Actresses are people too, and sometimes they get pregnant.  Such is a fact of life.  Actress pregnancies can come at inopportune time for episodic television series.  It's not like you can tell an actress she can't get pregnant, even if she's under contract.  TV has a long history of either writing a pregnancy into their story, or hiding the belly-in-question via practical camera tricks.  Just this last year, Angela Kinsey on The Office filmed much of the season with a bun in the oven, though it was near impossible to notice.  The latest TV pregnancy to rear its magical life-giving head is one owned by Mary Lynn Rajskub, who plays Chloe O'Brian on 24.  24, now filming its seventh season, is going to have to deal with Rajskub's impending motherhood.  She's going to give birth any day now, and Rajskub is going to have to take a few episodes off.  Her departure will be written into the season, but Jack Bauer will need a Chloe replacement.  Who will it be?

MINOR SPOILERS BELOW!! OR MAJOR, DEPENDING ON YOUR PREROGATIVE!!

According to Michael Ausiello, now at Entertainment Weekly, Carlo Rota will be brought in for a handful of episodes to replace Rajskub.  Rota, of course, plays Chloe's former husband Morris O'Brian.  Since season seven will move even further into the future, Chloe will have a child at home of about three years old.  The word is that Chloe's excuse for her abrupt departure during the season will involve her child.  When Chloe leaves to care for her child, Morris will be called in to pick up the slack.  Also, we should get a ruling on whether Morris is Chloe's baby's daddy at some point next season.

This is good news.  Morris O'Brian is an underrated character, and I have to admit I was a little bit disappointed when the season seven cast for 24 was announced and Carlo Rota wasn't on it.  I hope the writers have had enough time to make Chloe's departure seamless and not seem forced.  Again, everything we hear about season seven of 24 is encouraging, and I have a feeling that the upcoming season will be a return to form for the series.


-Oscar Dahl, BuddyTV Senior Writer
Source: Entertainment Weekly
(Image Courtesy of FOX)