Please Save Chuck

Post Renewal Highlights

James Fan — Wed, 20 May 2009 06:30:44 +0000

Let’s catch y’all up on today’s official announcement from NBC (hooray!). First up, highlights from Jennifer Godwin’s liveblog of NBC’s scheduling conference call:

From Ben Silverman’s introduction: “We are thrilled to be bringing back Chuck in partnership with Subway.”
According to Silverman, the online campaign really saved Chuck, and lack of online demand for shows like Medium and My Name Is Earl contributed to their demise.
Silverman says he was sent more Nerds than anybody could consume in a lifetime. They will promote Chuck heavily during the Olympics.
Silverman, in response to concerns about trimming castmembers: “We’re not looking to lower the cost in any way. We want Josh Schwartz, Zach and McG to perform at the highest levels. The show you love will be the show you get.”
Silverman, on internal support of the show: “There were a lot of people within this company who love that show.”

Next up, Alan Sepinwall’s take on the conference call plus an excellent interview with Chris Fedak:

“We are so confident in the Olympic platform,” Silverman promised. “The Olympics obviously delivered a halo effect for everyone involved with it.” He also said they have “an incredible online plan” to keep the show in people’s minds between now and March.
Later, another reporter asked if there was a chance season three could extend longer than the initial 13-episode order, given that the episodes won’t start airing until March. “Right now that’s the plan,” Silverman said, “but we could extend it out and run it through the summer. We think it would pair very well with ‘Friday Night Lights.’ We love how young the show is and love where the show can grow.” (Editor’s note: Two of my favorite shows on television paired together!)
Chris Fedak on the sponsorship deal with Subway: “We’re still hashing out the details of how that’s going to work. But we’re excited. Looking at the last two seasons, we’ve always had fun with the idea of product integration.”
Fedak, on whether or not we might see Sarah or Morgan in a Subway uniform: “That’s a possibility.”
Fedak, on making room for standalone episodes: “Yes, we will have room to do standalone episodes. I think that it doesn’t change the overall story, but it does change how we structure the story, but we still will do standalone episodes.”
A hint from Fedak on where things are headed in the next season: “I will say this: Season three will not be lacking in romance.”

Also, don’t forget to check out the official press release from NBC.

On a final note: way to go, everyone! Take the joy you’re feeling right now, bottle it up, and crack it open the next time the cynics tells you fan campaigns don’t make a difference.

We’ve got plenty of time to campaign for Chuck before it returns next winter. Continue spreading the word and let’s keep the momentum going!

Awesome news: ‘Chuck’ to return for a third season

James Fan — Mon, 18 May 2009 03:03:48 +0000

“It’s official: “Chuck” is coming back for a 13-episode third season.”

- Maureen Ryan, Chicago Tribune

Read the full article …

Chuck saved! (but at a bargain price)

James Fan — Mon, 18 May 2009 03:02:24 +0000

“I have faith that Fedak, Schwartz and company can make the show work on a tighter budget, and maybe, if the ratings are decent enough (and compared to some of what NBC has aired since the “Chuck” finale, “Chuck” looks like a world-beater for them), that 13-episode order becomes 22. ”

- Alan Sepinwall, The Star-Ledger

Read the full article …

‘Chuck’ back, but on tighter budget

James Fan — Sun, 17 May 2009 23:30:25 +0000

“Chuck will live to fight another day, albeit on a tighter budget. NBC and Warner Bros. TV were close to finalizing a third-season renewal deal on Sunday for the action-comedy that has a modest but passionate fanbase.”

- Cynthia Littleton, Variety

Read the full article …

Chuck Renewed!

James Fan — Sun, 17 May 2009 23:23:55 +0000

Signs are pointing towards a favorable announcement for Chuck in the next ~~couple days~~ few hours. Updates as they come:

(4:55pm PT) Michael Ausiello adds another affirmative along with some news about budget cuts (cutting back on supporting cast appearances and possibly eliminating one character altogether).
(4:50pm PT) Cynthia Littleton confirms the renewal chatter.
(4:40pm PT) Joe Adalian from TVWeek and Michael Ausiello from TV Guide are both reporting on Twitter that the show has been renewed, although Ausiello hints at some unfortunate news as well.
(4:30pm PT) James Hibberd from The Live Feed is reporting that the show has been renewed for a 13-episode season.
(3:48pm PT) Variety’s Cynthia Littleton is reporting that a deal is imminent between NBC and Warner Brothers.
Nellie Andreeva of The Hollywood Reporter says: “We may have the winner in the “Chuck vs. the renewal” face-off as early as Sunday. Sources indicate that the bubble NBC dramedy with strong Web following is close to a third-season pickup.”
Matt Mitovich from TV Guide echoes the same thoughts: “A Season 3 pick-up could come as early as Sunday evening, as NBC and Warner Bros. attempt to hammer out the final details of a deal that would further whittle down Chuck’s overhead, sources tell the Hollywood Reporter.”

Brian Howard from Remote Access does a nice job of rounding up the pertinent bits.

Good Luck, Chuck! Renewal News May Come Soon

James Fan — Sun, 17 May 2009 23:08:08 +0000

“A Season 3 pick-up could come as early as Sunday evening, as NBC and Warner Bros. attempt to hammer out the final details of a deal that would further whittle down Chuck’s overhead, sources tell the Hollywood Reporter.”

- Matt Mitovich

Read the full article …

“Chuck”: Renewal deal expected today

James Fan — Sun, 17 May 2009 23:05:35 +0000

“It ain’t over ’til it’s over, but people who are in a position to know say that confirmation of “Chuck” third-season renewal deal between NBC and Warner Bros. TV is expected later today.”

- Cynthia Littleton, Variety

Read the full article …

The Strategies of the Save Chuck campaign

James Fan — Fri, 15 May 2009 05:51:32 +0000

“By contrast, the Chuck campaign seems to have a lot more potential. Here, after all, the fans realize that their viewership alone clearly hasn’t been enough to impress NBC. NBC needs to monetize that fandom, and is currently unsure that they’re getting enough out of it; thus, the fans respond by giving NBC another metric by which they can monetize the fans.”

- Jonathan Gray, The Extratextuals

Read the full article …

Ask Ausiello

James Fan — Thu, 14 May 2009 06:03:40 +0000

“Warner Bros. and NBC are haggling over money. Shocking, I know. If a deal can be worked out — and I have every reason to believe it can (and will) be — it’ll be back for a 13-episode third season.”

- Michael Ausiello, Enertainment Weekly

Read the full article …

Jon Stewart has a message for NBC

James Fan — Wed, 13 May 2009 22:20:14 +0000

“OK, so this segment from The Daily Show isn’t really about Chuck, it’s mostly about Nancy Pelosi. But I think that Chuck fans should snip the last few seconds of the segment and put it in a video and send it to NBC.”

- Bob Sassone, TV Squad

Read the full article …