The Lunch Table: "CHUCK" comes back this Sunday!

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

"CHUCK" comes back this Sunday!

- Posted by Rusty

For all you guys who have never seen this show, you're missing out. It's funny, wonderfully written, and, not to mention, packed with crazy spy action, stunts galore, and some of the most likable characters on TV. Chuck comes back this Sunday, January 10, on NBC with a 2-hour premiere, followed by a bonus new episode on Monday, January 11 (which will become its regular timeslot). That's 3 hours of new Chuck. Anyone else excited? [more Chuck awesomeness after the jump]

Seriously, I know the concept--about a lovable nerd who manages to download government secrets into his brain, and must then go on a new mission every week--sounds silly (and NBC's typical geek-humor-heavy advertising doesn't help its cause), but don't let that stop you. The writing is sharp, the character relationships are fantastic, and starting in Season 2, the mythology behind the Big Spy Secrets more interesting than ever. Oh, and it just happens to be one of the funniest shows on the air, week after week. It's great entertainment, and, if you've never caught a single episode, now's the best time to catch up. You can watch the first episode on NBC.com and Hulu, the last half of the 1st season on TheWb.com, and rent the 2nd season on DVD (it just came out yesterday...or you could find the last 6 episodes of Season 2--including the game-changing, crazy-Awesome finale--on Hulu).

We'll blog more about the show as it starts its run. (You can also find Ace's extensive write-up of the show's Comic-Con panel here). In the meanwhile, here's a cool Season 3 preview clip to make the wait until Sunday more bearable:

And also check out the Comic-Con panel video that they showed right before the cast and crew made their epic entrance (read Ace's recap for the full details). The first part of the video is a highlight reel of Season 2's big storylines and moments, while the second part...is just pure genius, especially for Chuck fans!

Chuck - Comic Con 2009 from Kath on Vimeo.

Enjoy the clips, and we'll see you back soon for more Chuck goodness!

Images courtesy of NBC, Warner Bros., and Alan Sepinwall's "What's Alan Watching" Blog (sepinwall.blogspot.com--check it out--it's a must-read for TV fans!)

3 comments:

KristalJanuary 7, 2010 at 12:49 AM
I'm glad I'm not the only one excited for Chuck to return! I just did a Top 10 Reasons to watch post on my blog, check it out: http://toointerestingfortwitter.blogspot.com/2010/01/chuck-on-dvd-today.html
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AnonymousJanuary 7, 2010 at 8:37 AM
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AnonymousJanuary 7, 2010 at 8:40 AM
OH!!! I was bitching and moaning about how I saw a commercial for Chuck on TV and there was NO Adam Baldwin in it, so I was not going to watch anymore. But there he is in the video. Huhu...
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WELCOME to The Lunch Table

Let's take a trip down memory lane. Yea, we said it... just humor us.

So you're back in high school sitting in history class diligently taking notes, but if you're anything like us, you're doodling in the margins. The clock strikes 12 o'clock and... RIIIING!

The lunching hour begins... you look around the cafeteria, lost in the vast array of cliques and crews claiming their own tables. The jocks and cheerleaders immediately mark their territory and gather around three tables; the drama nerds and Goths have their respective corners; and the student council, dressed in their perfect Abercrombie & Fitch polos, cheerfully greet each other with their perfect smiles and share their perfect sacked lunches together ... so where do YOU fit in???

Okay... so maybe you didn't go to that high school, but who cares? Let's fast forward to real life:

Lunch - the highlight of our day, every day. Whether you're working the daily 9-to-5 grind, or still in school, there's nothing like a midday break, when you have time to yourself to eat, relax, take a nap, or enjoy the company of friends and co-workers... and that's basically where our story begins.

The three of us work together. Now, we're not at liberty to say exactly where we work, or what we do (because if we did, we may have to kill you... JUST KIDDING... er... not really), but let's just say that what we do isn't exactly the most exciting line of work (and it's irrelevant to the story... so stop asking!) Like we were saying, we work together and like all friendships, our bond was built subtly and slowly. The first encounters were awkward -- the occasional, "Hey," as we passed each other in the hallways, the uncomfortable silences in the snack room, and then eventually, the customary small talk.

Then one day, one of us got bold. One of us decided to send emails with the simple subject line that read: "LUNCH?"

The first meeting was weird. We were all pensive. What are we gonna talk about? Was it just gonna be an hour of awkward silence? Were we just gonna sit there and stare at each other's lunches, wondering what the hell the other person was eating? (Let's be honest, what does a Russian-Jew, a Mexican-Jewish hybrid, and a Korean have in common?)

The weather - always a reliable conversation starter. "Crazy weather we're having aren't we?"
"Oh yeah." And then silence.

Sports - The default topic of conversation for guys. "So... how 'bout them Lakers?"
Not everyone followed.

"Did you guys see that new Christian Bale movie?..."
And it was like someone opened the floodgates. The rest of the hour was spent chatting about how ridiculous Christian Bale's voice was in that one movie. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Which brings us to today. You've probably figured out by now that our blog has nothing to do with lunch, or food for that matter (And if you didn't -- our blog has nothing to do with lunch or food. Sorry). The reason we're starting this up is simple: we love movies, and consequently, we love to talk about movies. Almost on a daily basis, the only things we spend our lunch hour talking about are movies, but the hour never seems long enough. Granted, we come from different walks of life -- different backgrounds, cultures, tastes, and levels of fanaticism (some of us like to indulge our inner geek more than others), and we sure as hell don't always love the same movies, but that's just part of the fun. And regardless, our friendship is grounded in our shared appreciation for movies. So we're here to bring the spirit of our daily lunches to you, our readers because, like we said, the one hour a day between the three of us just isn't enough! That being said, we'd like to extend to you, the same invitation that was extended to us on that fateful day. So forget about the cliques, the crews, or the exclusive clubs from back in the day, and stop worrying about if you're gonna fit in. It doesn't matter if you're an aspiring filmmaker, an avid fanboy/girl, or just a casual moviegoer, just take a break from the mundane and join us at The Lunch Table.

And on that note, please allow ourselves to introduce... ourselves...

Rusty - "The Crazy Russian"
Of the three of us here at The Lunch Table, I’m the only one not born in the U.S. So, yes, my first exposure to American movies was badly dubbed cartoons, particularly a very Russian Optimus Prime. And I was hooked even then. But love of movies aside, what do I have to contribute that’s so special? Well, simply put, I’m the Analyst—I love to be entertained, but I still crave some substance from my movies. I can dig a good action scene, but what I go for are the details. For me, it’s the characters, the relationships, the emotions that truly make movies work, and that’s exactly what I look for. More so than that, I love digging into a movie, discovering themes, nuances, subtle character traits, and all the like. I was a crazy little Russian watching “Transformeri”. Sure, I’m now older, taller, and lankier …but I’m still that same Crazy Russian, eagerly waiting to dig into a great, new movie.

Luke - "The Mexi-CAN"
I’m the type of guy who is interested in a variety of things. One of my deepest loves, second only to my beautiful future wife Kristin Kreuk, is the wonderful world of cinema. I adore all types of films – as long as they are well-crafted and trigger something meaningful in the audience. While I can enjoy the usual summer blockbusters that involve blowing stuff up, I really look forward to the fall when the true Oscar contenders reach the theaters. Perhaps some people would say I’m into the fine details of cinema, and I guess that is correct. I like reflecting on the camera shots, camera movement, and the deeper meaning of film. I enjoy endless discussions of such masterpieces as Chinatown and 400 Blows to 2001: A Space Odyssey. However, do not get me wrong: I can always watch a raunchy flick like 40-Year-Old-Virgin or the wonderfully sentimental Love, Actually. Of course, I’m not claiming to be the next A.O Scott or God’s gift to cinema. In the end, films are just fiction, but they can capture and inspire the viewer.

Ace - "The Average Asian"
I like to consider myself a simple man who finds enjoyment in the simple things in life—hot girls in bikinis, sports, fast cars, and dudes taking shots to the nuts. So when it comes to movies, my philosophy is this: let’s just keep it simple. I’m not an analyst, or technician by any means, I just like to go to the movies, eat my popcorn, drink my icee and have a good time. Why do I need to pay attention to different camera angles, and subtle nuances? If a movie can get me to laugh out loud, sit on the edge of my seat, or dare I say it... cry, then I think the movie has done its job. Why overcomplicate a perfectly good movie with all that other film jargon? So, think of me as your Everyman, your everyday Average Joe, who just needs to be mildly entertained for, give or take, two hours.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

"CHUCK" comes back this Sunday!

3 comments:

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