I was not among the original fans of the show; instead, I was turned onto it by GMMR-in-chief, Kath, who suggested I check it out. Thanks to my local public library, I was able to borrow the first three seasons on DVD. It was a painless way to get hooked, and I am, indeed, hooked on Mr. Chuck Bartowski and his crew. Don’t worry, NBC; I plan on buying every season for my own collection, so I can watch it all again. I fully intend to turn my hubby into an addict once he graduates. Yeah, I’m a pusher.
I remember when, during the first season of Chuck, NBC threatened to ax it from the lineup. I remember “Save Chuck” was everywhere – even on The Daily Show, Jon Stewart (who is, himself, extremely awesome) tossed in a plea to “Save Chuck” during a couple of shows. NBC listened (for once) to its viewers and saved the show. It seems like every season, Chuck is on the brink of cancellation only to be renewed in the 11th hour, much to the relief of fans worldwide. (I’m assuming the fans are worldwide; if not, they should be.) This brings up an interesting question: why is NBC renewing
So, NBC, aside from keeping this viewer happy, here are five reasons you need to bring Chuck back for a fifth season. Really, I could have made this list a lot longer, but I figured five was enough to make my point. Anything more might be considered overkill.
1. Zachary Levi is brilliant.
I am obsessed with Zachary Levi. Don’t worry; my husband knows. He’s the one who called me out on it. I couldn’t really argue. Here’s the thing about Zac: he is extraordinarily talented, but incredibly humble. He brings Chuck to life in a way that no other actor could do. It has something, I’m sure, to do with the fact that Chuck and Zac are both self-proclaimed nerds. That, however, can only take an actor so far – at some point, the actor’s skill and the writers understanding of how to use the actor’s skills must align. This is essential in turning a character into a beloved part of pop culture. Zac and the crew of Chuck hit that point at about episode five. The writers have done an excellent job of writing for Zac’s strengths – all they need to do is write a musical episode, and we’ll be good.
Chuck is a complex character. He is, of course, smart and tech-savvy, but he is also a character with great heart and humility. He is willing to do what it takes for his family, his friends, the woman he loves, his country, and usually ends up doing things that put himself last. All the while, he is character that makes us believe that, if duty called, even we could be heroes.
Zac brings an honesty to Chuck that we wouldn’t necessarily expect from a character that, really, is very special. He keeps the character grounded in reality – no matter the spy gig, butt-kicking, Volkoff-taking-down-genius-planning, we believe Chuck as the guy next door. Often, tense moments in the shows are lightened by a funny expression on Chuck's face, or a brilliantly-delivered one-liner that makes the watcher, forgive me, chuckle. In an industry where actors can get complacent in their characters and "phone it in" (I'm looking at you, David Caruso - how does that guy still have a job?), Zac continues to develop Chuck into a multidimensional character as the show progresses.
2. Ellie & Awesome are…well, awesome.
Ellie and Awesome. I can really identify with Ellie - she is truly the "normal" in the midst of the hectic, secretive, dangerous, and risky plotlines of Chuck. Ellie and Awesome represent Chuck’s roots – they keep him grounded when his life seems a little too much like an action movie. The Awesomes (yeah, that’s what I call them) get married and have a baby, all while the rest of the gang is trying to bring down an international crime lord. The genius of this juxtaposition, and the brilliant ways in which Sarah Lancaster and Ryan McPartlin bring their characters to life, add the dimension of reality to Chuck.
3. The rest of the cast keep the storylines balanced.
Sarah, Casey and The General continually push Chuck to move beyond his comfort zone. They challenge him, typically underestimate him, protect him and guide him as he navigates the tricky double life of a spy.
Sarah: The romantic relationship between Chuck & Sarah has moved from fake to real over the course of four seasons; the writers have done a great job of showing the human side of Sarah Walker – her insecurities and fears allow the watcher to finally identify with this special lady. Regardless of our own ability (or lack thereof) to kick booty, we have all felt like hyperventilating in a roomful of relatives. Even though Sarah kicks butt & looks amazing, the relationship between the two characters isn't perfect - they have arguments, miscommunication, moments of doubt, and in the end, they show us that no relationship is perfect all the time. Yvonne Strahovski is excellent at bringing vulnerability and strength to Sarah.
Casey: Ah, Casey. He’s a little bit scary. Casey is fully and intensely devoted to country, guns and Ronald Reagan. The country-devotion is extremely admirable. The guns-devotion is scary. His level of Reagan-fervor is, well…it’s creepy. Adam Baldwin’s ability to make Casey communicate in large part via growling grunts and death-glares is wonderful, and actually very funny, especially since he’s not grunting or glaring directly at me. The current season’s addition of Casey’s long-lost daughter (and her new relationship with Morgan) has provided an interesting twist – suddenly, Casey seems like a real human being, rather than a government-programmed cyborg.
The General: she’s just good fun. She’s sort of like the principal of Chuck School – she keeps everyone in line, and runs a tight ship. Whenever she shows up in person, and stands anywhere near Chuck, the watcher just has to giggle a little at the expansive height difference between Bonita Friedericy and Zachary Levi. Plus, she’s a redhead, which is awesome.
Morgan Grimes and the Buy More crew keep Chuck grounded in reality, and usually provide the comic relief during the tense moments of the show.
Morgan: I heart Morgan. I think he is hysterical, and I love how much he loves his friends. Once again, the writers have really scored with this character – they have allowed Morgan to continue being Chuck’s best friend, confidant, brother-from-another-mother (wow, that’s lame) and sidekick. One compelling reason for a fifth season: Morgan as Chuck’s best man. Think of the opportunities for the writers – the bachelor party, the best man toast, Morgan losing the ring…the possibilities are extensive. Joshua Gomez is wonderful – his comedic timing and heart come through in every performance.
The Buy More crew: Jeffster’s musical performances are better than any bland background music. Both Jeff and Lester are just the right amount of creepy and crazy; they are absolutely hilarious and shameless and I love it. Big Mike is great – I love that he’s on his way to becoming a father-figure to Morgan…both literally and figuratively. Bringing him back as Morgan’s assistant manager was a stroke of genius.
4. The writing and visual effects are outstanding.
The crew of Chuck puts a lot of work into creating a high-tech world of international espionage that is both believable and unbelievable. It’s a fine balance, but these guys are up to the challenge, and they deliver. Repeatedly. The cool technology and technological concepts that show up in every episode are tools used by the writers and actors to create the world of Chuck, and the watcher feels like a part of that world each week.
The writers behind Chuck are amazing. They have such a good grasp of each character’s personality, motivations, idiosyncrasies, and what each actor brings to his or her character; the lines feel natural, the plot rarely feels forced or dragged. The writers, like the effects crew, walk the tightrope of believable/unbelievable every week, and they nearly always maintain their balance. As someone who dabbles in writing, it is inspiring to see a group of professionals who really know their craft. Given the amount of poor writing on television today (i.e., scripted “reality” shows), it really is a gift to see well-written scripts brought to life.
5. Really, what else is worth watching on NBC right now?
I was a huge fan of The Office, but my enthusiasm for the show has petered out over the past few seasons. In fact, last season I recorded every episode, but didn’t begin watching it until the summer. I got through the wedding episode, and deleted the rest of the season without even watching. I just wasn’t invested in the show anymore – I had lost the connection to the characters, and I didn’t feel the writing was all that brilliant any more.
I’ve never gotten into Parks and Recreation or 30 Rock or Parenthood. I tried; really, I did. An episode or two, and I just wasn’t hooked. Community, Outsourced and Perfect Couples are brilliant; if NBC execs are paying attention, they will renew all three of these comedies next season without thinking twice.
Jimmy Fallon is the saving grace of NBC’s late night programming, especially since NBC screwed Conan in favor of “Lame Leno” (my own nickname for him). Yeah, that’s right; I called you out on that one. What you did was wrong, and you know it. Let’s just get that out there so we can move on.
And that’s it. There is nothing else on NBC that I feel is worth watching. Really, NBC, if you don’t give Chuck fans a fifth season, what will you replace it with? Another show like The Cape? How about Chase? Both of those have really been winners…not. It’s difficult to pull in viewers these days – Fox has been busy building clever shows, ABC is beginning to pull together solid programming, and basic cable channels are giving you all a run for your money. Don’t pull a fan-favorite like Chuck when it has hit its stride.
Listen, I’ve been to Comic-Con; I was at the Chuck panel last year, and I can tell you, these fans are fiercely devoted to this show, and it is borderline scary to think about how much free time some of them have. Combining the power of fanatics and Twitter is a risky concoction. Please listen to the many fans who have begged and pleaded for this show. Please remember the first rule of marketing: it is easier and more cost-effective to keep current customers than to try to win over new customers. (The second rule is, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.)
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