About "24: Redemption"

And you thought a half-hour commercial was bad.

Have you seen the commercials on FOX Broadcast for 24: Redemption? It's a two-hour TV movie that is nothing more than an elaborate set-up/commercial for the new season. No, seriously. The movie was made after the first few episodes were filmed, in order to "tie things together." How great is Episode 1 if you have to make Episode 0?

Mary Lynn Rasjkub won't be in the prequel as feisty computer genuis Chloe O'Brian. Then, why bother?

Well, Powers Boothe makes a cameo as Daniels, the power-hungry Vice-President from last season. Peter MacNicol returns also. Cherry Jones makes her long-awaited debut as the shows first female president. Jones will also be in the new season, playing the same character. (Hey, odder things have happened. This is 24 we are talking about.)

Jon Voight is in this movie also. Although, without hearing any spoilers, I'm sure he will only make a "surprise" cameo as a twist ending before commercials. It will probably go something like this:

MOVIE VILLAIN: Mission success. 

(figure emerges from shadows. It's Jon Voight, he's playing a villain)

VOIGHT: GOOD. Proceed with the plan as scheduled.

(zoom up on Voight's face. The orchestra goes crazy with suspense. Cut to black.)

Sprague Grayden will be in this movie as well, but IMDb doesn't have her down for the season. That probably means her character dies. She's a very capable actress. Sadly, 24 isn't known for bringing out the best acting in people. Even the versatile Keifer Sutherland occasionally drones on like an automatic action robot. But the acting is not why most people watch the show anyways.

24: Redemption airs Nov. 23 on FOX. I'll watch it, because it is much healthier for me to hate a television show than anything else. Plus, I can watch 24 and Heroes and play the fun weekly game, "which lowered the bar for television quality this week?" It's a tough game.