Casting Call 04.16.09: Issue 96 - Chuck!

Posted by Jason Chamberlain on 04.16.2009

With just a few weeks left in the TV season, Jason Chamberlain puts out a Casting Call for viewers! In his new column, he tells everyone why they need to be watching "Chuck"!

I have bad luck, generally speaking. At least where TV shows are concerned.

See, shows that I grow to like (or especially love) never seem to be long for this world. Whether it's because my tastes are unique or simply too well developed to be matched by the great unwashed masses , it seems that many shows that I enjoy end up cancelled, cut off, and/or woefully unappreciated.

The list is long and unfortunate. Firefly. Wonderfalls. Kitchen Confidential. Father of the Pride. I'm not going to list anymore as I'm already getting misty eyed.

It's a list that's in danger of growing quite soon. The CW's "Reaper" seems to be dead, with its creators having left the network in advance of next season. The quirky and hilarious "Better Off Ted" is notching pitiful ratings. And Joss Whedon's return to television, "Dollhouse", is also failing to pull in big numbers (and can hardly be expected to in its Friday night death slot).

I'm writing today's column because there's another show that's dear to my heart that may join that list if more viewers don't come to their senses and tune in. So today I'm going to devote my column to all the reasons why you (if you're not already) need to start watching "Chuck". ASAP!

If you're not at all familiar with the show, here's a quick recap; Chuck is a normal dude working at an electronics super store who is enjoying an uneventful life until he wakes up one day with a messload of government secrets downloaded into his head. Suddenly he's surrounded by spies, some who want to protect him, some who want to kill him, and he's forced into the world of high stakes espionage. All this while trying to preserve some semblance of a normal life and keep his family and friends safe (and unaware).

Now that I've got that out of the way, here are a few reasons why you're missing out if you're not tuning into NBC on Mondays at 8.

It's funny

This show brings the funny better than most sitcoms. You've got characters like Chuck's best friend Morgan, his crazy and often creepy co workers Jeff and Lester, and the incredibly lazy store manager "Big Mike". In the same way that a movie like Empire Records glorified life at a record store, this show could make anybody want to work in retail, if only it was this fun. If the neighbourhood Best Buy had storage room battles, I'd be there! Even the spy action is often laced with laughs. If you think of a show like Alias, though it winked at the audience, it was more of an action show. Chuck is that show, but going right for those laughs.

It's got heart

In two seasons, the show has built up a number of characters the audience has grown to care about, Chuck himself being the most obvious one. We've come to care about his quest to get his normal life back, to find genuine love with Sarah and recently to be reunited with his father. In the same vein we've seen storylines masterfully woven to give us reasons to care about supporting characters like Sarah, Casey, Morgan and more. In the same way that Scrubs is funny but also deals with important issues, Chuck can tell a joke one minute and create drama and pathos the next.

Beautiful women

First off, you've got the stunning Yvonne Strahovski as Chuck's handler/fake (sort of) girlfriend Sarah. Aside from being able to kick ass, she also uses her incredible beauty to get closer to certain scuzzy criminals than her partner Casey or Chuck himself could hope to. We've also been treated to more than a few views of Sarah in revealing outfits, and like Jennifer Garner on Alias, this is a woman who can be beautiful whether she's dressed as a school girl, a yogurt pusher, a club goer or simply as a spy.

Then you've got the list of gorgeous actresses that have made guest appearances on the show. Rachel Bilson, Jordana Brewster and Tricia Helfer are just a few of those names, all of whom seem to end up romantically entangled with Chuck or at least in very close quarters with him. He's one lucky man.

Good looking dudes

The eye candy on this show isn't just for us guys. There's plenty of it for the girls that tune in too. Zachary Levi (Chuck himself) has proved pretty popular with the ladies, while guest stars like Matthew Bomer (Bryce Larkin) and Johnathan Cake (Agent Cole Barker) have done the same
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Strong women

Yes the women on the show are often used as eye candy, but that's far from their only role. Sarah specifically displays her smarts, her strength and her capability in protecting Chuck and her country in episode after episode. Like Buffy Summers or Sydney Bristow, Sarah is a female protagonist who is never, ever a damsel in distress. She very rarely needs saving, and is usually the one doing the saving. It's fair to say Chuck would be dead about ten times over if not for Sarah. Even Chuck's ex-girlfriend Jill, an evil doer with the rogue organization Fulcrum, is a badass, even if she's, you know... bad.

Great music

I always used to say that Alias weaved licensed music into the show better than any other series I had watched. Chuck is quickly making a play for that obscure but important title. Whether the scene is funny, romantic or dramatic, Chuck's producers always know the right song to choose to perfectly complement the scene. I've been turned on to bands like Frightened Rabbit, Band of Horses and Glasvegas because of tunes that have bene used on the show. And though I'm not a huge fan of Cake, I have to admit the use of their song "Short Skirt/Long Jacket" as the show's theme song is note perfect.

For these reasons and plenty more, Chuck is my favorite show on TV right now and is just plain fun to watch. The show is currently on the bubble for its third season, and I encourage absolutely everyone to give this show a chance. It's funny, action packed, heart felt, great to look at... it literally has it all!

Save Chuck!