I am curious. Would you watch “24″ without Jack Bauer? It seems that one guy at TV Squad would. He says that last Monday;s two-parter showed that the show can be just as good without Jack.

Don’t get me wrong, Season 7 is shaping up to be the second best season of the series so far (sorry, I don’t think it will be possible to top Season 5), but what Monday’s two-parter showed me was that 24 can be just as compelling without Jack Bauer. For the first hour of the night Jack was behind bars or being lead around by Secret Service agents. And yet there was plenty of action and excitement to keep the adrenaline pumping. Annie Wersching is a blast to watch as FBI Agent Renee Walker. Her ballsy dive both onto Juma’s boat and off of it was pure Bauer.

He goes on to say that he would trust the production and writing team with just about anything.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Could “24″ survive without Jack Bauer?

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

24: Exile doesn’t premiere until November 23rd but FOX has already announced the DVD release.  According to TV Shows on DVD, the 24: Exile DVD will be released on November 25th and contain the following special features:

• Commentary track
• Making of featurette
• Featurette on child soldiers
• Season six wrap up
• Season seven preview
• Season seven trailer

Retail price will be $26.98US.

Will you guys buy it right away?

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Anyone who ever watched That 70’s Show knows that Kurtwood Smith can yell and interrogate like the best of him. He’ll be appearing in the upcoming season of 24 as a senator who doesn’t exactly agree with Jack’s tactic’s.

Smith recently spoke to Kristen over at E! about his character’s interaction with Jack Bauer, saying,  “I‘m in the first episode, and then I don’t come back until episode 10. I’m a U.S. senator, and the first episode is in a hearing room—where I’m grilling Jack—and then a good deal of the rest of it takes place in the White House, and what we’re shooting this week is my last big scene, and it’s just Kiefer and I. It’s a very interesting scene. It really addresses the argument between my character and Kiefer’s attempt at justifying what he has to do.”

It’ll be interesting to see Jack have to defend his actions for once.  There’s no doubt he’s quick to torture, even if it does get results for him in the end.

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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.

Image details: Premiere Of Paramount’s "Iron Man" - Arrivals served by picapp.com

We may have only seen a brief glimpse of him in the 24: Exile trailer leaked this week, but Jon Voight will definitely be a big pain in Jack Bauer’s ass on the upcoming season of 24. Voight spoke to reporters at this weeks TCA’s and told them that his character is “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.”

Voight will make his first appearance in 24: Exile, and will continue throughout season seven.

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An unofficial 24: Exile trailer has hit the internet.  Upon first watch you may be asking, why’s it unofficial?  Well, it was leaked by the production company that produced it on their website, it features a temporary narration track, and some pretty awful graphics. Odds are this was shown at this weeks TCA’s, but the official 24: Exile trailer will be shown at Comic Con on July 25th.  No matter what I say, I’m sure all you want is to check it out, so please do:

Despite the awful technical elements, the trailer does provide some insight into 24: Exile.  The movie is obviously based on the real life crisis of child soldiers in Africa.  Jack’s there to help an old friend, played by Robert Carlyle, who is running a school to help rescued child soldiers acclimate back into society.  It actually looks like it has serious potential, I mean in the span of two minutes Jack snaps a man’s neck with his feet and holds a gun up to a child (if only that child were Kim).

He’s no longer saving the government, he’s saving African children.  Madonna be damned.

24 has been voted the fifth most patriotic show in the US, by the Denver Post. And the reason?  Entirely because Jack’s made of awesome.  “Jack Bauer is more than a one-man crusade against terrorism. He’s the latest Superman given to upholding truth, justice and the American way. Trouble is, Jack (Kiefer Sutherland) has gone off course and is a rogue agent. A parable about the actions of the U.S.?,” said Post author Joanne Ostrow.

24 was beat by The West Wing, Homefront, Brooklyn Bridge, and Rescue Me.  Should 24 have been higher on the list?

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24 cast photo copyright FOX.

Jack Bauer has come in #2 in UK poll of TV best loved heroes, conducted by the Hallmark Channel.  Bauer lost first place to Life on Mars detective Gene Hunt.  Poppycock I say.  I’m sorry, it’ s UK poll and I’ve been dying to use that word in this blog for a year.  Rounding out the top three was David Tennant as Doctor Who.

What do  you think, did Jack Bauer get robbed of first place?  I think saving the world every day from terrorists is slightly more impressive than a time traveling detective.  You?

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Image of Jack Bauer copyright Fox Television.

Comic Con passes may be sold out, but if you’re really lucky you can snag yourself an all expenses paid trip to the Con courtesy of 20th Century Fox, and Kiefer Sutherland’s Mirrors. The trip is for two for the duration of the Con, $500 spending money, and a meet and greet with Mirrors director Alex Aja. 24’s Kiefer Sutherland and Carlos Bernard will also be at the Con, promoting the show.

To enter, head over to the Mirrors official website.

Looking for something to watch on a rainy summer day?  Well check out the Director’s Cut of Kiefer Sutherland’s 1998 sci-fi cult classic, Dark City.  Dark City was about “A man who struggled with memories of his past, including a wife he cannot remember, in a nightmarish world with no sun and run by beings with telekinetic powers who seek the souls of humans.”  Sutherland played a not so good Doctor in the film.

The director’s cut will feature three commentaries, an introduction by director Alex Proyas, making of featurette, trailers and more.

It’s a bargain on Amazon for only $11.99,  If you want the Blu-Ray, that’ll cost you $18.95.