I spend an awful lot of time armchair-quarterbacking 24 each Monday evening. Well, there's another show on that very same night that is also set in the world of espionage and filled with chill and thrills. That show is Chuck.
I've liked Chuck since day one. It debuted last year along with Reaper. Both concerned likable young men who worked at "big box" stores and had unwanted powers and duties thrust upon them. Chuck had the "Intersect" downloaded into his brain, a veritable database of evil. Sam on Reaper found out he's the son of Satan and has to capture souls who have escaped from hell.
But while Reaper has descended into the soul of the week story, and has the air of something just begging to be canceled, Chuck--in its second season--has grown and matured into a first rate "dramedy" with a great ensemble cast, interesting and effective stunt casting (Scott Bakula as Chuck's dad, Chevy Chase as a Steve Jobs-like computer tycoon) and an ongoing storyline that draws the viewer in. It's almost impossible to NOT like Chuck.
But last night's episode sure seemed like an ending. There's one more show this season (next Monday), in which we'll finally see the wedding of Chuck's sister, Ellie, and her fiance, Awesome. It may be the final show of season 2, it also may be the final show of the series. No one knows for sure if the show--which has never done great in the ratings--will have a third season. I'm guessing no, because NBC--in their INFINITE wisdom--is giving us 5 hours of Jay Leno each night in prime time, thus cutting down the amount of slots they would have for scripted--and/or reality--shows.
Chuck deserves a third season, and even though last night's episode would have been the perfect ending (Chuck gets the Intersect out of his head, the government off his back, and Chuck and Sarah walk off holding hands), we have one more show with the big wedding (actually, I hear it's TWO weddings...I'm guessing the other one is Morgan and Anna, but it would be very cool if it was Chuck and Sarah).
Together, Chuck and 24 provide the perfect night's TV viewing. I actually get excited over coming home to watch TV on Monday nights. Alas, that will run out in mid-May, when Chuck is gone, and 24 has run its course for the season. Then Monday night just becomes...Monday night.
Well...there's always Big Bang Theory reruns, I guess...
"Chuck versus the Idiots at NBC"
Posted by: Norman | April 22, 2009 at 03:52 PM