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ShareCTU is back. New York City has been added to the cast. And Jack Bauer has recovered.
More details about the eighth season of “24,” bowing Jan. 17? There are a few.
Fox last week confirmed that “24” will shift to New York City and unfold, in the network’s words, “amidst the shadows of the Statue of Liberty and the United Nations.” (What, no Empire State Building shadow?)
CTU (Counter Terrorism Unit), which was shuttered a season or so ago in the wake of a scandal, will reopen and be run by Brian Hastings (Mykelti Williamson), who, we are told, is “razor-sharp” and has an MBA.
Also added is Agent Cole Ortiz — played by Freddie Prinze Jr. He wants to be Jack the 2nd (good luck, Cole). He’ll run field operations.
Next up: Dana Walsh (“Battlestar Galactica’s” Katee Sackhoff), a smarty who’ll have to deal with another smarty, Chloe (Mary Lynn Rajskub) in systems analysis, alongside yet another IT guy, Arlo Glass (John Boyd).
Meanwhile, here’s something new to “24” — a journalist. An ambitious one. With “ties to the unfolding situation,” Fox says, with maddening understatement. Her name is Meredith Reed (Jennifer Westfeldt, briefly of “Grey’s Anatomy”). Who wants to bet nosy old Mere doesn’t make it past 10 a.m.?
And, finally, we have Omar Hassan (Anil Kapoor, “Slumdog Millionaire”), a “Middle Eastern leader who comes to the U.S. on a peace-making mission.”
And recent fave President Taylor (Cherry Jones) will be back, but not her husband and daughter. And FBI agent Renee Walker (Annie Wersching) will make a return engagement. As for her and Jack? Well, you’ll just have to tune in to find out.
