Of course, they have plenty of mistakes too numerous to list, but among them, the wrong process for how the president would be handled, or shortcuts such as the immediately available 'simulation' data of how long it would take the terrorists to launch the missiles - on a Russian sub.

The abduction of Jack at the end, too, seems poorly done; Chinese agents in ninja costumes operating secretly feet from the Secret Service at a major presidential event, able to take away a federal agent. Of course. And the bad guy not noticing Bauer had given him an unloaded gun - completely unbelievable he wouldn't have checked.

Clearly, the dramatic requirements are king, and logic an occassional visitor for the writers.

But what is up with this mysterious group in on the conspiracy, the 'Ron Howard character'? And who are the secret, powerful forces behind *them* we haven't met yet? And who behind THEM? Is it all leading to aliens?

When you have a group who talks down to the president the way this one did, the writers have signed up for a whole lot of explaining, and it hasn't happened yet. Disappointment seems inevitable when they do explain.

It gets a bit old having people unfazed by the attempted killings of hundreds of thousands, willing to sell out powerful figures to save their own skin, become frightened children and refuse to say a word against the Ron Howard conspiracy. Top terrorists in the world and even the president are vulnerable, but they 'can't be touched'?

Are these the same secret conspirators who were the undiscovered villains going back to Season 1? To Nina?

It's also a bit frustrating to have them playing a central role in the conspiracy without any info on their agenda; are they on the same plot, really, with the failed WMD plan? Why? If not, what are they after? Why are they able to know all the top secret communications in the government but unable to do anything about the terrorists' plans?

The neighborhood focus group had this to say about the show...

Heather: Jack's just the right kind of violent - and he doesn't put up with too much shit from his kid. Although I think that girl may have problems dating older guys someday.

Shareese: What a dude! That episode where he got away from those guys even after having his face beaten into crap - wait, that's every episode - and then shooting Tony Soprano, is my fav.

Johnson: What people don't understand is that this is REAL, man - this stuff happens to super spies all the time, and you just don't read about it in newspapers or hear about it anywhere!

Jose: I am in love with the star - what's his name? - and the way he takes charge and always wins gives him a commanding lead in the ratings. I love to sweat - and so does he!!

Martha: What other show teaches people, especially violent youth, exactly how to get back at the forces of evil, or for that matter, the government-run terrorist cabal? It's a great tool for showing people they can fight back and defend their constitutional right to be a hero!

Craig: Although I must confess I watch the show each week it's on, I disagree with Jack's methods and believe secret super spies should be held accountable to somebody... anybody.

Little Duce: Jack is some kind of man - the kind I wanna' be when I grow up to be a spy. I'm learning how to kill terrorists on the game mom got me for Hannuka so I can pass the CIA test.

Richie Cunninghan: Please don't call me anymore, Jack. I feel violence is just too blatant for a primetime viewing audience of mostly young persons who just want more reason to kick ass.

J.J. Abraham: If I get any more shit from Jack, I'll just squeeze his agent until he gives it up.

Sarah: J.J. is kinda' screwed up - he's sorta' lost - I love the show and want Jack right now.

Didn't Jack toss his cellphone to Agent Aaron Pierce in order for him to receive a call from Chloe before running out. During the co-pilot switcheroo scene that is.

Of course, by 'Ron Howard'...you must mean Paul McCrane, the late Dr. Romano on ER.

Overall enjoyable, aside from the momentarily jarring lapses in plausibility. But the entire season has been packed with moments and plots as implausible. Decent bit of fulfillment fantasy in an age when we can fully expect our leaders to answer for nothing.

"Didn't he pull out Palmer's cellphone before he interrogated him?"

Whose cellphone?

Oh, Heather, what would Jack say?

i skimmed through this article, which had some nice analysis - but my enjoyment was hampered by the very high error rate. the author was very sloppy (ie. called logan palmer, said his helicopter was a plane, called season 4 (season began with audrey and cushy job) season 3 (season began with drug addiction), etc.). come on now salon, don't you have editors???

A more serious loss would have been the lamb shawirma. But I'm quibbling.

One, it's Mike Novick not Novak (like Robert). Two, it was season 4 that Bauer was with DoD and dating Audrey. Your copy editors need a lashing.

The writers on that show just think up the craziest, off the wall stuff.

Cracking an encrypted NSA database that's behind a firewall in five seconds and passing it to Jack's PDA? Sure.

The president commits crimes and his attorney general has him arrested?

They've certainly had their fair share of improbable plot twists over the years, but that's the most unbelieveable thing they've had on that show yet.

Was I the only person who could hear a faint refrain of Rosemary Clooney singing "I'm going to get you on a slow boat to China" as that ship sailed into the sunset?

It's not Ron Howard the Prez keeps calling -- it's Paul McCrane who starred on ER as Dr. Romano, the surgeon who lost an arm to a helicopter blade. Give the man his due!

Mistakes were made, it's true. Finale week has rendered me scatterd and a little sloppy, as much as it pains me to admit it. I shouldn't have depended on my own weak memory for some of this stuff, like confusing Season 3 with Season 4. And confusing Logan with Palmer? That's just bizarre, the kind of error that's so unthinkably strange and stupid, it's hard to spot.

Um, but the Ron Howard thing? That was a joke. Ha. Ha.

Thanks for reading, and for being patient with me. Next up: "Lost." I've loved this season so far, so I'm really looking forward to Wednesday night's finale.