The Clicker Challenges Jack Bauer

People! I was on vacation! That excuse didn't cut it with my dozens of fans out there so here I am writing a mid-week Clicker so I can stop getting hate mail. (Actually all I got was a a message from my mom reminding me that I forgot to come by her house again, but I'm using poetic license). With that pointless intro out of the way, here's The Clicker.

"24" is rolling along with another strong season and yet, I'm growing frustrated with it. Now, let me clarify myself before Jack Bauer kicks down my door and shoots me in the head for daring to blaspheme his good name. Bauer is still the strongest, most kick ass lead character on television. The dude shot his old boss's wife in the leg just to get information out of him. That's hardcore! I still love Chloe's character too. She's annoying, bitchy, and yet I love her anyway.

When "24" is at its best, it's the most exciting show on television. But as the writer's grow increasingly reckless with their twists and turns, continuity suffers. WWE writers manage better continuity this. Because of that, there are certain things that I've grown to expect. A character dying before Jack gets the info out of him is almost a weekly staple now. Yet, this year's stupid side plots are a bit over the top. Honestly, having an inter-departmental pissing contest between CTU and Homeland Security is dumb and far-fetched. Did we need this manufactured drama to add tension to the show? No, it's the kind of lazy writing that annoys the fans. There is good tension and bad tension. This is ridiculously bad tension.

A few weeks ago, we were introduced to a hottie working alongside Chloe. She turned out to be a complete wacko, and went on to accuse people of sexual harassment for touching her shoulder. Yeah, that was needed. The only good thing about it is that her side plot was dropped after that episode. Because it pissed me off, I'm sure it will be readdressed in the future.

The worst thing about the show is the way it manages characters. President Palmer's death was a great move. He was a major part of the story once, but he'd run his course. The murders of Tony, Michelle and Edgar on the other hand were clearly done for shock value and they lacked the emotion they deserved. Palmer's death overshadows them all. We get Wayne Palmer and Jack grieving over the dead President each week but what about Tony? Michelle? Edgar? I can handle killing them off, but not not them being forgotten. The fans who were emotionally invested in these characters get stung. Edgar's fat body was barely rolled out of CTU before the idiotic Homeland Security storyline was shoved down our throats. If you want tension let me see Chloe struggling all day without Edgar. I don't need the other crap.

I haven't even mentioned the most recent dumb plot twist. You know, the one where Logan's responsible for all of this? I'm pretty sure he can't wipe his ass without assistance much less head a muddled operation that we have yet to fully grasp. Nothing about this twist makes sense. Leave Logan as the inept coward running our country. Try not to turn him into Dick Cheney. We're supposed to believe he knew about Walt the entire time, reinstates Bauer when he really hates him and wants him dead, reconsiders and now wants him dead, and more? It's just dumb. Sure, aplogists are ready to give all of this a pass, but they're the only ones more messed up than the writing.

"24" is still a great show, but being a great show shouldn't be an excuse to shovel crap at the fans and expect us to eat it up. Kiefer Sutherland has signed on for three more years. Let's hope the show's writing can rise to a level worthy of the only man capable saving our country on a nightly basis.

The Ten Commandments (ABC) 8:00 pm

Part 2: Conclusion-I hope you caught the first half of the the mini-series last night. I let you down this week. Dougray Scott plays Moses faces a Red Sea. I wonder what will happen? It would be cool if it parts!

The Amazing Race (CBS) 8:00pm

Herculean efforts for some Herculean Dudes- TAR moves to 8pm on Wednesdays from its previous 10:00pm Tuesday night slot. Thank God. I'm too old to stay up that long. Haha The teams are in Greece and will compete in some Olympic events. I'm predicting a "non-elimination" week. I hope you do' lay bets though. I would have cost you a fortune in last week's Final Four.

LOST (ABC) 9:00 pm

S.O.S.- I'm excited about this episode based only on how bad ass Jack looked in last week's preview. Unfortunately, Jack and Kate are gonna flirt so that could bring down the coolness factor. Jack goes into the forest to offer up a trade. I'm sure it's about getting some cool fake beards for some of Hurley's food stash. Be warned! The show runs 64 minutes. If you have a sissified DVR, it won't know this. Tivo will. Ahh, good ol Tivo.

Survivor (CBS) 8:00pm

Fight for your life or eat- This season is terribly boring. Although we had the thought-to-be interesting Exile Island, we ended up with nothing of note and a cast full of ignorant survivors. Gah, why do I even watch this anymore?

Survivorman (Discovery Science Channel) 10:00 pm

Arizona Desert Les Stroud is nuts but in a good way. Each week he shows us how to survive in the worst situations. This time he rides a dirt bike into the Sonoran Desert with just a scant amount of supplies. He makes a blanket out of grass and eats scorpions for a week. Yeah, um, this guy needs a date. haha

Ten Days That Unexpectedly Changed America (History Channel) 8:00 pm

You can catch many episodes of this 10 part show tonight. Starting at 8, you get to see at least three hours of it. The episode titles are Einstein's Letter, When America Was Rocked, Freedom Summer, and Shay's Rebellion: America's First Civil War.

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