So unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last 2 weeks, I assume you’ve all heard about the rumours reported by CNN, ZapToIt and the Hollywood Reporter about the contracts for series regular status of Carlos Bernard, Reiko Aylesworth and James Badge Dale, among others, not being renewed. I have resisted writing anything about it here on AIG mostly because I am still in fervent denial and refuse to accept that the writers would even consider writing out Tony or Michelle, whose storyline this season, in my opinion, held the series together. Not that everything else wasn’t great, but Tony and Michelle were the one consistent and ever-present thread that ran through the entire season, and they were definitely what got our hearts into it.

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In the wake of the post-season3 world, there was much to discuss and much analysis to be done, but none of it will be done now. Based on how many hits we’ve gotten today by early evening, I don’t doubt that people are wondering where the updates are! Debriefs will be posted as soon as possible. However, what I would like to say is this – to the person (not naming names) at the Inside-24 Fan Forum who told me I was “daft” for comparing 24 to Shakespeare or the Greek/Roman tradition, perhaps you might wanna tell Howard Gordon that too, as he was quoted in a recent article as saying: “I came to this real strong conclusion that ‘24′ is a tragedy, a Greek tragedy with guns.” We could have told Howard that 3 years ago

Speaking of said recent article, the main subject of the article was none other than our beloved Carlos Bernard.

Finally got around to catching up with 4924CTU, the best resource for audio and video clips of the cast of 24, to find about 4 new Carlos video clips, including the 24-Inside webcast with Carlos and Reiko put into downloadable Windows Media format. For those of you who missed it the first time around (Matt, I’m looking at YOU), you can download it or watch it by checking out Carlos Bernard. There is also a previously undiscovered radio clip as well.

I’m afraid to watch the webcast with DB Woodside, because I have heard that discussion of Tony and Michelle’s roles next season occurs and I’m not quite sure I’m ready for that yet. I will get to it this weekend, because I know you’re all waiting with baited breath for my scathing review.

So here we are. Tonight is the night of the season 3 finale. What can I say? After talking it over with my compatriots, we have concluded that season 3 has surpassed even our wildest expectations and has truly been a dream season. From Jack/Nina makeout session to Sherry willing to go to prison just to screw over her ex to Jack/Tony working together in the field to the Tony/Nina reunion to the insane virus plot twists to Kim out in field ops to Tony betraying CTU to save Michelle, it has been a wild ride, and no one is waiting with their breath more baited than the staff of AlmeidaIsGod.com for tonight’s finale.

I’ve been hearing horrible information about Carlos Bernard and Reiko Aylesworth not returning as series regulars in season 4, and am in a really bad mood because of it.

I apologize for delays on this week’s updates. This week is just as crazy as the last two weeks, with recovering from jetlag, the Calgary Flames making it to the Stanley Cup Final series and my friend Leanne flying in from Toronto for the long weekend. Thus, updates for episode 23 will be delayed until likely Saturday, however debriefs may arrive sooner than that.

In other news, AT LAST I have received my t-shirts! I will post pictures of me modelling them here over the next day or two, so everyone can see how cute they are on. They are worth every last penny I spent on them.

In further news, the Jack/Tony bond has never been stronger. Tell me that Jack pleading Tony’s case to Brad Hammond wasn’t one of the single greatest moments of the season!

Further update! It has just come to our attention that FOX is MOVING 24 to Monday night next season, and that season 4 will not premiere until JANUARY 2005! That’s right, folks, I hope you’ve all been taping season 3, because it will be a 7 month wait until we get new Tony action in season 4. As if the moving of the airday isn’t bad enough (it is like, if the pope woke up tomorrow and suddenly announced that people will now worship Jesus Christ on saturday or something), JANUARY! I am going to die, people. By the time season 3 comes out on DVD, my videotapes will be worn down to sad little nubs. Oh, it’s tragic. Our entire system of functional living is being fucked with. Holy Day moving to Monday???? It seems so wrong!!! To read more, click here.

It’s Holy Day. It’s 1:30 am. I’m back in Canada. I’ve seen 10-11AM. I’ve read through all of the incredible updates going on here on AIG, my baby, while my second in command has been in charge. Matt, you have done an incredible job. I laughed my sad, pathetic, up-for-over-24-hours ass off at the top 24 Betrayals list. Brilliant humour and incisive insight. The debrief was incredible and echoed everything I was thinking while watching the episode, literally minutes after stepping in the door after my father dropped me off from the airport. I’ve been in 4 cities in a 24 hour period and I am exhausted, but not too exhausted to write a little kudos to the shape I found the site in when I returned.

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Happy Holy Eve! Two more hours to go – the season has flown by. It seems like just yesterday, Jack and Nina were making out like high school kids, the Salazar boys were playing nicely together, and David and Sherry were on awkwardly sweet terms.

Oh, how things can change in a matter of hours. In a tribute to relationships long destroyed, AIG brings you a new list – The Top 24 Betrayals of 24!

In other news, welcome home kash! Your absence has been felt in the pit of AIG’s stomach.

While writing and posting this week’s Godlike Moments, I couldn’t help but contemplate the effect of the last two episodes on the nature of this website and its entire belief system.

Most people I know who watch the show and aren’t hardcore Tony Almeida fans (sounds impossible, I know, but there are such people) seem to think that Tony sold out, and would disagree with our basic theory that Almeida is completely selfless in all of his motives. Most people talk like Tony did a bad thing by jeopardizing millions of lives to save Michelle.

Me, I’m not really so sure. I agree that it was a shock to see Almeida acting somewhat out of character, by completely disregarding his job, his country and his duty, as these have been established as things that Tony values highly.

What we didn’t realize, especially with him being an ass to her this season, is that Almeida has something he values even more than any of those things, and that’s Michelle. You may say this still means he’s acting selfish, but I disagree. He’s knowingly sacrificed everything: his job, his future, maybe even his own life (if he were to get the death penalty for treason) just to keep her safe — to protect another. The fact that millions might have died is only a factor if you consider one life to be less valuable than many lives… which is the whole notion of Utilitarianism that was brought up when Chappelle was sacrificed. The evil lies in Saunders; he wanted Chappelle killed, he threatened to kill Michelle, he’s threatening to kill the millions.

The fact is that Tony was given an impossible choice by a twisted villain, and was bound to be considered “wrong” either way he went… I mean, would you really consider him a good guy if he stood by and watched as somebody cut out his wife’s eye, made her suffer and then killed her? Just for duty’s sake? Fuck that. Anyone who’s been in love knows that’s not an option. So I say screw the job! Save the girl!

Almeida IS God, people. Don’t ever forget it.

“Just because you sacrificed your wife for this job, doesn’t mean I’m gonna sacrifice mine!”

Does it get any better than this? What a fucking great episode! The Jack/Tony relationship has been brought to its most spiritual level yet. I don’t have the words to describe my high when Tony brought up Teri.

With queen Kasia out of the country, the AIG debrief will be between me and Kat, and may not be up for another day or two, but TRUST me, readers, heavy analysis will be done.

What am I, chopped liver? I did those updates like they ain’t no thang!

Now that Kash is in England, I’m in command of this site. That’s right, I’m making a power play, just like Alberta Green. Things have been out of control here these past few days. Starting now, they’re back in control.

My loyal subjects, please feel free to bask in the joy of lengthy updates. As 9am-10am was quite possibly the greatest Tony episode to ever air, I tried to do it justice.

Happy Holy Eve to you all!