THAT'S A LOAD OFF THIS BLOG'S MIND

It turns out that, according to 24 executive producer Howard Gordon, frogpersons can't actually swim under the White House and break in:

"We all know there's a fairly hardened environment and a very hard target to hit and so yes, obviously you have to suspend [disbelief]," Gordon said. "For one thing obviously these guys are in scuba gear, like breaking through the subterranean rock."

The water was based on the idea that Washington "essentially is wetland; it's swampland so I have this fantasy that maybe there were some ... sealed off tunnels from various construction phases so I just sort of said what if."

"I've done really no research on this that," he said, adding, "I'm sure these tunnels don't exist."

Comments

[Mike]

If there had only been tunnels under the White House for the past 8 years.

[Siouxie]

Whew! The White House is safe from terrorist frogpeople.

[Steve (The 24 Guy)]

At least that's squared away... made the whole show seem unrealistic.

[MOTW]

*wink* *wink*
'at's right, guv'na. Eh? Eh? Wink's as good as a nod.

[Annie Where-but-here]

"I've done really no research on this that," he said, adding, "I'm sure these tunnels don't exist."

If ya didn't do the research, how do you know they DON'T exist?

According to this research, there are.

If he's tired of the term, 'jumping the shark,' let's just say they 'jumped the sNark.'

And yes, there really are tunnels under there.

[gfunksizzle]

I think we can agree the whole water theme was added so Agent Walker would get wet.

[Siouxie]

Annie, that's where Bill stepped out to um...smoke the ceegars??

[jon]

I don't think that's what Bill meant when he said he was going to the Oval Office to use his secret tunnel... .

[Not My Usual Alias]

There was a problem with mushrooms growing in one DC area tunnel.

[Annie Where-but-here]

♫ jon & Siouxie sittin' in a tree tunnel...♪

[nursecindy]

Annie, I thought Siouxie liked Allen at Division.

[Mike Antonucci]

Next he'll be telling us there's no such place as Sangala.

[marfie]

the White House is built on swampland? It must have one mother of a sump pump.

[Elon Weintraub]

Tunnels there may be, but I have seen the White House, and I don't recall it bordering water. Can someone who saw 24 explain to me what the heck the article is talking about?

[Horace LaBadie]

It's useful to remember that Howard Gordon is one of the many contributors to the rise and fall of "X-Files," which was not known for its adherence to any kind of resemblance to reality (or continuity, for that matter.)

[Siouxie]

cindy, I love 'em all ;-P

[Not My Usual Alias]

Marfie --
Some buildings in DC are built on what used to be rivers in the swamps. When it rains hard enough, water finds the displaced rivers again.

It's one thing if the underground car garage gets a bit funky. It's something else is some nitwit architect decides "Hey, let's put a fileroom down in this underused concrete area!" and doesn't check with the old maps.

Massive sump pumps are only as good as the electricity that runs them and the backup system that hopefully kicks in when storms take out the power. The backup is only as good as the battery or fuel hold out.

In summer, the heat and humidity are really bad. The Miami Herald veterans recount a Dave Barry line: It's so hot and humid that the statues have armit stains.

[Meanie the Blue]

Yes, we would contrive some false notes
For this strange and stereotyped day
But the President/child substitution
Is only a shark jump away.

Oh, little actors of mine.
I can't for the life of me
Remember my geography
I know you say "this can't be"
But we'll make it work out that way
And the course of an episode jumps
Over and over again

Yes, we would contrive some false notes
On this credibility-stretching day
But the President/child substitution
Is only an emotion away.

Oh, little VP of mine.
You just can't believe I'll go,
and though it seems strange to say
I never seen frogs on the show
Arrive in such a mysterious way
And the course of a plotline jumps
Over and over again

[Siouxie]

*APPLAUSE*

LOL good one, Meanie!

[Annie Where-but-here]

obviously you have to suspend [disbelief]
Did they mean suspend belief?
I've done really no research on this that...
"this that"?? What which?

Bad enough not to research it, but to admit to it in an interview. And to still be employed. Eeps.

Maybe I could interest him in purchasing a slightly used hippo that smells like rotten eggs.

[Horace LaBadie]

Just remember that the frogmen left the hole open. It's only a matter of time until the Alligator Men come swarming up to devour them.

[Watcher of 24]

"We all know there's a fairly hardened environment and a very hard target to hit and so yes, obviously you have to suspend [disbelief]," Gordon said.

As if we haven't had to suspend disbelief for the entire series.

[Pannus]

Great...First I found out the Tooth Fairy wasn't real, then I found out that when I was in high school the girls padded their bras with kleenex, and now I find out that 24 is not based on research. I don't know if I can go on....

[ron]

I was under the impression that Bill dipped his ceegar.

[Elon Weintraub]

Annie, I believe [pun intended] that the phrase actually is "suspension of disbelief." You have to put aside your disbelief to enjoy the show. Suspension of belief presumably means skepticism.

[Easter Bunny]

Lies...all lies!

[Margaritaville]

But if the *could* how would Agent Walker feel about it?

[Elon Weintraub]

Postscript: Of course, Annie is the writer, and I am not. So she is probably correct.

[pogo]

"I was under the impression that Bill dipped his ceegar."

That's why Clinton didn't just offer Elian Gonzales a job and let them stay. He was afraid to employ another Cuban.

[homeybeef]

Stupid 24. Why can't more shows be realistic.

Take a cue from Lost and base your show in reality, 24!

[pogo]

*inserts father after Gonzales'*

[Punkin]

I'm sorry, but the leader of the frog people, Master Theodisious Ribbiticus, assures me and all my little green friends that the tunnels beneath the White House are not accessable by water and are, in fact, full of mole people.

I know it's true cuz the Master told me while I was sleeping under my foil blanket.

[Siouxie]

All your tunnels are belong to us.

[marfie]

Hey UA -

I spent two summers in college interning in DC and there were days when the air was thick enough to swim in. One of the many reasons I love Northern California: very little humidity in the summer. Fog doesn't count. :-)

[Cheesewiz]

There was a tunnel that went under the fence and to Lafayette park across the street. One of the presidents used to sneak out for ice cream. Must have been a long time ago.

[Siouxie]

I agree with Dave. That's a load.

[O the U(manity)]

This guy's apparent lack of concern, as well as his attitude of what seems to be nearly "pride in his ignorance" is ... quite irksome, to me ...

It reminds me of another "writer" ... a so-called "journalist" who, during the hoopla surrounding the auction of much memorabilia and personal property of Jaqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, noted that a "cigarette box" was sold ... and his comment on that fact was, "Jackie, a smoker? Who knew?"

(My response at that time, and for evermore, was and is: ... ANYBODY WHO PAID ATTENTION!)

It is particularly distressful to me to observe that people who fail to pay attention to facts, or to research even the most basic of public knowledge, are often placed in positions where they may influence public opinion, or provide "information" which is erroneous ...

PAY ATTENTION, DAMMIT! (to coin a phrase?) ... as many here have pointed out, the existence of tunnels under the White House is not really a "secret" ... and yet this mindless twit virtually brags of his ignorance ...

And yet these people expect credibility?

Even in realm of fantasy?

Get real. Get a life. Get a brain.

(I am gratified to note that mostly several or more folks here have already chastised this igernunt doodoohead ... this bunch is a LOT smarter than most people in the entertainment "industry" ... I merely might wish they could have those jobs, and kick out the fuzzy-minded incompetent nincompoopageational gackoids ... )

[O the U(manity)]

I apologize for not being funny or amusing in the above post ...

[Ralph]

I spent way too much to have cable brought up my 1600 foot driveway so I could get broadband, but I do not pay for cable TV. As a result, I don't get to watch Fox, 24, infomercials, the rude noises network, etc. I don't feel I'm missing much, if this discussion is any indication of the IQ level such shows are aimed at. Despite White House denials for years, of course there are tunnels. Global Worming is real!

[Siouxie]

Nader?

[Punkin]

Good TV can do amazing things.

Mister Rogers & Jim Henson gave me a sense of humor in a house where there was no other way to get that.

Bad TV, unfortunately, can have just as profound an affect on the weak minded. None of whom frequent this blog. :)

Now, let the thigh shootin' continue!

[pogo]

OtU - Stop and breathe now. Those of us with Geezer Bus Passes all get astounded by the lack of what we think should be common knowledge.

Ralph - How did you do that? In order to feed my cable modem, I have to pay for 75 channels of crap!

[pogo]

*notes that 75 channels of crap does not include M*A*S*H reruns and an occasional Hee Haw.*

"We thought about it for a long time, "Endeavor to persevere." And when we had thought about it long enough, we declared war on the Union."

[Meanie the Blue]

Is it OK to believe in suspense?

[ron]

I don't have tv either.I have satellite internet.No other way here except for dial-up.I live way out in the willy wags.

Punkin,----Did you hear that I didn't get any snow the last storm.Just thought I'd mention it again.It looks so good written down.

[oneblankspace]

Next thing you know, they'll be telling us that Sangala is just a made up name, based on the central African languages of Sango and Lingala.

Global worming?!?

[oneblankspace]

...btw, The Internet Movie DataBase says there will be another character on 24 played by an actress with red hair before the season/day is over...

[ron]

"Don't pee down my back,Senator, and tell me it's raining".

"I noticed that when you git to disliking someone they ain't around long either".

[O the U(manity)]

*breathing* ...

Tnx, pogo ... I needed that ...

[Guin]

snork @ Global Worming. :)

[Easter Bunny]

Elon (@ 3:49) you are correct. The acceptable phrase is to suspend disbelief. But you're supposed to do that in order to be entertained. Quid pro quo and all that. After struggling thru those two hours last night, I'd prefer to be suspending other things, such as that producer's rotten huevos, IYCMD.

[Annie Where-but-here]

I concur with the Easter Bunny. Also, there IS good tv out there, as Punkin pointed out. No need to blast the medium when the message stinks.

[y halo thar]

but no one is safe from the teenage mutant ninja turtles!!!! (spoiler for the next week, oops)

[Punkin]

ron - We only got a foot. Not worth breaking out the snowblower over.

[Siouxie]

Annie, I totally agree, there is great TV out there she says as she's watches American Idiot.

[Mrs. Spock]

-'s

[Siouxie]

um...thanks Mrs. Spock.

[padraig]

Howard Gordon probably looks at his old days on the "X-Files" fondly, back when he didn't have to come up with such far-fetched ideas.

Although I'd love to see the lamprey man pop out of a porta-potty on the White House lawn.

[ron]

At 0355 I voted for Buddy.He's still no. 2--Over 101,000 people have voted or submited a name.

[Ralph]

pogo: In my town, metrocast.net provides TV, internet, and phone service -- take one or more. I get internet and phone from them but not TV; I get CBS, NBC, PBS, and some oddball channels with an antenna for the rare times I watch TV. Check with your provider -- they may have unadvertised deals; in particular most cable companies will provide "basic" TV service for less. Getting just one service is expensive; they like to bundle, but try to choose a better bundle.
After you establish a perimeter, of course.

[Horace LaBadie]

"Howard Gordon probably looks at his old days on the "X-Files" fondly, back when he didn't have to come up with such far-fetched ideas.
Although I'd love to see the lamprey man pop out of a porta-potty on the White House lawn."

That was Darin Morgan as Flukeman, and Chris Carter was the writer. (I suspect that Darin and his brother Glen probably had the idea, though. Wong and Morgan had most of the good ideas in those years.)

[Boo Augustus]

There are tunnels everywhere throughout official Washington . . .typically to carry steam and chilled water for heating and cooling. No secret really, they've been on the news.

[Horace LaBadie]

There are also frogmen all over Washington, but they are usually called lobbyists. Which is why you see so many congresspersons licking them.

[Wizzy]

Sounds like someone was just watching Josey Wales....

I can get Fox (local channel) without cable TV - if I could get TV without Cable. But I can't. So there's a dilemma.

I don't care how stupid 24 is, as long as lots of people die violent, bloody deaths, and Jack kills people with his thighs.

[Dogg Fish]

Even if such a tunnel existed, it would have to be close to a mile of tunnel from the Potomac River to the White House, which the soldiers managed to go through on foot in about ten seconds. But as long as Jack is torturing people in the White House, then I can suspend belief or disbelief or whatever . . .