An agile young agent from the Counter-Terrorist Unit slyly infiltrates a Mexican drug cartel to free a captured colleague, aided by images from tiny "marshmallow cams" and graphics sent to his cell phone. There's the familiar ticking clock, windows showing what every character is doing and lots of people saying "Copy that."

We're watching "24," right?

Close. It's the Fox series' online offspring, "The Rookie," starring Jeremy Valdez as young Jason Blaine, a character first seen in "24's" fifth season aboard a Russian sub. "It's sort of like what 'CSI: Miami' is to 'CSI,'" says Valdez. "It's something similar, yet different. It definitely has its own legs."

The five-minute "Rookie" Webisodes, now in their third phase, couldn't have come at a better time for "24" fans, who, due to the writers' strike, had to go without their favorite show this season.

Titled "Day 3 -- Extraction," the current "Rookie" installment is presented as a 30-minute block of six parts and is available online at www.DegreeRookie.com, or on-demand through Comcast and DirecTV.

"It's becoming an incredible way ... to help people get through a long dry spell caused by the strike," notes "24" executive producer Manny Coto.

"If Jack Bauer and Jason Bourne had a love child, it would be Jason Blaine," says "Extraction" co-writer Kevin Townsend. "He's a younger, more ambitious, less experienced -- but no less talented -- version of those two characters."

In the current installment, Blaine, now experienced and tiring of his "rookie" title, is sent to Mexico City to rescue his mentor, Alton Maxwell (Eric Beck), who has been kidnapped by drug czar Estaban Salazar. The Salazar Brothers were introduced to fans in "24's" third season.

"We wanted to give die-hard fans something specific to tie it to the regular series," explains David Niles, a former "24" staffer who wrote "Extraction" with Townsend.

The story also features a "mole" inside the Counter-Terrorist Unit (CTU), adding the familiar "double-intrigue" theme for "24" fans. "It's kind of your prototypical '24' plot line," says Niles.

But "Rookie's" main tie-in to "24" is the production itself. All three "Rookie" Webisodes were directed by "24's" Emmy-nominated cinematographer, New Zealand-born Rodney Charters, who, while shooting "Extraction" in Mexico City, brought along his key crew members from Los Angeles. But there's an undercover element in "Rookie" not found in "24" -- imbedded advertising. The Webisodes are produced by Townsend's Science + Fiction studio, which he describes as "a hybrid between a film studio and an advertising agency."

The company marries content with a sponsor -- in the case of "Extraction," Degree Men deodorant -- to make "marketing look like entertainment," Townsend says. The brand is subtly introduced to the audience -- here with the inclusion of Degree spokesman Chad Johnson of the Cincinnati Bengals, who appears as an FBI surveillance expert.

No word on whether such a technique would ever be used on "24," which went back into production on April 22 in Los Angeles in preparation for the January 2009 premiere of its delayed seventh season. The show had completed eight episodes of the season prior to the writers strike late last year, including shooting in Washington, D.C.

(Matt Hurwitz, Associated Press)

ABC has tapped Nick Lachey to host its extension of the "High School Musical" franchise this summer.

The singer and actor will serve as host for "HSM: Summer Session," which will give aspiring performers a chance to hone their skills and ultimately win a secret but undoubtedly "High School Musical"-related prize.

The show will gather a group of performers ages 16-22 to take part in a summer music program. The field will narrow until one performer is chosen to, in the network's words, "receive the opportunity of a lifetime, becoming part of 'High School Musical' history."

It's here that we should note that the third "HSM" movie is scheduled for a theatrical release in October. "High School Musical: Summer Session" is scheduled to premiere in July.

(Zap2it.com)

Jennifer Lopez, husband Marc Anthony and their newborn twins will be the subject of a TLC unscripted series produced by another Hollywood couple, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the documentary series will focus on Lopez's challenges in balancing her role as actress, singer, wife, mother and entrepreneur behind an upcoming fragrance line.

Lopez and Anthony's twins, Emme and Max, were born Feb. 22.

The untitled series stems from the first-look deal signed between TLC and Ripa and Consuelos' Milojo Prods. shingle.

In addition to the Lopez series, the Milojo deal also will see Ripa host a series for TLC.

(Zap2it.com)

Spike TV's first original comedy series, "Factory," about guys who work in a factory, will premiere June 29. ... Actress Angela Bassett will check into NBC's "ER" for its final season, playing an attending physician who returns to Chicago's County General after several years abroad. ... Democratic Presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton will make her first-time appearance on FNC's "The O'Reilly Factor" tonight at 8.

(Staff and wire reports)