This is topic Chuck (The TV show, not the Norris) in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.


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Posted by Raymond Arnold (Member # 11712) on :
 
So I've been on the fence for a while on whether this show is actually good or not. The first few episodes I thought were hilarious, then the following ones became extremely formulaic and the comedy was kinda meh for a while.

This season things have been picking up and an actual interesting story is developing. I have a suspicion that Orion isn't really dead, and that he's Chuck's father. Assuming I'm right that's a slightly clichéd direction for the show to go but actually makes sense - Chuck presumably gets his ability to read subliminal messages so well from his father, and if his father developed the Intersect to work with his own brain his son's brain would also work.

My roommate and I have been annoyed for a while that Chuck has never bothered taking a martial arts class despite getting attacked on a weekly basis. I'm hoping they followup on the implication in yesterday's episode that he's actually gonna get some formal training.
 
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
 
quote:
I have a suspicion that Orion isn't really dead, and that he's Chuck's father.
Orly [Wink] . I assume that's what we're supposed to think. Oddly, I find that makes the show slightly less interesting, especially if it turns out to be true.
 
Posted by Raymond Arnold (Member # 11712) on :
 
I don't think the show is sophisticated enough to avoid the obvious tropes. The missing father is definitely gonna turn out to be important, whether it's Orion or not. And yes, it's probably gonna be kinda lame. But Chuck doesn't bill itself as a particularly deep saga so I'm gonna forgive them in advance for it.
 
Posted by J-Put (Member # 11752) on :
 
It's supposed to be stupid...that's the whole point. It's like the sci-fi original movies, just fun to watch, not deep and thought provoking.
 
Posted by Shigosei (Member # 3831) on :
 
I figured Orion might not be dead, but the idea that he's Chuck's father didn't occur to me.

Personally, I really enjoy the show. Yes, it's somewhat formulaic, but it often manages to come up with a twist that surprises me. I liked the episode with the hostage situation, for instance. And I love all the geeky in-jokes.
 
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
From what I've read, Orion is supposedly Chevy Chase, but I'm not sure about that. For sure, Chuck's father is Scott Bakula.

But I don't think that Orion is Chuck's father. Way too much of a coincidence. The Intersect got where it did because of Bryce Larkin.
 
Posted by Raymond Arnold (Member # 11712) on :
 
Far less of a coincidence than his old girlfriend being a Fulcrum agent. Bryce and the hypothetical father theory feel coincidental but actually make sense given the backstory. Jill's being Fulcrum was just random.

Anycase, I know the show doesn't exactly cry out for overthinking. Mostly I just wanted to make a thread with this title.
 
Posted by Shigosei (Member # 3831) on :
 
I suppose it's possible that Orion was working with Bryce against Fulcrum. Then again, if that were true, he would have probably contacted Chuck earlier.

Given how many Stanford students are apparently spies of one kind or another, I actually don't think that Jill is that big a coincidence [Wink]
 
Posted by Irami Osei-Frimpong (Member # 2229) on :
 
Great Theme song and in general, good use of music. Chuck vs. Tom Sawyer and watching Jeff and Lester audition for Awesome's wedding make it worth-while.
 
Posted by Humean316 (Member # 8175) on :
 
I don't really have anything substantial to add, except that I do love Chuck.

Oh yeah, get your friends to watch the show because it appears that it may be in danger of being canceled because of low ratings.

Tricia Helfer guest stars next week, which sounds like incentive enough!
 
Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Irami Osei-Frimpong:
... watching Jeff and Lester audition for Awesome's wedding make it worth-while.

That put "Africa" in my head for several weeks. And it was freaking hilarious to boot. [Big Grin]
 
Posted by Glenn Arnold (Member # 3192) on :
 
I haven't watched enough to know about Chuck's missing father. I like the show enough, but I don't want to think too hard about it. Willing suspension of disbelief is a lot easier when it's just mindless entertainment.

As to:

quote:
My roommate and I have been annoyed for a while that Chuck has never bothered taking a martial arts class despite getting attacked on a weekly basis.
This makes sense to me. Chuck has said many times that he isn't a spy, and doesn't want to be made into one. Avoiding spy training of any sort helps keep him from being more than an "asset."
 
Posted by Raymond Arnold (Member # 11712) on :
 
Didn't know you had started watching it.

quote:
This makes sense to me. Chuck has said many times that he isn't a spy, and doesn't want to be made into one. Avoiding spy training of any sort helps keep him from being more than an "asset."
I agree it makes sense for Chuck to have avoided it, to preserve the illusion that he's still a normal person, but I think eventually it's gonna become apparent that it's necessary. That seemed to be one of the points of last episode.

That being said, I'm totally fine with the show being mindless entertainment. Honestly I wouldn't care that much if it were canceled, although it seems to me to be the kind of show that should "work." It's about as entertaining as the average sitcom (which from what I understand tend to get better ratings due to their accessibility) and it doesn't require you to have watched the whole thing from beginning to end.
 
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
 
Does anybody care anymore what happens between Chuck and Hot Blond Agent? Hopefully they've stopped making every third episode about that.
 
Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
 
As much as I'd like to see Chuck and Sarah get together, I've resigned myself to the fact that it won't happen... except maybe at the series finale. Same thing with getting the Intersect out of his head. I'm not sure if Chuck has quite accepted it, though. It seems like he thinks that if he can become free of the Intersect, he'll have a chance with her. Although maybe this last episode, when he and Orion tapped into the video feed in Casey's apartment, will wake him up a bit there.

I don't trust Orion. I'm willing to believe that he is who they're telling us he is, the creator of the Intersect and not a Fulcrum agent. But I don't trust that he's going to help Chuck in any way. I think he's using Chuck - and especially Chuck's seeming trust in everyone around him - to build Intersect 2.0... or is it 3.0 now? I seem to recall an attempt at a rebuild early in the show.

I love Chuck's graph on the back of the Tron poster and the Intersect schematics taped inside his comic books.

As for Dad? I suspect there's going to be more there than meets the eye. They've been dangling him on the periphery for too long. Is he involved with the Intersect? Is he FBI? CIA? NSA? Fulcrum???
 
Posted by School4ever (Member # 5575) on :
 
I like how the guest stars play roles for which they are known.

The Mummy guy playing an undead guy.
Chevy Chase makes total sense as Orien (Fletch).
The dad from the Urkel show playing a cop.

Obviously I would not win any pop culture trivia challenges, but you get my point.

The guy from Arrested Development (this was the first one I noticed because the first episode I saw was his first episode. I thought the guy couldn't act until I noticed the trend.)
 
Posted by School4ever (Member # 5575) on :
 
Goody,

The dad is either a military leader guy (Enterprise).

Or a person trying to fix the mistakes of others (Quantum Leap)

What else has Scott Bakula been in?
 
Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
 
Heh, good point School.... so long as we stick to guests. It doesn't work for Adam Baldwin as NSA.
 
Posted by Magson (Member # 2300) on :
 
Anyone remember Jake 2.0? Similar premise, although using nanobots instead of images, plus they "superpowered" the guy.

Even so.... he was the typical angst-ridden, shy, nerdy guy and they *immediately* shoved him into spy/field agent training. and that was one of the things I loved about the show -- he *didn't* have the mindset for it, and kept screwing up, and tbh, it was only the fact that his nano-tech made him more or less into Superman that kept him alive. But he grew over time and started to learn, etc etc etc. His character developed and grew and was beginning to become something more.

Chuck hasn't struck me as having any kind of character development at all. He shows occasional flashes of competence, but those are more or less random. Frankly, I'm in complete agreement that Chuck should at the very least have been required to take a gun course and to do concealed-carry due to his technically being a covert CIA agent, plus Walker and Casey should be doing at least 3x a week martial arts/self-defense classes with him. Sure, Sarah's his bodyguard, but she *can't* always be on him like glue -- he *has* to be able to defend himself, and should have been in-training to do so from *Minute 1.*

Granted, it's "just a show" and all that, but suspension of disbelief only goes so far, ya know? Especially with as hard-assed as Casey and the General have been all along. I truly can't imagine that Casey wouldn't have strong-armed Chuck into a karate dojo or something at the General's insistence.

And in regard to this week's eppie: Am I the only one who LOVED Casey's wounded look when the General told him to get out of the '80's after seeing his picture of Reagan? I about died laughing at that.

Edit to add: Big Hollywood has a post on the show today.

[ March 26, 2009, 05:42 PM: Message edited by: Magson ]
 
Posted by School4ever (Member # 5575) on :
 
The Arrested Development guy is always listed as a guest star, Adam Baldwin never is.
 
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
 
Isn't it weird that somebody as geeky as Chuck wouldn't notice that the new agent looks an awful lot like #6 from BSG?
 
Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
 
I was *SO* waiting for Six's red dress to be part of his flash.
 
Posted by AvidReader (Member # 6007) on :
 
I thought Scott Bakula was wonderful in this last episode. I didn't realize he'd sell crazy so well.
 
Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
 
Finally got to watch Monday's episode. I'll agree that Bakula sells crazy well... but dezaaaaaang. I did NOT want him to be Orion. Now I am fully expecting them to reveal that Devon is also an agent of some sort (which I know was an abandoned plot point from S1).
 
Posted by AvidReader (Member # 6007) on :
 
I'm still a little fuzzy on why we don't just have Chuck, Ellie, and Devon take spy classes so Chuck's better protected when he's home. I guess when you deal with secrets on a regular basis you fall into the habit that everything should be a secret.

But I agree that Devon would probably be as awesome a spy as he is everything else.

ETA: Except it just hit me that they're doctors. I'm not sure they'll have it in them to keep guns handy in the house and kill people if need be. And if they won't help protect Chuck, why worry them with the knowledge that he's near-always in danger? Maybe it makes a certain kind of sense.
 
Posted by JennaDean (Member # 8816) on :
 
quote:
I'm still a little fuzzy on why we don't just have Chuck, Ellie, and Devon take spy classes so Chuck's better protected when he's home.
Because the show wouldn't be as funny if Chuck were just another spy. Part of the gags come from him not knowing what to do or being lousy at doing it.

Unfortunately with this show, a lot of it has to be accepted on the premise that the show needs it to be just accepted like that, that they do things for the sake of the show, not because it makes sense. Like the ridiculous decisions the CIA makes. They don't want to take the intersect out of his head because then he wouldn't need Sarah around all the time and there goes your show. They don't train Chuck because it wouldn't be as funny. They make decisions not because it would be the best plan but because it would make Chuck jealous, or get him caught in an awkward situation, or put him and Sarah in a situation where they realize they're in love with each other but can't be together.

I love this show but I had to decide a long time ago that it takes place in an alternate universe with an alternate CIA where intelligent people would actually make those decisions. It's not the kind of show I can get lost in - I can never forget that it's a show, because they make so many choices just for the sake of the premise of the show.
 
Posted by Raymond Arnold (Member # 11712) on :
 
Yesterday was, I think, my favorite Chuck episode since the pilot. I'm not sure if they're setting it up for a series finale or if they just plan to have him stick the intersect back in his head in order to save the day next episode, but either way I think season 2 was better overall than I expected and I liked seeing all the plot threads find resolution here.
 
Posted by Dobbie (Member # 3881) on :
 
What's an intersect?
 
Posted by Raymond Arnold (Member # 11712) on :
 
Um, do you watch the show?
 
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Raymond Arnold:
Yesterday was, I think, my favorite Chuck episode since the pilot. I'm not sure if they're setting it up for a series finale or if they just plan to have him stick the intersect back in his head in order to save the day next episode, but either way I think season 2 was better overall than I expected and I liked seeing all the plot threads find resolution here.

They aren't setting up for a series finale. Josh Shwartz said that if the show ends up being canceled, this will be one of the most disappointing finales in the history of TV, and people will set their living rooms on fire.

I read it in an interview somewhere.
 
Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
 
I do not want to set my living room on fire.

Just sayin'. [Smile]
 
Posted by Raymond Arnold (Member # 11712) on :
 
That's quite a statement there. Terminator had a pretty friggin' awesome finale that still makes me scream when I think about it a week later, so this firecracker of a finale better be pretty good.
 
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
NBC announces their Fall lineup on May 5th. So, at the very latest we'll know by then.
 
Posted by Dobbie (Member # 3881) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Raymond Arnold:
Um, do you watch the show?

No.
 
Posted by Raymond Arnold (Member # 11712) on :
 
Well... seems to me this is a sort of weird thread for you to be following. The Intersect is a computer containing all information in the CIA and NSA databases designed to be downloaded into a human brain via subliminal messaging.
 
Posted by AvidReader (Member # 6007) on :
 
You know, until Chevy Chase emerged from the rubble in the end, I could have been happy with that as the end of the series. I hope they don't over-reach themselves.
 
Posted by Raymond Arnold (Member # 11712) on :
 
Yeah, that's how I felt. I'm gonna treat this as my own personal canon if it turns out to be a Shark-Jumping moment
 
Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
 
I'm so upset about that last episode. Mad at Dad, beyond mad at Morgan and yet also proud of Morgan, fairly well cheesed off at Casey, annoyed with Chevy Chase, but ooh yay Devon.
 
Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
 
I don't know if anyone just watched the finale, but it was pretty awesome (to use the appropriate word...). [Smile]
 
Posted by Raymond Arnold (Member # 11712) on :
 
I thought it was generally good, but I don't think they made the right choice for the new Intersect's abilities. I like that Chuck got an upgrade, but I think that upgrade should have increased his mental capabilities, not given him super physical ones. I think it'll ruin the dynamic of the show for Chuck to be the smart one AND the physically capable one.

A better intersect would have been something like River Tam's brain (if you don't know who River Tam is, shame on you. Go watch Firefly. Right now. Shoo). She does have good martial skills, but those came from extreme physical conditioning. Her primary abilities are mental - calculating the angle to fire the gun and such. Having the intersect be a "superbrain" could also give him the appearance of psychic powers by analyzing facial expressions and what-not. I think that would have let use keep the essence of "Chuck" while still letting him feel a lot more badass.
 
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
I think there will be a whole lot more to the new dynamic than just making him SuperChuck. It's too easy for him to have Sarah and Casey's martial skill and his own technical skill. I think there will be limits and flaws.

And to echo Carrie - AWESOME!!!

That episode had more pure awesome injected into it than any season finale I've seen in awhile.
 
Posted by Raymond Arnold (Member # 11712) on :
 
...did you see either the Heroes or Terminator season finales? I've actually been very impressed with season finales as a whole this year.
 
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
I missed Heroes, but I'll try to catch it on Hulu in a few days.
 
Posted by Raymond Arnold (Member # 11712) on :
 
As for rules - that's what I'd go for, except that they already demonstrated ninja skills being used immediately when they were needed, without much biological consequence. (If they DID have him actually break his back and muscles from letting the system control him like that, I'd be impressed)

Also, I'm tickled by the fact that Chuck could very well be the "prequel" to Dollhouse.
 
Posted by AvidReader (Member # 6007) on :
 
I think this could be an interesting twist on Chuck. He's been smart, now he can defend himself, but the idea that this will serve as a replacement for spy school is laughable. He still thinks like an Average Joe, and that's something only training or experience will fix.

I could laugh at a season or two of Chuck crouching and covering his ears while the guns are being fired and then turn around and go all Matrix on the guy sneaking up on them. Then freak out some more becuase he killed the guy.

I would like to see them delve into that. How much does it wear on you mentally to not be prepared for your physical capabilities? That's got to be stressful.
 
Posted by Magson (Member # 2300) on :
 
While I'm glad that he's now able to defend himself physically, I felt it was a cop out. He simply doens't have the body/strength/conditioning/flexibility/muscle memory to be able to throw those moves. Of course... neither does Sarah, but we can at least pretend she's been trained for her entire career.

I stand by my prior post in which I said I feel like he should have been in martial arts and gun training in order to be able to defend himself from the very 1st minute that it was known that he was the Intersect. Having Intersect 2.0 just give it to him..... I'm glad he can do it, but I wish he'd done it "right" if that makes sense.
 
Posted by Raymond Arnold (Member # 11712) on :
 
Thought:

So far we've seen that some people have a better ability to deal with and assimilate the subliminal messaging necessary for the Intersect to work. It's also suggested this is genetic - Chuck is Orion's son and all. So it's likely that Elly would also be a good candidate to process Intersect technology. I don't expect that to happen in the immediate future but I think could make for a fun and interesting plot in Season 4 or something, if they ever get that far.
 
Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
 
I'm happy that Chuck is once again the Intersect. I find it interesting, although somehow unsurprising, that Steve tested it out on himself. It might help explain why he went into hiding. I'm intrigued at the changes made to the system that allow Chuck to be proficient in kung fu at a vital moment.

I love that Ellie got her dream wedding after all. Yay for shutting down the Senior Awesomes. Too bad it took completely destroying the facility and all that hard work to set up in order to make it happen.

I'm not sure if I believe Bryce is really dead this time. And with all the emphasis on Mothers Day early in the show, I'm still expecting her to make an appearance. Hey, maybe fledgling-Intersect Dad flashed on something related to Mom and THATs why he left...?
 
Posted by Humean316 (Member # 8175) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by AvidReader:
I think this could be an interesting twist on Chuck. He's been smart, now he can defend himself, but the idea that this will serve as a replacement for spy school is laughable. He still thinks like an Average Joe, and that's something only training or experience will fix.

Yeah, I agree. How about this though, I think General Beckman set this all up. I think she asked Chuck to be an analyst because she wanted Chuck to work for the CIA. In fact, I think she is the one who included the kung fu training, remember she was tired of having to protect Chuck, and by doing it this way, not only does Chuck think that he chose his own destiny but he can also protect himself with this new intersect. Not only that but now she doesn't have to store the intersect in a room, she can always simply come to Chuck, which makes the intersect much more useful and pragmatic. Remember, the CIA and NSA *always* lie, which makes them letting Chuck go so easily much more believable.

It was a great finale, I had my Subway sandwich and sent in the card and letter, and now I hope for renewal.
 
Posted by Magson (Member # 2300) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by mr_porteiro_head:
Isn't it weird that somebody as geeky as Chuck wouldn't notice that the new agent looks an awful lot like #6 from BSG?

TBH, I'm kinda surprised he doesn't recognize Awesome's dad as Tron either, especially since all his "hidden stuff" about the Intersect is on the back of a frakking Tron poster and Dad signaled him to be at the FULCRUM base by saying there'd be a Tron showing at midnight. . . .
 
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
Tron? What about Captain Sheridan?
 
Posted by Glenn Arnold (Member # 3192) on :
 
quote:
TBH, I'm kinda surprised he doesn't recognize Awesome's dad as Tron either, especially since all his "hidden stuff" about the Intersect is on the back of a frakking Tron poster and Dad signaled him to be at the FULCRUM base by saying there'd be a Tron showing at midnight. . . .
Nothing like a little homage, is there? Kind of like Hiro not noticing that his father is Sulu, or for that matter, Chuck not noticing that his father is Sam Beckett.

Now, my first impression when Chuck says "I know Kung Fu" was that it was an homage to the Matrix. But my wife recognized that it's an homage to Quantum Leap. Scott Bakula (Sam Beckett) built a super computer that allowed him access to information that helped him solve people's problems. But his brain was "swiss cheesed" in the time travel process, so he forgot much information about himself. Except that from time to time he flashed on a memory, and remembered that he was a concert pianist, or a medical doctor, quantum physicist, basketball player, or rock guitarist. Or whatever.

In one episode he suddenly remembers: "I know Kung Fu."

Fancy that.
 
Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
 
D'oh! I didn't realize that Senior Mister Awesome was Tron! Sheesh. What kind of a geek am I? And yeah, I also took the kung fu line to be a Matrix blip. I didn't get into Quantum Leap when it was broadcasting and it's on my Netflix list.
 
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
Whenever I hear "I know kung fu" I always think of Toby Macguire making fun of Keanu Reeves on SNL Celebrity Jeopardy.

"I know kung fu."
"No you don't!"
 
Posted by Glenn Arnold (Member # 3192) on :
 
I should also point out: Tron (Bruce Boxleitner) was on Scarecrow and Mrs. King, a TV series about a simple housewife who becomes a spy despite having no spy skills, yet somehow manages to save the day on a weekly basis.
 
Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
 
THAT was the name of the show I was trying to recall last night. I was too lazy to hit IMDB.
 
Posted by Magson (Member # 2300) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Lyrhawn:
Tron? What about Captain Sheridan?

Can't say I've seen/heard Chuck or Morgan ever say a word about B5. Granted, if we assume that they're as big of geeks as we think, then yeah, they should also recognize that. And *maybe* the Scarecrow and Mrs. King stuff, but that might be a bit before their time.

I do vaguely recall in Quantum Leap the 1st time he realized he knew martial arts, but I don't recall him saying "I know Kung Fu" ... I just remember him fighting off attackers (and I thnk he was in a woman's body at the time also.. or am I totally misremembering?) and once he'd knocked 'em all out then just kinda shaking his head like "Who knew I could do that?" But if it was a nice QL homage, I don't mind, even if I'm not quite geeky enough to have gotten it.
 
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
Lots of good press today, on CNN among other networks, on the save Chuck campaign.

Still have to wait until Tuesday to find out.

Man, the more I think about that finale, the more I realize how unsatisfied I will be for months to come if this isn't renewed.
 
Posted by Humean316 (Member # 8175) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Lyrhawn:
Lots of good press today, on CNN among other networks, on the save Chuck campaign.

Still have to wait until Tuesday to find out.

Man, the more I think about that finale, the more I realize how unsatisfied I will be for months to come if this isn't renewed.

No worries Lyrhawn, Chuck has been renewed for 3rd season!

I am such a fan boy, but I just jumped for joy. Yay Chuck!
 
Posted by Dobbie (Member # 3881) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Humean316:

I am such a fan boy, but I just jumped for joy. Yay Chuck!

Isn't that exactly what a fan boy would do?
 
Posted by AvidReader (Member # 6007) on :
 
Hooray, Chuck! It's the best part of my Mondays.
 
Posted by Raymond Arnold (Member # 11712) on :
 
I'm not really trusting any of these people with "inside sources" at this point, but here's hoping.
 
Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
 
I'll keep my fingers crossed, too.
 
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Raymond Arnold:
I'm not really trusting any of these people with "inside sources" at this point, but here's hoping.

Indeed. Two more days and we'll know for sure.
 
Posted by Raymond Arnold (Member # 11712) on :
 
It does not look good:

http://www.nbc.com/news/2009/05/04/nbc-announces-ambitious-lineup-of-programming-dominated-by-new-scripted-series-for-2009-2010-primeti/
 
Posted by Magson (Member # 2300) on :
 
You read the comments to that article? Looks like about 75% of them say "No Chuck? Buh-bye to NBC then!"

And about 2/3 seem to say the same for Life (most for Chuck also say they want Life).
 
Posted by Raymond Arnold (Member # 11712) on :
 
Yeah, but that's to be expected. I mean, we KNOW there are people who watch Life and Chuck. Right now those people are angry and want to complain. No one else has anything to complain about, ergo they aren't commenting.
 
Posted by Shigosei (Member # 3831) on :
 
For those who would like to give Chuck a try, the first several episodes are online at the WB website.
 
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
 
I just watched the Chuck season finale. They had better renew it. :E
 
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
Living rooms....set on fire....
 
Posted by Humean316 (Member # 8175) on :
 
From what I have heard, according to Nikki Finke, NBC is not happy with the new David E. Kelley pilot Legally Mad, and thus, it is not picking up the script. However, if they don't pick up the pilot, then they owe a 2 million dollar penalty to Warner Bros, which just so happens to produce Chuck. Apparently, NBC is holding out and tying Chuck's renewal to the dropping of that penalty.

In other words, if NBC can get Warner Brothers to drop that 2 million dollar penalty for not picking up Legally Mad, then Chuck will be renewed. We will know the decision by May 19th.

Edit: Link

[ May 07, 2009, 04:06 AM: Message edited by: Humean316 ]
 
Posted by AvidReader (Member # 6007) on :
 
Thanks for the link, Humean. I'm not thrilled that I'm waiting on network politics, but at least I know NBC wants to renew Chuck.
 
Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
 
Hallelujiah!!!
 
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
 
I've never used this smiley before:

[The Wave]
 
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
I'm excited by the prospect, sad that it's only 13 and not a full season (but hopeful that it'll end up as more) and somewhat nervous at what it'll look like with a lower budget, smaller cast and fewer writers.

If it comes back gutted, that'd almost be worse than having it canceled. but I think they can easily make it work with blowing less stuff up, which is where I imagine most of the big bucks went to.
 
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
 
Lyrhawn: Yeah, we can live without heavy effects. We probably won't even notice they're gone.
 
Posted by Irami Osei-Frimpong (Member # 2229) on :
 
They can do the show on the cheap. My favorite episodes all take place primarily at the Buy More. It's the intersection of Buy More sensibilities and National Security that make the show for me. Jeff coming out of Missile Command retirement in "Chuck vs. Tom Sawyer" is wonderful. The second season Christmas episode was fantastic, I thought, and that all happened at the Buy More. Jeffster's deeply earnest and mediocre attempt at becoming a mainstream rock band is also another gem. To be honest, less worried about the budget cut than I am about Chuck quitting the Buy More.
 
Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
 
But Chuck DID quit the BuyMore. When he got that huge paycheck from the NSA. Of course, he ended up spending it on Ellie's dream wedding, and we don't know how much - if any - there might be left. (and I still get insane giggles at Casey's team playing wedding planners....) So one of the first things they need to do is establish a cover for him again, either getting his job back or a new one. And since the Castle is already underneath the frogurt shop, BuyMore or LargeMart make the most sense.
 
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
Well, Awesome knows he's in the CIA, and if they're cutting other team members out, if he has the new and improved intersect in his head, and since the General offered him a job at the CIA anyway...maybe they won't send him back to the BuyMore.

I could do with having only a few episodes here and there of Jeff and Lester, they alternate between hilarious and a tiny bit annoying. But I'd really miss Big Mike. I want him to reunite with Carl Winslow!
 
Posted by Raymond Arnold (Member # 11712) on :
 
Frankly, it makes most sense to cut Morgan and his girlfriend, since they were supposed to be moving to Hawaii.
 
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
I wasn't always a huge Morgan fan anyway. Funny but cuttable.
 
Posted by LargeTuna (Member # 10512) on :
 
I've watched a single episode of this show! it was the most recent one with the weapons expo and I thought it was enjoyable.

I was astounded at how awesome the episode soundtrack was. the songs I recognised were:
a song by Datarock (it was in the opening scene)
Merrymaking in My Place by Calvin Harris (this has been like one of my fav songs since late 2007)
and a song by The Clash
a Cake song for the theme song I think

Most people I know have never even heard of those first two.
any indie/electronica music lovers know if they play stuff like that in every episode?
 
Posted by AvidReader (Member # 6007) on :
 
I don't usually notice the music, to be honest with you. It didn't strike me as out of the ordinary.

I would just like to say how much I'm enjoying the change in the Chuck/Morgan dynamic. Plus, it's always fun to see Jeff and Lester go all stalker on someone.
 
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
I LOVE the music for this show. They play a lot of fun, but somewhat indie/underground music.

My best friend, who is heavily into that scene, almost always knows what's being played, but most of the time I've never heard of it.
 


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