After 7 months off the air, Chuck returns. Very surprising, considering that it was supposedly on the NBC axe list in May. It wasnt getting enough viewers, which would be usually a very good argument for any show to meet its end. However, the show has attained somewhat of a cult following, and when the dedicated viewers were informed of its demise, they planned several online and offline movements to keep their favourite show on the air.

Chuck, when you hear of it first, sounds quite odd and you may wonder why it was aired at all. What? An electrontic store worker (akin to the likes of Best Buy, PCWorld in the UK) has government secrets stored in his brain, and now has to become a spy? That sounds like a rediculous tv show. And you’d be right. It is. But how many serialized shows are purely for fun, that let you relax and just gives you pure enjoyment? Not a lot, and even fewer reach out to the geek world.

Perhaps a show to compare Chuck to is Jake 2.0, which I must admit, I watched, but that was beyond rediculous. It didnt give any character progression, no polt lines worth following and its abrubt end (after just 13 or so episodes) was justified. Not to mention it was just stupid.

What makes Chuck stand out is it likable characters, its clever mix between a comedy, a romantic drama, and an espoinage show. All of those account to why it needed, and indeed was given, more airtime.

This worked through the use of online mediums such as Twitter and Facebook, but also with the help of Subway, one of Chuck’s biggest sponsors. People used hashtags #savechuck, people bought subs the date of the season finale, and lots of online petitions. Eventually NBC ordered 13 episodes, and then an additional 6 which ere to be aired in March. But the fat cats at NBC must have liked what they saw because its returning at the start of January, which a 3 hour special, spread over 2 days.

To say I’m happy is an severe understatement. Chuck was one of the most enjoyable pieces of television in 2008 and with shows like Heroes and 24 going downhill, I think this deserves to be their successor.

Watch one of the trailers below and comment if you’re a fan (or even if you’re not)

Im too lazy to post, so here is the greatest piece from probably the funniest episodes of the amazing show, Scrubs.

Also I’m loving jQuery, so some tips coming soon.

When the Late Late started in the 1964 it catered for the youth of that generation. Little do they realise that that generation is gone, and that there are serious amounts of money to be made in the younger generation today. Isn’t that the whole reason why the presenters are getting pay cuts, because they don’t have enough?

This is yet another example of why it pays to make quality shows. Why would any advertisers pay for a 30-second advertisement spot when there is nothing the people watching the show want. And why would anyone watch a show which isn’t any good? It doesn’t make sense to me.

If my assumptions are correct and RTE actually want to make some money, they should hire someone who is actually worth it. Someone who can spread conversation throughout Ireland. Someone who is funny, and appealing to all age groups. Someone like?

• Dara O’ Briain
• Tommy Tiernan
• George Hooke

Any one of those people would make a good presenter. Kevin Coleman has a blog post, with a poll contemplating Pat Kenny’s replacement.

But why stick to the same format? With a new presenter could come new ideas. How about two presenters, or even a guest presenter. A live twitter stream running off of a TV with everyone using the #LLS hash tag. The possibilities are endless.

The most depressing part of all of this is they’re going to pick Gerry Ryan, and there is nothing we can do about it

24

24

The first season I watched was Season 5, and sadly most of the previous seasons and latter season disappointed me. The bombast of the threats on USA, were too far-fetched to even believe, yet the show has such a fast pace, it’s hard to just jump into an episode and get it. You need to watch it from start to finish to truly appreciate the complexity of the show. And Bauer is back in Season 7, as ruthless as ever

I am more than willing to be judged by the people you claim to represent. I will let them decide what price I should pay. Now please do not sit there with that smug look on your face and expect me to regret the decisions that I have made because, sir, the truth is I don’t.

The new season is shaping up to be the best yet, and it is a definite TV show to watch in 2009

Prison Break

Prison Break

This is one of shows where I’m on the line. I’ll watch it, but I;m not going to enjoy it. Its played out too long, the title is irrelevant now, characters are becoming tiresome, and the plot is repetitive and predictive. Yet I am still watching the show, mainly because it’s about to end. Fox have announced that this will indeed be its last season. I think this is great, it will end with a high, and allow the actors in the show to break free from becoming typecast felons and masterminds.

Heroes

Heroes

I have never been much of a Sci-Fi/ Fantasy fan but this show is just superb, the suspense, the effects, and the characters are brilliant. The plot is becoming a little stretched but it still remains one of my favourite shows. You can’t help but love Hiro Nakamura, his optimism in the show is a great factor to the show, showing that they can be funny too. Were now on Volume 4 : Fugitives. I’ll give you three guesses as to what that is about

Other favourites

• Chuck
• How I Met your Mother
• The Big Bang Theory
• Entourage
• Scrubs
• IT Crowd

The movie starts where Nolans “Batman Begins” finishes. A year after the Scarecrow and Raj Al Ghul’s plot, Gotham looks a much safer place with gangsters deciding not to delve into a life of crime due to Batman. Things look well for the inhabitants but they are as annoyed as the criminals are of him. He has destroyed half the city to protect them and they now hail him as a vigilante.

Rachel Dawes is back but with the surprisingly good “Maggie Gyllenhaal” taking “Katie Holmes” place. She is the love interest to the new District Attorney, Harvey Dent, Gothams “White Knight”. He is a man who is fearless and will stop at nothing to protect the people of Gotham. Due to this two way attack from both sides (Dent during the day, Batman during the night), the criminals turn to the Joker, a dilapidated sychophant, to be thier savoiur and to rid Batman from the city.

Without a doubt, Joker steals the show from Batman, with emotive remarks and makes the audience both embrace him and make them shudder. He is a man without a “plan” and only wants to see Gotham fall, as he puts it so well “Gotham deserves a better class of criminal”. His sporadic ways drive the film. Oscar buzz is a definate.

I found the film to be one of the best I had seen in years. The direction was superb, the music was spectacularly well done. Heath’s performance was great. Christian Bale did an excellent job as usual and with the new batsuit he didnt look like a guy in  batsuit with a broken neck. There was an even mix of both action and drama which make this a great film in my eyes.

There has been many reviewers who say that there isnt a plot. I beg to differ. The constant twists that made the audience gasp and laugh rule that out.

I am not usually one for build up but with all the publicity that surrounded the movie, I was trying to avoid it. It didnt work. So as i was engulfed in the hype I expected to see a dazzling movie with top notch performance. I was pleased. The movie met my expectations and exceeded them.

The Dark Knight is a must see for not just Batman fans or comic book fans, but for all movie fans. I can and will not stress enough how good this movie is. Its all up to you

This week? The Incredible Hulk

Action | Fantasy | Sci-Fi more

Plot:Fugitive Dr. Bruce Banner must utilize the genetic accident that transforms him into a giant, rampaging hulk to stop a former soldier that purposely becomes an even more dangerous version.

Review: With the horrors of the past movie still in my mind, I was a bit skeptical about the latest “Marvel”-marvel. However after seeing Ironman, and noting Edward Nortons casting, I gave it a shot.  And I am happy I did.

The Incredible Hulk intertewines love, action , small doses of comedy and never ending suspense. This may not be the best film in the world, and it may not be better than Iron Man, but it works. At the end of it, you are aware you have been led through an experience. May not be as profound as Shawshank Redemption, but its damn good.

8.5/10