Actor Gabriel Macht starred in an unaired pilot of a new show called 'Numbers' for CBS. Fortunately, he's been replaced in the full series by ex-'Northern Exposure' actor Rob Morrow.
Gabriel's official site is down, pending a revamp in mid-August.
Huh? And this is related to '24' how?
Gabriel Macht was originally offered the role of Jack's partner Chase Edmunds but the producers were so impressed by James Badge Dale's audition they offered him the role and promised Macht a significant role in the next season.
Now I see... that's why Jack cut Chase's hand off.
UPDATE: Then again, look at his photograph. Look familiar? Squint and you could be looking at Kiefer Sutherland's little brother. Hmm...
Season three is over. Sky One finally broadcast the finale episode, 12PM - 1PM, tonight. It was roughly half excellent, half damp squib.
The excellence was supplied by Jack cutting off Chase's hand with an axe. Holy fuck! Blotted out like a damp squib by Jack disposing of the virus in a fridge. IN A FUCKING FRIDGE! Is that all it took? Might as well as just sent some guy from Rumblelows around to save the world, then.
As for that final scene? Genius. I bet the deleted scenes on the DVD will include the ending where Jack gets into his car and shoots up at the end.
I still think when Jack told Kim "he had some things to care of", coupled with his breakdown, might have meant that whatever he has to deal with next season is shit he cannot come back from. Like, we think that he's crying about what has happened to him, but in fact he's upset at what he is about to do. Meaning that season four will bring a whole conclusion to the plot of 'Jack's downfall' and hopefully bring about his 'redemption'.
Anyway, it's '24' law that Sherry has to do something really naughty in the last few episodes of a season - putting Kim Bauer's life in danger, trying to sell out Jack to Peter Kingsley - that messes up the plans that Jack and Palmer have. Being shot at the end of episode 23 kind of blew Palmer's chance of relection. Still, him deciding to stand down after all that Jack did to defend his presidency over the past two series: it's enough to make you break down and cry.
I was hoping for the return of Jonathan the German photographer/sniper from season one. There was no chance of that happening, really. It would have been neat if Marie Warner had been the person carrying the last dose of the virus, but obviously the writers aren't as smart as I am. Well, my ideas sucked, frankly.
The 'hanging thread' plot point I wanted to find out more about: what came of President Dave working the phrase 'the sky is falling' into that press conference? Was it just so that Saunders would know Palmer was going to go along with the plan? Or was it a signal so that that vial couriers would know to set out to plant their devices? Or was it just a way to work in a cool plot device and phrase into the show? Or what?
'24' is going to have an extra three months off between seasons, so it'll start in the US in January rather than October. It looks like we're getting another '12AM - 12AM' series since that'd fit in with the shooting schedule.
Here is the biggest news you'll hear about '24' all summer: season four will be the last season. Read the last sentence in the bottom paragraph. Well, I'm convinced. And if they are putting together a 'straight to video' DVD special, that only confirms it. Four seasons would give us 98 episodes, and a two hour featurette could push that up to 100, which is the magic number needed to get a decent sell-on price for a syndication deal.
The second biggest news about '24'? The only returning character will be Jack Bauer. Executive producer Joel Surnow confirmed that Dennis Haysbert, James Badge Dale, Elisha Cuthbert, Carlos Bernard, Zachary Quinto and the rest of the cast won't be returning. Expect a few 'guest appearances', though. Elisha Cuthbert was asked to stay on, but she refused. Apparently she's in the running to play Lois Lane in a new Superman movie.
Variety magazine also confirmed what a lot of us knew a long time ago: David Palmer won't be the President for season four.
Geoff Pierson, who played Palmer's Republican rival John Keeler, has been confirmed as returning. He'll take over as the President in the series' universe.
It's not all bad for the actors, though:
Reiko Aylesworth, who played Michelle on '24' for the past two seasons, is set to join the original 'CSI', as a lab-based detective.
It might be bad for the viewers, though:
Hit US drama '24' will have a rare collection of guest stars for the new series, including Sylvester Stallone.
The Rocky star was approached by the show's producers after his latest movie Spy Kids proved to be a great success.
A source told me: "Sly is really keen to move into TV drama and loves the show."
Please, all-seeing, all-hearing, supreme over-lord - don't let
this Sky News report be true. I'll give you my first-born. No, just kidding.
America's TV Guide magazine had quotes from a '24' 'insider' in a recent issue, who said: "The inner workings of CTU will not be as central to the plot with Jack on the outside". So take this to mean that Jack's in Washington (on the day of the Presidential inaugeration?), he investigates a threat and invites any remaining CTU characters to travel up and help him out for a few hours. I guess this means Michelle, since I doubt he'd bring Kim into a trouble zone.
TV Guide also wrote that:
A source close to the series reveals that the show will jump forward at least a year.
Probably wise, since another two or three year 'jump' would push the Jack Bauer character well into his mid-40s.
Oh, and like I reported last week, expect Jack to join the navy. Maybe that why he's been practising his Village People YMCA dance.
As for new characters?
Ex-'La Femme Nikita' star Alberta Watson will play the as-yet-unnamed new head of CTU. As you may remember, the 'La Femme Nikita' TV show was directed by '24' supremo Jon Cassar. Alberta has her own website where you might find some '24' info...
Shawn Doyle will play the character taking Jack's old CTU job, Head of Field Ops.
Sam Elliott has been offered the role of James Sinclair, the Secretary of Defense.
Expect the Secretary of Defense to be a major character, as one of his aides -Audrey Raines - will be Jack's new love interest. Apparently. The part is uncast so far, but they're looking for an actress in her late 20s to early 30s.
I have a horrible feeling that season four will be at least partially about Jack having to stop a suicide bomber from blowing himself/herself up in the middle of Los Angeles. Please - if any of the people behind the show are reading this - don't do it.
My suggestions for season four:
No Jack 'going rogue'
He must have done this at least three times during the course of the previous three seasons. Let's give it a rest, eh?
No assassinations
David Palmer (nearly, three times), Syed Ali (sucessfully), Ryan Chappelle - it's been covered. Forget this.
No kidnappings of goodies by baddies, although goodies are allowed to kidnap baddies - but not the children or wives of baddies
Let's face it, if Kim doesn't appear, there isn't going to be any kidnapping.
No special guest appearances by old co-stars from season one or two
Mike, Lynne, Carrie, Alberta Greene - they were written out for a reason, remember. They were boring. I'd quite like to see the return of Palmer's advisor Karl, though.
No agents 'going dark'
See 'Going rogue' above.
No moles
Ditto.
No references to old plots; '24' is about the here and now, not the past
There's something we should all remember about '24', and it is pretty simple: expect no closure.
The show is set in real time. There's no room for flashbacks, or flash-forwards, or back story, or explanation of hanging threads from past seasons. This is exactly why I hope '24' never explains about Palmer's knackered hand, what Jack whispered to Nina, whatever happened to Max and Trepkos, bringing back Kate Warner or hanging onto characters like Tony and Michelle.
I think they're going to get a lot of stick if they don't explain in season whether Tony is in prison, or whether he got a Presidential pardon, but - for the good of the series and the entire basic premise - I don't think they should, regardless of what viewers want.
Excellent article about Sky's treatment of '24' from The Scotsman:
The final episode of series three of Kiefer Sutherland's '24' takes place tonight, so please don't call between 9PM and 10PM. I have been as hooked on the third series about biological terrorism in Los Angeles as I was on the first two. But I must admit that it has lost that feeling of event television since it moved from BBC2 to Sky One.
The BBC built a cult following for '24' by running it at 10pm on Sunday nights on BBC2, then following up with a sneak preview of next week's episode on BBC3. There was even a discussion programme about that night's shows after that on BBC3 called 'Pure 24'.
Addicts of '24', like me, lapped it up; there was plenty to talk about with fellow fans the next day. (I even gave Sunday night '24' supper parties!) Sky One did none of that and because it was on a satellite channel, fewer people saw it at all.
Nor was Thursday night a good choice: too many of the younger viewers attracted to '24' were out partying; even I had to record most of the episodes because of work commitments.
As a result, the third series has been a bit of a disappointment for Sky One.
But '24's poor ratings are only a symptom of the channel's wider malaise. Ratings for the channel are plummeting because of its over-reliance on American imports and its failure, despite being launched 15 years ago, to develop British programmes of popularity and distinction. One reason I decided to stop running Sky and return full-time to the Sunday Times in 1991 was because Rupert Murdoch refused to invest in British programming. He thought the whole schedule could be filled with US fare. Now I read that the channel is to reinvent itself by going more upmarket via new UK productions.
Indeed, as I write this, an email arrives asking if I'd like to be involved in a new factual show which is part of Sky One’s strategy to relaunch itself as a more upmarket channel targeting a more sophisticated audience. About time, too: after '24' ceases on Thursday night, the only show it has worth watching is 'The Simpsons'.
To all those who are still watching on Sky One and who are waiting patiently for tonight's finale, I salute you. Enjoy it while it lasts.
News about season four from the Navy Compass:
Producers from the Fox television series '24' visited two San Diego military installations July 1st to study the possibility of inserting a Navy theme into a future episode of their action-drama series.
The producers toured Assault Craft Unit 5 at Camp Pendleton to learn more about the Navy’s giant Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) assault hovercraft. They also came aboard two ships moored at San Diego Naval Base.
"I wanted to know what is available to be filmed on", said producer Tim Iacofano. "If we're going to be on the water, we should be on the water with the Navy."
Well, they've done the army in season two, the air force in season three - teaming up with the navy is a logical progression...
The Emmy nominations are out. '24' has been put up for eight gongs. The awards will be televised on ABC in the US on Sunday 19th September. A full list of '24's Emmy nominations:
Outstanding Casting For A Drama Series for Debi Manwiller and Peggy Kennedy
Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Drama Series for Chris Willingham, Editor
Outstanding Music Composition For A Series (Dramatic Underscore) for Sean Callery for the 6AM - 7AM episode
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series for Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer
Outstanding Drama Series
Outstanding Sound Editing For A Series for the 12AM - 1AM episode
Outstanding Single-Camera Sound Mixing For A Series for the 5PM - 6PM episode
Outstanding Stunt Coordination for Greg Barnett for the 10AM - 11AM episode
Well done to everybody involved, and good luck...
In 'Outstandinh Drama Series', '24' is up against 'CSI: Crime Scene Investigation', 'Joan Of Arcadia', 'The Sopranos' and 'The West Wing'. Kiefer is lined up with James Spader from 'The Practice', James Gandolfini from 'The Sopranos', Martin Sheen from 'The West Wing' and Anthony LaPaglia from 'Without A Trace'. And you've gotta admit: that list of actors looks more like people up for Oscar rather than a bunch of hopefuls for a TV award...
I've nothing to say about this:
Actor Kiefer Sutherland seems to lose control over his pants more than often.
According to a report in Star magazine, Sutherland was recently spotted at the Red Lion Pub in Whanganui, New Zealand, where he drank and played pool.
The barmaid claimed that a native reportedly beat Sutherland without him sinking even one ball and as per the local rules such victory is called a 'down trou,'.
Sutherland had to only hear the words and down went his pants. "So off came his trousers, and he was up and dancing," the report quoted the barmaid as saying.
Though Sutherland representative has denied the incident, it's not the first time that Sutherland lost control over his trousers.
The actor had reportedly given a similar pant-down performance at a karaoke bar in Burbank during a bachelor party.
From an article at zap2it.com, shamelessly stolen from the far superior fansite ctusecure.com:
Imagine TV, which has produced FOX's most reliable drama for the past few seasons and its most critically lauded comedy last year, is staying within the News Corp family.
The production company headed by Ron Howard and Brian Grazer has signed a new two-year agreement with 20th Century Fox TV, extending a partnership that began in 2000. Fox has an option to extend the deal for two more years when it expires in 2006. David Nevins, president of Imagine TV, has also signed a new contract to stay with the company.
Imagine produces '24', which enters its fourth season in January, and 'Arrested Development', recently picked up for a second year, both of which air on 20th TV's corporate sibling FOX.
I am KEVIN CARROLL. I am completely insipid, a total sociopath and have no concept of human empathy. Unfortunately, I'm not the brightest bulb in the pack, and am destined to be the muscle and not the brains of any operation.
