24-7: Inside the Corridors of Bauer

I was thinking that 24 jumped the proverbial shark last season, but after seeing the trailer during the World Series game last night, I think it's safe to say that it has now jumped a Pacific Ocean that is full of sharks.

Tony is back? As a terrorist?

To me, it doesn't matter how they explain it (Tony didn't really die, Tony's evil twin, foreign intelligence service used plastic surgery to create a Tony look-a-like who has now gone rogue) the show is jumping the shark right there. What is the point?

Its good to see that Chloe will be back (but for how long? there is just one quick shot of her) and was that Cherry Jones I saw? She's ALWAYS a huge plus. And we know that Kim Raver won't be back --- she's got (another) new series...Lipstick Jungle, or Darren Star's ripoff-of-Candace-Bushnell's-concept series (Cashmere Mafia?).

And from the clips, it appears that the show will have a different look....much crisper. New directors? Shooting on HD video instead of film?

Keifer's introduction seemed to be saying "Yeah, I know last year totally sucked, but this year will be better" didn't he?

And while the promo was disgustingly pro-torture, I'm hoping that the writers have enough sense to turn that opening on its head -- and show how torture can have disasterous results (like have essential resources diverted to follow up on a lead provided by a suspect, only to find that he was lying to stop the torture, and the diversion of resources lead to the deaths of hundreds/thousands)....but I'm not counting on it.

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and now for something completely different...

will Time.coms other blogs (like this one) be adopting the new registration system that was implemented at Swampland once the kinks are worked out? (I hope so....I get tired of entering my name and email address, and being able to use HTML coding is a big plus!)

@P_luk re: registration: I haven't heard talk of it. Personally, I'd probably rather avoid it unless it proves necessary, which at Tuned In it hasn't yet. With open posting and very little moderation, we've had little problem with spam (the filter picks up most of it), trolling or abusiveness. I like to think we naturally have classier commenters. Registration throws up a hurdle to participation--an easy one to clear, maybe, but why do it if you don't have to?

But I'm open to arguments. Anyone else have a case for registration?

(PS: I think you can use HTML coding, manually, like this or this. But if anyone breaks out the BLINK tag I'm banning them.

I have to admit that watching Jack run around in a different location got me really excited for the new season .... before I remembered that the entire season is based around Tony being back from the dead and a terrorist.

Oh well, we'll see. I think that I will watch the first few episodes and make the decision on whether it is worth watching after that. Then again, that was also my plan last year, and I ended up watching every episode of that garbage.

Re: Registration...

Perhaps you could check with the tech people to see if there is an "anonymous/unregistered comments permitted" option in the new system.

as to HTML coding.... coding was being stripped at Swampland under the old system, but not here apparently

I would on occasion visit Swampland, but got so tired of the trolling that I seldom visit anymore. Something needed to be done and they waited far to long to provide a solution. Also, I'm sure that the guys over there are just WAY busier and more important than some guy who watches TV, but at least James responds to his posters. Thanks for caring James.

Also, one question. Is RealClearPolitics a part of Time? There is a link to the blog and it is branded with the Time logo. But if you go to RealClearPolitics.com, there is no mention of any linkage to Time.

@Keith: Oh, trust me, if I blogged for Swampland, you couldn't get me into that Comments section inside a shark cage. Not to mention it's easier to be attentive when you're not getting 500 comments a day.

As for RCP, can't say exactly, but my understanding is the blog is hosted with TIME much as Andrew Sullivan's once was, but Real Clear Politics remaains a separate entity. That's beyond my pay grade however, which is to say, if you want me to find out more, you'll have to pay me.

@James - You know, if Joe, Karen, Ana Marie and company want to feed the sharks in the tank, they should have an obligation to tend the tank as well. Just my humble opinion.

I miss Sullivan's blog. The old company internet filter doesn't block the Times blogs, but they do the Atlantic. It was from reading his blog that I found yours.

Tony is alive: So. Amazingly. Stupid.

The idea well is dry over at Fox.

Am I the only one all right with Tony's return? Even if he's bad?

I am considering waiting on the show and picking up the DVDs later, just because Monday nights are so busy (I watch HIMYM, Chuck, Journeyman, and Heroes).

Ok...I must confess that I am a Jack Bauer Fan and I will watch this new season...I thought last season would be the last..because i mean what else could possibly happen after last season when a nuclear weapon went off on us soil...well anyway even with that in mind...I will be taping 24....