TVSquad

(S07E20) "Another attack today is all we need to push this thing right over the edge." - Tony

Only four hours left. All the pieces are in motion and sides have been chosen. Following Tony's betrayal last week, things have progressed quickly - his cohorts aren't exactly the waiting type. As tense as the plot has become, I have to say that I'm a little disappointed. Essentially, the plan is exactly the same and Hodges has just been replaced with the dozen or so people in that bad guy summit ... not sure what else to call it.

Even though 24 isn't actually coming back on the air for another, what is it? Nine years? Ten? (Okay, January '09, but still), there's news coming out about next season. While a very pregnant Mary Lynn Rajskub, who plays Chloe, has already begun filming on Day 7 of the series, Rajskub's impending due date will force her to take a hiatus from Jack Bauer's really long, bad day. So who's going to lie for Jack and help him out with all of his nerd toys? None other than Chloe's sourpuss ex, Morris O'Brian (Carlo Rota).

Morris, who on Day 6 was kidnapped by terrorists, forced to arm a nuclear weapon, slipped up on his sobriety, broke up with Chloe, found out that he was going to be a daddy and got back together with Chloe, will be having some problems of his own come Day 7.

WARNING: POSSIBLE SPOILER AFTER THE JUMP

*If you haven't yet watched the season finale of 24, go far, far away from this blog post.*

Of all the developments that bugged me during the two-hour 24 season finale, the Chloe O'Brian plot turn was on my list of irksome moments.

In the midst of the end-of-the-day chaos, while Chloe was trying to track down the whereabouts of Jack Bauer's evil papa, she collapsed as her ex-husband Morris rushed to her side. Immediately, the folks who were with me in the TV Squad 24 live chat jokingly suggested that Chloe was pregnant, but I didn't think her ailment would be that obvious.

Several weapons experts told USA Today that a key story line in this season's 24 -- that terrorists have suitcase nuclear weapons -- is, as one arms control expert said, "so highly unlikely as to be approaching fantasy."

Despite pouring cold water all over a pivotal 24 plot point, they said there's more of a danger posed by the potential release of dirty bombs, adding that there have been legitimate concerns expressed about the custody of post-Soviet era nuclear materials that could be used in dirty bombs.

This season's 24 features a former Russian general, with access to Russian suitcase nukes that were slated for decommissioning, working with Islamic terrorists to detonate the weapons in the United States. A spokesman from a California-based non-proliferation studies center said of such a scenario, "God forbid it happens. But no, it's not very likely."

A North Carolina newspaper writer wants 24's Morris "Drill Bit" O'Brian to sleep with the fishes. Well, maybe not with the fishes, but he certainly wants the recently tortured CTU analyst to exit stage right. As soon as possible.

The News & Observer's Danny Hooley has given this season's "annoying subplot award" to "the personal anguish of Morris, Chloe's recovering alcoholic British ex-hubby," calling him "an annoying drag" on the action series.

I don't know, aside from the awkward CTU love triangle and Chloe running around and shouting at colleagues in the men's room, I'm warming to the Morris subplot, no matter how ridiculous. It's much better than the Sandra Palmer subplot, where she's an attorney for a Muslim civil rights group. It's also better than the Jack Bauer's-sister-in-law- used-to-be-his-lover- and-might-have-produced-his-love-child story.

So, what do you think? Is the Morris subplot the most annoying feature of this season, or is there another story line you despise?

Carlo Rota, the 61-year-old who plays Morris "Drill Bit" O'Brian on 24, recently told the dead-tree version of People Magazine that when he arrived on the CTU set he spoke really fast.

Until an executive producer told him to stop. "It's a fast show, but you still speak like you would normally," Joel Surnow reportedly told Rota.

Rota also told the magazine that he's an enthusiastic chef and that Mary Lynn Rajskub, who portrays his snippy ex-wife Chloe O'Brian, keeps him guessing with her various facial expressions. "You don't know whether she's appreciative of you being there or if she's judging you," Rota told People.

Carlo Rota, who plays 24's Morris O'Brian, told USA Today that having his character cave in to terrorist demands to re-program a trigger for three suitcase nuclear bombs after he was tortured via a power drill was the right call.

"If he hadn't have caved, he would be setting himself up to be the super-individual he's not," Rota told the newspaper.

He said that the after-effects of his torture -- and the small fact that he armed nukes for terrorists -- will emotionally hobble Mr. Chloe, as clearly evidenced by the most recent episode. If Morris can pass up the whiskey in lieu of some Red Bull and smokes, he just might be okay.