Shot to the Heart: CTU Loses Another on "24"

Alas, poor Milo.

I had a feeling someone would take a bullet in this week's episode of 24 but I hardly expected it to be Milo. That is until he and Nadia tried to have an adult conversation about their stolen kiss earlier this season. That's when I knew he was a goner.

Milo Pressman, grumpy, prone to tantrums, and odd facial hair, stood up to the Chinese terrorists who invaded CTU and announced himself as the acting director (following Bill Buchanan's firing by, you know, his wife Karen) in order to protect his would-be girlfriend Nadia Yassir from possible danger. I did actually gasp when the gun-toting villain then shot Milo right in the head. (In a show that's gotten as needlessly serpentine and dull as this season's 24, I take my rightfully earned shocks as they come.) While there was barely a reaction from Chloe or Morris, Nadia was shaken (justifiably), especially when the gunmen then learned she was the actual acting director of CTU.

Still, if anyone was going to take a bullet, I thought it was going to be Morris of all people, who would sacrifice himself in order to, say, save Chloe in the end, despite their separation. Chloe recently revealed that she thinks Morris is a coward for helping Fayed arm those suitcase nukes a few episodes back. I pictured the gruff Morris pushing Chloe out of harm's way to offer up his own life, thus proving to Chloe and the entire gang at CTU that he's not a coward after all.

So, not quite what I had envisioned, after all. Still, it's common knowledge that Eric Balfour wouldn't be back for Day Seven (even if his drama pilot. Protect and Serve, isn't picked up by CBS) and, given the workforce turnover at CTU, it's not a guarantee that any of the personnel will return to face another day. (Well, except perpetually frowning Chloe, that is.)

Milo, we'll miss ye. You never did tell us exactly what went down in Denver with Agent Doyle, despite much teasing to the opposite. But then again, you never did get a date with Nadia, either. So consider us even.

Me, I feel even worse for Nadia. The poor woman just had a potential suitor killed in front of her, following a day in which she was suspected of being a mole, tortured, strangled, promoted to acting director... If anyone deserves a mental health day, it's Nadia.

What's On Tonight

8 pm: NCIS (CBS); Dateline (NBC); Gilmore Girls (CW); George Lopez (ABC); American Idol (FOX)

9 pm: The Unit (CBS); Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBC); Veronica Mars (CW); Dancing with the Stars (ABC); House (FOX)

10 pm: Without a Trace (CBS); Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC); Boston Legal (ABC)

What I'll Be Watching

8 pm: Gilmore Girls.

The girls are leaving Stars Hollow for good and not a moment too soon. For those few devotees still watching, here's what's going on. On tonight's episode ("Unto the Breach"), Emily and Richard throw Rory a pre-graduation party and perform a song in her honor, while Lorelai and Christopher are thrown together for the first time since their separation. And, oh, there's a proposal. Guess who.

9 pm: Veronica Mars.

On tonight's episode of Veronica Mars ("Debasement Tapes"), Piz turns to Veronica for help when some recordings that belong to his idol (guest star Paul Rudd) vanish while Keith faces some unlikely competition when a new candidate enters the election race for Neptune sheriff. A new Veronica episode plus Paul Rudd? I am so there.