ChUCk

[katurian]

I have an unhealthy obsession with this show and I can't seem to figure out why. Maybe it's because Yvonne Strahovski (Agent Sarah Walker) has cast some sort of spell on me... or I haven't done enough soul searching to admit that I have serious man-crush on Zachary Levi (Chuck Bartowski) but I can't get enough of this show. This is all in spite of...

the spy elements of the show not being all that interesting

a larger story which seems to stop and start in ways that drive you crazy

brother/sister moments that make me glad to be an only child

a frodo/sam best friend relationship that has an enormous amount of unintended (i think), uncomfortable sexual tension

sometimes cringe worthy dialogue

having a character named awesome whose catch phrase for the first half of season one was awesome.

and asking you to suspend your disbelief a great deal on the initial premise of the show.

...with all that said

I will be devastated if this show is not renewed. This show is just incredibly likeable. I don't know how else to put it. It's not going to blow you away or dazzle you with its writing like madmen or keep you hooked with it's premise like the 1st season of lost but if you stay with it will grow on you.

[Matt]

I think you just helped me write the blog post "5 reasons you should watch Chuck."

I love this show. Everyone should love this show. I mean, honestly, if you could sit through an hour of CSI:Miami, then you should be nerdgasming at the mind-numbing mediocrity-turned-greatness that is this show.

[save this space for link to blog post]

The truth is, this is actually very good TV of the "pulp" genre, i think. It's coherent, funny, well-enough written that it's easy to watch. it's a good prelude to an episode of heroes, which will probably confuse and disappoint you.

Has anyone else seen Chuck?

[Lord Machiavelli]

I've watched Chuck. I think I agree on some level. It's not a must see show for me, but it is enjoyable and fun. Its the television equivalent of a popcorn-movie.

[Matt]

It's kind of more like crack than popcorn.

Mondays at 8 by the way...

[xGHOVOx]

People have really been talking about this show lately... I may have to check it out.

[katurian]

I have a feeling...more of a hope...that chuck is getting renewed. In this second season the episodes have been getting better and better and I think the writers have figured out how to balance all the various tones of the show. The ratings have remained steady all season and on itunes the last episode ranks higher in downloads than the last episodes of the office or 30 rock. We won't know for sure until late may but if it does I think it's well worth the time to catch up on the show over the summer and be ready for season 3. I read an interview with one of the show's creators and they already know what's going to happen...in a broad sense...in season 3 and are planning as though they will get renewed. I get the sense that they've known the mythology of the show from the beginning and are not making it up as they go along.

on another note... Kings died a quick death didn't it? Moved from sunday nights to saturday nights in only a month, ouch. What I don't get is that nbc has pumped all this money in the production and marketing of this show and doesn't even give it a chance to succeed. It just seems like a complete waste of money. Move it to tuesday or something but not saturday.

[Matt]

To be honest, from a standpoint of someone who was marketed-to and never watched: there was nothing particularly compelling about Kings, so I'm not so sad to see it start the slow-death. I mean, the whole thing was "Hey! Its America... with... KINGS!" It seemed like Gossip Girl meets Days of our Suck.

That being said I just might pick up an ep. or two online just so I can say something about it.

As for Chuck, I think you're right. The "buzz" is there's going to be a third seaason... UNLIKE Terminator:TSSC (cry).
This makes me happy.

[Lord Machiavelli]

Kings had/has potential. It's not a bad show at all. The fact of the matter is: NBC has been run by idiots for the last three or four years. They tend to give up on something very quickly, expecting another explosive hit like Seinfeld or Friends used to be for them.

[katurian]

kings did have potential and i use the past tense because it's not dying a slow death it's dead.

i agree with lord machiavelli nbc hasn't developed anything worthwhile nor are they patient with things they did spend their money on. seinfield took time to gain its audience and eventual imprint on the culture.

if the show doesn't have great ratings right from the beginning then they kill it. I don't think that's how you build an audience nowadays and with all the various entertainment options people aren't forced to watch the things nbc produces. cbs, fox, abc, hell the cw and amc have much better programming (not counting chuck)

also if nbc did not renew chuck their might be a chance that another network picks them up like what abc did for scrubs. here's to getting some good luck with a couple of outs.

[Matt]

I don't know about another network picking up Chuck. I.P.-Paranoia is pretty common these days and it's not like Chuck was trash that NBC would be glad to get rid of. It's more the mediocre show that they don't want to pay to keep but wouldn't want to risk another network taking off with. I'm a little skeptical about network switches anyway. Sometimes they come with sweeping crew changes and mandates on how to "do it better" that can really tank a show. I think Scrubs is the exception rather than the rule.

That being said, not to be too much of a Naysayer, but chucks ratings the past 6 episodes have been its lowest ever and are actually dropping. Unless there's a last-episode rally, I think it's safe to say that this season's finale will be the series finale.

At least you got the plot twist you wanted, Katurian!