Bauer by Hour: Down for the Count

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Express' Matt Swenson, an admitted "24" addict, is ready for a new day. The following takes place between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m.

AS YOU MAY RECALL, Fox's "24" opened the season with a bang, literally, when a nuclear bomb exploded in Valencia, Calif. That triggered a chase find the remaining four weapons, something that's old hat to Jack Bauer. Naturally, Jack saved the world from that threat — but he did it too quickly. So for the past three episodes — and presumably next week's final two hours — the show has been focused on a mad search for a Russian computer component. And you wonder why some say the show has gone downhill?

So now the show has degenerated into a tete-a-tete-a-tete between Jack's evil father Phillip (James Cromwell) — who has the computer chip — and acting President Powers Boothe — still distracted over his hot aide's infidelity — and the Russian president, who doesn't want the Chinese to get hold of the device. All bad granddaddy Bauer wants is his grandson Josh, so he can take him to China to ensure the Bauer clan's evil legacy will continue. Facing threats from the mad Russians, Powers is willing to hand the kid over — even though the youngest Bauer is no longer in any danger because uncle Jack is there to protect him — and orders CTU to take Josh to the evil one.

That's where we stand ahead of the two-hour finale next week. Jack will once again have to put national security aside to save a loved one — but will somehow do both — before some major twist tries to redeem the lost season. Is Tony Almeida or David Palmer still alive? We can only hope. Now to the minutes ...

» PEEP SHOW: "Finally, they're done," says the great Peter MacNicol, who's been watching President Powers' hot aide sleeping with her other beau — the one who happens to be a Russian spy — in a van outside. No, the Vigo worshiper isn't a perv (we think) — he was there was to make sure the spy sends the aide's false info to the Russians. Needless to say, the aide attacks the spy before that happens so MacNicol has to get involved.

» SLEEPER AGENT: How about Morris coming up huge during the fight to get CTU back from the hostiles? He put an actual sleeper hold on one of the bad guys. Nice job!

» "HE IS A SOCIOPATH, SHE'S RIGHT": Great line by MacNicol again, agreeing with Karen Hugh... er, Hayes' assessment of Jack's evil dad. Small difference: She is against dealing with him and MacNicol sides with Powers to hand over the grandson.

» MISSING IN ACTION: Kim Bauer and sexy assassin Mandy have only a short time to appear.

» WHY THIS SHOW IS "24" AND YOUR SHOW ISN'T MOMENT: Jack makes a great power slide before shooting a bad guy. You can almost hear an umpire yell, "Safe!"

Photo courtesy of Fox