I gotta hand it to the 24 casting directors - in addition to Cherry Jones' phenomenal, ferocious turn as President Allison Taylor, we get to enjoy Janeane Garofalo and Rhys Coiro (aka Entourage's nutty director Billy Walsh) nerding out as potentially-crooked FBI agents. This week's episode also featured a heart-wrenching guest star performance from Tom Irwin of My So-Called Life. This season might not be a return to the nerve-jangling storylines of the 24's early years, but spotty writing aside, they sure do get the casting just right.

Cherry Jones to play the president on 24

Yes! Cherry Jones will play the President of the United States on the upcoming season of 24. Hopefully, this will make up for the completely unconvincing casting of D.B. Woodside as the faux-menacing President of season six. I think Cherry will be fantastic.

Playbill says, "Production of the series, the Hollywood Reporter reveals, has been delayed until next month because 'a set-in-Africa storyline fell through and the producers [have gone] back to the drawing board.' "

And by "back to the drawing board," they mean "back to figuring out how many nuclear threats to America Jack Bauer can defuse in one season". I really hope they can figure out an interesting, original plot for this season. I hate to say it, but the show just hasn't been exciting or original since, oh, I'd say season four.

Moxie Hearts Jack Bauer

May I just say how much more complete my life feels now that Jack Bauer is back in it? I know, he's violent, dangerous, has a tendency to drop off the face of the earth and then just come back with little or no explanation, but I love him, I need him, and I prefer not to live without him.

This season seems like it could shape up to be the greatest or the wonkiest season yet. Regina King is a fierce ass-kicker, but D.B. Woodside seems like a tough sell as the president. Would the U.S.A. ever elect another Palmer? Really? After all that scandal? (Wait a minute... this is starting to sound vaguely familiar). And Peter MacNichol is a fantastic actor, but his type is so predictable on the show, just like Stephen Spinella last year. Wiry, off-center, kinda bug-eyed and arch guys can't be trusted with important government decisions. Yeah. We get it.

However, none of this detracts from the joy I get watching Jack Bauer bite someone's neck out. *Sigh*... I'm so easy to please.