Chuck will be returning to the airwaves on NBC on Sunday January 10th at 8 PM. The third season will start with a two-hour premiere and then the show will be on again the following night in its regular timeslot right after Heroes. This is three hours of Chuck over two days.
The pity is that Chuck is actually a good show and Heroes hasn't been as such since the first season. Perhaps Heroes should be the lead-in for Chuck? With the boost in the number of episodes and the guest-stars galore slated for the coming season, it's a very exciting time to be a Chuckaholic like me. This could also be a sign that NBC is giving more support for Chuck and less for the dying Heroes.
Zachary Levi is great in his role and Yvonne Strahovski is much fun to look at, but what really makes the show is Adam Baldwin. Perhaps John Casey should get his own show? Nah. He's better as a foil for Chuck Bartowski.
The "Ask TV Squad" column, published every Wednesday, answers your questions about current and past TV shows, as well as about the celebrities appearing on TV. Every week, I will pick a question (or more) sent to us and provide answers in the column. If your question is not picked for a column, it may be answered in a subsequent column or in TV Squad's APB Podcast.
To submit questions to the "Ask TV Squad" column, you can post them below in comments or email them to asktvsquad@gmail.com.
This week, I answer questions about Chuck, Katherine Heigl, and where to legally watch shows online for the U.S. and Canada.
Despite only having one episode broadcast (the official TV Squad review is here) and four episodes in the can, V is already changing showrunners. They are trading one Scott for another. Rather than Scott Peters, the new guy calling the shots will be Scott Rosenbaum of Chuckand The Shield fame.
The switch is not a good sign. On the other hand, I watched the pilot and was underwhelmed. Among other problems, things moved too fast. Also, why do people cheer when aliens land on Earth and give a PSA? Wouldn't they more likely be running for their lives? The pilot would have worked better as a two-hour premiere. However, I enjoy Chuck and hear that The Shield was good. Any talent from either show going could only benefit V. Hopefully I won't be proven wrong.
Will V become more Chuck-like and add humor? Could a concept like that work? An alien invasion comedy?
We really don't know much about what's going on with NBC's Chuck, plot-wise. We don't even know when it's coming back.
Televisionary has an interview with Yvonne Strahovski. She talks about how she's a little surprised the show is even coming back and reveals a little bit about where the show will be going after the last season finale (seems like so long ago...) where Chuck got his powers.
[Watch clips and episodes of Chuck and other shows at SlashControl.]
Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly is reporting that NBC has upped the episode order from 13 to 19. Not sure why they didn't just make it 22 (a full season), but regardless, this must mean that NBC really wants to get behind the show. Or they realized they really don't have anything else in the wings and want to please the fans they do have.
In this age where there seems to be an awards show every three weeks, is the People's Choice Awards relevant anymore (if it ever was)? More than anything else, it seems like an award based only on popularity, which is why you get some really lame nominations and winners every year.
In the Favorite TV Comedy category, Gary Unmarried is nominated along with shows like 30 Rock, The Office, Chuck, and How I Met Your Mother. In the Favorite TV Comedy Actor category, David Spade is nominated.
When NBC did its upfront -- it wasn't really like the other networks, because they had leaked so much information -- one of the things the powers that be decided to do was split the season into two sections. Or two official seasons. It all seemed a bit strange, and now that NBC has gotten off to such a dreadful start, things are changing. One change seems to be that Chuck may be back before March.
When I first started exploring this project, there were a few shows that I knew were going to be important to hit. This is the first of those. Firefly was Joss Whedon's sci-fi western series. The show mustered disappointing ratings in its short eleven-episode run on FOX.
Since then it's gone on to near mythic cult status. There was such an outcry of support from its loyalists, the Browncoats, over its cancellation that the producers made a feature film sequel. That movie,Serenity, answered a lot of questions about the future fate of the cast. Unfortunately, like the television series, it couldn't find quite enough people to show up and tune in to warrant a sequel. Nevertheless, the few morsels of Firefly we did get are enough to prove that this is one of the most innovative and enjoyable series ever to hit the airwaves.
This is Spoilers Anonymous, a weekly column here at TV Squad where we supply you with the dirt on some of the more popular shows on the air. We'll never put spoilers up here on the main page in order to help the reformed stay unspoiled. If you have anything to add to the group, feel free to step up and let yourself be heard, either with our tips form or by emailing us at tvsquad at gmail dot com, or call and leave a message at (775) 640-8479. Your anonymity is guaranteed, if you wish to remain as such.
This week we have spoilers for: 24, Chuck, Gossip Girl, Grey's Anatomy, Lost, Private Practice and Ugly Betty. (SPOILERS FOLLOW!)
I know what you're thinking. Joss Whedon already did that with Firefly. But you see, Firefly was quite different than the western Chuck producer Scott Rosenbaum is developing. See, Firefly was a space-based science fiction with western elements. This project is a western with sci-fi elements.
I know what you're thinking. Michael Garrison already did that with The Wild Wild West. But you see-- I'm not going to do all that again. Actually, the description leaves things a little vague, so I've taken the liberty of filling in the blanks with only my sleep-deprived mind and a healthy dosage of Diet Dr. Pepper to guide me.
Rosenbaum's official descriptions include "a gunslinger caught between worlds" and a nod to Planet of the Apes. Post-apocalyptic? They're adapting Stephen Kings' The Dark Tower?! Hardly. I do suspect a future time when we've reverted back to the trappings of the Old West. Either that, or a parallel world. I don't really care, I've been itching for a good western since Deadwood had to go.
Ever since Women's Murder Club ended last year -- after a way too short run, in my opinion -- I've been looking for appearances by Angie Harmon. Her own series would be great, but if not, I'll settle for whatever I can get. She's just signed to guest star in episode four of the upcoming season of Chuck.
According to Entertainment Weekly, Harmon will play a character named Sydney, a spy for the Ring who's looking to kill Ryan McPartlin's Captain Awesome alter ego.
Her character of Lindsay Boxer on Women's Murder Club was a badass detective who could beat the heck out of a perp while ordering pizza on her cell phone. I've been intermittent with my Chuck viewing, but I'll definitely be checking out this episode and hoping to see more of Harmon.
Other recent additions to the NBC show include Smallville's Kristin Kreuk and Superman's Brandon Routh. Any thoughts on this latest addition? And wouldn't you like to see Harmon in her own series again?
This is Spoilers Anonymous, a weekly column here at TV Squad where we supply you with the dirt on some of the more popular shows on the air. We'll never put spoilers up here on the main page in order to help the reformed stay unspoiled. If you have anything to add to the group, feel free to step up and let yourself be heard, either with our tips form or by emailing us at tvsquad at gmail dot com, or call and leave a message at (775) 640-8479. Your anonymity is guaranteed, if you wish to remain as such.
This week we have spoilers for: Chuck, Desperate Housewives, Glee, Gossip Girl, Greek, Grey's Anatomy, House, NCIS, Private Practice, Scrubs, Smallville, Supernatural and The Mentalist. (SPOILERS FOLLOW!)
Former Lana Lang Kristen Kreuk will be heading over to NBC to play a love interest for Chuck on the series of the same name. This is right on the heels of the announcement that Brandon Routh will be playing a romantic interest for Sarah. To put it in perspective, Chuck will be dating Lana Lang and Sarah will be dating Superman.
Hopefully, her character Hannah will be a little less whiny than Lana (the two names rhyme. Coincidence?). I did like when Lana become more self-confident and assertive this past season of Smallvile. It's a pity that only lasted for about an episode and a half. Whatever happens, her Chuck episodes will undoubtedly get more viewers than Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li.
Has anybody else noticed that all these geek-appeal shows have been getting guest stars that are specifically known to geeks? It's like they don't even want to bother with mainstream guest stars anymore. It's probably cheaper that way.
It's not a permanent gig, but it seems like he might wish it is. According to Michael Ausiello, Brandon Routh (Superman Returns) has signed to appear on Chuckas the new leader of Operation Bartowski. This puts him in the role of mentor to Chuck, which is the good news. The bad news is he'll also be a rival for Sarah's affection.
But what does this mean for Casey? Where will he be during all of this? Why do I have to wait until March for the new season of Chuck, NBC? Hey, make me a deal. If one of your new shows tanks, or if The Jay Leno Show fails to deliver, bring back Chuck earlier. How about October. That works for me.
Why intentionally put a show on the shelf for that long, anyway? Especially if that show is still trying to grow its audience. Would it hurt you to put on some Chuck reruns once in awhile? Don't you get tired of all those Law & Order repeats all over the schedule? People love lighter fare in the summertime.
The ongoing revival of the multicamera comedy format continues. Josh Schwartz is best known as the creator of The O.C.and one of the masterminds behind The CW's Gossip Girl; a show so powerful that it reshaped an entire network around it. He's also an executive producer and writer over at Chuck. Now Schwartz is teaming with Matt Miller, a fellow producer on Chuck, to get into the comedy business.
Schwartz and Miller are writing a multicamera comedy script for CBS. The premise doesn't break any new ground; it's about a newlywed couple in their 20s, picking up the story right after their honeymoon. But it's the pedigree behind it that gives it promise. Both Gossip Girl and Chuck have strong comedic elements.
If it comes off right, you can bet CBS will be interested. They've had tremendous success with multicamera comedies the past few years, almost single-handedly reviving the format with huge hits like How I Met Your Mother and The Big Bang Theory. It's the writing, not the format. And writing is something at which Schwartz has proven himself quite adept.
Chuck will be returning to the airwaves on NBC on Sunday January 10th at 8 PM. The third season will start with a two-hour premiere and then the show will be on again the following night in its regular timeslot right after Heroes. This is three hours of Chuck over two days.
The "
Despite only having one episode broadcast (the official TV Squad review 
Hey Southland fans: sorry about 
In this age where there seems to be an awards show every three weeks, is the 
I know what you're thinking. Joss Whedon already did that with 
Ever since 
Former Lana Lang Kristen Kreuk 
It's not a permanent gig, but it seems like he might wish it is. According to Michael Ausiello, 
The ongoing revival of the multicamera comedy format continues. Josh Schwartz is best known as the creator of 
The TV Squad Podcast: The Prisoner, '80s TV, soap news and more
Let's talk about spoilers ...
The Prisoner -- An early look
