For the past three seasons, I’ve done a weekly commentary on each episode of 24. Why? I’ve really no idea. Just something to do, I guess. And even when the show got ridiculous, I stuck it out because, well, I’m compulsive like that. But every season, I wonder if I’m going to start it up again – it’d really make my life easier if I just stopped… and yet, here I am again. Damn you, Jack Bauer! Damn you! So here we go again, in SpoilerVision:

Random observations from the first two hours – Is it me or is this the first time they’ve come right out and called the terrorists “Muslims”, and not the slightly vaguer and less inflammatory “Arabs”? Hmm. We’ve also got Chloe in a suit with quite the neckline for a day at the office. I get the impression that the President paid a high price for Jack’s release. Just a hunch. And man, Jack’s looking all “Passion of the Bauer”. Though apparently he only grew that beard for one scene. What a waste. Somehow the idea of Bill and Karen bumping uglies just… unsettles me. But not as much as the fact that Jack buttoned his shirt up to the top button. Man, what’d the Chinese do to him? It’s kind of nice to see Kal Penn isn’t being typecast as “Indian guy”. He can do all types of “brown-skinned guy”. And “evil henchman”. I have to think that telling Jack “You will die for nothing” is probably the wrong thing to say… and he’s going to regret not cutting off his shootin’ finger when he had the chance. And that new sneak-vampire attack thing has to go down as Jack’s most gruesome kill in the past five/six years. For now anyways.

I found the second hour kind of settled into a standard 24 routine – Jack working against the government, scheming government toadie undermining the President, Jack teaming up with an unlikely ally, the drama unfolding in the suburbs. Honestly, the thing that struck me the most was on the subway – is that really how the LA Metro checks tickets? Seems really inefficient. Also, the bomber boarded from the middle of the platform and yet he and Jack were on the last car… hmm. I do like the fact that as all this going down, that terror attacks are happening all over the US. Definitely adds some tension and pressure right out of the gate, and really – why should LA have all the fun? I’m definitely curious to see what the huge twist that they’ve got planned for tonight is. It’s going to have to be something pretty spectacular to shock your typically jaded veteran 24 watcher. But I’ll be watching.

So how about that Friends In Bellwoods CD release show on Friday? Really, how was it? I had no idea that there were advance tickets available at Soundscapes so as a result I, along with a lineup of people stretched around the block from the Tranzac (a small block, but still) were shut out of the festivities when they announced that the show was completely sold out. Disappointing, sure, but at least it undoubtedly succeeded as a fundraiser for the Daily Bread Food Bank. I did pick up a copy of the CD on Saturday and it’s a really fine collection. Radio Free Canuckistan has an interview with Ohbijou’s Casey Mecija.

And also softening the blow is the fact that Ohbijou has been added to the bill with Under Byen and Frida Hyvonen at the Mod Club on March 8. There’s really no way this can’t be an amazing show.

And one to file under “wha?”, The Pipettes – surely one of the buzzier things out of the UK last year – are going to make their Toronto debut on March 10… at the tiny Rivoli which holds around 100 people. Though they’re not the last band on the bill – that’d be fellow Anglos The Smoke Fairies – the midnight slot tends the be the choicest one so I think it’d be fair to call that the Pipettes’ show. But what’s with the venue? Anyway, most of the CMW schedule is now up, save for some of the big venues/shows like at Lee’s, the ‘Shoe, etc. Via For The Records

British Sea Power fans would do well to head over to the band’s MySpace page as they’ve got a cover of Pavement’s “We Dance” a-streaming. Nice. They’ve just returned to Montreal to mix the new record which should be due out in late Spring/early Summer. Via The Tripwire.

This is Simon. He is my new cat. Today is his seven month birthday. Say happy birthday to Simon.