Chuck

In a move that may say something about the state of writers' strike, NBC has picked up freshman hour-longs Chuck and Life for the full season.  Both shows previously only had orders for thirteen episodes, but yesterday NBC added nine more to fill out the entire 22 episode season.  NBC premiered four new hour long scripted series this Fall, and it now appears that Chuck and Life will be the only season-long survivors.  Bionic Woman may be done for good after the strike ends.  The hyped up series has disappointed both creatively and in the ratings.  Journeyman, which has resonated with its audience, has taken a weekly beating in the ratings and is currently burning off its final episodes. 

If NBC is ordering more episodes of scripted shows, one can easily infer that the negotiations between writers and producers is moving along nicely.  The rumblings that the writers' strike could be finished before 2008 may have some validity.  Even without the strike to deal with, these full season orders from NBC will be a heavy weight off the shoulders for both Chuck and Life.  Neither were a shoe-in for survival.

Chuck has received a lot of buzz, seemingly from everywhere, but hasn't set the world on fire with its ratings.  However, the numbers have improved as the season has grown older.  Creatively, most fans would agree that the last two episodes have been the best of the season, which bodes well for Chuck's future.  The show has finally found its rhythm, laying off the broad comedy a little and focusing on creating an interesting and deep mythology. 

Life was a show whose pilot I thought was interesting, but ultimately underwhelming.  It felt like a wannabe House, but with cops.  Apparently, from what I've read, the series has improved by leaps and bounds since that pilot.  Last week, for the first time this season, Life built upon its lean-in Bionic Woman's audience. 

Congratulations, Chuck and Life.


-Oscar Dahl, BuddyTV Senior Writer
(Image Courtesy of NBC)