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Producer: What to expect from Chuck's new season
The creators of NBC's Chuck aren't about to let the audience forget about the show during its long hiatus until midseason—they're planning some kind of Web presence, said Chuck executive producer and co-creator Chris Fedak.
"We're talking to NBC now about what is going to be the super-clever idea to kind of bridge that time. It is going to be something on the Internet to keep fan awareness alive and remind people about the show," Fedak told SCI FI Wire in an exclusive phone interview.
Fedak added that Chuck, which was picked up for midseason by NBC, may appear sooner than the expected March 2010.
Chuck is set to air in its same timeslot, on Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT. That's good news for fans who lobbied NBC and key sponsor Subway for the show's renewal. But with Chuck's third season planned to premiere in March 2010, that's a very long wait. "We're excited to launch after the Winter Olympics and to launch also with NBC's other new show [Day One]. But schedules aren't written in stone for a reason. So you never know. Maybe you'll see us sooner than that," Fedak said.
One thing the producers will be faced with in the new season is a smaller budget. "Across the board in television this year there's been a contraction in regard that every show has had to find ways to lower their budgets," he said. "And then [creator] Josh [Schwartz] and I, we have a really an excellent production department here at Chuck, and we've made changes to the show. But essentially we're committed to delivering a show like the show last year, and the changes we're making will not impact the quality of the show. We've also, after two seasons of making the show, we've gotten better at it, just from a production perspective, and we find the efficiencies and just learning how we tell our stories."
Another factor will be the presence of Subway in the show in some way, thanks to NBC's deal with the sandwich chain. How will that presence work? "We're still in the early stages of figuring that out," Fedak said.
The show will resume production this summer. "We're actually just getting back up and running with our writers," Fedak said. "So I am knee-deep in the writers' room, working on story, kind of cutting into how we're going to tell this epic season of Chuck. ... We have some really fun, super-exciting stories up on the board, and we can't wait to tell them."
Asked about specifics, Fedak isn't too forthcoming. "You're getting nothing out of me," he said, adding: "Do you know what Schwartz would do to me if I give you anything? Mum is the word at the moment."
Maybe just a tiny, little detail? What about the teaser from a recent interview with Schwartz that there might be a romantic interest who would come between Sarah and Chuck? "Crickets. That's what you get from me. You're getting crickets on this one," Fedak said.
The one thing that isn't a secret is that the producers plan for the entire cast to return, he said. As for adding new characters, "We will be, but you're not going to get that out of me, I don't think," he said.
Expect a more physical Chuck (Zachary Levi), considering that he acquired new kung fu abilities after downloading the new Intersect. "Absolutely. Get ready for excitement," Fedak said. "And we also look forward to deepening the mythology of the show, learning more about our characters and, most importantly, having fun."
As for the possible romance between Chuck and Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski)? "In the interest of vagueness, I will say that this new upcoming season of Chuck will not be lacking in romance," Fedak said.
The cagey Chuck creator did have more to say when it came to discussing the season-two finale, "Chuck vs. the Ring," however. "We were very proud," he said. "We were very proud of our entire season, but we were really excited to tell the story and that we knew where we were going, and we knew we had this big, epic finale. All the writers and producers, everyone involved in the show, we knew we weren't going to leave anything on the table for the fans of the show. We knew that essentially there would be a point in time during the final episode where everything but the kitchen sink, and maybe even the kitchen sink itself, would fly through a frame ... and you would see the Chuck show at its best." Fedak gives plenty of credit for the episode to director Robert Duncan McNeill (Lt. Tom Paris of Star Trek: Voyager fame).
For Fedak, there was one specific moment that resonated with him, and it came during a table reading. "I sat down at the table with the cast of that episode, and I just shook my head," he said. "I felt like, for that episode, we hired most of Hollywood. I had Bruce Boxleitner, Morgan Fairchild, Scott Bakula, Chevy Chase and our cast. I mean, our fantastic, wonderful cast, and Matt Bomer as well, and I immediately demanded that we have a photograph taken, because it's something that, actually, ... [I knew] this would be one of my favorite moments, this cast read-through. And they killed. They were wonderful. They were wonderful just reading the script, and they were just as wonderful on screen. Allison Adler and I wrote that script, and it was a really wonderful kind of moment to see the Actors' Studio version of our story before we filmed it."
Fedak added: "I'd just like to say, and this is more like a general thing, that we're just so thankful to our fans for all the support that they've shown. It has been ... it was incredibly important to the show, to the show's return, their energy and excitement. And the other thing, too, is that critics and journalists have been just so helpful and supportive for the show. It just seems like we needed every arrow in our quiver, and you guys were there for us." Chuck will return on NBC after the Olympics in March.
By Justin at 12:56 PM ON 05/29/09
ABSOLUTELY THE BEST SHOW EVER!!!!! Can't believe it's not coming back for an entire season but I will take whatever Chuck I can get!!!!!
By Gabriel Angeles at 2:02 PM ON 05/29/09
Ageed Justin, Chuck currently my favourite show around at this moment. Looking forward to season 3.
By Kat at 2:27 PM ON 05/29/09
CHUCK CHUCK CHUCK CHUCK!!! Best show ever!!! Let's hope for a full season and for it to come back sooner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Rick Holy at 2:50 PM ON 05/29/09
Bring on MORE "CHUCK!!" There is NO other show like it that has so many different elements that just keep you either laughing, crying, or hanging on to the end of your easy chair. Keep up the GREAT work - just PLEASE, don't torture us with another season of on again off again Chuck and Sarah. Did I say please?? PLEASE don't torture us in the name of all that is holy and good.!! :)
By JEFFSTER ROCKS !!!!!!! at 3:02 PM ON 05/29/09
JEFFSTER ROCKS !!!!!!!
This show is friggen awesome
By ChayneLightning at 4:03 PM ON 05/29/09
DID YOU SEE THE HUGE CLUE FEDAK GAVE ABOUT NEXT SEASON?
By anon4utu at 4:14 PM ON 05/29/09
Hey, how about posting that photo on the web for the fans?
By Vee at 5:41 PM ON 05/29/09
"Do you know what Schwartz would do to me if I give you anything? Mum is the word at the moment."
A hint perhaps? He could have said my lips are sealed or anything along those lines, but this being said after saying he's not saying anything about the show. Could we be seeing Mummy Bartowski?
By PT at 5:47 PM ON 05/29/09
I love Chuck. I wrote NBC, bought Subway and lobbied my friends. But I will stop watching if they bring in a "love interest:" to come between Chuck and Sarah. It's a smart show..and they can do better than that. Chuck and Sarah have reached a point of no return and they could find ways to cause strife, but it should not be "oh look he has the intersect again no Sarah for Chuck" or "Oh look Chuck can't have Sarah so we need to have one of them fall for another person". It insults the audience. Despite what the writers on TV shows think, we all aren't pining for another Ross and Rachel. Let Chuck and Sarah move forward!
By PT at 5:49 PM ON 05/29/09
I love Chuck. I wrote NBC, bought Subway and lobbied my friends. But I will stop watching if they bring in a "love interest:" to come between Chuck and Sarah. It's a smart show..and they can do better than that. Chuck and Sarah have reached a point of no return and they could find ways to cause strife, but it should not be "oh look he has the intersect again no Sarah for Chuck" or "Oh look Chuck can't have Sarah so we need to have one of them fall for another person". It insults the audience. Despite what the writers on TV shows think, we all aren't pining for another Ross and Rachel. Let Chuck and Sarah move forward!
By CandyMaize at 7:55 PM ON 05/29/09
I am SO happy that Chuck got renewed for a 3rd season. And it would be great if they get more than just the 13-ep originally ordered. IF there's some sort of online content to tide us over .. well THAT would be awesome!
By Mike at 8:08 PM ON 05/29/09
PT, I see what you are saying, but if you noticed in the final scene, when Sarah and Casey first walk into the Intersect room, Chuck immediately mouths to her I'm sorry. I think he had to weigh the fact that by choosing to accept the mantle of responsibility of being the human intersect, he would have to sacrifice a lot of normalcy in his life. All the "normal" things he was looking forward to and the things that Sarah was about to explain to Chuck she wanted too, right as she was interrupted by Chuck's dad at the reception. That was a weighty "I'm sorry" and for the decision to have proper weight into the future, they need to reflect the choice he made. And, if you can't be with the one you love, love the one you are with. If Chuck can't have Sarah, it would make sense if he developed feelings elsewhere. But don't get me wrong I understand potential frustrations.
By Photoboy at 8:43 PM ON 05/29/09
Chuck is great, I'm so pleased we're going to get more episodes. I just wish there was more Reaper coming too. :(
By Birk at 10:34 PM ON 05/29/09
To Mike - he mouths "I'm sorry" the first time they made eye contact after he had tipped his head to have her see Bryce's body on the floor. I though it was pretty evident that he was being sympathetic about Bryce's death, not about taking on the mantle of an Agent.
By Mike at 12:26 AM ON 05/30/09
I rewatched it (for maybe the 10th time) and I can see it either way. I guess it wasn't a tip of the head so much but he looks to his right in the direction of the lead bad guy's direction after which she immediately turns around. I guess I viewed it as a more subtle meaningful thing, but either way it's no big deal, I still think it makes sense if they can't be together next season. He chose to "reup" so to speak knowing the rules. Now, if Bryce and Sarah "dated" as partners in the past, we could definitely expect to see Sarah and Chuck hook up as well. To me the delayed gratification gives the show some tension, which is a good thing. That drive to be together is a huge part of the show and without it, I think the story loses a big part of its emotional conflict.
By JrMastermind at 1:17 AM ON 05/30/09
Looking forward to March! But seriously, if they really want the show to succeed, then it needs a friendly time slot. Look at the shows it'll be up against!! Try a Wednesday or Thursday time slot and re-run the first two season while we wait. Geez! I'm glad that I can always turn to Hulu.
By Ivan J. Soto at 8:59 AM ON 05/30/09
I'm so excited for Chuck to come back, Ican't wait!!!!!!!!!
By Aaron_MrA at 3:25 PM ON 05/30/09
Chuck is my favorite show. The season finale was fantastic. They took it to the level that I thought of in story I once wrote with a person with a computer mind have abilities when he needed it.
By gersh23 at 3:47 PM ON 05/30/09
You understand Mike, that nobody(and I mean nobody
will want to watch the show If they don't end up together), there is no meaning for either the comedy or the action if not for the Charah, which the heart of the show and keeps viewrs emotionally invested.
otherwise it will be just another spy show.
Having them introduce another third wheel after
Bryce and Lou and Jill and Cole is beyond juvenile
and comes across as a tedious attempt of retaining a tension. Not Awesome...
By Kermonk at 3:11 PM ON 05/31/09
Its funny, as much as i love the show and want them to make 30 episodes next season, i end up disliking the people who actually make it the more interviews i read with them. Less with the brown nosing, more with the actually telling. Of course if they invent a lot of rubbish reasons to keep sarah and chuck apart next season, it may no longer be my favorite show.
By AB at 7:51 PM ON 05/31/09
Can't wait for season 3, wish there were more shows like chuck with a bit of scifi, romance, spy and nerdness mixed into a wholesome footlong.
By Robert at 8:03 PM ON 06/04/09
PT/Mike both make good points but as I said
in an earlier comment the Chuck/Sarah
relationship has to move forward now, not stay in neutral or retreat. If they have issues
due to Bryce's "death" assuming that really
happened, remember his body was removed
before the last scene, that is one thing. If they
retreat simply because Chuck has reacquired an updated version of the intersect and go back to the same old " on
again, off again" thing as in the past, it will
kill the show. People will simply stop watching and there will be no full 3rd season
much less any possibility of a 4th. The old
"Moonlighting" tried that, teased their viewers once too often with disastrous results. I hope that Schwartz/Fedak look at
these comments before their 3rd season
starts to get some idea what their viewers
want and especially what they DON"T want.
By Chuckfan at 10:19 AM ON 06/06/09
For myself I am confident that the creators, cast and crew of the show will continue to tell amazing stories to keep us blued to the TV, computer... It is their story/creation if we the viewers try to change it, it becomes predictable and loses it appeal. Let the storytellers tell their story.
By april c at 10:54 AM ON 06/13/09
not that i like waiting, trust me u guys, i'm very impatient...
but if waiting a year or two wud mean i'd see chuck again, it's DEFINITELY WORTH the wait!
oh
PS: to be with the whole cast of chuck is a dream come true... ^^
By newer fan at 3:59 AM ON 07/10/09
I found this show three days ago and instantly fell in love. It has the action the romance and the angry bad ass who does what ever he wants. I can't wait for season 3. GO CHUCK!!!
By oops at 10:34 AM ON 07/27/09
2010. In the words of my 18-year-old daughter: Nooooooooo! It's so long to wait.
By crickett at 12:45 AM ON 09/11/09
Great show...Thrilled its back
By garlicbeth at 10:38 PM ON 09/25/09
My husband and I LOVE Chuck. We've watched all of the episodes over and over again online and I see it as one of the series where after the show goes out of production, the episodes will live on and on and on. We are so tired of the crime dramas and crime drama spin-offs. The chuckles and belly laughs from watching Chuck are missed and I am sad that i have to wait until MARCH of next year to see it... America needs Chuck NOW!
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garlicbeth:
My husband and I LOVE Chuck. We've watched all of the episodes over and over again online and I see it as one of t...More »