four-Hour Premiere

Fox announced on Wednesday morning that Season 6 of 24, this year's most Emmy-adorned series, will kick off on Sunday, Jan. 14, and on Monday, Jan. 15, 2007, with a two-night, four-hour premiere. (Must. Rest. Brain. Cells.) An online countdown to 24's return commences today at www.24trailer.com, where an extended "Day Six" teaser will debut on Oct. 24, and the new season's first promo is set to air during Fox's coverage of the World Series' Game 3.

Among the new faces appearing on 24 this season are Regina King (as President Wayne Palmer's sister), Peter MacNicol (as a presidential advisor), James Cromwell (as Jack's estranged father), Rena Sofer (as bad-guy Graham's wife), Kal Penn (Harold & Kumar), Marisol Nichols (In Justice), Harry Lennix (Commander in Chief) and David Hunt (Everybody Loves Raymond).

WOW. NICE!!!!! The countdown to Oct. 24th begins.

LOST returns

2006-10-04T08:39:00.000-07:00

The night we have all waited patiently for is here. No - the season premiere of 24 is still 3 months away but ABC brings us the next best thing with the new season of LOST.

The new TV season has brought us some very interesting shows...my personal faves so far include STUDIO 60 LIVE ON THE SUNSET STRIP (I'm a sucker for anything Sorkin) and the new James Woods LA-lawyer drama SHARK. I'm really looking forward to THE NINE (premiering immediately after LOST this evening - in case you didn't know from the gazillion promos ABC has been showing).

All said - give me LOST, GREY'S ANATOMY, 24, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (premiering Oct.6th at 9pm) and a bowl of popcorn and I'm set.

Tonight it begins. ENJOY!!

usa Network has done it again

2006-08-02T15:46:00.000-07:00

Following in the footsteps of Dead Zone and The 4400, USA Network has come up with another summertime gem for us all to enjoy.

Friday nights at 10pm...I give you "psych".

For more info - click on the link in the TV portion of the right sidebar.

It's a hoot.

TV tidbits

2006-08-02T13:01:00.000-07:00

Here's a few off-season TV tidbits from my favorite source of info - TVGuide.com's own Michael Ausiello.

Enjoy.

24
Question: I am leaving on vacation next week and I need some 24 spoilers before I go! — Jordan Vanos

Ausiello: Major-ass prattle-poop! Spoke to exec producer Evan Katz at press tour, and the boss-man told me that somewhere between "18 months and two years" will have passed when Season 6 launches in January. He said the idea of picking up immediately where last season left off was "talked about, but it's always important to us for the characters to have traveled a certain amount of distance emotionally. You don't get a chance to do a lot of that during the course [of the season]. Also, the odds that two of the worst days [would occur] right next to each other stretches credulity a little bit." Meanwhile, the New York remote that I first told you about last month has been scrapped. A source close to the show informs me that the producers have rethought the first episode and have decided that they can get what they need in Los Angeles. Bummer. I was hoping we'd get to see Chloe try to hail cab during rush hour.

Question: It's time for 24 scoop! — Ben

Ausiello: Guess who Peter MacNicol beat out for the role of next season's big baddie? Here's a hint: MacNicol and this particular actor are TV casting directors' go-to guys when a part calls for a neurotic type. Here's another hint: His name is *a** *i**-***e*.

GREY'S ANATOMY
Question: Have you received any confirmation that Eric Dane is returning to Grey's? Or is it just pure speculation? — Donna

Ausiello: No official confirmation, but there's mounting evidence to suggest that McSteamy will be a major part of Grey's this season. I think I already told you guys that ABC served a special McSteamy martini at its press tour bash. Seems like an odd thing to do if the character weren't coming back. And Shonda Rimes herself admitted in Friday's Grey's-themed Ausiello Report that Dane made a huge splash during his brief, one-episode stint last February. But the most compelling clue comes from a source over at CSI: Miami. My South Beach spy says Dane was originally approached to play Natalia's soon-to-be-introduced shady ex, but Miami producers were informed that he was "unavailable." Rob Estes will now be stalking Eva La Rue instead. Bottom line: McSteamy's McReturning.

LOST
Question: Any idea if Desmond died on Lost or not? I must know! — Steven

Ausiello: Henry Ian Cusick has been made a series regular this season, so I'm guessing Desmond is among the living. Unless Damon and Carlton are planning some kind of Weekend at Bernie's thing

ENTOURAGE
Question: Welcome back, Michael. I'd like some Entourage scoop please! Actually, you've been away for awhile, make that two scoops! — Joe D.

Ausiello: Sounds fair to me. Vincent's dreams of starring in the big-screen epic "Medellin" may come true after Paul Haggis drops out as director. And Drama's TV series with Edward Burns debuts to less-than-stellar reviews. But it's one particular critique and critic that has him all bent out of shape.

That's all for now. I know I keep promising that I'll keep posting on a regular basis...maybe this is the beginning of something special.

I'll try....I really will.

I DID IT !

2006-08-02T10:58:00.000-07:00

I think I mentioned on this page all the way back in November that I had just signed up to train for and run in the San Francisco Marathon....

Well - on Sunday July 30th, I completed the marathon in 6 hrs 29 min (and 47 sec). Not bad for a first timer. I have heard that they say the goal the first time is to finish. So there you go....I have been asked several times if I intend to run another...my answer (at mile 24 during the race) was HELL NO but since I have finished and my legs finally feel normal again I won't rule out the possibility of doing it again. Honestly - I see myself as more of a 1/2 Marathoner but I am certainly open to other options.

It's been an amazing experience but I am glad that it is over.

Holy crap!! I ran a marathon!!!!!!!!!!!!

24 News and Notes / 5am - 7am (Season Finale)

2006-07-02T10:03:00.000-07:00

Here it is – the long awaited (I hope) recap of the last 2 hours of the season. I apologize for it taking me this long to get it done. Lots of bad reasons why but the bottom line is that it is finally done and ready for all of your curious eyes…the season finale was satisfying but nothing about it truly blew me away…interesting that they ended it with a traditional cliffhanger - that isn’t typical 24-fare.

What do you say we get started eh?....

5:00 A.M.
Bierko’s men flush out the Sentox gas aboard the sub Natalia. Bierko instructs them to begin the launch countdown. They are targeting high population areas to punish the Americans for allying with Moscow.

Comments: Wow that was a pretty quick flush eh? That’s what you get for squeezing the takeover and gassing of a nuclear sub into less than 2 hours…. *sigh*

5:01 A.M.
Audrey contacts Admiral Kirkland at the Point Mugu Command Center to alert him that terrorists have seized control of the Natalia submarine. All of the Navy crew onboard dead. She asks him to sink the Natalia with his F-18 fighter planes. Yet they won’t be there in time before the missiles launch.

Comment: They don’t have anything closer to LA?? Vandenberg AFB maybe?? How else would Jack have to save the day??

5:02 A.M.
Jack, Henderson and the TAC team are at the dock of the Natalia. Since backup won’t get there in time, Jack will have to stop Bierko himself. Henderson notices a signal tube launching off the side, which indicates someone on board is trying to send a distress signal.

Comment: Hmmm – nice catch Henderson…too bad you will most likely be dead by sunrise….magic 8-ball says: VERY LIKELY.

5:03 A.M.
Henderson tells Jack that he won’t go on the sub unless he gets his own gun for protection. Distrusting Henderson, Jack is hesitant to give him a weapon.

Comment: Come on Jack – cut the man some slack….of course you can always pull the “give him an unloaded gun” or “give him a gun with blanks” move….Face it – Jack needs all the help he can get.

5:06 A.M.
Chloe scans the area around the sub for emergency frequencies and finds one coming from a survivor. She patches Jack to Rooney, a petty officer engineer aboard the sub. Rooney gives his location, and Jack has him go to an entry point where they can board. Rooney will have to kill the terrorist at that post to go unseen.

Comment: Oooh boy this should be fun….always love the kill someone with your bare hands plotlines….

5:08 A.M.
Henderson demands a gun, and Jack gives it to him. They head towards the sub.

5:09 A.M.
Novick briefs Logan about Bierko raiding the submarine and taking over its missiles.

From outside the conference room, Martha watches Logan in the midst of the crisis. She calls Pierce and warns him not to remove the body from the retreat until she talks to Novick.

Comments: Nice to see Marty and Aaron working together….it’s just so cute.

5:10 A.M.
With less than ten minutes to missile launch, Jack asks Henderson how long it will take him to shut the system down.

5:11 A.M.
Jack instructs Rooney on how to slit the throat of the terrorist guarding the door. Rooney clumsily attacks the man and kills him. He radios Jack that their entry is clear. Jack shoots the guard on the deck, and the TAC team runs to the top of the sub.

Comment: I guess if you ever need to learn how to slit a throat Jack’s the one you want the lesson from.

5:12 A.M.
The missile doors open up on the top of the sub in preparation to launch.

5:13 A.M.
Jack and Henderson board the sub and meet Rooney. He shows them where the control room is, and Jack has him access it from the other side to create a distraction.

5:14 A.M.
Rooney knocks over a tool cart, causing a loud noise. Bierko leaves the control room to investigate. Jack and his team go in the control room and see one man left to arm the missiles. Jack stabs him in the throat.

Comment: Slit his throat…stab him in the throat…same difference. Either way the end result is a dead terrorist…and that’s how we like ‘em!

5:17 A.M.
Henderson gets to work on the controls, manually reversing the launch codes. Jack goes after Bierko.

Comments: Did we ever find how why Henderson is so handy when it comes to the launch codes on a nuclear sub?? Just curious…

5:18 A.M.
Jack fires at one of Bierko’s men. Chloe warns him that they have sixty seconds until launch. Henderson works as fast as he can.

5:19 A.M.
The other terrorist knocks Jack’s gun down. Jack grabs him and uses the man’s arm to fire at Bierko. Jack shoots at a pipe that releases steam, and he presses the man’s face to the burning pipe. Jack is set free from his grip. Bierko smacks Jack in the forehead with a metal tool. Jack leaps to a pipe above and uses his legs to snap Bierko’s neck. Henderson is able to dismantle the missiles. Everyone at CTU sighs in relief, and Karen has Chloe call off the F-18 planes.

Comments: I’m sorry but if you hit me in the forehead with a metal tool I’m going down and I won’t be back up for a while…but then that (plus a list of things to long for this post) is the difference between us mere mortals and JACK BAUER!

5:20 A.M.
Jack returns to the control room, but Henderson is gone. He tells CTU to take him off of radio and he runs outside on the deck to look for Henderson. Henderson comes up behind Jack and makes him drop his weapon. “You weren’t ever really gonna let me go, were you?” Henderson asks. He pulls the trigger and the gun clicks. Henderson realizes he’s been had, and he removes the empty clip from his gun. Jack accuses him of killing his friends Palmer, Tony and Michelle. Then he shoots Henderson dead. Rooney comes out and is frightened when he sees what Jack has done.

Comments: So Jack DID pull the old empty gun trick! Spectacular! To top things off he gets to kill Henderson…I was a bit disappointed in the method of killing – shooting him lacked the proper UMPH that a good throat slitting or possibly a broken neck would have had…after being cheated when Marwan fell off the parking garage last year I thought the writers had something more in mind for Henderson…oh well.

5:27 A.M.
Military transport vehicles arrive at the dock of the Natalia. Jack identifies himself and asks for a vehicle. He calls CTU, claiming to have killed Henderson in self-defense. Jack tells them he is coming back to CTU and asks Chloe to pick up.

Comments: Just like he killed Nina Meyers in “self defense” (wink wink)…yeah Jack we got you….

5:29 A.M.
Jack explains to Chloe that he is going after Logan himself and needs her help. Chloe agrees. Jack gets into the government car provided to him and drives off.

Comments: Time to go and pay a little visit to the House of Chuck…now the real fun begins.

5:30 A.M.
Logan is pleased when he finds out that Bierko and the missiles are no longer a threat. He wants to publicly address the crisis resolution before escorting Palmer’s casket to Washington. Novick goes to prepare the statement.

Comments: Yes – he quickly needs to put himself in position to take as much credit as possible for averting the missile launch disaster.

5:31 A.M.
Martha approaches Novick as he leaves the President’s office. She asks whether he has been suspicious about Logan’s actions. Martha begs him to come with her.

Logan is happy to report to Graham that Henderson was killed aboard the sub. “Mr. Bauer will be taken care of,” Logan guarantees.

Comments: More of Chuck reporting into the Bluetooth Group…what a smug little bastard….just think he came this close to killing himself and now look at him (damn you Miles)….

5:32 A.M.
Martha brings Novick to the stables to see Pierce, whom Logan had ordered to be killed. Martha explains that Logan was involved with everything that has happened -- from Palmer’s murder to supplying the terrorists with nerve gas to Cummings’ fake suicide. Pierce says that Jack had a recording to implicate the President, which is why Logan wanted Jack dead. Novick begins to realize that all of this is true, and he wants to drive Pierce off the retreat. Pierce tells Martha that he cannot contact her to ensure both their safeties. They say goodbye, fondly.

Comments: Jeeez Mike – what the heck else do you need to realize that Chuck is up to no good….there have been several times this season when I was sure Mike had woken up and joined up with the good guys yet it still seems like he is walking around with his head in the sand…..i think they finally have him convinced – but knowing Mike that could change at a moments notice.

5:41 A.M.
As they carry the dead body into the woods, Novick and Pierce get a call from Jack. He intends to get Logan to confess what he has done. Jack will need twenty minutes to get to the retreat, and he asks Novick to find a way to stall Logan from leaving for Washington.

Comments: Stall Logan eh?? How about just getting him in a big bear hug and wrestling him to the ground….that wouldn’t work you say?? Probably not but it would be hell-o-fun to watch.

5:43 A.M.
Karen lets Buchanan know that she’s been summoned to Washington by the White House. Chloe asks for high clearance for a new employee with tech specialties -- her ex-husband, Morris.

Comments: Chloe married?? (America responds) Let the high comedy begin!

5:45 A.M.
Chloe interrupts Morris flirting with a female CTU staffer. She needs him to do a digital audio transfer.

Comments: *giggle*

5:46 A.M.
Novick comes to the First Lady’s room and tells her that Pierce is safe and that Jack wants to get Logan to confess. Novick asks Martha to detain Logan from leaving the retreat.

Comments: Delay Logan (wink wink)…if ya know what I mean…

5:53 A.M.
Jack pulls up to the field where Pierce is hiding. Pierce informs him that the President is not riding on Marine One to the airport, but is using a Navy helicopter instead. Jack asks Pierce to help get him on that chopper.

Comments: With Jack and Aaron on the scene is there any doubt that Jack will end up on that chopper…Hell no!

5:54 A.M.
Logan is surprised when Martha comes to see him. She apologizes for the way she has acted and asks him to forgive her for the hurtful things she said. Martha tells him she still loves him. She asks him to stay at the retreat a little while longer so that they can have time alone. Logan is at first resistant, but Martha kisses him and seduces him to wait.

Comments: EEEEeeeeeeeew! Did we really need to see “the seduction”? Hell no!

5:58 A.M.
Jack and Pierce sneak inside the Secret Service outbuilding on the retreat grounds. The agent on guard is checking the helicopter because the Presidential departure is being delayed. Pierce asks how far Jack is willing to go to get Logan to confess. “As far as I have to,” Jack says.

Comments: Yes it seemed a tad too easy for them to switch pilots on a Presidential chopper but what the heck – we’ve let you slide for 23 hours…what’s one more between friends.

6:00 A.M.
Logan and Martha put their clothes back on after having sex.

Comments: Quick time check….5:54am Martha kisses Chuck and seduces him to wait…6 MINUTES LATER – Logan and Martha put their clothes back on after having sex…Chuck – you’re the President of the United States….you’ve GOT to do a little bit better than that…

6:01 A.M.
Jack takes a chopper pilot uniform from a locker in the outbuilding. Chloe lets Jack know that she and Novick found a way to pull the co-pilot from the flight.

6:02 A.M.
A Secret Service agent removes the real co-pilot from the helicopter because there is something wrong with his paperwork.

6:03 A.M.
Novick prepares Jack’s Marine One identification papers. Martha lets him know that she has stalled Logan as much as possible. Novick calls Pierce and warns him that the reassignment documentation is being faxed to the outbuilding.

6:04 A.M.
The co-pilot enters the building to find out about his paperwork. Jack knocks him out.

6:05 A.M.
Wearing the uniform and the pilot helmet, Jack walks out and shows his paperwork to the agent on duty. He boards the chopper.

Comments: Success! Never a doubt….

6:06 A.M.
The Presidential limo pulls up to the outbuilding. Novick has Martha find an excuse not to be on board. She tells her husband that she thinks he should step out of the helicopter alone because it will make for a better press image. Logan agrees, and gets on the chopper. It takes off.

Comments: When all else fails feed the ego….well done Marty.

6:07 A.M.
Once the helicopter is in the air, Jack warns the pilot that he will kill him if he doesn’t keep flying. Jack orders him to dismantle the flight communication on his helmet.

6:08 A.M.
Jack goes to the back of the chopper and stun guns the two Secret Service agents to make them pass out. He handcuffs Logan, who is shocked to see Jack.

Comments: One of those priceless moments of the season….I’m pretty sure Chuck wet himself…

6:09 A.M.
Chloe radios to Jack a coordinate to land the helicopter at an empty warehouse. Logan asks Jack what he wants, but Jack remains silent. Logan goes on to try to explain his actions.

Comments: Logan babbling…yet another cog in the 24 wheel…*giggle giggle*

6:10 A.M.
Chloe calls Morris, who is heading towards where the chopper will land. She instructs him to handoff something when he arrives.

The pilot lands next to a warehouse and shuts down the chopper. Jack stun guns the pilot, who passes out.

6:11 A.M.
Jack forces Logan into the empty warehouse. Logan tries to bribe him. Jack removes all the objects from Logan’s pockets and cuffs him to a pole.

Comments: Wait just a minute – I think I saw something like this in Pulp Fiction…I shudder at the thought of what might now occur…

6:12 A.M.
The confused Morris pulls up to the chopper and goes inside the building. He carries a briefcase.

6:13 A.M.
Jack finds Morris and takes the briefcase and a piece of equipment from him. Morris sees President Logan and is stunned. Jack orders him to leave.

6:14 A.M.
Jack calls Chloe and she tells him that he has less than ten minutes until the response team comes after the President.

Comments: I’m thinking it should have been more like 3 minutes….I can only hope the Bush’s response team is equally inept.

6:18 A.M.
Jack sets up a camera on top of the briefcase and tells Logan that he wants a confession. Logan insists that he will not do so. Chloe watches this over the video feed.

Comments: Come on Jack – you really think Chuck is going to just roll over and spill his guts…Me neither.

6:19 A.M.
Jack starts to ask Logan questions about the Sentox gas being given to the Russian separatists. He wants to know the truth about the deaths of Palmer and others. Logan insists that everything he is saying is a lie. Jack lets him know that Cummings, Henderson and Nathanson all confirmed they were involved in a conspiracy before they were killed. Logan refuses to say anything, and accuses Jack of attempting to torture him. Jack tells him that he won’t torture him but will kill him unless he confesses.

Comments: Nice little recap for anyone who might have missed the first 23 hrs and just stumbled onto things here….I like the kill angle…brutal but original.

6:21 A.M.
Jack recalls how, a year and a half ago, he was told his life was in danger and faked his own death to protect himself. Now he is sure that Logan was the source of this danger to his life. Palmer and the others who tried to help Jack are now dead. “I have absolutely nothing to lose,” Jack says, assuring Logan that he has no problem shooting him. Jack is confident that Logan will face justice.

6:22 A.M.
Jack raises his gun and starts to count to three. Logan is afraid, pleading that his death will only make him appear to be a martyr. Shaking, Jack gets to three but doesn’t pull the trigger. Logan is relieved that Jack could not kill him.

Comments: Interesting comment by Logan – he be a martyr and Jack would just be another madman – Oswald, Booth….nice trump card I must admit.

6:23 A.M.
Suddenly, a TAC team swarms the warehouse. Jack hears them and lowers his gun. He gets on the floor and puts his hands behind his head.

At CTU, Chloe types something and quickly shuts down her laptop.

Comments: Morning guys – nice to see you could make it….

6:24 A.M.
The Secret Service captures Jack. Logan grabs all of the things removed from his pocket. He tells the agents that Jack is delusional and needs to be put in solitary confinement.

Comments: One of those moments you want to just slap Logan soundly across the face…

6:29 A.M.
The naval chopper lands at the airfield where Novick and Martha are waiting. Novick tells her that Jack wasn’t able to get the confession and is now in custody. Martha panics.

Comments: She realizes that she just might have to put up with another 6 minutes of “magic” sometime very soon…*shudder*

6:30 A.M.
Palmer’s casket is removed from a hearse with full pomp and circumstance. It is placed near a podium. Martha breaks down, accusing Logan of being a murderer. Logan has the Secret Service agents take her away into a hangar. “He’s not fit to be President!” Martha cries out.

Comments: Uh oh – time to bust out the meds again…*sigh*

6:32 A.M.
Logan goes to the hangar. He smacks Martha and checks to see if she’s wearing a wire. Logan accuses Martha of delaying him with sex in order to get Jack on the chopper. He asks her why she did it. Martha explains that he had Palmer and others killed to hide his conspiracy. “I did it for the good of the country,” Logan says repeatedly.

Comments: So he smacked her eh….whoa. Nice to see what a real scum Chuck truly is…This scene was the first of two this hour I pegged on the nose…once they started talking about what happened and Palmer being killed it hit me (and I promptly told Lisa) – Jack snuck something onto Logan….when he took out all of the stuff from his jacket…it’s just gotta be…

6:35 A.M.
Logan threatens to fill Martha with drugs and send her off to an asylum if she tells anyone what she knows.

Comments: Just brutal…

6:39 A.M.
Logan and Martha emerge from the hangar and walk to the podium. He addresses the gathered military and press, boasting of his victories against the terrorists.

6:40 A.M.
Buchanan and Karen are shocked when Chloe sets up a conference call with the Attorney General. She explains that Jack placed a listening device on the President. Chloe plays back the recording of Martha and Logan talking in the hangar. The President admits responsibility for the terrorist plot and for killing Palmer.

Comments: Bill and Karen need to wake up and stop flirting with each other…..Listening device on the President – BINGO – the 24geek has got it….and they’ve got Chuck!! This is going to be fun…..

6:42 A.M.
Logan eulogizes Palmer, calling him a “wonderful friend.” A federal marshal guarding the ceremony gets a call from the Attorney General. The Marshal is confused by what is being said to him, but he agrees to obey the order.

6:43 A.M.
As he speaks, Logan notices rumblings among the agents surrounding the gathering. The Marshal and the Secret Service descend upon the podium as Logan ends his speech. The Marshal whispers something in the President’s ear and Logan’s face goes white. The Marshal pulls out the fountain pen from Logan’s pocket and shows him the microchip transmitter planted inside of it.

Comments: …..and DOWN GOES LOGAN!!! Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy…two words…BUH BYE!

6:46 A.M.
Logan turns to Martha and Novick, speechless. He is escorted from the podium amid the twenty-one gun salute to Palmer and is placed in a limo for arrest. The casket is loaded upon the plane.

Comments: Classic look from Marty…the perfect combination of anger and satisfaction…honestly I was hoping for a little buh-bye wave from Marty as they took him away….oh well – the look will have to do.

6:47 A.M.
At the warehouse, Jack sees Audrey emerge from a car. He rushes to her and kisses her. An agent interrupts Jack with a call from Kim. Audrey says she will wait for him outside.

Comments: AWWWWWW……Jack and Audrey….and now for the second thing I pegged…the agent says there is a call for him “behind that door”….I immediately think NO – don’t go anywhere behind anything – it’s a trap – the Chinese still want you….no sooner have the words left my mouth – Jack is being taken down and kidnapped by the Chinese!!! I would like to brag that I am just too good – but this is pretty obvious stuff here….so there will be no further back patting for the 24geek.

6:48 A.M.
Jack goes in the building and picks up the phone. There is no one there. Suddenly, a masked man comes up from behind and gags Jack’s mouth. Jack tries to fight off the other masked men, but the chloroform in the gag makes him pass out. The men whisk him into a room and shut the door.

Comments: See what I mean…

6:53 A.M.
Karen tells Buchanan that she thinks Logan will resign and try to cut a deal for clemency. Since the Vice President will soon be sworn in as President, Buchanan thinks he will be fired. Karen says she will make sure that Buchanan is still running CTU. She apologizes for her behavior towards him earlier in the day. Buchanan invites her out for breakfast but Karen needs to go to Division for debriefing. She asks for a rain check.

Comments: Go Bill!! Work it!

6:55 A.M.
Buchanan commends Chloe for her work and hands her something found in Edgar’s possessions. It is a photo of her and Edgar. Chloe tears up. Morris comes up and kindly asks her if she wants to talk about it.

Comments: Just when we might have forgotten about good old Edgar they just suck us back in….damn – it really is too bad he had to die….

6:56 A.M.
Audrey goes into the warehouse looking for Jack. She sees the phone off the hook and becomes worried. Audrey runs out and alerts the agents that Jack is missing.

Comments: Oh dear – that’s what you get Audrey for saying it’s over….and everyone will be alright….it’s the kiss of death.

6:57 A.M.
A beaten and bloody Jack is dragged into a dark room. The men remove their masks and reveal that they are Chinese. Their leader is Cheng, the head of security from the Chinese Consulate who threatened the American government to turn over Jack for his raid on the consulate building eighteen months ago. “China has a long memory,” Cheng says. “Did you really think that we would forget?” Jack can barely speak, but begs to make one phone call. Jack wants them to kill him, but Cheng says he is too valuable to kill.

Comments: CHENG!!! (try and imagine a cry like Kirk yelling KAHN! in the second Star Trek movie…that’s about how it came out of my mouth)…heehee

6:59 A.M.
Cheng has Jack kidnapped aboard a Chinese shipping boat. It is already sailing the ocean.

So another day has come to an end….we would all have to agree that Jack’s in a little bit more trouble than he was at the end of last season. This season has certainly been exciting at times, slow as well but most importantly there were surprises (the death of so many of our favorite characters – Tony we will miss you..) that kept us all on our toes. Who knows how they will manage to get Jack back safe and sound so he can fight the good fight for another action packed day but we just know they will.

We are already well into the summer hiatus for the show – it won’t be back until January 2007 – but if you are missing your 24 fix FOX is showing a couple of hours of the past season on Friday nights. Might be fun no?

It has been a pleasure navigating our way through this season. It is my goal over the summer to continue to add new 24 info as I hear or read about it as well as a bunch of other randomness the is 24geek.

Chat soon!

Blurb Day

2006-06-08T12:27:00.000-07:00

For those of you waiting ever so patiently for me to post the final two hours of the day...your wait continues (but not for much longer...I promise).

Over the last few days I stumbled across a few little blurbs of information that I feel the need to share...

+ With the new season of Entourage set to begin Sunday night on HBO, CNN has a cool article on super agent Ari Gold. I for one can't wait for the new season to arrive.

+ From TV Guide.online (thank you!!) - the latest and greatest about the proposed 24 movie!! -

Twentieth Century Fox has closed a deal with 24 creators Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran, as well as show-runner Howard Gordon, to turn the Fox nail-biter into a feature film. Under the agreement, Surnow and Cochran will pen the screenplay, with contributions from Gordon, and all three will produce the pic with Imagine's Brian Grazer. Thus far, no 24 cast members, Kiefer Sutherland included, have inked their own deals, but work on the script is expected to begin late this summer, with an eye on a spring/summer 2007 start date, during the TV series' hiatus. With the real-time aspect abandoned for the feature, globe-trotting for Jack et al is said to be a priority for the hush-hush plot.

+ I had to share a simply AMAZING article/commentary by CNN's Lou Dobbs on the recently proposed, debated and soundly defeated gay marriage amendment. It does a great job of cutting through the obvious political bullshit and challenging Congress to deal with the real issues affecting this country. My praise can't do it proper justice.

24 News and Notes - Season 6 blurb

2006-05-25T14:41:00.000-07:00

Before I go in and do my final recap of the year I just wanted to pass along some information I just read at TVGuideOnline.com regarding Season 6...

24 Isn't Ordering Chinese
Despite how Monday's season finale left off, the sixth season of Fox's 24 will not pick up with Jack Bauer riding a slow boat to China as a political prisoner. "I don’t think much of the story will take place in China," executive producer Howard Gordon tells the trade mag TV Week. "It's just an impractical thing given the real-time constraints, because it would take Jack 16 hours — three-quarters of the [season] — to get back to L.A." If Jack's imprisonment isn't the hook for 24's January '07 return, what is? Howard shared no details, noting, "I just started writing the first [episode] this morning" — meaning only two or three main characters have been killed thus far.

Interesting....

24 News and Notes / 4am-5am

2006-05-22T15:18:00.000-07:00

In the words of the near immortal Rod Stewart…”Tonight’s the night!..” As has been my M.O. the last few weeks I am waiting until only hours before the latest episode to do the recap…Sorry. So – how about I just blast through this so you can all be ready for the big battle tonight 20,000 leagues under the sea…

4:00 A.M.
Chloe sets up a feed to the Attorney General and to Congress. Yet when she tests the recording, there is nothing but white noise. Chloe remembers that Miles came in, claiming that Karen had him check up on her.

COMMENT: Oh dear....Maybe Jack should have played the thing for SOMEBODY!!!!!! As for Miles – he has been placed on a tee and is all set to be slammed! Let's get to it now shall we?

4:02 A.M.
Jack heads to the bullpen, and Karen calls for security to stop him. Jack punches the guard. He then grabs Miles by the throat and accuses him of obstructing the case. Karen orders Jack to let him go.

COMMENT: LOVED the shot to the solar plexes. When are they going to realize what it takes to bring down Bauer…Come on Karen - let Jack strangle the life out of him!!! Or at least draw blood…We’ve been waiting weeks for this confrontation!!

4:03 A.M.
Miles says that he has been transferred and Karen asks where. “The White House,” Jack sneers. Miles’ silence serves as an admission. Karen threatens to investigate, and Miles informs her that he now works for the President. Karen slaps him hard on the face. He leaves CTU.

COMMENT: Come on Karen you can do better than a little slap to the face…Ball up that fist and punch him!! Or even better would have been a nice swift kick to the old bait and tackle!!

4:05 A.M.
Karen sends Chloe to try to restore the tape.

COMMENT: Yeah – good luck with that Chloe…Have fun..

4:06 A.M.
Logan quizzes Karen about a conference call with the Attorney General, but she claims it was a mistake. Logan wants to suspend the arrest for Jack because the evidence he has is “inconclusive.” Jack knows that Logan intends to make him an unobstructed target.

4:07 A.M.
CTU gets word that Bierko escaped from the transfer to District. The one agent who survived the attack on the van heard Bierko mention a nerve gas canister and tell his men that they “are not finished.” CTU had assumed all the canisters were destroyed in the gas plant explosion. Karen makes finding Bierko the new priority.

4:08 A.M.
Bierko’s man shows him the one canister kept in reserve.

4:13 A.M.
Martha gives Pierce’s cell phone to an agent on duty in hopes that it will be returned to him in Washington where he was transferred.

4:14 A.M.
Logan comes to see Pierce in the stables at the retreat. Pierce has been beaten and his hands are bound. Logan tells him that the tape recording no longer exists. Logan threatens him to save his own career in the Secret Service. Pierce calls Logan a traitor and a disgrace to the office.

COMMENT: Perhaps the finest line of the entire season…”You’re a traitor and a disgrace to the office. Is there anything else CHARLES??” CLASSIC!!! This is why we LOVE Agent Pierce.

4:16 A.M.
An agent named Adams tells Logan that Pierce is loyal to Palmer. Logan doesn’t say anything, and Adams understands what to do.

COMMENT: Wait a minute – Agent No-Neck is really going to whack Aaron?? NO WAY JOSE!

4:17 A.M.
Logan calls Graham and lets him know that the recording has been destroyed and Pierce is being taken care of. The arrangements to take out Jack have been put into motion.

COMMENT: Isn’t the Putz just little Mr. Efficient…

4:19 A.M.
Novick brings the President news that Bierko escaped and is planning another attack. Logan is furious.

COMMENT: It’s soooo funny watching him react to this stuff. He’s like an 8 yr old – wait that would be an insult to the 8 yr old…but I think you get the point.

4:20 A.M.
Chloe cannot find any trace of Bierko on satellites or security cameras. Karen and Buchanan suggest offering a deal to Henderson in return for information on Bierko. Jack is adamant that they don’t because Henderson killed Palmer. Yet with no other option, Jack relents.

4:21 A.M.
Jack goes to Henderson in the holding room and tries to appeal to his patriotic sense. Henderson can tell Jack is not happy to be offering full immunity. Henderson’s only protection was that tape and now it’s gone. He will be killed if he is set free. Henderson offers to help Jack catch Bierko if they allow him to go underground with his wife

COMMENT: Jack and Henderson eh? Never thought that would happen…this should be interesting as Jack fights every fiber of his being to stop from shooting him somewhere vital.

4:29 A.M.
Henderson gives up fourteen names that he thinks Bierko will contact. Jack has Chloe run a search.

4:30 A.M.
Jack tells Audrey that Henderson is helping them find Bierko. Audrey is angry that the man who tried to kill her father was offered immunity. Jack apologizes to her.

COMMENT: Come on – let Audrey at him!! She’s like a Bengal tiger these days…!

4:31 A.M.
Chloe finds that Victor Malina, one of the people on Henderson’s list, just got a call from a payphone in Van Nuys which was then called by a GSM satellite phone. Henderson warns them that it will take too long to roll Malina. He suggests that he go and talk to Malina himself. Jack knows Henderson can’t be trusted, but Karen and Buchanan decide that they have no other choice. Karen orders Jack to accompany Henderson. Jack threatens to kill Henderson if something goes awry.

4:33 A.M.
Martha is outside smoking a cigarette when she sees a government sedan pull into the stables.

COMMENT: Martha the Sleuth is IN DA HIZZY!! Let’s see what she uncovers shall we?

4:34 A.M.
Agent Adams exits the sedan with a gun. The trunk of the car is lined in plastic. He takes the bound Pierce from the stable, but Pierce fights back. Martha walks in and surprises Adams with Pierce. Adams cannot shoot the First Lady, and this allows Pierce to kick him. Adams loses his gun. Just as Adams is about to hit Pierce with a tire iron, Martha grabs the gun and shoots Adams. She is in shock and drops the gun.

COMMENT: Everybody run…the medicated First Lady has a gun!!...and she doesn’t appear to be afraid to use it…Quick call Logan!!

4:40 A.M.
Curtis drives Jack and Henderson to Victor Malina’s loft. Henderson won’t wear a wire because Malina will find it. Jack gives him only ten minutes to get information. Curtis sets teams around the perimeter.

4:41 A.M.
Henderson goes to the building and Malina lets him into the heavily-secured complex. Jack hoists himself up to the roof.

COMMENT: Heavily secured?? HA…Jack climbs on the roof (easily) and there are no sensors or anything up there to indicate he is there!!! What’s it with security this season?? First they don’t look on the top of the truck at the airport. Now Jack has easy access to this “heavily secured” living space by climbing on the roof and going in from there? Come on!

4:42 A.M.
At the door, Malina x-rays Henderson over the Backscatter monitor. There is nothing on him, and he is allowed entry.

COMMENT: Cool x-ray gadget…too bad Jack’s on the roof!!!!

4:43 A.M.
Jack affixes a sonar device to the skylight over Malina’s loft. He hears Henderson tell Malina to secure-cache his files because Jack and CTU are outside. Jack radios Curtis to move his teams in because Henderson welched on his promise.

4:44 A.M.
Malina starts crashing his own system as Curtis’s teams blast through the building entry. Jack breaks in from the roof. Henderson takes Malina’s gun and ducks. Malina fires at the TAC team, hitting Curtis in the shoulder. Jack shoots Malina and he makes Henderson come out from hiding.

4:46 A.M.
Jack accuses Henderson of trying to play him, but Henderson says that he was getting Malina to drop the firewall and download all his files onto a flash drive. Jack came in too soon and now the files are all decrypted on the mainframe. Jack doesn’t know what the truth is, but sends Chloe the files from Malina’s computer.

COMMENT: Ooops…good job Jack. Not that I trust Henderson but give the guy a break. You had the whole building surrounded. Where the heck was Henderson going to go even if he was playing you?

4:52 A.M.
Pierce tells Martha that Logan ordered Adams to kill him. Martha says she knows about the whole plot, but she can no longer remain silent. Pierce needs Logan to believe that he’s dead, so he has her go back inside and pretend nothing is different. Pierce asks her to tell Novick.

COMMENT: Great!! They’re finally going to get Sherlock Novick involved??...and good luck trying to get Martha to act like there’s nothing wrong. I think you’re going to need much more medication!

4:54 A.M.
Chloe uncovers Defense documents on Malina’s computer for a Russian submarine that is in America for inspection by the Navy. Karen explains that the Logan treaty called for the sharing of technology. Henderson confirms that the sub named Natalia would have multiple, non-nuclear warheads.

COMMENT: A Russian submarine eh? Hmmm – let the Hunt for Red Bierko begin!!

4:55 A.M.
Jack has Audrey contact the ranking U.S. officer on the Russian sub. Jack takes Henderson with him in a helicopter. He needs Henderson because he knows the weapon systems.

4:56 A.M.
Audrey connects Jack to the U.S. Navy officer aboard the submarine Natalia. Jack orders the Lieutenant to lock down the weapons system because the Natalia might be under siege by terrorists who will try to apprehend its missiles.

4:57 A.M.
The Lieutenant goes through the top hatch and Bierko shoots him. Jack hears the gunshots and has Audrey warn Defense.

COMMENT: What part of LOCK DOWN THE WEAPONS SYSTEM means open the hatch to the outside of the sub?? Come on!!! Seal the damn sub up and don’t allow anyone access to the darn thing….Nah – I think I’ll just go topside and take a look around…AND don’t even get me started as to how Bierko and his band of flunkies are able to just wander in and end up on top of a NUCLEAR SUBMARINE!!!!!!! I don’t care if it’s Russian or not. Those darn things are guarded like Fort Knox…because they have NUCLEAR WEAPONS on board!!!!! I’m very disappointed at the little plot twist. Not very well thought out…Thank god the end is near…I can stop yelling at the tv!

4:48 A.M.
Bierko drops a Sentox canister into the hatch of the sub and releases the gas. The crew of the submarine falls to their deaths.

COMMENT: Of course they do…so disappointing.

4:59 A.M.
Bierko and his gas-masked men board the sub. Bierko plugs a code that he got from Malina into a console. This allows him to take control of the sub’s weapons system.

So WADDA YA THINK folks??? Things look interesting for the season finale??

So many loose ends to tie up…I’m sure they will come up with something.

Questions -

Will someone important die?
Will Aaron and Martha end up happily ever after?
Will Jack and Audrey?
Will Bill and Karen?
Will Chloe ever get to punch out Miles?
Will we ever find out who the heck the Bluetooth Group are??
Will they face justice or will the end up getting away to wreak havoc another day??
Will Brother Wayne ever show his face again? We last saw him being dropped off at Bill’s place – then nothing.
Will we get to see Toonces the Secretary of Defense to confirm he is actually alive?

I expect answers to all (or maybe some) of these questions this evening. Should be one hell of a two hour ride to the finish!!!

Chat soon – y’all!

24 News and Notes / 3am-4am

2006-05-15T14:36:00.001-07:00

No excuse – lazy yet again. How about I blame it on the heat??

The hour…

3:00 A.M.
As Evans prepares to land the plane, Jack calls Karen and tells her he has the recording. He doesn’t want anyone loyal to the President to interfere with his taking it back to CTU. Buchanan assures Jack that a team will be there to escort him.

3:02 A.M.
Curtis comes into the clinic to let Audrey know that Heller survived the car crash and is being treated. She is elated that her father is alive.

COMMENT: Daddy Defense is ALIVE! Apparently the man can swim…

3:03 A.M.
Karen orders Curtis to pick up Jack at the Van Nuys Airport. He must make sure that Jack and the evidence are protected from Logan’s militia.

3:04 A.M.
Graham informs Logan that his people can arrange a distress signal from the plane to make it appear that there is a hijacking. This will give the President legal reason to have the plane shot down. Logan is reluctant to kill innocent people, but he knows there is no other choice to protect himself.

COMMENT: They can arrange a distress signal from the plane to make it appear there is a hijacking?? No comment…

3:06 A.M.
Miles is alarmed to see Buchanan and Karen walk out together from the holding room. Karen says that new intelligence has emerged, but she won’t tell Miles what it is.

COMMENT: HAHAHAHAHAHA…love the mental torturing of Miles.

3:07 A.M.
Novick reports to the President that a hijack distress call came from Jack’s plane. There is a possibility it will target something on the ground.

3:08 A.M.
Logan and Novick are briefed by Admiral Kirkland from the Point Mugu Command Center. Logan feigns shock and horror that Jack would be in control of the plane. Kirkland advises him to bring down the plane. Novick doesn’t believe that Jack would use the plane as a weapon against civilians, but Kirkland insists there is no time to make another decision. Logan overrules Novick and authorizes the Admiral to have his F-18 fighter shoot down the plane.

COMMENT: For Logan – mission accomplished.

3:10 A.M.
Karen gets word of the alert to shoot down the plane and she calls Jack. Jack asks Buchanan to find a stretch of freeway to touch down.

3:14 A.M.
Miles watches with mounting dismay as Chloe is brought into CTU. Buchanan and Karen give her the news about Jack’s plane and ask her to find out exactly how much time he has before the F-18 reaches him.

COMMENT: Giggle…

3:16 A.M.
Jack has the flight attendant prepare the passengers for an emergency landing. Buchanan gives him a freeway where he can land. Evans is hesitant to land on the road, but Jack forces him to obey.

COMMENT: Jack does a lot of that forcing to obey stuff eh?

3:17 A.M.
Karen calls Curtis and redirects him to the freeway where Jack will land.

3:18 A.M.
Admiral Kirkland patches the President through to the pilot of the F-18.

Chloe taps into the radar feed and finds that the missile from the jet will hit Jack before he can land. Jack orders Evans to descend faster, even if it means the landing will be jeopardized.

3:19 A.M.
The passengers scream when the plane lunges. With the F-18 almost within missile range, Jack makes Evans continue pushing the plane downward. Jack sees the freeway out the cockpit window. He tells Evans to level off, but the plane is not able to pull out of the dive.

COMMENT: Ooopsie…guess that’s one way to get the plane on the ground eh?

3:20 A.M.
Jack demands that Evan lower the landing gear, even though they are at one thousand feet above the ground.

The F-18 pilot notifies Logan and Kirkland that the plane is landing on the freeway. Kirkland recommends to the President that they abort, but Logan is adamant that they shoot it down anyway. Novick implores him to reconsider. Logan realizes that he has been outmaneuvered and agrees to abort. Yet he demands that Marine units apprehend Jack on the freeway.

COMMENT: Wow that Mike Novick is soooo convincing…YAWN.

3:21 A.M.
Although the plane is still going too fast to land, Evans completes the descent and the plane slams down on the freeway. It screeches to a halt just before its wings reach an overpass.

COMMENT: Phew.

3:22 A.M.
Buchanan tells Jack that Curtis will be there to pick him up. Jack instructs the passengers to exit at the back while he goes to the side door and climbs down from the wing. Jack breaks into a run on the ground.

3:27 A.M.
Graham chides Logan for not following the plan. Logan answers that he had no pretext to shoot the plane, and reassures Graham that Marines will pick up Jack before he escapes.

COMMENT: Must be pretty easy being the Bluetooth Group…Do this! Do that!! While they are comfortably hidden from inquiring eyes.

3:28 A.M.
Jack hides below the overpass and calls Curtis, who is approaching from the opposite side of where the Marines are posted.

3:29 A.M.
Jack gets in Curtis’s car and they hit a roadblock. Curtis identifies himself to the Marines, and he says he is there to apprehend Jack. The Marines have orders to detain everyone, but Curtis claims that they are wasting time. He says they can shoot at him even though he is a federal officer. The Marines wave the car through.

COMMENT: Nice effort Curtis. Would have been fun to watch Jack take them all out single-handily BAUER-STYLE!!! I can dream right?

3:30 A.M.
Curtis calls CTU and says he will head in using back streets to avoid more roadblocks. Buchanan is sure that the Marines are under direct orders from Logan.

Miles calls Karen in the conference room and demands to know what’s going on because he is watching her work with two people that were under arrest for aiding a fugitive. He threatens to call someone else for answers. Karen agrees to talk to him. She explains to Buchanan and Chloe that Miles has been loyal to her and she has no choice but to trust him.

COMMENT: There is no way bringing Miles on board is going to end well. Too much of a weasel in need of some TAZER action!!

3:31 A.M.
Karen tells Miles that Jack retrieved evidence implicating Logan. Miles is hesitant and tries to play devil’s advocate. They are interrupted by an agent informing them that Bierko is ready to be moved. Karen urges Miles to keep this a secret.

COMMENT: Oh yeah – Bierko’s in the building…Remind me again why he needs to be moved?? Oh yeah – so he can conveniently escape…my bad. *sheesh*

3:34 A.M.
A bruised Bierko is brought out in shackles. They are transferring him to a holding facility at District.

3:35 A.M.
Bierko is loaded into a transport van. He nods to the driver, who nods back.
COMMENT: Yeah – ok. Somehow the driver is working with the bad guys…Whatever…if they are going to have something improbable happen make it a little better than this…

3:40 A.M.
Logan is alarmed to find out that Jack was not taken into custody by the Marines. This hits Logan like a death sentence. Novick notices that this reaction is odd.

COMMENT: Sherlock Novick is at it again… *sigh*

3:42 A.M.
Logan sees on his cell phone that Graham is calling. He doesn’t pick up.

3:43 A.M.
Curtis brings Jack to CTU. Jack hands the tape recorder to Chloe so that she can prepare it for the Attorney General.

COMMENT: How about playing the darn thing for Karen and Bill – JUST TO SEE IF THE THING STILL WORKS!!!!!! Then you can give it to Chloe to have it “prepared” for the Attorney General…

3:44 A.M.
Jack goes to see Audrey in the medical unit and kisses her. He tells her that they got the evidence. “It’s over,” she sighs. Jack sits with her in silence.

COMMENT: NOOOOOOOO – please don’t say “it’s over.” It’s the kiss of death…Audrey Raines you should know better than that!!!!

3:45 A.M.
Logan opens a wooden box in his office. Inside is a .45 caliber pistol. He calls Graham and lets him know that Jack escaped. Graham knows that the Attorney General received a call from CTU, so the recording must be in their hands. “I still believe we were right,” Logan says. “I still believe that we acted in the best interests of the country.” Graham notes that the murder trial of a sitting President would devastate the country. Yet there cannot be a trial without a defendant. Logan confirms that neither Graham nor his associates will be implicated in anything. Logan hangs up, explaining that he has some things to take care of. He loads the pistol.

COMMENT: NO WAY! He isn’t going to do this now is he??

3:51 A.M.
Logan goes to see Martha, who is watching news broadcasts alone. He apologizes for hurting her but she doesn’t respond with sympathy to give him the closure he’s seeking. Martha says that she had no idea he was such a good liar. “If I wasn’t so horrified by the fact that I’m married to you, I might actually be impressed,” she says coldly.

COMMENT: Loving drugged out-I don’t give a crap about you Marty. She gets all the good dialogue now…

3:55 A.M.
Logan walks back to his office, defeated. He quickly knocks back a glass of scotch for liquid courage and takes the pistol from the box. The office phone rings, and the operator informs the President that he has an urgent call from Miles about Jack. Logan takes the call.

COMMENT: This can’t be good…

3:57 A.M.
From a darkened corner of CTU, Miles explains to Logan that Jack delivered a recording which could compromise national security. Miles feels compelled to intervene and wants Logan’s approval. Logan smiles like a drowning man who’s just been thrown a safety line. He gives Miles his private number and asks him to keep him abreast of the situation. When Logan says he will not forget this favor, Miles is pleased. Logan puts away his gun.

COMMENT: That weasely son of a B! Come to think of it – he and Logan deserve each other. It will be fun watching Jack and Chloe wreak their revenge on Logan and Miles (you just know that’s how it is going to play out)!!

3:59 A.M.
Miles goes into the conference room where Chloe is working on the tape. He leans on the table next to her and innocently asks if she will be ready for the teleconference. Chloe cannot see that he is holding a black device that flashes next to the tape recorder. Satisfied with what he has done, Miles leaves.

COMMENT: AH hello – Chloe! Didn’t Jack say don’t let anyone in the damn room. What’s with you letting Miles “hover” like that…Where was that TAZER you used so effectively at the hotel bar??

…and just like that we are back to square one.
…and I have NO IDEA where the heck they go from here. Strange.

Questions and Comments?
+ Heller is alive. I’ll believe it when I see it.
+ Looks like a bloody Aaron returns tonight. What’s that all about?
+ Told ya Miles would screw everything up – didn’t I?
+ Please please please tell me that Jack traces the mess with the tape back to Miles. Please.
+ Audrey – no more comments about how everything is over/finished.
+ Who is the darn Bluetooth Group?? Still wondering…

Sorry to say my attention will be elsewhere this evening at 9pm. NO – it has nothing to do with our own President Putz and his address but rather – the 2hr season finale of Grey’s Anatomy is tonight at 9pm as well and after last night’s stunning ending I will be on the edge of my seat. For all (or rather any) of you Grey’s watchers out there I have only one question…

IZZY – WHAT IN THE HELL ARE YOU POSSIBLY THINKING?

Hopefully this question (and many more) will be dealt with this evening.

24 News and Notes / 3am-4am

2006-05-15T14:36:00.000-07:00

24 News and Notes / 2am-3am

2006-05-08T13:04:00.000-07:00

Look at this. I did it again. After only being mildly entertained by the latest hour I again have waited until the day of the next hour to get this done. I have an excuse this time – no laziness. Lisa was off at science camp this week with her students so it was just Chelsea and I for the week….then this past Saturday I ran an 18 mile training run in preparation for the SF Marathon in July. Long story short – I’m not a slacker – just had a busy week.

So on to Terror at 36,000 feet…

2:00 A.M.
Karen hears from Buchanan that Chloe is leaving and that Jack stowed away on a diplomatic plane where a passenger has the recording. Miles comes in as she is on the phone. Karen orders him to handle the Buchanan house ambush in the situation room instead of her office.

COMMENT: Nice to see Karen continue to descend into the Land of Bauer.

2:03 A.M.
Karen lets Buchanan know that he will be arrested as a suspect. She wants Chloe to contact her on a dry channel. Buchanan sends Chloe out and directs her to walk to a nearby hotel.

2:04 A.M.
The Homeland Security team knocks on Buchanan’s door. He stalls as much as possible and tells them he will only speak to Karen. Karen orders Buchanan be brought into CTU and that they set up a search for Chloe’s car.

COMMENT: Those Homeland Security dudes are just a bunch of laughs huh?? That disheveled shirt really threw them Bill…Nice!

2:05 A.M.
Miles has reservations about Karen’s decision to not interrogate Buchanan on site. She is emphatic that she wants to do it herself.

COMMENT: Oh Miles…go do something useful with yourself…just get the hell out of the way of progress!!

2:06 A.M.
Chloe enters the hotel and sets up her laptop at the lobby bar. She calls Karen and instructs her to look up the manifest of the flight that Jack is on. Karen puts the data on a shared file so that Chloe can access it.

2:07 A.M.
Jack sits in the plane’s cargo area. Chloe calls him and explains that Karen is secretly helping her. Jack asks her to get the air marshal’s seat number and to cross examine the passenger list against Henderson.

2:08 A.M.
Chloe gives Jack the air marshal’s name and seat number.

2:09 A.M.
Jack opens up the cargo door leading to the floor of the plane’s galley. He climbs out unnoticed. Jack goes to the row where the air marshal is and sits down. He knocks the air marshal out with his elbow, then props a pillow under the man’s head to give the appearance that he is asleep. Jack takes the air marshal’s gun.

COMMENT: As always – love Jack and his flying elbows. That air marshal never new what hit him.

2:14 A.M.
Chloe gives Jack the identity of their suspect on the plane. Hans Meyer is a German connected to Henderson through Omicron.

2:15 A.M.
Jack approaches Meyer, pretending to be the air marshal. He asks him to identify his baggage because there is something suspicious. Meyer complies and follows Jack to the galley. Jack knocks him out and dumps him through the cargo door. He climbs in and shuts the door.

2:16 A.M.
Martha asks the Secret Service agent outside her bedroom why she can’t have her medication. He has been instructed not to give it to her.

COMMENT: Oh boy – Martha’s asking for her meds…she has fallen off the Pharmaceutical Wagon.

2:17 A.M.
Martha summons Novick to her room and demands her pills. She won’t say why she needs them so badly, but she is visibly upset. Novick promises to try to help her.

COMMENT: Mike needs to head to the store and GET A CLUE!!! It seems like he is a half step behind on everything today.

2:20 A.M.
Graham calls Logan, who says that Jack has not been found yet.

2:21 A.M.
Novick warns the President that Martha is agitated and wants her medication. Logan is angry and refuses. “Is there something going on that I should know about?” Novick asks pointedly. He says that Martha would not tell him anything. Logan assures him that it has nothing to do with national security and is merely a personal matter. The couple has come to the conclusion that their marriage is over. Novick apologizes, and Logan allows him to give Martha her meds.

COMMENT: Yet again the Putz is quick on his toes and comes up with a plausible (slightly) answer to appease Mike.

2:22 A.M.
Jack wakes Meyer up. Meyer insists that he has not seen Henderson in months. Jack forces him to open up his luggage.

2:23 A.M.
A man named Ross approaches Chloe in the bar. When she doesn’t respond to his advances, he retreats. Chloe calls Airport Customs and asks to speak to someone in passenger clearing.

COMMENT: Chloe in the bar – the beginning of the funniest moments of the entire hour.

2:24 A.M.
A flight attendant alerts the passengers to remain in their seats because they are expecting turbulence. She notices that someone is missing. Suddenly, the air marshal flops from his seat. An attendant notifies Cotter, the pilot, that the air marshal has been assaulted. Following procedure, Cotter tells his copilot to lock the cockpit door and prepare to reverse course.

COMMENT: It may have just been me but I loved the air marshal’s reaction when the stewardess tried to help him up. He kind of lashed out at her with an attitude like “take your hands off me I don’t need your help” even though he was sharp enough earlier to allow himself to be knocked unconscious…I enjoyed it.

2:25 A.M.
The air marshal warns the flight attendant that the man who was next to him has taken his gun.

COMMENT: Oooops – got your gun too huh? Where’s that attitude now??

2:29 A.M.
Novick brings Martha her pills. He wonders what she is hiding because he thinks both she and the President are covering something up. Martha claims that it is only marital problems.

COMMENT: Mike Novick – still sharp as a dull spoon.

2:31 A.M.
As Jack goes through his luggage, Meyer maintains that he is innocent. Chloe thinks Jack has the wrong guy because Meyers was in Customs for the last three hours. Jack feels the plane turning and he realizes that they know he is on board. He tries to open the cargo door, but he’s been sealed in.

COMMENT: Got the wrong guy?? I smell a lawsuit pending…(sorry I live in California – the land of litigation)

2:32 A.M.
The air marshal locks the cargo door and tells the flight attendant to signal the pilot. She is concerned that the passenger taken hostage could die, but the marshal is insistent.

COMMENT: That air marshal is a real piece of work…buddy you screwed up…stop taking out your frustration on everyone else…

2:33 A.M.
The cargo air starts to depressurize. If they can’t get back into the main cabin, Jack and Meyer will lose consciousness. Jack calls Chloe, who sees the security bulletin about the plane. She has Karen connect Jack to the pilot.

2:34 A.M.
As Chloe waits for Karen, Ross from the bar comes over to hit on her again. She zaps him with a stun gun and Ross passes out. Karen connects Cotter to Jack’s phone. Jack explains that he is a federal agent and needs pressure restored to cargo because it is a matter of national security. Cotter is skeptical of Jack’s claims, and he turns to his copilot, Evans. Evans doesn’t want to take a chance and advises Cotter not to obey. Cotter refuses Jack’s request.

COMMENT: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA – I’m sorry…the tazer gun was hysterical! As for the pilot and his skepticism – dude, it’s Jack Bauer. Do what the man says…or there WILL be consequences.

2:35 A.M.
Jack opens up a panel, exposing cables. He takes a belt from the luggage and uses it to bend one of the cables. The plane lurches and the passengers react in horror.

COMMENT: See – consequences. Didn’t know you could control the plane from baggage. Good tip to know.

2:36 A.M.
Jack tells the pilot that he will responsible if anything happens to the plane. Cotter concedes to bring pressure back into the cargo area. He orders the flight attendant to open the cargo hatch door. Jack comes out and has the air marshal locked into the baggage area.

COMMENT: Man – that air marshal cannot BUY a break! Have fun in baggage buddy!! That will teach you to be nicer to the flight attendants next time won’t it!!

2:37 A.M.
The passengers scream when they see Jack’s gun. He wants Cotter to keep the plane in a holding pattern so that he can search it. The pilot is bound by law to land the plane as soon as possible.

COMMENT: Anytime I see anyone on an airplane wielding a weapon it makes me think of 9/11. I know that this is just TV yadda yadda yadda but still – the ideas and images are there. Just can’t shake them. It just makes me think.

2:43 A.M.
Logan panics when he learns that Jack hijacked a diplomatic flight to look for the recording. He calls Graham, who instructs him to order the plane down.

COMMENT: Bluetooth Group showing NO MERCY. The Cobra Kai would be so proud. While you’re at it – SWEEP THE LEG!!

2:44 A.M.
Karen learns about Jack’s plane being forced to land. She knows that the President will take over the plane as soon as it touches the ground and she urgently needs confirmation of that tape. Buchanan is brought into CTU in handcuffs. Karen tells Miles she will handle him.

COMMENT: All I have to say about this is …”YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT IS YOU ARE DEALING WITH YOU LITTLE ASS-KISSER!!” Bill pretty much summed it all up for us.

2:45 A.M.
Miles calls Novick because he is concerned about how Karen is dealing with Buchanan. Novick doesn’t have time for him, and he thinks Karen’s actions are probably necessary.

COMMENT: Miles trying the end around to get Karen screwed. Sorry buddy – no go! Mike’s best move of the hour – brushing him away like lint on his jacket.

2:47 A.M.
Miles notices that Karen has shut down the feed in the holding room. She tells Buchanan that will remain skeptical until she sees the evidence against the President. Karen briefs Buchanan about Jack’s current situation.

2:48 A.M.
Karen is interrupted by a call from Logan and Novick, who want an update on the diplomatic flight’s hijack. Logan insists that Jack is a fugitive looking to escape. He wants him taken down, dead or alive. Novick is shocked by this. Karen apprehensively agrees to the order.

2:49 A.M.
Buchanan thinks that Logan wants to stop Jack from finding the evidence. Yet Karen has no authority to prevent the plane from landing.

Novick questions the President’s decision. Logan insists that Jack has been lying to them all day.

COMMENT: Come on Karen!! Don’t go and get cold feet on us now!!!

2:54 A.M.
At the bar, Ross wakes up and Chloe stun guns him back out. She phones flight operations and asks why the copilot didn’t board the plane. She learns that he was replaced at the last minute by Evans. Chloe looks up Evans’s history and sees that he was a private pilot for Omicron.

COMMENT: HEEHEE – the re-stun! Priceless. So it’s the co-pilot…this oughta be fun.

2:55 A.M.
Chloe calls Jack with the latest discovery. She patches him into the pilot and Jack explains that Evans is connected to a known terrorist. Cotter is shocked, but doesn’t say anything out loud. He feigns a cramp in his leg and gets up from the seat. When Cotter makes a move to open the cockpit door, Evans knocks him out with a flashlight.

2:57 A.M.
Jack breaks into the cockpit and slugs Evans. He trains his gun on him and demands the recording. Evans hands it over. Jack makes him get back in the driver’s seat to land the plane. He calls Chloe and warns her that he will soon be on the ground.

COMMENT: YAY – Jack has the recording back…Maybe it’s just me but I would have tried playing a little bit of it just to make sure it’s still okay…but that’s just me. Who am I to question Jack Bauer??

2:58 A.M.
A drugged-up Martha calls Logan from her bedroom. She knows he’s a good man, but doesn’t understand why he didn’t come to her for advice. Logan counters that she has been close to a nervous breakdown for the last three years. He hangs up on her to take another call.

COMMENT: The words “drugged up Martha” can only mean one thing – PURE ENTERTAINMENT!!

2:59 A.M.
Graham knows that Jack has the recording and is controlling the plane. He picked up a call from Chloe to Karen. Graham orders the President to shoot down the plane. The only other option is for Logan to go to prison for treason and murder.

COMMENT: Shoot down the plane??? SAY WHAT???? Let the fun begin…

Questions and comments??

+ No word on Aquaman (I mean Heller)
+ Still no idea who the Bluetooth Group are…little help please…
+ No word on Aaron
+ Eventually Miles is going to screw everything up…just waiting patiently for that.
+ Is Marty going to OD?? Or in her “drugged out” condition end up spilling everything to Sherlock Holmes (i.e. Mike Novick)
+ Are we going to end up with another plane crash this year??

Tune in tonight for more Terror at 36,000 feet….34,500 ft…27,400 ft…

24 News and Notes / 1am-2am

2006-05-01T14:37:00.000-07:00

First off let me apologize for taking this long to get to this. It’s been nothing but laziness on my part. I actually enjoyed the episode a lot and had a lot to say about it as it was happening but for some strange reason I couldn’t find the time during the week to put fingers to keyboard and type out my re-cap/reaction. Suddenly I realized that tonight is that night and I can’t fall behind so it was time to get to it…Thanks for your patience. I hope you have enjoyed what you’ve been reading this season. Don’t know how many of you there are out there but even if there is just one of you – it’s worth it.

With that – off we go…

1:00 A.M.
Jack stabilizes Audrey’s bleeding. A phone rings inside the hangar and Jack realizes it is coming from one of the dead agents. Heller is on the line, and he tells Jack that Logan refused to resign after receiving a call from Henderson. They failed to get Logan because Heller betrayed Jack.

COMMENT: Nice effort getting that bleeding stopped. Couldn’t really tell how much blood Audrey lost because she always looks white as a ghost. She’s a trooper though…digging that coat (not)…doesn’t she have something a little less – fuzzy? Just a reminder folks – don’t betray Jack. Only bad things can come of it.

1:02 A.M.
Jack calls Buchanan, who is with Chloe. She thinks she can use CTU’s satellite to find Henderson even though it will make her more vulnerable to being found. Chloe barks orders to Buchanan as he sets up his desktop computer.

COMMENT: Hee hee – loved watching Chloe ordering Buchanan around (apologetically) and ripping on his home computer. She’s the best (yes – I finally get it)

1:05 A.M.
Jack loads Audrey into the police car that he stole from the bank shoot out.

1:06 A.M.
Henderson lets Logan know that he has not killed Jack. He also did not destroy the tape because he wants it as protection in case something happens to him, citing Cummings’ “suicide.” Logan reminds him that he was the one who deemed that death necessary.

COMMENT: Mystery solved…So Cummings didn’t actually kill himself…nice bit of info to discover there. That makes my wife something like 47-for-47 in predicting plot twists this season. It’s a heck of a streak she has going. She’s quite good…

1:07 A.M.
Chloe notifies Jack that she found Henderson on the satellite and that he is not far from him. Jack speeds up and turns off his headlights.

COMMENT: She found him?? How convenient for everyone. I’m not even going to speculate on the whole thing because with our technology today – there’s probably someone somewhere sitting there watching me type this up for you…well maybe not live but they could be…scary.

1:08 A.M.
When his car is just behind Henderson, Jack turns on the headlights. Henderson is blinded and swerves. Jack drives him off the road. Henderson crashes into an outdoor nursery. He gets out and shoots, but the police car protects Jack and Audrey.

COMMENT: An outdoor nursery?? Come on! How about flies 100ft down an embankment driving head on into a tree?? Wouldn’t allow for the gunfight and the inevitable Jack-Henderson mini-showdown….of course.

1:09 A.M.
Jack returns fire. Henderson is out of ammo and tries to run, but Jack threatens to shoot him. Henderson says that if he dies, Heller will be killed too. His men have been tracking Heller from the retreat and will take him out if Henderson doesn’t contact them every fifteen minutes. A startled Audrey hears this. Jack has Henderson handcuff himself.

COMMENT: Henderson’s got all the angles covered eh?? Exactly how many men does Henderson have??? They are everywhere…Heller and the Big Red Dot…this should be interesting.

1:10 A.M.
Jack asks Chloe to patch him through to Heller and trace him on the satellite. She sends the feed to his PDA. Heller confirms for Jack that there is a helicopter above him and that there is a laser sight trained on him.

COMMENT: Loved him looking out the windows and spotting the helicopter…the Big Red Dot was a nice touch as well…and for the record – I’ve got to get me one of those super PDA’s Jack is using…good stuff.

1:11 A.M.
Henderson knows that Jack won’t let Heller die, and he demands to be released. Heller hears Henderson over the phone and refuses to let Jack choose him over the tape. Heller takes responsibility because he didn’t obey him earlier. “I will not allow Logan and Henderson to use me as a pawn,” Heller says. He drives his car off a cliff and lands in a lake. As the car descends into the water, the helicopter retreats.

COMMENT: SAY WHAT???? Heller just launched himself off a cliff and into a lake??? Henderson crashes into a bale of hay in a nursery and Heller drives into a LAKE?? Whoa…I thought another shoot out was possible but didn’t see the swan dive happening. The best comparison I read about this…Heller suddenly morphed into Toonces the Driving Cat before our eyes…would love to take credit for the line but its not mine…but DAMN funny.

1:12 A.M.
Jack sees the car plummet on his PDA. He lunges at Henderson, blaming his thirst for power on the deaths of two real patriots -- Palmer and Heller. “What happened to you?” Jack asks in exasperation as he raises his gun. Henderson doesn’t have the tape recording and he won’t tell him where it is. Audrey encourages Jack to kill him. Jack punches Henderson instead.

COMMENT: Someone should help Audrey clean up the venom dripping from her fangs…whoa – she went to the dark side there once her Dad took one for the team.

1:18 A.M.
Logan phones a power broker named Graham, who is surrounded by other men at computer stations. Logan wants to “cancel the action” against Henderson because the tape will be released if he is killed. Graham warns the President that Martha is suspicious and that Agent Pierce is feeding her information. Logan wants to handle his wife on his own.

COMMENT: Okay – who the heck are these guys?? No explanation AT ALL?? Come on writers – throw us a bone…or some scraps from the table…I expect that all will be revealed but who wants to wait for that to happen?? From this point forward they will be known as the Bluetooth Group (anyone who doesn’t get the joke – let me know).

1:19 A.M.
Martha questions another agent why Pierce was transferred in the middle of the night.

1:20 A.M.
Another Secret Service agent explains to Martha that it is a “sensitive issue” and that her husband wants to see her. The agent ushers her into a dimly lit room and locks her in. No one is in there and the phones do not work. Martha panics.

COMMENT: Oh dear…Marty is freaking out.

1:21 A.M.
Audrey is determined to get that tape and expose Logan in order to avenge what happened to her father. Jack thinks Henderson might have handed the tape off to someone before he captured him. He has Chloe check the satellite’s history and she finds that a car met Henderson. The car then returned back to the tarmac of the Van Nuys Airport near a plane that is preparing to take off.

1:22 A.M.
Jack asks Buchanan to have Curtis pick up Audrey and Henderson from the nursery. Although Jack wants to wait with Audrey, she begs him to go so that her father did not die in vain.

COMMENT: Less than a ½ hour ago she was bleeding and minutes from death and now she’s the brave soldier telling Jack to go on without her…pretty impressive if you ask me.

1:23 A.M.
Jack relents and gives Audrey a gun. Henderson is unconscious and bound. Since Henderson’s men will probably come looking for him, Jack warns her to not take calls so that they can’t trace her. He kisses her cheek, saying that he doesn’t feel right about leaving her. She urges him to get the tape back. “I will,” he says confidently.

COMMENT: Wait a sec there Jack!! He is completely responsible for her father’s untimely death yet you are leaving her alone with him with a gun?? Not the best idea in the world – unless you want to see Henderson shot full of holes. Would that be so bad?? Nah – we need a big Jack-Henderson throw down in the final hours.

1:29 A.M.
Karen voices her concern to Miles. They haven’t heard anything even though they gave Jack’s location to the President an hour ago. She is suspicious, but Miles brushes this off. Karen and Miles are alerted that Chloe escaped from the holding room after having a conversation with Shari. Karen orders Miles to find Chloe by tracing her use of CTU resources. They are sure she will try to contact Jack.

COMMENT: Quick recap – Karen good. Miles – TAZER candidate. It was hysterical (for me) watching Karen give Miles the “yeah – whatever” line when he was babbling about the way he could catch Chloe. I so dislike the man (but I think that’s what the writers had in mind)…

1:30 A.M.
Shari is brought to Karen’s office and she explains that Chloe threatened to send her for a psychiatric evaluation. Shari says that Chloe claimed Logan was framing Jack and was responsible for Palmer’s assassination. This news seems to confirm the doubts that Karen’s been feeling.

COMMENT: See – told you it wouldn’t take long before Shari shared the news about Logan. Nice to see Karen doing the grade school math and putting 2 and 2 together.

1:31 A.M.
Martha pounds on the locked door and Logan comes to see her. He tells her that he had Pierce transferred back to Washington. Logan admits that he never authorized the murder of Palmer, but someone who works for him was the shooter. Martha lashes out at him and can’t believe what she’s hearing. Logan implores her to stop asking questions or talking about this to other people. If his duplicity was exposed, it would be traumatic for the nation and lessen their credibility worldwide. He begs her to keep it a secret. “You’ve broken my heart,” she says. “I look at you and I hate you.” Although she cannot forgive him, she agrees to keep her mouth shut so that the American people won’t have to suffer.

COMMENT: WOW – Chuck spilled it to Marty. Didn’t think that would happen for a little while longer. Don’t know about you but I was a bit disappointed by Marty’s response. I expected a kick to the groin or at least a slap to the face. Oh well – maybe that will come later…I can hope right?

1:40 A.M.
Graham convinces his three other conspirators to push through any doubts they have. Logan calls Graham and tells him that he will send Martha back to an institution if she doesn’t keep quiet. Graham articulates a veiled threat to Logan to control the situation.

COMMENT: So the Bluetooth Group is making threats to the President?? Okie…please explain yourselves!!! We need to know who and what you are…and what the big picture is for you all…spill it!

1:42 A.M.
Henderson tries to convince Audrey to call for help because her father might have survived the crash. She is well aware that the only reason he wants her to do that is so his people can find them.

COMMENT: SHOOT HIM IN THE KNEE AUDREY!!! NOW!!! You know you want to…Henderson needs to just shut his trap...but points to the man for the effort. Wow – no gunshots…aw man!

1:44 A.M.
Jack pulls up outside the airfield security gate and sees a private jet in the distance with a lot of security around it. He gets a call from Chloe, who informs him that the chopper following Heller is now headed toward Audrey. Curtis has not arrived there yet.

1:45 A.M.
Jack calls Audrey and urges her to get out of the nursery, but she refuses to leave the man who caused her father to die. The helicopter lands outside. She puts down the phone and trains the gun on Henderson, but she can’t shoot him.

COMMENT: Still no shooting…dang!

1:46 A.M.
As Audrey runs deeper into the building, Henderson’s men arrive and cut him free. He orders them to kill her. Audrey is rescued by Curtis. His tac team captures Henderson and takes down the gunmen. Audrey calls Jack and tells him the good news. Jack instructs Curtis to bring them back to CTU. No one else should have access to Henderson.

COMMENT: Hmmm – tricky move by Curtis. Nice effort by his team taking out the bad guys. How many more of them are there?? Only time will tell.

1:47 A.M.
Jack calls Buchanan. Chloe has learned that the jet is a diplomatic flight and is scheduled to leave at 2:00 a.m. She is having trouble breaching the State Department’s firewall to check the passenger list.

1:48 A.M.
Jack sees a fuel truck driving through the airfield gate. Unnoticed, he runs up and grabs the back ladder. He climbs to the top and lays flat as it enters into the secured area.

COMMENT: I guess this is one of those “special” trucks that they only check underneath but not on top. Maybe it was the ladder that goes up there that threw them off…COME ON writers!!! The LEAST you can do for us is have him have to do something a little more interesting than climb on top of the truck to get in…perhaps I’m asking too much. More likely I should just be quiet and enjoy the show…I choose door #2.

1:53 A.M.
Once on the tarmac, Jack jumps onto another truck. He gets a call from Buchanan, who cannot delay the plane. Chloe isn’t having any luck obtaining the passenger list either.

1:55 A.M.
Miles finally locates Chloe’s remote access at Buchanan’s house. He doesn’t know why she would be tapping into the State Department’s database. Miles dispatches a tac team that is in the area to get her.

COMMENT: Miles found her. He’s SOOOOO smart. He’s my hero…Warm up the TAZER!!!

1:56 A.M.
Karen calls Novick and asks why her orders have switched from Gardner to the President. Novick admits that he doesn’t know what the secret evidence is against Jack because Logan has been keeping his own counsel. “It’s been a strange night,” Novick sighs. They both have suspicions but are afraid to express them.

COMMENT: Welcome to the show Mike. Nice of you to join us…come on man!! Grow a set and make something happen. Something is afoot at the Circle K.

1:57 A.M.
Karen looks up Buchanan’s home number and calls him from her cell. She warns him to get Chloe out because Miles has traced her there. Karen acknowledges that she made a mistake, but things started to make sense when Shari told her what Chloe said about Logan’s involvement.

COMMENT: Alright Karen!!! Nice effort. Looks like she is on board the Bauer express.

1:58 A.M.
Although Buchanan urges her to leave, Chloe won’t stop working because Jack needs the passenger list.

1:59 A.M.
On the tarmac, Jack sees workers load baggage into the underbelly of the plane. He sneaks into the cargo door before it shuts. The plane revs its engines preparing for takeoff.

COMMENT: He’s dressed like the Unibomber running around an airport at night and he manages to climb on board an airplane. Sure that wasn’t and Invisibility Cloak he was wearing. Whatever – we’re taking the party up to 35,000 feet. This should be interesting…and thanks to my lagging you only have to wait anywhere from 4-7hrs (depending on where you are)to find out some answers.

Questions and Concerns
+ Is Heller really dead??
+ Is Aaron really on his way back to DC?
+ Will Chloe manage to make her escape from Buchanan’s?
+ Are we going to have to deal with another plane crash??
+ Will Audrey ever get her revenge on Henderson??
+ Who exactly is the Bluetooth Group?

Enjoy the show.

Issues

2006-05-01T14:34:00.000-07:00

Having a few issues getting my latest post to publish. If you are reading this than I've probably gotten everything squared away and its all good.

Cross your fingers..

24 News and Notes / 12am - 1am

2006-04-23T10:05:00.000-07:00

Not much to say as a lead in to this week....mind as well just get to it.

12:00 A.M.
Logan is not pleased that Henderson hasn’t killed Jack already. Henderson thinks that CTU can lead him to Jack.

12:02 A.M.
Logan calls Karen to reinforce his order that finding Jack is her top priority. Miles knows that they will need to use Audrey and Chloe to get to him.

COMMENT: Ho hum - Miles being annoying again…Get the tazer warmed up please…I don’t know if I’ve said this before but I don’t know why he has such distain for the folks at CTU…I mean right from the start he seems to have taken great pleasure in the idea that he is somehow better than everyone there…

12:04 A.M.
Jack and Wayne wait on the side of the road for Buchanan. Jack had asked him for help and explains the current situation. Jack needs Buchanan to take Wayne somewhere safe because he’s a target. Jack leaves to meet Secretary Heller to hand over the evidence.

COMMENT: So Buchanan is suddenly back in the game?? Great!

12:05 A.M.
Audrey calls Jack when her father’s plane lands.

12:07 A.M.
Jack arrives at the airport, and Heller encourages him to turn himself in. Jack says he is being set up.

COMMENT: I was really surprised at Heller’s reaction to Jack. After all that they had been through together his fist reaction was to assume Jack was guilty and that he needed to give himself up. Never mind the fact that Audrey felt strongly enough about everything to have him re-route his plane to LA because she needed to tell him something important…Have some faith in Jack – he did save your life once…jeez.

12:08 A.M.
Jack takes Audrey and Heller inside an empty hangar and plays them the tape recording. Logan gave the terrorists the Sentox gas, but planned to deploy the gas before it reached Moscow. This would provide him with an excuse to exercise the military terms of his arms treaty with Suvarov. Jack thinks it was a play to control the oil supply in central Asia and that David Palmer found out about it. Heller is not surprised at Logan’s actions. Jack asks Audrey to accompany her father to present this evidence to the Attorney General.

COMMENT: Daddy Defense is in the circle of trust…why do I get the feeling that all this means is that he is going to end up dead…

12:10 A.M.
Heller has his Secret Service detail arrest Jack. Heller believes that accusing Logan will destroy the essence of the presidency and cripple the nation. Heller plans to use the tape to convince Logan to step down quietly. He wants Audrey to go with him, but when she refuses, he has her kept by the agents too. Heller hands the tape recorder to one of the agents for safe keeping. As Heller leaves, Jack warns him that he won’t be able to trust Logan.

COMMENT: Un-freakin-believeable….when did Heller become so naive? He has his daughter restrained for safekeeping?? Nevermind him taking down Jack with that blow to the throat...cripple a nation?? Please…

12:15 A.M.
Chloe is alarmed when she’s not invited to a high-level meeting in the situation room. She catches Shari, who is exiting the meeting, and gets her to admit that Miles found Audrey. Miles and Karen listen to this whole conversation from surveillance.

COMMENT: Wow – kudos to Miles and Karen for their resourcefulness.

12:17 A.M.
Karen and Miles watch as Chloe goes to make a phone call. Miles decrypts her channel and traces the call to a payphone at the Van Nuys Airfield. Chloe does not connect with Audrey. Karen sends her teams to the airport.

Chloe accuses Shari of cooperating with Miles to set her up. “Miles is an idiot!” Chloe exclaims. “If anyone should know that it should be you!” The Homeland Security guards apprehend Chloe.

COMMENT: Couldn’t have said it better myself…even though he did get the drop on her….

12:18 A.M.
Karen calls the President to tell him what they have uncovered. Logan orders her to pull back her agents because he is sending in the military. Karen is confused, but agrees to his wishes. Logan notifies Henderson about CTU’s discovery.

COMMENT: Wake up Karen…something just isn’t right here…You think Bill would have figured it out by now?? I guess your head has returned to its previous position stuck up your backside!!

12:19 A.M.
As they are tied up in the hangar, Jack tells Audrey that Henderson won’t allow Logan to negotiate with Heller. Heller is only making himself a target.

Karen calls Novick to ask why the White House is stepping in when she can take care of Jack. Novick says he will look into it.

COMMENT: Heller a target?? What a surprise. Another surprise – Mike’s back doing some digging. That can never be good….

12:20 A.M.
Novick goes in to see Vice President Gardner and asks him about Karen’s question. Gardner doesn’t know, but assumes the President made his decision for a reason.

COMMENT: Why does everyone continue to assume Logan “knows what he is doing”? The guy hasn’t given anyone the impression that he knows what he is doing for his entire presidency…jeez…how about putting 2 and 2 together...

12:22 A.M.
Still bothered by Logan’s strategy, Novick places a call to the general running military operations in Los Angeles. The general confirms that he did not receive a call from the President to pick up Jack.

COMMENT: 2 plus 2 Mike!!!! Do the math!!!

12:23 A.M.
Novick tells Logan that he got a call from Karen about using the military to get Jack. He asks why he did not go through the general. Logan says he used a covert task force because he doesn’t want the Chinese to know that Jack is alive.

COMMENT: Not bad Logan but how the heck would the Chinese find out if the US military picked up Jack Bauer?? Oh well…eventually this is all going to blow up in his face right?? RIGHT????

12:30 A.M.
Miles tells Chloe that if they find Audrey at the location she called then she is in trouble. As Miles leaves the holding room, Chloe slyly grabs his keycard from his jacket pocket. He locks her in, but Chloe uses the keycard to get out.

COMMENT: Fun watching Miles act all above Chloe…Nice move with the key card but even nicer of Miles to leave the room and take the guard to another area so Chloe could make her escape….

12:31 A.M.
Chloe grabs a laptop on the counter and makes her way down the corridor. Shari sees her and threatens to alert Miles. Chloe is forced to tell her that Jack’s evidence implicates President Logan. She also says that she knows Shari made up lies about Miles sexually harassing her. Chloe threatens to recommend her for a psych evaluation if she doesn’t cooperate. Shari allows Chloe to escape.

COMMENT: Wait – so now Shari knows about Logan?? How long before that little tidbit of info becomes public knowledge at CTU…err….Homeland Security…Shari doesn’t strike me as the most stable individual in the room….

12:33 A.M.
Martha tries to convince her husband to get some sleep. Logan receives an urgent call from Secretary Heller, who has come to Los Angeles. “I think you know exactly what this is about,” Heller alludes.

COMMENT: Heller is SO overplaying his hand…..

12:34 A.M.
Martha asks what Heller wanted, but Logan brushes this off to an issue over martial law.

12:35 A.M.
Logan phones Henderson, who is about to board a chopper. Henderson thinks Jack got to Heller first but that Jack still has the tape. Logan wants him to call when he has the evidence.

12:40 A.M.
Martha approaches Agent Pierce in the corridor and asks him why Heller is there. She suspects something. Pierce says he will meet her near the stables to tell her what he knows.

COMMENT: Is Martha going to get in on the action??? Hope so because her going postal on Logan is a scene I cannot wait to see.

12:41 A.M.
Heller lets the President know that he heard a recording of his conversation with Henderson. The tape is in a safe place. Heller knows that he allowed Henderson to kill Palmer. Logan admits that he was protecting the interests of the country regarding access to cheaper oil. Heller wants him to leave Jack and Audrey alone. He also demands that Logan resign in the morning with the promise that he will keep the recording under lock and key. He wants him to get Gardner so he can witness the letter of resignation.

COMMENT: Well there it all is on the table…Your move Chuck.

12:45 A.M.
Chloe drives to Buchanan’s house, and he sets her up on his workstation. She’s worried that Jack and Audrey may already be in custody. “If CTU has Jack, it’s all my fault,” she sighs.

12:46 A.M.
Martha waits at the stables for Pierce and dials him on his cell. Suddenly, she hears a phone ringing. She finds Pierce’s cell on the ground. He is nowhere to be seen.

COMMENT: Oh boy – has Aaron been taken out?? I just don’t think so because there isn’t anyone we know about at the complex who is working with Logan. Guess we’ll just have to wait and hope…

12:47 A.M.
Restrained to a pole, Jack looks up at the ceiling and sees a cluster of pipes. He shimmies up and presses his wrists against the scalding pipe. Jack grits his teeth against the pain as the heat melts his plastic restraints. He jumps down and grabs a set of pliers to snip Audrey’s off.

COMMENT: Of course Jack found a way out….a painful way but a way.

12:48 A.M.
When the Secret Service agent comes back to check on them, Jack knocks the man down and takes his gun. Audrey puts the restraints on the agent.

12:52 A.M.
Jack takes a gun away from the other Secret Service agent. Suddenly, a helicopter roars overhead. It’s Henderson’s black ops team. They shoot at Jack and the agent. Jack explains to the agent that they have come for the tape recording. Jack gives the agent back his gun, and they fire back at the chopper. The agent is hit, and Jack takes the tape recorder from his jacket. Henderson runs into the hangar.

12:54 A.M.
Henderson has his gun trained on Audrey and demands the tape recording. Jack asks why he is protecting Logan, but Henderson says he is only protecting the integrity of the government. He allows Audrey to walk towards Jack. Blood drips from her hand and Henderson says that he has cut her brachial artery. She will bleed to death in a few minutes. Jack has no choice but to toss the tape recorder to him. With the evidence secured, Henderson runs out of the hangar. Jack makes a tourniquet out of a wire to stop Audrey’s arm from bleeding further.

COMMENT: Wow – very effective Henderson…You are SOOOOO going to pay. Protecting something even bigger than Logan eh?? They keep referring to the hidden agenda…Timet o spill the beans on it pronto.

12:57 A.M.
Heller gives Logan a resignation to sign. Gardner is summoned in. Before Logan can explain to him what is going on, he gets a call from Henderson who confirms that he has the tape recording. Logan then tells Gardner that he has asked for Heller’s resignation because he has accused the President of conspiracy. When Heller insists that Logan was complicit with the nerve gas and sanctioned Palmer’s assassination, Logan wants to know where the evidence is. Heller is stunned as the President orders the Secret Service to remove him from the retreat.

COMMENT: Ooops….nice move Heller….Looks like everything has just blown in your face…Should have done things Jack’s way….why is no one surprised that is how everything worked out? Because there are 6 hours to go that’s why!!!

Next weeks previews look pretty amazing....
+ Heller with the ominous red dot on his head
+ Audrey with a gun pointed at Henderson!!
+ Marty and Chuck having it out.
+ No evidence of Aaron...but we have faith.

Things are getting good. Just need to make sure the good guys end up ok and the bad guys get theirs!

Keep the faith.

Manny being Manny (finally)

2006-04-21T17:01:00.000-07:00

Manny Ramirez just hit his first HR of the year breaking a 52 AB streak to start the season. After a horrendous start he finally seems to be warming up. Join me along with the rest of Red Sox Nation in saying - Welcome to 2006 Manny!!

24 News and Notes / 11pm-12am

2006-04-14T11:18:00.000-07:00

So after being hit with the big whammy about Logan at the end of the hour last week, I spent the whole week wondering how they planned to actually explain to the masses that he wasn’t in fact the bumbling fool that we have always believed that he was…color me disappointed…not only was there no plausible reason mentioned – it wasn’t even touched on at all so we are all apparently just supposed to go along with the fact that Evil Logan is a master manipulator…never mind the whole situation with Walt Cummings…I only hope they’ll flesh things out a little bit better in the near future…Until then – onto the next HOUR…

11:00 P.M.
As Wayne drives, Jack treats Evelyn’s wounds. She explains that she hid a recording of a phone call in a safe deposit box. The call was between the President and Henderson. Jack takes the key to the box. With all the military roadblocks in place, Wayne pulls up to a motel.

COMMENT: I’m not even going to ask how the heck Evelyn ended up with the recording…ooop – guess I just did huh?

11:02 P.M.
Jack calls Audrey, who says that Chloe couldn’t reposition the satellite to track Henderson. He asks her to involve her father as a credible source to present the evidence. Jack warns Audrey to get out of CTU because they don’t know who they can trust.

COMMENT: Cool – Daddy Defense is back in the picture. The only thing is – with the latest revelation about Logan – I honestly have no idea who is actually good or bad??

11:05 P.M.
Wayne locates the bank manager’s home address. He and Jack carry Evelyn and her daughter into a motel room. It’s not safe for her to be taken to a public hospital. Jack cleans Evelyn’s wound, and she thinks she will be able to stay on her own. Jack and Wayne leave.

COMMENT: Ah – going with the old “take the bank manager hostage in his own home” gambit eh? Sly move JB.

11:06 P.M.
Henderson tells Logan that he doesn’t know where Evelyn hid the recording of their conversation. Yet he is having all hospitals monitored because she was wounded. “It all spiraled out of control when you decided to kill David Palmer,” Logan admonishes.

COMMENT: So Henderson made the decision to take out Palmer…Damn him! Can’t wait for Jack to go to work on him Bauer-style. We already saw how he dealt with Palmer’s assassin.

11:07 P.M.
Karen starts to doubt to Miles whether Homeland’s takeover of CTU was even necessary.

COMMENT: Karen – don’t start going all reasonable on me now…I dislike you immensely and I might have to actually start kinda-maybe-sorta liking you…

11:08 P.M.
President Logan calls Karen and inquires about Jack’s whereabouts. He orders a warrant for Jack in the death of David Palmer. Logan wants it to be CTU’s top priority because he has “new evidence.”

11:09 P.M.
Karen is wary of this recent directive, especially since it means pulling resources off finding Henderson. Miles suggests they keep an eye on Audrey because Jack will try to contact her.

COMMENT: Hmmm – Karen again starting to employ deductive reasoning…On the flip side – Miles still needs to be taken out with a tazer.

11:10 P.M.
After Chloe puts Audrey’s cell on a secure channel, she learns about the evidence against Logan. Suddenly, Chloe’s computer is alerted that a warrant is issued for Jack. “It’s starting,” Audrey says ominously.

COMMENT: For some reason I just love the word ominous…can’t explain why. Just thought I’d share.

11:11 P.M.
Karen approaches Audrey, who claims to be leaving to get sleep. Karen says that the new evidence implicating Jack is coming. She cannot tell them who ordered the warrant, but she admits that it is odd. Audrey lies and says she hasn’t had contact with Jack in over an hour.

COMMENT: The fog that Karen has been working in since this whole thing started continues to lift…encouraging?? The magic 8Ball says ‘YES”

11:12 P.M.
Karen wants Audrey to lead them to Jack, so she has a field agent place a transponder on Audrey’s car.

COMMENT: A small step back for Karen…*sigh*

11:16 P.M.
Jack and Wayne break into the bank manager’s home.

11:19 P.M.
Jack threatens to shoot the man and his wife, demanding access to the bank. The man gets dressed to go and Jack has Wayne tie up the wife.

11:20 P.M.
Audrey leaves the CTU parking lot and calls her father who is aboard a jet. She tells him that Jack has been framed but she can’t say anything more. Heller has his plane rerouted to the Van Nuys Airport in Los Angeles. He has the stop kept off the plane’s manifest.

COMMENT: Keep the stop off the manifest…I understand it but my growing suspicion of EVERYONE not named Jack, Chloe, Audrey, Wayne or Bill has my spidey sense tingling.

11:22 P.M.
Audrey pulls into a gas station and pretends to fill up her tank. The field agent follows. Audrey calls Chloe, who instructs her to take a CTU walkie and scan her car. The walkie reacts with a squeal over the transponder. Audrey removes the tracker and puts it onto a DWP utility truck that has stopped to get gas. She gets back in the car and drives off.

COMMENT: Secret Agent Audrey Raines!!! Loving it!! Way to lose your pursuit Audrey!

11:23 P.M.
Pierce is in the President’s office when Gardner asks about the warrant on Jack. Logan dismisses Pierce, and then admits to Gardner that he issued it. Gardner is annoyed that he wasn’t consulted even though he is in charge of the Homeland Security transfer. Logan refuses to tell Gardner any more about the “evidence” that names Jack as Palmer’s killer.

COMMENT: It isn’t easy being Evil huh Chuck? Even so – when you hold the “I’m the President and you’re not” trump card it makes things much easier. It’s a little like the “Because I’m your father” trump card I will end up using with my daughter…very effective.

11:25 P.M.
Evelyn goes to her crying daughter, but falls and hits her head. The little girl instinctively calls 911 and gives her mother’s name to the operator.

COMMENT: Ooops…but bonus points to the daughter for good intentions.

11:27 P.M.
Henderson is notified that a 911 call came in about Evelyn. He heads to the motel.

COMMENT: Double ooops…this will not end well.

11:32 P.M.
Logan gives a press conference to announce that the terrorist attack has been thwarted. From inside the retreat, Martha tells Pierce that she is impressed that her husband defeated the crisis. Martha notices that Pierce is worried about something, but he covers up the cause.

COMMENT: It is still hysterical watching a Logan press conference…how he always makes sure to clearly take credit for every good thing that happens…I’ve just barely started to consider the possibilities of what will happen when Marty finds out about Evil Logan and his evil plan…YEE HAW!!!

11:33 P.M.
Jack and Wayne go to the bank with the manager. Jack gets a call from Pierce, who warns him that Logan issued a warrant for him. Jack tells Pierce that the President is responsible for all that has happened, and that the evidence incriminating him will be passed to Secretary Heller.

COMMENT: So Aaron is officially in the loop on Evil Logan. Nice to see…We (as in the folks here at 24geek) love Agent Pierce! He is the best.

11:34 P.M.
Karen finds out that her field agents lost Audrey. She has Miles redirect the satellites away from looking for Jack. They need to find Audrey.

COMMENT: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA – awesome!!

11:35 P.M.
Jack forces the bank manager to lead them to the vault. The man recognizes Wayne from the television coverage of his Palmer’s assassination. Wayne and Jack admit to what they are doing there and the urgency of the situation.

COMMENT: Glad they finally decided to let the Bank Manager in on the situation. Give the guy a little bit a credit…

11:38 P.M.
A paramedic revives Evelyn. Suddenly, Henderson shoots the paramedic. He demands that Evelyn tell him where Jack is.

COMMENT: I hate to be the one to say I told you so…btw – I’m thinking the little girl is going to need a TON of therapy…and she’ll never be able to stay at a Super 8 Motel ever again…

11:43 P.M.
Martha lets Logan know that she is proud of him and she apologizes for being a burden with her breakdowns. Logan’s cell phone rings and he says he needs privacy. Martha doesn’t understand what is so critical because the terrorist threat is over.

COMMENT: Oh Chuck – you are going to be in SO much trouble when Marty catches onto your evil game…until then keep letting her apologize…that should make things much better….

11:45 P.M.
Logan takes the call from Henderson while Martha is still sitting next to him. Henderson says that they are on their way to get Jack. Logan tells him to get it done, and Martha questions what he is referring to. Logan lies to cover it up.

COMMENT: Poor Marty…*shaking my head*

11:46 P.M.
Miles finds Audrey on the satellite, and Karen alerts her field agents of the location.

Shari the techie asks Chloe why she has been locked out on the satellite by a priority override. Chloe sees that the satellite is tracking Audrey.

COMMENT: Talk about suspension of belief…I’m not even going to start to ask how the heck they managed to find Audrey on the satellite…they could find her but not Henderson…POOR PLOT DEVICE ALERT!!!!! *argh*

11:47 P.M.
Henderson’s commandos arrive at the bank. Jack enters the vault and retrieves Evelyn’s tape recorder. He plays it and hears Henderson tell Logan that he killed Palmer. The bank manager is floored by this revelation and gives Jack his car keys.

COMMENT: Well there you go…hard evidence that Logan is really Evil Logan…now comes the fun part…getting out of the darn bank on one (or at most two) pieces.

11:49 P.M.
Jack hears something outside, and he huddles the others back into the vault. Jack sees Henderson’s armed men through his monocle.

COMMENT: Got to get me one of those monocles…just because Jack has one of course…No idea what I’d use it for…except to look at various things from far away….fun stuff.

11:50 P.M.
Jack knows that Henderson’s men will kill them as soon as they step outside. He asks the bank manager how to trip the silent alarm which will bring out the LAPD. Jack thinks Henderson will order his men to shoot at the cops. This diversion might allow them to escape.

COMMENT: Good idea JB…my guess is the plan will work (still have 7 hours to go here…) Vegas is already taking odds on whether or not the bank manager dies during the diversion…at this point it could easily go either way.

11:55 P.M.
Chloe goes to the server room and corrupts the satellite signal. Miles sends the feed to the field agents, but it becomes distorted. Miles traces the error to the server. He also notices that Chloe is away from her workstation.

11:56 P.M.
Chloe deletes access logs to hide her tracks. Miles goes to the server room but no one is there. He exits to find Chloe coming out of the restroom. “What were you doing?” he accuses. Chloe jokes that she’ll write a report on the details of her bathroom visit.

COMMENT: Classic…just classic…Chloe. Now it’s time for my weekly “Chloe Rocks!” comment…CHLOE ROCKS!

11:57 P.M.
Jack urges the bank manager to remain inside, but the man wants to stay with Jack because he will be killed for having heard that tape.

COMMENT: Bold move by the bank manager…his odds of dying just jumped to 3-1. Oh dear….

11:58 P.M.
The police arrive at the bank and Henderson has his men fire at them. In the midst of the gunfire, Jack emerges and shoots at the commandos. Wayne and the bank manager follow. A marine transport takes out the snipers. As Jack and Wayne head for a police car, the bank manager is hit in the chest with a bullet. They get him into the police car and Jack speeds from the melee.

COMMENT: WOW – gunfire, commandos and marines!!! Uh oh – the bank manager has taken one in the chest for the good guys…Dying is now even money in Vegas….

11:59 P.M.
The bank manager dies in the backseat. Jack calls Audrey, who is at the Van Nuys Airport waiting for her father to land. Jack tells her that the evidence clearly implicates Logan. This information sinks in. “We’re talking about taking down the President of the United States,” he says.

COMMENT: Mr Bank Manager – we hardly knew ya. Thank you for the ultimate sacrifice…Next time elect to be locked in the vault…Daddy Defense is on the way and Jack and the Gang are taking on Evil Logan…The magic 8Ball says “Very Interesting”…

Next week looks to be pretty good –

+ Heller takes on Logan (apparently)
+ Bill Buchanon gets back in the game
+ There’s much more gunfire and things blowing up (cool!)
+ Will they attempt to explain the whole Logan-Cummings exchange and his suicide (?)
+ Are Kim and Barry stuck in traffic on the 405 (probably)

Tune in Monday night at 9pm…

Enjoy the weekend!

my daughter will be thrilled

2006-04-12T14:41:00.000-07:00

Isn't this cute.

Winnie the Pooh got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

See where hard work and wearing no pants can get you in Hollywood?