OMFG! 24, Tony Almeida LIVES!

OMG my ‘24 night’ crew is gonna have o-faces for awhile after reading this news, January will bring about the return of Tony ‘Soul Patch’ Almeida. Producers strongly hinted at Comic-Con that someone was returning, but no official name was announced at that time. Fox’s Wednesday release also confirmed the show will be set in Washington, DC, and the CTU set going bub-bye.

Personally I'm hip to the return, I've always liked Tony and was upset to see him gone all last season.  Which in my opinion was probably why I disliked last season of 24.  His raspy, yet boy scout attitude was a perfect backup man for Jack when he was in a pinch.  I might change this decision on how crazy they set up the next season of 24, but I'm always willing to give Soul Patch some time.

“Tony’s uncertain fate near the end of ‘Day 5’ left the door open for his return,” said executive producer/show-runner Howard Gordon in Fox's Wednesday press release. “And since there was no silent clock at the conclusion of his last appearance - the 24 tribute to a major character’s demise - we always kept this as a possibility.” Aint it Cool News even suggests that part of the original plan was to bring Tony back in the final seconds of season six and also reminds us that Tony’s death didn’t have a silent clock the way other important character deaths such as Edgar Stiles.

You can read the full press release below.

 “24” RESETS THE CLOCK FOR SEASON SEVEN
 WITH TWO-NIGHT PREMIERE EVENT
SUNDAY, JAN. 13, AND MONDAY, JAN. 14, ON FOX

CTU Disbanded, Set in Washington, DC;
Fan-Favorite “Tony Almeida” Returns

“Day 7” to Air All Originals All Season into June

 The innovative, addictive, Emmy Award-winning television series 24 resets the clock for Season Seven with a special two-night premiere event Sunday, Jan. 13 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) and Monday, Jan. 14 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.

In keeping with FOX’s commitment to airing original programming year-round, the intense season will unfold in 24’s regular 9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT time period beginning Monday, Jan. 14, and will continue to air all originals all season into June.

“Day 7” of 24 will continue the show’s unique and trend-setting format with compelling new elements. With CTU dismantled, the show’s setting moves to Washington, DC, where JACK BAUER (Kiefer Sutherland) faces trial for his actions in the pursuit of justice. Bauer’s day gets off to a shocking start when former colleague TONY ALMEIDA (Carlos Bernard), last seen in “Day 5,” returns after being left for dead by a terrorist conspirator in CTU’s infirmary.

“Tony’s uncertain fate near the end of ‘Day 5’ left the door open for his return,” said executive producer/show-runner Howard Gordon. “And since there was no silent clock at the conclusion of his last appearance - the 24 tribute to a major character’s demise - we always kept this as a possibility.”

Bernard’s return highlights a list of notable cast members clocking in for Season Seven, including the previously announced Cherry Jones (“The Heiress”) as President ALLISON TAYLOR and Janeane Garofalo (“The Larry Sanders Show”) as FBI Agent JANIS GOLD. Colm Feore (“Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee”) will play First Gentleman HENRY TAYLOR and Bob Gunton (“Desperate Housewives”) is White House Chief of Staff ETHAN KANIN.

FBI Agents assigned to the team investigating the crisis befalling Bauer include Garofalo’s Agent Gold in addition to Annie Wersching (“General Hospital”) as Agent RENEE WALKER, Jeffrey Nordling (“Dirt”) as Agent LARRY MOSS and Rhys Coiro (“Entourage”) as Agent SEAN HILLINGER. John Billingsley (PRISON BREAK) portrays security specialist MICHAEL LATHAM. Although CTU is no longer, CHLOE O’BRIAN (Mary Lynn Rajskub) and BILL BUCHANAN (James Morrison) are back for another momentous day of shocking events.

As part of News Corp.’s global commitment to fighting climate change, 24 has pledged significant and innovative changes to its production practices with the goal of saving energy and reducing carbon emissions. Created by Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran, 24 is a production of Real Time Productions and Imagine Television in association with 20th Century Fox Television. Joel Surnow, Robert Cochran, Howard Gordon, Evan Katz, Jon Cassar, Manny Coto, David Fury, Kiefer Sutherland and Brian Grazer are the executive producers.

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