Chuck returns to NBC on Sunday (10 January, 8pm) with a double-bill, then continues Monday (11 Jan), where it'll remain for the rest of its third season. I've grown to really like this show (which improved immensely during its second season), and I've been particularly charmed by its ingenious fan-base and the efforts to "Save Chuck" by buying food from the show's main sponsor, Subway...
It's always a terrible shame when a good show gets axed in the cutthroat world of US TV, where "ratings are king" and money's the only language execs understand. I know it's called showbusiness for a reason, though, which is why Chuck's fans have to prove to NBC that the show isn't just a likeable underdog that appeals to a vocal, niche audience. People have to watch. Real people. Normal people (not that you're weird.)
I can't do anything in the UK to help directly, but I implore all my American readers to tune into Chuck this Sunday/Monday. Don't TiVo it -- watch it. Chances are you're planning to already, because you're the kind of person who reads entertainment blogs like mine, so that means it's more even vital you encourage non-fans/casual viewers to give it a go this weekend.
The one thing in Chuck's favour is how its premise can be mostly explained in one sentence ("a geek has the government's top secrets stuck in his head, so he now lives a double-life as a valuable intelligence asset, protected by two government agents", say.) For that reason, nobody has to feel lost if they're tuning in for the first time. It's more accessible to newbies than, well, practically every other show I can think of, because it's not heavily serialized.
Of course, once the show moves to its regular Monday timeslot, Chuck's in direct competition with ratings goliath House, so that's not good news. In fact, it's pretty terrible. But hey, as has been discussed here in recent days, NBC's drama is in bad shape for 2010, so all Chuck needs is ratings comparable to Heroes and it could be okay. And if it does better than Heroes, well... I reckon its future's practically assured for a fourth season. C'mon, I know Chuck's considered "geek fodder", but it's also great viewing if your family/friends enjoy action-adventure spy comedies. And who doesn't?
They've got more excellent guest-stars lined-up (Brandon Routh, Vinnie Jones, Kristen Kreuk, amongst others), there's likeable Zachary Levi's fun performances as Chuck to relish, a sweet romance at its core, award-winning action scenes, pop-culture jokes/references aplenty, great music, Adam Baldwin fighting and snarling, one of the best credits sequences on the box, enjoyable stories, and smoking hot Yvonne Strahovski firing guns and wearing sexy outfits.
What more do you want? Chuck it out.
