Is Tonight's "24" Season Finale a Repeat?

If you are one of the many people that have watched more than (or equal to) 5 episodes of "24", then you probably have figured out that the show is on perpetual repeat. Watching any new episode is synonymous with having a very strange flashback: I know I've been here before, but I can't quite recognize it. You are pretty sure you know what's coming, but because you are not 100% sure, you end up watching to secure the fact that yes, indeed, you've been here before. It's the classic carrot-in-front-of-the-horse trick: I'm almost there... nope, I'm almost there... nope, I'm almost there.

It still baffles me that this show has been on the air for (is it actually?) six seasons. So, it was a subconscious reaction to roll my eyes when I heard that tonight is the season finale "24." I can instantly name a few friends that are sure to be glued to their TVs right now (as I type this) watching and waiting for the excitement that is to unfold.

I, instead, thought I would blog about it. Through the magic of telepathy (and the art of repetition), I'm going to guess what tonight's episode will entail. In fact, I'd like to solve the "equation" of "24" before our very eyes. So, without further adieu, here is what will happen in tonight's season finale of "24" (Spoiler Alert!). In fact, here is what will probably happen in EVERY episode of "24" you will ever watch:

• The balance of national (or even global) security will be tilted and an imminent danger will present itself.
• This imminent danger will be so sub-sub-sub-classified that (somehow) only a few people in the world will know about it: namely, Jack Bauer, his boss, his boss' boss, and a lowly intern caught in the middle.
• In the early part of the show, it will become apparent that either one of the bosses OR the lowly intern is IN on the plot.
• It is at this time that Jack Bauer will be arrested (for all the wrong reasons: ie, trespassing amidst the gravest of security issues ever to arise).
• Seconds away from sure disaster, Bauer, with the help of an innocent, honest, hard-working person (who will soon die) will escape.
• With the slick help of some movie magic, Bauer will drive from Pasadena to Santa Monica in 15 minutes during mid-day on a Friday! (C'mon!)
• Bauer will foil the nefarious plot, but in the process any combination of the following will die
• Jack's Boss
• Jack's Boss' Boss
• Innocent, hard-working person (see above)
• Bad Guy (or Gal, let's be fair)
• The episode will end with a chilling cliffhanger that will reveal even more grave danger than previously thought.

How many times can the above scenario successfully run on primetime television? Well, what's 6x22? Because after tonight, that's how many times in can run.

And, it will run again next year and beyond... especially since Keifer Sutherland has just signed a contract through 2025. I wonder if it will still be exciting watching Bauer with a walker and false teeth?

So, to all the "24" fans... go ahead and knock yourself out. I can't really complain... how many times have I paid to watch yet another reincarnation of "Romeo and Juliet?" More than I'd like to remember.

For now, I'll skip the algorithm above and, instead, blog about it. Because I'm cool. And, I blog.