"Chuck" (2007) TV series 2007-????

Creators:

Chris Fedak
Josh Schwartz

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Computer geek by day. Government operative by night.

Plot:

When a twenty-something computer geek inadvertently downloads critical government secrets into his brain, his former college friend turned CIA recruits him as a secret agent, all while keeping him out of evil hands.

Plot Keywords:

CIA | Secret Agent | Beautiful Woman | Slacker | One Word Title

Awards:

Won 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win & 8 nominations

Cast

Zachary Levi	...	Chuck Bartowski (35 episodes, 2007-2009)
Yvonne Strahovski	...	Sarah Walker (35 episodes, 2007-2009)
Joshua Gomez	...	Morgan Grimes (35 episodes, 2007-2009)
Sarah Lancaster	...	Ellie Bartowski (35 episodes, 2007-2009)
Adam Baldwin	...	John Casey / ... (35 episodes, 2007-2009)
Vik Sahay	...	Lester Patel (35 episodes, 2007-2009)
Scott Krinsky	...	Jeff Barnes (35 episodes, 2007-2009)
Bonita Friedericy	...	General Diane Beckman / ... (34 episodes, 2007-2010)
Ryan McPartlin	...	Devon 'Captain Awesome' Woodcomb (32 episodes, 2007-2009)
Julia Ling	...	Anna Wu / ... (31 episodes, 2007-2009)
Mark Christopher Lawrence	...	Big Mike (30 episodes, 2007-2009)

Runtime:

40 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

Singapore:PG (season 1) | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

College Hill Pictures Inc.

Trivia:

A good many references are made to the movie Spies Like Us (1985). The bug used in several episodes is called a GLG-20, which is the designation given to undercover operatives in the movie. Emmett Millbarge is named after the two main characters in the movie, first name taken from Chevy Chase's Emmett Fitzhume, and last name taken from Dan Aykroyd's Austin Millbarge; this is also the order they are introduced in the film. In an episode, Chuck poses as a doctor and references a scene from the movie where doctors go through greeting each other by saying "Doctor, Doctor". Chevy Chase has a guest role in the show.

Movie Connections:

Spin off "Buy More" (2008)

Soundtrack:

Short Skirt/Long Jacket

Very Enjoyable if you take it for what it is.

I'm totally surprised by the amount of negative comments made about Chuck. though at the same time the good comments are very good.

I half wonder if the negative comments comments are because people are watching it in the mode of "This is comedy why aren't I laughing every single second".

I agree the show isn't laugh-a-minute. However I think it far more than that. I once heard this show described as "joyous" and I think that is a perfect description. This is a show that should produce joy rather than laughter. Laughter is reflexive and ephemeral while joy is more lasting and requires sympathy for the characters.

I enjoy the show because I love the characters. They may seem to be clichés but the are all archetypes in new contexts. We not only have meek nerds in dangerous situation but train killers in mundane situations.

I love watching these characters trying to adjust to these environments that are alien to them.

The other thing I like is that there is forward movement in nearly every episode especially in season 2. I'm so sick of shows that are stand alone bad-guy-of-the-week. Chuck has a clear story arch. It is a very plot driven show and secondarily a character driven show. The script is a formality much like Star Wars.

Really it is a classic story about man who is being forced to be the man he is meant to be. Chuck has the potential to be a hero but years as a lowly computer store clerk have obliterated his self confidence.

On the flip side it is the story of a girl who has been running around saving the world and just wants a normal life.

I guess if you don't have sympathy for the character you will never understand what is great about this show. It is FAR more than a bunch of spy clichés.

Another thing I love is the chemistry between Chuck and Sarah. It is more than just sexual tension the to characters are actually in love. This makes things a bit different to the usual sexual tension theme where the boy is trying to get the girl to like him. We know they like each other from the start. It is merely the circumstance that keeps them apart. This raises the stakes of the story arch of chuck trying to get the intersect out of his head.

In summary I believe you enjoy it more if you don't think of it as a purely as a comedy but as journey for the main characters.