As an avid fan of movies and television shows, I will preview each month a show or movie that I am looking forward to watching that month. To begin with, this month's show is the premiere of "Chuck". As many know, this is my favorite TV show currently being aired. I have constantly posted about my excitement for this show,almost to the point of annoyance. What makes this show great in my eyes and why should anyone watch it?
If you need to know what the show is about please take a moment to read this very good write up at http://www.aceshowbiz.com/tv/chuck/summary.html . I think it would be well worth the 20 seconds it will take.
The show itself has never garnered stellar Nielsen ratings. In the shows defense it has been up against "Dancing with the Stars", "Prison Break", and a host of other good shows. However, it has survived 3 seasons due to a fan base that loves the show and lets NBC know about it. Here is an article that discusses the campaign that brought it back for a third season (http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/TV/04/30/save.chuck.show/index.html). Besides die hard fans, the show has racked in rave reviews from critics. All these people must see something special in the show. I believe that the show is very fresh and unique among your choices of half hour comedies, hour long dramas, and reality shows. It uniqueness makes it a must see.
One reason to watch is for the actors it uses. All are fresh and new to television. Each one seems to embrace their character in such a way that it makes you believe that in real life they may not be far off from it. Also for a struggling show, the guest appearance are huge. Season 2 had such stars as Michael Strahan, Jerome Bettis, Carl Lumbly, Morgan Fairchild , Bruce Boxleitner, Chase, and Scott Bakula. The upcoming season promises to be just as exciting with Angie Harmon, Brandon Routh, and others making appearances.
Another reason to watch has to be the song choices for the show. I have never watched a show that uses so much music to set the mood of the story. Not only do the producers go after pop hits from our youth and today, they also go after indie groups with songs that fit the story of the show. The show uses three to four songs each episode on average. When looking at iTunes store, the songs used on the show have high popularity scores. Could it be because they were featured on the show? Just like we use the iPod or iTouch playlists to create mix tapes of our moods, the show attempts to create the same type of structure. The show even has two of the characters with a cheesy cover band, Jeffster, that rocks a keytar. They have their own Facebook page and opened for Chuck at the San Diego Comic Con. How cool is that?
Finally, the main reason to watch is for the writing of the show. It is witty, intelligent, and funny. The shows writers take time to create comedic moments for the characters that flow with the show. From spoofs to one liners to continuous running jokes, the show is not afraid to make fun of itself or the culture it is representing. The show parodies our struggles with real life by following Chuck's real job making 12 bucks an hour. We have all been there. These types of humor make the show a feel good hour of television. Likewise, the writers spend time referencing pop culture items to give a sense of the show being connected to our world and give homage to the greats. Just the other day I was watching an episode and the bomb used by an assassin was an IG-88. Come on, everyone knows that one of the assassins called by Darth Vader to Bespin was the IG-88 Assassin Droid. Star Wars reference at its best. Plenty of geek and 80's references for all. However, the writers go a little deeper so that the show is not just about the comedy and pop culture references. The comedy only lightens up the underlying problems and tensions that the creators carry over from episode to episode. One thing I enjoy about the writing is that the episodes for the most part are self contained missions that instill a sense of accomplishment. However, actions and feelings continue over into other episodes creating dramatic tension. This tension instills a sense of continuity that makes the show feel like a journey and not half hour snippets. Thus the creation of a dramedy (its own unique genre). More importantly, the investment of time in this show is worthwhile as the journey is a well crafted story with viewers watching the characters change and evolve with a sense of purpose and destiny. This makes the story seem real and very believable even though some of the writing is campy. Consequently, the writers create a quirky story that mirrors our own quirky lives. To top it off it is very family friendly and speaks to many generations. My wife and I both love to sit down and watch episodes of "Chuck". Even with our varied tastes, the shows writing brings something for both of us.
In conclusion, there are many reasons to watch"Chuck". Whether it is for the actors, music, or writing; any choice will bring you in contact with a show that is very unique and appealing. The show returns to NBC on Sunday January 10th from 9:00 to 11:00 pm with its premiere. On Monday January 11, there will be another episode of "Chuck" at its regular timeslot of 8:00 pm. Take it out for a spin and watch these episodes and see if you do not enjoy the ride.
Videos and references to help.
Jeffster preforming : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nViWOd87oKY (Not their best performance but it is cool.) (I wish i had a garage cover band.)
Songs that have appeared on "Chuck": http://nbcchuck.wordpress.com/music-from-chuck/
Heroic Journey by Joseph Campbell that I think the overlying drama is based on:
Scene from Chuck pointing out all the elements (music, drama, acting): **spoiler as this is the last episode of season 2 do not watch if you want to watch in order**http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=US5jYr905rg&feature=related
Free available episodes online at NBC: (My recommendation is watch the last four as they really tell the story. Without commercials that is 168 minutes.) http://www.nbc.com/chuck/episode_guide/index.shtml
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