24: Episode 6, 12 PM - 1 PM

Key Words: 24, Jack Bauer, Plausible Deniability, Downing Street Memos, Secretary of Agriculture, Habeas Corpus, coup d'etat, The Bodyguard, Glenn Morshower, Elisha Cuthbert,


I'm SO not ready for this week's episode. I literally need 20 more minutes. Please Jack Bauer, please.
9:03: "Just so we're clear, this is about getting Cummings, not revenging David Palmer." Jack Bauer's, says "I understand." What he means is, "Uh, whatever, Samwise."
9:04: Audrey says, "When Cummings realizes you're alive, he'll come after you." That's her way of saying, "I'm still in love with you, Jack Bauer."
9:05: The gas was "stolen" from the airport? What exactly does that mean? Why was the gas at the airport, anyway? Don't they guard that? Or was this a case of hiding something in an obvious place and hoping no one realizes it?
9:06: "So good to hear your voice, Jack." Jack Bauer and Mike Novick had a tryst between the second and third season. No one knew, but that doesn't make it any less hot.
9:08: I've really got to get away from just making fun of the dialogue. That's no fun for anyone. What else have I got? Not very much.
9:14: Aaron the Secret Service Guy goes through so much, so robotically. What does he think about? Does he have friends? Frankly, I'm surprised he's still on the show. He must know the director. I do like him, though.
9:16: I think this suspicious bad guy looks like Viggo Mortensen a little, but he just might be the worst actor of all time.
9:17: Audrey and Dianne might throw down. With looks, if not fists. Looks can kill, you know.
9:19: Jack Bauer doesn't have time for emotions. Emotions are scared of him, though.
9:20: Aaron is putting himself on the line. Walt Cummings will be firing Aaron in a few moments.
9:21: Damn it, Walt. Don't you know anything about plausible deniability?!
9:22: If this is such an "unspeakable crime" why is he talking about it? Who exactly does President Logan call in this situation? I saw him reaching for the phone, but, I mean, it's not like you can just call the cops and have Walt Cummings arrested. There has to be a protocol for detaining a high level official from your own administration.
9:23: This is unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable. Walt killed David Palmer?! My brain can't handle this. What do you do when you're the president and your top aide tells you he committed multiple felonies and crimes against national security just to frame a rouge nation in Asia? You must feel so helpless. I might have to start tracking the number of times "24" parallels the news of today. In the coming weeks and months you know that memos will leak out detailing Walt Cummings' plans to lead the country to war under false pretense.
9:29: What a warm embrace, they were definitely lovers. Mike Novick was the one who introduced Jack Bauer to Audrey.
9:29: Jack Bauer is in custody! Jack Bauer is in custody!
9:30: Mike Novick's not authorized to hear national secrets? Really? How is that possible? What is he, the Secretary of Agriculture? This is the second time the writers of "24" have allowed a president to ignore Habeas Corpus. Next thing you know, Jack Bauer is going to fake a relationship with a drug dealer's girlfriend for no reason.
9:32: Oh yeah, Aaron the Secret Service Guy also had a thing with Jack Bauer. Did you see that look?
9:33: YES! Samwise, you need to KNOW when to disregard a Presidential Order. It comes from EXPERIENCE. Rudy is disregarding the order, but he doesn't like it. Buchannon just schooled him.
9:36: Aaron the rogue Secret Service Guy? Let's hope so. It must be hard to be a robot. Protect the president, Pierce, protect him from himself. If Jack Bauer ever says coup d'etat again or anything in any other language I might give up.
9:40: "What about you?" the rookie Secret Service Guy asks. "I'm Aaron Pierce the Secret Service Guy. I do what I want around here." Do you think before each scene that Glenn Morshower is in, he asks the director, "How do you want me to play this one?" And the director says with exasperation, "Same as always, Glenn. You always ask that, it's never going to change. Pretend you're Kevin Costner in 'The Bodyguard', that's how we want you to play it."
9:41: JBKC: 1 (Walt Cummings). Torture: 1 (Walt Cummings). Normally, I'd give Jack Bauer extra points for torturing the PRESIDENT'S CHIEF OF STAFF IN FRONT OF THE FREAKING PRESIDENT, but the numbers must be accurate so I can't bonus him.
9:43: There's all sorts of crazy stuff swirling around right now. C.T.U. ignoring President's Logan's turns out to be right. "Agent Piece, take back your shield and get Walt Cummings out of my sight." You know why, Walt, President Logan thinks to himself, "It's because of something you said earlier, I'm the PRESIDENT." You don't lie to the President and get away with it. Not in "24".
9:47: Now what I have to wonder is how does this relate to the current administration. Do we take the bait and fall for the first connection between the Logan administration and the Bush administration? Planting evidence to convince the country to go to war? Or do we take it one step further and use the scene of Pierce and Jack Bauer going against everything they've been taught and breaking multiple laws under the guise of protecting the country? I think that my main problem is trying to find parables in "24".
9:51: Margaret, come on, he's trying to apologize, don't be that way. You know he'd still love you if you weren't so crazy, right? Dry your eyes, honey.
9:53: Where is Mike Novick, by the way? If there's any president that needs a few extra aides around, it's President Logan.
9:53: I predict the gas doesn't go off. This music is driving me crazy.
9:54: NJBD: 1 (Agent Schaeffer).
9:55: How does it feel, Walt Cummings? You double cross the country (or break multiple international laws to start war, all with patriotic motives, either one), you get double crossed yourself, a perfect example of why not to look for the lessons "24" is trying to teach. BECAUSE THEY DON'T EXIST.
9:56: So let's get this straight: This Russian terrorist was going to teach Moscow a lesson, but then he realized something was fishy, somehow got a government agent to confess, and changed all those plans just to get back at Schaeffer, Cummings, and the USA? That doesn't make any sense. I don't know much about terrorists, but it seems like they're focused enough to attempt the elimination of the first mortal enemy before moving on down their hit list. Is this guy really that different?
Final Thoughts:
1 JBKC, 1 torture, 1 NJBD, Prediction Ratio 50% (1 out of 2).
Wow. That's about all I can say. I'll admit I've been somewhat of a "24" gadfly of late, but tonight's episode was about as good as they've had EVER. There were many surprises and finally almost all the characters seemed to be a bit smarter than the average mailbox. Big ups to Aaron Pierce for making it possible for Jack Bauer to torture President Logan's chief of staff right in front of him. That was probably the most unpredictable television or movie scene in the history of moving pictures. Whew. Can't wait for next week!

I have it on high authority that Kim Bauer makes her appearance on next week's episode. You heard it here first!

Totals for the season, 13 JBKCs, 1 torture, 14 NJBDs, Prediction Ratio 50% (3 out of 6).