Previously on 24: 11pm - 12pm

OK, I've only got 15 minutes to post this. Go.

Action opened up with Jack being scrubbed and hosed after exposure to a bioweapon, whose improbable characteristics I won't detail here. Suffice it to say that Jack's been hosed in more ways than one. (And surprisingly, neither "M" nor I found anything to say about Jack's underwear choice. I myself might have guessed he would go commando...)

The entire Sangala/Starkweather/terrorism connection is explained in about 4 sentences, soap opera style. (Writers, we think that's pretty lazy. Get some Red Bull in you and get back to work.)

Jack gets taken back to FBI HQ, while the rest of the FBI team goes over to Starkwood's compound. There is some discussion about whether they can take in military reinforcement to back them up against the 1500 mercenaries on site at Starkwood, and a spurious decision is made that this would be unconstitutional. (Thanks, Craig, for the research.)

Madame President has named her lipwear challenged none too resourceful and proven to be evil even if only by virtue of criminal stupidity daughter, Oilivia, as acting chief of staff to replace Possibly Evil (still, in my mind) Ethan.

Oily Olivia is either hitting on or attempting to co-opt our fair-haired Aaron, luring him out of retirement with her version of smolderly glances. (She doesn't smolder too well, though, it looks more like she's leering.) The Women of The 24 Blog believe that Aaron needs to keep the enemies of our country close, and take on the job so that he can ultimately thwart her oily plot. Whatever it is.

Tony is being held hostage. But then one of the bad guys, Greg (assistant to the dastardly Daddgelina) kind of sort of rescues him, shooting at least one of his own in the process. Greg knows where on the Starkwood compound the bioweapons are being held.

Tony, a highly trained government agent gone hardened criminal just takes Greg's conversion at face value.

Tony gets on the phone with Larry (whose number he has, how?) and gets Larry to call his new BFF, Madame President, and negotiates amnesty for Greg. It can happen that fast!

Yawn, there's also some annoying Jack-Renee-Larry whatever. Talk about girl on girl action: Larry to Renee, "I should have trusted you," Renee back to Larry, "No, I should have trusted you."

Bla, bla bla. And Jack, there's no cure for what ails him, I'm afraid. And he's in a World Of Pain.

The good guys go in to Starkwood (sans haz-mat gear, I have to say my local CERT team would be better equipped) as per Greg's advice.

Oops, it doesn't look like that's where the WMD is being held after all...and now we have a standoff.

Tony gives Greg what our family calls The Mean Face, when its executed by someone under 3 (or a youthful at heart dad).

And we're out. See you "live" tonight.