Now, as y’all are well aware when it comes to videos like these … they don’t tend to stay online for very long. After the jump, check out the two clips in full — while you still can …

Suddenly, I find myself counting the minutes until 24’s new season. Perhaps this is why: Katee Sackhoff is joining the cast! Sources confirm to me exclusively that the Battlestar Galactica heroine has been tapped to play the series regular role of Dana Walsh, a highly respected and down-to-earth data analyst at the new and improved New York branch of CTU. Translation: Chloe-Starbuck catfight alert! This fraktastic casting coup hit a road block last week when Sackhoff abruptly took herself out of the running, prompting me to post this blind item. But late Friday, word surfaced that the BSG badass was once again in the mix. Here’s more scoop on Sackhoff’s character… She’s in a relationship with fellow agent Davis Cole (played by the just-cast Freddie Prinze. Jr.), and she apparently has a skeleton in her closet she’s trying desperately to keep hidden. As I previously reported, 24’s eighth season — which premieres Jan. 17, 2010 — will be set in the Big Apple and center on an assassination plot against a visiting foreign leader (Slumdog Millionaire’s Anil Kapoor). In addition to Sackhoff and Prinze, new Day 8 blood includes Forrest Gump’s Mykelti Williamson, Kissing Jessica Stein’s Jennifer Westfeldt (as a journalist with ties to Kapoor’s diplomat), and The Starter Wife’s Chris Diamantopoulos (as President Taylor’s Chief of Staff).

While I am not at all happy that Anil Kapoor will be on the show (he bugs me to no end), I’m thrilled that Katee Sackhoff has joined the cast … that she will be paired up with Freddie Prinze, Jr.’s character only makes the whole thing even more awesome! 24 remains my fave TV drama and from what we’re hearing about the new season, it looks like that will still be the case. Ugh … I hate that we have to wait until January to see our first ep of the series but at least we know we have much to look forward to! Excited much??

[Source, thanks Rawa]

Question: Got anything on 24? –Chris

Ausiello: Big casting scoop: Freddie Prinze Jr. has been tapped to play CTU’s head of Field Ops.

Altho this news is light on deets, allow me to wildly speculate for a minute. Kiefer Sutherland has said many times that there will come a time when Jack Bauer will have to die on the show. It is my understanding that producers are planning on introducing a young character to take the “Jack Bauer” position on the show if/when his death eventually comes. Could it be that FPJ is that character? A CTU Field Ops agent sounds like the perfect character to step into Bauer’s shoes. Again, this is mere speculation on my part but … you never know. I am very happy that Freddie got this role … what, with a first baby on the way, any money coming in can only be a boon. I love me some 24 … I can’t wait to see FPJ’s contribution to the show.

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It PAINS me to reveal that I was graciously invited to attend this event last night but due to my previous engagement in Anaheim, I was unable to attend. I’m so happy to see that most of the cast came out for the event … including Glenn Morshower who plays the amazing Secret Serviceman Aaron Pierce on the show. He is my fave non-main character on the show. It’s really cool that the entire season of the show will be released on DVD the day after the finale airs … I really hate waiting months to get the DVDs after the season ends. This season started out a bit slow, IMHO, but it really picked up about 4 eps in … it’s been a great ride and it all ends next week. I’m still trying to get over the fact that Tony Almeida was a bad guy gone good gone bad. He is such a great character … I’m sure there will be a showdown with Jack Bauer soon (next week??). 24 remains one of my fave shows and I’m bummed that it’s ending next week … but it is of great comfort that the show has been renewed for at least 2 more seasons to come.

[Photo credit: Wireimage]

James Earl Jones became “president” in the 1972 film The Man and Morgan Freeman became “president” in the 1998 film Deep Impact (about the improbability that a meteor could crash into Earth and destroy mankind). My fave fictional African American Presidents are the Palmer brothers, David and Wayne, who ruled the country in a few seasons of the hit FOX TV series 24. President David Palmer, I gotta say, is my fave fictional President of all time. But with the election of Barack Obama as our Nation’s leader, there is no longer a need for Hollywood to create fictional African American leaders … I guess they’ll have to resort to creating fictional female presidents (like in the upcoming new season of 24) instead. It’s pretty remarkable how far this country has come with one Presidential election.

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This from the mag’s new feature Ask Ausiello: Ladies and gentleman, we’ve got a signed contract! Sources confirm to me exclusively that Cuthbert has inked a deal to reprise her role as Jack’s lightning rod of an offspring for a season-ending arc that will no doubt trigger a new round of wholly outdated and painfully unfunny cougar jokes. Per my 24 mole, Kim will return minus her old beau (sorry, C. Thomas Howell) and plus a child! That’s right, Kim’s got a little puma all her own!

Well hallelujah! It’s been ages since we’ve seen Jack Bauer’s only child on 24 and I was starting to wonder what the hell has been doing on with her. You may recall that Jack got sprung from a Chinese prison in the last season of 24 (which aired about 10 years ago) and we got nary a hint that his daughter even cared. I’m glad to see that Kim Bauer will still feature in Jack’s life … I gotta say, I miss that. I’m not the biggest Kim Bauer fan but I do like the complications that she adds to his life. It’ll be great to catch up with the character to see how she’s been doing. I just hope she fixes that fried hair before she shoots new scenes for the show. Oh yeah, I’ve thought WAY TOO much about this … can you tell I’ve been suffering from 24 withdrawals?

[Photo credit: Splash News; Source]

Here is a bit of information about the 24 prequel that has already been released and fills in a few gaps presented in this video:

FOX has scheduled a two-hour “24″ telefilm to serve as a prequel to the Emmy-winning drama’s long-delayed seventh season. The network announced on Thursday (May 15) that the “24″ special will air on Sunday, Nov. 23 from 8:00-10:00 p.m. ET. The extended episode will take place just a few months before the events of Season Seven, which will premiere in January 2009 … When the prequel special begins, Kiefer Sutherland’s Jack Bauer is in South Africa handling an international crisis. Back at home, the newly elected president (series newcomer Cherry Jones) is preparing for her inauguration day. That second part is bound to be more exciting than it sounds. “We’re excited about the prequel because it explores Jack’s complex emotional state of mind and still has all the signature excitement and suspense that fans have come to expect from ‘24,’” says executive producer Howard Gordon in a statement. “Shooting in South Africa affirms everyone’s commitment to making this season especially memorable for our fans.”

There is further explanation of the upcoming 7th season of 24 available but I am putting it behind a cut so as not to unduly spoil those of you who may not want to know about key surprises that are in store for the new season. After the jump, read the rest of this report and find out more about what we can expect from Day 7 of 24 …

Devoted “24″ fans know that an Africa-set adventure was one of the initially discarded plotlines for Day 7. The actual Season Seven plot will move the action from Los Angeles to Washington and will force Bauer to operate without his familiar CTU backdrop. Little is known except that a national security crisis brings together new castmembers Colm Feore, Janeane Garofalo, Annie Wersching, Jeffrey Nordling, Rhys Coiro and John Billingsley, as well as returning favorites Mary Lynn Rajskub and James Morrison. Also returning, under intriguing circumstances, is Carlos Bernard’s Tony Almeida.

!!! It seems like it’s been AGES since we’ve last checked in with Jack Bauer and his crew. That damn Writer’s Strike really screwed us fans of 24. I’m still pretty shocked at the news that Tony Almeida isn’t dead and will be returning to the show … as a robot? As a clone? As both (ie. a Victoria Beckham/Suri Holmes-Cruise hybrid)? IEEEEEE! I’m dying to know. You may recall that Tony got Peaced the Spork Out back in 2006 … I guess it turns out that he didn’t peace out after all. We’ve still got a long way to go before we get to see any new 24 … the prequel doesn’t air until November and Day 7 doesn’t start until January of next year … but this little teaser clip is a nice appetizer.

[Source, Source]