'Where The Wild Things Are' Runs $32.4M 
Oscar Can't Always Get What He Wants 
NBC Bright Spot Of Lousy GE 3Q Earnings; 4Q … 
Oops! Vivendi May Delay 20% NBCU Sale? 
65 Nations Vie For Foreign Language Oscar 
Elle's Women In Hollywood Power List 
HOW BIG IS BIG? AEG Predicts Michael Jackson … 
Sane Debt-Reduction Move By Redstone; But … 
EXCLUSIVE: Comcast Wants NBCU Deal Done … 
That's what sources are telling me. Expect a major renewals announcement from NBC on Monday (unless the bosses decide to mess with our heads).
UPDATE: NBC Renews 'Chuck', 'Medium', 'Law & Order'; Announcement On Monday
By Nikki Finke | Category: Networks | Saturday May 2, 2009 @ 8:31pm
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Two Weeks of Posts Comments 1 THE END OF 'OPRAH' AS WE KNOW HER: Daytime Diva Giving Up Syndie … 447 2 UPDATE: Academy Picks Steve Martin & Alec Baldwin As 82nd … 172 3 Adrian Pasdar Let Go From NBC's 'Heroes' 128 4 VIDEO: Fox Releases New 'Avatar' Trailer 123 5 Joss Whedon Makes Bid For 'Terminator' 111 ‘This Is MORE Of It’ Spoof
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Title Studio Gross 1 This Is It Sony $23.2M 2 Paranormal Activity Paramount $16.3M 3 Law Abiding Citizen Overture $7.4M 4 Couples Retreat Universal $6.4M 5 Where Wild Things Are Warner … $5.9M 6 Saw VI Lionsgate $5.2M 7 Astro Boy Summit $3.2M 8 The Stepfather Sony $3.2M 9 Vampire's Assistant Universal $3.0M 10 Amelia Fox … $3.0M 11 Cloudy With Meatballs Sony $2.7M 12 Zombieland Sony $2.6M 13 A Serious Man Focus $1.0M 14 Boondock Saints II Apparation $.546M 15 An Education Sony … $.467M 16 Halloween II Weinstein $.445M 17 Good Hair Roadside $.422M 18 Invention Of Lying Warner … $.393M 19 Capitalism Overture $.373M 20 Toy Story 3D Disney $.262M Box Office Poll
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Wow, NBC just doesnt seem to get it.
Its show”business” not show niche shows.
Southland, P n R(horrible btw), Chuck and Medium get 2.5 and unders.
They’ve been in 4th for a long time–FYI these shows help put you there.
It’s time for a whole ne gameplan cause you’re in last with the one you have—what the worst that can happen if you re-invent or better–follow old models?
Answer: Finish in 4th–WHERE YOU ALREADY ARE!!!
Chuck is a good show.
PNR, Medium, Southland–Crap.
You are renweing 2.0 crap.
Congrats on your rent to buy plan for 4th place–You own it now.
Way to go Sucker and Silverwoman.
Kid A, you’re a fucking idiot. Medium and Southland are both quality shows. Parks and Recreation…well, I can agree with you on that, lol.
But you’re clearly a moron.
It’s amazing how many angry posts I’ve seen on a couple of sites, from people who are opposed to Chuck being renewed. I have to wonder, why does it bother them so much? Why do they care? If those of us who love Chuck want to participate in an incredible grassroots movement to save the show, why does that bother people who DON’T watch it? Live and let live. Watch House – or whatever it is you prefer. Leave the attacks somewhere else. Appreciate that people can still rally together in a passionate way to make their collective voice heard. Hooray for Chuck! Hooray for it’s fans! I, for one, think the probable renewal news is wonderful!
wow kid A. Maybe you should take a moment to pull yourself together.
I’m very happy to hear about Chuck getting a 3rd season. I trust your sources Nikki, but I won’t jump for joy until Silverman actually says this from his mouth on Monday.
Glad to hear Medium make the cut. If anything it’s a good mid-season fill in show. Surprised that NBC still wants to pay CBS/Paramount to make it though.
Chuck’s a good show. I don’t like Parks. The Majority of Viewers Like Chuck. NBC take a Hint. Do you even hear the viewers crying out ” Save Chuck”!
Any word on Life?
That’s great news! Chuck is a terrific show, and has a very dedicated fan base (and willing to shop from the sponsors to prove it!)
That said, this news is unofficial – the SaveChuck campaign continues until we hear it straight from NBC!
ElissaBeth
Wow, are they still holding out on renewing Earl?
Well this makes me really, really happy. I love this show and would have been extremely bummed if they had chosen to drop it.
Kid A, preference is subjective. Quality programming to you could very well be insufferable crap to another.
really glad to hear this, however i’m wondering about sources? obviously i have my fingers crossed & i’m hoping you know something we don’t! however, officially schwartz (chuck producer) was told today that we won’t hear for at least another week or two about the outcome and that it will not be announced monday.
again, here’s hoping! but let’s keep up the “save chuck” campaign until we hear officially! good work team chuck!
LIFE is a show that NBC should be thrilled to have in it’s lineup. Classy. Well written. Beautifully executed. What more could you ask for? Ratings? Well maybe if NBC nurtured it, it would get the numbers it deserves.
Stuff it Pam.
Chuck fans,
Since this show is semi-serialized, we need to get our friends and family caught up on this show. Loan out the dvds, direct them to hulu and nbc.com, netflix, whatever…let’s not be in the same situation on pins and needles this time next year.
Nikki,
How is it you know this, but yesterday Zac Levi said that he was told by Josh Schwartz that NBC has will not decide by Monday’s upfronts and that the decision could take weeks more.
Who are your sources?
finke,
can you please put up an article? even if its just a paragraph. it looks like a tabloid headline when you leave such important news up without any evidence/sources/explanations.
I’d rather see LIFE back on the schedule than any of the other NBC shows on the chopping block. However, the obvious intellectual decline in the NBC front office makes that possibility nil.
Hard to believe that the network was once the top rated network out there. However, a lack of guidance and vision has made them an embarassment. There are some NBC shows I enjoy but the overall quality just isn’t there.
Leno five nights a week at 10pm? Please, give me a break. I’d love to see one of the networks try to re-start Saturday night viewing. Probably much easier said than done which in today’s world means it won’t happen.
I like Southland. Of the list of renewed shows, the only one I would cancel, would be “Parks & Rec” which is clearly below par.
Oh thank God for Law & Order renewal. Can’t live without it.
I don’t understand the hatred towards the idea of Chuck getting renewed. If you don’t like the show, watch Dancing with the Stars or According to Jim instead. I know a shit load of people that watch Chuck, and I have never met one person who watches NCIS. Go figure.
Great news.
Pam: I think a lot of the bitter comments directed at Chuck at certain sites are probably fans of Reaper who see Chuck as Reaper’s evil twin. A lot of people I talk to feel the same way as me: we like both shows, some like one more than the other, but discussion about both shows is active and enthusiastic among us.
But there seems to me to be a contingent of other Reaper fans who feel that the only way to show their devotion to Reaper is to hate Chuck. And not just to hate Chuck, but to shout down anyone that supports the latter show. After all, by sheer coincidence alone, the shows share some superficial similarities: Slacker who works at a Big Box store full of skeevy coworkers fights evil doers — Chuck at a Best Buy-type store in conjunction with secret agents, Reaper’s Sam at the Home Depot-like Work Bench in conjunction with, umm, Satan. Chuck is turning into the true heir to Get Smart, while Reaper . . . didn’t evolve that quickly into, say, what a sequel series to Buffy might have been like had wacky sidekick Xander Harris become a rogue demon hunter.
We all saw Reaper’s fate coming at least as early as January (13 episodes + March premiere = Burn-off, unless the title of your show is either Grey’s Anatomy or, apparently, Southland. But I digress . . .), so this lead time gave that small, bitter segment of Reaper fans ample opportunity to seethe over the inevitable fate of “their” show. And to thereby transfer their anger at the show’s cancellation from The CW network to Chuck, the show on a network that’s not The CW. Yes, yes, I know, they’re practicing magical thinking, but then again, I’m still waiting impatiently for the real series finale of Gilmore Girls.
Kudos to NBC for renewing Chuck! (And Sarah!) But please, no more 3D episodes — my eyes hurt for an hour after that one!
— Rob
Great news about Chuck. Life is a terrific show. I hope it’s renewed as well.
I hope that this is true about Chuck, cause yesterday we were hearing (from Zac) that it could be a week or more).
My luck, they’ll pick up Chuck and SAG will get its act together and go on strike.
So, all I see here is a headline. And then people calling each other names… that’s weird.
I just annoyed myself by watching the two most annoying eps of Private Practice ever (with no ep this week) so I’m going to bed.
Maybe I could just wake up Tuesday?
Chuck is a good show. I don’t watch it regularly, but when I do, I have fun with it. Southland is actually very well done, with a good cast, but Parks is just plain godawful. I watched the pilot and couldn’t make it through the second episode, it was so bad.
NBC is really going to be screwed next season when Leno takes the 10pm slot Monday through Friday. A 10pm variety show? It reminds me of the “I’ll buy that for a dollar” show from Robo Cop. It’s an obscure reference, so kudos to those that get it.
Chuck is renewed!! If this turns out to be true that great news!!! Its a great show, easily the best thing NBC has going for it if not the best show on television..too bad they put it in such a tough timeslot.
what are they doing with Life??..it is a great show….but its ratings are lousy..i wish NBC would give it a another chance.
Nikki, thank you for providing Chuck fans with some hope for the rest of the weekend. I’ve read your column for a while and have faith in you and your sources. You’re ability to scoop the trades is legendary! I’m sure you understand that many won’t rest easy until we hear the news directly from NBC, but we do appreciate your up-to-the-minute reporting.
Hang in there, Chuck fans. It looks like we don’t have long to wait until the celebratory Footlongs and Nerds begin to flow!
P.S. I hope NBC finds a spot in their lineup for LIFE, too. As Brooklyn Gal said, it’s a classy show that NBC could nurture into a hit. American TV needs Damien Lewis!
Cartwheels over the Chuck news! That’s fantastic, Nikki — obviously won’t be totally relieved until NBC says it out loud, but this is the best sign in weeks.
I’m sure all the other shows are good and have active fanbases, but “Chuck” really is the only show that I look forward to and almost always leave smiling. I enjoy the darker shows too (BSG was insanely wonderful), but “Chuck” is “Get Smart”, “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and “Alias” all wrapped into one fabulous packet.
I hope NBC hypes the hell out of the show this summer, rerunning entire seasons and throwing everything onto Hulu. Loads of HIMYM fans would LOVE “Chuck”, if only they could break the Neil Patrick Harris thrall…
Chuck!!! Woot! I’ll be one happy camper if Chuck is renewed.
SAVE CHUCK!
Yay Chuck!
I’m glad they picked up PARKS, only because I think it has the potential there, but they need to make Poehler’s character less like a female Michael Scott. Michael Scott is lovable because he genuinely cares about his co-workers, whereas Poehler’s character is like a DOLLHOUSE escapee. Poehler deserves better.
Happy for CHUCK. Still wondering how HEROES is on the air.
A big Yesss! for Chuck. It’s intelligent and funny, and hopefully NBC will nurture it the way it did the Office (a totally different show, but you get the picture)
Kid A, you’re a fucking idiot. Medium and Southland are both quality shows. Parks and Recreation…well, I can agree with you on that, lol.
But you’re clearly a moron.
—————————————-
Hello Jack Asses,
IT’S SHOW BUSINESS, NOT SHOW ART, NOT SHOW THAT I LIKE THAT REST OF AMERICA DOESNT GET.
Trut me I get it. Arrested Development was the smartest show to hit network tv since Sienfeld–but u know wha?t–thats what cable is for.
Network TV is about busuness n AD dollars–not about a quirky show with a cult following.
Cult following n Network tv go together like peanut butter n ancovies.
Grow up tards–n get in the real world.
Nikki,
This is great news if it is true. I realize that you would not report it as being definitely renewed unless it came from a reliable source. That being said; however, I am bit confused because Zach Levi and Josh Schwartz both stated that it was going to be a week or more until we would know the fate of Chuck. Why the sudden change (not that I am complaining)?
What do you mean Knight Rider’s not coming back?!?!
I don’t have any animus towards “Chuck” (congrats to the “Chuck” fans), but as a business decision, renewing it is not very smart. The likeliest scenario is that it will remain in 4th place. It’s too late in its run to become a serious award contender. So what does “Chuck” bring to NBC? Mid-to-low numbers – that’s all.
There’s a argument to be made about canceling it to free up the time slot, the money, and the actors for something more artistically challenging or more profitable. Most of the shows Nikki’s listed fall into that category.
In fact, the only “keeper” on the list is “PNR”, and that’s a bit of a gamble. But it’s got a very strong Emmy award winning writers’ room, the wonderful Amy Poehler, and it’s a comedy. Comedies have been clicking on NBC. Now, the show needs to get much, much better. But if it’s sandwiched between 2 other popular comedies (30 Rock & The Office), people will sit through it while it goes through its growing pains, and like “The Office”, its audience will grow, slowly.
In any case, NBC needs at least one hit show that Ben can point to as his mission statement for the network, because he owes some of the credit for every current hit he’s got – even the Reveille shows – to Kevin Reilly. I’m not certain that “PNR” is it. Ben’s always name-dropped Tartikoff as his role model, and if that’s really who he wants to be, shouldn’t we be seeing his “All in the Family”? Or was that “Kings”?
In spite of how much he frustrates me, I want Ben to succeed. NBC has much more potential than the other nets, b/c it’s a cleaner slate. CBS is old people, ABC’s the chick channel, FOX is Idol and baseball. What is NBC? The real Brandon Tartikoff would do something amazing with this much freedom. But Ben’s been pissing it away with Ryan Seacrest…
Oh, I forgot the CW: Promiscuous backstabbing minors, Cute Ghostbusters, The Tyra Banks Network.
Good for Chuck! For Chuck fans, which includes myself and assuming this news is true, this is obviously our one chance. Like mentioned above, spread the word everywhere, buy gear, re-watch episodes online, buy Season 2 (and 1 if you don’t already have it) DVDs… Get Chuck out there!
I was actually playing this shooting game in beta *(really hyped game, not sure if I can post the name so I won’t) and my dude’s name is, “Agent_Carmichael”. Ever time I play, people point out that it’s a reference to Chuck. I even saw some guy with the name, “Save_Chuck”. Now I don’t know if it has anything to do with Chuck, but in my head it does.
I love love love Chuck …. and NCIS.
I am a big fan of both Reaper and Chuck so if this is indeed true (and I’ve yet to see Nikke put up anything false) at least one of my shows is saved.
Add to my love of Reaper that it’s filmed in Vancouver so if there is no pickup, there goes work for a lot of great, talented people
Good for NBC for renewing quality shows. This is what they did for Cheers, Family Ties and Seinfeld and each became TV favorites. Law & Order has become fantastic again with the new cast. Linus Roache makes a great DA being reined in by Jack McCoy, who was, himself, a fireball.
And for those who doubt Nikki’s scoops – just go through the archives of this site. You don’t question House when it comes to medical procedures and you don’t question Nikki when it comes to showbiz scoops.
I’m glad to see Chuck renewed, NBC can’t afford to throw a show that manages to above average demo numbers in a very competitive timeslot. A new show would not do better, we all saw what happened to Southland once it was faced with some real competition.
Life is DOA. Everyone involved with the show is already looking for other work. Its cancellation is nothing more than a formality.
P&R, on the other hand, is so poorly conceived I don’t know how it was picked up to begin with, but of course this is NBC we’re talking about. No one in America is in love with Amy Poehler as much as the sphincter-hangers at NBC. I wish Poehler and her husband – the insufferable Will Arnett (who apparently studied at the Dax Shepherd school of comedy) would fade into basic cable obscurity.
I hope this is correct. NBC has come tough choices to make with losing 5 primetime hours to Leno everynight. But if you’re only going to keep a couple of current shows, Chuck is absolutely the best on your network. Be smart and renew it. You can help at SaveChuckBartowski.com!
Comment by Pam — May 2, 2009 @ 9:23 pm: It’s amazing how many angry posts I’ve seen on a couple of sites, from people who are opposed to Chuck being renewed.
Comment by Indy_4_sucks — May 2, 2009 @ 10:53 pm: I don’t understand the hatred towards the idea of Chuck getting renewed.
“Chuck” is a sh!tty show that occupies valuable network real estate. Rather than keep a show that I know to be sh!tty, I would rather it be replaced by something that might not be, even though there is a high likelihood that the replacement show might also be sh!tty.
Even though the replacement show might be sh!tty, the difference is that the sh!ttiness of “Chuck” is already known whereas the shittiness of the new show is only probable. There is a big difference between ACTUAL fail (i.e., “Chuck”) and probable fail (i.e., anything new).
We already know how many viewers “Chuck gets – FEW. Optimism dictates a new show that might get more, not the same old failure that is “Chuck.”
Many of you unbalanced TV fans oppose anything new on TV with such a pathological hatred that it’s a wonder that you began watching “Chuck” in the first place.
Chuck has improved ten fold since it started.
Anyone reading this should watch the second season.
This is great news, but you have to temper your enthusiasm. We’ve heard several things in just the last few days that contradict one another.
Does anyone know what time NBC will be doing the unveiling of their fall schedule? I was hoping it would be a noon EDT. That way I can enjoy the rest of my day off. =)
As a fan of both Reaper and CHUCK, I’m surprised that Reaper fans would target Chuck fans for their venom. The only similarity is that they work at big appliance stores. Reaper has more in common with SUPERNATURAL then it does CHUCK.
I love Reaper as well. It’s a fun hour of television that will be missed. The problem for Reaper is that fact that it’s on a network that probably has the only Executive in Hollywood who is more clueless then Silverman. Up until this past week Reaper’s ratings were on par with 90210, Gossip Girl and every other show not named Smallville, Supernaturl or America’s Next Top Model. But, it gets canceled because it doesn’t appeal to tweens and young girls.
Count me in as someone that is incredibly happy to hear this news. CHUCK became appointment television for me very quickly. There is no other show that can make you laugh out loud, cry, and cheer the incredible action all in the same scene like CHUCK. Kudos for NBC for acknowledging that they have something of Quality that the people enjoy. Here’s hoping the audience grows next year so we don’t have to worry about any fan campaigns.
If they think this show will become a Cheers-like (in the 80s) and Seinfeld-like (in the 90s), they’re sadly mistaken! Ratings can ONLY stay the same or fall off. Idiots at NBC made their bed. Now they have to be prepared to lie in it. ‘Chuck’ is going NOWHERE!
I’m really hoping this is true, Chuck is one of the best shows out there and it is a true shame that more people watch crap like DWTS. If this is true I really hope NBC wises up it moves it to another night or moves it to another hour. I’m not going to get super excited until it is official.
I just want to add that I also love Reaper as well and it seems like that show is coming to an end since two of its producers left for another company.
There are also a small but loud group of bitter House fans who have been angry with critics all season for praising Chuck while coming down hard on the creative turn that House has taken. Why they would waste their time worrying about a show that in no way threatens their beloved House is a mystery, but they’ve been vocal. For whatever reason, they would like to see Chuck fail simply so they can tell the critics to suck it.
Chuck is a wonderful show and NBC should be proud to have it. I’m optimistic about its renewal, but I do think this tease is premature.
Happy about L&O and Medium, both are veterans but still rock.
but Chuck? why? it has never been not will it ever be watchable even for a second!
I don’t watch any of those shows.
I guess that puts me in the majority of the country.
roll on Monday, then we can put an end to most of this speculation, as for NBC delaying the news about Chuck, I know they just had someone die, but isnt it easier to decide if they should keep a show, compared to which pilot they should offer a series (be it a 6 or 13 episode commitment) to.
There’s obviously something wrong with the Neilsen ratings when the fans, the critics and the network like a show like Chuck but it still does poorly. Following the Neilsens only leads to bad TV.
I watch NCIS. It seems the majority of it’s viewers are over 40. It’s the sort of show that appeals to the older crowd who generally don’t have much interest in shows like Lost.
I really, really want to believe this over the story about having to wait another week or two. This is a very reputable website, but then again, I can’t exactly see E! Online making up a quote from Zachary Levi, either.
My favs r achick and Life, if u like chuck u may like Life as well. Give it a shot, the word is though it’s going to be canceled. Chuck will survive for sure based on rating average alone, 1.02 to Mediums 1.08 veiwers is not bad. NBC should do what their fans want regardless of ratings!!!!
I may have to celebrate this news with a $5 footlong today.
If this does turn out to be true Subway will be my undisputed sandwich provider from now on and NBC will be my favorite network from whom I will DEFINITELY be buying the Season 2 DVD and a Jeffster t-shirt.
NBC, if you release a Chuck soundtrack I and many others will GLADLY buy it.
Chuck renewed! Whoo Hoo! Yes!!!
I’m thrilled for a Medium renewal! I thought I’d have to sweat it out another day, but I guess not! To be honest, I didn’t think Chuck would be renewed. It didn’t even deserve to be renewed. But, I’ll lay off it – I’m sure fans are thrilled as well!
I wonder what NBC will do with these shows, now. I think Medium is the only one that has a good shot at making the fall schedule. If not, Medium and Law and Order could be brought back early if any of the new dramas fail, or all 3 will be left for midseason.
P&R is getting better and better. I think it’s smarter and funnier (and certainly more grounded) than THE OFFICE which has steadily devolved from sharp satire to complete absurdity. Please fire Rainn Wilson!
Kid A…
Forget all these guys bashing you. You are (unfortunately) absolutely right.
I will say though that “Medium” has not been nurtured at all and could be great if they made a real commitment to it.
Save Chuck Please! it’s one of the best shows out there and you can watch it with your family which we have done since it started! our daughter now 9 loves this show and wants to see Chuck and Sara together again and even casey too. please do the right and good thing by keeping it on.
Thanks again,
Zimmerman’s in Virginia
@Rob and others, I’m a big fan of Reaper and on a lot of the Reaper fansites and boards, and I haven’t seen the fighting between Chuck and Reaper from FANS of these shows, though a lot of the magazine writers and critics did compare the shows a lot, originally.
It sure as hell isn’t the fault of fans of either show that these shows are on the bubble. What I want to know is, what can we do about it! I like a lot of these shows and can’t believe so many of them are threatened.
To: Twitter.com/McCaw
You do know The Office’s ratings went up after it was renewed, right? Same with One Tree Hill. It has time to gain an audience.
Kid A is giving a great album a bad name.
Glad to see the news about Chuck. P&R has potential, and I’m glad it’s getting renewed. The Office wasn’t exactly brilliant in it’s first season either.
When are these 1 hours gonna air? The 10pm hour is not available…
I would like to see NBC pick up the show Fox cancelled “Back to You” I don’t think it was given a chance. The strike screwed up a lot of shows.
Also they should remake my favorite TV Show
“The Ghost and Mrs Muir” the origianl cast was perfect and the show was only on I think two years. If they cast the Handsome Tom Selleck as the the Captain and Patrica Heaton in the Hope Lange character it would be better than anything NBC has on now. It would be hard to replace Charles Nelson Reilly. For people who loved Charles there is a web site selling a DVD of him
called The Life of Reilly.
And the world says… SAVE CHUCK! I hope this is true, because Chuck is easily one of the best shows these days, if not the one best. It’s become greater, bigger, smarter, the comedy is genious and the drama and mithology improved ten fold. And don’t get me started on the Chuck and Sarah romance. I’m a guy and i completely love watching that romance, which doesn’t happen with other shows.
GO CHUCK!
I haven’t watched “Parks & Recreation”, I admit it. But remember, “The Office” sucked in its first season, so giving “P&R” a second shot isn’t the worst thing in the world. It’s got a great cast…hopefully it will get better.
Kid A – First Poster = Grade A moron
He is the reason reality shows with stage managed situations and tears do great!
Further he can’t read / write. Chuck get average of 6M not 2.5. Read a book! Its called numbers for toddlers.
I’m ecstatic about Chuck, but even so—I think I’ll wait for the official word from NBC before I start celebrating. I trust Nikki but I’ll only be 100% happy when I know the cast and crew are certain about their fates.
Having said that, I don’t watch Medium or Law & Order but I’m glad they pulled through for their fans. Maybe I’ll give the shows a try now that I know my number one show should be back in the fall.
I really hope you’re right about Chuck!!
Indy_4_sucks – I am a big fan of both Chuck and NCIS. Watch both religiously.
I’m glad to hear that Chuck may be saved for another season. I’d hate to see such a great show go away.
I just jumped on the Chuck bandwagon, a few weeks ago with the Chevy Chase/Scott Backula plotline and found myself pleasantly surprised. I’ll definitely be watching next season.
As much as I truly enjoy Chuck, it is a mistake for NBC to renew it. Unfortunately, not enough people have seen what I, and it’s vocal fanbase know: It’s a great show.
Unfortunately, it’s also a quirky show that clearly doesn’t click with the audience — not even enough of its own audience, as can be seen from its ratings decline this season. Sometimes geek can click with a mainstream audience (see The Big Bang Theory), but in this case, it just doesn’t. (Maybe because while people like to laugh at geeks, they don’t necessarily want to watch them be heroes.) And network TV viewers just aren’t looking for quirky.
NBC is losing five hours of primetime next season. When you figure in The Biggest Loser, Southland, the Thursday comedies, L&O franchises, Heroes, etc., it becomes obvious that the network shouldn’t be wasting another slot on an hourlong show that hasn’t clicked in its two seasons. NBC needs hits, and it’s not going to get there by renewing shows that can’t perform, especially when it’s stuck with so many declining shows (see L&O shows and Heroes).
“Chuck” is a sh!tty show that occupies valuable network real estate. Rather than keep a show that I know to be sh!tty, I would rather it be replaced by something that might not be, even though there is a high likelihood that the replacement show might also be sh!tty.
Even though the replacement show might be sh!tty, the difference is that the sh!ttiness of “Chuck” is already known whereas the shittiness of the new show is only probable. There is a big difference between ACTUAL fail (i.e., “Chuck”) and probable fail (i.e., anything new).
We already know how many viewers “Chuck gets – FEW. Optimism dictates a new show that might get more, not the same old failure that is “Chuck.”
Many of you unbalanced TV fans oppose anything new on TV with such a pathological hatred that it’s a wonder that you began watching “Chuck” in the first place.
-Harold
————
First off, I respect your oppinion. But I want to point out your last paragraph. You say TV fans oppose anything new on tv. Not just oppose but we apparently have a “pathological hatred.”
How is it that Chuck fans hate anything New when Chuck is in fact NEW. There’s no other show like Chuck and it just finished its 2nd season with the 1st being cut short thanks to the writers strike. In my oppinion Chuck is still a pretty new show. If TV viewers in fact oppose “NEW” things, how did Chuck get its 6-7 million viewers? (which by the way isn’t a “few”) Sure 6-7 mil is small compared to Dancing with the stars’ huge numbers, but they are completely different genres. Dancing appeals to all ages and any type. You can watch it without worring about plot line and being confused about characters and who’s who. So naturally it will have more viewers than Chuck. But seriously, 6-7 million is alot. Fill a room up with that many people and then tell me its a “few”
Lastly i want to ask why it is you think Chuck is so “sh!tty”
Personally i think it has a very engaging storyline with incredible character development. You laugh, you cry, you cheer. All in all it entertains. And isn’t that the point of a show in the first place? To entertain. Yes. And NBC is making the right decision by renewing it. Their business IS entertainment afterall.
-Kylie
What do they say – insanity is to do the same thing and expect different results? I’d say they’re insane, but they’re just dumb as a bag of, well… network executives. Having been privy to NBC’s development process over the past couple years I am not surprised that they’re going “stick with what’s working” and avoid taking any chances. As a network exec if you take chances, you get fired. That’s the reality. That’s how you can explain shows like “Scrubs.” In terms of ratings, networks are getting exactly what they deserve.
I really hope that this info is correct, I’ve been nervous for Chuck since the finale (which I watched LIVE with my footlong in hand). Chuck is absolutely (IMHO) the most enjoyable show on TV right now . . . Way to go NBC for making the right call. Now PLEASE just announce it tomorrow and make it official.
The real problem is that NBC cannot get out of its own way. Chuck and Medium are both great shows and on another network would get much better numbers.
Ghost Whisperer which is not good at all consistently pulls great numbers for CBS. Its almost the same show!
Chuck has it all comedy, drama, action.
Life please save it, just got into it this season and love it!
Southland is not good, You want a real cop show watch the SHIELD!
NCIS and Mark Harmon are KING! Getting great numbers against IDOL!
Love the site as usual
Reaper is ok but not even close to Supernatural.
Steve Wright does know what he is talking about with the CW.
“But, it gets canceled because it doesn’t appeal to tweens and young girls.”
No Tween or Girl watches either Smallville or Supernatural.
The WB and the CW have always thrived on the younger viewers. Buffy, Angel, Felicity, etc, etc.
They are not going to change that formula because it works. How many people know what Gossip Girl is? A lot!
I realize that people may not like Chuck, but that doesn’t make it a bad show. A lot of people, including official entertainment people, like it and praise it. It has consistent ratings in a competitive timeslot, meaning it has a consistent fanbase. It might even be more people in a better timeslot, and I think it deserves to be renewed. I mean, two new shows were renewed that have not-so-hot ratings, why not renew an established show that has consistent ratings?
What *I* remain concerned about is that NBC will pick up Chuck, and let it languish: not promote it reasonably, leave it in the Monday Night Trainwreck timeslot, and just generally do everything they can to make it die on it’s own, so that they (they think) will get the props for “listening to the fans”, but not have to do any work.
You know, like NASA did by naming “the first space shuttle” Enterprise.
Yeah, guys; right.
Nuh-uh.
Oh, and “Reaper? What’s that?
”
Save Chuck Please!it’s the best shows….Chuck is a wonderful show.i love….stauroula from greece..
You say announcement on Monday, but wasn’t there news that Chuck’s fate won’t be announced for a week or two?
I’m glad Chuck might be renewed. Chuck and Life are the only two NBC shows I even watch. I also love Reaper. I’d really hate to see three shows I watch weekly all get canceled. Everything else I watch is on cable, and if Chuck gets canceled, I strongly doubt I’ll watch any network TV after that.
Chuck is awesome better then any show ever made. all those who don’t like it than wow you should get season 1 on DVD
All 4 of the Thursday night shows from 8pm-10pm are trash and need to go. Southland seems to have some quality to it, but has two problems: 1) We were never really introduced to all the characters in a way where we can remember who most of them are from week-to-week (a problem with the show itself), and 2) Following such trash programs by former SNL’ers and others, plus being another COP show up against CBS’s original CSI, is simply a death time slot. ER, the former occupier of the slot, at least had a chance against CSI as a non-cop show, but they were smart enough to call it quits before it went downhill.
Chuck is fun and stupid, but good for a “mindless” show. Mondays need to lead with a mindless show to release all the work problems that accumulated over the weekend for many people. Medium was a good show but has probably run its course as its idea has been played out; one more season to its end, please.
Life is a good show too. Every season, Det. Crews should have at least one more face for his “wall.” When the wall is complete, then the series ends (3 seasons?).
PS: On CBS, I watch NCIS. It’s the ONLY prime-time show on CBS that I watch. I also watched JAG when NBC cancelled it and CBS picked it up. Big mistake NBC.
I’m surprised that “Earl” and “the Office” survived their first season. I cancelled them in my household by the third show! “30 Rock” – How desperate was NBC not even to think of a real title and go with their own corporate HQ’s street address?
Law & Order: Overfranchised. Have a single L&O time slot, and with 17 episodes per each of the 3 versions, that’s 51 weeks of NO reruns! Interleave the 3 versions if necessary.
I get if people don’t like Chuck because obviously everyone has different taste, but for people to call it unwatchable, such as Susan or call it shitty as Harold does, it may be because you probably either lack a soul or your mental capacity is so far below the average person you can’t really grasp concepts. I love Chuck and if this is actually true I would be super excited. It different than other shows (though I agree on the similarities to Reaper which I also enjoy) mainly because it really touches on many different genres (Action, Drama, Comedy, Romance, Awesomeness). So if you don’t like it, it’s fine but saying it is a bad show is admitting your an ignorant moron, who I would assume watches either reality crap (Idol, Dancing D-list celebrities) or nearly the same exact show over and over again on CBS (unless you count the comedies, which I personally am not a fan of though How I met Your Mother is funny, but Two and a Half Men is such dumbed down comedy)
NBC isn’t exactly working with the strongest programming hand. It makes sense they would bring CHUCK back–it’s one of the few face cards the net has (quality-wise, if not ratings-wise.) As for MEDIUM–that show has always been a drag, but it does decently enough to be a placeholder. (Unfortunately.
)
I say screw Leno and keep our favorite shows.
If he wanted to work stay on the Tonight Show. NBC is so stupid.
Life is an awesome show and so is Chuck.
I hope the Leno show falls flat on its face.
Boycott NBC at 10:00
Sure do hope that Chuckles is coming back
People – If you loved every single show on TV then you would be wasting time/your life doing nothing but watching them. It’s kind of nice when there is only 1 show on a night that is of interest. Easy decision and more time to read, hang out with friends and family, right?
So be happy if you hate Chuck and P & R… More time to NOT watch tv.
And, if you love them, enjoy!
First season of “MEDIUM” was sharp as hell. The actors are uniformly great (regardless of weight class), their family interaction is very realistic. But the WRITING has become SLACK and LAZY. Unless the story editor sharpens up the scripts, this renewal is wasted.
What many of you fail to recognize is an emerging strategy from NBC, the first since Reilly was foolishly dismissed. The most important thing Angela Bromstad can do for advertisers, and I do mean Angela since this is now her network and not Ben’s, is to show some stability in its scheduling. None of these shows can be dismissed outright for their creative. They may have challenges in ratings, but for many of us who carp that one of the big problems with networks is that they don’t allow a show to find its audience, these renewals are to that end. It buys time for Angela’s new development to find its footing. Frankly, for this network, it shows a surprising maturity.
Bring back She Spies!
CHUCK IS AWESOME IT IS BETTER THAN HALF OF THE SHOWS ON NBC PARKS CAUGH WATCHING MEDIUM IS LIKE GIVING BIRTH TO A CHILD
We’re not really supposed to be excited that Law and Order is renewed. It’s sort of like a colonoscopy. You think you need it when you’re over fifty, and you don’t remember anything about it when it’s over.
Chuck is the greatest show since Star trek! I can’t believe that there is even one idiota Out there that has a hatred for Chuck… It doesn’t make sense in any way. This show will live in syndication longer than Lucy! I just hope they bring Anna and Morgan back they can’t stay in Hawaii. Without Morgan and Anna there’s a distinct lack of people for Casey to push to the ground by the face and Asian Hotness with a tendency towards an A**kicking. She needs to be an agent… I can’t wait to buy the 3rd season in advance! I bought the 2nd season in advance and haven’t regretted a dime! Hello- hosting 2 day Chuck marathons in Washington State 3 days after the 3rd season and hoping for at least 5 more! WOOHOO!! My iPod runneth over!! Jeff, lester, Milbarge, and Morgan the new Marx brothers and all 4 stooges together!!
Chuck Rules!!
Giving up the 10 pm hour is just ludicrous.
NBC needs to get back to their urban upscale pedigree of the late 90’s. These shows were smart and felt intelligent.
CBS Monday night comedies kick NBC Thursday night shows in the ratings although I’d much rather watch NBC comedies if I had to. There is nothing broken about the multi-camera sitcom format. CBS sitcoms are targeted to the masses. Why doesn’t NBC try to get a multi-camera sitcom back on the air of quality like Frasier or Friends or Will & Grace or Seinfeld. The multi-camera format is obviously not dead according to the gospel of Chuck Lorre.
What the hell is “CHUCK?” Never even seen or heard of it…
Medium is terrible, put poochy down before it infects the rest of NBC’s lineup. Oh, too late…
Listen – all the commenters who bashed Chuck – It is the only show I watch – I do not have TV – not even basic cable – this is a recent decision due to most everything being annoying crap and reality tv now. I go to Hulu and I watch Chuck – that’s it – this is for a couple of reasons – first, there are very few hours of TV that I’ve watched in my whole lifetime, that are just pure, unadulterated fun – whether it’s crazy action sequences, romantic bits, which I don’t even mind, due to Yvonne Strahovsky being some sort of otherworldly goddess, goofy jokes and dialogue, or intense scenes, the entire mood and result of the show is fun – always fun – I heard a review of the show say, sometimes, it appears as if the writers of Chuck take their time with each scene, and think “What else can we add to this scene to cram in as much “awesome” as possible?” And I think this sums it up – it’s energetic, fun, and the actors have got the chemistry working now
Let me address a few points that people seem to think are good reasons for canceling Chuck:
1.) Poor ratings – well actually, they’re not that poor – LOOK at the TIME SLOT – you’ve got a well-established juggernaut like House, and other well-known shows up against a new one that’s relatively unknown – the fact that it gets 6.5-ish million viewers isn’t that bad at all – not to mention that out of the whole group of people I know that watch Chuck, a lot of them watch it on Hulu – there’s a lot of viewers that don’t sit down for a family dinner and TV anymore…
2.) Just bad or unwatchable – there hasn’t been much elaboration on this – As I mentioned before, the show’s overall goal appears to be fun, rather than a lot of other crap out there that tries to be unusual, or mess with your head, or be serious and depressing – if you don’t like fun, fine, but pretty people saving the country while blowing stuff up and cracking jokes (and some actually smart jokes) is a pretty common formula of stuff people like. If you’re old and cranky because you’re not pretty anymore and you can’t follow the action because you move/function/think too slowly – well that’s why they make CBS – why don’t you go play some bingo or something…pesky old people and their sense of entitlement…
Chuck is a fast-paced and fun show that’s the only thing I actually look forward to, TV-wise, on a regular basis – as do a large number of people I know…I really hope this is true, because Chuck is a great show…
^ Well get educated then.
You see the magnitude of people signing its praises here. Go check it out for yourself.
NBC is a has-been regarding comedy. It used to OWN Thursday nights starting with Cheers and ending with Seinfeld.
What I want to know is: Will Showtime (a CBS property) give us not only season 4 of the Tudors with Henry 8 but a season 5 that blitzkreigs through his son, Edward, his daughter Mary and then we get to the great stuff of Elizabeth 1 and the founding of Virginia as a colony. Showtime can have emmy’s every year if they do that!
I disconnected HBO and got Showtime just for theTudors.
NBC can kiss my patootie when it comes to programming. They’re worse then CBS – at least CBS has a demographic they keep going after consistently – the Angela Landsbury age group.
Amazingly CBS has a good comedy with Charlie Sheen to replace its Everyone loves Raymond series.
Too many law/csi/drama things going on and not enough of anything else that’s substantial.
law and order criminal intent the best show on t.v that better be picked up it is great!!!!!
Are you guys kidding me? CBS is number 1 in total viewers, and second in the 18-49 demo which mainly due to American Idol and you guys are giving CBS shit…Ha fun fact out all the networks which one has actually grown their audience…oh snap. By the way Chuck fans (which I happen to also be) stop trying to justify Chuck’s lousy ratings by saying things like “it’s against & DWTS”, so what The Big Bang Theory for instance is as old as Chuck and thrashes it week to week in both total viewers and the key demo.
Chuck’s ratings are awful and when you guys keep on arguing that you “watch on Hulu” and ratings do not matter, you are talking out of your ass. If anything Hulu is hurting your cause and newsflash why would a network keep on show on the air if that does not make it money…this is not PBS.
Hopefully Chuck will be renewed but I have by this time next year we Chuck fans will find ourselves in the same predicament.
Well this is just lovely. Now we get to wait for May 19th to get something definitive on Chuck and the other shows on the bubble. What a total waste of a morning.
how could any geek/pop culture type dislike Chuck? We’ve had references to the back to the future, Ned Ryerson, Austin Milbarge and Emmit Fitz-Hume. Hell Chevy showed up and was good. Lets get Dan Ackroyd on asap
I love Chuck, give parks and rec time, i think it’s quirky…Medium and Southland – pull the plug.
BRING BACK CHUCK, BRING BACK CHUCK!!
Ralph, we hate it because it’s too nerdy. There is no reason knowing about pop culture should make you look like a loser in this day and age. Chuck is the loser poster child. For those who even give it a second thought.
chucks a great show ! I am tired of the “realiaty show” and with the end of ER and the com back (901200
chucks new and refreahing
SAVE CHUCK
Sarah and chuck or will hollywood writers blow it !!!
Earl
One of the problems with Chuck is that it is up against “Big Bang Theory” another show that vernerates geeks. I watch one and DVR the other. I teach physics and my students receive extra credit for watching Big Bang Theory and bringing in an example of the science talked about in the show.
I don’t think the present ratings system adequately provides all the information necessary to make sound judgements regarding programming. Does it even take into consideration the large number of pople today who have DVRs and/or TIVO?
Let’s face it, it is all about scheduling. Thursday night, Grey’s vs CSI are almost equal. Does anyone not think that either would dominated the time slot if they were not against each other?
Gosh, put Chuck on Friday nights–just not against Numbers.
I LIKED VEGAS AND IT GOT CANNED,BOSTON LEGAL AND NOW CHUCK. FOR AN HOUR THEY TOOK YOU AWAY FROM REALITY. I SEEM TO BE WATCHING MORE AND MORE CABLE CHANNELS.
Hey Mark-
If you think that Hulu doesn’t matter, why did Disney/ABC just join up with them? Check the news. Hulu is becoming a major force, a major TRACKABLE force. And, the major networks (NBC, FOX, ABC & Disney to date) are jumping on the band wagon.
Let’s be honest; it’s all about advertising dollars and Nielsen ratings are outdated. They are guessing on the number of viewers based on 5,000 households in the US. Does that even make sense?
Pay attention. I can guarantee you that the smart advertisers are. Websites like Hulu can give networks actual numbers; who watched, how many times they watched, full or partial episode. And, most importantly, you can’t fast forward through the commercials like you can with TiVo or other DVRs. It is an advertisers dream scenario!
>>What the hell is “CHUCK?”
>>Never even seen or heard of it…
>>Comment by umberto — May 3, 2009 @ 8:35 pm
Sadly, that says it all. I hadn’t heard anything about it until it was background noise on Sci Fi one Friday. I heard “Oceanic Flight 815 was shot down by..” and I was suddenly paying attention. Any LOST fan would.
I rewound (Thanks DVR!) and watched the show from the beginning and decided to check it out from the beginning.
I feel that Chuck has an amazingly talented, balanced cast. The writing is obviously a labor of love as well as being good quality. The pop culture references are brilliant. It’s a show that is fun. Definitely not mindless, but you don’t have to be a deep thinker to get something out of it either.
Action, comedy, drama, and an indefinable way of not taking itself too seriously.
Sadly, it’s not for everyone, but I think it would be for a lot more people if they even knew about it. Shame on NBC for not promoting it decently. The only time I ever saw it happen was during the Superbowl. But whenever I mention “Chuck” to people, I get one of two responses: “I love that show!” or “Never heard of it.” *sigh* Seems to be a widespread sickness throughought NBC Universal.
Concerning Chuck and Hulu.
I rewatched the last 2 eps the other night. On Hulu.
The quality is good, and the breaks are one spot apiece. 15-30 seconds. They’re even generally less annoying than network spots.
The finale was “presented by AT&T with limited commercial interruptions”. I’ll say: *one* :30, in the first break, and not even for — oh yeah; the iPhone isn’t just an Apple product. Forgot that.
Stylish, AT&T.
I still won’t buy your phones because your network sucks, but that was a stylish ad buy, nonetheless.
Now, if your network didn’t suck…
I really enjoy watching Chuck, can’t say as I watch any other show on NBC really… Hope they don’t drop it or cut it to 1/2 season.
Someone commented: “roll on Monday, then we can put an end to most of this speculation, as for NBC delaying the news about Chuck, I know they just had someone die, but isnt it easier to decide if they should keep a show, compared to which pilot they should offer a series (be it a 6 or 13 episode commitment) to..”
I wouldn’t write Bryce off. He’s been “dead” before.I bet he is in “deep cover” again.
Chuck is Get Smart for the 21st century. I’ve been in computers since 1958 and love the subtle geek references, as well as the action, comedy, romance–you name it. In the episode where the new Intersect got uploaded into Chuck’s brain, that was an Apple Plus or SE’s screen upon which he placed his hand for recognition. What a completely-surprise placement in that white sci-fi room! These kinds of things are very clever on the part of the script writers.
If I can’t catch this one on Mondays, I have it on Tivo, watch it on the website or Hulu. I barely watch any other TV–I’m a computer junkie.
One of the best reasons I can think to save Chuck is that there isn’t anything else like it on TV. A nerdy, character-driven Josh Schwartz spy spoof hour-long action comedy.
The same cannot be said for Medium (It’s Ghost Whisperer with smaller boobs and marginally better acting), Parks & Rec (The crappy version of The Office) or Southland or Law & Order (every cop show ever).
If fans wanted to help the show, I’d think watching it on Hulu (and doing the clicky-clicky on some ads, perhaps?) would be a darn fine way, no?
I really hope they Renew Chuck. I really do. It’s amazing and one of the only shows that makes me smile like a complete goon, go “Awh”, and even “OMG” at the same time.
I feel sad for the people that are against getting Chuck renewed, because that’s down right selfish. If they don’t like it, fine, your own opinion (Although I honestly don’t see how anyone could hate it. I wonder if they’ve even watched it?) but don’t take it away from the millions and millions who adore it and would do a hell of a lot to get it renewed. I for one have been buying many subways for my lunch.
But yes, please Renew Chuck. Sarah and Chuck haven’t even gotten together yet, well not properly and it’s beginning to feel like a Bones and Booth relationship. And I dont mean in the sense that they don’t know their feelings or are too scared to say them, I just mean about how long it’s getting stretched out. So many loose ends still need to be tied up, and the end of season two was no way a show ender.
Please Renew Chuck
Chuck is an amazingly funny show without falling into the sappy, repetitive sitcom genre. In addition to comedy it offers action, drama, romance, satire and science fiction. The show is pure entertainment and is enjoyed by a wide variety of ages and personalities. It is a great way to just relax and enjoy an hour at the end of a hard day.
Zack Levi is an incredibly funny actor. They have written so much more depth into all the characters and story lines this season and have left the door open to expand Chuck even further by revealing the father character played by Scott Backula. If for no other reason (even though there are many reasons) NBC should renew Chuck for a third season it would be to allow all the Quantum Leap fans the opportunity to meet Chuck and to enjoy the nostalgia that comes from, “oh, boy”, Scott Backula being added to the cast. That alone will expand the number of Chuck viewers in season 3. Please give us one more season to prove how many old and soon to be new viewers there really are out here.
CHUCK ROX! I cannot emphasize this point enough. If they cancel that show, I will die.
PNR sux (bad, bad, bad Office rip off), Southland looks like a show to placate those who miss ER and I dont’ watch Medium, but that looks dumb too.
I am a huge Chuck fan. If you’d like to support it, check out the blogsite that was set up to support both the fan renewal effort of our favorite show as well as the American Heart Association.
The blog explains the procedure used to donate to the Have a Heart – Renew Chuck campaign which originated on the NBC Chuck Forum on May 5, 2009. Fans will be donating to Subway’s favorite charity, The American Heart Association, in the name of Chuck Bartowski.
There are a handful of shows I watch (literally–4 or 5). ‘Chuck’ is the only one that I actually care about it being renewed. It’s absolutely the most fun show I’ve ever watched, and the Chuck & Sarah relationship is, to me, sooooo compelling–I really care about them as a couple (which is a first for me about some “TV couple”). I’m not sure a TV season without ‘Chuck’ is of any interest to me at all. I am sure that I’ll never watch NBC again if they don’t renew ‘Chuck’; I’ll just keep watching the ‘Chuck’ season 2 DVDs over & over.