Gareth Bunkham of TV or Not TV, a TV-centric blog, has issued an “open letter” to 24’s showrunners regarding the statement released by Carlos Bernard about Almeida-less Season 8.  He makes reference to Tony being “God-like” and to “Almeidaists”, so I assume he has at least a passing familiarity with this site.  Read on for the letter, re-printed in its entirety in the interests of Almeidaism. (more …)

Here is just a sample of the passionate words from fans around the globe appearing on our web petition to bring Tony back to Season 8.  Once again, if you haven’t put your two cents in yet, you can do so here.

Kat:

As a contributor to AlmeidaIsGod.com, I’d like to voice my passionate plea for Tony’s return at the end of the season this year. There is no substitute, Tony brings grit, humanity, darkness and tension to the screen, and gives Jack’s character the foil it needs to remain riveting and relevant.  Don’t make the mistake of leaving Tony out of this!

Avery:

Tony of all characters deserves a better end than being carted off to prison once more. Give the fans what they want. Bring back Almeida! (more …)

Now that we’ve all had a chance to process this terribly disappointing news, I’m trying to figure out where my head is at.

I have to say, I’m still pretty floored that the show elected to go this route, because in my mind all signs, and common sense, pointed to the opposite.  I had already decided before Season 7 ended that if the writers saw fit to leave Tony breathing when the finale beeped its last boop, then we definitely hadn’t seen the last of the character and it was almost certain he would return for Season 8.  At the time, Sutherland, Gordon and FOX had pretty well announced that Season 8 would be the last season of 24 to air on network.  And so Tony’s return seemed even more likely given that he has been an elite, epic character on the show and if the show was going to end, deserved more definitive closure and resolution to his relationship with Jack than we received at the end of Season 7. (more …)

I’ll be the first to admit that I mocked the petition to bring Tony back from the dead way back when.  But what do you know, the writers listened!  And it’s not too late to be heard this time either.  Right now, the show is in production on Episode 16 of Season 8.  It’s not too late to tell the showrunners how we feel and do whatever we can to convince them that leaving Tony out of Season 8, especially given that this may possibly be the final season of the show, would be a huge mistake.  This epic character deserves better closure than being dragged off by the FBI in handcuffs raving like a lunatic!  That is not justice for Tony!

From now until production wraps, I will be sending a copy of all existing signatures and comments on this petition to FOX, the showrunners and any other relevant e-mail addresses I can get my hands on.  So don’t hold back!  Tell them what’s on your mind regarding the catastrophic news that Tony will not be back for Season 8!  Spread the word!  Spread it far and wide!  The power of Almeida compels you! (more …)

Say it ain’t so!

This was just posted in the “News” section of CarlosBernard.com, Carlos Bernard’s official website.

Carlos Answers the Question that Everyone’s Been Asking

I’m asked this question on a daily basis, so I might as well answer it. I’ll never say never when it comes to 24.  It’s been such a special part of my life and an honor working with all of the incredibly talented people that have helped make the show the success that it’s been.  That being said, I have not been contacted by the studio or producers of 24 about season 8.  They’re already well into filming next season and I’m about to start work on a film in South Carolina.  So, at this point, I highly doubt that I’d be able to be involved in the next season of 24 even if I wanted to be.

This is a fucking DISASTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I’m pretty pissed, considering how much work I have put into the new site concept I’ve just launched.  Seriously, I don’t really understand this at all.  Surely this will prove to be a huge mistake, particularly if this is the last season of the show.  I need to go and smoke and cry now.

Dilana Robichaux (who goes by just “Dilana” professionally), who will appear with Carlos Bernard in the upcoming film Angel Camouflaged (scheduled for a 2010 release), has posted a vitriolic rant against Carlos on her Facebook Page that reads as follows:

CARLOS BERNARD…the BIGGEST a-hole, egotistic, insecure, arrogant, unprofessional dickhead i’ve ever had the MISfortune of meeting n working with! and he’s a HORRIBLE kisser!! (more …)

SCI FI Wire caught up with Katee Sackhoff, a perennial favourite from her days at Battlestar Galactica (and a new favourite of yours truly’s after falling in love with her character Kara “Starbuck” Thrace during my recent BSG Virgin Viewing Experience), to chat about her new role as top analyst Dana Walsh in the newly resurrected Counter Terrorist Unit of Season 8. (more …)

Chris Allen, a Tweeter who evidently has some kind of work-related association with FOX, reports on Twitter that he spotted Carlos Bernard on-site at FOX yesterday.  This is hardly the rock solid confirmation we’ve all been waiting and hoping for with regard to Tony’s role in Season 8, but at the same time, all the vague hints and slipperiness of the cast in interviews on this subject and Carlos’ big publicity tour last month are all starting to add up into a bigger picture that is suggestive of Tony’s return.

Question: Do you believe that Tony Almeida will make an appearance in Season 8?

57% (107 votes) – Yes, and he will play a significant role.
26% (48 votes) – Yes, but he will only have a short multi-episode stint.
13% (24 votes) – It could go either way.
5% (9 votes) – No.

As we can see, the overwhelming majority of voters believe Tony will be back with a vengeance in Season 8.  Let’s hope it’s not just wishful thinking!

As you can see, I couldn’t hold my wad any longer and have gone live with the new site concept upgrade for the upcoming Season.  Although I am still working on some finishing touches, things are solid enough at this point that I am comfortable putting the new concept out into the world and tweaking as I go along, because maintaining two versions of the site with one in development was getting to be a little cumbersome.

I’d like to tell you about some new features that go along with the new iteration of the site that I hope will make everyone’s experience here better. (more …)