Upon learning of the news yesterday, that Chuck is one of the programs that NBC has temporarily tossed when it announced its midseason schedule, I immediately thought of that line from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: “don’t panic.”

But the immediate reaction from viewers was inevitable.  Sure, the network made sure that Chuck, along with Heroes and Life, are returning in February, but it wasn’t enough to appease them.  Who can blame them?  For one month, the show will be replaced by dance competition show Superstars of Dance, spearheaded by So You Think You Can Dance’s Nigel Lythgoe.  People have thought, “not another reality series?”—especially at a time when NBC is at its most precarious position yet.

It also doesn’t help that the media have been making a huge play out of Chuck’s struggles in the ratings.  Both it and Heroes may have been successes for the network as late as last season, but now things don’t look so good.  Heroes has raised questions, and Chuck hasn’t been as spectacular as it was during its first run.  Both shows, for now, are safe; NBC, for instance, gave Chuck the chance to fill out a full season of 22 episodes.  All that to be replaced by a dance show, and a reality dating show that already sounds awful, merely because we’ve seen it everywhere else.

But, again, I’ll quote the Guide: don’t panic.  It doesn’t seem that NBC would be willing to mess around with Chuck; despite the bad times the network has gotten itself into, the show has been a consistent rock in its schedules.  Sure, things haven’t gone as good for the geek and two government agents, but the following is dedicated.  They’d need all the successes they can claim, and this happens to be one of them.

Also, a part of me thinks it’s just a way for the folks behind the show to take a break.  The holidays are around, and a short delay would mean no new episodes until the middle of January.  But I’d concede that reruns would’ve been a better compromise, as it would’ve made the waiting much easier.  Who’d want to watch through a reality dating show named Momma’s Boys?

Anyway, Chuck returns this Monday from 10pm, with Casey (Adam Baldwin) having to go against the person who taught him everything he knows—and gets himself almost too involved to continue.  Perhaps it’ll make the preparations for January easier.


-Henrik Batallones, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: NBC
(Image courtesy of NBC)