Episode Review Delayed...

Sorry gang. I'm out of town and not keeping up with the lame-ness this week. Check back over the weekend and I'll have the "review" posted. Hope it was a good episode. Give me some tips/pointers here, maybe I'll site my source.

24 Season 6: Episode 5 Recap(Hours 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.)

WARNING: The following post may, and probably will, contain spoilers.

He'd been missing for 20 months. A 20 month span that included starving, silence, torture and hair-growing. Then he was thrust back into duty and not too long after, he bit someone to death. Then, he joined forces with a former terrorist and found out he forgot how to interrogate people. Eventually, he had to shoot one of his most trusted agents. That's when he hit rock bottom and gave up... and then the nuclear bomb went off. But did anyone really think that Jack would quit after four episodes? If only!

The State of the President
Like I mentioned before, Baby Palmer is not a believable President, nor is his staff competent (but that's no surprise). It took more than five minutes to move him into the bunker (which is really called the Presidential Emergency Operations Center), but now he's safe. In addition, the Continuity of Operations Plan was enacted (which is a real thing) and Karen somehow gets cell phone service (which is good) so she can make booty calls to Bill.

Meanwhile, Admiral John (who thinks that all terrorist countries are lying) tells the President, "if these people want to live in the stone age, I say let's put them there." To which Baby Palmer should have replied, "they had nukes in the stone age!?!" Then we find out that Baby Palmer wants Assad (the terrorist who saw the light) to come to DC. So I say we play a game... let's pretend a mean ol' terrorist named Osama bin Laden sent men to crash into the twin towers. And let's pretend that bin Laden's former leader wanted to stop being a terrorist and make peace with the US on the exact same day. Do you think the President would allow that man to come to the White House?

There Was This Nuke Thing Outside
As we were informed with "previously on 24," there was a nuclear explosion in Los Angeles. Here's how CTU responds:

• Bill asks about the ground team that was sent in and says, "Milo, can you get a visual?" ... ... ... Uh, Bill... look at ANY television network -- a NUCLEAR BOMB just exploded... there's your damn visual.
• Then Bill needs to know if Fayed was in the blast radius (you know, the one where no less than 12,000 people died). Tell me how Morris is going to figure that out. That could take a while.
• Chloe asks the rhetorical question, "why do people I know keep dying?" Duh, it's because you work with Jack Bauer.
• Then Chloe tells Morris that they have "massive packet loss." What to do? We all know the answer -- "boot up routers."
• "Morris just put something on your B window." Uh, Chloe, he's got one screen. I bet he calls it "A."
• One might wonder how CTU is still a part of this operation... How is the military NOT taking over? Maybe the country is still lambasting over the last military occupancy of Los Angeles... due to syntox nerve gas.

Fickle Fayed
I don't know why Fayed was trying to coerce that dude int-----Watch out Fayed!!! Don't hit the girl that was running across the street! Yeah, the one that stopped in the middle of it (instead of hauling ass to get out of the way)! And while I'm warning you, make sure you don't hit any of these families that are home at 10:15 AM... with their kids who aren't in school... and all of their bags packed... ready to flee a city where a nuclear weapon exploded not ten minutes ago-----sorry, why coerce a dude with money when you could just threaten his life?

Speaking of, so Fayed talks on the phone with the guy that sold him the nukes. Okay. How long before CTU traces that call and figures out who he is? No, wait, this will be one of those phone calls that can't be tracked! Also, when 9/11 happened, weren't all the phone lines coming in and out of NY busy? Yes, they were. I'd venture to say that would be the case in LA, where a NUCLEAR WEAPON just exploded.

And let it be known that Fayed is a master planner. You see, Fayed planned all of this when he betrayed Assad six months ago. Yes, apparently six months is all it takes to plan a huge terrorist attack on US soil. In six months one can buy five nukes, smuggle them into the country, orchestrate the release of a bomb scientist, get Jack out of a Chinese prison, etc. But here's the kicker... it wasn't planned in six months! It was really three months and one week -- seeing that the attacks begain 11 weeks earlier.

FBI Training Academy
How does the nation's Federal Bureau of Investigation get hard-to-find information from suspected terrorists held in a prison camp? Easy, they put a wire on Walid (Sister Palmer's boyfriend). Wait one damn second, there's NO WAY IN HELL that members of a terrorist cell would talk to ANYONE unless they knew they belonged in the cell with them. Nor would they be concerned if the FBI was going to question this poor guy... especially when the FBI guy says, "I'll be back for you."

Jack Covers Lots of Ground
Jack became a statue from episode four and into episode five. When Jack actually took another step, the clock read 10:09 -- he watched the nuke cloud for over ten minutes. But then it was off to the races and to save someone! Are you telling me the helicopter crashed into the side of the house and stuck like that? How does the innocent bystander know that the chopper is about to fall? Did Jack really just use a piece of satellite antenna to jimmy the door open? Remind me again how Jack has enough strength to climb the side of a house after being in a Chinese prison for 20 months. And then explosion #6, the helicopter crashed to the ground. Shoosh, what's next on the list?

We find out that Jack's father (Phillip Bauer) is in LA (does anyone see a parallel story line to last season's Henderson story line?). Not only that, but Jack hasn't spoken to him in over nine years -- yet he knows that his father a) has a cell phone, and, b) he knows the number. Jack continues to impress me with his memory of phone numbers these days.

But let's not stop there, Jack's got a brother (which I still can't figure out if it's Gram or Gray) -- Bluetooth man! And get this, Bluetooth man doesn't like Jack, his own brother. And get this, Jack and Bluetooth man's wife might have had some thing between them... can anyone tell me why the writers pray on killing everyone that Jack loves or is related to?

The Kitchen Sink

• Best line from episode five - After Jack lays the injured chopper pilot face down on the roof, he tells him "stay here." Why? You're on the roof of a house that just had a helicopter crash into it -- isn't the house unstable?
• Not only have we seen Jack drive around LA easily during a regular crazy day -- but on a day where a nuke has exploded, it seems to be even easier... Except, that is, when the news is reporting the explosion and they show the traffic jam that no one important is in. Say, that could be a whole slew of episodes right there -- being stuck in traffic because of the nuke.
• Says the director, "Kiefer, make sure you that when you shake your nephew's hand, turn your hand up unlike a normal handshake -- we want to see the weird acid crap on there."
• Product Placement - Apple

As we know, this season has only just begun. There's sure to be a mole in the White House and CTU. Someone that knows/loves Jack will die. And, as we were assured in this episode -- here's how the writers of 24 tell you that we're about to get into a slew of baddies -- when Bill is telling Assad about the remaining nukes, he explains that there's a trail that there has to be "many people involved in the planning of this." That must be some type of metaphor for how the show is written.

24 Season 6: Episodes 3 & 4 Recap(Hours 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.)

WARNING: The following post may, and probably will, contain spoilers.

Phew! We made it through the first four episodes, and what excitement! While the first two episodes didn't really falter too badly in the acting department, episodes three and four showed us that 24 is truly just a fun ride where no stock is put into good acting or believable writing. What they writers didn't do too much in the first half of the premiere, they more than made up for in the second half. The name of the game this season is predictable and re-run plots, what's the fun in writing new stuff?

24k ETAs
Hey everyone, don't forget this show is a 24 hour show. That means we'll have 24 one-hour episodes. And THAT means that we can actually tie time frames to actions. What actions you ask? How about meeting the demands of placing prisoners on a plan within one hour? Or maybe, that it'll take Chloe at least 10 minutes to get the satellites tracking again? Ooo, here's another one, it shouldn't take you more than 30 minutes to deliver the package to Fayed. Need another? It won't take longer than 20 minutes to assemble the bomb.

Was it beaten over your head enough?

Kumar Goes to the White Castle, In the Sky
Kumar has finally (yes, it's finally over) ended his dramatic run on 24. But not before he gave us a silly plot line that was designed to get more characters into the show. First off, he was so badly hurt, that he couldn't possibly go and deliver the package himself. Which means he had to send someone else to do his dirty work while he held the other two hostage. So while Kumar lounges on the couch and pops pain pills, he sends super dad to pick up the package (if you didn't know, anyone can walk in and pick up a part that costs somewhere in the $100k range, don't worry about names). Oh no! The guy won't sell the package, but Kumar doesn't care... so you better kill someone. Okay, he did it, now Kumar will let the family go, right?No, he can't, because if he does, then "he'll have no leverage to negotiate," duh.

As if that story-line and acting wasn't justification enough to kill off Kumar, here's the real reason he was done in. He couldn't muster enough guts to kill someone. CAN WE PLEASE WRITE IN SOME TERRORISTS WITH BALLS?

CTU is a Joke
It's funny to see CTU teeter back and forth from extremely reliable to very laughable.

• At one point CTU received a phone call from Fayed that was on a "scrambled channel." Please recall that it was the same phone that Fayed has used before AND is the same phone that they've somehow picked up conversations from in the previous episode.
• Remember when Bill threatened to fire Morris and Chloe, but didn't because they were short on man power? Well, not two hours later Milo is about to fire Morris just because he doesn't give a damn.
• Can someone tell me why it is that every time Jack calls in to CTU, that he reaches someone different? Is there no front desk help there? Oh, maybe not, they are short on man power.
• What do you mean it'll take Chloe at least ten minutes to get satellite coverage because she had to send the repositioning orders from the sub-server... whatever that is? How about you just get Morris in there with his dinky private satellite to cover things? This is CTU, how can they not have access to a bazillion satellites?
• Speaking of satellites, their super sophisticated ones can track a single person running around.
• I won't even mention how absurd it is that Milo dated Chloe.

What!?! Curtis went Nutso? You Don't Say!
From the second Curtis started giving lip about Jack working with Assad, if you didn't see his eminent ending coming, then I don't know what show you were watching. What's worse, it took nearly an hour of action and dialogue to finally arrive at the point where Curtis about blows his lid.

But then, Jack saves the day. Yes, he may have been in a Chinese prison for the past 20 months, but he's still the sharpest shooter on the West Coast. So Jack's second kill is his own man. We all knew Curtis would be leaving the show... but what a lousy way to go. Quickly after, Jack vomits up the nothing that is in his stomach – I think it's really that bite of neck that's coming back up.

Questions about Prisoner Transport Buses

1. Why does a prisoner bus have a bathroom?
2. Why does a prisoner bus have one driver and one guard?
3. How does a prisoner get from the shackled seats into the bathroom without anyone noticing?
4. Is anybody else asking these questions?

That Was the Bomb
It took us six years to get to this point – a nuclear bomb exploding on US soil (unless you count season two, where one exploded in the desert). I already don't care about the rest of this season, I'm more concerned with what they'll do next year! Well, anyway. Tell me why an air strike was planned to kill Assad, but when they're trying to get Fayed, they send in a ground unit? Wow, did 24 shoot their wad already? No no no, because there are FOUR MORE SUITCASE BOMBS!!! Wait, didn't they say that there was only one in existence? And if the only person who can create detonators just died, how will Fayed set off the other ones?

More Overly-Used Plot Lines

• Why is there always a sub-plot where a family member is fucking something up? Case in point, Kim. Case in point, the daughter that was bi-polar. Case in point, the druggie hooker sister. Case in point, Sister Palmer, super lawyer.
• For explosion #4 (hour three), how does THAT much ammunition from a foreign country get into the US without us noticing?
• How do laptops constantly survive giant explosions?
• How do PDAs constantly survive giant explosions?
• How many times in the past five seasons have we heard this muttered, "I need to see the contract terms in writing?"

The Kitchen Sink

• Best line from episode three – As Jack runs up to take a new vehicle, he throws a guy to the ground and says, "don't get up."
• "Trust me," is quickly being replaced with, "we're going to do everything we can..." – Jack said it three times in episode four.
• Has anyone realized that Jack is still using a cell phone that isn't his?
• Product Placement – Volkswagon, U-Haul, Apple

Okay, we're officially one sixth through the season. How does everyone feel about the season so far?

24 Season 6: Episodes 1 & 2 Recap(Hours 6:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.)

WARNING: The following post may, and probably will, contain spoilers.

It's nice to know that even though we're picking up 20 months after last season's ending, there are still some things that haven't changed in the land of 24. Such as beating us over the head with the plot outline for season six – Jack Bauer HAS to be sacrificed so this country can survive. Also, we've already had three explosions (on screen, five total) in two hours. We still get treated to time discontinuity seeing as it's full daylight at 6:27 AM and it was completely dark when the plane landed at 6:10. As you can see, 24 hasn't change a whole lot, so let's talk nitty gritty.

Jack is a Changed Man
So here's the scoop, Jack has been in a Chinese prison for 20 months. During which time he's grown a huge beard, been tortured and hasn't spoken a single word. But now that he's back, here's how Jack panned out in the first two hours:

• Jack had a hard time speaking his first words, that's understandable. But soon enough he was running around and yelling. I'd think that you'd hurt your vocal chords or something.
• He used his super CTU powers to shave and cut his hair in five minutes. Hopefully he had time to eat a nice solid meal. But he probably didn't, since eating real food would probably make his sick. Just let him go out in the world on an empty stomach and what I imagine some severely weakened muscles.
• Poor Jack, he gets tortured within the first hour of coming back home. I'd venture to say that this is karma rearing its ugly head to him.
• To escape his typical lousy excuse of being tied up, Jack bit someone to death. Yes, bit the dude... to death. I laughed out loud on that one.
• It was a good thing that Jack remembered CTU's phone number. Or maybe it was a good thing the phone number hadn't changed in 20 months.
• In other typical 24 teleportation fashion, Jack somehow outran two attack helicopters with a car.
• And here's the big shocker... Jack doesn't know how to torture anyone anymore, nor does he know how to do this job. Man, those Chinese really messed him up something good. Was there a collective sobbing when Jack became Clark Kent?

Fresh Faces, New Places
It's always fun trying to discern who's who in the first few episodes – and who's a baddie. First off we have Milo back (the season one alum), so that's cool. Then we have Nadia, who I think might be compromised. Morris, Chloe's ex-boyfriend who helped Jack in the finale of season five, is now working at CTU (because Chloe isn't crazy enough). Then we have Tom (Fish) at the White House, who the writers want us to think is a baddie. Oh, and don't forget about Kumar (Ahmed), the new teenage terrorist. And finally, we have the long-lost, and never talked about, Sister Palmer (Sandra).

Advancements in Technology
While there wasn't a whole lot of mis-uses in the first two episodes, there were some that shouldn't go without mentioning:

• Who knew you could make your Creative Zen a bomb detonator?
• About the cell phone Jack finds in the car – He's got one voice mail. A text message. The phone is fully charged. There's a reminder set. It's not set to vibrate and then he hangs up and connects to the internet in three seconds. Then he uses Nextel's Map Around (yeah, doesn't exist) with the longitude and latitude that he got from, who?
• Did you see the rack of servers in Assad's house? The amount of heat those things would put off, would definitely emit a heat registry – the same type of heat that CTU didn't seem to be able to track with their fancy satellites... anyone remember last year's season premiere when they were tracking people on different floors of a hotel? How far our technology regresses in 20 months.
• Not only is Sister Palmer a super attorney, but she's also a computer wiz. She erased all of the database files and then used a shredding program (bonus points since these are actually real) to prevent recalling the files. Does anyone think that this place doesn't have daily back-ups?

Relationship Counseling Needed
If there's one thing we've learned over the years, it's that relationships inside CTU (and otherwise) don't work. Edgar died last year without professing his love for Chloe. But does that stop Chloe and Morris from hooking up and working together? No. The last married couple that worked at CTU died last year (Tony and Michelle). Does this prevent Bill and Karen from getting married? No. I won't even start on Sister Palmer's (Sandra's) relationship with Mr. Alizoni (who's obviously a baddie).

CTU Still Stands Tall
I'm still amazed that CTU hasn't been dissolved after these past seven years. How many giant attacks on US will it take to overhaul the agency?

• Protocol Break #1: Chloe coerces Nadia to tell her privileged information about Jack.
• Protocol Break #2: How convenient that Morris and Chloe can reposition a satellite when they're supposed to be doing other work.
• When Bill finds out that Chloe and Morris nearly cost them information about Assad, he says that he can't fire them due to lack of man-power... how is it that CTU is ALWAYS under-staffed? And how is it that CTU couldn't track a private satellite in the "don't go there zone," yet the terrorists can?
• When CTU was pin-pointing where the satellite feed was originating, did anyone notice the damn helicopter ten feet from Chloe's station?
• Protocol Break #3: Chloe got lucky when she found that image of Jack and Assad, Bill broke protocol by not mentioning it to anyone.
• How is it that Fayed can make all sorts of calls to CTU and his cronies, but CTU doesn't trace them. THEN, when we need to propel the plot some, CTU happens across a phone call from Fayed to one of his cronies? *rolling eyes*

The Wacky White House and Government
Over are the times of President Idiot from last year, but that doesn't change how inept the government appears to be in 24 Land.

• First off, Baby Palmer (Wayne), isn't a convincing President. He's better than the idiot from last year, that's for sure. But why does he whisper all the time?
• So the government gives Fayed an all-access pass for information on Assad. What happened to "we don't negotiate with terrorists?"
• Those White House hallways seem pretty void of security – with so many attacks on US soil, would the President and his staff still be in the highly visible White House?
• It's good to know that the new regime still works in silly phrases like, "real-time progress," since we need to be constantly reminded that the show is in REAL TIME.

Kiss My Assad
He's good? He's bad? He's the latest in terrorists turned good.

• If Assad is a good guy, why didn't he contact the government before? Oh, because he won't work with CTU since they'll question him for days. Ummm, Assad, what do you think will happen when you're ready to talk to the real government?
• In a city where an explosion went off not two hours ago, how is there not more military lock down? More importantly, how can public enemy number one, Assad, walk around in broad daylight?
• How did Assad get Jack's cell phone number? You know, the phone that wasn't his?

The Kitchen Sink
The other funny/odd things worth mentioning.

• Best line muttered in episodes one and two – "Drop the coffee."
• Second best line – As soon as Jack rips open the dude's shirt, someone yells, "it's a bomb!"
• Would terrorists really speak in English, or would they speak in their native language since they despise America?
• Product placement – Creative, U-Haul, Nextel, Sprite, Toyota, and Pontiac (with the logo missing)
• There's a ticket-taker on the LA subway?

Overall, it wasn't a bad first effort. The acting is surprisingly a notch better this season, so that's good. We only had one mention of Audrey, Kim and David Palmer, and that's also good. Tomorrow we get the "big explosive ending" that will "change everything." What could it be?

24 The Movie: Kiefer Speaks

The latest news from Comingsoon.net – Kiefer talks about the upcoming 24 movie:

It’s something that we really, really want to make. The real key difference would be that the 24 hour film would be a 2 hour representation of a 24 hour day. It would be the first thing that we didn’t do in real time. Mainly, you have to understand, we’re making two episodes every three weeks. We would have three months to make a two hour [movie]. Just to have that kind of time to really allow our cinematographer and our director and the writers to focus on such a finite thing. And actually be able to do a film that really has a conclusion, I think would be really exciting not only for us to make but I think for an audience as well. But the thing that I’m most excited about that is that we’re going to make it within the context of still running the show.

Kiefer speaks the truth everyone... what none of us realized is that they won’t be making a 24-hour long movie, but a two-hour one instead. Sadly, that won’t even be real-time – because, why? They’re tired of doing it that way? No, because it’ll be “exciting” for the director and writer to focus on such a finite thing – because 24 hours is, apparently, infinite.

Well, look at it this way, when they do the two-hour day, they won’t have to worry about the following:

• Characters needing to use the restroom
• Characters having to eat
• Explaining how characters teleport all over LA
• Creating 22 extra hours of compelling writing
• Directing 22 extra hours of amazing acting

Wait, they never did anyway.

24 Season 6: EW Says it’s Scary Good

One week! One week! One week! Can you believe that there’s only ONE WEEK before the new tragedy season begins? I can’t. It seems like we’ve been sitting around in a Chinese jail for the past 20 months (while our bodies deteriorate and our beards grow), just waiting for news on the Jack Bauer front.

Now that we’re so close to the beginning of the new season, the hype machine seems to be in full effect. Not only are there non-stop promos running on television, but it looks like the first four episodes have been leaked on BitTorrent. I don’t buy for a second that someone just happened to get a hold of them and put them on BitTorrent. It was probably Fox that did it, which is fine. They’re just giving the die hard fans a chance to be cool before anyone else.

In addition to this news, I ran across an article on EW.com about this upcoming season. As you can read for yourself, the gist of the article is this... when contemplating if this season can be as good as last season, apparently there are more thrills and suspense in the first four hours than most series can pack into a single season. Great, just what we need is more crap packed in.

But before I dismissed the article, because it seemed so pro-24, I kept reading to see what else Mr. King (I think it’s THE Stephen King) had to say.

This time the story spun out by Joel Surnow, Howard Gordon, and their co-conspirators seems, if not real, then dismayingly possible. Season 5, distinguished by Gregory Itzin as President Slimeball (and let’s not forget Jean Smart as his long-suffering, screw-loosey wife), was almost extinguished by the creaking plot. Sentox? Really? It doesn’t sound like nerve gas; it sounds like something you buy at the drugstore to combat athlete’s foot or hide those embarrassing facial blemishes.

This coming from the guy who writes horror stories about killer clowns... but, for some reason, I want to believe it. Whoever reads this blog knows how I feel about 24’s last several seasons. What once was a good show has slipped, badly, and yet still somehow managed to win big-time Emmys (finally). While I don’t think the show was Emmy-worthy, I want it to be better.

King also mentions how successful the show is – which no one can argue with. But a part of that success had to do with focusing more on explosions than it did on writing and acting. Maybe season six will be different.

24 Season 6: Rick Schroder Joins Up

The latest news from Comingsoon.net reports (WARNING: Spoiler Alert):

As the Season Six premiere rapidly approaches, Rick Schroder ("NYPD Blue") has joined the award-winning cast of "24." Schroder will play forceful CTU Operative MIKE DOYLE, who teams with Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) to execute crucial field operations.

Yay! Just what the show needed, some snobby white kid that was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Seriously, 24 finally wins an Emmy and they start hiring all sorts of actors to be on the show. I guess it wasn't enough for several no names to carry the series this far, now that they're "legit," they have to get real actors to act horribly.

So they got Rick Schroder? A guy whose most well-known credits are for an 80s sitcom that lasted 11 episodes and a sinking NYPD Blue? And what's he going to be on 24... a "forceful CTU Operative." Because really, are there any other types of operatives? You can say yes, but then I'll be quick to point out that if you're not forceful (aka, if you're not like Jack), you die. This guy sounds right out of the blueprints of Jack.

But is he a sidekick to Jack? Or is he the guy that replaces Jack when he's overseas getting tortured to not-death? More importantly, is he dating Kim?

This reeks of Season Three's Chase Edmonds, and it smells delicious.

24 Season 6: The First Dysfunctional Family is Back

The latest news from Comingsoon.net reports (WARNING: Spoiler Alert):

The midterm elections are over, but the political drama is heating up on Fox’s "24" with Emmy nominees Jean Smart and Gregory Itzin set to recur in 2006’s most Emmy Award-winning television series.

Oh joy. As much as I loathed both Itzin and Smart’s roles (and acting) last season, I suppose it’s a good thing that both Emmy-nominated actors were brought back into the fold. Were they justified in their nominations? Maybe not. Could they win after five straight seasons of being nominated? Ask Kiefer.

But what capacity could they possibly be brought back in? The last time we saw President Logan, he was being carted off for conspiring against his nation. And the first lady, well, she set him up and was probably seen running off into the sunset with Aaron Pierce, the head of security.

In real life, a former president who conspired against a nation would probably be assassinated somehow. His wife, who was a known pill-popper, would be socially exiled, only to re-appear on reality tv.

But they were popular characters, eh? I mean, when was the last time you saw some 50-somethings getting ready to do the deed on national television? That = classy. Hopefully we get more of that, because 50-something sex is big time ratings and Emmy material.

24 Season 6: The Teaser

For those of you who haven’t seen, or heard, the news yet... the official teaser trailer for 24’s sixth season is out and you can watch it now at 24Trailer.com!

Please note - the rest of this post will contain spoilers from the teaser. Do not read on unless you don’t want to watch the teaser.

Seasoned Greetings
Oh boy, what a gem! First off, before we even see any action from the teaser, we get a nice and heartwarming thank you message from Kiefer Sutherland – "We wanted to take a moment to thank all the fans from across the globe for their continued support." Let me re-word that sentence for you... "We wanted to thank the voters who finally felt pity on us and gave us the Emmys we’ve always thought we deserved. Your check is in the mail."

So THAT’S Where Jack Has Been
The last time we saw Jack, he was beginning to take the beating of his life at the hands of the Chinese (about damn time Jack paid for his sins – killing off most everyone he loves isn’t good enough). For all we know, he would die in those hands, too. WAIT!!! WE WERE WRONG!!! He’s back! And has taken a page out of Grizzly Adams’ book, and by the way, the hippie look is on the way out.

Does anyone see a problem here? The Chinese were PISSED off. So upset that they somehow snuck into a heavily guarded airport and kidnapped Jack not 20 feet away from hundreds of people. And straight out of the pages of a James Bond movie, if you’ve got the ONE PERSON that can destroy anything on God’s green earth, just kill him. Problem solved.

Nah. They’ll probably trade him for nukes or iPods.

Season Six: The Sacrificial Chamber
I don’t think the writers/editors/anyone that works for 24, could beat it over our heads any more than they did. Jack has to sacrifice himself to make things okay with the world again. Spoiler alert!!! This is just a cheap ploy. He really won’t die. They’ve already confirmed season 7 and 8, so why would they kill off Jack now? Unless those seasons are prequels!

But really, I think the best thing the show could do would be to kill Jack Bauer. Talk about causing mass hysteria! What show would people watch to get their fill of weekly bullshit?

Guess Who’s Back
Yawn. It’s the same cast of characters. We’ve got President Palmer II, Miles (it’s really not Miles, but his clone, Peter MacNichol), Chloe (and her scowl), Curtis, Bill and Karen. Hopefully Kim will make another appearance, so we can laugh some, and how cool would it be if all of Jack’s loved one’s ghosts came back as cameos? I’m down.

Teasers = Good
The art of making a good teaser is tough to learn. Luckily it’s been perfected the past two seasons for 24. Again, this teaser is very well done – it has explosions, turmoil, Jack yelling "put down your weapon," you know, all the stuff you need in a good 24 teaser. Sadly, for us, the goodness ends there. Everything you saw in the teaser will play out in the first 6 episodes and then we’ll be stuck in a big world of hurt as everyone on the 24 staff tries to prove that they’re still worthy of television’s highest honors. Which, honestly, isn’t the case.

What did you think of the teaser?

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 6: Kal Penn Joins Cast, Emmy Update

The latest news from Comingsoon.net reports (WARNING: Spoiler Alert):

Kal Penn (Superman Returns, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle) has joined the cast of Fox’s "24" in a recurring role, says The Hollywood Reporter.

Penn will play a guy who is somehow involved with the Islamic guru running the neighborhood mosque and might be the key to a terrorist plot.

Let me get this straight, Kal Penn, resident funny man from “Van Wilder” and “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle’ will be on 24, playing a middle eastern character? I’m sure his role won’t be so funny this time around (unless he’s a total dimwit, then we can have all the fun we want!) And, to top that off, he’ll be somehow involved with the Islamic guru... nice typecasting.

In other news, the Creative Arts Emmys have been announced and our good ol’ show won two:

1. Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore)
2. Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series (7:00 AM - 8:00 AM )

That puts me way behind in my predictions, but puts them at 2 for 7 right now. With the Primetime awards coming up next week, we’ll be watching closely to see if the most critically-acclaimed season can garner more than its predecessors.

24 Season 6: Casting News

The latest news from Comingsoon.net reports (WARNING: Spoiler Alert):

Just got off the phone with my 24 mole and he/she informs me that Eric Balfour has signed on to reprise his Season 1 role as independent CTU contractor Milo Pressman. My spy wouldn’t say how Milo would be re-introduced, but he’ll be sticking around for awhile: Balfour will be credited as a series regular.

In other 24 news, former Star Trek: Deep Space Nine doc Alexander Siddig is joining the cast as one of the evil-doers behind the big Season 6 plot. Additionally, Carlo Rota (aka Mr. Chloe O’Brien) will be back as a series regular.

Sweet, Milo Pressman is back. I’m having troubles remembering what he did way back when, but I think he was the Edgar from back in the day. This could be a good move.

In another good move, Mr. Chloe O’Brien is back. I thought it was a bit hokey to have him show up at the end of Season 5, but he was quite the charmer and could be interesting as a series regular. Unfortunately, this casting isn’t a shocker.

Alexander Siddig as the bad guy. Hmmmm... could be cast as a Middle Eastern for Season 6? I thought we would finally get away from those baddies.

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 6 News: Interviews with Kim Raver and Jon Cassar

The latest news from Comingsoon.net reports the following information derived from interviews with Kim Raver (Audrey) and Jon Cassar (Co-Executive Producer) – (WARNING: Spoiler Alert):

Is Audrey returning?
Since Ms. Raver is now a leading character on next fall’s The Nine, there is some speculation whether or not Audrey returns. The word right now is that there are several options and nothing is nailed down. C’mon, she’ll be way too busy to bring her back. Besides, Jack can start screwing a new chick and terrorizing whichever relative of hers that he chooses.

Will there be another 10 minute video that links Seasons 5 and 6?
It’s not certain yet, but it looks like it. And if you read Cassar’s response, it sounds like Jack is BACK from China. I don’t think that’s correct, but it would be hilarious to put Jack THAT much higher on a pedestal and say he can escape an ENTIRE nation and get back to the US before the next day begins.

Is Season 6 going to be shot in NY?
Who cares? You go from one of the most spread out cities in the US to one of the most dense – but traffic doesn’t change. Though, I would say a nice subway sequence would be pretty cool – or should I say could be pretty cool. And if you try to fake a NY setting in LA... riiiiight.

There’s one more question in the interview snippet, but it’s boring. Check it out if you want/have time.

24 Season 6: It Already Sounds Stupid

The latest news from Comingsoon.net reports (WARNING: Spoiler Alert):

Regina King (Ray) is joining the cast of Fox’s 24, while D.B. Woodside is being bumped up to series regular, reports Variety.

In a Kennedyesque twist, Woodside -- who plays Wayne Palmer, brother of assassinated President David Palmer -- will begin season six as the newly elected president of the United States.

King, meanwhile, joins as heretofore unseen Palmer sister Angela, a powerful lawyer with an advocacy group.

I don’t mind the bump from part-time to full-time for Wayne Palmer, but he’s now the President!?! This is a guy who was running around with Jack last season shooting bad guys and kidnapping a bank official. If that doesn’t show that he’s President material, I don’t know what does. And with as much strife as the Palmer family has endured during their time in office, why would the public want another Palmer in the Oval Office? Answer, apparently the "dumb president" schtick is up.

Why not get the previous President in there – the one that was shot, which allowed Logan to take his place? That would be more interesting.

On the other half of this news, Palmer’s sister is now in the mix. If anyone can’t see that this is another Sherry Palmer story-line waiting to happen, then you’re not thinking wishfully enough. Honestly though, it’s taken five seasons for us to find out that Palmer had a powerful lawyer sister? Doubtful, she would have been around the second David was elected President.

I’d much rather see Palmer’s kids in a new role than his sister that we’ve never caught glimpse of.

Looks to be shaping up for a pretty corny story-line already. But we’ve still got five months until January. Hang on a while, you’ll hear more news here when it breaks.

24 Season 6: Peter MacNicol Joins Cast

The first news of season 6 has officially hit the wire – Peter MacNicol has joined the cast. MacNicol (who previously starred in Ally McBeal and currently stars in Numb3rs) will portray a high-ranking government official. He plans to shoot both 24 and Numb3rs simultaneously for next season.

Interestingly enough, MacNicol won a supporting actor Emmy in 2001 for his role of John Cage in Ally McBeal (in addition, he was nominated for Emmys three times for that role). Does that mean this bring instant credibility to the cast of 24? Not necessarily, but it doesn’t hurt it.

Is anyone thinking what I’m thinking? Is he the new Miles Papazin?

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 5: Episodes 23 and 24 Recaps(Hours 5:00 a.m. - 7:00 a.m.)The FINALE!!!Post #50!

WARNING: The following post may, and probably will, contain spoilers.

Here we are, at the end of another long day in Jack Bauer's amazing life. It truly is an amazing life. I'm sure that after living the normal life for the past 18 months (we say 18 months because it's cooler than saying 1.5 years), he was chomping at the bit to get back into the fast lane of time travel and insane technology. But alas, the Earth only revolves once every 24 hours, and it's time that we end this mockery of human intelligence.

Too Bad It Wasn't A Yellow Submarine

• It took just five minutes to kill the entire crew and for the nerve gas to clear? I wasn't aware that submarines had ventalition systems that powerful.
• "We haven't received any distress signals from the crew..." Right. Remember, you only left seven of them there, that's all.
• It will take you to 22-25 minutes to scramble fighters!?! You were about to take out a civilian plane in less than five not two hours ago. This is a stationary target. AND you're sending two fighters? What a consistent military.
• Go Officer Rooney! Make him a killer, Jack! Tell him exactly how to slit someone's throat. Good job. Now tell him that he doesn't have a choice. Good! If only you could kill someone in front of him later on...
• From the absurdity file – Henderson is going in with Jack.
• Hey Rooney, if you're 30 feet away from the hatch (read, MAYBE 15), why are you talking out loud?
• From the absurdity file #2 – * CTU only sends three guys (one of them being a criminal) to stop a terrorist?
• I must have missed something... When did Henderson get an ear piece?
• Jack's been legally dead twice now, it's going to take more than two wrench whacks to take him down.
• Henderson, you fool! YOU FELL FOR THE OLDEST TRICK IN THE BOOK!!!
• In what was easily the BEST PART OF THE SEASON, Jack kills Henderson!

Meanwhile, Back At The Ranch

• "Mike, I've never been more sober. Or more sane." You've had children lady! Yikes.
• Mike has been the epitome of not trusting anyone for the past four seasons, why is Mike so eager to help now? Especially without evidence?
• Aaron says that he'll go somewhere where the President's men can't find him. Good luck with that. He's the PRESIDENT.
• "He's leaving for Washington around that time." You're the Chief of Staff, Mike, you should know exactly when he's leaving.
• From the absurdity file #3 – Morris O'Brien, Chloe's ex-husband, is the ONLY person who can effectively break protocol in this situation, and they just give him access into CTU's giant mainframe? Riiiiiiiight.
• Mike and Aaron drove out, buried a dude, got back AND tried to stop the President from leaving, all in 10 minutes? That's good time efficiency.
• Yes! OG Sherry Palmer on the TV with David!
• Jack has been waiting a long time for this... getting to torture the President!
• How exactly is Jack just driving around on the presidential compound premesis? And is that a Scion?
• "I don't know how to respond. I never expected you to say anything like that." Sorry dude, she never expected you to kill a former President and help plan out a terrorist attack on US soil. Get over yourself.
• Why does Jack insist to keep his phone on loud ringer?
• It took all of five minutes to have sex!?! A guy like him should have trouble getting it up, especially on a day like this. No messed up hair. No pillow talk. And wow, does the first lady look good after not being able to freshen up for the past 5 hours. Sex does a body good.

Would You Like To Ride In My Helicopter?

• It's lucky they have a nice color fax machine at the ranch. Wait! TWO!!!
• Good thing the helicopter pilot took his helmet with him. Just in case Jack needs it. Master of disguise, Jack Bauer! Keep that sunshield down, it's pretty bright outside.
• "I'm Ron Franklin, there's my protocol." This, from the guy who averages 99 protocol breaks a day.
• I'd hate to think that a pilot for the President would choose his own life over the President's. If he would've thought about it, he could've let Jack shoot him, which would cause a stir in the whole helicopter.
• From the absurdity file #4 – Now that the helicopter is WAY off course, is anyone besdies Chloe trakcking it? Oh, there they are, 10 minutes behind. They'd be on them in one minute, if not less.

Where ARE All Of These Abandoned Warehouses?

• The sun is already coming up at 6:15? I think in episode one, the sun was coming up at 7:00.
• Need more evidence? How about you just call the phone number that is logged in his cell phone over 200000000 times in the past 24 hours?
• The Secret Service wouldn't take Jack into custody, they'd kill him. He had the President held hostage at gun point.

Good Bye Palmer

• The helicopter sure did get back on track fast. Wouldn't the President be taken to some type of de-briefing zone? Or put on Air Force One and be flown around for the next several hours? How soon we forget 9/11.
• Did they really shoot machine guns for the 21-gun salute?
• Full sunlight at 6:45 in the morning?
• "I can't believe you're really here," says Audrey. I can't believe that Audrey is still standing after a day like this.

The Final Twist!!!

• Jack has a phone call from his daughter at the warehouse he was taken into custody at. Never-mind that she SOMEHOW got that phone number or where Jack was. You idiot. You walked right into that.
• "I found this in edgar's possesions..." Why were you going through his stuff, Bill?
• What exactly is a long memory?
• I agree with Jack's plea, kill him. He's not THAT valuable.

And there you have it. The end of another looooooooong season. I thought we'd never get to see the Chinese come back into it, so that was a nice twist. It WAS the most action-packed season so far, but man, they're setting the bar awfully high. Let's see, we shot Palmer, killed off Michelle, killed terrorists at an airport, gassed a mall, tried to kill the Russian President, gassed CTU, killed junkies, blew up a prominent office building server room, killed Tony, blew up a gas plant, landed a plane on a highway, broke onto/gassed a sub, thwarted that, AND kidnapped the President.

Some one pinch me, next season will rot.

24 Season 5: Episodes 21 and 22 Recaps(Hours 3:00 a.m. - 5:00 a.m.)

WARNING: The following post may, and probably will, contain spoilers.

It’s the night of the two-hour season finale. We’re almost done, people, almost done. I’ve finally figured out a good comparison for 24. 24 is to TV, what the Batman franchise was to movies – it was awesome at first (Burton, Keaton and Nicholson), but then became a pile of crap and very laughable. You really have to check your brain at the door and just ignore many stupid things. I didn’t take too detailed of notes this week, I’m just saving it up for the finale. Here are the most absurd notes from the last two episodes:

• The President doesn’t want to kill innocent people on a plane, but is fine with gasing people to death in a mall and hospital.
• VCI Distress signal... this is completely made up.
• They only send one plane to shoot down the passenger plane? I doubt that.
• The plane needs 5000 feet to land, needs to slow down, the dissent was too steep... but they made it... good thing there was NO ONE driving on the highway at that time (maybe the curfew was finally working)?
• Let’s see, I don’t think Federal Agents outweigh Military in a time of martial law, especially when you have orders from the President.
• Right, yet another bad guy that has infiltrated CTU. Why do they need to transfer Bierko at 3:30am? That’s right, for plot reasons.
• Audrey has the immune system of a god. That’s twice today that she’s bounced back from near death situations. Impressive. If she and Jack mate, their babies would be superhumans.
• Miles has one of those erase digital data gadgets, cool. But I didn’t know that magnets lit up like that.
• The transport was taken out by an IED. Oh, makes sense. What’s that? And where was the military during that?
• One canister was held back, possible. The guy just grabs it in his arms with no protective suit or gloves, that goes against how they’ve handled the canitsters all day long.
• It’s a shame that CTU constantly finds themselves in situations where they have to give deals to criminals.
• A Phoenix Shield!?! This guy has a crazy firewall and tons of super scanning software. But doesn’t have any type of dectection stuff on his roof-top?
• Jack can jimmy open any lock with his skeleton key knife.
• There’s a Russian Nuculer sub at a non-military port in LA, during a martial law situation, and there’s about 7 guys protecting the ship?

Get ready, the finale should be a barn-burner.