The Bauer Hour of Power, Hour 16

There was a story in Monday's USA Today that talked about this season of 24 being the worst. While I admit that the plots this year are not exactly house-broken, a mediocre 24 is still better than 95% of whatever else is on. Come on, does anybody really care about "According to Jim?" Now, while some of you may be groaning at the thought of another 24-related post, I have heard from some of you that do appreciate the Tuesday morning recaps. So, for those well informed folks, here come da notes...


---Once again, President Wayne Palmer's recovery from a coma is astounding. Two Advils and all brain swelling is apparently suspended. But, you just know that he's going to collapse at some point soon. He doesn't even get to recover in a nice comfy pair of sweats. Nope, they throw him right back into a Perry Ellis grey number.

---Yes, it is starting to seem like these plots are getting repeated. Didn't we see this nuclear threat several seasons back? And, in Season 2, we had the exact same "the President is nuts, let's ditch his sorry ass in favor of the Vice President" plotline. At the same time, why else can they do? I'm not dying to see Jack Bauer battle those insurgents who are messing with the country's dog food.

---Can I mention the Logans again? Hello, Charles? Hello, Martha? I was thinking of another character who mysteriously disappeared and you never found out what happened. Remember the Presidential aide from Season 2? Lynne Kresge. Two flights of stairs and fell right into oblivion.

---The Santa Monica Pier is never empty at 945PM. It's loaded with street gangs and churro stands. Gredenko and Fayed don't have a chance against the Vengeful Warriors of Ocean Park Boulevard.

---There is no dignity in bleeding to death underneath the Santa Monica Pier.


---Rick/Ricky/Whatever Schroder should avoid all close-ups. Make-up by Rand McNally.

---Don't you just love all the spying and surveillance in the White House? Can you just picture George Bush outing his wife for finishing all the mocha chip ice cream?

---Can we talk about Chloe a little bit? She had one single line last night. The rest of the time, there were some cutaways to her and she had this nauseating look like she had just drank a smoothie made of Pine Sol. They have muted her character significantly this year, and I don't like it. I realize that producers feel the need to change up characters in order to give their actors new challenges. But, in this case, by servicing the actor, the showrunners are disservicing the audience. Nobody gives a flying Munchkin whether Mary Lynn Raksjub gets to use different acting muscles. We just want the smart quips and smarmy putdowns that we know and love from our favorite CTU IT person.

---This has nothing to do with 24, but it was really weird seeing that "Vacancy" movie trailer with Luke Wilson. Only because he was sitting at the table next to me at lunch yesterday.

Dinner last night: sandwich and salad. Had a big lunch....right next to Luke Wilson.