Numb3rs 5-16-08

[newsposter]

talk about be continued is right. So once you lose your clearance can you get it back or once arrested are you done for good?

[Peter000]

On TV? Sure!

[Graymalkin]

In real life, it's pretty much done -- unless your best buddy is elected President.

On TV? He'll have it back by the end of the season premiere.

[JimSpence]

So what will this series be called next season if the numb3r cruncher can no longer work for the FBI?

Oh yeah, this is TV.:)

[analog4]

I was surprised that Charlie risked doing what he did.

[cheesesteak]

I wasn't surprised. I do think Charlie should have been smarter and found a way to distribute the information without having his name in the "From:" bucket on a mass email to scientists in terror watch countries, though. Considering that the L.A. FBI office can't seem to solve a crime without Charlie's input, he'll have his clearance back by the second commercial break of next season's opening episode.

[newsposter]

couldnt he have gone to kinkos, shielded his face, and used a hotmail account like the rest of us do :)\

of course he wanted to make a point and be arrested to make a point

[Amnesia]

I do think Charlie should have been smarter and found a way to distribute the information without having his name in the "From:" bucket on a mass email to scientists in terror watch countries, though. That was the whole point---not to be afraid of repercussions for free scientific information exchange.

[Lenonn]

So what will this series be called next season if the numb3r cruncher can no longer work for the FBI?

Oh yeah, this is TV.:)

I hope they keep this storyline going for at least a few episodes, if not the season. I could see Don needing help and recruiting Amita and/or Larry in Charlie's place. Of course, Amita and Larry would come to Charlie for assistance - pretty much a role reversal.

[Amnesia]

I could see Don needing help and recruiting Amita and/or Larry in Charlie's place. Of course, Amita and Larry would come to Charlie for assistance - pretty much a role reversal.I don't think Charlie could help out without a security clearance...

[jb007]

I don't think Charlie could help out without a security clearance...

Does Amita have a security clearance?

[Amnesia]

I would assume so. Her and Larry both.

[Peter000]

I know it's been established that Larry has a security clearance. I don't know about Amita though. And I imagine that some cases need a security clearance and some don't.

[Amnesia]

And I imagine that some cases need a security clearance and some don't.I thought that Charlie's loss of his security clearance meant that he no longer could consult for the FBI. That implies that all cases need them.

[Lenonn]

I thought that Charlie's loss of his security clearance meant that he no longer could consult for the FBI. That implies that all cases need them.

Ah, I never realized Amita and Larry had clearance (or at least, a high-level clearances). Never mind. Any way you slice it, it would be interesting to see Charlie's colleagues brought-in, in his place.

[jb007]

Larry went to outer space, that must've required a security clearance. I don't believe it has ever been stated Amita has a security clearance. While she has sometimes gone to crime scenes with Charlie, and in at least one episode, worked undercover for the FBI, she typically "consults" with Charlie and Larry at school or home (as does Alan, to a lesser extent).

The point is, Charlie could still "consult" in the background with Amita and/or Larry, if either of those two characters became the new FBI math-wiz consultant.

[Menarion]

Larry made a point of talking about Charlie not being able to work on a lot of the college research because he lost his clearance. I'm assuming Larry and Amita need some type of clearance because they work on a lot of these projects as well.

[Church AV Guy]

Charlie had a security clearance before he started working with his brother. In fact, Don was really surprised that he was on a first name basis with the head, or regional head of the NSA. If he is responsible for so many algorithms, and maintaning them all, AND it was determined that the information was not a threat, and could not be used by anyone trying to do terrorism, then I'd bet something big happens pretty soon that by necessity grants him his clearance reinstatement.

[Rugged]

imho, best season finale of the year.

[classicX]

imho, best season finale of the year.

I wouldn't go that far, but it was good.

Does anyone care to speculate as to how Chuck will get his clearance back?

1) There is a crisis that only he can help solved [e.g. a criminal demands him by name]

2) Someone somehow proves that the information he sent is not useful to terrorists, or the documents he sent are retroactively declassified.

3) He gets a bounceback from the email he sent.

Any other ideas?

[IJustLikeTivo]

I thought that Charlie's loss of his security clearance meant that he no longer could consult for the FBI. That implies that all cases need them.

Exactly. Academics do a lot of DoD work. That's what the clearance was for. Having said that, the clearance would certainly be useful for some stuff the FBI might do.

[Church AV Guy]

I wouldn't go that far, but it was good.

Does anyone care to speculate as to how Chuck will get his clearance back?

1) There is a crisis that only he can help solved [e.g. a criminal demands him by name]

2) Someone somehow proves that the information he sent is not useful to terrorists, or the documents he sent are retroactively declassified.

3) He gets a bounceback from the email he sent.

Any other ideas?
Number 2 has already been established. They said it in the show. That's why he isn't in jail anymore. It didn't save his clearance though.

I thiink something big will happen. Something that causes a non FBI government agency that is using a program or process that Charlie developed for them, to need him to update it. this will by necessity force them to reinstate his clearance. Once it is back in place, the FBI will be able to use Charlie, just like before.