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[Hari Seldon]

13 eps > 22 eps, especially for this show. This season in particular has shown they don't have enough material for a full season.

Meh I like all of the seasons of Chuck. I don't care about the overall plot. I just like the shenanigans and the characters.

 

[Sirpopopop]

13 eps > 22 eps, especially for this show. This season in particular has shown they don't have enough material for a full season.

Slightly disagree here.

I think a full 22 episode season of Chuck would work provided they were given the information early enough so they can stretch the 13-episode main plotline over 22 episodes. This also has the side effect of allowing some of the plots that deserve a little more breathing room like Sarah's hunt through the jungles of Thailand for Chuck, the allotted time that they so deserved, rather than the time they had to jam pack in.

However, if it's going to be another setup like this season, than I would have to pass on it.

 

[Cornballer]

- Promo #2 for Monday's season finale *spoilers*

 

[Solo]

stretch the 13-episode main plotline over 22 episodes.

stretch

Therein lies the problem. 22 episodes = loads of filler.

 

[stuminus3]

If Yvonne Strahovski falls off the face of the planet after Chuck finishes, I'm gonna be pissed.

 

[bathala]

I think wat made this season stale for me was Chuck have to struggle. He has the girl, an agent, and flashes works. Everything is perfect. Well we'll see wat happens next episode.

Right now I'm just watching this season for Yvonne

 

[Sirpopopop]

Therein lies the problem. 22 episodes = loads of filler.

I think the way I'm referring to "stretch" and the way you are referring to "stretch" are too different things.

The way I'm looking at = Fedak+Schwarz can avoid the problem of undercooking plots for the show, plus give us the opportunity for 2-3 cool one-off adventures.

Right now, what we're getting is two seasons of plotting in one season.

 

[Captain Nemo]

Season 5!

I've given up fighting against the bad plotting and reduced budget. I'm good as long as they bring the funny. This week was great in that department.

 

[CrankyJay]

If Yvonne Strahovski falls off the face of the planet after Chuck finishes, I'm gonna be pissed.

Sort of wish Chuck ended after S2...and then she could have been Cersei Lannister on GoT (dreaming, I know). Sorry Lena.

 

[Cornballer]

- AssignmentX interview with Linda Hamilton *some finale spoilers*

ASSIGNMENT X was lucky enough to get the chance to talk to Hamilton this week in Part 1 of this exclusive interview about her latest acting job as the Spy mother of the title character of the NBC series CHUCK. Hamilton opens up about how she got involved in the show, what twists and turns in her character’s development have surprised her, and whether or not she will be back for another season.

 

[woodchuck]

hopefully we get to see Jill one last time

 

[Raistlin]

I see this as good news. Now please dont add to the 13 episodes once a few of them have aired, and the road to the end is in motion.

Yeah. If they're going to do a full season ... they need to make sure the decision is soon enough.

 

[Raistlin]

i would hope the final scene of the show is morgan getting the intersect and him just have a shit eating grin on his face

No. Buffy ending. Everyone gets the intersect. Just imagine Jeffster.

 

[CrankyJay]

I expect a Buffy ending. Everyone gets the intersect.

Fuck did you just spoil Buffy for me?

 

[Raistlin]

Just order a full season and do it the proper way damnit. They get a cut of the dvd sales don't they?

No. WB is the studio that makes the show.

Fuck did you just spoil Buffy for me?

As though you were planning to watch it?

Technically that really isn't how it ends, it's a bit more complicated. You're welcome to my Buffy and Angel box sets though. Watch them in the proper order ... and give them back in a year or so

 

[CrankyJay]

No. WB is the studio that makes the show.





As though you were planning to watch it?

Technically that really isn't how it ends, it's a bit more complicated. You're welcome to my Buffy and Angel box sets though. Watch them in the proper order ... and give them back in a year or so

Eh...maybe. I just don't get the Whedon love. All his shit starts off well and gets canceled. Summer Glau is the fucking kiss of death.

Speaking of which, any word on that abomination called The Cape?

 

[Tomcat]

where is this from?

 

[Cornballer]

Speaking of which, any word on that abomination called The Cape?

It's been dead and buried for a while now.

 

[Captain Nemo]

where is this from?

Didn't make it, but I believe it's part of the behind-the-scenes material from the Season 2 DVD/Blu-ray.

 

[Raistlin]

Eh...maybe. I just don't get the Whedon love. All his shit starts off well and gets canceled. Summer Glau is the fucking kiss of death.

'all his shit'?

Buffy was 7 seasons with a full 8th season in comic (and motion comic) release, 9th season on the way ... and a ton of one-offs and side arcs.

Angel was 5 seasons and also lives on in comic form.

Dr. Horrible was pretty successful for what it is.

Hell even the Firefly/Serenity comics are really popular.

etc.



I'm just saying, he's had plenty of successful endeavors. As to the love, I guess you'd have to watch them to see if you agree. It mostly comes down to people liking his dialog and sense of humor. However given your love of Lost and Fringe, there are two things that I think Abrams is very similar in - They both really know how to do WTF, epic cliffhangers. If anything, Whedon has eps where it's WTF after WTF. Also Whedon is not afraid to kill people off. Lost seems to get a lot of credit for that, but Whedon has always been happy to kill off main characters.

Speaking of which, any word on that abomination called The Cape?

I think that was cancelled a while ago.

 

[ConfusingJazz]

Fuck did you just spoil Buffy for me?

1) Its been 8 years
2) Its been at at least 10 since it was good

 

[Mashing]

Has the show already qualified for syndication? I"m pretty sure it has, but if not this definitely puts it over the top.

 

[Raistlin]

Has the show already qualified for syndication? I"m pretty sure it has, but if not this definitely puts it over the top.

I assume you mean Strip Syndication (daily syndication) which allows episodes of a television series to be shown daily five times a week? This will put it to the common 100 ep requirement, but that really isn't a defined minimum anyway. It does make it more marketable though.

 

[Prologue]

So chuck is ending next season, House and Fringe( most probably). Ah well I guess it was a good run. Not going to be much to watch soon.

 

[Metalmurphy]

I'm glad they renewed while specifying it's the final season. Allows the writers to end things properly.

 

[Domino Theory]

Hoping for the back 9 to come into play.

 

[Doorman]

I'm really glad about the official word of season 5, but I actually hope that they just keep it at the 13 episodes mentioned and leave it there. It's been mentioned already that most of Chuck's big "dragons" have been slain already (why he got kicked out of school, why Jill dumped him, wanting to become a "real spy," the romance with Sarah, having to keep his friends and family out of the loop, facing off against an evil intersect, getting the full story behind his father and mother, and now he's cleaning up their mistakes that kicked the whole thing off). What other major plot arcs are left to uncover without having to stretch into incredibly cheesy or irrelevant territory? A shorter season that does the job of showing how things settle into place following all of this drama seems like it would be a nice way to tie up the series, as I have a hard time imagining that pulling it longer will really produce a well-paced and impactful plot.

 

[PhoncipleBone]

I just want them to tell the producers rather quickly if it gets a back 9 or not. Just let them end the show on their own terms, whether it is shitty or not.

 

[Screaming_Gremlin]

It's still unclear if they're going to run it in the Fall or save it for later. All together, this is a solution that makes sense for NBC, and I'm very happy that it's working out this way.

For the last two seasons the show has done better in the fall/winter so you would think they would keep it there. The ratings seem to plummet every year around day light savings, so you would think they would learn to not show it during that time.

As for the 13 episode vs 22 episode argument, while I would prefer 22 episodes, I agree with others saying I hope they just know going into the season so they can plan for it. The reason I would prefer 22 is that I don't think the writers are always good at compressing a season into only 3 episodes. Both this season and last I feel they always started to rush thing going into the 13th episode. This year was particularly bad about that.

 

[Incendiary]

I love Chuck, and will be sad to see it go, but I'm glad NBC has told them it will be the final season. No what-ifs, no potential cliffhangers, and especially no bubble talk from TV sites trying to gain hits by constantly being wrong about a show's chances.

I really hope next season's pilots are better than this past season's. I didn't pick up a single new show this season. Or maybe I'm just getting too old for TV.

 

[CrankyJay]

I'm just saying, he's had plenty of successful endeavors. As to the love, I guess you'd have to watch them to see if you agree. It mostly comes down to people liking his dialog and sense of humor. However given your love of Lost and Fringe, there are two things that I think Abrams is very similar in - They both really know how to do WTF, epic cliffhangers. If anything, Whedon has eps where it's WTF after WTF. Also Whedon is not afraid to kill people off. Lost seems to get a lot of credit for that, but Whedon has always been happy to kill off main characters.

My love for Lost wained after the final season. Hell...season 1 is still my favorite.

 

[Vivalaraza]

What's a "bubble show" guys?

 

[ExMachina]

What's a "bubble show" guys?

"On the bubble" = straddling the fence between success and failure, for TV shows it means it's uncertain whether it will be renewed or cancelled for another season.

 

[suaveric]

As I suspected, Chuck is coming back as a Friday night show. In my mind, that improves the odds that they'll give it the back nine episodes, assuming it doesn't do any worse than it has this spring. I doubt they're really looking to plug another show in on a Friday night.

Here's NBC's line up for next season: http://www.deadline.com/2011/05/nbc-unveils-2011-12-primetime-schedule/

 

[ollin]

Looks like NBC just wanted another season for the syndication money.

 

[suaveric]

Looks like NBC just wanted another season for the syndication money.

The thing is, NBC doesn't own any part of the show, so they get no money from syndication. WB does, so it's possible they offered the show for free to NBC to be able to get those 13 episodes that they needed to sell it in to syndication.

 

[RevoDS]

We already knew it would be a Friday show if it returned, considering it's been getting 1.3s for the better part of the spring, but the bright side is that the press release seems to confirm the order won't be extended. It says "(for its fifth and final season of 13 episodes)".

I'm relieved. Now the crew can go all in and go out with a bang without worrying about keeping the ending open for a back 9.

 

[Screaming_Gremlin]

I'm relieved. Now the crew can go all in and go out with a bang without worrying about keeping the ending open for a back 9.

Agreed. It is best that they know going in what the last episode is going to be. I just hope the writers don't try to do bunch of filler episodes before cramming everything into the last 2-3 episodes.

 

[Screaming_Gremlin]

Further confirmation that it isn't going to be getting a back nine. From an Ausiello interview with NBC president Bob Greenblatt.

TVLINE | Why did you decide to make Chuck‘s upcoming fifth season its last?
It seemed to be the way to end it appropriately for the fans who love it, and not get into a situation where it might end or might not end and then it ends and we haven’t concluded the storyline. It gives [producers] a chance to plan for it. I think that’s the best way to do it.

TVLINE | You only ordered 13 episodes of Chuck. Any chance you’ll increase that number?
I don’t think so. Unless suddenly we have 10 million viewers watching it on Friday night, then it would.

 

[Solo]

13 is more than enough. Don't fuck this up, Schwartz/Fedak.

 

[Cornballer]

Thanks for keeping the news flowing, fellas.

This all sounds like a good plan by the network. It's good finally having some adults in charge at NBC.

 

[Adam Blade]

Big Mike is kinda short irl...

Nice of him to give me his hat without me even asking for it.

 

[Cornballer]

Comments from Schwartz:

Decision by NBC to pick up CHUCK for a final season to complete the story was incredibly classy. A gift to fans who have been so loyal.

We are very grateful. Most shows don't have this opportunity. Watch the kick ass finale tomorrow night and get ready for S5!

 

[Domino Theory]

So what happens if the ratings improve by a lot on Friday nights? Will they consider a Season 6 or still let the show end after the 5th season?

 

[Cornballer]

So what happens if the ratings improve by a lot on Friday nights? Will they consider a Season 6 or still let the show end after the 5th season?

No, it's done no matter what happens. In addition, there's really no chance the ratings improve much on a Friday night.

 

[Cornballer]

Sepinwall teasing re: the finale:

One thing I'll say on "Chuck" right now: based on how tomorrow's finale ends, s5 has the chance to be a really strong close for the series.

Schwartz:

Tomorrow night's CHUCK has quite the cliffhanger... And several other HUGE EPIC events. Biggest finale ever.

 

[dLMN8R]

Woohoo! Extremely awesome move by NBC, kudos to them. Can't wait to see what happens in the finale!

 

[Cornballer]

More from Sepinwall:

FRIDAY: And here we come to the final resting place of Charles Irving Bartowski and the rest of the "Chuck" gang. Again, the idea behind the 13-episode renewal - and Greenblatt told Ausiello that the circumstances under which the order might extend beyond 13 are basically impossible - was to help give NBC some kind of beachhead on Friday, and to give "Grimm" (a modern homicide cop investigates crimes tied to fairy tales) an established lead-in.

"I thought if we had a chance to transport an audience to Friday night, it would be something with a real following," Greenblatt suggested, using the same logic FOX execs did when they moved "Fringe" to that night this season.

Depending on where "Fringe" and "Supernatural" end up, there could be a major geek show pile-up at either 8 or 9, or in both hours. One thing I'll say to "Chuck" fans (and I'll go on at greater length in my review of the season 4 finale): tomorrow's episode sets up a status quo I cannot wait to see in the fall, and that will hopefully cure any "Chuck" fans of ambivalent feelings about this victory lap season.

NBC head on Chuck:

Speaking of CHUCK and NBC’s decision to renew it, “Chuck is a good show, which gets bad rap from always being on the cancellation line,” Greennblatt said. “We’re giving the show a send-off with a final season, that’s what the fans want.”

 

[whytemyke]

This is the best possible news I could have hoped for. My problems with S4-- even though I've hardly been voicing them in here-- is the rote story-telling and the fear that the writers have for creating something they can't go back on.

Now with a locked-in, 13 episode season finale, and the chance to bank on it being the end, everyone can work together to craft an ending to this story and the characters. I'm actually looking forward to it.

Has anyone heard if NBC is gonna run the final season in the fall or are they going to wait til after the holidays to run it?

 

[Cornballer]

Has anyone heard if NBC is gonna run the final season in the fall or are they going to wait til after the holidays to run it?

It will be on Fridays this Fall.