TVSquad

Dennis Haysbert recently claimed that his role as President Palmer on 24 may have helped pave the way for a viable African American presidential candidate. He went on to claim that his portrayal of Nelson Mandela in the movie Goodbye Bafana ended apartheid and that his role as Jonas Blane in The Unit cured polio. Haysbert was then wrestled to the ground by his handlers and is now "recuperating" at the Clay Aiken Home for Delusional Celebrities.

My first thought upon hearing this news was that Dennis Haysbert is obviously insane. Since I've been criticized in this space for not having an open mind about insane things, I decided to take Mr. Haysbert at his word. I then went even further and went to work putting together a list of other politicians who exist mainly due to the hard work done for them by TV actors. After researching Wikipedia for almost a full fifteen minutes, this is the list I've managed to put together...

Would America be ready for an African-American president, which is now a 50-50 proposition with Senator Barack Obama the presumptive Democratic candidate, if actor Dennis Haysbert hadn't done it first on 24?

A lot of people have wondered if Haysbert's brave, commanding President David Palmer influenced the way people are thinking about Obama. Dennis Haysbert has now weighed in, and he believes that his role on 24 made a difference.

"My portrayal of David Palmer may have helped open the eyes of the American people," he told the AP.

"I mean the American people across the board - from the poorest to the richest, every color and creed, every religious base - to prove the possibility there could be an African-American president, a female president, any type of president that puts the people first," he goes on to say.

I am not one for the traditional holiday fare constantly repeated on television at this time of year (although, I am a sucker for It's A Wonderful Life, and regularly tear up at the very end. Damn you, Frank Capra!) That's why I am very grateful for sites like YouTube, which provide me with an alternative to my holiday viewing. Because of that monster video web site I am able to watch, over and over and over again, perhaps one of my most favorite holiday videos: Twas the Night Before Christmas recited by numerous voice actors.

Yes, I may enjoy this because I am a voiceover wonk, but I just think it's the coolest thing. Not only do you get to hear the story told by great voice actors like Jim Cummings, Gary Owens, Billy West, and Don LaFontaine, but you also get to match the voices you have heard on your television during a normal day with actual faces. In addition, you get to see some television actors -- Nate Corddry and Dennis Haysbert, to name just two -- doing their thing behind the microphone.

I hope you enjoy this as much as I do. You can view the video after the clip.

Last time we saw the men of The Unit, things were going quite wrong. Some of them were taken prisoner, others went on the run, and one was recruited by the CIA while another had to face a possible court-martial. It wasn't much better for their wives since they had to cope with their personal problems while worrying for their men and children and protecting secrets and lies. Even though we all knew The Unit couldn't be a TV show with such a title without, well, a unit, we still pondered how the group would get back together, if they would all return, and if things would ever be the same.

Over the weekend, I had the chance to watch the first two episodes of the season: "Pandemonium, Parts One and Two." The first part will air tomorrow, while the other will air on October 2.

Small spoilers ahead!

Dennis Haysbert told the Philadelphia Daily News that not only did he regret filming the assassination scene in last season's 24, but he's also not keen on this season's installment of the counter-terrorism thriller.

Haysbert -- who played President David Palmer on 24 but now stars in CBS' The Unit -- came back to 24 to film Palmer's assassination, something he says he now wishes he hadn't done. "It was a device that I didn't think was necessary," he said.

Haysbert also criticized his former show, saying he thinks that the program may have lost its way. "I started to watch it this season, and, you know, I'm just a little disappointed in its direction," he told the Daily News, adding that, although he's still a fan, "the politics has been skewed in a very, very right-wing way."

CBS is trying to build on the great ratings it had for the premiere of The Unit on Tuesday night, by offering an 'encore' episode of the pilot this Saturday. The Unit premiered up against new ABC comedy Sons & Daughters and against ratings juggernauts American Idol and House. So, while it didn't beat AI or the unfriendly doc, it did kick ABC's sorry butt by more than 10 million viewers. The Unit, about a covert, special ops miltiary unit, stars former 24 president Dennis Haysbert and is executive produced by genius playwright David Mamet.

The sad thing about this is the general consensus (and Jonathan's review) that The Unit really sucks, while Sons & Daughters is terrific (just ask Joel).

Things are really starting to heat up on the networks this week as seven new shows grace the schedule. Most notable, Dennis Haysbert returns to television in The Unit, which is produced by genius playwright David Mamet. ABC also launches its new part-scripted, part-improvised comedy, Brothers and Sisters, and the race-swapping reality show, Black.White, makes its debut on FX. Oh, and Lil' Kim gets her last 15 minutes of fame before going to the slammer.

• Pros Vs. Joes, Mondays @ 10pm on Spike (premieres March 6)
• Ordinary people face off against pro athletes like Karl Malone, Bo Jackson, Jerry Rice, Jennie Finch, etc. This is for sports fans with big mouths.

• The Unit, Tuesdays @ 9 on CBS (premieres March 7)
• Dennis Haysbert returns to action-packed television, this time as the leader of a special ops team that goes on risky missions across the globe. The show is about the missions, but also about how the families at home handle the stress of living in secret. Produced by David Mamet.