Channel Surfing: Chuck

I didn't even mean to watch Chuck. I was sitting around chugging as much water as possible for the fourth consecutive evening (long story) and realized it was on. End result? Pleasantly surprised. Yet another show from the folks behind The O.C. (we get it Josh, settle down), various show runners have said it's "Mr. and Mrs. Smith meets The Office" (no, Chuck is a computer geek who lives with his sister and her husband and can't get a date, so no Brad and Angelina) or "Bourne Supremacy meets The 40 Year Old Virgin" (no, Chuck may strike out with the ladies but he's not an ass kicker secret agent like Bourne).

Anyway, screw that. It seems like a light hearted take on the spy show schtick - somehow Chuck gets government secrets downloaded into his brain and gets flashes of intel and insight about secret agent stuff. The CIA and NSA want him back/dead/something or other and his sister (and her husband, Captain Awesome - roll with it, it works) just wants to help him get a lady. Good thing the CIA agent sent after him is a smoking hot chick who spends some quality time in her underwear with weapons. Not as good is that the NSA agent is Adam Baldwin who wants him dead. Chuck seems like a likable nerd, some of the jokes made me laugh, and it was an overall quirky show.

Of course the pilot has a scene with a Shins song playing while characters sit staring contemplatively at the ocean - O.C. gold! It'll get another watch, which is more than I can say for the show following it on NBC (maybe if that show was called Gyros and was about a Greek restaurant owner it wouldn't be ripping off "Watchmen" so shamelessly).