Why I Love Season 1 Of '24'

On November 6, 2001, television drama changed forever with the debut the first episode of ‘24’. ‘24’ wasn’t an ordinary drama. It was a thriller with an edge-of-your seat quality and unique format that has drawn millions of fans all over the world.

Beginning today, I am going to post a series of installments with my commentary on the episodes of ‘24’ that made me love the series and that have made the series in my opinion the best drama ever in the history of television.

I will begin by commenting on my favorite episodes of season 1 beginning with the pilot episode.

Episode #1, Season 1

12:00 am – 1:00 am

Writers: Robert Cochran & Joel Surnow

Director: Stephen Hopkins

“Don’t trust anyone…not even your own people. We’ve got to find the shooter Jack…whatever it takes.”

– Richard Walsh

The first thing you notice about the pilot episode of ‘24’ is its unique format. The ticking clock, “Events occur in real time”, the boxes. No other show had attempted the real-time format before so that alone made the show very different. It was also interesting that the ticking clock had a much different sound to it in the pilot.

The pilot episode is special because it establishes the unique format, introduces the viewer to the characters and the basic storyline that’s going to take place over the next 24 hours.

The first scene shows a mysterious man in Malaysia who gets a message to a man in LA that warns of a possible assassination attempt on Senator David Palmer. Meanwhile, a guy named Jack Bauer is playing chess with his daughter looking like an ordinary family man. Little does he know the day in store for him.

The buildup of this story in just this one episode is brilliantly done. Not only are we introduced to the main characters, but there is a great deal of development of these characters as well.

Just as an example: in just the first exchange between Jack Bauer and George Mason, you get to find out so much about these characters. George Mason is a sarcastic smart-aleck who is willing to keep Jack in the dark and lie to him about a source for some information. We also find out that Jack Bauer is a take-no-prisoners kind of guy who is willing to do anything including tranquilizing Mason (who is also his boss!) and blackmail him in order to get the information he needs.

Other great aspects of Episode 1:

• Jack’s talk with Nina about compromise: Great glimpse into Jack’s moral center and character.

• Senator Palmer & Sherry Palmer: We don’t see a lot of their relationship in this episode ,but you get a good idea that at least at the beginning of that day they seemed like a happy couple with a successful marriage. Little did we know at that time about the real Sherry Palmer.

• Mandy is not what she seems: We are introduced to the character of Mandy who seems to be a just a passenger on a flight interested in the photographer she’s sitting next to. By the end of the episode we find out she’s an assassin who proceeds to blow-up a passenger airliner in mid air. I love how ‘24’ makes you think a character is certain way then totally does a 180 and shows the character as being completely different from your initial impression.

• Kim Bauer’s teenage antics: When I first saw this episode, I thought what does this have to do with the main plot? I wasn’t exactly crazy about Kim’s storyline at first, but I eventually found out this was actually a great way to build up to the kidnapping story and its tie-in to Jack and Palmer. I have found that patience is a virtue when watching ‘24’.

• Richard Walsh/Jack Bauer relationship: You can tell from the conversation between Jack and Walsh that these characters had a great deal of respect for each other and that Walsh trusts Jack more than anyone. Too bad this relationship didn’t get to be explored further since Walsh only lasted two episodes.
  
  
• '24' Look/Feel: The pilot episode also established 24's unique look. The lighting and dark "feel" to the show was quickly established in the first episode. Starting the season at midnight was another great way they made the show different from anything else on TV.
  
  
• Good Introduction Of Other CTU Characters: I liked the way the other CTU personnel were introduced in the pilot. Tony Almedia's character being hostile and not liking Jack too much was interesting. You didn't quite know if Tony was a good guy or bad guy at the beginning of the series. Jamey Farrell, CTU Analyst; seems like a good character in the first episode. A competent analyst willing to help Jack when needed. And of course, there is Nina Meyers. There are hints of her and Jack having some kind of history, but it is not specifically stated in the pilot. You also find out that she and Tony are apparently currently an item, not gone unnoticed by Jack.
  

Final Thoughts: You can’t talk about the episodes that made ‘24’ a great show without talking about the pilot episode. The way the basic plot and the characters were introduced it made you want to see what was coming in the next episode. '24' has this unique ability to draw in the viewer and make you want to see what happens next. I will be forever grateful that FOX decided to pick up this show after seeing the pilot and sticking with it despite surprisingly low ratings for the first season. If they had not picked up '24', TV viewers would have been deprived of many great hours of drama and suspense. I'm also thankful for the creators of '24', Bob Cochran and Joel Surnow. What a great concept for a television drama/thriller. Thank you Bob and Joel!

-By 24FanForever

Next Installment: Season 1, Episode 5: 4:00 am - 5:00 am

The Bill star TJ Ramini joins 24 cast - 6/30/09

TJ Ramini, best known for his role as maverick cop Zain Nadir in The Bill, has joined the cast of 24.

Briton TJ, who most recently played boot camp instructor Yaniv in the US comedy drama Desperate Housewives, joins the hit American spy series as recurring character Tarin Karoush, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Tarin is an associate of the Middle Eastern leader played by new series regular Anil Kapoor.

The eighth series of 24, starring Kiefer Sutherland as Special Agent Jack Bauer, is due to premiere in the US on January 17, 2010.

Article Link: What'sOnTV.co.uk

New Season 8 Tidbits...

A little bit of new Season 8 news...

24 Season 8 Starts At 4:00 pm

From SpoilerTV.com:

Thanks to 0698841978 for the heads up on this image of the call sheet for Episode 3 and 4 of 24's Season 8. This means that Season 8 starts at 4:00 P.M.



Comment: Loved to see the new start time. The morning start times for the past several seasons were getting a little old. Nice change of pace!

Article Link: SpoilerTV.com


From Ask Ausiello:

Question: So does Ethan become the Vice President of 24 next season? Or maybe the first new gentleman?--Chris
Ausiello: You're wrong on both counts. According to an aide close to President Taylor, who asked not to be identified because he/she could get fired for talking to me, Ethan will be appointed the new ********* ** *****.

Many are speculating that Ethan will be the Secretary of State for Season 8.

Article Link: Entertainment Weekly/AusielloFiles

'24' Panel To Appear Again At This Year's Comic-Con

Once again a '24' panel will make an appearance at the annual Comic-Con Convention in San Diego. The convention will take place July 23 - 26, 2009.

Here's how Fox described the panels in a release issued this morning:

Friday, July 24:

2:15-3:00 P.M. Coming off its most critically acclaimed season in years, 24 stars Kiefer Sutherland, Mary Lynn Rajskub and new cast members Anil Kapoor, Freddie Prinze, Jr. and Katee Sackhoff join showrunnner Howard Gordon and the producers of the Emmy-winning series for a special sneak peek at the heart-stopping premiere episode of Season 8. Ballroom 20.

Link To Full Article: TVWeek.com

'24' Quote Of The Day - (Classic Jack Bauer)

"I'm gonna need a hacksaw."

-Jack Bauer

Season 2

8:00 am - 9:00 am

'24' Quote Of The Day: Redemption

"Mr. Benton died to make sure Juma's soldiers couldn't follow us. Mr. Benton died to make sure you could get to the embassy. Mr. Benton died to make sure you would be safe."

-Jack Bauer (to Willie)

24: Redemption

Cast Addition For Season 8

Clayne Crawford joins cast of Fox drama

By Nellie Andreeva

June 16, 2009, 11:00 PM ET

Clayne Crawford has been added to Fox's "24" as a recurring.

On the 20th TV/Imagine-produced "24," in production on its upcoming eighth season, Crawford will play a bad boy from Dana Walsh's (Katee Sackhoff) past. Sackhoff recently signed on as a new regular on the real-time drama starring Kiefer Sutherland, playing an expert data analyst at CTU with a secret past who is involved with CTU agent Davis Cole (Freddie Prinze Jr.).

Crawford, who recently wrapped Joe Carnahan's prequel "Smokin' Aces: Blowback," is repped by Innovative and Elevate Entertainment.

His credits also include the features "Swimfan" and "A Love Song for Bobby Long" and an arc on CBS' "Jericho."

Article Link: HollywoodReporter.com

Season 8 Shooting Pictures From 6/2/09

Tuesday June 2nd Los Angeles, CA. **EXCLUSIVE** Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer and Benito Martinez as Victor Aruz film a scene for the 8th season of the hit show "24". In this scene Sutherland assist Martinez who has a gunshot wound.

The two are trying to elude law enforcement who are nearby and looking for them. In between takes Kiefer spits. Kiefer also wanted to be a camera operator for one of the scenes but was not allowed to actualy film the scene but instead just rehearsed as the camera operator.

The complete set of pictures can be seen here:

OnLocationNews

You can make the pictures larger on this link as well. The larger pictures would not post correctly to this blog.

'24's' 7th Season Hits Creative High - TV Week

I can't believe I missed this article previously, but I just came across this today.

This article was published right before the season 7 finale, but I thought it was really interesting because it contained some of what was discussed during the '24' finale panel in LA.

'24's' 7th Season Hits Creative High

Torture Controversy, Speed Bumps Haven't Hurt Fox Series

By Chuck Ross

Fox's "24," which is scheduled to air its two-hour season finale tonight, has returned from a yearlong hiatus with what is arguably its best season yet from a creative point of view.

An Emmy-winner for best drama series three years ago, the show lost its footing the next year and, in the words for Variety's Chief TV Critic Brian Lowry, "Kinda went off the rails." The following season came the writers strike, and '24' didn't air at all.

During the 2006-07 season, some said the highly formatted series--each episode takes place in real time and the show religiously follows one hour after the next consecutively--was in a creative funk from which it might not rebound.

Furthermore, the last time the show was on the air, it became embroiled in a controversy about torture. The premise of the series each season is that Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) has 24 hours--or less--to prevent a major threat to national security, such as a nuclear bomb exploding in a populated area in the U.S. The show over the years has depicted numerous scenes of Jack torturing the bad guys to get information that will help end the threat de jour.

In a piece in the Feb. 19, 2007, issue of the New Yorker, writer Jane Mayer told of a meeting between the creative team behind "24" and U.S. Army Brigadier General Patrick Finnegan, the dean of the United States Military Academy at West Point. The general said "24" was very popular among cadets attending the school: "The kids see it and say, 'If torture is wrong, what about "24"?'"

Last week, during a panel discussion after a screening of this season's two-hour finale at the Wadsworth Theater in Los Angeles--before more than 1,000 guests invited through their membership in the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences--Mr. Sutherland addressed the issue head-on:

"The show, for whatever reasons, was utilized by both political entities in this country--the left and the right--and was pulled into this debate about torture," Mr. Sutherland said. "We have always kinda maintained that this is a television show and we have utilized torture as a dramatic device to show how desperate a situation is. If we kill someone on the show, we're not telling you at home that this is a good idea."

A few months after the New Yorker piece was published, the show's uneven sixth season ended. Sutherland said he then had a discussion with showrunner Howard Gordon, who told him, "'We've been pulled in (to the torture debate) in such a way that I really want to make this [next] season about that.'"

Then came the writers strike. At the same time, there was a debate where to go creatively with the show. Twentieth Century Fox Television's co-chairman, Dana Walden, who has been at the studio 17 years and is a champion of "24," told the crowd last week that Mr. Gordon came to her saying that he wanted to set part of season seven in Africa. The only problem, Ms. Walden explained, was how to get Bauer back to the U.S. in a reasonable way given the show's rule that everything happens in real time. However, she added with a laugh, if anyone could figure out how to engage viewers for 17 hours on a plane trip from Africa to the U.S., it was the writers of "24."

So that plan was shelved, and, with the continuing writers strike, the decision was made to keep "24" on hiatus until January of this year. But the studio was concerned, Mr. Gordon told TelevisionWeek, about the show being off the air so long. So Bauer's exploits in Africa, which also helped set up this season's action, was shot as a TV movie that aired last November.

Mr. Sutherland picked up the timeline by explaining what Mr. Gordon and his fellow writers came up with for this season:

"In episode one you see Jack as very resilient at the Senate investigation hearing. And yet it starts almost by episode two that we start to see that some of the things said to him [are making him] start to question himself. So when I got to the part [about halfway into the season] where the character is starting to die, [Howard and I] discussed what a great opportunity it was--because those are the moments, when you realize you only have so much time left to live--that there's a 'come to Jesus' moment where you actually really do have to confront yourself for what you've done.

"And we saw this great opportunity to take the character (on) a real shift, where there were certain things he could justify and there were certain things that he could not. And that for me was kinda the most dramatic aspect that he had ever been in. It was not plot-driven, and it was one of the things I loved about the ending for this season. It was really about these characters taking seriously [both] themselves and what they had gone through over the course of these last seven seasons. So for all of those reasons it was really a fantastic opportunity."

No doubt it was this added dimension of self-reflection by the stoic Bauer and Tony Almeida (Carlos Bernard) characters, plus dynamite performances from the actors, that helped the show. Exhilarating role-playing by series newcomers Cherry Jones, Jon Voight, Annie Wershing, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Ravi Kapoor and Sprague Grayden--to name a few--also rekindled superlatives from fans and critics alike this season. "This season came back very, very strong," said Mr. Lowry.

Characters as self-assured and unequivocal as Jack Bauer have been favorites on TV from its earliest days--from Rin Tin Tin to Perry Mason, and from Vinnie Terranova on "The Wiseguy" to wiseguy Tony Soprano. And the appeal of Mr. Sutherland as Bauer--especially this season with Bauer's Shakespearian tones of self-doubt amidst all the madness--cannot be overstated.

"I think they did some very clever stuff about the torture issue this year," Mr. Lowry told TVWeek. "And I think that was in large measure because it's what Howard wanted to do. But I think all of that is window dressing for the larger issue, which is that the show works or doesn't work at its heart as a thriller, and it worked well this year."

Furthermore, Mr. Lowry said, Mr. Sutherland's portrayal of Bauer is key.

"Kiefer sells that character," he said. "He plays it with absolute conviction."

If Sutherland is the glue that keeps the show popular on-screen, it's showrunner Mr. Gordon who guides his team to provide the magical ingredients that make the glue stick.

Mr. Gordon said in some ways, he's as much the character of Bauer as is Mr. Sutherland.

"I'm exceedingly hard-working, and I've got a strong moral compass," which are hallmarks of Bauer's character.

And in some ways he and Mr. Sutherland are joined at the hip. Mr. Gordon, who has been with the show since season one when co-creators Joel Surnow and Bob Cochran brought him in, was anointed showrunner in season five. He quickly learned that Mr. Sutherland, also an executive producer on the show, had very strong views about his character.

"At the very beginning I was nervous about hearing from Kiefer," Mr. Gordon told TVWeek. "It was the dreaded call that would come at all hours--when I was at home having dinner with my family, or at a Dodger game."

But Mr. Gordon said he quickly understood that these weren't the rantings of some insecure, neurotic actor. "I realized that Kiefer really understood the show and especially understood Jack. Kiefer is very intelligent, and what he says is usually very smart. So I listen a lot to what he says. It's never an ego thing. His suggestions always come from his passion for the show and for Jack and for making the show better."

For example, a few months ago Mr. Sutherland called Mr. Gordon to explain why he thought they needed to reshoot episodes 19 and 20 of this season's 24-episode order. The scenes involved Bauer's reaction to a significant plot twist involving Tony Almeida. Mr. Gordon, who had been having some of the same reservations as Mr. Sutherland, figured out the cost of the reshoot and asked Ms. Walden if they could do it. She said yes--a rather unusual decision considering the show is in its seventh season.

But "24" isn't just any show. It's been a significant moneymaker for years. This year's most recent Forbes survey, citing data from TNS Media Intelligence, showed "24" makes the second-highest amount of money of any show on TV in terms of advertising revenue. The show, Forbes said, pulls in $3.7 million per half-hour and $366,000 per average 30-second spot. The only show earning more also is on Fox: "American Idol," at $7 million per half-hour and $623,000 per average 30-second commercial.

Despite some ratings slippage this year, " '24' rather consistently does around a 10 share among most demo groups," said research guru Steve Sternberg, executive VP, audience analysis, at Magna, a unit of media agency giant IPG Mediabrands.

Mr. Sternberg, who is also a fan of the show, said Mr. Sutherland's portrayal of Bauer is crucial to the program's success. Without Mr. Sutherland, Mr. Sternberg doesn't think the series could continue.

Mr. Gordon isn't as convinced.

"Yes, it would be a different show without Kiefer, but I don't know that it could not be done," he said. "I'm sure a lot of the appeal of the show is that we do it in real time. In fact, I wish it had been called that. 'Real Time.' The hardest part of the show is being married to the premise that it's all got to happen in 24 hours, and that's such a forced idea. The idea that it's in real time, however, is natural and compelling."

Mr. Gordon and Mr. Sutherland have one more year on their existing "24" contracts. Both are excited about next year's eighth season, which will take place in New York City. In fact, Mr. Sutherland told the crowd last week that he wishes the premise that sets off the action next season really would happen.

Mr. Gordon later told TVWeek that premise is a disarmament conference with "an Iran-like country."

Hmm. Let's imagine. Let's say Bauer ends up alone in the basement of the UN with a character resembling--just resembling, mind you--Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and there's a fight, and there's bleeding, and Jack tells him he doesn't realize what Jack's capable of, and Jack asks him where the nuclear weapons are, and then Jack YELLS the question at him, and at home the audience's adrenaline starts pumping, and many of THEM are YELLING at their TVs and it's all so politically incorrect in this time of Obama, but the audience doesn't care and ....

Link To Article: TVWeek.com

Official Season 8 Press Release - 6/9/09

24 - Season 8 Casting, Press Release and Premiere Date

KATEE SACKHOFF, FREDDIE PRINZE JR., MYKELTI WILLIAMSON, JOHN BOYD, CHRIS DIAMANTOPOULOS AND JENNIFER WESTFELDT JOIN THE CAST OF “24” FOR SEASON EIGHT

Series Returns with Two-Hour Premiere Event Sunday, January 17, on FOX

Katee Sackhoff, Freddie Prinze Jr., Mykelti Williamson, John Boyd, Jennifer Westfeldt and Chris Diamantopoulos have joined the cast of 24 for the series’ eighth season. The Emmy Award-winning drama starring Kiefer Sutherland returns for its next astonishing day with a two-night, four-hour premiere beginning Sunday, Jan. 17 (9:00-11:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.

Season Eight will unfold in New York City amidst the shadows of the Statue of Liberty and the United Nations. In this new day, CTU has been upgraded and is run by MBA-schooled and razor-sharp head honcho BRIAN HASTINGS (Williamson, “Forrest Gump”). COLE ORTIZ (Prinze Jr.), an ex-Marine who wants to follow in JACK BAUER’s (Sutherland) footsteps, runs the division’s Field Operations. Expert data analyst DANA WALSH (Sackhoff, “Battlestar Galactica”) collaborates with systems analyst ARLO GLASS (Boyd, “The Notorious Bettie Page”) inside CTU. ROB WEISS (Diamantopoulos, “The Starter Wife”) serves as PRESIDENT ALLISON TAYLOR’s (Cherry Jones) new chief of staff, and MEREDITH REED (Westfeldt, “Grey’s Anatomy”) is an ambitious journalist with ties to the unfolding situation.

As previously announced, Sutherland, Jones, Mary Lynn Rajskub and Annie Wersching also return. In addition, Bollywood icon Anil Kapoor (“Slumdog Millionaire”) makes his American TV debut as OMAR HASSAN, a Middle Eastern leader who comes to the U.S. on a peacemaking mission.

24, created by Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran, is a production of 20th Century Fox Television and Imagine Television in association with Teakwood Lane Productions. Howard Gordon, Evan Katz, David Fury, Manny Coto, Brannon Braga, Brad Turner, Alex Gansa, Kiefer Sutherland and Brian Grazer are executive producers while Chip Johannessen and Patrick Harbinson serve as co-executive producers.

Source: Fox

Link To Article: SpoilerTV.com

Another Season 8 Cast Addition...

Scoop: Katee Sackhoff makes time for '24'

Jun 8, 2009, 03:11 PM | by Michael Ausiello

Suddenly, I find myself counting the minutes until 24's new season. Perhaps this is why: Katee Sackhoff is joining the cast!

Sources confirm to me exclusively that the Battlestar Galactica heroine has been tapped to play the series regular role of Dana Walsh, a highly respected and down-to-earth data analyst at the new and improved New York branch of CTU.

Translation: Chloe-Starbuck catfight alert!

This fraktastic casting coup hit a road block last week when Sackhoff abruptly took herself out of the running, prompting me to post this blind item. But late Friday, word surfaced that the BSG badass was once again in the mix.

Here's more scoop on Sackhoff's character...

She's in a relationship with fellow agent Davis Cole (played by the just-cast Freddie Prinze. Jr.), and she apparently has a skeleton in her closet she's trying desperately to keep hidden.

As I previously reported, 24's eighth season -- which premieres Jan. 17, 2010 -- will be set in the Big Apple and center on an assassination plot against a visiting foreign leader (Slumdog Millionaire's Anil Kapoor). In addition to Sackhoff and Prinze, new Day 8 blood includes Forrest Gump's Mykelti Williamson, Kissing Jessica Stein's Jennifer Westfeldt (as a journalist with ties to Kapoor's diplomat), and The Starter Wife's Chris Diamantopoulos (as President Taylor's Chief of Staff).

Thoughts on Sackhoff's casting? Is this going to be 24's best day ever?

Link To Article: EW.com

Comment: I've never seen Battlestar Galactica, but a lot of 24 fans seem to be excited about this casting choice.

TCA Nomination For '24: Redemption'

'24: Redemption has been nominated for a TCA (Television Critics' Association) award!

Awards will be announced Aug. 1 at the Langham Huntington Hotel in Pasadena. Chelsea Handler will host.

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT MOVIES, MINI-SERIES AND SPECIALS

2008 Summer Olympic Coverage (NBC)

24: Redemption (Fox)

Generation Kill (HBO)

Grey Gardens (HBO)

Taking Chance (HBO)

Link To Complete Article: Variety.com

You Knew This Would Happen Eventually...

A thrilling adventure to awaken your senses

ScentStory launches 24 The Fragrance

Under the patronage of The Dubai Chamber of Commerce, ScentStory FZE – a UAE company – launched one of the most exciting and innovative fragrance products ever developed in Dubai: 24 The Fragrance. At an exclusive event in Cinestar Cinemas, Mall of the Emirates Dubai, ScentStory unveiled 24 The Fragrance, a captivating interpretation of the award winning television series. Hailed by critics around the world as one of the most innovative, addictive and acclaimed dramas on television, 24 follows twenty-four consecutive hours in the life of Jack Bauer, acted by Kiefer Sutherland, a maverick anti-terrorist agent.

24 The Fragrance is inspired by the central character of 24, Jack Bauer. He is a man of strong personality - one that deepens over time and is sculpted by the adventures he lives. He is strong and robust, tough yet sensitive. He is the perfect man for the ultimate mission.
The man behind this exceptional perfume is enigmatic with incredible self-assurance. He conveys an air of extreme distinction. He is urban, cosmopolitan, but above all a Hero.

The distinguished scent of 24 The Fragrance opens with emotions of vibrancy and dynamism, created by the enchanting blend of lavender, mandarin orange and bergamot. A flash of lemon completes the thrill of intense freshness.

At its heart, lie expressions of self assurance and masculinity captured by a savvy mélange of nutmeg, cinnamon, pink pepper, mint, caraway and anise, an exquisite bouquet of enticing spices to unveil the true essence of the fragrance.

Yet, the lasting impressions of 24 The Fragrance are of gripping and cliff-hanging sensations with notes of amber, musk, oak moss, vanilla and wood providing the finishing depth to the scent that you want to last for a long time.

The packaging of 24 The Fragrance echoes the flowing manly notes of the scent itself. The clear lines of the bottle reflect the masculine and heavy character of the scent and the 24 logo, printed in silver foil, gives a prestigious finish. The heavy cap is metallic and contemporary, aligned with the series individuality.

Made in Dubai
The first selective fragrance to be designed and developed in Dubai, 24 The Fragrance, inspired by Jack Bauer and the award- winning TV Show, is the result of the fruitful collaboration between ScentStory FZE and Twentieth Century Fox Licensing and Merchandizing. This world innovation is a ground breaking initiative that follows in the steps of Dubai’s many world-class achievement which include the first man-made Palm Islands and the world’s tallest building – Burj Dubai - to name but a few. The innovative nature of 24 The Fragrance has captivated the patronage and support of The Dubai Chamber of Commerce:

Mr. Said Mahdi Al Mazim, Members Services Director, at Dubai Chamber, “As a facilitator of businesses in Dubai, the Chamber is on the forefront of all economic development and better business endeavours and wholeheartedly supports all events that work towards the betterment of any economic sector, in this instance, the local company ScentStory FZE which is behind the product design and manufacturing along with three other Dubai-based companies to market the fragrance internationally. I am sure this project will inspire many others to follow suit in producing specialized products like perfumes/colognes, just the way Paris, London and New York does.”

Mr. Carl Lumbard, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Twentieth Century Fox Licensing & Merchandising, London, UK, also comments:

“When ScentStory approached us with the 24 fragrance proposal, we were immediately impressed by the potent brand synergy it would create. The resulting fragrance and packaging reflects the key brand values of 24 and encapsulates the strong, tough and self assured character of Jack Bauer, the central star of the show.

Our partnership with ScentStory is key to the long term success of 24 The Fragrance and we have every confidence in their ability to continually innovate and develop the concept further.

We are extremely excited to introduce this fragrance to you. Inspired by Jack Bauer and the award winning TV show, the fragrance captivates the essence of 24: a dynamic, masculine fragrance presented in an innovative yet refined bottle & packaging. Importantly, we are confident that fans of 24 – especially fans of Jack Bauer – will be enlivened by this unique proposition, taking their 24 brand experience to a new level.”

24 The Fragrance will launch first in the UAE. During this launch phase, it will not available anywhere else on the planet – it’s a worldwide exclusive! It is currently on sale in Virgin Megastore across the UAE. 24 The Fragrance will be progressively rolled out across other selective fragrance retailers in the UAE and then the wider Middle East. This exclusivity only adds to the thrilling adventure 24 The Fragrance is sure to deliver to its many fans.

24 The Fragrance will be available in Eau de Toilette 100 ml at a retail price of 250 AED.

Link: EyeOfDubai.com

Comment: I hope this makes its way to the States eventually.

ELISHA CUTHBERT from 24 Exclusive Interview - 6/5/09

***Article Contains A Few Minor Season 8 Spoilers***

A couple of days ago I interviewed ELISHA CUTHBERT who made her return on 24 this season as Kim Bauer.

For those who have seen this season of 24, I think you'll agree that Elisha Cuthbert had some pretty intense, emotional scenes and it's not a surprise that she is one of the Emmy hopefuls this year.

Elisha Cuthbert talked about her return on 24, some of her other future projects and much more. So enjoy the interview below.

How does it feel to be back on '24'?

Elisha Cuthbert: It's good. It's kind of one of those things where I'm really lucky that I can come in and out and get to do other things and yet still be on the show and sort of there in the right way. It's not because the writers are forced to write something for the character now. They write for Kim when it's appropriate and it works for the show. I couldn't be happier for those reasons.

Was it easy to get back into it after a few years of not being on the show? Did you still know who she was?

Elisha Cuthbert: I was nervous before I got in there to sort of play the character again. I had these ideas of, like, 'I'm coming back and she's older. Is it going to work? How am I going to play this? Do I play it differently?' I had so many things going on in my mind, but then once I got there it kind of fell together and Kiefer [Sutherland] was really strong about how he sort of saw her coming back and I agreed with all of the things that he and I had discussed; sort of the maturity and the willingness to want to regain her relationship with her father. All those emotions led into the evolution of the character again. I made myself a wreck for nothing I think.

The first scene back is very emotional with him dying.

Elisha Cuthbert: Exactly and there had been a lot left unsaid and a lot left that was sort of open and hadn't been closed as far as relationship between each other. So to jump back onto the show in such an emotional scene that really could've gone any way was kind of tricky. But once we got there it just made a lot of sense and it felt really great. We did that scene fairly quickly, too. It went really smoothly. Kiefer and I rehearsed quite a bit on our own time before actually getting on set and that really helped. In TV you don't really have the luxury to take that time and to do that on the set because it's such a fast paced show. There's so much work that needs to be done that the extra time was really a nice thing for Kiefer to do for me.

I think you're back next season, too, right?

Elisha Cuthbert: Yeah.

Will that be another guest spot or are you a regular in the new season?

Elisha Cuthbert: It's so early in the year right now that I'm kind of just going with the flow. I think it's probably going to be more of another guest appearance because really, like I said, it's so hard to write each hour something interesting and sort of on the edge of your seat for this character for the twenty four hours. She does have a child and is married now. So the character is a little more basic than Jack. I think when it's appropriate for her to come in and out of the show that season I think that's what the producers want to do and I'm all for it.

Do you think that Jack will get to meet his grandson or granddaughter in the new season?

Elisha Cuthbert: I think that would be really neat. The fact that we sort of touched on it lightly last season was a really interesting part of my character. This year, whether or not he actually physically meets the grandchild I'm not a hundred percent sure, but I think we're trying to make that work in some capacity. I think it'd be a really interesting dynamic to see Jack kind of come out of the mayhem of his life and see him as a grandfather and as a father as opposed to this sort of superhuman.

If you had a choice of a storyline for Kim next season what would it be?

Elisha Cuthbert: I absolutely love doing the action stuff. It's a lot of fun and it's extremely challenging. Last year, having to have my arm on fire and having to go in and do all of that was extremely thrilling. It's a really great part of the show, the action stuff. But I think I'm really pleased to see that this season we're touching on who she is now and where she's at in her family life and how she's reconnected with her father, which I think audiences really want to see. Then as the season goes on it would be amazing to continue to do action stuff. She's got the training and the character who's been down that path before and it wouldn't be right to not have her in a bit of danger, but you never know. The writers are always going back and forth with ideas and coming up with things on the spot. I'm hoping that they'll incorporate that somewhere in the season.

Did you actually have your arm on fire doing that scene with the car?

Elisha Cuthbert: I did. I did, yeah. It was terrifying. I was really confident going in because we have amazing stunt coordinators and they do this every episode. I knew that I was in good hands, but I just wasn't sure how it was going to go. The idea of your arm being on fire isn't a pleasant one, but then when it actually happened it was amazing. I just went with it and it was crazy, absolutely crazy. My fear was that we actually had some photographers on set that weren't with the production and I was afraid that it was going to get leaked before it got on air. I don't think it detracted from any of it though. So it was definitely the biggest stunt that I've ever done in my career so far.

Talk about not even faking it. You had fire right in your face.

Elisha Cuthbert: It was crazy. They had prepped all my wardrobe so that I obviously wasn't feeling any of the burn. There was a lot of...it gets technical, but there was tons of that fire retardant gel and things like that. Really, I didn't feel the fire at all. But when your eyes look down at your arm on fire your mind really is connecting to the sheer fear of the fact that you're actually on fire. Even though I didn't feel the heat it definitely was terrifying.

Did you find that the show had a different feel when you came back after a few years? Was there anything different about the set or was it still just the same '24' to you?

Elisha Cuthbert: It was a bit of both. There hasn't been too many changes. We're really lucky in that we mostly have the same crew from day one. Kiefer being there. I was really lucky that my first scene was with him. That kind of helped because it brought back old feelings of what it was like on the show and it didn't feel like I had gone away, but at the same time a lot has happened. I've gone off and done other things too and to come back really did feel like home again which was a really nice feeling to come back to.

Who's your favorite character on '24' apart from Kim?

Elisha Cuthbert: Let me see. God, there are so many. I really like the dynamic between Carlos Bernard's character, Tony Almeida and Jack. Tony has been there from day one which is rare. Obviously a lot of characters have died off or gone off to do other things. Tony's character has really stuck through from the beginning. Last year, for his character to go through so many twists and turns, it was really exciting to watch that and the suspense of if he was bad or good and what side he was on. He was just a really well written character last year, just dynamite.

When the switch came that he was bad again I thought, 'No way.'

Elisha Cuthbert: Yeah, exactly. I think fans that have seen the show since day one are getting smarter and know that these twists are coming, but for some reason the way that it was written and the way that Carlos played the character and obviously the history that he has on the show, it was really tough to determine where he was going. That was really amazing. I enjoy watching Carlos and also when Carlos and Kiefer work together, it's just dynamite. Their fight was so intense. I can only imagine. You could sense it, you could feel that these were two actors that have worked together for quite some time on the show and they just brought it. It was unbelievable. Really great. I feel the same way for me, that I'm lucky I've been there since the beginning. There aren't many characters that have done that and to get to come back and really do some meaty stuff with Kiefer and to end the season the way that it ended with him and I in the hospital was just dynamite. The writing was just so great last year.

Can you talk about how you prepare for a part, your process in creating a character when you get a new project?

Elisha Cuthbert: I'm pretty easy going, but I really put a lot of time and effort into the physical aspects of the character, as far as the aesthetic and the look. I'm not one of those actors that likes to keep it the same. '24' has really taught me that because everyone associates or a lot of people associate me with Kim Bauer. So when I go off to do other projects it's been a big important thing to do, to kind of get away from that look, that Kim Bauer look and try other things. A lot goes into coming up with wardrobe and hair. I think when you get a character physically the acting, becoming that person becomes so much easier because if she's brunette or a little bit more on the edgy side or a little more feminine, it kind of all comes together at that point. So that's sort of a big deal.

Is there a dream role that you have?

Elisha Cuthbert: There are so many. I'd love to do something or become a character...as opposed to coming up with a fictional character, something that is actually real, a real person, portraying a real individual that's gone through some really intense things in their lives, playing someone who exists and getting to pick their brain and trying to give justice to a real person; doing that would be amazing. I'd like to do more action. I just feel like there are so many great parts for the female character that kind of goes through and comes out triumphant as far as kicking butt and doing fun stuff. After '24' I definitely know that I can do it. To find something that's a little Jack Bauer but a female version would be dynamite. I would love to do that.

Is there an actor that you'd like to work with that you haven't had a chance to yet?

Elisha Cuthbert: I've worked with a lot of great actors. Robert Duvall. I've been a huge fan of his for a long, long time, since I can remember. I'd love to do something with him. Meryl Streep is my all time favorite actress. I think working with her would be pretty dynamite. There are so many and for all different reasons. It's interesting when you meet and work with different actors how that kind of brings out a different side to you. Even just working with Kiefer and stepping up my game. I think you're only as good as the people that you surround yourself with. Working with really talented people who are creative and who push the limit is always great for someone like me who's not in the beginning but in the early stages of my career.

Can you talk about some of the projects that you have coming up?

Elisha Cuthbert: I'm excited to be back on '24' again. That's really cool and has been taking up my time right now. I did a movie with Tim Allen called 'The Six Wives of Henry Lefay'. I don't have a release date, but that should be coming out at some point. It's a comedy. Andy McDowell is in the film and Jenna Elfman is also in it. I just had a blast doing that because it was light and it was fun. I learned a lot from Tim, too, about comedic timing and stuff like that. So that was a whole different ballgame and it was a ton of fun to do and so that was great. Then I've been gearing up for Kim Bauer again.

If you could guest star on any other TV show which one would it be?

Elisha Cuthbert: Hmm. That's a good one. I don't watch a lot of TV, but let me think. That's hard. Actually, over the years, coming up with ideas about doing other shows, other pilots has been really difficult for me because I just feel like I set the bar so high for myself with '24'. It's just a phenomenal show that it's almost crazy to think of doing anything else unless it was up to par. There's a ton of shows out there that are up there. I don't know what show I would be on. That's a tricky one. I like 'Nip/Tuck' a lot. I think that's a fun show. I like that show quite a bit. I'm a huge Hugh Laurie fan and so 'House' is one of my favorites, too. I don't know where I'd fit in there, maybe a young doctor or something. Maybe 'House'. That would be a good one.

Link: Daemon's TV

'24' Season 7: "Day of Salvation" Video (Part 2)

Here's Part 2:



Link: YouTube

'24' Season 7: "Day of Salvation" Video (Part 1)

Wonderful music video with clips of 'Redemption' and the first part of Season 7. Thanks to Cubavisions for this:



Link: YouTube

'24' Season 4 Official Trailer

This is the season of '24' that got me hopelessly addicted. Here is one of the official trailers for that great season:




Link: YouTube

Back To Work On Set Of '24'

Looks like Jack will start the season spending time with Kim, her husband and little Teri. I'm sure that will last until Jack is dragged back into another crisis! Cute pics of Kiefer with the little girl. Awww....

Sources: BusyBeeBlogger.com & Purepeople.com

Season 8 Casting News...

24: Mykelti Williamson Is the New CTU Boss

Throw in another name to the cast of the eighth season of 24--and, this time, they've finally chosen a successor to Bill Buchanan.

Mykelti Williamson is set to join the award-winning action series as Brian Hastings, the new boss of a revived CTU. His character is described as being an MBA graduate with a razor-sharp intellect.

Williamson recently held roles in the NBC series Boomtown, as Detective Bobby "Fearless" Smith, as well as a recurring role as the argumentative Brigham Sinclair in CSI: NY. Obviously he's no stranger to action roles, as evidenced in his previous work--from two decades back--in Hill Street Blues, The Fugitive and Kidnapped. He also starred in films such as Free Willy, Forrest Gump, Con Air and August Rush.

He is the latest to join the cast of the show's New York-based eighth season. Freddie Prinze Jr. was recently cast as CTU field ops head and Jack Bauer-wannabe Davis Cole. Chris Diamantoupolos is set to play new White House chief-of-staff Rob Weiss; John Boyd will play CTU analyst Jonas Schwartz; Jennifer Westfeldt will play ambitious journalist Meredith Reed; and Anil Kapoor will play Middle Eastern leader Arman Hashemi.

The new season, which still has Kiefer Sutherland, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Annie Wersching and Cherry Jones on board, will premiere on January 17 next year.

Link: BuddyTV.com