Sorkin has said numerous times that the whole hindsight structure was built into the show from the beginning because he likes the idea of the audience knowing more than the characters. So the Genoa flash forward plays into that, since the audience knows it's a colossal screwup and we get to see it play out.

Even so, it still looks odd, especially when it happens just as the footage heads to the smoking gun moment of the general's testimony.

Well, I didn't want to say it, but I think Sorkin himself barely understands these things, and it translates to his characters, and he's lousy at bluffing his way through it.

His notes made even more impressive considering it was an electronic ballot.

Given that the basketball game is pretty much the only thing moving in the frame, and is the brightest thing in an otherwise dark room, how could anyone not notice the cut? It's what the eye is going to be drawn to.

Here's the thing. If the whole premise of the show is that Will and his image of what a news network is supposed to be are the antidote to the malaise that was plaguing ACN, then why would the network still have that kind of morning show? That scene was so cheesy they might as well have had the characters say "we're…

24 didn't do silent credits. They had an honor called the "silent clock." Every episode of 24 would end with a cut to the clock ticking to the next hour, with a noticeable beep. On 5 or so occasions, mostly relating to major character deaths, the episode would end with a cut to the clock without the beeps, hence the…

So, let's unpack this episode a little more, shall we.

What I love about the Star Trek conversation is that Badger seems to know what he's talking about but Skinny Pete is just a clueless blowhard about it.

Wow, the review kind of glossed over the whole subplot about the lighthouse to the point where the final paragraph just seems to come out of nowhere without a sentence explaining that Bender's ass, being shiny, became the lighthouse mirror to warn ships traveling in that foggy nebula for some reason.

Gordon said the line about finishing strong to Natasha

the black guy is always the first to die. *sigh*

What, no mention of "Five Mile Creek"?

Where did I say he was beating up Fox News? I wasn't suggesting he was picking on Fox News per se, as having Neil say "at least they had something" makes that pretty clear. I had to mention the Fox News piece because that was what they showed as an example that other networks were covering it. If he had shown a CNN…

So, no mention of Will and Charlie's complete incompetence in their attempt to blackmail their boss? How they never actually recorded the confession? How they managed to reveal to same boss they now have no evidence on him that would prevent them from being fired? Talk about looking like a fool.

What's up with the show killing off Anwar al-Awlaki more than a week early? Is that Sorkin's way of saying "we'll cover the real news from 2 years ago (or, at least how I, Aaron Sorkin, perceived it) until I need to make up something ridiculous or change actual events to fit my thematic narrative"?

What kind of pathetic 24-hour news channel wouldn't have an available anchor not only to cover the breaking news of 9-11, but also other anchors who could come in to replace him or her? I mean seriously, it was a freaking Tuesday. And then none of the other ACN "anchors" were willing to come back to the studio to host…

Come on, hey totally nailed the Duke "goes into a coma" scene from the G.I. Joe animated movie.

Yeah, but dammit if Oakland is going to be burned down than it better be done democratically!

Could have been that too. Personally I would have cut his mic for the absurd Popeye impression