PASADENA, Calif. -- Cherry Jones, a 1978 graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, looks at a Fox publicist for reassurance that she's not giving away too much information about the new season of "24," which returns in January.
This much she'll say, warily: The first daughter (Sprague Grayden) is not back (presumably she's in jail) and the first gentleman is also history (presumably following a divorce).
"At the end of every day [of production], the prop master comes to take my wedding ring and watch away and how many times have I started to go like that," she says, making hand motions to pull off a ring that's not there.
Jones asked of Pittsburgh and was excited to hear the G-20 summit is coming to town, wondering about what all that will entail and feigning embarrassment that a woman who plays the United States president on "24"doesn't know the specifics. She spoke admiringly of Pittsburgh's beauty and then launched into a story of a night while she was at CMU when Lilly Tomlin was in town for a performance. For an extra $10, audience members could meet Tomlin. She and her friends didn't have the extra cash, so they peered at the comedy star from behind pillars in the lobby of Carnegie Music Hall.
Someone with Tomlin invited them to come out afterwards and they ended up scrambling down the hillside into Panther Hollow and up the other side in 15-degree weather.
"It's a night she did not forget," Jones said.
"24" executive producer Howard Gordon said Jones' President Allison Taylor is seeking a peace agreement as part of the new season's story, which takes place 18 months after the season that ended in May. Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) is actually happy for a change but Renee Walker (Annie Wersching) is paying the price for some of what happened last season. Circumstances again bring them together.
Much of the action takes place on a multi-level New York CTU set that Gordon said is more compact than old CTU with deep earth colors.
But if you're a fan of President Taylor, prepare to possibly be disappointed. Through 11 episodes, she's not featured all the prominently, according to co-executive producer David Fury.
"We haven't used her enough," he said at a Fox party last night. "These stories take on a life of their own and can veer away from people we most want to see. She's vastly under-utilized."
Fury said Jones is a sport about understanding how the story's need for characters dictates how much screen time any of the show's cast members receive.
"It's difficult to juggle characters and events," Fury added, noting that this season there are many new characters, all of whom require their stories to be told so viewers get to know them. "We have an overabundance of great actors and characters and finding room to tell all their stories is very challenging."
The upcoming season of "24" is the last season Fox has a contract to broadcast. The show's future beyond that is uncertain.
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