TVSquad

As if you haven't heard it enough from all of us here at TV Squad, one of the best perks by far of the TV critic biz is getting to see episodes before they air. DVD screeners are always pouring into the TV Squad HQ for just about everything - usually all the shows nobody wants to, or ever will, watch.

But when one of the big ones comes in the mail, it's always exciting. Especially since the networks typically go all out when it comes to the press kits for those trademark shows. These are always more than just a DVD. Sometimes the extra bonuses are good and sometimes they're bad - I still have no use for my incredibly dull Prison Break pocket knife.

Even still, whether the press kits are loaded with junk or not, it's a thrill to open them up. Last week, I found an interesting package on my doorstep. Take a look after the jump for pictures of what I found inside.

The 24 season seven press kit! After being delayed by one year because of the WGA strike, Jack is finally back. And no, before you ask, I am not including the mediocre Redemption as Bauer's true return. Two hours? Unacceptable. Give me 24 of 'em or nothin'.

There it is. That was lying on my doorstep. Kind of looks like a package bomb, huh? Although, I suppose it's appropriate that a press kit for 24 should look like a project-gone-wrong from the Anarchist's Cookbook. On top is that picture of Jack, drawing his gun right in front of the Capitol building in Washington, DC. Extremely bad-ass. Here's a tighter shot of the pic:

Notice anything different? A tagline! "Just in Time." It's a perfect fit for the show, and at the same time it puns on the year long hiatus. I'm honestly surprised that it never got used on a previous season. All of them always used "Jack is Back," but I never really considered that as a tagline for the show. I think this one fits, though.

After I popped open the box and pulled away some bubble-wrap, there was the standard letter that networks send with all press kits. We're really proud of this season ... blah blah blah ... thanks for your consideration of the enclosed episodes ... blah blah blah. The one out of place thing I noticed? Normally, these letters are signed by one of the PR folks from whatever network you're dealing with - in this case, FOX. However, this time around, it's signed by 24 's EP, Howard Gordon. Seemed a little odd to me, but again, I'll just attribute that to the year-long hiatus. Sort of like a plea from the show's creators to please come back and watch the show. I don't think that's going to be a problem.

Underneath the letter was the DVD. It contains the first four episodes of the new season. But that box was still way too big for just a letter and a DVD. So what was underneath the DVD?

A Jack Bauer action figure! This press-kit is officially not filled with junk. Not just any action figure, though, but one of those crazy expensive McFarlane Toys action figures. The ones that are so super-detailed right down to the fingernails and hairs that they're more "collectible" than "toy." I've never owned one of these before, probably because I never hung around the comic book stores where they were sold.

That being said, I'm not into collecting stuff like this. I like to play with things. So if you're some sort of collectible enthusiast who likes to buy things and then keep them in the box, you may want to avert your eyes from the next shot:

There he is - Jack Bauer in all of his posable glory. According to the letter from Gordon, I shouldn't share or lend my DVD with anyone or give away any major plot points in my early review because the action figure "will be watching for any spoilers." Whoa.

After I opened the box, I actually did feel a brief tinge of guilt - not because I didn't want to play with it, but because I realized that it might actually be worth more than I thought when a coupon for the 24 Season 5 DVD set tumbled out. Guess this thing was sitting on a shelf somewhere for a while before it made it's way to my apartment (the season five DVD came out on 12/5/06). Oops.

Anyway, definitely one of the best press kits I've ever received. I'll have an Early Look review of season seven up within the next week or so. Don't worry, though - there won't be any huge spoilers. Or else the figure will kill me.