24
News (Page 3)

Jennifer Westfeldt is coming to 24.

The actress - who has been dating Mad Men star Jon Hamm for years and enjoyed an extended guest-starring stint on Grey's Anatomy last season - recently spoke on her role on the eighth season of the Fox drama.

"I'm a journalist with some ties to the president of the Islamic Republic, who is played by Anil Kapoor, who was in Slumdog Millionaire," she said.

Will the character, Meredith Reed, stick around all season? Don't count on it: Westfeldt begins her role in an off-Broadway play this week.

Yesterday, it was announced that T.J. Ramini would also appear on season eight of 24.

Compared with the news that Katee Sackhoff is joining the cast of 24, the following tidbit isn't very exciting.

But it's still worth noting that T.J. Ramini will play a key role on season eight of the Fox hit. The actor is best known for having played Yaniv on Desperate Housewives, the Israeli boot camp instructor that got Gabby into shape this spring.

Ramini will play Tarin Karoush on 24, an associate of the Middle Eastern leader portrayed by new series regular Anil Kapoor.

Following the news that Chris Diamantopoulos will appear on season eight of 24 as President Taylor's Chief of Staff, many fans are wondering about the status of Ethan Kanin.

Is he off the show? Could he actually take over as First Husband, now that the marriage between Taylor and her husband appears to be over (and considering the hints dropped last season that he and Taylor had an affair)?

According to various sources, the answer to both questions above is: no.

Kanin will, indeed, play a role on 24 next year. He's expected to be named Secretary of State.

As previously announced, Katee Sackhoff isn't simply coming to 24 next season. Her character is bringing a secret past with her.

We can now expound on that past, as Clayne Crawford has been tapped to play a recurring role on season eight.

Reports state that Crawford - who has several episodes of Jericho - will play a "bad boy" that has history with Sackhoff's CTU analyst.

The eighth season began production last month, as Crawford is the latest of several additions to the 24 cast, including Mykelti Williamson, Freddie Prinze Jr., Doug Hutchinson, Jennifer Westfeldt and Anil Kapoor.

As far as 24 spoiler and casting notes go, it doesn't get any more excited than the addition of Katee Sackhoff to the series.

Season eight can't arrive quickly enough, though we're at least encouraged by signs that Fox is hyping the show to no end... already.

While the new season doesn't premiere until January, the network has released the following press release, outlining its plot and characters in detail:

Season Eight will unfold in New York City amidst the shadows of the Statue of Liberty and the United Nations. In this new day, CTU has been upgraded and is run by MBA-schooled and razor-sharp head honcho BRIAN HASTINGS (Mykelti Williamson). COLE ORTIZ (Freddie Prinze Jr.), an ex-Marine who wants to follow in JACK BAUER’s footsteps, runs the division’s Field Operations.

Expert data analyst DANA WALSH (Katee Sackhoff) collaborates with systems analyst ARLO GLASS (John Boyd inside CTU. ROB WEISS (Chris Diamantopoulos) serves as PRESIDENT ALLISON TAYLOR’s (Cherry Jones) new chief of staff, and MEREDITH REED (Jennifer Westfeldt) is an ambitious journalist with ties to the unfolding situation.

As previously announced, Sutherland, Jones, Mary Lynn Rajskub and Annie Wersching also return. In addition, Bollywood icon Anil Kapoor (“Slumdog Millionaire”) makes his American TV debut as OMAR HASSAN, a Middle Eastern leader who comes to the U.S. on a peacemaking mission.

Major 24 casting alert:

Katee Sackhoff - best known for her iconic role of Starbuck on Battlestar Galactica - will play a key role on the show next season.

The actress will come aboard as Dana Walsh, a data analyst at the new New York branch of CTU. Entertainment Weekly reports the character will be in a relationship with fellow agent Davis Cole (Freddie Prinze. Jr.). She'll also be holding a major secret.

The eighth season of 24 will premiere on January 7, 2010. It will center on an assassination plot against a visiting foreign leader (Slumdog Millionaire's Anil Kapoor).

In addition to Sackhoff and Prinze, new actors on the series will include:

• Mykelti Williamson
• Jennifer Westfeldt
• Chris Diamantopoulos