Reviews by Matt

Every fall dozens of new shows are placed on the television schedule. Some find success and others last barely a month before being canceled. It takes something new, creative and entertaining to make it past the first season. This year the show that is destined to find success is “Chuck.”


Chuck (Zachary Levi) is a member of the Nerd Heard at the local electronics store. One night he receives an e-mail form his college roommate containing thousands of pictures. When he opens it, he unwittingly learns all the government secrets that were embedded in the images. He begins to realize that he is starting to know things he should not and recognizes people he has never seen before.

CIA agent Sarah (Yvonne Strzechowski) is sent to retrieve Chuck’s hard drive in order to get the e-mail, but when it is destroyed, she has to find out what he knows and if he has a backup. The NSA, unhappy with the CIA’s progress, sends in John (Adam Baldwin) to do the job that Sarah could not and bring Chuck in.

What this show has going for it is the prefect blend of comedy, drama and action. No joke is forced, no drama over done and not action sequence over blown. Each part works and enhances the others.

The stand out performance would have to be Levi. He balances the comedic and the dramatic elements with great ease. Chuck is a guy who is content with his job and lack of a social life. He is more than happy to work with computers and play videogames all day. When the has the government secrets thrust upon him, he is taken out of his element and discovers that there is more to like than work and videogames.



Some of the funniest moments come when Chuck is out of his element. When John is perusing him and Sarah, Chuck is freaking out while she remains calm. She is driving backwards in his company car and not even looking where she is going. She tries to get him to calm down and tell her when to turn, but he is so confused by this that she takes charge and ends up turning before he can say anything.

“Chuck” separates itself from the abundance of new shows, by being as funny and original as it is interesting. There are no great mysteries to be solved or detailed storylines that will require a week-to-week viewing. It is an enjoyable show that is worth the time to watch.

“Chuck” airs Monday night at 8 pm on NBC