Chuck Returns

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)