Chuck – Nostalgia Central

2 0 0 7 – 2 0 1 2 (USA)
91 x 45 minute episodes

This NBC action-comedy starred Zachary Levi as Chuck Bartowski, an affable, unmotivated twenty-something computer geek who works at the “Nerd Herd” tech-support desk in a Buy More electronics store in Burbank, California.

Chuck’s life is turned upside down when he opens an encoded email from his former Stanford University roommate, now a rogue CIA agent.

The email subliminally downloads the ‘Intersect’ – a massive, top-secret neural supercomputer containing the merged intelligence databases of the CIA and NSA – directly into Chuck’s brain.

Because Chuck “flashes” on vital information whenever he sees related objects, people, or targets, he becomes an indispensable national security asset and is assigned beautiful CIA operative Sarah Walker (Yvonne Strahovski) to protect him.

Sarah acts as Chuck’s “fake girlfriend” to maintain his cover, sparking a long-running will-they-won’t-they romance.

A Gruff, stoic, gun-loving NSA agent, Colonel John Casey (Adam Baldwin), is also assigned to protect Chuck and keep his identity secure.

Chuck’s fiercely loyal, quirky childhood best friend and co-worker, Morgan Grimes (Joshua Gomez), has no idea about Chuck’s secret double life for much of the series. Neither does Chuck’s protective older sister, Ellie (Sarah Lancaster) – a doctor who constantly pushes him to move forward in life – or her incredibly fit, positive, and seemingly perfect husband, Dr Devon Woodcomb (Ryan McPartlin) – a.k.a. Captain Awesome.

Morgan and Devon discover the truth about Chuck in Season 3.

Episodes are typically split between Chuck’s dangerous, globe-trotting secret missions and the mundane, chaotic subplots back at the Buy More store. which is staffed by eccentric slacker characters, such as Jeff (Scott Krinsky) and Lester (Vik Sahay), a comedic duo who form an over-the-top cover band called Jeffster.

While the series never achieved stellar mainstream ratings, it developed an incredibly passionate cult following, becoming famous for its indie-rock soundtrack, cinematic directing style, and deep roots in geek culture, video games, and film references.

When the series faced cancellation after Season 2, fans organised a massive campaign to buy sandwiches from the show’s sponsor, Subway, successfully saving the series and cementing a permanent product placement partnership that kept the show on the air through Season 5.

Chuck Bartowski
Zachary Levi
Sarah Walker
Yvonne Strahovski
Morgan Grimes
Joshua Gomez
Dr Ellie Bartowski
Sarah Lancaster
Jeff Barnes
Scott Krinsky
Lester Patel
Vik Sahay
Colonel John Casey
Adam Baldwin
Dr Devon ‘Captain Awesome’ Woodcomb
Ryan McPartlin
Big Mike
Mark Christopher Lawrence
General Diane Beckman
Bonita Friedericy
Anna Wu
Julia Ling
Fernando
Jesse Heiman
Alex McHugh
Mekenna Melvin
Skip
Michael Kawczynski
Emmett Milbarge
Tony Hale
Daniel Shaw
Brandon Routh
Mary Bartowski
Linda Hamilton
Steve Bartowski
Scott Bakula
CIA Director Graham
Tony Todd