How Many Lives Does 24's Tony Almeida Have?

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Carlos Bernard, 24 (Image from FOX)

Comic-Con is traditionally reserved for big movies like Iron Man or The Watchmen or, for the small screen, sci-fi shows like Lost and Heroes. When it was announced that 24 would be hosting a Q&A panel this year, something seemed wrong. The show doesn't really fit into a comic book world, though Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) can easily be called a superhero.

So color me surprised when the 24 panel delivered some of the most awesome bits of information thus far at Comic-Con, passing that boring Lost panel by leaps and bounds. Aside from the season 7 preview (Jack in D.C. getting grilled in a Senate committee hearing) and the movie news (not until after the final season), came something truly stunning: Tony Almeida may be alive.

That's right, Jack's trusty sidekick, who, by all accounts, died in season 5, may in fact be roaming the world, waiting for the right moment to come back into Jack's life. According to the panel, which featured show producers Jon Cassar, Evan Katz, Manny Coto and David Fury, we may yet again lay sight on the man who once made the soul patch the must-have fashion accessory for the cool at heart.

The revealed that a possible cliffhanger for season 6 included Jack, staring off at the water as he did, suddenly hearing a familiar voice telling him they have a lot to talk about. Tony Almeida's voice. As a die-hard fan of the show from minute one, I nearly jumped out of my seat the first time I heard that. Sure, it didn't happen, but man, if it did? How sweet would that have been? That flash forward thing on Lost would be nothing.

When I first heard this, it seemed absurd. Tony, as I recall, died in season 5 at the hands of Jack's former mentor, Christopher Henderson (Peter Weller). Then I thought some more, and it all made perfect sense: Tony Almeida is an immortal (and, possibly, the Highlander). Not really, but think about it: season 2, he broke his leg and spent most of the season on crutches. Season 3, he got shot in the neck (and was back running CTU a couple hours later). Season 4, he got tortured by Mandy in an apartment building. The man takes a licking and keeps on ticking.

Speaking of ticking, the return of Tony also explains one huge problem from the otherwise excellent season 5. When he "died," there was no silent clock, something they typically do for the major characters. In fact, Edgar got one the previous hour, and fans (myself included) were angry at the producers who didn't show Tony the same respect. But perhaps they didn't because they knew he wasn't really dead. In hindsight, I forgive you, 24 producers, because you're geniuses!

Season 6 wasn't the show's best (and could easily be its worst), and at the Comic-Con panel the producers shared the fans' disappointment. But if Tony Almeida returns, I'm pretty sure I'll forgive them. I want my soul patch, and I want it now.

-John Kubicek, Buddy TV

Posted by at July 27, 2007 4:23 p.m.

Comments

#43447

Posted by unregistered user at 7/29/07 11:00 p.m.

Bring Tony Back!! Only he can redeem 24 now.

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#44458

Posted by unregistered user at 8/3/07 2:16 p.m.

I'm a die-hard fan of tony almeida. i hated them for killing him, i never did forgive them, but bringing him back would be adding insult to injury, as cool as it would be, it would be just as unbelievable. it would completely destroy the show's credibility. as much as I want tony to be alive, i'd rather not have him come back for the following reason: think about it, if they brought him back, how would it end? they'd just kill him. again. like milo. like everyone they brought back in the past. and i don't think i could take that again. and btw, the silent clock was an oversight. they had a new editor at work and he simply didn't know the tradition.

i think it would be better for my heart and that of those other fans of tony's who cried when he drew his last breath to just stop speculating and raising hopes. almeida is dead. stop twisting the knife in the wound. please.

and for the record,

Almeida is God.

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#44459

Posted by unregistered user at 8/3/07 2:20 p.m.

having said the above, if they did bring him back, then just please let him be the one who kills jack. because jack has to die. and tony is the only guy in the world that "deserves" to be the one to kill jack. but then, we're back to what I said above. if tony kills jack, tony dies. it's as simple as that. unfortunately.

Almeida is God.

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#46576

Posted by unregistered user at 8/16/07 2:07 a.m.

Tony is a beloved character for most 24 fans, and for me too. But as much as I loved him, as much as I disliked the way he died in season 5, I would dislike his come-back. No matter how good or not his return is written, I would totally disagree with his revival. Tony is still alive in 24 fans heart, but to me he is unfortunately very dead. And I strongly hope that the writers resist the pressure from some die-hard fans of Tony who want him back. It seems that the writers want him back too, but this should remain a fantasy and nothing more. The show must go on. Season 6 showed some weaknesses but in my opinion, if they bring back Tony, it would completely ruin the show. Please Joel, Bob, Howard, Evan, Michael, Manny, David, Matt, Duppy, ... if you hear me, we all love Tony Almeida very much. Let him rest peacefully with his beloved wife. Keep creating new exciting characters.

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#48696

Posted by unregistered user at 8/28/07 1:56 a.m.

I CANT BELIEVE THEY KILLED OFF MICHELLE! BRING HER AND TONY BACK :\

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#53150

Posted by unregistered user at 9/19/07 3:49 p.m.

Leave him dead. He's not any more essential to the show than any other of the major dead characters.

It's a pretty good sign that the producers aren't able to create any really good new characters that have more than one dimension to them when they keep teasing viewers with the idea that they could revive a dead character.

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#140035

Posted by unregistered user at 6/18/08 9:18 a.m.

So when is 24 returning? Anyone know?

Totalpips

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