According to EW, Chris Diamantopoulos has joined the “24” cast. He will play Rob Weiss, the new Chief of Staff to President Allison Taylor.

Chris Diamantopoulos — best known as Debra Messing’s gay BFF on The Starter Wife — has been tapped to play the series regular role of Rob Weiss, the argumentative and tough new Chief of Staff to President Allison Taylor (Cherry Jones). He replaces Taylor’s current C.O.S., Ethan Kanin, who snatched his job back in last Monday’s finale after the prez’s psycho daughter, Olivia, was taken into federal custody.

Season 8 is switching cities and will take place in New York City.

Image Credit: Bauer Griffin

Got Cast has listed roles that are being cast for season 8 of “24”. Here are a few of the roles available.

FEMALES 
Dayna Pakkala, any ethnicity, 20s. Dayna is an intelligent and yet down-to-earth data analyst at the Counter Terrorism Agency. She is great at her position and is respected by her colleagues at the agency. Dayna is romantically seeing her fellow agent Davis Cole, who recently returned from serving in the military. This woman has a personal history that she keeps hidden from the people she knows. SERIES REGULAR

Diane Reed, Caucasian, 30s - 40s. Diane is a well-educated, respected, pretty television journalist who is a regular contributor to a show similar to "60 Minutes". She has always been a very ambitious journalist. She comes from an upper-middle-class background and has a touch of arrogance about her. Diane is romantically seeing the President of a Middle Eastern country. SERIES REGULAR

MALES 
Jonah Schwartz, any ethnicity, 20s. Jonah is a quirky and brilliant Systems Analyst at the government’s Counter Terrorism Unit. He looks more like a college grad student rather than a top secret undercover agent. He is somehow hip and geeky at the same time. Jonah is an expert at computer technology. SERIES REGULAR

Rob Weiss, any ethnicity, 30s. Weiss is the argumentative and tough Chief of Staff to President Allison Taylor. He speaks his mind and does not worry about being polite. Weiss is quick to strike back against the President’s enemies. He is a bit high-strung at times, but he does a great job protecting the interests of the administration. SERIES REGULAR.

You can see the rest of the roles available here.

Image Credit: ©2009 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Greg Gayne/FOX

Executive producer Howard Gordon has confirmed that season 8 of “24″ is a go! It’s literally just around the corner.

“We’re gearing up for a May start date. I’m with the writers now just putting our heads together, coming up with an idea. Unless we fail to come up with an idea that’s satisfactory, you’ll see an eighth season.” says Gordon.

In other great “24″ news, Annie Wersching is confirmed to be returning for season 8, which mean love may be in the air for Jack Bauer! Gordon also gave us a little tease that season 8 could include a death. Who’s? Jack’s?

“We may decide ultimately if there’s not a movie [story] worth telling, Jack may see his last day on television. He could die in the series…I think that’s possible,” Gordon said.

Are you excited about season 8?

Source: E! Online

Image Credit: ©2009 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Kelsey McNeal/FOX

Longtime executive producer-director Jon Cassar has left 24 after failing to come to terms on a new contract.

“I will not be involved with the upcoming eighth season,” he tells Ausiello.

“Although that’s sad for me to leave after six years, it’s also very exciting to be back in the marketplace working with different people and facing different challenges.”

What’s even more surprising is that the split happened despite Cassar’s closeness with 24 star Kiefer Sutherland. In fact, Sutherland said originally that Cassar was crucial to the show.

“There is no more integral part to the success of 24 than Jon Cassar, and I think [exec producers] Joel Surnow and Howard Gordon will tell you the same thing,” he said. “We’re a whole unit, and one part doesn’t work without the other. He’s also obviously one of my best friends and someone that I absolutely adore working with. I have all the faith in the world that things will work out, as they have over the last seven years.“

Well, he may just be a henchman.  Rory Cochran will join 24 playing an associate of Jonas Hodges.  Hodges, played by Jon Voight, was previously announced to be season seven’s big bad, a character Voight described as “a witty fellow, sarcastic perhaps. He’s intimidating because he plays it light, but he’s got a sharp barb – his tongue can hurt you. He’s got a sense of humor, but boy, he’s dangerous.” No doubt if Rory Cochran’s character is running with Hodges, he’s bad news.

Cochran is best known to television audiences as Tim Speedle on CBS’ CSI Miami.  His movie roles have included Dazed and Confused, Empire Records and A Scanner Darkly.

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We all know season six of 24 sucked. It was bad. So bad we longed for the cougar to return and finish Kim off. The talent behind 24 know fans we’re the most receptive to season six, and according to Kiefer Sutherland they’re doing everything they can to make season seven something we’d want to see.

“We’re not trying to invent the show. We’re trying to take what you guys say you like. We’re trying to take out what you don’t like and put in what you do like.” That right there? That’s so a backhand reference to the fact that no one liked last year.

Check out some photo’s of Kiefer Sutherland, Carlos Bernard and Jon Cassar below:

Exclusive panel photo’s to come in a little while.

Comic Con is officially in full swing, and 24 took main stage earlier tonight.  Present were Kiefer Sutherland and Carlos Bernard, along with executive producer’s Jon Cassar, Howard Gordon and David Fury.  They spoke briefly about 24: Exile, their working relationships and the upcoming seventh season, but for now, I’ll just post about Exile.

Howard Gordon initially did not think that doing a two hour movie was a good idea, but after some prodding he came around to the idea.  The writers’ strike gave them time to work the kinks, and according to Kiefer, “When we went to Africa, we arguable had the best script we’ve ever had.”

When asked if he’s had a favourite episode to shoot, Kiefer exclaimed, “I have to tell you that the stuff we did in Africa is up there.”

24: Exile features Jack Bauer in Africa, stuck in the middle of a civil war, protecting a school that provides safety for past child soldiers.  Cast and crew seem really excited about 24: Exile, do you think the prequel is going to live up to lofty expectations fans have now that the show has been off the air for so long?

Come back to 24HQ tomorrow where I’ll tell you about how Carlos Bernard is a smart ass, and why we never see Jack Bauer take a bathroom break.

*Thanks to Nikki Katz for all the great Comic Con reporting.  You rock!

Photo’s of the panel coming soon! Until then, check out the official 24: Exile photo’s released by Fox.

This comes as a shock to absolutely no one, but Joel Surnow’s TNT show ‘Night and Day‘ has been picked up by the network.  ‘Night and Day‘ is described as a gritty drama about the life of an ATF (alcohol, tobacco, firearms) agent.

Surnow co-wrote the script and will also co-executive producer.  ‘Night and Day‘ marks Surnow’s return to tv, after he left 24 in February.

No details yet on when the show will air.

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Some new casting sides have been released, detailing the following characters, who will begin appearing in episode 13.

• Greg Seaton: 40’s, ‘edgy’ CEO, to appear in multiple episodes.
• Agent Reynolds: Commander of the Critical Incident Rescue Group (within the White House).
• Richard Chapman: Late 30’s, weapons engineer working for an unknown corporation.

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Damnit!  One of the details revealed at press tour was that producers are seriously considering bringing Kim Bauer back to 24.  Executive Producer Jon Cassar told reporters that “We have talked about it, but anytime we talk about Kim we immediately say, ‘Let’s not do anything with her that will result in the audience hating her.”

HA!  Even the creative team knows that everyone hates Kim Bauer.  Nothing against Cuthbert but I’d much rather Kim not return.

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Photo of Kim Bauer courtesy of Fox television.