Let the day begin! A look at the new season of '24'

If you are looking for utter realism and accuracy in your television dramas, this hasn't been your week.

First we had the second season premiere of Damages on Wednesday night and now 24 finally returns for a seventh season this Sunday. The first four hours of the day will air over two nights on FOX -- two hours on Sunday and two hours on Monday beginning at 8 p.m.

The location has changed from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C. but Jack (Kiefer Sutherland) is still able to get across town in a matter of minutes. He never encounters traffic or has to search for a parking space. Characters can go from being kidnapped to being tortured to confession within a matter of minutes and everyone always knows exactly where they are (in the northwest corridor heading east on the second floor). That's always how I know I would be really bad in the world of 24. ("Um, I'm in the corner of the building, maybe on the third floor, maybe on the fifth floor I'm not so sure. It's kind of dark in here.")

The season starts off with Jack on trial and, as you no doubt have heard, Tony (Carlos Bernard) is back from the dead and a bad guy. Good guy or bad guy, I'm just happy he's alive. It's great to have Tony back. His friendship and loyalty with Jack is something the series never truly replicated with another character on the show.

Several characters who were part of the Redemption movie show up too including the President (Cherry Jones) and her husband (Colm Feore). Janeane Garofalo joins the cast as FBI computer geek Janis Gold -- she provides a fun counterpart to our beloved Chloe (Mary Lynn Rajskub). And it certainly seems like FBI agent Renee Walker (Annie Wersching) will be Jack's romantic interest. Although, I'm not exactly sure what the show is up to with Wersching's character. She and Jack have several debates over the merits of using torture to get a confession out of someone. The show has been rather public about wanting Jack to defend his actions this season but it happens in a rather clunky fashion in the first four hours.

That being said, this season looks to be much more entertaining than the lackluster season six. And although it's been a long wait, it's definitely a good thing that season six is now a distant memory. Right away there are several intriguing mysteries and, as always, it's hard to know who's good and who's bad. By now, I pretty much suspect everyone is a traitor. We've definitely learned to trust no one over the years watching 24 and this year is no exception. I had that familiar feeling of being totally stressed out by the end of the first four hours which is a very good sign.

I can't really tell you much more without ruining the surprises 24 has in store for you but after you watch the two-night premiere, let me know what you think and post your comments below.

Fun Link

Get a behind-the-scenes look at tonight's episode of Ghost Whisperer by clicking here.

Quotes of the Week

"I can't have another stupid romantic disaster in this hospital. It's embarrassing." Callie (Sara Ramirez) speaking the truth to Sloan on Grey's Anatomy.

"McTrashy. That's so Grey's of you." Marco to Megan when she tells him she and Will had sex in a hospital supply closet on Privileged.

"That's right Tom you cannot go out with an internet prostitute." Grace's mom laying down the law for Grace's brother on The Secret Life of the American Teenager.

"All of these people are your family? Why are they smiling? Who's being ostracized?" Jack to his mother's nurse (played by Salma Hayek) on 30 Rock.

"You're not pathetic. You're a pain in the ass but you're not pathetic." Kelly (Jennie Garth) to Brenda on 90210.

"Now was that it or were you going to tell me you love me again?" Chuck being even more cruel than usual to Blair on Gossip Girl.

"Carlos, I've spend the last five years working with the blind. Trust me, it's not that fulfilling." Gabby trying to convince Carlos to take the more high paying job and not a job working with the blind on Desperate Housewives.

That's all for today. I'm off to LA for the Television Critics Association January Press Tour but I'll be back on Monday to talk about the positively fantastic third season of Friday Night Lights which begins next Friday on NBC (I so wish I had asked for a Riggins football jersey for Christmas) and the new season of American Idol. Have a question? Seen a familiar face? Want to nominate a quote of the week? Write me at amytvgal@zap2it.com. Have a great weekend.

Amy Amatangelo, TV Gal ®