"24" Season Finale Tonight on Fox

I've completely lost track of 24 this season, though the buzz has been good and everybody seems to like it. #1 on my list of things to do this summer -- watch the whole season!

There's an interesting article this morning on the current state of the show from Chuck Ross of TV Week magazine. Click here to read it.

If you have been watching regularly, here's to a great 2-hour Season Finale tonight for one of the most ambitious shows ever to hit television!

When Gallbladders Attack: Hearty Get Well Wishes to "24" Prez Cherry Jones!

The Flaming Nose has just learned that actress Cherry Jones -- President Allyson Taylor on the new season of Fox's 24 -- recently underwent gallbladder surgery. We offer our heartfelt wishes for a speedy recovery.

We empathize with Ms. Jones, as one of our correspondents will be undergoing a similar procedure in the near future, and we have friends of The Flaming Nose who have also been through the experience. We wish her well!

Cherry Jones is one of the chief pleasures of the just-started new season of 24! Send her good thoughts as you watch her dynamic portrayal of the U.S. President!

"24" -- The Best Ensemble Cast on TV?

24 is back, all right, and we couldn't be more thrilled.

They may not be quite the suave, martini-sipping types that you find on Mad Men, but once again the cast of 24 is filled with some of the most talented actors and actresses out there on the small screen. Led by Kiefer Sutherland (who hasn't lost a bit of his Jack Bauer mojo), 24 features some actors who are familiar faces, some who aren't, and it's this combination that makes the show so compellingly watchable. Every actor is the absolutely best choice for the role and we're delighted to see the charismatic Carlos Bernard back as Bauer's former colleague Tony Almeida, who's now pursuing a vengeful path and will doubtless give Jack a run for the money.

We love accomplished actress Cherry Jones as President Allison Taylor, and the brilliant Canadian actor Colm Feore as her husband, along with Bob Gunton as the White House Chief of Staff. These three actors alone would be reason enough to tune in, but we've also got returning 24 favorites Mary Ellen Rajskub as the long-suffering and super-smart Chloe and James Morrison as Bill Buchanan, both of whom are a welcome sight and always a treat to watch. We like the new tough (but lovely) FBI agent played by Annie Werschling, and her agency boss (Jeffrey Nordling), but most of all we love Janeane Garofalo as Janis Gold, a kinda Chloe-esque FBI wonkette.

Boy, nobody does smart women like 24 does! Garofalo has never failed to be as accomplished in her dramatic roles -- Minus Man, The Laramie Project, Steal This Movie -- as she is in her life as a savagely funny, insightful and informed comedienne, not to mention that she's a force to be reckoned with in her role as a host and guest on the Air America radio network. (If you've ever seen her on HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher, you know what I mean, too.) I have a feeling she will be one of the chief continuing delights on this season of 24, and I can't wait.

Later this season Jon Voight will be around, and of course we've also got the wonderful Tony Todd as the dastardly Gen. Juma who's cooking up an international crisis of his own. 24 should be quite a tasty stew this season -- Tony Almeida's revenge plot, Juma's genocidal rampage in Africa, the suspicious suicide of the President's son and the First Gentleman's investigation into it, a threat to the Air Traffic Control system -- and we'd say the first two hours, plus the earlier 24: Redemption movie, should lay to rest any fears that the show didn't have what it takes to come back in a big way.

For those of you who have missed episodes or just want to find out a little more, Fox.com has an extensive availability of episodes and background videos and written information on their 24 website, including excellent and detailed episode synopses.

We can't wait for tonight's next two hours! Highly Recommended Viewing!

"24" Season Seven Premieres Tonight on Fox!

We loved the preview movie Redemption from this November, and now it's time for the new season to begin! If the movie was any indication, this season should restore 24's stellar reputation as one of the most exciting hours on television ever, easily rivaling anything that the movies are throwing at us. There are certainly hours that are more subtle or cerebral, perhaps, but nothing can match the visceral enjoyment and suspense that a good hour of 24 can supply.

Much of the action this season takes place in Washington D.C., and it's probably safe to say the nation's capitol has captured the attention of America -- and the world -- more so the past few months than in a long time, and in a good way. Should work well for 24's relevance.

24 premieres on Fox tonight at 8pm for two hours, and continues tomorrow Monday for another two hours at 8pm also. The show lands in its regular Monday 9pm slot -- after House -- next week.

All we can say is "Go, Jack, Go!"!

Counting Down to Sunday's "Redemption" of "24"

After a fairly universally-deemed-dismal Season 6 (now in the almost distant past) of the usually spectacular series 24, the series is back in business with a special 2-hour event this coming Sunday night, in anticipation of Season 7 coming in full, in January, to Fox.

"Redemption" is what looks to be an action-packed outing, set in Africa, where Keifer Sutherland's Jack Bauer has been working as a missionary -- cleansing his karma, no doubt. Filmed on location in Capetown, South Africa as well as L.A., "Redemption" also features the always intelligent actress Cherry Jones (The Perfect Storm, Signs) as the U.S. President, intense Brit actor Robert Carlyle (Trainspotting, The Full Monty, 28 Weeks Later, and so much more), Gil Bellows (Ally McBeal), and Jon Voight in the story centered around the real-life conscription of child soldiers by African militia warlords. No doubt a very timely story, I hope that movies like Blood Diamond have given audiences a good idea of how this kind of tale, which I doubt would normally go over that well here, can be an exciting and moving experience.

Let's assume that the 24 folks have fixed whatever tendencies toward meandering that plagued the last season, and that we are looking forward to another dynamite Jack Bauer outing. Nothing -- but nothing! -- on TV has ever been as good or clearly even-better-than-the-movies as a really terrific episode of 24, and that's the level of quality we're hoping for with "Redemption".

"Redemption" premieres this coming Sunday, November 22, at 8pm on Fox. The website for this special event is full of background info and all sorts of extras, so do visit it!

Here's the "Redemption" trailer to get you in the mood!: