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The chicks of "Chuck" and other reasons to watch

I'm stuck on Chuck. (I just had to get that out of the way.) But gratuitous rhyming aside, I am loving this show. Here's one reason.

Her name is Yvonne Strahovski and, obviously, she's hot. But more about her in a minute.

Chuck is about a geeky computer repair guy (redundant, I know), coincidentally named Chuck, who gets an e-mail full of pictures embedded with government secrets that are somehow downloaded to his brain. He can't access the data, though, until he sees something related to one of the pictures. The NSA and CIA send agents to recover the data, but when they discover that the top-secret files are hidden in Chuck's mind, they have to protect him while getting his help with spy stuff.

So, Chuck is a secret agent on the side while trying to live a normal geek life. Jake 2.0 was similar, true. But Chuck doesn't take itself so seriously. The show has action, comedy, suspense and hot women. What's not to love? Maybe I wouldn't like it so much if I weren't a geek myself, but I am and I do.

Strahovski (she changed her name from Strzechowski) plays CIA agent Sarah Walker, who goes undercover as a waitress at the Weinerlicious. She also pretends to be Chuck's girlfriend. Did I mention that she's hot? Even in a cheesy waitress outfit.

Strahovski probably doesn't look familiar, outside of her resemblance to Portia de Rossi, because this is the Australian actress' first role in the U.S. By the way, the ever-cool Adam Baldwin from Firefly plays NSA agent John Casey.

OK. Everything I've told you up till now is setup for what comes next. This is worth the price of admission, I promise you. Here is Sarah at home, relaxing in her very short silk robe.



Yes, AfterEllen.com readers, a girl fight. Not Sydney versus Evil Francie great, but pretty darn nice. The woman Sarah fights is Karina, a DEA agent from Sarah's past, played by Swedish model Mini Anden. Karina does interesting spy things like strip down to a bikini and speed off on a jet ski. I hope we see more of her. Not that she can show us much more on network TV.

Chuck's sister, Ellie, is played by Sarah Lancaster, most recently of What About Brian, but perhaps better remembered as Madison on Everwood.

Rachel Bilson will guest star as a romantic interest for Chuck in a story arc starting in the next week or two. No word on whether her character will get any ninja action with Sarah.

Is anyone else watching Chuck? If you haven't seen it yet, watch it — I think the show deserves to succeed. If you have seen it, how do you like it?

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  • jackie sheppard's picture

    I really like this show... I

    I really like this show... I watch it every week with my brother. (He loves the hot women, too, as well as being a total geek himself.) We had a little laugh over how in the first ep (or two) Sarah seemed to always be in her underwear whenever she was alone in her apartment...not that I mind or anything, of course. :D

    --I started watching for my beloved Adam but the gals are big reason I'm so happy to keep watching.

    Pyewacket's picture

    Yes!

    A combination of computer geeks and beautiful women had me tuning in and the quality of the show has me going out of my way to watch again and again.  For me, there is nothing not to like about it.

    jennifer from pittsburgh's picture

    Chuck

    I have to admit that I like Chuck, the show, not specifically the character, but I don't hate him either. And yeah, it's the women in the show that make it fun to watch. It's a good lead-in to Heroes, don't you think?
    Brenda647's picture

    This Is A Fun Show

    It very twisty;  Chuck trying not get himself or his friends killed; His sister's boyfriend "Capt Awesome". (The scenes of him trying to teach Chuck the Tango were hysterical.)  Morgan, Chuck's best friend who seems to be living in a world all his own; and the rest of the Nerd Herd who are just clueless. It's great writing.

    They're running full episodes on NBC online.  Go catch up on it.

    Enjoy your day... 

    Peace, Joy and Love

    TheWeyrd1's picture

    Can't get the full episodes on NBC or CW to play...

    I can get CBS and ABC full episodes to play and even the few on Lifetime, but only clips play on NBC and CW...any suggestions?

    As for Chuck, great lead into to Heroes! And it's all about the women. Did I see a bottom shot in that really short robe???

    MaebyFunke's picture

    Good fun

    I think this show is just a blast. I started watching because I typically try out a lot of fall shows, just to see what sticks. This has been a nice surprise; I kind of thought it would either be too silly or take itself too seriously (like Bionic Woman, I'm sad to say). But I think it hits the right balance of silly and serious. And in addition to Yvonne Strahovsky's hotness, Zachary Levi is just so cute as Chuck, and Adam Baldwin is perfect for his role. I have liked it more each week. Not exactly looking forward to Rachel Bilson, though. She's cute, but I think she's a terrible actor.

    Favorite quotes, anyone? I can't remember the exact quote, but I cracked up when Morgan thought a gelding was a little creature from The Dark Crystal.

    activistlifeforme's picture

    I really enjoy Chuck! I try

    I really enjoy Chuck! I try and catch it on nbc.com b/c I'm usually not in front of a TV on monday nights, but I've enjoyed it so far. I started watching it b/c of Adam Baldwin (b/c I'm a Firefly freak lol) but am glad I did. It's really really funny! And the women are great too of course! :) Hopefully it gets renewed!

    Interviewer: "Why do you write these strong female characters?"
    Joss Whedon: "Because you're still asking me that question." - Equality Now speech
    If I'm borrowing your icon, I'd be happy to give you credit, just let me know :)

    imthey's picture

    Charming Chuck...

    I'd have to say that out of all the new shows so far this fall TV season, CHUCK would have to top my list... and like you, the ladies of CHUCK are one of the biggest reasons to keep me coming back week after week-well the ladies and the absolutely adorkable Chuck (played with such charm and appeal by Zachary Levi, who was also great on Less Than Perfect).



    "Think Sideways"
        I M THEY

    PhanGrrrl's picture

    And don't forget...

    A few episopdes ago when Morgan was trying to get three Nerd Herd members to help Chuck he said it was for Chuck's sake that they should do it, so at least one of them would know the touch of a woman or something like that...and the cute nerd chick replied" "Speak for yourself".  Do we even have a lesbian Character on this show?  I will continue to think so until proven otherwise...

    Give me but a firm place to stand and I shall move the world.
    thelinster's picture

    Lesbian?

    I saw a comment on another blog that said the Nerd Herd girl actually said she'd slept with a woman. If so, I missed it and couldn't find any confirmation. If anyone knows for sure, tell us!
    Dots58's picture

    I don't know which blog

    I don't know which blog you're referring to, but I did post something to that effect in another forum on this site somewhere.

    The scene was basically exactly like the poster ahead of you said: the guys were talking about how Chuck needed to sleep with Sarah, so at least one of them would know "the touch of a beautiful woman", and the girl Nerd Herder told them to speak for themselves. They tried to get her to tell them more, but she just ignored them and walked away.

    I don't know if they'll ever mention that again, or if it was just a throwaway joke, but I thought it was funny.

    HeyShasta's picture

    Yay!

    I didn't catch up with Chuck until a week or two after it started, but I'm glad I did. It's such a fun show. And hot? Oh yes, the women are hot! Chuck's kind of adorable and very sweet. Adam Baldwin was also a big draw and I'm wondering if I'd ever not like him in something. He's perfect as Casey.

    I really want this show to do well and I bet I don't need to worry about it as much as Life and Journeyman (also with hot women... hmmm).

    OK, I am a geek (woo!) and found the bit with the girl geek. Nerd.

    Morgan: Because tonight Chuck Bartowski is boldly going where none of us have gone before: to have intercourse with a beautiful woman.
    Anna: Speak for yourself.
    Morgan: Interesting.
    Other geek: Interesting

    And then the third guy geek says something about chit-chat and Anna says she's leaving. And she gets a look on her face like "I am not telling these guys about it!"

    I still hope she's a lesbian and not "experimenting in college".

    Or there's always subtextual girlfights between Sarah and whichever hot evil woman is on this week. La Ciudad! That fight on the rooftop was a great mix of cheese and hotness.

    And wow, check out her website. http://www.lorenabernal.es/

    Maite Díaz's picture

    MINI ANDEN

    Mini Anden, I love you!!!!!!!!
    RavenNation's picture

    Chuck!

    I love Chuck!  I've been watching the show since it started, and it really is a very funny show.  Not to mentin the hot women.  I have to watch it online though, but as soon as the episdes are posted, I'm all over it.


    *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
    My Barbie takes it in the ass.

    I knew your sister.  She was a homocidal bitch.
    GrrrlRomeo's picture

    More Buffy-like than any other series

    I absolutely love Chuck! I keep hearing Reaper being compared to Buffy, but honestly Chuck is far more like Buffy than Reaper is. Chuck is like Willow and Xander combined, a computer nerd with a kind heart, not a proficient fighter but rises to the occasion to save people because he's a good guy.

    Like Buffy, the series has strong women and men and women working together on equal grounds. And when there's a fight, the women are just as capable, if not more so, of kicking ass and taking names.

    Also like Buffy, the characters have solid interpersonal relationships. The only thing that's missing is the supernatural theme.

    narcolepsy_slds's picture

    The soundtrack is quite nice

    The soundtrack is quite nice as well, every show that plays Cake during the opening credits is worth watching.

    btw, at first I thought that Chuck has more chemistry with his sister than with Sarah, but the latest episodes have changed that a little bit.

     

    wired's picture

    Love it!

    I actually like Chuck too.  Out of the new shows this year it's my most favourite.  I like that it doesn't take itself so seriously and has fun.  Naturally the women are a great draw but Chuck is funny and sweet too.  It's funny, full of action, women and nerds...what's not to like? 
    Lykaon's picture

    It's Awesome!

    I love Chuck. But moreso, I love Yvonne Strahovski! So much so that I recently started a fansite about her called Strahotski.com.

    I know, I know. Crazy. But it's been a lot of fun capturing screen shots and finding pictures to post up on the site. I also write reviews for each episode.

    Anyway, nice post. The girls of Chuck are definitely one reason to watch it.

     


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