Chuck Season 3

As shocked as I will be if Casey were to leave Chuck, I am afraid it could very well be the case. In two recent posts, Michael Ausiello revealed that Casey does something in episode 10 of season 3 that "could-cost-him-his-job". He then says it is connected to his earlier post where he revealed Robert Patrick from T-1000 will be joining the show mid-season. Does that mean Casey gets the boot and Robert becomes the new NSA guy protecting Chuck?

CASEY FOR THE WIN!

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Question: Please tell me you have some Chuck scoop. -Jake
Ausiello: I have some Chuck scoop. In episode 10, Casey does something bad. REALLY bad. Could-cost-him-his-job bad. And it's connected to this..

- Michael Ausiello (November 11, 2009)

More updates on Adam Baldwin Leaving Chuck will be posted here as news surfaces.

UPDATE (March 9 2010) - The last episode of Chuck ended with Casey (Adam Baldwin) receiving a call on The Ring Phone from someone who said "It's been a long time". From recent spoiler alerts, we know that in the next 2 episodes Sarah Walker (Yvonne Strahovski) and Chuck Bartowski (Zachary Levi) have to help Casey escape from prison after he commits treason. I suppose it's safe to assume this act of treason will get him in jail and then fired from his NSA position as Carnal John Casey. This means John Casey could very well be leaving Chuck Season 3 in the next few episodes, most likely in episode 10 or 11 or Chuck Season 3.

UPDATE (March 15 2010) - So tonight we found out who the mysterious call to Casey came from.. his old boss Colonel James Kellar. We also discovered John Casey's real name was Alex Coburn and he faked his death in 1989 to work in a covert operation with Kellar. Kellar later joined The Ring and in this episode he used Casey's old fiance to blackmail Casey to work against the CIA. This leads Colonel John Casey to commit treason and at the end of the episode John Casey gets relieved of his duties (in other words, fired) by General Diane Beckman.

Personally, I would hate to watch Chuck without Casey (or Sarah) so I am happy to report that according to next week's press release, Casey will be back, albeit as a civilian. And Sarah Walker might have her own plans to move away from Chuck it seems. But worry none too much Chuck fans! I'm sure the writers have some plan to get the "team" back at some point in the next 3 episodes as Chuck Season 3 was originally written up to 13 episodes so there has to be some satisfying conclusion at that point. I only hope the story is believable and doesn't ruin the show somehow.

There is no word on the interwebs whether Adam Baldwin will be leaving Chuck or not, but I am assuming we will hear something in the next day or two. I will post any updates as soon as I find them.. stay tuned!

Question: Now that it's returning in January, Chuck me, spoiler God! -Scott
Ausiello: Chuck co-creator Chris Fedak confirms that Anna Wu will be MIA during season 3's first 13 episodes, but there's a chance she could pop up in the last six. "We're still [writing the last] six episodes, so I don't have anything first on that," he says. "But I would love for Anna to come back." Fedak adds that Julia's absence at Buy More will be referenced early in the season.

Question: There's a $5 tuna foot-long with you and Mister Scooch's names on it if you can give me any Chuck updates. -Jen
Ausiello: Can you make my half a veggie? If so, you've got a deal. Chris Fedak says the six additional episodes that NBC recently tacked on to Chuck's season 3 total created an interesting storytelling challenge. "[We were faced with] the problem of either expanding the story we're telling or taking the story and telling it more slowly. And what we essentially decided to do was tell more story. So we're looking at the six episodes that have been added on as Chuck season 3.2."

-Ausiello

Good news comes in two for "Chuck" superfans. After NBC has confirmed that it is adding six more episodes to the order, Zachary Levi who plays the titular character posted an on-set picture that reveals him as a director.

"On the set directing my first episode of television. Guess which show it is. :)," the actor teased on his Twitter post. Words about him directing an episode have actually circulated two weeks ago with the rumor that the episode he will be directing is called "Chuck Versus the Beard" aka the ninth episode of the third season.

In an interview with several journalists, Levi once said that he got a warm up to direct the "Chuck" episode from a short film called "The Chase". The one-minute short was featured during "The Biggest Loser" episode on October 13. He said, "NBC brought the idea up and I wanted to use it as practice for directing Chuck. Hiring the crew from Chuck helped us accomplish a lot in a few days."

Just a few hours before he tagged a photo where his name is written across the director's seat, Levi included a photo of him with guest star Kristin Kreuk. The former "Smallville" actress will make an appearance in the fifth episode called "Chuck Versus First Class" as Hannah, a Buy More employee whom Chuck meets during a flight.

"Chuck" is scheduled to premiere the third season in March 2010 after the Winter Olympics. However, with the additional episodes order comes a speculation that NBC will shift it to January.

AceShowBiz

After Episode 7 of Season 3, Chuck went on a 3 week haitus to make time for the Olympics.

Chuck Season 3 Episode 8 will return to NBC on March 1 2010.

Chuck Season 3 Episode 8 is called "Chuck vs. The Fake Name."

Update #1: Fate of "Chuck" in Trauma's hands
The key to "Chuck's" fate, it turns out, could be NBC newcomer "Trauma."
"Trauma" has been on cancellation watch since last Tuesday, leaving open the very real possibility that NBC will soon need replacement programming on Mondays.
Full article here.

Update #2: Trauma: Code Blue
According to this article, Trauma will most definitely be canceled by next season, and possibly this season. If its the latter, then Chuck will replace Trauma, possibly in the November time frame. Good idea? Unless NBC can pull off massive promotional campaigns for this early premiere, I'm afraid this can be a total disaster for Chuck ratings.
TvByTheNumbers Renew/Cancel Ratings

Update #3: Chuck Coming Back On Thursdays 8/7 CONFIRMED As NBC Error
If you had gone to the official website of Chuck this morning, you would have seen news of your life. Chuck was supposedly returning next week on Thursday at 8/7 Central! I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it! Unfortunately, the update got removed a couple of hours later and NBC issued a statement calling it an error on their website's behalf. Sad, sad day for Chuck fans.

Update #4: NBC picks up 'Community,' 'Parks' & 'Mercy' for full seasons
All 3 shows showed stability in the past few weeks and were picked up for full seasons by NBC. As you may notice, absent from the pick-up list is "Trauma", the show Chuck could replace if it gets pulled. Reports suggest it is likely to get canceled before mid-season due to a high budget and constantly dropping ratings ("Trauma" ratings dropped from 0.81 to 0.68 in the last 3 weeks).
James Hibberd

Update #5: NBC books 3 more weeks of 'Trauma' - New episodes of Chuck Season 3 will have to wait
This just in. After last night's ratings gain for "Trauma", NBC has officially booked the Monday night medical drama to continue airing for the next three weeks. What does this mean for "Chuck"? Probably pushes the sea-saw to the January/February 2010 release side a wee bit more. This also reduces the chances of Chuck coming in November.
THRFeed

Update #6: NBC Close To Ordering 6 More New Episodes of Chuck
The network will likely order as many as six additional episodes of the comedic spy adventure, two industry insiders familiar with the situation told TheWrap. The extra episodes would be on top of the 13 hours already ordered for season three.
What does this mean for Chuck returning to TV sooner? It is definitely a positive! This extra episodes move could be a sign that NBC wants to bring "Chuck" back on air in January, splitting the third season into pre- and post-Olympics pods.
The Wrap
UPDATE: Sources confirm that NBC has ordered six additional episodes of Chuck. That's on top of the 13 eps the network previously ordered, bringing the show's season 3 total to 19 (just three shy of what's considered a full season).
-Ausiello Files

It's good news (for me), bad news (for NBC): Since its numbers are down and its new and returning shows are mainly DOA (Southland was axed before new episodes even aired!), Chuck's third season might get to premiere sooner than the March date that's been bandied about thus far.

"How much sooner" you ask?

As early as late October, my moles tell me. And while it remains unclear whether the little show that could (and has and shall again) would return to its Monday timeslot or find itself a new perch, NBC insiders who've seen the first four episodes are calling this season the best yet.

But wait, there's more. If Chuck does come back sooner rather than later, the chances of NBC ordering additional episodes beyond the 13 it initially commissioned increases dramatically. And they increase further if it performs solidly... which for NBC, at this point, means my cat, Mister Scooch, sits down to watch with me. (Seriously, anything above a 2 rating in the-49 demo should do the trick.)

Are we happy, people? Dumb question. Allow me to rephrase: How happy are we? Weigh in below!

-Michael Ausiello

I'll admit, I'm stroked about the chance of Chuck returning early to save NBC, I mean on a totally unrelated note, NBC has been doing terribly in terms of ratings this season. If Chuck were to return later this month and the ratings were good, the network could order a full season instead of the measly 13 episode season we have right now. As a huge, HUGE fan of Chuck [and Ellie], I am overjoyed by these reports. Of course, if and when the network makes a decision, I'll be the first to know and will consequently let you know, on my Chuck Returns To Tv FAll 2009 page, with an update or two. So be sure to check that out, the link can also be found in big letters below!

Additionally, there is no word on what day or time Chuck might return to. As long as it is not a Friday, I am happy. Fridays = death (Prison Break finale anyone?).

So, are you a fan of Chuck? Do you this it is a good idea to move up the premiere of Season 3? Or would you rather wait for next February? (heh)

Let me know in the comments below!