Random Notes from 24-land

While catching up on some blogs, I thought I would post some of the random 24-related news from the heres and theres.

Jon Cassar has a "blog"
Yes, it's true. One of 24's Executive Producers, and lead directors, has his own blog. I see it more as a propaganda piece for 24, since it needs all the good ju-ju that it can get, but still, he spouts some interesting stuff on there from time to time. Aside from the casting news he's listed on there, he also talks about how filming is getting close to wrapping for the season's two-hour premiere on Sunday, January 13 – of course it's supposed to be good and all of the actors are supposed to be awesome (I would've loved to read his blog during last season, just to see how what he says would compare to the drivel they gave us).

What I really loved, however, was this little snippet he has on the site:

It's Emmy day, but alas no 24 nominations on the big night except for Kiefers. It's the first time in 6 years I won't be going to the show. I will however be visiting a couple of after parties. We did win an award last weekend at the creative awards, for sound editing, which kept us from being shut out. The show has won at least one emmy for every year it has aired. And we are still the only Drama for Fox network in their history, that was won emmys for "Best Drama", "Best Actor" and "Best Director". And only one of 3 shows (X-Files and House) that have won for "Best Writing".

So he didn't attend the Emmys, because, to me, it sounds like he KNEW that Kiefer wasn't going to win. And like I mentioned the other day, when you win an Emmy, you gotta hang your hat on something – even if it's the Emmy for best sound editing in a series. Keep your eye on his blog for more news. Too bad there's not an RSS feed. I guess he didn't want to be TOO 21st century.

24 named one of Time's Best 100 TV Shows
This one I was so-so on, but when Time even rips season six while saying what a great concept 24 is, you gotta respect that. Check out the beautiful first line:

I was hesitant to include this show after its sixth—and admittedly terrible—season.

Major cast additions/announcements today
The ladies over at 24fan are reporting that Fox will make some major cast additions (and returns) today. As you can see, some are already speculating that Tony Almeida (Carlos Bernard) will be coming back to the show. As you can see on IMDB, on Carlos' profile AND on the Season 7 page, this hasn't been confirmed yet.

If he does come back, however, 24 will have definitely gone off the deep end in trying to return to power. I say leave Tony off and figure out a way to bring back the good President Palmer. I wouldn't even care how they explained that one.

24 Season 6 Wins An Emmy, Just One

It's official – season six sucked. Weird. Who knew?

As I posted a while back about the six Emmy nominations that the show somehow garnered, I made some predictions about what they would win for. Well, I was one for two. Fox can be proud of being this year's winner for Outstanding Sound Editing For A Series.

What an honor. It may have sucked, but at least it sounded good while doing it.

Oh boy, what will season seven bring us?

24 Season 6 Nominated for (only) 6 Emmys

Oh my, it looks like it's the beginning of the end. With critics calling this 24's lousiest season ever, it was only a matter of time that the award nominations started to dry up, too. What's worse for those in 24-ville... it just racked up its lowest amount of Emmy nominations ever – a whopping six.

24 Season 6 Emmy Nominations:

1. Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series (Jean Smart) *
2. Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series (Kiefer Sutherland)
3. Outstanding Music Composition For A Series (Original Dramatic Score)
4. Outstanding Sound Editing For A Series (Episode 10:00 PM - 11:00 PM) *
5. Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (one-hour) (Episode 10:00 PM - 11:00 PM)
6. Outstanding Stunt Coordination (Episode 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM)

That's it gang. No more directing nominations. No more writing nominations. No more casting nominations. There's even less technical nominations than usual. Is it any wonder why season 7 has already been scrapped and is starting over?

I’ve marked my predictions for 24’s winners with asteriks above. Kiefer won't win back-to-back Emmys this time, even though he did bite someone to death (that's acting). Jean Smart, who many say got snubbed last year, will win with her 20 minute guest appearance. There's not much else to talk about here since all 24 will get acclaimed for is having good stunt work and sound editing. But hey, you gotta hang your hat on something, right?

We’ll see how it does. Below are 24’s past nominations and wins.

Season 1: 2002 Emmys

• Nominated: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
• Winner: Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Art Direction for a Single Camera Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Single Camera Sound Mixing for a Series
• Winner: Outstanding Single Camera Picture Editing for a Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore)
• Nominated: Outstanding Drama Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series

Season 2: 2003 Emmys

• Nominated: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Single Camera Sound Mixing for a Series
• Winner: Outstanding Single Camera Picture Editing for a Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series
• Winner: Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore)
• Nominated: Outstanding Stunt Coordination
• Nominated: Outstanding Drama Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series

Season 3: 2004 Emmys

• Nominated: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
• Winner: Outstanding Single Camera Sound Mixing for a Series
• Winner: Outstanding Single Camera Picture Editing for a Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore)
• Winner: Outstanding Stunt Coordination
• Nominated: Outstanding Drama Series
• Winner: Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series

Season 4: 2005 Emmys

• Nominated: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series
• Winner: Outstanding Single Camera Sound Mixing for a Series
• Nominated (three times): Outstanding Single Camera Picture Editing for a Series
• Winner: Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore)
• Winner: Outstanding Stunt Coordination
• Nominated: Outstanding Drama Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series

Season 5: 2006 Emmys

1. Nominated: Outstanding Cinematography For A Single-Camera Series
2. Winner: Outstanding Directing For A Drama Series
3. Winner: Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Drama Series
4. Nominated: Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Drama Series (nominated twice)
5. Winner: Outstanding Music Composition For A Series (Dramatic Underscore)
6. Winner: Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series (Kiefer Sutherland)
7. Nominated: Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series (Gregory Itzin)
8. Nominated: Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series (Jean Smart)
9. Winner: Outstanding Drama Series
10. Nominated: Outstanding Sound Editing For A Series
11. Nominated: Outstanding Single-Camera Sound Mixing For A Series
12. Nominated: Outstanding Stunt Coordination

24 Season 7: Starting Over!?! Season 6 Sucked!?! Do Tell!

Hmmm. So I guess the first episode script I read a few weeks ago may now be complete trash. A loyal reader/commentor has pointed me in the direction of the latest and greatest news from the 24 camp. Here's a few snippets from the article:

Execs at the Fox hit have scrapped virtually their entire story line for the season, delaying the start of production by roughly three weeks. According to sources, the 11th-hour time-out was called after the network put the kibosh on a costly plan to shoot a number of episodes in Africa.

Wow! Scrapped the entire story line? That's pretty crazy to do, especially since they were so close to principle photography for next season. It also sounds like they were just going to try to find a suitable area around LA to fake the Africa scenes... heh, okay.

Let's see, what else. Oh, this is what Mary Lynn Rajskub had to say about the situation:

"I don't know what's going on over there, but they're going crazy," says the scene-stealer, who learned only last week that Chloe would be returning. "We usually start [back up] at the end of July, and I don't think we're starting until a couple of weeks into August now. It's kind of exciting, because I think [the postponement] means that they're really having to dig in there and come up with new stuff."

So Mary Lynn only found out last week that she was returning? What would be the point of the whole baby story line from last year if she didn't return? And please, you think this is exciting to have an ENTIRE SEASON RE-WRITE right before you start filming? If that statement doesn't have your publicist's finger prints written all over it, I don't know what does.

As the article mentions, and what I see to be icing on the cake, is that this news oddly came out the SAME DAY as this news:

The show's creative team was no doubt already feeling the pressure: Day 6 was considered to be about as explosive as a wet firecracker, so for Season 7 they really needed a plot that was incendiary. In fact, news of the setback comes on the same day the semiannual Television Week critics' poll (in which yours truly participated) named 24 the second-worst show on TV, behind ABC's best-not-traveled October Road.

What have I been saying all along!?! This show took a MAJOR dive TWO seasons ago... and critics are just now catching up. I'm sorry, shows don't go from Emmy-winning to second worst on TV in 6 months. That's residual. It's ingrained. It's also hilarious that they decide to scrap it the same day they find out their show blows.

News about season 7's new turn can only come fast enough. I guess they have three weeks to come up with something. Maybe they're awaiting next week's Emmy-nominations to find out if their show truly sucked. Crystal ball time – they'll get a few nominations, for technical stuff. Zero in the acting, or genre, categories.

If only there were "Worst of" awards...

24 Season 6 Earns ZERO Nominations by the Television Critics Association

Biggest. Shocker. Ever.

Last year, Season Five was nominated three times by the Television Critics Association, but came up empty handed. It was a strange twist indeed, but I think it spoke volumes. The same critics that hailed Season Five as the best ever, couldn't vote for them to win awards. I just don't know how that loss translates into Emmy wins -- I still say it was a make-up award from seasons One through Three.

Well, this year, in what was easily the crappiest season ever, 24 couldn't even muster up a single nod from the TCA.

Boo hoo. Good thing they're "reinventing" the show.

24 Wins Emmys!!!

Wow....... Are you kidding me? Who signed what deal with the devil? When did hell freeze over? And why in the f didn’t anyone tell me?

If you haven’t heard by now, 24 somehow (magically, if you will), scooped up several big time Emmys last night. Specifically, they won:

1. Outstanding Directing For A Drama Series (Episode 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM)
2. Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series (Kiefer Sutherland)
3. Outstanding Drama Series

WHAT!?! There is no way this should’ve happened! Here’s what the Emmy wins mean for each category...

Directing (Drama Series)
According to this win, the director of 24 – Jon Cassar – is better than the directors for Big Love, Lost, Six Feet Under, The Sopranos and The West Wing. That’s THREE HBO shows and two previous network Best Drama winners. And for what... having several of your former stars killed off in one episode? Exciting stuff? Yes... but we don’t give George Lucas Oscars for making fun movies (whenever it was that he did).

Lead Actor (Drama Series)
Kiefer finally got his. After being nominated for several years, he finally comes out on top – fittingly enough, the same year he’s kidnapped and suspected to never return. If only that were the case. But was he better than Denis Leary, Peter Krause and Martin Sheen? Hardly. Anyone can run around for 24 hours, yelling constantly, torturing people and dressing up in “disguise.”

Drama Series
I really thought that only Grey’s Anatomy had a lock on this category. The West Wing was winding down and so was Six Feet Under. The Sopranos is kind of old news and House is just too odd. But for 24 to come out of nowhere to win this... I’m still stunned and it’s 24 hours later... ha! Bad one, I know, but so is the show.

Okay, so I was wrong. Big time. I thought 24 would only walk away with it’s Creative Arts Emmys, I didn’t see that coming at all. I still don’t think this was 24’s best season and now, they’ve upped the ante so much that anything less than a repeat performance could be considered a failure.

My honest opinion was that this year’s Emmy wins were charity sex favors. In all honesty, can everyone agree that 24 won these three categories outright? Not possible. If anything, they were Nader’ed – with votes splitting to other candidates and 24 winding up the beneficiary. Whichever the case, I congratulate the entire 24 team and wish them good luck again next year. Maybe this will inspire them to make a more realistic show. But that’s doubtful.

24 Season 5: Wins Zero Television Critics Awards

I'd venture to say that even 24's writers couldn't come up with a twist like this one. In what was hailed as 24's most critically acclaimed season, Kiefer and company came up short and didn't win a single Television Critics Award. 'Tis a bit ironic, don't you think?

On one hand you have a slew of people who think that 24 is the best show on TV. Then there's the critics who are all up in arms about this being 24's best season. But when it comes to dishing out awards for being the best in specific categories, 24 comes up short.

Is a snub from the critics. I bet most people will think so, but it's really not. 24 is all about excitement, adrenaline and awe. It's not about acting or good writing. So when you pit 24 up against shows that are praised for good acting and writing, it doesn't have a shot of winning. It would be like pitting Mission Impossible 3 against Crash for the Best Picture Oscar.

Even though I wasn't 100% correct with my predictions, I did guess that 24 wouldn't win. Next up, the Emmys.

24 Season 5 Nominated for 12 Emmys!?!

Well I’ll be. Season 5 of 24, constantly hailed as 24’s best season by critics, has somehow garnered 12 nominations for the 58th Primetime Emmy Awards. Last year, it was nominated 11 times (three times in one category) and only won three Emmys (and I was pretty right on with my guesses). Could this year be more of the same? Possibly. While the show is exciting, it usually doesn’t have enough good acting or writing to pick up anything besides Sound Editing and Stunt Coordination.

24 Season 5 Emmy Nominations:

1. Outstanding Cinematography For A Single-Camera Series (Episode 9:00 PM - 10:00 PM) *
2. Outstanding Directing For A Drama Series (Episode 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM)
3. Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Drama Series (Episode 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM) *
4. Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Drama Series (Episode 9:00 PM - 10:00 PM)
5. Outstanding Music Composition For A Series (Dramatic Underscore) (Episode 6:00 AM - 7:00 AM)
6. Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series (Kiefer Sutherland)
7. Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series (Gregory Itzin) *
8. Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series (Jean Smart)
9. Outstanding Drama Series
10. Outstanding Sound Editing For A Series (Episode 9:00 PM - 10:00 PM) *
11. Outstanding Single-Camera Sound Mixing For A Series (Episode 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM)
12. Outstanding Stunt Coordination (Episode 9:00 PM - 10:00 PM) *

So really, we’re making nominations based on three episodes – the season premiere, the season finale and the one episode with huge explosions. Fair enough. It’s also interesting to note that the Academy has given up on nominating it for Outstanding Casting (because pretty much the entire cast wasn’t too great).

I’ve marked my predictions for 24’s winners with asteriks above. Kiefer will be snubbed again (screaming at people, shooting 100’s of extras and torturing people isn’t acting) and Jean Smart won’t win an Emmy for her blubbering. Although, I DO think that Gregory Itzin will win for his role as the idiot President (if he’s acting, that is). 24 will also walk away with some of its usual awards, again, which it deserves because it’s put together pretty well from a musical and editing stand point.

We’ll see how it does. Below are 24’s past nominations and wins.

Season 1: 2002 Emmys

• Nominated: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
• Winner: Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Art Direction for a Single Camera Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Single Camera Sound Mixing for a Series
• Winner: Outstanding Single Camera Picture Editing for a Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore)
• Nominated: Outstanding Drama Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series

Season 2: 2003 Emmys

• Nominated: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Single Camera Sound Mixing for a Series
• Winner: Outstanding Single Camera Picture Editing for a Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series
• Winner: Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore)
• Nominated: Outstanding Stunt Coordination
• Nominated: Outstanding Drama Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series

Season 3: 2004 Emmys

• Nominated: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
• Winner: Outstanding Single Camera Sound Mixing for a Series
• Winner: Outstanding Single Camera Picture Editing for a Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore)
• Winner: Outstanding Stunt Coordination
• Nominated: Outstanding Drama Series
• Winner: Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series

Season 4: 2005 Emmys (winners not yet determined)

• Nominated: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series
• Winner: Outstanding Single Camera Sound Mixing for a Series
• Nominated (three times): Outstanding Single Camera Picture Editing for a Series
• Winner: Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore)
• Winner: Outstanding Stunt Coordination
• Nominated: Outstanding Drama Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series

24 Season 5 Nominated Three Times by Television Critics Association

The Television Critics Association has spoken – and what horrible words they have muttered. Apparently, 24 hasn’t only found a way to make the common TV viewer drone out for 24 total hours and watch filth, but they’ve somehow convinced the critics to nominate them for awards!

I’m not saying that 24 doesn’t deserve its fair share of gold... as you can see, last year it was nominated 11 times for Emmys. The sad thing, to some, is that (as with the other previous three seasons) it only won three Emmys, all in non-glamorous categories – Outstanding Single Camera Sound Mixing for a Series, Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series and Outstanding Stunt Coordination. But they’re still awards, right?

This time around 24 has been nominated three times – Program of the Year, Outstanding Achievement in Drama and Individual Achievement in Drama.

So how will 24 fare?

Program of the Year
Here 24 is pitted against Grey’s Anatomy, Lost, The Office and The Sopranos. Tough crowd. The Sopranos is on the way out, so it doesn’t win. Lost is too silly, much like 24 (but it knows it, so that’s okay), so it won’t win. That leaves Grey’s Anatomy and The Office... I say Grey’s wins here, de-throning Desperate Housewives which won the award last year.

Outstanding Achievement in Drama
The combatants here are again Grey’s Anatomy, House, Lost and The Sopranos. Again, I think Grey’s takes it. No way could it win best overall and NOT get this.

Individual Achievement in Drama
Good ol’ Jack could walk away with some gold here. He’s going up against Alan Alda (The West Wing), James Gandolfini (The Sopranos), Hugh Laurie (House) and Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer). Alda is out here, but did a superb job this season. No to Gandolfini and Laurie. The only person I see giving Bauer a run is Sedgwick, who is supposed to be a knock-out on The Closer. I’d actually like to see who can get a confession faster, her or Jack. My money is on Jack.

One out of three wouldn’t be so bad, especially considering how goofy the show is. But I kinda hope the don’t win, we don’t need the writers getting any more crazy ideas.

24 Season 4 Wins Three Emmys

The 2005 Emmys were awarded last night. Let’s take a look back at what I predicted:

My predictions for this year’s Emmys... I think Kiefer will get snubbed once again and so will 24 as Outstanding Drama, both losing to Deadwood. They may pick up a few Emmys for Sound/Picture Editing. But there’s no way in hell they win for Casting this year.

So how did they do?

Season 4: 2005 Emmys

• Nominated: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series
• Winner: Outstanding Single Camera Sound Mixing for a Series
• Nominated (three times): Outstanding Single Camera Picture Editing for a Series
• Winner: Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore)
• Winner: Outstanding Stunt Coordination
• Nominated: Outstanding Drama Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series

Booyah.

24 Season 4: Nominated 11 Times

Today the Emmy Nominations were announced. Looking down the list, you'll notice that 24 has been nominated twice, once for Outstanding Drama and again for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama (Kiefer). That makes it four years in a row that the show has been nominated for those two awards. That's impressive. Let's take a look at the nominations for 24 over the past four years:

Season 1: 2002 Emmys

• Nominated: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
• Winner: Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Art Direction for a Single Camera Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Single Camera Sound Mixing for a Series
• Winner: Outstanding Single Camera Picture Editing for a Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore)
• Nominated: Outstanding Drama Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series

Season 2: 2003 Emmys

• Nominated: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Single Camera Sound Mixing for a Series
• Winner: Outstanding Single Camera Picture Editing for a Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series
• Winner: Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore)
• Nominated: Outstanding Stunt Coordination
• Nominated: Outstanding Drama Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series

Season 3: 2004 Emmys

• Nominated: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
• Winner: Outstanding Single Camera Sound Mixing for a Series
• Winner: Outstanding Single Camera Picture Editing for a Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore)
• Winner: Outstanding Stunt Coordination
• Nominated: Outstanding Drama Series
• Winner: Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series

Season 4: 2005 Emmys (winners not yet determined)

• Nominated: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Single Camera Sound Mixing for a Series
• Nominated (three times): Outstanding Single Camera Picture Editing for a Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore)
• Nominated: Outstanding Stunt Coordination
• Nominated: Outstanding Drama Series
• Nominated: Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series

Notice anything odd about the nominations above? Consistently nominated for Lead Actor and Drama Series... never won. Consistently nominated, and sometimes winning, for Picture and Sound Editing, Casting and Stunt Coordination. One time, once, nominated and winner of Outstanding Writing... and that was for the Pilot episode of Season One. Not a single nomination for the writing since.

The show is exciting, you can't doubt that. But it's apparent that the quality of writing is not what they're going after. Typical viewers don't care about that, though. Does it put butts in seats? Yep, the ratings have gone up each year. Does the writing suck? Yep, it gets goofier each season.

My predictions for this year's Emmys... I think Kiefer will get snubbed once again and so will 24 as Outstanding Drama, both losing to Deadwood. They may pick up a few Emmys for Sound/Picture Editing. But there's no way in hell they win for Casting this year.