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May 26, 2012

Is President Logan the best thing 24's got going right now?

by Meredith O'Brien, posted Mar 5th 2007 4:03PM

Charles Logan on 24The Chicago Tribune's TV critic Maureen Ryan thinks that the sudden appearance of Gregory Itzin, reprising his role as the corrupt and evil former President Charles Logan on 24, is a rare shining moment in a rather lackluster season, the first hour hours notwithstanding.

". . . [I]t's as though the writers are flailing and scraping and doing all they can to come up with compelling stuff, but unfortunately they're only partially successful at best," Ryan said, as she sliced and diced Jack Bauer's sixth day, including calling the idea of having the late President David Palmer's brother Wayne become president " a big mistake."

While I was thrilled to see Logan and think he is a highlight amid a string of some odd weeks in 24, I wouldn't go as far as Ryan, who calls watching this season "drudgery." (Though I do agree with her on the President Palmer II bit being a bad idea.)

It has not been that bad. True, 24 has had its moments of distinctly, un-24-like campishness this season. How campy was it to have a soapy storyline involving never-before-seen Bauer family players? As long as Josh Bauer doesn't wind up being Jack's love child, I can excuse the whole family storyline as an unpleasant tangent, kind of like the Mexican drug-related storyline on another one of Jack's bad days.

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VSJ

Gregory looks kinda like a weird Mel Gibson in the photo...

March 05 2007 at 10:25 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Charles

Just having watched the latest episode, I have to say this: THANK YOU to whoever hired Powers Boothe, and brought back Gregory Itzen. It's about time we got heavy-hitters on the show again!

March 05 2007 at 10:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
C C

I've been posting my impressions of this season here and on other sites, and I'm going to repeat them once more:

I do think it's been clunky so far, and I haven't been thrilled with the casting. And the attempts at self-parody are falling a little flat.

On the other hand, I'm seeing EXACTLY what the writers are doing, and where this is all going.

Contrary to the belief that the writers are recycling old storylines, and resting on their laurels, the problem is that they're trying to do something rather avant-garde. The writers' intention was to create a season where you don't understand what's going on for most of the way, then after all is explained in the last few episodes, then you go back and watch it all again, this time with the knowledge of what's really going on, and everything makes sense. However, you risk alienating your fanbase with this kind of storytelling. And that's exactly what's happpening.

On the other hand, if I'm right, I think those who are willing to stick it out are going to get a MAJOR, MAJOR payoff. This year's conclusion should link together many important events from the past seasons. Actually, I suspect there's going to be a big surprise in the next couple of episodes that should help the fan's morale. And give a huge hint that there's more going on than meets the eye.

March 05 2007 at 8:04 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ac

I actually agree completely with the article, I have always been a fan of 24 the previous seasons but this year I keep switching to Heros. Also whoever said William Devane's character should be president is a genious, he was great in season 4 and 5. Bringing back Audrey would be good too, just to dump Rena Sofir's character who I can't stand. She should have just stayed on Heros. I mean Kim Raver isn't busy The 9 is cancelled.

March 05 2007 at 6:00 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
joe

let's just say that about 2-3 weeks ago, Heros moved over 24 as my main Monday night viewing. I will watch Heros live now, and get to 24 on DVR within a day or two.

March 05 2007 at 5:35 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
SamMalone

Take it from a 5 season veteran, just watch the first couple of episodes, then skip the show until the last few episodes. That way the repeated discussions where they say the same thing with different words are avoided.

March 05 2007 at 5:29 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jeff N.

I liked last years season a lot thanks to Gregory Itzin's Protrayal of President Logan. Jean Smart's First Lady was fun to watch too. So saying this series should of ended long ago, I can not agree.
But this season lacks good new ideas. Tough to come up with 24 great new episodes year after year. Most dramas struggle after 5 years. Even the Sopranos was off last year.

March 05 2007 at 5:25 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
tcc3

And the folks who keep saying 25 should have ended x years ago? You're giving it too much credit. If you going to judge it like that, no season has been as great as S1, hands down. The rest of the show has had its flaws, but its stil enjoyable tv.

March 05 2007 at 5:22 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
tcc3

They should have gotten Willaim Devane back to be president. Not only does he make a more commanding leader, but he actually did something last year as opposed to just whine about his need for vengeance.
He survived an ocean dunking to escape a helicopter for gods sake! Hes almost as indestructible as Jack.

March 05 2007 at 5:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
David

This show should have ended years ago, it just get's more and more insane and that's hard to do for this show.

And Palmer 2 is a ripoff of JFK and RFK, it's a terrible idea. I can't think of the last good idea the writers have had.

March 05 2007 at 4:24 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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