24-back in January

The clock has reset for "24's" Day 7!
Fox has set a start time for Jack Bauer's 7th worst day.

"24" will have a three-hour premiere over two nights, 8-10 p.m. Jan. 13 and 9 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 14. Original episodes will air in its regular 9 p.m. time period every week and into June.

In addition to the previously announced castings of Janeane Garofalo and Cherry Jones as President Allison Taylor, as well as the surprising return of Tony Almeida (Carlos Bernard) from the presumed dead, the executive producers also announced that Chloe O'Brian (Mary Lynn Rajskub) and Bill Buchanan (James Morrison) survived the gutting of CTU.

They'll transfer to Washington, where the seventh season is set, and where Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) faces trial for all those broken fingers and whatnot in pursuit of justice. What will be even better is if the new setting leads to sharper writing and a coherent plot.

Here's the press release Fox sent out this morning, which explains (sorta) Tony's resurrection:

"The innovative, addictive, Emmy Award-winning television series 24 resets the clock for Season Seven with a special two-night premiere event Sunday, Jan. 13 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) and Monday, Jan. 14 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.

In keeping with FOX's commitment to airing original programming year-round, the intense season will unfold in 24's regular 9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT time period beginning Monday, Jan. 14, and will continue to air all originals all season into June.

"Day 7" of 24 will continue the show's unique and trend-setting format with compelling new elements. With CTU dismantled, the show's setting moves to Washington, DC, where JACK BAUER (Kiefer Sutherland) faces trial for his actions in the pursuit of justice. Bauer's day gets off to a shocking start when former colleague TONY ALMEIDA (Carlos Bernard), last seen in "Day 5," returns after being left for dead by a terrorist conspirator in CTU's infirmary.

"Tony's uncertain fate near the end of 'Day 5' left the door open for his return," said executive producer/show-runner Howard Gordon. "And since there was no silent clock at the conclusion of his last appearance – the 24 tribute to a major character's demise – we always kept this as a possibility."

Bernard's return highlights a list of notable cast members clocking in for Season Seven, including the previously announced Cherry Jones ("The Heiress") as President ALLISON TAYLOR and Janeane Garofalo ("The Larry Sanders Show") as FBI Agent JANIS GOLD. Colm Feore ("Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee") will play First Gentleman HENRY TAYLOR and Bob Gunton ("Desperate Housewives") is White House Chief of Staff ETHAN KANIN.

FBI Agents assigned to the team investigating the crisis befalling Bauer include Garofalo's Agent Gold in addition to Annie Wersching ("General Hospital") as Agent RENEE WALKER, Jeffrey Nordling ("Dirt") as Agent LARRY MOSS and Rhys Coiro ("Entourage") as Agent SEAN HILLINGER. John Billingsley (PRISON BREAK) portrays security specialist MICHAEL LATHAM. Although CTU is no longer, CHLOE O'BRIAN (Mary Lynn Rajskub) and BILL BUCHANAN (James Morrison) are back for another momentous day of shocking events.

As part of News Corp.'s global commitment to fighting climate change, 24 has pledged significant and innovative changes to its production practices with the goal of saving energy and reducing carbon emissions. Created by Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran, 24 is a production of Real Time Productions and Imagine Television in association with 20th Century Fox Television. Joel Surnow, Robert Cochran, Howard Gordon, Evan Katz, Jon Cassar, Manny Coto, David Fury, Kiefer Sutherland and Brian Grazer are the executive producers