Fantastic, very informative article about Day 8 can be found here at Televisionary. There’s more information on the possible returns of Tony, Mandy, and Logan, as well as discussion about the new characters, Renee, Morris, the format of the show, and the lack of women writers.

“We’re only in first third of the season,” said Fury. “We’ve been discussing characters who could return. Charles Logan? I helped champion keeping Tony alive last season. Tony could be pivotal. There’s always Mandy… we talked about Mandy last year. There’s a split in the writers’ room with Mandy’s character not being perceived as 24; she’s sort of Alias. Tony’s accomplice last season was Mandy at one point, but that went away.” (more …)

At last, my gear has arrived.  I am so excited!  I also ordered the shirt in black, which Avery modelled beautifully for Comic Con 2009.

We’ve all thought it likely, but it’s good to get some confirmation, even if it’s not definitive: we may well be seeing Tony back on the show for Season 8 – which, despite the rumors, has not officially been declared the last season.

“I don’t know with regard to the last season,” says Kiefer Sutherland. “It is the last season that I’ve been contracted to do 24, but I really don’t know.” If it truly is Jack’s last hurrah, the producers are planning some return visits from seasons past. “There’s certainly a chance of [bringing back old characters]. We’ve certainly been talking about that,” says David Fury. “At this point, we’re only in the first third of the season, but we have begun to discuss some of the characters that could return.”[...] In all seriousness, there’s a likely possibility that Charles Logan (Gregory Itzin) and Mandy (Mia Kirshner) could appear. Also, “You may see Tony—there may be an opportunity for Tony to be pivotal in the show,” adds Fury.

Check out this week’s Watch With Kristin for more information, including talk of a possible romance between Jack and Renee.

I am pleased to annouce that one of my favourite members of The Open Channel and the comments gallery here on the main site has joined the ranks of AIG’s Official Contributors for the hiatus and upcoming Season 8.  Ian, better known to most of you as Captain_Typho, is a recent addition to the AIG Family, having only joined the site in Season 7, but quickly emerged as one of the more prominent voices in Critical Analysis in the community.  As an enthusiastic video production hobbyist, Ian will be flexing his multimedia muscles for AIG leading up to and during Season 8, so stay tuned for more frequent video content!  You can read more about Ian in his bio on the Official Contributors page.  Please join me in welcoming him to the team.

Avery, live on location at Comic Con 2009, has recorded the entire 24 Panel Discussion, as well as the first three minutes of the Season 8 Sneak Peek (before the Comic Con Popo asked her to turn the camera off).  Enjoy! (more …)

Exclusive photos from Avery’s coverage of the 24 Panel at Comic Con 2009 are now available in the Gallery.  Here is just a little taste of the fantastic shots she got … (more …)

As you know, Avery has been out in the field covering Comic Con 2009 for our site.  She just clocked in with a fabulous in-depth report live from the first few rows at the 24 Panel yesterday.  More exclusive photos and video are all forthcoming.  Avery sent some advance photos and video footage to Katee Sackhoff’s online presence (http://www.kateesackhoff.com), which were posted on the blog portion of Ms. Sackhoff’s site, with an acknowledgment to Avery by name and to AlmeidaIsGod.com as the site she represents.  Ms. Sackhoff, whom many avid TV freaks will remember fondly from her turn as Kara ‘Starbuck’ Thrace on sci-fi/poli-sci epic Battlestar Galactica, will portray CTU Agent Dana Walsh in upcoming Season 8.

I would like to thank Katee Sackhoff from the bottom of my heart for being so wonderful and accessible to her fans, and for her quite unexpected and most welcome promotion of my own humble abode in cyberspace.  Although I have not yet had a chance to enjoy the full Battlestar Galactica experience (the entire series is on my to-do list), I have seen enough to be aware of Ms. Sackhoff’s genuine talent, and I look forward to enjoying her performance on the show this season.

My brother and I got in line around 5:30 this morning, and wound up about 10 rows away from the stage when we got into Ballroom 20 around 9:30. After the first panel we were able to scoot up, so we were 5 rows from the stage, a little to the left.

We sat through three panels before 24 – Stargate Universe, Battlestar Galactica/Caprica, and then The Big Bang Theory. The 24 panel was scheduled to start at 2:15.

The guests that had been announced were Kiefer Sutherland, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Anil Kapoor, Katee Sackhoff, Freddie Prinze Jr., and Howard Gordon. The table was set with too many nameplates, however; we snuck up and saw Sean Callery and Manny Coto were going to be there before being chased away. The final guest list included Evan Katz, David Fury, and Brannon Braga on top of everyone else. Tara Bennett, author of the 24 Official Companions, moderated.

Everyone went wild when people started coming out. Callery got the most applause out of the non-actors (excluding Howard Gordon), Katee Sackhoff had a huge welcome from the Sci-Fi friendly crowd (myself included), and of course Kiefer and Mary Lynn drew wild applause and cheers.

Tara started by asking about the season 7 cliffhanger, and Gordon said that obviously, Jack does make it. Kiefer was asked about highlights of the emotional rollercoaster Jack went through in season 7, and he immediately mentioned Renee and Annie Wersching as critical to Jack’s emotional arc. He said the introduction of her character was fantastic, as the “female equal to [Jack],” and the development of that relationship will continue in season 8. The discussion centered on the idea that by the time season 8 rolls around, Jack once again has reasons to live; Renee, and Kim, are key to that. Day 8, Gordon said, will start with Jack in a place we’ve rarely seen him: happy, with his daughter and granddaughter. Seasons 7 and 8 will be very closely connected.

(more …)

Question: Did the Season 7 finale’s conclusion to Tony’s character arc satisfy you?

34% (85 votes) – Mostly.
33% (83 votes) – Absolutely!
14% (34 votes) – Hells no!
13% (33 votes) – I’m on the fence.
5% (13 votes) – Not really

As we can see, for the most part the voting readership of AIG was OK with the way Tony’s endgame was explained.  A combined 67% (2/3 of all voters) were either mostly or absolutely satisfied with how his character arc was resolved.

In this Lemondrop.com exclusive, Mary Lynn Rajskub explores how messy closets and designer tank tops are thwarting her attempts to self-actualize.  A wonderful read for anyone (but especially the ladies) who has ever considered the emotional link between self and fashion as a statement of self.  Highlights:

On the sentimental value of clothing items:

I was watching “Truth Be Told: I’m a Hoarder” when I saw the man’s sad face. He held up a tiny wire snowman dressed in pink and purple mittens and said, “If I throw this away, it will be like throwing away the memory of my mother. It reminds me of her.”

I feel the same way about my Michael Stars tank top. It’s soft and feminine, made out of that ‘lived in T-shirt’ material. When I put it on, it looks like crap; but if I throw it away, I am discarding the person who would wear this tank top.

On how clothes make the woman:

What I do know is that if I knew how to wear this tank top, I would be more beautiful. I would be like Jennifer Connelly, Keira Knightley, Rachel Weisz or Amanda Peet. I would have amazing eyes so deep that men could jump in and swim a few laps.

Not only would wearing this tank top make me more beautiful (that’s a given), but I would become a better person. A $50 tank top is so much more than an article of clothing. It says to the world: I’m casual, feminine, particular, efficient, expensive, mindful. I am ready to be serious, yet I can smile and have a good time at any moment.