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« Chuck
Episode Recap: Series Premiere
If you didn’t watch the debut of Chuck, why not? This is one of the smartest, funniest shows of the new season. Couch potatoes and computer geeks rejoice: ou have been given a hero who doesn’t have perfect hair or rock-hard abs. Armed with a pocket protector and deadpan sarcasm, Chuck is an unassuming every-nerd (we all went to school with a guy like this) who finds himself in the ultimate geek fantasy: working with the government to thwart international spies and evildoers.
It was a great choice to open with Chuck’s uncomfortable birthday party. I could feel how out of place he was in his own home when his well-intentioned sister forced him to socialize with "real live women." The scene not only laughed at Chuck’s stereotypical geek behavior, but it laughed with him when he made the joke about working on his five-year plan and just needing to "pick a font."
The sudden cut to Chuck’s former college roommate, "Big Man on Campus" Bryce, who turns out to be a spy (and not an accountant as was amusingly pointed out on screen) made me feel like I was watching a James Bond movie. It was a real thrill for this Firefly fan to see Adam Baldwin show up as tough-guy Agent Casey. Think Jayne in a suit and not as subtle. I loved how he shot first and said, "Don’t move" after the fact. Chuck’s name blinking on Bryce’s handheld was a great way to tie the two together and explain what was happening. All this in under 10 minutes!
The scene where Chuck is hypnotized by Bryce’s image-heavy e-mail was a clever way to show what Bryce had stolen. I don’t know exactly how that was supposed to work, but it was the only leap of faith I needed to take for the show, so I went with it. I’ve watched stranger things, I admit, so this wasn’t too far of a stretch for me.
I was laughing out loud when Chuck and his annoying buddy Morgan went to work at Buy More as members of "The Nerd Herd." The obvious similarity to the real-world electronics chain was brilliant. I also loved the throwaway visual joke of the "Astro Diapers" display at the barely disguised warehouse shopping club called Large Mart.
Now, about that so-called CIA agent, Sarah. She must be the agency’s best operative, because she sure doesn’t look like a spy. She had me fooled at first when she showed up at the store and made a pass at Chuck. But it was a no-brainer later on to see she was the "ninja" trying to steal Chuck’s computer. How funny was that scene? With friends like Morgan, Chuck doesn’t need ninjas to take him down.
I should have felt sorry for Chuck when he went on the ultimate date from hell with Sarah, but I was laughing too hard at the great one-liners and the dance/battle with Casey’s goon squad. The car chase that capped off the evening was extremely well done. Not Matrix level, but that was some fancy driving!
In the end, Chuck saved the day, as only a nerd could: by using a virus-riddled porn site to disable the bomb’s computer. I guess Morgan has his uses after all. But I’d really hate to see him in a sidekick outfit.
A couple points worth mentioning include Chuck’s nickname for his sister’s boyfriend. Calling him Captain Awesome is, well, awesome. Also, suiting up for the date was fun. Chuck was so worried about his shirt button, but considering how the date ended, he should have been more concerned about bringing a clean set of undies.
There were just too many high points to mention here: What were some of your faves?
Find video from Chuck in our Online Video Guide.
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TVGuide Links:
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Sep 24, 2007 9:37 PM
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Wow, I have never been so sold on a show so quickly. Tonight's premiere was the most entertained I've been by a TV show in years. It had the perfect combination of humor, action, and heart. I'm so excited to watch this show progress this year.
I must admit, I did not see Chuck using the virus to defuse the bomb. I feel like I should have realized that's what he was going to do, but it was an awesome surprise, showing that the writers are actually scripting things for a reason. Awesome stuff and my favorite new show of the season.
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Sep 24, 2007 10:24 PM
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This is nothing but a VERY weak remake of Jake 2.0. All is has going for it is Admam Baldwin, and according to IMDB he's only in the first 3 episodes.
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Sep 24, 2007 10:27 PM
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Okay, this is a much cleverer show than Jake (which I liked). I've seen the pilot three times and I keep laughing every time I watch. Adam Baldwin is great, but the real draw is Chuck. I can't wait to watch how he tries to make sense of what's in his head and hold down his Nerd Herd job.
Thanks for the quick blog.
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Sep 24, 2007 10:57 PM
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so glad I decided to watch this! What a fun show!
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Sep 24, 2007 11:57 PM
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I really enjoyed this, yet throughout I was trying to decide who Chuck reminded me more of: Ed (Tom Cavanaugh), Ross (David Schwimmer) or JD (Zach Braff). He is sort of all of them rolled up into one JDRossed character!
Morgan kind of annoyed me. I hope he either gets fleshed out more himself or we see him interact in ways more than a "hee hee, I'm making a dumb kind of dorky kind of annoying obviously trying to be funny" nerd friend kind of way.
The first ten minutes were almost like a movie chase/spy/fight scene. Some great choreography to Bryce (not an accountant's) moves as he worked to get away after downloading all the info.
I'm hooked, I'll watch again next week!
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Sep 25, 2007 12:21 AM
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I enjoyed the pilot a lot, as did my dad. My mom on the other hand didn't like it that much. I don't think she was expecting all of the action in it. I'll definitely continue to watch it. It's cool to see Adam Baldwin in a show (I loved him as Jayne in Firefly). I found Chuck to be adorable and I thought Sarah was pretty cool (especially throwing those knives on the dance floor). I'll definitely be watching this from now on!
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Sep 25, 2007 12:39 AM
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Didn't plan to watch Chuck. I have too many things I'm trying to follow already. That being said, I sat down at 7:12 cst and tuned to NBC. Within five minutes I was in love and ready to reserve the first season DVD with Amazon. This show is funny, sly, silly and entertaining on so many levels. I want one of those fitted kelver vests. I bet they would hold in my flab better than any thing from Spanxs!
I'm from Minnesota the home of the prototypes for Buy More and Nerd Herd. I was laughing so hard at the spoofs and the employee chest bumping that I almost peed my pants. NBC has really created a must see block from 7-9 on Monday nights.
Personally, I have to say, if I could find a guy like Chuck I would happily date him. He makes nerds look good!
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Sep 25, 2007 12:51 AM
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Loved Chuck. Sorry, but the only thing it has in common with Jake 2.0 is a basic premise. Chuck is all that Jake was missing. And I love Christopher Gorham, but Jake never clicked the way Chuck did in it's first 10 minutes. Looking forward to many more great episodes.
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Sep 25, 2007 1:19 AM
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sorry, but Jake 2.0 has nothing on Chuck. Jake was mildly entertaining and passable for a UPN show, while Chuck was engaging with a lead character you immediately care about, funny dialogue, funny filming (loved the closeup, p.o.v. shots, especially of the girl at the party), interesting fight choreography, suspense, Tony Todd, Captain Awesome, and Adam freakin' Baldwin. My whole family was immediately hooked. This wasn't originally on my must see list, but I'm glad we tuned in...um...dvr-ed.
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Sep 25, 2007 1:43 AM
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I wasn't originally going to watch this show. The teasers I have seen throughout the weekend looked good. Not to mention that the show is plastered all over myspace! I thought I would give it a try and then decided against it. But, tonight at 4 minutes to the hour I set my DVR. Boy am I glad I did.
I really liked this show. It was funny and engaging. I can't wait until next week now!!!
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Sep 25, 2007 2:10 AM
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Loved Captain Awesome, loved the Nerd Herd, and LOVED Zachary Levi as Chuck, who to me is an adorable mix of Zach Braff and John Krasinski.
Also it was good to see Julia Ling who had a small role on "Studio 60" as one of the Nerd Herd (representing for female nerds).
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Sep 25, 2007 2:33 AM
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The only thing that bugged me was this apparent violent conflict between the CIA and the NSA. Now I grant you that government agencies have their little turf wars, but wantonly murdering each other's employees?
Sorry, that stretches my credulity button WAY too far. I mean, it's unrealistic enough when you have movies where CIA and KGB agents go on killing sprees against one another.
Other than that, the show seems promising.
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Sep 25, 2007 4:55 AM
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I'm with the rest of you guys....I like this show. I wasn't going to watch in the first place, cause my 8pm hour on Mondays are jammed packed. But I saw the first 25 minutes of it the pilot 2 weeks ago, on the plane returning from vacation. And I was hooked. I wanted more. And I'm glad I tuned in to watch the whole show.
Morgan cracks me up.
Every time I hear the Nerd Heard reference...I keep thinking about Big Brother S6.
I hope we get to see less of Tony Little. I've been creeped out by him ever since I seen him in Candyman.
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Sep 25, 2007 5:46 AM
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Okay, Chuck is seriously going to impede on my Prison Break and DWtS time. The premise may be a little out there, but I like the fact that the show doesn't take itself too seriously. I wonder how Chuck will keep explaining those Nerd Herd cars getting wrecked.
Sarah must feel like a pretty bad spy right now. She couldn't even tell that her boyfriend was a rogue agent.
Captain Awesome is a sleeper agent. Just throwing it out there.
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Sep 25, 2007 7:03 AM
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