May 15, 2008
While the new Fall and Spring prime time schedules were the major story at this morning's FOX upfronts, news of 24's two-hour season 7 prequel movie kind of fell through the cracks. The film, which takes place between the end of Day 6 and the beginning of Day 7, will air on Sunday, November 23 at 8pm. The prequel will be mostly shot on location in South Africa, where our hero Jack Bauer becomes embroiled in an international crisis while, back home, the new president readies for her inauguration. The new season of 24, Day 7, will air in its entirety beginning in January of 2009. It will reclaim its usual Mondays at 9pm time slot.
May 15, 2008
FOX's Spring schedule is much more interesting than its Fall counterpart. It also contains the single greatest announcement I've heard all week: the American Idol Results Show is going back to a half hour. That wasn't so hard, now, was it FOX? FOX has mastered the art of different, high-profile shows sharing time slots in different parts of the year. As a result, FOX airs less re-runs and makes up for the fact that they run one hour of television less per night than the other three major networks. FOX January and onward schedule is below, but remember – FOX is always very flexible with their schedule.
May 14, 2008
The clock is ticking…Midnight. Jack Bauer, head of the CIA's Los Angeles Counter Terrorist Unit, is suddenly thrust into a chaotic and exhausting 24-hour marathon of death, deception and terror as he struggles to prevent the assassination of a presidential candidate, find the traitor within his own organization, and save his kidnapped wife and daughter.
The next season of 24 won't be on until January of 2009 (although we'll be getting a two-hour TV movie bridging the gap between seasons 6 and 7 sometime in the fall), but that doesn't mean you can enjoy 24 on DVD.
April 29, 2008
Jack Bauer is heading to Africa after all. The original proposed story for 24's seventh season was for Jack to begin in Africa (doing something, that part was never clear) and then heading back to the States for the meat of the season. This would have been a big departure, as it would have been the first time 24 bucked the twenty-four straight hours formula. FOX had no problem with the concept, but they nixed the idea for budgetary reasons. The ramifications of this decision by the FOX brass was major – production on 24's seventh season was delayed for weeks and, as a result, was eventually delayed a whole year because of the writers' strike. It's unclear whether 24 could have finished the season in time for this Spring regardless, but it's a possibility. Today, 24 executive Manny Coto revealed the setting for the 24 two-hour prequel movie which will air on FOX this Fall: Jack is going to Africa.
April 28, 2008
The seventh season of 24 is only eight months away. Are you excited yet? Day 7 of 24 has endured one of the weirdest years in TV history, derailed because of the writers' strike and ultimately delayed an entire year. Such is the nature of 24's hectic and demanding production schedule. When you take into account Kiefer Sutherland's extra-curricular driving activities, it's difficult to finish an entire season of 24 in any amount of time. The one good thing to come from the year-long delay is the addition of a season 7 prequel, which will be two hours long and air on FOX in the Fall. Months ago, FOX unveiled the trailer for season 7, but since then fans have received very little in the way of new information. Now, although it might be somewhat minor, we've gotten a hold of a season 7 cast photo. Take a look. Not bad.
April 17, 2008
24: The Rookie feels almost like a parody of 24. Everything about The Rookie is exactly like 24, except infinitely worse. The acting, the production, the graphics, the plot – it's just a shortened, dumbed down version of 24. It's a good lesson in storytelling – 24 works because of how epic it is. The story can play out over a number of twists, double crosses and surprise death because there's 24 episodes to work with. On something like The Rookie, the sped up story makes for a less than satisfying product. But, for what it is, The Rookie is entertaining enough.
April 7, 2008
24: The Rookie – Day 3 isn't without its merits. While the production values are low compared to the real 24, and Jason Blaine is no Jack Bauer, the fact that it's even mildly entertaining is a testament to the 24 formula. The way the show is produced, with the concurrent stories and the lightning fast pacing makes even the most predictable story (like The Rookie) not horrible to watch. Here's what happened in webisode four, “Lifeline.”
April 3, 2008
With 24 not returning until next January (though we do have the prequel movie coming in the Fall), there's not much in the way of new surrounding Jack Bauer and his escapades. Thankfully, you can currently get your 24 fix on line. The third edition of the 24 webisode series 24: The Rookie has begun airing on FOX's 24 website. The series, following rookie agent Jason Blaine (not the magician), hasn't been the most critically well-received thing in the world, but if you like 24, you might enjoy The Rookie. Today, we'll take a look at the first three webisodes in The Rookie: Day 3.