Finally, the official confirmation that NBC’s Chuck has been renewed has come. It has been renewed for 13 episodes. There is an option for a back 9, but whether or not NBC exercises it remains to be seen. Unknown still, as of this writing, but something we’ll know shortly is when it will air on NBC’s schedule. The rumor mill has been suggesting Fridays at 8pm. We’ll see.
There are however some additional unknowns. Obviously NBC and Warner Brothers have been haggling over price, and obviously, like many other shows, lower production costs were negotiated. But how much lower, and just what that means, if anything, as far as some of your favorite characters still being on the show as of yet is uncertain.
Update: Michael Ausiello weighs in on what some of the cost cuts will mean:
Here’s the bad news: The 13-episode pickup came after Warner Bros. agreed to make significant budget concessions, including scaling back the number of episodes several members of the show’s stellar supporting cast will appear in and, per one insider, possibly eliminating one actor altogether (R.I.P. Anna Wu?). The show is also expected to cut two of its staff writers.
*sighs* and the drama continues…
What a pity. NBC did themselves and their viewers a disservice, picking up such a boring, non-creative and redundant hour of television.
Oh, well. I have no doubt the show will be canceled once the 13 eps are up, hopefully even sooner.
Hey nick c or robert,Ausiello said there was a twist and it’s a bummer what do you think it is?
CHUCK is going to land on Fridays.
So if you’re a fan of the show, make sure you watch it…..live. (Use a VCR instead of a DVR if you have to record it, lol. since VCR recordings count as “live viewing” while DVR recordings don’t).
Actually, unless you’re a Nielsen family, I guess it doesn’t matter…..
Go Chuck Go!
Good job Chuck fans! You guys definitely contributed to saving the series with the Subway campaign. However, I do not want to hear any complaints next year when it is cancelled due to low ratings.
*pops open champagne* It’s a celebration!!!! Yes Yes, oh god yes!!!
Woot!! WOOOOT!!!! I’ll take 13 episodes!
I hope they can keep the cast together, but they certainly left it open to change with Chuck leaving the Buy More and most likely moving out of Ellie & Awesome’s place now that they’re hitched.
Thanks, little “Susie Sunshine!” Here’s hoping your favorite show gets the axe, too. Why can’t people just be happy for each other when their favorite shows get renewed?? Perhaps you are a TerminatorSCC fan. If that’s the case, I’m sorry for you, but it isn’t the fault of CHUCK fans that TSCC got (or will get) the axe. So, Susan – TRY to be happy. Remember, it takes more muscles in your face (and thus more effort) to produce a frown than it does a smile!!
This is going to be a LOONG post.
Well here we go now that chuck has been renewed we are going to see people like you put down a good show. -f you have no good comments keep them to yourselves.
Thanks
maybe a half hour show now
?
Sorry Rick,
All my shows got renewed, and in any case, I am not one to mourn a cancellation of a TV SHOW. I am, however, a fan of quality TV, and Chuck – ain’t it!
13 episodes, Friday, and smaller cast. Upside, Chuck is back!!!!!!!!!
Congratulations, CHUCK fans. You’ve always been persistent and genuine, and it’s been oddly gratifying to see.
is there a link as to where this came from because we thought chuck was renewed in that christmas in may article….so wheres the proof….not that im not happy ive been waiting forever for this news.
Susan, preference is subjective.
finally the post i expected. now, american fans watch watch the show. here i’ll try watch it on hulu or nbc.com, congratulations to all.
Sorry about my english,
portuguese fan
Susan. I am GLAD that your shows got renewed. Would you be willing to give us some examples of “Quality TV” so that all of us ignorant CHUCK boobs can be educated by your wisdom. And by the way, it’s not just a few ignorant CHUCK boobs out there who thought the show was good, there were a number of critics who thought so, as well. Actually it seemed like more critics praised CHUCK than panned it. Regardless, If ALL your shows got renewed, it hardly seems like you’d have time to even notice that CHUCK was or wasn’t on the air – yet you sure seem to have gotten on this site QUICKLY to voice your displeasure. Hmmm.
just out of curiosity, what are your favorite shows susan… I’m just wondering…
Fridays at 8pm leading into Southland at 9pm… those are week lead-ins to Jay Leno … but then Jay’s key nights will be Thursday and Friday with starts promoting films opening on Fridays.
I am not a fan of the show, but have always been amazed at the passion for the show by those who post here. Congrats Chuck fans on the renewal of the show.
Im guessing the twist is that some cast will be brought back for recurring roles only, Anna and Emmitt most likely for sure and probably Cptn Awesone and Ellie.
Susan’s favorite show is the Today Show, and she’ll be happy to tell you it has been number 1 for 700 straight weeks!
I am, however, a fan of quality TV, and Chuck – ain’t it!
——-
That’s your opinion, not fact.
Is that tartar sauce?
Well the actress who plays Anna Wu has some film offers, so she could very easily jump ship. That wouldn’t shock me. I’d heard that possibility any way.
Well, if it’s on Friday at 8pm it’s certainly not going to soar ratings-wise. But maybe they can provide some cloture this season. They do have to option of eliminating a lot of the cast, and they probably will if these reports are true.
My understand btw is that they’re going to cut costs in PAs and writing staff. I assume that some cast members will also be cut to recurring vs. regular.
“That’s the good news. Here’s the bad news: The 13-episode pickup came after Warner Bros. agreed to make significant budget concessions, including scaling back the number of episodes several members of the show’s stellar supporting cast will appear in and, per one insider, possibly eliminating one actor altogether (R.I.P. Anna Wu?). The show is also expected to cut two of its staff writers.” – Ausiello.
And the drama continues…
Quality TV?
Not that there’s much out there, but Mad Men comes to mind. I enjoy other shows as well, of course.
Other than low quality shows that are a waste of time (honorary mentions: American Idol and every single reality show, most sitcoms, and fascist TV the Unit, NCIS and 24) I can’t stand rabid fanboys and fangirls who have to flood websites with their blind admiration for a show, usually just bad. The whole Chuck campaign here and other websites reminded me of the Moonlight kooks from last year, and not in a good way.
Yay, almost all of my shows have been renewed this year. Hopefully this will soften the blow of the fact that I probably won’t be getting Reaper or the Game back.
Also if they can somehow work Morgan and Anna into the storyline I would be ok with losing the buymore subplot. I would rather lose the buymore that Ellie and Awesome.
Man Yvonne looks soo yummy in this picture. Muy caliente!! Go Season 3!!!!
Re Susan…
Please don’t feed the trolls.
“What a pity. NBC did themselves and their viewers a disservice, picking up such a boring, non-creative and redundant hour of television.
Oh, well. I have no doubt the show will be canceled once the 13 eps are up, hopefully even sooner.”
Well, you’re just a RAY OF FREAKIN’ SUNSHINE, aren’t you? Why are you even reading a post about the renewal of a show that you feel is “non-creative and redundant” and yet has mobilized millions to write letters, donate money, and buy sandwiches en masse? Are you worried for another NBC show that might not make the cut? Southland, perhaps, which has TANKED the past three weeks? I agree with Rick Holy above and hope your favorite shows get shit-canned. Why don’t you follow these three simple steps and do us all a favor: 1. Remove foot from mouth. 2. Remove head from ass. 3. Click X on Internet Explorer. 4. Leave us hardworking, dedicated Chuck fans to celebrate something we’ve worked weeks, if not months for. Mmkay? To quote one of the characters on TV’s GREATEST show, “That’d be Awesome.”
The CHUCK fans were nothing like MOONLIGHT fans, I think that award goes to the crazies trying to get TSCC renewed online. They’re nuts.
In fact CHUCK fans doing American Heart Association donations and SUBWAY stunts is by far the best campaigns I’ve seen yet that weren’t annoying.
Hudson, that backs up what I’d heard about the Anna Wu actress having several options out there. Good for her. The writers is again what I’d heard. I was just picking on the PAs because I’m convinced one of them reads and posts here.
What a blessing. NBC did themselves and their viewers a service, picking up such an exciting, creative and unique hour of television.
Oh, well about the 13 eps order. I have no doubt the show’s back 9 episodes will be picked up once the 13 eps are up, hopefully even sooner.
Yes!!!!!!! Now to work on NBC for the back 9.
Susan – don’t know if you were around when this was on radio, but I’ll give it a try in the hopes of bringing about a truce. “There ain’t no good guys. There ain’t no bad guys. There’s only you and me and we just disagree.” And let’s be honest, my dear, you were the first one to spew the venom. The second post on this thread, if I recall. And isn’t there anything “quality” on TV that you could be watching right now instead of “wasting your time” with a bunch of CHUCK fans who just want to revel in a little happiness? Or is that now allowed in “Susan’s perfect world of Quality TV??” Let’s just say opinions differ – and let there be PEACE in the valley!
I’d think the back 9 is already there in the background. Nick C has said it, and NBC’s situation would more than likely warrant it next season if the network coninues dropping like a rock. I’m not too worried. But Chuck’s back. So YYAAAAYYAAYYAYAYAYAAAAA!!!!
A Dave Mason “We Just Disagree” reference on a Chuck post. I didn’t see that coming.
Go CHUCK go! I’m cautiously optimistic with the rumored Friday at 8 p.m. EST time slot, especially if FOX holds to its rumored “Human Target/Dollhouse” programming. Sure, CBS will probably stay on top with GW/Flashpoint/Numbers; but I think Chuck/Southland can stand up fairly well versus FOX’s unknown/ratings downer combo.
Nick,
It’s always the “other ones” who are crazies, eh?
But really, the Moonlight kooks had the blood bank campaign and other stunts, and that didn’t make them any less crazy. They popped up everywhere with “Alex – what a hunk” and “save Moonlight”. (some of them still do, if you follow the right websites)
And I’m sorry, but feeding the fat corporate cats at Subway doesn’t count as an “awesome” campaign.
Well, like I said, it’s going to be on for three months (give or take) on Fridays (and on NBC!!) and then die away quietly.
so we have it renewed now which night is it going to land on.
I’m sort of anxious to see if Nick C’s prediction of Chuck being moved in the event of some other shows cancellation comes to pass.
JohnnieM says:
“Re Susan…
Please don’t feed the trolls.”
The problem with that is in this post she is the troll.
“and fascist TV the Unit, NCIS and 24″
how the hell do you consider 24 FASCIST?
and WOOOOOO Chuck
Would of liked to have seen the twist be its moving to USA to be paired with BN
THhat lineup would of cleaned house.
Glad its renewed though.
Oh and i forgot sorry Robert. I’d like to personally thank Nick C for keeping the fans informed of whats going on.
Thank you Nick
Susan, I’m not one of “them,” so I think it’s safe for me to make that assumption. The blood drive was just vampire silly. So I didn’t take that seriously. The AHA stuff however was a legit campaign that wasn’t a gimmick. There has been a huge difference. The freaks have been the TSCC fans who are now officially disappointed.
Chuck still is not a good show, it gets the pity order from NBC, HAHAHA HEROES RULES CHUCK DROOLS!!!!!!!!!!
For anyone out there in the know, how much does Chuck cost to make, relatively speaking?
chuck costs between 3-4 million to make
Nick, you do enjoy Chuck, though. As someone who didn’t enjoy any of the three shows, I think the TSCC fans were craziest, mostly because the show has been completely dead for so long, but they refused to give up, but I think the Moonlight fans and Chuck fans are about equal. There is no difference between a blood drive and AHA drive. Both are equally commendable and done for the exact same reason: To try to make people think they are less crazy than they are.
lol @ Heroes>Chuck don’t let your biases cloud your math so much.
Susan,
If you think 24, NCIS and and The Unit are “fascist,” you need to take Government 101. What an ignorant statement.
I don’t watch Chuck, but it was nice to see a bubble show renewed that had such a passionate fan following. I’ll probably check it out as a result of the fan campaign, since I tend to enjoy shows that have a small but passionate fan base.
But back to you, Susan. You are a boob. That’s all.
Dave Mason – where are YOU when our friend Susan has a burr stuck somewhere?? Please, Susan. Let it go. It will be one less hour of TV that you shouldn’t be watching anyway. The less TV we actually watch, the better – don’t you think? So NBC actually did you a BIG FAVOR by renewing a show that you won’t watch! You can pick up a book or go for a walk instead. And the reason that many CHUCK fans (and I’m not saying ALL) are so devoted to the show is because they don’t spend alot of time watching numerous different “quality” shows (which by the way, you only mentioned ONE by name), so one of the few shows they watch and enjoy would obviously be important to them. I watch 3-4 shows a week – maximum. CHUCK is one that I don’t expect to win awards for anything, but find entertaining and fun. What’s wrong with that?? Let it go, dear. Let the CHUCK fans have their moment of happiness. It’s really no skin of your nose!
This is so awesomely awesome I cannot even explain how awesomely awesomest awesome this really is. Kudos to NBC and to all the people who worked so hard at mobilizing and trying to get there voice heard.
p.s. Got to love people who come on to just try and chirp and spoil people’s happiness for no reason. That’s not awesome. It really shows their true character and what their like as a person.
Julia, you might be right. I just thought the blood drive was such a vampire wannabe’s campaign. I suppose I found them more pathetic because they’re vampire fans. After saying that I best put on a flame resistant suit.
CHUCK is around $1.8M to $2M an episode and they likely want it between $1M and $1.25M. I’m just guessing there. I could find out more, but I think they should just let all people named Paul go and they’ll be ok.
The Moonlight campaign was one of the worst fandom disasters I’ve ever seen. I get that the cancellation came as a bit of a surprise, but they took it in the worst way possible. They were so desperate to save it that they were campaigning months after the official cancellations, and one woman took advantage of it all and duped lots of people out of money that was supposed to go to bus ads and other SOS efforts. One woman was even taken for thousands of dollars.
Susan, Chuck is a quality show in the genre it’s in: a dramedy. Stop being such a sourpuss. Enthusiasm never hurt anyone. Fanboys/girls here aren’t out mutilating anyone, worshipping the devil, or going over your lawn to take a piss on it so why don’t you just get off your high horse or go away?
This is the final chance for “Chuck” if it doesn’t do well this season it will get the hook.
Annie, it’s true, post-cancellation, Moonlight went completely batty, but Chuck fandom hasn’t yet had that opportunity.
I mean, if paying $11k for bus ads had actually worked, it wouldn’t have seemed so crazy. But Leeser was someone willing to take advantage of anyone she could, and it was just that the Moonlight fandom was ripe for the picking.
imkeh, we best call Rick back … he was on his way to her lawn.
Rick Holy, don’t you expect Yvonne Strahovski to win an acting award? i do, the she is pretty good.
I’m just happy to have a third season, this show deserved.
@Susan, judging by your bitter and hateful language – “fat corporate cats at Subway” and “fascist TV the Unit” – I wouldn’t be surprised if you are basing your anti-CHUCK rant on some Web articles which note personal and political leanings of certain cast members (Zachary Levi and Adam Baldwin come to mind, I won’t “out” them here, though
). How much CHUCK have you actually watched, if any?
I suggest you kindly go back to watching Janeane Garofalo and Keith Olbermann spout their rage via You Tube. I suspect that will be more to your liking.
Robert, Bill, Julia and company: please accept my apologies for my rant here. To get back on topic, congrats to all who donated in the AHA “Have a Heart, Renew Chuck” campaign. http://weheartchuck.blogspot.com/ But remember, a confirmed renewal is only the beginning of the campaign to save the show. Keep getting the word out! Find new CHUCK fans! Recommend watching DVD’s and Hulu!
AWESOME! CHUCK is back! Hopefully they give them the back 9 episodes and possibly a season 4. Congrats to all us CHUCK fans. Way to go.
@Chuck Tranberg, and how is that different from virtually every other show with few exceptions?
Thank you Captain Obvious.
From what I know about the Chuck AHA campaign, I think it was chosen because it is the pet charity of Subway (a major Chuck sponsor). In that way, it seems a little more of an effective choice than the blood drive thing for Moonlight; though both are worthy causes, there’s an actual connection between the AHA and Chuck (even though there are a few degrees of separation).
I hate to defend them because they’re still so annoying (I mean,eople think VM fans were bad but check out the mass comments about Alex O’Laughlin the Great in every DHD post about Three Rivers), but they did try to do charity related campaigns. The blood drive thing was a clever way to tie in their support for a vampire show but still a way to give back. I know they also did fundraising for some of the natural disasters, like the earthquake in China, too. I feel bad for making fun of them too much because most of them were older women and a lot of them got taken for their money, but I do think their hearts were in the right places.
In the end, any campaign that helps raise money or awareness for a charitable cause is better than sending in candy bars or tabasco sauce en mass to the helpless interns at the network. At least SOME good is coming from it.
Robert how do you think this compares to the surprise dollhouse renewal.
“What a pity. NBC did themselves and their viewers a disservice, picking up such a boring, non-creative and redundant hour of television.
Oh, well. I have no doubt the show will be canceled once the 13 eps are up, hopefully even sooner”
Uh Susan, honey, Chuck is anything but a boring, non creative show. 10 bucks says you have not even seen more than 2 episodes.
Lopan, there is no comparison for me. I was pretty sure Chuck would be renewed. I was equally (perhaps even more) sure Dollhouse wouldn’t be. Since Dollhouse was, that by far surprised me more.
VICTORY!!!!!!!!!
PS. HEY AVA, LAY OFF THE SOUR GRAPES!
Yes
Robert, does this mean no Day 15 tomorrow?
Nick and Imkeh. Sorry – I just took a “potty break,” so I won’t be heading over to Susan’s house – at least not for another few hours!
But really, she DOES need to chill out. So a show she hates got renewed. Why on earth would she bother going on a web site to complain about it – unless she had a burr up her b**t about something. It would be like me going on a “Dancing with the Stars” web site to complain because it’s ratings were always higher than CHUCK’s. Why in the world waste your time?? Yeeeesh. Pick up a book, Susan. Go for a walk. Or find one of those quality programs (again – you only mentioned ONE by name) and watch it so it can bring you happiness, not angst like this web site is apparently doing. Life’s too short to go out of your way to be unhappy. So as long as a Dave Mason song was okay for this site, how about a Bobby McFarlin (I think) reference. “Don’t worry (Susan). Be HAPPY!!”
“Sorry Rick,
All my shows got renewed, and in any case, I am not one to mourn a cancellation of a TV SHOW. I am, however, a fan of quality TV, and Chuck – ain’t it!”
Says who ? It gets good reviews from critics and most of the people who have seen multiple episodes. If you are not a fan then why are you even on here, it’s not like you are talking numbers. you are just bashing the show.
I was so so on almost every show on the bubble except Chuck. I wanted Chuck back. I can’t believe NBC got one right. Now we need to push for them to pick up the back nine. Write NBC to thank them for keeping Chuck. We wrote to beg them to keep it now let them know we appreciate it.
to susan
dancing with the stars with reality stars and b rated actors is probably quality tv. let chuck fans such as myself have our moment. we can sleep easy tonight for the first time since december.
Woohoo! First Bones and now Chuck. Great news for me this weekend.
wohoooo!!!! go chuck!!!!!
NBC you renewed this garbage over Knight Rider which was actually improving and getting Chuck’s numbers? WTF?
Garbage ? LOL Chuck is widely considered a good show, Knight rider was widely considered trash.
Didn’t KNIGHT RIDER pull a 1.5 at one point? CHUCK never dropped below a 2.0.
http://www.doeschuckhaveathirdseason.com has been updated to “YES!!!”
I’m sorry, KnightRider, while the usefulness of the Renew/Cancel index in terms of predicting show renewals might be debated for months, its usefulness in comparing the ratings with adults 18-49 between shows remains in tact. There is no comparison, Chuck performed much better than Knight Rider.
Susan is acutally one of Zachary Levi’s jilted ex-girlfriends.
Sizzling Shrimp to everyone! This is a celebration!
WOOOOOOO!!!!
Go CHUCK!
Actually Susan is a MEDIUM fan. She was one of the people that was upset with the whole CHUCK vs MEDIUM thing.
Yipeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
I can finally relax.
Now I am going to watch
Chuck season 1 again.
Ron-
Excuse me? I’m not sure what you read, but I have no reason to have sour grapes. I am an enormous Chuck fan.
Eh there is a Susan in every crowd. That she likes Mad Men shows to me that she likes quality tv but doesn’t like Chuck because of Strahotsky. Me? I love Chuck and think the show is very funny at times( the indian and the nutty guy are hilarious )..the rest of the time I just like watching Ms. Strahotsky.
Excellent it got renewed, it such a happy show only dysfunctional people could dislike it *g*
A flawed victory though, if they cut writers – somehow that is always who networks think are of no use.
The trolls and the mushes that come in here to burst the fans bubble aren’t going to have much effect today.
YAY! Finally confirmed and cardboard was busted out so people could breakdance.
are we still going to have day 14, 15 of chuck?
day 14 was already posted an hour or two before this post went up. Not sure about Day 15. we’ll see…
Yes but do you think there could be a season 4 if its on Friday and is it possible to order more episodes Rob
thanks to those who have voiced their support of the aha campaign. as partisan said above, we should let nbc know we appreciate their keeping our favorite show on the air. please go to http://weheartchuck.blogspot.com/ to make another (or a first) contribution – no matter how small – and send nbc a message reading “A heartfelt thank you, NBC, for renewing Chuck!” with enough fan support, we may yet get our back 9. and thank you folks for doing your part to keep Chuck alive!
Reading the posts about quality television reminds me that there has been quite a bit of quality television during this past decade. Tastes differ, and plenty of decent programs came and went just fine without my help. But, stumbling onto “Chuck” in time for the pilot was a swell surprise. Right from the start, I found it entertaining. I hadn’t followed a series every week with such enthusiasm in years. I honestly thought I had become immune to television show loyalty. So, with no apologies, I am thrilled to bits that we have even a truncated “Chuck” Season 3.
sorry just seen 14. again a great night sleep tonight.
I’m just glad a show that my whole family can watch together is back. I realize it’s not high brow enough for some, but unfortunately, the material that meets those tastes does not work for the whole family. Chuck generally does. So, I’m pleased it’s back!
“Fifteen Days of Chuck: Day Fifteen: Celebration!!” just throwing Ideas out there Robert
It’s cause for celebration, not only because of Chuck, but the website is still up and running smoothly!
woot
go jefster
cant cancel strhottie
nice to hear
wow on all theshows i thought would be gone for sure coming back
just wow
WOOT this is like my 3rd post in 6 months I think…. I come here everyday for the last 3 months I think, never really got to post. ( I dont know why though I like 99% of the active posters, 1% being the anti-chuckers) Nick was right….( I didnt trust you at first, sorry!) – I wish that just for today Rob and/or Bill could actually ban/erase all the negative comments about CHUCK but I know that aint gonna happen so, I’ll keep ignoring those comments like I have done for the last few months. – I might start to post often because I like this place, speacialy the interaction between the posters (mostly friendly)- Keep up the good work you guys with the server change etc (you confused me for 2 days)
OK I think thats enough for now… GO CHUCK!!!!!!
PS: Sorry about my bad eng. is not my mother tongue.
VYuci, I’m with you. Tomorrow is probably the better test, but the volume has been pretty robust the last few hours and, knock on wood, it’s holding up very nicely.
Awesome about Chuck. Excellent cast. Clever writing. Don’t stop at 13 episodes. Lets go for more YEARS!
First time poster, but long time reader of the website. I am so happy that Chuck has been been renewed. It is the most entertaining hour on TV! I have never looked forward to a TV show so much each week.
Nick C – thank you for the constant Chuck status updates.
I just hope the show’s quality and production value doesn’t suffer because of the budget cuts.
Susan is a TROLL, please don’t give her the attention she craves!
It’s bit bittersweet. Although the show is renewed, we’re gonna have to say farewell to a character AND two writers.
They could fire the entire Buy More crowd and I wouldn’t care a bit (well, maybe the little Asian hottie can stay!)
I’d much rather watch just Chuck, Yvonne (mostly Yvonne!), Casey, and Elle, along with whoever they get as guest villain of the week, rather than the Buy More lunatics. Fulcrum could even shoot Captain Awesome and make Elle a widower for all I care. Get Smart never needed a subplot of weirdos to make the show funny.
Spin off the Buy More crowd into their OWN series! That’s the ticket! What’s the difference between that crowd of losers and the crowd of losers on Cheers? I could see a show called Buy More being a comedy hit – they’re certainly funny enough.
Rich K., I agree. It is the most entertaining show that is on.
When I wake up on Mondays, except when on hiatus, I say, “Chuck is on tonight, YEA!” Then I text my sons with a “CHUCK, CHUCK, CHUCK!”
Yeah haters can suck my imported hard salami (that includes impostor Dustin)!
Angry little girls aside I’m glad its been confirmed, it will not disappear but win its back nine and be renewed for a 4th season, they can even dump a few of the actors. I see little reason to have the buymore anymore, except maybe once or twice, and Morgan/Ana aren’t they leaving anyway, thats a couple of hundred K.
Congrats on the Chuck renewal to those folks who worked to make it happen. Job well done. I suspect the show will be different in the fall (between the season finale regarding the Buy More and the apparent reduction of budget, staff, and possibly other things, it can’t help but be different) but hopefully different in a way that adds to the show, not detracts from it.
Again, congrats to Chuck.
Blind adoration would imply people who posted about liking the show had never seen it. I have seen very few “Ive never seen Chuck but that girl is so hot, I hope it gets another season!” posts.
And I could totally live with a Chuck without Emmett.
Cindy says:
May 17th, 2009 at 6:42 pm
It’s bit bittersweet. Although the show is renewed, we’re gonna have to say farewell to a character AND two writers.
It’s all speculation right now, don’t worry until you hear something official that someone or something big has been cut. Focus on the positive, we get to speculate about the contents of the show coming back, not whether it’s coming back.
ROBERT:
Please have a day fifteen with the topic of what we each want to see happen on ‘Chuck’ next season.
Fifteen days of Chuck is not the same with only fourteen days!!!!
I agree with Mike the canadian, Morgan and anna are keepers, Jeffters too Ellie and AWESOME hmm yes because is “chuck’s family world” which kinda leaves Big Mike and Emmitt ( he is not part of the main cast tho) so yeah, I think its Big Mike….
@Dave, all — fair enough.
Andres says:
May 17th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
I agree with Mike the canadian, Morgan and anna are keepers, Jeffters too Ellie and AWESOME hmm yes because is “chuck’s family world” which kinda leaves Big Mike and Emmitt ( he is not part of the main cast tho) so yeah, I think its Big Mike….
I think Emmett fired and Big Mike back at the helm. I’d guess Hale costs more.
Hale is signed on for FOX’s “Sons of Tucson” I think.
An even better reason.
“I think Emmett fired and Big Mike back at the helm. I’d guess Hale costs more.” I would agree with this.
And although it will be sad to lose writers, that’s better than replacing writers. Season 2 was great, it’ll be hard without the whole team but at least we know whoever will be left can do the job.
I understand the need for cuts, but please keep Morgan and JEFFSTER! They’d be sufficient Buy More representation, and it might be workable to keep them as recurring characters rather than full-time cast. But without Morgan, Jeff, and Lester, I think we’d miss the best of the comedic moments.
@ JT :
Well I was going withe “Main cast thinggy” + Big Mike returning will mean somehow the return of buymore, and I dont see that happening with this whole budget cut.
By the way I know this is too soon to ask but, how much % of the costs have been reduce? any appoximation/idea? how much could it affect the show? (I know this is hard to quantify)
Dustin – Mmmmm Sizzling Shrimp and GRAPE SODA!
I really don’t understand why Susan would go out of her way to bemoan the renewing of a TV show she doesn’t like.
Other than to be contrary I don’t see the reason for it.
oh and Susan if Chuck was such a bad show, how did it make
1) Time Magazine top 10 TV series of 2008 (#10)
2) Television Without Pity’s list of TV Shows We Wish More People Watched
3) The Star-Ledger’s Top TV shows of 2008 (#4),
4) The Miami Herald’s TV’s Top 5 list, (#5)
5) The New York Observer’s Top 10 TV Shows of the Year (#6),
6) The Chicago Tribune’s Top Ten of 2008, (#6)
7) The Onion’s AV Squad picked CHUCK vs. THE SEDUCTION (ep 2-2) the 10th best episode of ALL TV in 2008.
and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette mentions Chuck as one of the few bright spots in television in 2008.
So, your opinion not withstanding, there are people whose profession it is to critique television who really think its a well written, fun show.
So why the hate? You said “all my shows got renewed” Well, bully for you. It seems to me that you’re problem with the show is that the fans of the show are so feverent about their support of the show. Why bemoan people their simple pleasures? You just come of like a bitter troll.
You are totally entitled to your opinion. Just be prepared to be called a bitch when you express it so bitchily.
Oh Heroes>Chuck
Heroes cost about 4mil and ep, Chuck is less than 2m an ep, and it shows in the post production clearly.
But each year the writing on Heroes has gotten murkier and murkier – I have high hopes that Bryan Fuller can right the ship, because you can spend all you want on special effects, if you don’t care what is going on, you don’t care how pretty it looks.
David – great post my friend!
Robert, if Chuck is placed on Fridays, how do you think it will do? Marginally enough to remain alive?
Bones yesterday, Chuck today.
Damn good weekend.
Robert, actually in addition to dave’s request, maybe in the Day 15 post you could chart a prediction of what Chuck would need to pull in the 18-49 demo for the show to be safe (or even a hit) on Monday vs. Wednesday vs. Friday next season? Its what the fans starting the new viewer campaign for the summer are already asking on the forums.
If they get the back nine, I hope they treat it like a separate season. My theory is the late back nine order caused issues with the episode planning last season. There were some episodes that seemed not to fit with the story.
Tony Hale won’t be coming back. He’s signed up to star in Boldly Going Nowhere http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1301978/ on Fox. I’m glad Chuck was renewed but I hope it stays on Mondays. If it moves to Fridays it will kill the show.
Chuck will score atleast or above a 3 for the first few then settle back to 2.5 or so like its been doing, even on Friday. More and more people have become chucknuts, a few on here due to the fans insistence to just watch it and decide for yourself.
@Andres, they don’t know because nothing is official yet. It’s all speculation right now so I wouldn’t over think the details just yet.
@David, great post and my take on ALL of Susan’s shows being renewed: She’s probably just going to replay old episodes on her DVR and consider them a renewal. In that case, every one of my shows got picked up too!
@Bill S, which episodes did you feel were out of place? Just curious.
Bill S. says If they get the back nine, I hope they treat it like a separate season. My theory is the late back nine order caused issues with the episode planning last season. There were some episodes that seemed not to fit with the story.
I read that Schwartz and Fedak themselves said that the team has already map out future seasons.
dafjlksdf Aw, yay, Chuck!
If it’s moved to Fridays, and I really think it will be, Schwartz and Fedak have to treat it like a Final Season, because it won’t be coming back for season 4 if it’s on Fridays.
Yes!!!!Best news ever!!!!
Bill S,
Chuck never got a “late” back 9 order this season. In fact, NBC picked up the back 9 after NBC saw the first 6 episodes before the season premiere was even broadcast.
@ JT OK thanks!
@ Bill S. – Remember that the real order was meant to be 2×12 vs. “Best friend” 2×13 vs. 3rd dimension 2×14 vs. Suburbs…. Because of the 3D thing and st. valentine they switch them.
Bill S, I think NBC ordered the back nine for season two Chuck before the premiere even aired. The news broke (I think) just a week before the cast appeared at Comic-con last summer.
JT,
This is just me thinking out loud. But I suspect that Colonel was originally going to be the 2.13 finale. And they already had the relationship progressing to the point where it made sense that it would take a big step forward by 2.13. Then they got the back nine order and had to do something to put the breaks on. If you look at the relationship in Delorean and Santa, nine more weeks of that would have made Colonel anticlimactic. So I think they added the Mauser shooting to the end of Santa and the Cole episodes (Beefcake and Lethal Weapon) to put the breaks on.
And look at some of the episode transitions. The ending scene of Best Friends had them holding hands with Chuck telling Sarah that she had someone in her life that would always be there. The very next scene, in Suburbs, they are avoiding being around each other. Another, more famous example, is the Jill arc. We close Tom Sawyer with Chuck wishing for Sarah on the evening star. The very next scene in Ex is Chuck listening to a Jill mix on his ipod and obviously pining for her.
Something tells me those episodes were not in the original plan. We’ll probably never know.
So since Susan doesn’t worship Chuck she’s a “troll”? Figures, on this site. I watch Chuck but not everyone has to like the same shows I do.
Anyway…. I do think Fridays would be a good fit for Chuck, especially at 7PM (central time). And if they have to get rid of the Anna character to cut costs that would be fine by me.
http://twitter.com/WarnerBrosEnt/status/1831033389
I don’t see Friday as a death knell for the show – It needs to get away from that Monday at 8 slot. X files became a hit on Fridays, and Chuck can have the same appeal. Can you see the cross promotion with SciFi Friday
Chuck on NBC at 8
Doctor Who on Sci Fi at 9 (Two shows that go great together)
Caprica on Sci Fi at 10.
It was not House that was killing it (don’t get me wrong it didn’t help it) Its Big Bang Theory. The cross over there between audience demo was killing Chuck.
If Chuck can hold score 1.8-2.0 in the demo it will be a friday night hit.
So here’s hoping that core audience (with Nielsen boxes) follow the show to its new timeslot.
VYuci and FrankJ,
I understand that the back nine was ordered before the season began. But they had already shot several episodes. And they must have planned the story line for a 13 episode season. And at some point they must have changed that to make it a 22 season storyline, right? Who thinks that Best Friends was ever designed to be the season finale? It was the 13th episode after all.
G
Troll, in the BBS internet sense, someone who posts on a website a contrary opinion to cause strife.
Its going to be a good week after all. Chuck is back. Castle is back. Susan has gone back to the fifties and still complaining about “I Love Lucy” being renewed. I’ll take the thirteen and do my part for more. Staying home on Fridays is fine with me. Does anyone know who you need to contact about replaying “Chuck” content at an event? Name and address would be helpful as online got me no where before. YEAH CHUCK!!
JWB – Did Boldly Going Nowhere get picked up?
Does anyone know how many writers were on Chuck’s staff last season?
Bill S
Interesting, but I don’t think so. because the pick up came so early, they would have had plenty of time, plus what I have heard the second season ending was what they had planned for the 1st season ending if the strike hadn’t happened.
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was literally dancing for 5 minutes straight! Even thought they are going to cut back, its still Chuck! Lets rejoice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“Thanks, little “Susie Sunshine!” Here’s hoping your favorite show gets the axe, too. Why can’t people just be happy for each other when their favorite shows get renewed??”
You mean the way the Chuck fans congratulated Southland fans on that renewal? Oh, wait! They didn’t!
This is completely comfortable on my end – I’m just saying.
Bill S,
Not sure if this is messing things up for you but the 13th episode was Suburbs which came after Third Dimension(12th) and not Best Friend(14th). Not to mention if Colonel was going to be the original season finale then how would they have gotten his Dad in there when Sarah’s Dad was in the 11th episode?
I feel like I’ve been doing the Morgan for a month now. Now I can let down my guard and go to bythenumbers without being so defensive. Back this Season is Chuck! Now with Kung Fu grip! As Farmer Ted once said; “This is getting good.”
There are 9 writers who have writing credits on Chuck, but only Josh and Chris have more than 6 credits.
I would think at least 2 of those writers are freelancers.
So writing staffwise I would say 5 writers (not including Josh and Chris) and 3 or 4 staff editors.
@Jane and all other @Susan commenters:
Hate to bring it up but this has happened before, if you don’t like a show then I’d say it would be a prudent idea to stay out of a thread that is titled ” Renewed!” and keep your comments to yourself.
Jane, The Southland comments were based on bad and declining ratings numbers and the fact that Chuck hadn’t been renewed with better numbers. That was all, take it as an insult if you want but it was based on facts not jumping in a Southland thread and criticizing the show directly. Like Susan just did.
JT says:
May 17th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
@Jane and all other @Susan commenters:
Hate to bring it up but this has happened before, if you don’t like a show then I’d say it would be a prudent idea to stay out of a thread that is titled ” Renewed!” and keep your comments to yourself.
Meant to read “…that is titled “(A Show I Don’t Like) Renewed!”
@ Bill – I dont remember where exactly i read it but I recall Josh S. saying that they had to conbine season 2&3 material into season 2, just in case there was no season 3… In that case making vs. the ring the finale of season 3. So I dont see how they would’ve compress it even more like you say Bill. If I could only find the link where i read that….
Hopefully this is the last 13. I hate this show.
JT,
The order of Best Friends and Suburbs were switched due to a presidential news conference. The original plan was Best Friends then Suburbs. And my point remains. Can you see either as season finales?
“Hate to bring it up but this has happened before, if you don’t like a show then I’d say it would be a prudent idea to stay out of a thread that is titled ” Renewed!” and keep your comments to yourself.
Jane, The Southland comments were based on bad and declining ratings numbers and the fact that Chuck hadn’t been renewed with better numbers. That was all, take it as an insult if you want but it was based on facts not jumping in a Southland thread and criticizing the show directly. Like Susan just did.”
Oh, please. Chuck fans invaded the Southland renewal thread wholesale and acted just like the trolls you accuse Susan of being It wasn’t just about numbers; Chuck fans were dissing Southland and hoping it would fail while the numbers were still good, and they trashed the quality of the show repeatedly. Those fans also argued that it was free speech yada, yada, yada, to come into the Southland thread and crap all over our happiness. If you’re not trolls for doing it, neither is Susan, and neither am I. The funny thing is, I would normally have been happy for you, if you hadn’t been so eager to rain on our parade. And even funnier, guess what! The Southland renewal didn’t keep Chuck from being renewed, too! How about that!
YAAAAAHHHHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i’m just gonna enjoy the good part of this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Bill S,
Wasn’t there a two week break between 3-D and Suburbs??? Wouldn’t understand why they would flip the episodes just for a news conference. In any event, I wouldn’t see either one as a season finale but I still can’t see how Colonel could have fit in the picture had the 9 not been picked up.
I guess going back to what you said earlier, we’ll never really know what they intended to do but it’s fun to guess.
Oh yes the Great Southland Board Invasion of 2009. It does require a response that is just as pointless.
First of all….yay!!! second well hopefully they can cut it back costs make it lean and still get some good episodes now. Maybe that ’save Chuck’ campaign should be harnessed to get as many fans watching the show as they can wherever it ends up. If its effective why stop? Then we will see that back nine…
JT, they couldn’t move the Suburbs episode because it had the Valentine’s theme at the beginning. Best Friend got moved initially because NBC chose not to air Chuck the last week of January. And then of course the 3D episode had to go after the Super Bowl. It was kind of a mess. I’m amazed new viewers were able to understand what was going on. But the show does have a pretty good track record for drawing people in even if they don’t know the backstory.
JT the reason for the flip of Suburbs and best friend
Best Friend was suppose to air on 2/9 but got bumped for the presidential news conference but Suburbs story was linked to Valentines day, so NBC decided to leave it on 2/16 and air Best friend after that
Wow….all the hate. I am not a Chuck watcher, but have read the threads for awhile regarding the speculation of whether it was going to be renewed or canceled. I have not commented because I do not care one way or the other. However, I do admire the loyalty of the fans. I have a particular show that I feel just as passionate about and would be very upset if someone came on to a thread and crapped on it as a couple of people have done on this thread. I do not understand this mentality. It’s mean and hateful. The defense for it being that Chuck fans have crapped on their shows being renewed is not a justification. Those people should be ashamed too. If you don’t like the show, fine….but keep that opinion to yourself. This bashing just makes you come across as not very nice people.
One advantage of a lower cost is that it makes it easier for Chuck to survive on Friday (if that’s where it ends up). Also, I’ve never found, with the exception of the exploading car in Best Friend, the high budget effects critical to the show. What makes the show great is the dialog and the character interactions. As long as the reduction in writers does not hurt that, the heart of the show will be fine.
David1 I agree. It’s not Alias after all, it’s much much funnier!
From what I had heard it was supposed to be Best friend – 3D – the suburbs but because of the whole super bowl presentation in 3D they put 3D on after and then Obama’s speech the week right after, it bumped the show to valentine’s day (when suburbs took place, so they wanted to keep it sorta in real time) Look at the ending of Suburbs when chuck told Ellie that him and Sarah were never going to be more than what they are now, and right after best friend went on like nothing ever happened, but in beefcake, the story picked up right after Suburbs with cole searching Andy Richter’s Character’s body, and Ellie telling chuck he should break up with Sarah then if that’s how he felt. (and if I remember correctly they mentioned somewhere that they had to re-shoot a few scenes to make the story follow along)
Domo
You know, I don’t have a problem with people expressing an opinion, even a negative one, but do it right, and be prepared to support your argument.
You are right, “Well the did it” is not an valid reason. I didn’t.
Come in here and talk smack, I am gonna come back at you with the facts at my disposal, and counter your argument.
So, I said that renewal numbers and trends would last until they didn’t, and that season lengths would stay the same until they changed.Is NBC heading towards a 13-ep short-season model? Very possibly. Should CHUCK’s writers work with an eye on getting that back 9 order? I say not: plan around a good self-contained 13 and see if that’s enough to come back for a fourth season.
“The funny thing is, I would normally have been happy for you, if you hadn’t been so eager to rain on our parade.”
So don’t be spiteful and be happy for the chuckers/chucksters/whatever.
To be fair, I’m sure almost everyone would rather other shows fail if it would help their favorite show out. It’s just that some were very vocal at that time since they were worried about their show. Southland’s numbers were only good for 2 weeks and they started dropping fast. And even funnier, guess what! The people hoping that Southland would fail actually had no effect on the show at all! The show is actually failing all by itself. How about that!
It’s good that both Chuck and Southland could be renewed. That they both might be on a Friday well that might not.
Hey TSCC fans (and Firefly fans)
What do you think of the idea of Summer Glau coming on for a 2 or 3 episode arc as a NSA Navy officer, working with Casey?
I think the important thing is to focus on the great news that we have waited so long to hear: Chuck has been renewed! Ya…hoo! I was so glad to be able to break this happy news to my daughters! This show brings us joy like no other show on television right now. It’s vastly entertaining and provides us with several laugh-out-loud moments in each and every episode. We don’t really watch a lot of episodic TV, and this is the only one that all of us watch as a family. We would have hated to lose it. We’re happy for the 13 episodes and hopeful for more.
Thanks to Robert, thanks to Bill, thanks to Nick C. and all the other insightful and entertaining posters on this site! You’ve made the “Chuck” watch an absolute blast!
(Say, does anyone think that the “Fifteen Days of Chuck” could be adapted into a great motion picture. Of course, the question on everyone’s lips: Who would play Robert? And Bill? And Julia? And Nick C.?)
TVScriptDude is reporting that the Gossip Girl spinoff is definitely a go (he’s the only one saying this though), and I wonder if the decision for that had anything to do with Chuck being renewed? I would have thought that they would have been MORE likely to go for that show if Chuck had been canceled, not picked up. How is JS going to juggle three shows and be able to do them all justice?
FrankJ, David, Antonio A
Thanks for that info, never knew it unfolded like that.
If you’re not a Nielsen family, what you watch doesn’t matter one tiny bit when it comes to what gets renewed and what doesn’t. That being the case, if you like Chuck, I would suggest that you watch the episodes on NBC.com each week. I’m sure they can track what is being watched on their own website, and they’ll be making some money from the advertisers on there. That’s the problem I see with network television in the future – so many people DVR their shows and skip the commercials and advertisers know that.
Considering some of the comments between Southland and Chuck fans, think of the irony if Southland now needs Chuck to act as a lead in and if Chuck needs (albeit possibly to a lessor extent) Southland to attract viewers to NBC if both really end up on Friday night.
More Chuck is fantastic!!! But if the Friday night time slot is accurate, I guess we’ll be looking at the last season. The “Friday Night Death Slot” is part of television legend. Browse the wiki entry for that and you get an interesting listing of shows that were successful before being moved to Friday.
How can the show be too expensive with the amount of product placement?
BT,
If Chuck and SL both end up on Friday then it’ll be SL needing the lead in support from Chuck. Chuck will lead off the night with no substantial support. Chuck doesnt depend on SL for anything in that scenario.
David said “Hey TSCC fans (and Firefly fans)
What do you think of the idea of Summer Glau coming on for a 2 or 3 episode arc as a NSA Navy officer, working with Casey?”
That would be awesome to have her on the show. But I would reprise her role as River and have her fight Kung Fu Chuck. JK about that part, but wouldn’t it be a cool fight?
A video to celebrate Chuck.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcuRqZUo2yg
Yay Chuck!!
They’re not gonna put it on Fridays, and since they could write some time into taking things back to the buy more, rarer appearences by Anna and Big Mike will hardly be the end of the world. My concern in the cutbacks in writing staff…I’m not sure how many there are but they’re already prone to ef-ups in the scripting as it is. So long as Ali Adler and Zev Borow stick around I’m not too worried.
YES! It was worth the wait! This is so wonderful. I think Agent Walker and Colonel Casey might be pleased with the campaigners since they did their bit to save Chuck…
Viva la Chuck!
How do know they’re not going to put it on fridays Scott R.
Sorry if someone asked this in the comments already, but I wasn’t able to read through all of them yet. I was just wondering when we’ll most likely find out about whether the back nine episodes are picked up. Is that something the network has to decide by a certain point in the season?
Also, Nick C. are you still thinking that Chuck would need to pull a consistent 2.0 on Fridays to qualify for the back nine? And how well would it have to do to earn another season? If Chuck does go to Friday (and stays there; I wouldn’t be shocked to see it moved into the slot of a new show that fails) I’m pretty much resigning myself to the third season being the show’s last, but I’m really glad we got another season. The passion of the fans has been great to see, and I’m very happy for everyone involved with Chuck that it was renewed. Viva Chuck!
P.S. To people that answer my questions, do you think you could put my name in your answer. That way I can just search for my name and find the responses. I’m pretty pressed for time at the moment, hence not being able to read all the comments. But again, great news and this is a happy day!
YEEEEAAAAHHHH!!! HURRAY!!!!
what excellent news throughout the weekend!! Glad we finally have Chuck renewed! Now I can happily read all the Charah fanfics and hope for more development next september!
CHUCK ME!! and thanks for the 15 days of Chuck, it was great (if suspensful)!
Renewal down (YAY!!!) Now lets prey for a miracle and it gets the Wednesday 8PM time slot!!!! I don’t think Friday’s would kill it, but it’s not going to help it any.
MrsSerega, this is not meant to offend at all but I don’t get fanfics. It’s like drinking RC Cola instead of Coke or Pepsi. Eating veggieburgers instead of steak. Or like, watching Heroes instead of Chuck..ooops, did I just say that last part?
But enjoy the fanfics MrsS! I just always wondered about those who read fanfics.
There is no point continuing the show if there are going to severe budget cuts.
John, by that logic I guess most other network shows shouldn’t continue. Everyone’s getting budget cuts, not just Chuck.
Wow! Finally NBC execs came out of their senses. I know others may agree to disagree, everyone has favorites. I’m a huge Chuck fan, at first I was really down when Southland had it’s numbers on it’s first 2 episode. It was really high for NBC, what I didn’t like was the rush to renew it just based on the fact that it premiered well. The thing was when Southland premiered they were off against repeats of Private Practice and other repeats from other networks. When Private came back, Southland’s ratings started to slip and then came the renewal news. It was pretty too early. They could have at least announce it together with Chuck’s renewal. I was always sure that Southland wouldn’t tank Chuck’s renewal chances, I was even more concern on pilot to be picked up.
Why is there a great fan support for show like Chuck? Easy, it’s FULLY LOADED show. Fans of Chuck doesn’t need super powers to appreciate special effects Chuck has the intersect, Chuck doesn’t need robots for action Chuck has Yvonne Strahovski’s action sequences, not to mention Adam and even the little Chuck surprise at finale, Chuck doesn’t need to be a medical drama to be a tearjerker, Chuck has Ellie and Sarah to fill the drama, Chuck fans doesn’t need another reality dance show and singing competition to be entertained, Chuck has Jeffster, Chuck doesn’t need an uptight physicist (btw I love this show as well) or a womanizer to be funny, Chuck has, well, Chuck and everyone. What I’m saying is if you want to be entertained, if you want to have a good laugh, a little drama and poured with action and a squeeze of romance. Then Chuck is for you. The cast is perfect for every part and chemistry wise this show had chemistry oozing off and on screen, Zac and Yvonne, Yvonne and Adam, Adam and Zaz, Zac and Josh, you can almost pair up everyone with each other and still love them on screen, it’s even a surprise that every other guest on the show is pretty much a fit to everyone else.
Everyone else has different taste in shows. We may like Chuck, some may hate it. At the end of the day you;ll realize none of it mattered because you would still like the show you like, and we would still like Chuck unless you’ll try watching Chuck and as Chuck himself said ” Prepare… to be HEARTWARMED…”
Anyways it’s been a stressful couple of months, I got to celebrate and spread the love for CHUCK…
Thanks TVBTN you’ve been really great to the show and fans it’s time to rally for the ratings and the back nine…
I am not a Chuck fan, and I am not a Chuck hater either. It’s totally not on my radar, but I’m happy the fans are happy.
HOWEVER:
Remember the “Jericho” experience. That’s all I’m saying.
From past experience, “bubble” shows that get a second chance at the last minute usually do not boost their ratings significantly. NBC will give Chuck its small half-season 13 episode order, and then cancel it again. But then at least NBC can then say that they “listened” to the audience and tried to give it a second chance.
Enjoy Chuck now and hope that the network gives the show a chance to wrap up its storylines because it WILL get cancelled eventually.
Again, remeber Jericho. That’s all I’m saying.
This is the best news I’ve heard in months! YES!!!!!!!!
Susan-
im gonna say what a lot of us are thinking about right now. stfu and gtfo.
youhouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu, enfin!!!!!!!!! Vive Chuck!!!!
You beauty! Fan from the UK here. I’ve been AMAZED how you all in the states have got behind the campaign to save Chuck…and WOW it seems to have made THE difference between the axe and renewal. From all of us this side of the pond to all of you…Thanks! You’re AWESOME.
Alan, Jericho died because it failed to deliver, was rushed and therefore never really given a chance, if CBS had gotten behind it more I think they could have pulled it off. Chuck however survived the strike and went on to a great second season and quite frankly the finale was one of the best damn hours of TV ever. Chuck was never in danger, the fan campaign had a big impact on hype and solidified its return, but the bottom line was key to NBC, cutting costs, Leno and the schedule it makes sense to keep chuck in, and the bar for Friday is low as is the overall ad take. So the hype easily made chuck a winner, advertisers love hype. Now its up to the creative team to deliver a stunning 3rd season and the back 9 will be a lock. And I’ll keep saying it, there will be a 4th season. If mediocre shows like Bones, House, medium, Greys Anatomy, Ghost Boobies and a few others can last for years n years, Chuck will find its place, I mean come on even Dollhouse got renewed and that was Mediocre with a capitol M. I’m just saying…
Finally WOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO , now i will be really happy for a while
CHUCK ME!!!!
Anyone who thinks that they will get rid of Ellie and Awesome are crazy. Chuck’s family is way too important to leave, especially with Awesome now being trusted with a secret of Chuck’s.
Locks: Casey, Sarah, Ellie, Awesome, Big Mike, Jeff, Lester
Gone: Emmit, Anna
Maybe: General Beckman (since Casey was promoted), either cut or have her episodes reduced
I could also see with Morgan going to Hawaii with Anna that they have a fight or she meets someone new there and we won’t see her until later in the season, with Morgan depressed in between that she is gone.
Hooray for Chuck’s renewal! Can’t wait to see how they manage the cast/writing and storyline changes.
I swear to god if I had to endure another day of this waiting crap I would have snapped. It’s awesome that it happened, but was immediately followed by “what the hell? They won’t know if it’s the end so how’re they gonna wrap it in 13 measly episodes?!”. It’ll be picked up for the 9 I think. By the way, it may sound stupid but I (like some of you apparently) know good tv. It’s sad but i’ve watched too much not too. I’ve gotten dozens of people I know hooked on multiple shows in the past-including CHUCK. Therefore, for those who think it sucks-get some taste. It’s just good tv period, most everyone that I know who’s seen it is in love with it. For people like that susan chick, I don’t normally care what the hell you watch as long as you leave mine alone. Seriously tho you get challenged on what shows you like and you spit out an easy “Mad Men” anyone could say that and look like they know good TV-awards help but don’t mean everything. Anyway it’s like 5:45am and I can’t sleep so this is a rambling load of crap. But i’m still right. GO CHUCK!!!!!!!!
Chuck is a fun show… and I’m very pleased it was renewed… unfortunately, many people just don’t understand it. Frankly, the first 4-6 episodes bothered me… and maybe countless others… but then I saw what they were doing… and suddenly I could both enjoy and appreciate it. (While I’m not saying there really similar, Special Unit 2 and Chuck both took some getting used to – with SU2, it just clicked one day – I got it and suddenly I appreciated the show and could watch and enjoy it… in that respect alone Chuck was similar for me… only quicker.
Anyone who thinks the show has a strong grip on reality should seek professional help – but I don’t… I see it as a FUN, ENTERTAINING, and CREATIVE program that shows heart. Not reality.
I saw a comment regarding Knight Rider… yes, I watched it… even enjoyed it… but no contest for me… Chuck is the better show. Yes, KR was getting better… and at the same time, basically, returning to the formula it used in the 1980s (which was better than the one they started with). BUT, it was not must see TV.
Jericho was a good show… and it did take time to get started…
Frankly, many shows that start out like this would seem better suited to shift TO cable – like the syphilis channel (currently Sci-Fi, soon to be SyFy). I can’t speak about production costs – I’m just not THAT into the whole TV thing to research that kind of info – but with all the computer generated stuff nowadays, and some previously stellar programs with considerable effects and casts (such as Star Trek: TNG and DS9, Stargate, Farscape, and others), I don’t see why these production costs must be so high that a cable network couldn’t afford them. I realize in some cases (maybe most) they are, but I don’t understand why they must be unless they have MAJOR established actors.
But in any case – Sci-Fi is fun to me… and Chuck qualifies… it technology Sci-Fi, but Sci-Fi nonetheless. It’s fun, exciting, and I think those who aren’t jocks (and never have been) can probably identify with at least one character there… I know I can… can I can also identify other characters who match up with some of the Buy More crew and my friends. (Heck, the jocks can even identify with Awesome or Casey, at least for some).
So I’ll shut up now… as many of you are probably hoping…
YES YES YES!!! I FREAKIN LOVE CHUCK!!! NOW LETS KEEP UP THE MOMENTUM AND THE CAMPAIGN SO WE CAN GET A FULL SEASON AND A SEASON 4!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wooooo! Awesome!
Thanks NBC!
JERICHO was ruined by 2nd season writers which drove away millions of Season 1 fans; it went from conservative leaning show to a liberal anti-Iraq war show. Plus it simply lost the flavor it has when all of a sudden the lights came back on and it degenerated into a low rent version of 24 with its US government conspiracy where it turned out US goverment officials (resembling Bush and Cheney) blew up Americas cities. It was too much for alot of people to take. No chance of that happening with Chuck.
With Chuck, alot depends on whether or not the show is gutted to the point many current fans quit watching. And if its on Friday Nights up against Ghost Whisperer, it may end up like TSCC. If Chuck gains viewers (where ever it ends up) then it will get the back 9. If not it over after 13 episodes – unless it really tanks in which case it might end up like KINGS.
Dont watch Chuck, but its better than all the “reality” show garbage on TV these days.
Not a Chuck fan or hater here either. Actually, since I live in France, I didn’t really get the occasion to watch Chuck yet.
That said, congratulations on the renewal.
By reading occasionaly, I was kinda (positively) impressed of the fan support. However, what striked me while quickly browsing through the comments is how some people (even if I guess they’re a minority) have to bash shows Chuck is paired with (Heroes), aren’t in the same timeslot (Medium among others) or on other networks (lol) while I thought their fates weren’t that much related. That’s probably what creates haters more than people who don’t like the show itself.
As an example, Heroes is an obvious target but I still can’t get why some people watch it just to bash it (unless it’s their hobby or they have nothing else to do – which would be sad). And while I like Heroes, my guess is that it will be their last season, because no matter how good it is, ratings will hardly go up. However, since NBC is trying to kill it by fireing the wrong people (Beeman and Arkush) while half of the writers would be a better (and obvious) choice, it’s time for them to go out on a good note (Fuller!).
And unfortunately quality obvisouly isn’t the thing that brings viewers, which is the real problem. However, since I’m giving up House and Desperate Housewivse (the 2 only “massively” watched shows I watch) because I’m horribly disapointed by their actual seasons, that’ll free me time and I’ll find a way to watch Chuck, or at least give it a shot.
Cheers
Chuck, Better off Ted and Bones! My sad little life is complete
@Bad Robot!, wow, it’s been a while since I saw the Soylent3 Bush-bot “I don’t like Jericho Season 2 because it’s too much like liberal Hollywood now” ranting
. Thanks for reminding me of the great days on the Jericho message board! Your personal opinion of the Season 2 plot lines is understandable, but I think the story line was only a small factor in the overall reasons why Jericho’s return did not last. Wait time was a factor (months between seasons). Shortened season of only 7 episodes was a factor; many characters were streamlined or eliminated when this happened, and story was rushed. Budget cuts were another quality factor. You can say “lead in doesn’t matter” all you want, and I’ll disagree when abysmally rated BIG BROTHER is the lead-in of record 
. Jericho managed about 6MM total viewers in Season 2 at least in part because BIG BROTHER never topped that mark in the 9 p.m. hour.
One factor that does relate to CHUCK, though, is the “we’re renewed, so the campaigning is done” factor. CHUCK fans, please don’t get lackadaisical now that renewal is imminent. Keep spreading the love of the show, keep up the chatter, and don’t let the timeslot (Friday or not) get you too bummed out. Go Chuck go!
I just realized that the show is renewed while the two leads are out of the country. I wonder if any of the rest of the cast will be at Upfronts tomorrow.
Great. I hope now, the flood of chuck articles will end because honestly we’re getting sick of it
I guess this means I’ll have to give into Jimmy McAwesome’s prodding and see if the show is any good.
Leno is a hack, and the fact that he has 5 hours of primetime veiwing space commited soley to his humorless and souless act speaks volumes for the current state of NBC. I watch 3 shows on this network, Chuck, Heroes, and Friday Night Lights. I believe Chuck has the biggest upside of any show currently on NBC and they need to do better than a 13 episode season burried on Friday nights. Have the lessons of Seinfeld been forgotten so soon. A show like Chuck will bare fruit if it is cultivated properly but it appears that NBC is too shortsighted to see the potential.
ALL RIGHT!! Now I can rest a little easier, yet continue to shower love on my first-season DVD set. (Second-season boxset, please!) This means I can continue my weekly Casey-love hour (Adam Baldwin = <3) even if it might not be on Mondays to push me through the week. Besides, I can always watch my Firefly boxset on Mondays, and Chuck on Fridays, and get Adam twice a week. So happy!
Good new for us Chuck fans! It took NBC almost the whole time to renew a solid show for the network. Robert, can Chuck last if its put on Fridays, I think Weds. is a better fit? Why not move the Biggest Losers or SVU to Monday nights at 8pm? wait for a second those shows would come in 4th place also. Chuck became a escape goat for NBC, once those other shows bombed (Kings, P&R, and Southland). NBC had to take a hard look at Chuck and said this show stayed level all season on the toughest night on TV. MOVE THE SHOW TO WEDS AT 8PM ORDER THE OTHER 9 EPISODES AND WATCH THE RATING GO THROUGH THE ROOF.
TSCC has been officially cancelled
http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2009/05/bubble-show-upd.html
Chuck’s stable of hoe’s lives!!!!
In this case, I think less can be more… In other words, having less of the supporting characters and focusing more on the main characters should actually improve the show. It’s a dramedy, and the three main characters have a very good rapport. Yay for Chuck! Can’t wait for new eppies… I just hope they don’t stick Chuck on Friday nights.
Does anybody know how much Leno costs per episode (as I’m thinking about Chuck’s renewal chances). Is it that much cheaper than the budget-trimmed Chuck to produce?
Chuckfan,
I think Zac may be back or on his way back. He was on the USO Tour with Kal Penn, and Kal Penn is scheduled to speak at the University of Delaware tomorrow (May 19th).
Here are a few photos from the tour. I don’t exactly know where they are, but it’s obvious that Zac and the other celebs on the tour have their heads on straight. Love the photo of Zac giving candy to the kids.
http://zachary-levi.net/index.php/2009/05/17/more-pictures-from-the-uso-tour/
YES!!!
My day has been made!!! I hope it will do better on Fridays because there is not so much competition but at the same time it worries me because that target market is out on the town…but then this is Chuck…a lot of the audience are made up of guys like Jeff and Lester who probably aren’t on anyone’s hot list. I guess that remains to be seen.
By the way…the comment above was purely in jest because I work with a bunch of nerdy guys who worship the ground that is Buymorea and know at least one of them reads this blog.
After some 200 comments, this kind of feels pointless, but Yay for Chuck! (Best show on television).
I don’t think the budget cuts will ruin my enjoyment. It will still rock, I’m sure.
@ Jeff, yes, way way cheaper.
@Michalea, you state: “a lot of the audience are made up of guys like Jeff and Lester who probably aren’t on anyone’s hot list.” Well, since their wedding performance, Jeff and Lester are at the TOP of my hot list, LOL
! JEFFSTER!!!!
chuckfan says “I just realized that the show is renewed while the two leads are out of the country. I wonder if any of the rest of the cast will be at Upfronts tomorrow.”
I was thinking the same thing. But like Diane, I think Zac will make it back. Yvonne, on the other hand, is currently working on 3 projects at home and one of them won’t be done until mid-June (I think).
oh and my guess as to Chuck’s budget would be $2-$3million, trying to get it down under $2million.
Thanks, Cindy, for the info about Yvonne.
I wonder when they’ll start filming. I would think they’ll want some clips in time for Comic Con, which is July 23-26 in San Diego.
Any word on what night Chuck will air? Im hoping for Wednesday, but Friday might mean less compitition and more chances for more episodes.
What other projects is Yvonne working on besides the “love you” film?
Any links?
As far as budget, I heard from Nick C here that the budget is a little less than 2 million but will become a lot closer to 1 million this season per episode which is getting close to bigger cable tv budgets…
EVERY show is getting less budget. IMO Chuck is a show that won’t need to suffer due to the budget constraints if they focus more on the strengths of the show and less on explosions and helicopters.
THANK YOU NBC!!!!!!!
Budget cuts won’t hurt too much. The show is mostly dialogue and character driven. Keep up the writing and the show will still do well
YAY on Chuck’s renewal!!! Thank you NBC and Chuck fans especially on the successful campaign efforts. (There’s still work to be done over the summer to attract new viewers though.)
A special THANKS goes out to TV BY THE NUMBERS for supporting the show Chuck!
Where is Nick C when we need him?
I am sure that he has some additional details that he could share about the renewal.
From the Fox schedule, Rescued fan favorite “Dollhouse” returns on Fridays, but with a modest lead in from new comedy “Brothers” and utility player “Til Death” that seem unlikely to reverse its ratings woes.
CBS will probably stay the same and ABC, lol, well whatever they do looks good for Chuckles on Fri 8pm. I’d say its probably the best slot and early enough to get the peeps before partys.
Does anyone on this board know if there will be some sort of live feed of NBC’s final upfront announcement, or are they just doing the Night of Comedy tomorrow?
Looking at Fox’s sked with them putting on another season within a season of SYTYCD (can’t you tell that fox wants to keep it’s Wednesday domination
) I think Friday at 8pm will be the best bet now (seriously against til’ death and GW) plus we can try to crossover the BBT (which I am a fan of) fans too (cuz as you know, we don’t go out on fridays 
)
dave: Yvonne has been confirmed to join into two other films in Down Under: http://www.strahotski.com/2009/05/18/more-chuck-more-movies-more-yvonne/
At last! The Truth has spoken! Chuck is the perfect show, rock on.
Susan! Why the hell d u hate Chuck! Somethin is definitely wrong with u
Looking at Fox’s schedule I can see Chuck on Fridays. Since reality has taken over the TV.
MONDAY
8:00-9:00 PM HOUSE
9:00-10:00 PM LIE TO ME
TUESDAY
8:00-10:00 PM SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE Performance Show
WEDNESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE Results Show
9:00-10:00 PM GLEE
THURSDAY
8:00-9:00 PM BONES
9:00-10:00 PM FRINGE
FRIDAY
8:00-8:30 PM BROTHERS
8:30-9:00 PM ‘TIL DEATH
9:00-10:00 PM DOLLHOUSE
I hope they don’t take the Buy More away because that alone probably is $$$
yay chuck!!!!!!!!!!
David and Rob: Chuck vs. The Terminator! LOL! I’d like to see Summer come on as another villainess and kick Casey’s butt, then get defeated by new “Kung Fu Chuck” – or HEY! Better yet! CAT FIGHT! Summer vs Yvonne!
The ratings would go through the roof for that episode!
Can I write ‘em or can I write ‘em!
“Susan: What a pity. NBC did themselves and their viewers a disservice, picking up such a boring, non-creative and redundant hour of television.
Oh, well. I have no doubt the show will be canceled once the 13 eps are up, hopefully even sooner.”
What a pity. Your life is so sad and pointless that you have nothing better to do than to waste it writing something so hateful and venomous. Perhaps you were unloved as a child. Adopted and raised by depressed circus clowns. Get professional help. You need it.
Diane I remeber zach said in that video from watch with kristin where he said the renewal decision would delayed by a week or two near the end he mentioned that they start filming again in july.
Well Chuck fans should fight for more episodes… Chuck vs. +9
Just get more people to watch, hopefully NBC can do better promotions…
NBC should re-run the original promotions with Chuck and Sarah. They were fantastic, especially the one where Sarah slaps Chuck twice. . .
Thanks, Lopan!
I hope the cast does go to Comic Con, with or without clips from Season 3. I am unable to go to San Diego myself (and I’m not at all a comic geek…just a Chuck geek), but the Comic Con videos always wind up on YouTube. I’m sure the cast will be super-effusive in their gratitude for their fan support. Also, I’m sure they’re happy with NBC. I remember reading a quote from Adam Baldwin saying that NBC had been good to them, so hopefully the relationship will be a plus when the time comes to make a decision to order more episodes for Season 3 and/or Season 4.
Summer Vs Yvonne ….mmmmm , but impossible beacuse it would a rated X episodes
SO happy to hear that ‘CHUCK’ is renewed for a third season! Hooray!!!!
I agree, Diane. I’ve never been to Comic Con and it’s unlikely that I’ll go this year, but I’ve seen the clips from last year and the cast looked like they were having so much fun.
Hey, atleast its renewed. It seems like Chuck will becdome the new Friday Night Lights in terms of episode order and scheduling (of course without DirecTv).
If Chuck’s second half hour is up against Til Death, ratings will definately improve…that show is such a joke I don’t even know why Fox insists on keeping it!
Flounder says:
NBC should re-run the original promotions with Chuck and Sarah. They were fantastic, especially the one where Sarah slaps Chuck twice. . .
Check out the promo for UK Virgin1 promo for Chuck Season 2, NBC should have used more like this:
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=195150605295
TB hilarious promo!!!
Where is a link of that promo where Sarah slaps Chuck twice? I’d like to see it. Youtube?
que ótima noticia, nós aqui do Brasil estamos muito feliz de saber que Chuck foi renovada, mas é uma pena que a próxima temporada tenha apenas 13 episódios… mas mesmo assim, essa foi noticia foi muito boa!!!….
abraços a todos os norte-americanos….
Imkeh,
I will look for it and post it, but yest I found it on YouTube. Sarah is training Chuck in Kung Fu (how ironic) and he gets cocky. . . very funny.
imkeh here is the promo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89Ye6dLzp4o
Gentlemen (and ladies): We have a KILL SCREEN! Viva Chuck!
The UK promo is awsome
ohhhh Chuck me!!!
I couldn’t of gotten a better birthday present than this! Thanks NBC! Chuck is the man!!!
I was checking out the picture of Zac Levi on his USO tour and he is wearing a Nerd Herd hat… Awesome
http://zachary-levi.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/08.jpg
Perfet promo for season 3. Come on NBC this is what you need to draw viewers in.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffb_5e7enNA
Man that Virgin1 promo just disgraces the NBC promos.
Agree
Thanks for the links people. I love that Zach is wearing a nerd herd hat. He has said though on interviews that he’s basically playing himself on TV. That really is his personality.
Yeah!!! I have seriously been worried! Thank you!
I really want the new Nerd Herd hat. Wonder when it will go on sale
Budget cuts/Buy More
I’ve seen a lot of people talking about how the Buy More would be an easy cut to save money. That may be true, but consider this: Chuck is a geek with a secret identity as a spy, right? And to have a secret, you’ve got to have people you’re keeping it from. Without the Buy More and with Morgan possibly (probably?) heading off to sunny Hawaii, pretty much the only person in the universe that doesn’t know the secret is his sister.
Also, I kind of liked how much interaction Chuck had with the Buy More folks in the first season and the first half of the second. Personally, I’d prefer to go back the other direction and have more of Chuck actually IN the Buy More and being part of what’s happening there. It gave a nice contrast to the save the world stuff.
So Susan, your exciting hour of TV is watching Survivor or one of the other crappy non-reality reality shows?
CHUCK! CHUCK! CHUCK!
This is such freaking awesome news! One day Chuck is going to take over the world and this site is going to be renamed ChuckByTheNumbers.com
Lol.
Can’t wait for season 3!
I think Susan has taken her beating and is long gone
chuck is a show that is fun, smart ,and sexy I hope they will see ratings go up. i am telling all I know to check it out. Most do and find they get hooked if everyone hooks up 2 new people we might help with ratings an save a show that make tv worth watching.
heroes>Chuck …
Heroes could have used the cuts, maybe they’d actually finish an interesting story by reducing episodes and removing some of the bloated cast. At least they reduced the number of storylines a bit by the end of this season but too little, too late. This was Heroes last season for me, it’s not the show it started out as and has grown boring. I just don’t care about the characters on Heroes anymore. Almost all of them are just annoying at this point.
Even Lost moving forward, backward and side to side has an easier story to follow and has more excitement.
Here’s to Chuck surviving even with NBC attempting to condemn it with the conditions.
Ugh, I can’t get that Dave Mason song out of my head.
Congrats on Chuck getting renewed. Thirteen episodes are better than having none.
if chuck moves to friday than there’s nothing that would make me excited about monday… but i will look forward to friday like everybody else… but then on saturday i’ll be sad becouse ther’s whole week for new episode… ehh… damn you chuck!!!
Where is our 15th day of Chuck Robert? We have earned it!
Yeah, Chuck renewed!
To the haters like Susan (who probably watches GARBAGE like “Survivor”) – swallow hard! Too bad you can’t appreciate quality wholesome TV.
Ditto to JET.
WOOOO!!! Too bad it’s most likely going to air on Fridays! I’m about to become a neilsen viewer and Friday’s are the only days I can’t watch it!! Just my luck!!!!! I’m glad it’s renewed, but now chuck fans we need to unite and recruit some chuck fans!!!!
Dustin:
Day 15 has been up for a while. Check out the cool photo with the post!
Way to go CHUCK fans!!!!!! 13 is better than 0.
By the way, can anyone shed some light on a question I have:
How do NBC’s “problems” now compare to when they struggled in the late 70’s?
It’s probably like comparing apples to oranges because of cable, internet, etc., but I was just curious about it. Thanks!
JET, Heroes is getting budget cut too. It had at mid season, and in continues to. And Frankly, it can’t be bad for the quality of the show. I don’t know who thought that a pyrotechnic festival would satisfy the audience but it was dumb. S2 wasn’t as good as S1, but it was still good, even through the slow pace. Now that I have seen the whole season, I realize the mess the first half of S3 was, and how they even managed to neglect everything that happened in S2 (which was way better than V3 in my opinion) for no reason and with no real consequences.
Word on what you said about the characters. They pretty much killed most of my favourites characters (which were recurring mostly, and that can’t be good for their main characters characterisation). Can’t say I don’t agree with the “boring” aspect of others…
And for those who watch, they’ll understand why I say that the last 3 episodes can’t be good for the future ratings (the probably-move at 8PM against House/BBT-HIMYM will be really interesting to see too).
As far as I know, on top of the CGI restrictions, they fired 1 writer and 2 producer/director (2 of the best they had). I still don’t get why half of the writers aren’t the obvious target… THAT would help the show (opposite to firing talented people). I don’t know how far the other restrictions go though.
I can’t compare to Lost, because I stopped watching 2 years ago and couldn’t catch up yet, but I personnaly never had a problem following the different storylines on Heroes. And from what I’m told, Lost is way more complex (but makes more sense). My point is that if people can’t follow a simple show (Heroes), I get why Lost lost viewers that probably tuned to “turn-off-your-brain” programs (I’m looking at reality shows here) which is kinda a shame for Lost, if it got better like the word is spreading.
And don’t get me wrong, I’m a Heroes fan who will watch S4. That’s to say how much work has to be done if they wanna end on a good note (I still think it will be their last season even if it’s great). NBC is doing a great job at digging it’s grave, that can’t really be denied.
Chris says: “Budget cuts won’t hurt too much. The show is mostly dialogue and character driven. Keep up the writing and the show will still do well”
The things is that the budget cuts are resulting in two staff writers getting axed. Just saying.
If Chuck is on Fridays at 8 (which I’m pretty positive will be the case, since I don’t think they’d be so aggressive with the budget cuts otherwise) Chuck is going to be up against Ghost Whisperer, Wife Swap, and Brothers/Til Death. Besides Ghost Whisperer that is some weak-ass competition. If it can’t place second in that timeslot it deserves to be cancelled. Chuck fans won’t be able to blame the competition if the show doesn’t succeed.
The thing about a Friday night move is that the network’s basically saying “this is your last chance.” If Chuck does pretty well in that slot (by Friday night standards anyway), with its reduced budget and all, it’ll be golden for another season or two. If not, it will be cancelled after the 13 episodes air.
OK, so I’m soooooo basking in the Chuck renewal news right now, but this is where us Chuck fans have to put it into overdrive. We’ve gotta recruit more Chuck viewers for the fall, so that the ratings go up, and we get a Season 4! Think of it as say…. an American presidential campaign. We’ve gotta campaign early to get a chance at being elected. Also, we want a full 22 episode season!
I can’t wait for Season 3!!!!!!!!!!
Nessa if it gets put on Fridays you better recruit someone to watch it from your neilson box if you can’t!
Blake – I agree with you on the BuyMore stuff…I don’t think they’re going to be getting rid of the buy more. It’s become to engrained in the show. As you said he needs some people to keep his secrets from. Plus, the nerd herd thing has become such an integral part of the show. The only way they could do away with it all together would be to replace it with something else…which might defeat the budget cutting aspect of doing away with the BuyMore… I have faith in the writers though, so I’m sure whatever direction they go it will be thoroughly entertaining!
Nessa, I’m with Jenna BIG TIME on this one. If you’re a Nielsen viewer you cannot begin to imagine HOW MUCH YOU COUNT and HOW IMPORTANT YOU ARE to the survival of CHUCK. If you can’t watch on Friday night, get somebody to watch, or just turn on the TV when you’re not home and leave it running – or whatever it takes to register a “CHUCK” viewing on that precious Nielsen box of yours!! If I was in your position, I would be like that creepy little creature on Lord of the Rings holding onto the ring and saying “My Precious.” (Except it would be the Nielsen box)!!! We’re counting on you, sister! Don’t let us down!!
Rick I completely agree! The “my precious” thing got a little creepy…but I get your point! I would be watching Chuck on Friday nights live NO MATTER WHAT and I’d have Chuck viewing parties to make sure I got the most bang for my buck! LOL
Right on, Jenna! Are you anywhere near CHICAGOLAND?? The only person I know who would be “hosting” a viewing party in my area would be ME! – and that wouldn’t be easy to do in a church rectory! I’m happy to say that I have had a few friends over on CHUCK nights, but going to a BIG viewing party would be “AWESOME!” I wonder how people can get word out on that kind of stuff. Anyway – just a reminder to EVERYONE – Remember to write “thank you” letters to Ben Silverman and Angela Bromstad. If we pummelled them with “Save CHUCK” letters, we should be sure to show our gratitude by sending them just as many “Thank Yous!” Afterall, network execs. are people, too!
Nessa, please, please please just have your TV on NBC while Chuck is on even if you can’t watch it! You are too important. Please I’m begging you. I’ll donate to whatever charity you want!
Nessa: Jenna and Imkeh and I will come over and cut your lawn, rake your leaves, shovel your snow, wash your car, change your kids – if you have any – diapers (well, I’ll leave that one to Jenna and Imkeh, I’d do a lousy job) – WHATEVER YOU WANT. Just please in the name of all that is good and holy, don’t let a Nielsen box go to waste by NOT having it tuned into CHUCK. Please. Please. PLEEAAASSSEEE. If you’re anywhere near Chicagoland, I’LL come over and “house sit” for you and watch CHUCK. Heck, I’ll just tape it and watch it later and instead I’ll clean your house/apartment! How’s that for a deal?????
Love Chuck’s cast.
http://weblogs.redeyechicago.com/showpatrol/2009/05/vik-sahay-thanks-fans-for-saving-chuck.html
That’s a great interview Woohgobooga. I’d love to hear from the rest of the cast. Esp Casey, Zach and Yvonne.
Well glad to hear it’s coming back, but not happy to hear about the 13 episodes and budget cuts. Seems to me this is just NBC’s way of slowly killing the show without just outright canceling it and leading to riots from the fans in front of their offices. As I predicted the Chuck drama will never be over, and I only expect it to get worse at the end of next season when they will undoubtedly do this again. Warner Brother’s should have offered the show to the CW, but I guess 13 episodes and big cuts is worth it more than a chance of a better and longer life on another station. Frankly I’ve lost what little respect I had for NBC, and will probably stop watching everything they air expect Chuck. A station that quickly renews a tanking new show like Parks and Recreation, yet takes a month to decide on a show whose ratings have been stable all year proves NBC as nut jobs running things. Frankly I’m still of the opinon Chuck fans should have put all their energy into having Chuck moved to another network, staying at NBC only slightly prolongs the inevitable, and I think all this is, is NBC’s way of saving a little face and slowing chipping the show down. It’s not worth having the show around if NBC’s going to start sabotaging it.
Snipes Chuck has always been given an initial order of 13 with a back 9 option. You can’t count the show out. The only reason it was in jeopardy this year is due to Leno. I have faith that it will live on to see the back 9 and a 4th season.
Tommy, I thought they were originally given a full season for season 2, if I’m wrong and they were only given 13 then that makes me a little more hopeful, but still not a lot.
They were given 13 and ordered the other 9 before the season premiere I think
Well that’s good. But the massive budget cuts, loss of two writers, and limited screen time for some of the major supporting characters throws too big of a wrench in the gears to deny. Still seems to me NBC is trying to kill Chuck off slowly, they don’t seem to be making such large cuts to their other shows.
The Budget cuts shouldn’t be too noticeable considering the writers already setup a scenario where Chuck can leave the Buymore, and that alone can cut down on supporting cast. The loss of 2 writers worries me slightly but not enough to think that the show will tank due to it. Just make sure you watch it, and if there are any nielsen viewers make sure you all watch it live on whatever night it airs and DVR anything else that you may want to watch!
YES!!! This is the best show on T.V.!
For those arguing for the Buy More subplots to be retained, that stuff is easy to replace. There are three main leads on this show – everybody else is a supporting character and they can be shuffled almost at will without major ratings damage, in my opinion. Although you could say Elle and Awesome are “main leads” as well.
As for Chuck keeping secrets, that’s a concept that could be done away or simply altered to put him in a different set of circumstances. Remember, one of the subplots all season is Chuck growing into a different person and a different lifestyle than “just” a Nerd Herder at Buy More because of his development as a “spy”. If you want the character to experience character development – other than learning kung fu from the Intersect, which is just a “gimmick” – than you need to be prepared to see him make moves in that direction which would entail changing the importance of the Buy More in his life.
It doesn’t have to be radical right away. The Buy More set could be modified to be smaller, with scenes occasionally set there with a reduced cast for those scenes and the budget could easily be trimmed. Dump a couple of the ancillary Buy More characters. Then they just phase it out as part of the season 3 story arc.
G says
“So since Susan doesn’t worship Chuck she’s a “troll”?”
No, her condescending, spiteful and provocative attitude makes her a troll.
I didn’t particularly like TSCC, but I don’t start saying its a totally crappy show without value, because that would hurt people. The shows are fantasy, the feelings people have for them are real.
Jane
“h, please. Chuck fans invaded the Southland renewal thread wholesale and acted just like the trolls you accuse Susan of being It”
Perhaps some did, I did not. Others did not. And even if they it does not excuse her behavior.
Maybe they could make the Buy More set cheaper by, say, removing all the Sonys and replacing them with Vizios…
There was a “Yay, Dollhouse has been renewed” thread I read on one of the Whedon fan sites a few days ago, and the subject of budget cuts came up. And one humorous speculation comment was “Due to budget cuts, all episodes will now be made in 140 characters or less.”
Haha yeah
“Due to budget cuts, ten minutes of each episode of Chuck will be a close-up shot of a television showing The Jay Leno Show”
Due to budget cuts, the Buy More will become a Pay Less.
Due to budget cuts, the General’s video conferences will be held over an iPhone rather than a big screen TV.
Due to budget cuts, Big Mike will lose a hundred pounds.
Due to budget cuts, Fulcrum will become a golf pivot. Oh, never mind…
Tommy says:
May 18th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
“They were given 13 and ordered the other 9 before the season premiere I think”
Well, lets hope they do the same this time around. Although, the budget restrictaions might not let that happen.
I’ll agree that Chuck trolls invading most of the threads aren’t a majority, but it IS what comes out of the lot when you read. The fact that people are still talking about Susan’s post prooves it. I didn’t post before this topic but I quickly read some comments, and there were a lot of them (or maybe just the same people posting over and over again). That’s what bothered me in the “Save Chuck campaign” and could have hurt it’s credibility. People bashing other shows(some they obviously don’t watch included), got fastly old to read.
I’d say it’s too bad there’s noone to control the comments before their posted would help, but I admit that would be a LOT of work.
I’d love to see how much budget cuts there are for NBC’s shows. Except Chuck, we didn’t hear much official word yet. I know Heroes was getting it’s budget smashed since it’s half season, and continues to, but I didn’t read anything about the other shows (I didn’t dig around so I can’t really know though).
I don’t know how much it will hurt Chuck, since I didn’t get the occasion to watch it yet, but it does sound like NBC is slow-killing it. Sounds like a [let's cut the budget and if ratings go down then we have an excuse to cancel it].
.
They’re doing the same thing with Heroes (firing producers/directors, which were always a strengh of the show, while writers are still more than 15). While I don’t mind the budget cut (should be for the best concerning Heroes) or moving it at 8PM (if what was reported is right), it sounds like a [let's drasticly cut it's budget and hope it's ratings don't go down too much so it can bring audience to "insert-new-show's-name"].
Just a thought. And hopefully Chuck will proove them wrong, and show how stupid people at NBC are
Personally I don’t feel the Buy More is going anywhere. How many times was it used for product placement of Madden Football, Fable II, Call of Duty, City of Villains, etc. It is a treasure trove of money for the show. Buy More will stay, it is a already an established set, and it is a cash cow.
YAY FLIPPING YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i am gonna eat pancakes to celebrate.
I’m a little naive about the TV business, so perhaps someone more knowledgeable could help me with this question.
Now that Warner Bros. TV and NBC have agreed on a show budget, what is to stop Warner Bros. from backfilling that budget with a portion of the ancillary revenues that the show generates – DVD sales, streaming revenues, etc. Do those profits just flow to Time Warner’s bottom line, or can the show producers lay hands on that as well? I understand the show needs to be run like a business, but NBC’s license fee isn’t the only source of revenues for the show. I didn’t realize that NBC can also control the expense side as well. Thanks for your help.
drosejr: technically Warner Brothers could spend whatever it wanted on the show, but they can’t charge NBC more than NBC agreed to pay.
So that means Warner Brothers is doing the budget cutting? Warner Brothers is deciding (allegedly) to fire two writers and possibly eliminate a character? It makes sense that they would have to due to NBC driving a hard bargain. I just always thought that NBC was the “bad guy” making writers get fired etc. I guess they are, but only by extension…
Robert,
Thanks for that insight, it matches the hunch I had. So the ball really is in the court of Warner Bros. and the producers, to really decide what the show budget would be. Perhaps the leaks going around the Internet are convenient from a negotiating perspective with regards to salary negotiations with writers, the cast and crew. If they are smart, they wouldn’t skimp too much on the show quality and story, so as to set themselves up to get a Back 9 order and Season 4 renewal with a higher license fee next year.
I believe the cuts in the licensing fees were very real, so I suspect cuts to the show’s production budget will be real too. But there are theoretically a number of ways to absorb those cuts without skimping on quality.
Question: Who gets the Subway revenues, WB or NBC?
I’m just curious to know if they can recoup some of their budget via more product placement, though I suspect they’ve probably milked that cow for all its worth anyway.
Indeed, come to think of it, the Buy More has to come back next season if only for the fact that it probably pays for itself ten times over in product placement revenues. If it doesn’t, they’re doing it wrong.
Robert – after all the official network announcements are over and done with – and things start to “calm down” during the summer, could you post a list of all the shows that were canceled and renewed and what their ratings numbers were?? It would be interesting to see what shows were renewed on one network that actually had much worse numbers than shows that were cancelled on another network. For example, it would seem like a lot of the shows on NBC (including my favorite, CHUCK) that were renewed might have been cancelled if they had the same ratings numbers but were on Fox or CBS. Thanks. And THANKS AGAIN for all the CHUCK information. It helped A LOT during our 40 days of wandering in the desert of renewal/cancellation uncertainty!
wow that virgin 1 ad > all nbc promos put together
yay chuck!
Rick, do you read our renew/cancel indexes? If not, there will be an end of season tally for that via the index. Click on the “Renew/Cancel” index link on the far right of the white navigation bar above.
While I’m a fan of Chuck I have a feeling we’re going to see huge changes in store for the show from budget to production to storyline and so on. I definitely have a concern about it being banished to Friday as it’s never a good thing if that ends up being the resting place as we all know why shows typically get sent to Fri/Sat nights.
Yeah I totally agree djm. They need that kind of ad over here it’s sooooo much better.
I’m VERY happy that Chuck got the renewal. I think it’s a great show, one that has had my fiance and I laughing every Monday night (I evoked even MORE laughs and dirty looks from her when I said I wanted to hire “Jeffster” to play “Domo Arigato Mr. Roboto” at our own wedding!).
I just hope that if Chuck IS cancelled after this season, that NBC will at least do it justice like ABC let Life On Mars do – order the back 9 eps with the understanding that the series will be done, and let it finish on a good note. Don’t leave it with a cliffhanger ending like a lot of cancellations end up with.
Chuck had a possibility for a good ending at the end of season 2 unfortunately we didn’t see it and now it’s been pushed for a 3rd season. While I’m glad it’s renewed we’ll see what happens with that as I have reservations about it moving to Fridays. Networks don’t normally order the back 9 to give a proper ending they order it to fill their time slots. Life On Mars was ended towards the end which is why you see the somewhat rushed ending it had where they threw it all together in the last episode. A rushed ending however is better then no ending or a cliffhanger.
While I don’t appreciate Susan’s attitude, it is a bit frustrating for those of us non-Chuck fans that 85% of time on this website is spent talking and obsessing over Chuck.
Let’s face it, Chuck is a small, fairly low-rated show with a cult-following. But overall, there are lots of other TV shows to discuss. This website is a bit Chuck-obsessed to say the least which is frustrating.
susan f-you wat r u doing commenting on a site that is about chuck news wats wrong is there no news for ur crqppy shows and all u other chuck haters f-off jerks
Martin this site isn’t only about Chuck. While I like Chuck Alan’s right it’s but one show out of many that deserves respect. If you want people to respect your show then you should show others respect.
I just read that Chuck will be a mid season replacement. So this is NBC tactic for killing Chuck. They are going to kill Chuck in the same matter they killed Quantum Leap (another NBC show with a huge fan base). It took me awhile before I would allow myself to get caught up in a NBC show until Chuck came along. So during the next 8 months we need to keep Chuck in the public eye and hopefully we can Save Chuck from the same fate that killed Quantum Leap!
Haha Steve! Love the post in response to Susan. And Rick Holy, thank you for all your great posts regarding Susan’s ridiculous comments. I can not be happier that Chuck is being renewed, and my gratitude is never ending. I love Chuck, it’s my favorite show, and I would love to be kept updated on the new episodes in Season 3. Again, thanks for all you posts Rick, and Steve.
YAY!!!! I am so happy!!! NO show makes me smile the way Chuck does!!!!
I am worried though when they say they are going to cut some of the writers… while I LOVE the cast, it is the writing that really is the lifeblood of ANY good show, and this show imparticular… it is SO creative and I sit there just blown away by the creative crazy writing that is SO much fun and SO comic book meets real life….
Another thing that worries me… with just 13 episodes… I really REALLY want Chuck to have a GOOD conclusion… it would make me so sad if everything and everyone was left just hanging with no real conclusion or ending…a non-ending ending, and 13 episodes makes me scared that might happen…that would really suck.
But… I am so happy for 13 episodes and hopefully they will treat this show right, despite whatever changes are going on behind the scenes..
:D Yay Chuck!!! (And thank-you NBC!!!)
I couldn’t agree more Christi
Why not sell Chuck DVD’s inside of Subway’s stores???
Subway seems like a great sponsor and if they want to make this partnership as successful as possible then why not sell the DVD’s directly to their customers? It would be a great way to bring Chuck to the attention of new fans. Perhaps they might even create a promotion where purchasing the DVD entitles the buyer to one free footlong?
I know nothing of advertising, but it would seem to me that success builds on itself and the more successful Chuck is then the more people will think to go to Subway, or go more frequently if they were already customers.
oh that sounds like a great idea AO!!! they could make a lot of money
Rick-
Do you mean a complete Renew Cancel Index, like ALL the shows across all networks, ranked on one list? That would be cool!
Sharon, see this week’s Renew/Cancel post. The information is incomplete, but all the shows are there.
AO -
better to do a give away – a dvd sampler with one or two episodes on it
oh and poster of Sarah in the store, everywhere
squiggleslash, I believe they both get money from Subway. BS wouldn’t have been so happy about the deal if he wasn’t getting some.
Chuck is already available at local stores all around the world and on the internet at reduced prices. Unless their going to run a tie in where you get discounts on subs and stuff it’s kind of pointless to sell in Subway.
Remember when I said CHUCK would be back on Monday nights? I do.
There is unlikely to be a “back 9″ for “Chuck” if its first episode is not expected to air until March 1, 2010. It will have to double up for a couple of weeks to even air 13 episodes before the end of the season. It could be worse. It appears “Friday Night Light” fans will have to wait until late May 2010 for the next new episode (unless they subscribe to Direct TV!)
Although I am a big chuck fan…I do not forsee the changes as enjoyable ones, we can always hope tho.
Jack, now we all remember it
Rob R,
NBC are talking about running scripted shows through the summer now, so Chuck has a chance at more episodes. That’s from the mouth of Silverman!