TheTVaddict.com has just learned that Carlos Bernard will officially be returning to the show this season as fan favorite Tony Almedia. Turns out Tony was only thought to be left for dead by millions of viewers, but in reality was alive and well.
“Tony’s uncertain fate near the end of ‘Day 5’ left the door open for his return,” said executive producer/show-runner Howard Gordon. “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.”
WOW! No only do CTU agents have the uncanny ability to avoid traffic in Los Angeles, they can also go an entire day without hitting a bathroom AND survive deadly explosions! Since we’re reinventing the show here, why not take a page from NBC’s BIONIC WOMAN and give Tony a bionic arm or leg? Or bring a few other fan favorites back from the dead. Who wouldn’t like to see the return of zombie Nina Meyers, President Palmer or Bairus’ Mom.
Three words 24 — Jump The Shark. 
This season, Jack Bauer and the conservative minds behind 24 will face their biggest challenge yet. Feisty, funny, Liberal pundit Janeane Garofalo.
According to TV Guide’s Michael Ausiello, Garofalo, who’s signed on as a series regular, “will play a government agent who is part of the team investigating the crisis befalling Jack Bauer and Co. in the upcoming season.”
Three reasons why this TV Addict loves this signing: 1) We can only hope more of Garofalo’s WEST WING alum follow her lead. Martin Sheen for President anyone? 2) Garofalo will add some much needed humour to the heavy-handed show. 3) In her spare time, perhaps Garofalo can help out the 24 writers with some plot ideas. Rumor has it, the writers are having a bit of trouble this season coming up with new story ideas.
For the second time this summer, Fox has pressed the pause button on 24. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the troubled series has been delayed yet again so that the writers can catch up on writing scripts for the new season. Needless to say, this complete lack of a coherent plan and the seemingly on-the-fly writing doesn’t bode well for the upcoming seventh season.
That said, always one to lend a hand, this TV Addict has a plan to save the day! For one season only, FOX should consider downsizing 24 to 12 (or at the very least 16.) Think about it. Twelve episodes will give the writers all the time in the world to formulate the best season of 24 yet. And fans won’t complain, as twelve amazing episodes are far better than twenty-four medicore ones. I think I speak for everybody when I say that no fan wants to suffer through another season like last season’s debacle. So get cutting!
Six episodes into HBO’S JOHN FROM CINCINNATI, I have yet to decide whether I love the show or loathe it. One thing I do know — I still am clueless as to what exactly’s going on and the real deal with the mysterious John.
Speaking of clueless, over the weekend at the TCA Press Tour, Fox President Peter Liguori failed to acknowledge that last season of 24 had some serious issues claiming, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’ Which begs the question, is it possible Mr. Liguori only watched the first four hours of last season? Fans and critics pretty much agree, it was all downhill from there.
And finally, how realistic (and entertaining) was Thursday’s premiere of MAD MEN? So much so that halfway through the episode, this TV Addict was ready to take up smoking. Drinking at work! Smoking on the job! Sexually harassing the women in the office! Boy did the 60’s look like fun. Who else can’t wait for next week’s episode?
SEINFELD RETURNS TO NBC
Since NBC can’t possibly build a time machine to travel back to the heyday of FRIENDS, SEINFELD and Must See TV — they’ve decided to do the next best thing — sign Jerry Seinfeld. Seinfeld has signed on to play himself in 30 ROCK’S season premiere. “I was thrilled to be asked to guest star on NBC’s hit comedy 30 ROCK,” Seinfeld says in a statement. “I think it’s going to be so refreshing for me to be playing myself in a show that has nothing to do with neurotic, dysfunctional New York characters.”
THE APPRENTICE
According to an NBC press release, “NBC has renewed THE APPRENTICE for mid-season with a creative twist.” Creative! More like desperate. Is it not clear to anyone but this TV Addict that the ultimate kiss of death for any reality show is the use of the words ‘celebrity version?’ Mark the date on your calendar folks, THE APPRENTICE has officially jumped the shark. Unless of course the celebrities include The Donald, Rosie, Isaiah and T.R. Knight. Then and only then will this TV Addict be tuning in.
MONDAY NIGHT: THE NEW MUST SEE TV
In a surprise announcement, NBC President Ben Silverman announced that Josh Schwartz’s action-dramedy-hybrid CHUCK would lead off Monday night followed by HEROES and JOURNEYMAN. Having seen the pilot, this TV Addict will attest to the fact that NBC’s confidence in CHUCK is not misplaced. Josh Schwartz’s follow up to THE OC looks to be a definite hit come fall 2007.
That said, Holy TIVO Batman! CHUCK, HEROES, JOURNEYMAN, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, NEW CHRISTINE, 24, PRISON BREAK, ALIENS IN AMERICA, EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS, WEEDS, DEXTER, CALIFORNICATION. When did Monday night become the new Thursday?
After managing to survive six years of near-death experiences, Jack Bauer’s finally met his match. The evil executives at FOX television. (Okay, so evil’s a bit of stretch, but we are afterall talking about the suits that cancelled FIREFLY, DRIVE, WONDERFALLS, ANDY RICHTER… the list goes on)
According to reports, the seventh season of 24 has been delayed after executives at FOX put the kibosh on the proposed story arc, which included a number of episodes to be shot in Africa. Reports TVGuide’s Michael Ausiello:
Although a 20th Century Fox spokesperson declined to comment, 24’s expert scowler, Mary Lynn Rajskub, confirms that the clock for Day 7 has been reset. “I don’t know what’s going on over there, but they’re going crazy,” says the scene-stealer, who only learned last week that Chloe would even 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.”
With that in mind, we at theTVaddict.com thought it only fair to lend Jack Bauer and the creative team of 24 a hand in their hour of need (Lord knows Bauer’s saved our skin enough times). After six years of saving the world from evil-doers, endless CTU moles and creepy government agents, is there anything interesting left for Jack Bauer to do? Seriously, we have no idea, but we’re confident the readers of theTVaddict.com do. Post away with your ideas for season seven story arcs. And remember, there’s no such thing as a bad idea — unless they include Kim Bauer and a cougar.
Lucky for fans of THE SIMPSONS, theTVaddict has a mole inside Springfield’s Counter Truancy Unit (CTU). While intel’s still a bit fuzzy, one thing is clear — school bullies Dolph, Kearney and Jimbo are threteaning to unleash a stink bomb at the school’s bake sale on May 20th.
theTVaddict’s also learned that CTU members Bart and Lisa have beefed up security in an effort to stop the ‘Springfield Three’. Jack Bauer and Chloe O’Brian (guest voices Keifer Sutherland and Mary Lynn Rajsku) have arrived in Springfield to lend a hand. Be sure to tune in to THE SIMPSONS 400th episode on Sunday May 20 (8-9PM FOX) to find out what happens.
Fans of 24 know that when the country is in jeopardy, Jack Bauer will do whatever it takes to save the day. The hero tortures enemies of the state as often as President Bush mangles the English language. But if the FCC has its way, everyone’s favorite CTU agent may soon go soft, and gorefests such as CSI and CRIMINAL MINDS may find themselves having to take a “less is more” approach to violence. The FCC - which already regulates profanities and sexual content on the airwaves — is petitioning Congress for the authority to levy fines against networks which air programs deemed overly violent. Apparently, the squeaky wheel - aka parents who refuse to take responsibility for their children’s viewing habits, as well as people who want to control not only what they watch but what you watch as well - may just get the grease after all.
Speaking to the folks at The Hollywood Reporter, Jonathan Rintels, executive director of the Center For Creative Voices In Media, raised several valid points. “What this is is government control of creative content, and we have a real problem with that. Will it count on news or reality programming? What about sports? In hockey, will it count when the gloves come off? How about documentaries? Or will it only count on scripted TV?”
But as the people whom this would most directly impact, we at theTVaddict.com are curious to know what you think. Remember, this isn’t necessarily a question of whether or not some shows have gotten too violent, but rather whether or not the government should decide what viewers can and can not see. Is it the government’s responsibility to “protect” us from violent programming, or should people be allowed the freedom to choose to watch - or not watch - what they want? Is this an example of proactive government or censorship? We know you’ve got opinions… so let’s hear ‘em!
I thought last season may have been an aberration, a one time thing. But this season the same thing’s happening. I’m simply not looking forward to watching new episodes of 24. Gone is the excitement, the anticipation, the surprise. Watching 24 has become more of a chore — something I do just so I can fit in, be cool, keep up my self-proclaimed status as an official ‘TV addict.’ But honestly, it’s time to end this charade. I can’t keep faking it any longer. I’m just going to come clean and say it — I’m bored with 24.
The unfortunate reality is that even though it tries to shock us at every turn, 24 has simply become too formulaic. Each season starting with season two follows the exact same predictable path. There are new members of CTU (who won’t all survive the season), a random family in peril and an angry villain who generally has some vague connection to none other then (wait for it…) Jack Bauer!
Sounds exciting right? Well by the midway point of the season, here’s what invariably happens: One member of CTU will die (generally a semi-regular who was added to the cast last season and is important enough to be in the credits, but not so important that we’ll really care). The ‘family in peril’ story will be wrapped up within the first few episodes, with a good 75% of the family surviving and at least one family member dead. And finally, the villain who Jack will go to any lengths to defeat will either be killed only to reveal that he was just working for ‘the man,’ or that he was just a diversion for an even worse problem that Jack will have to solve in the final half of the season.
Don’t get me wrong, 24 is an entertaining ride with some of the finest production values on TV. But this Monday at 9PM you’ll find me watching HEREOS on NBC knowing full well that when the clock runs down on 24 — Jack will be victorious once again.
And the winner is…. the cast of HEROES! In their first head-to-head showdown HEROES averaged 14.8 million viewers versus 14.4 million for 24. Sadly, TWO AND A HALF MEN actually won the night with 16.1 million viewers proving once again that the majority of the television viewing audience doesn’t know the meaning of ‘funny’. (See the cancellation of ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT and GROSSE POINT for further proof of this theory).
Thanks to TVTattle for the Tip!
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