Chuck season 3

Jericho became famous for becoming the first show to really be saved from cancellation by an internet fan campaign. While it did get its second season, the online fervor failed to translate into ratings, and Jericho never saw a season three. Now the NBC comedy Chuck is back for its third season after being similarly saved by devoted fans. So the big question is, did they actually watch?

According to The Hollywood Reporter, you bet they did. Last night's season three premiere of Chuck scored its highest ratings since its special 3-D episode that aired after the Super Bowl. If you're just looking at the ratings of Chuck's non-gimmicky episodes, it hasn't performed this well since 2007. Chuck fans are celebrating today, and NBC execs at least have one bright spot in what has been a difficult week for them.

Season 3 of 'Chuck' premieres tonight on NBC at 9PM, but rest assured, it's "No more Mr. Nice Spy!" Chuck discovers all sorts of new talents, including kick-ass fighting skills, the ability to play the guitar (very well, we might add), and even the prowess to sweep a lady off her feet on the dance floor.

Good news? We think so! Chuck's geekiness is still a big part of him, but we'll embrace the new Chuck 2.0 super-spy with gusto.

When last we saw the Chuckster in the season 2 finale, he had turned in his pocket protector at Buy More and picked up a jaw-dropping check for government services rendered during the past three years. At Ellie's wedding, Chuck pulled Sarah into the hallway. "Sarah Walker, will you do me the honor of ... taking a vacation with me?" But alas, Sarah was planning to leave in the morning to work with Bryce.

One of the pleasures of blogging here at TV Squad is getting a press kit from a network to promote a new or returning show. Sometimes it's just a folder with a screener. Sometimes it's a cornucopia of doo-dads and tchotchkas that might be cool. I've seen some reviewers build an entire wardrobe from press kit tee-shirts, hoodies and caps. So, it was with real excitement -- like the anticipation of a birthday gift -- when Fedex turned up with NBC Entertainment Publicity's big box of promotion for Chuck.

I haven't been a regular viewer of NBC's spy spoof Chuck, but after seeing this poster, I'm wondering if I should start.

It's got everything that makes an action comedy series great: face kicking, Chuck Taylor All-Star hightops, leggy blondes with weapons, dark suits and what appears to be a secret lair underneath a set of stadium bleachers.

You can see a new video preview of the third season, which starts Sunday, January 10, 2010, by clicking here. Apparently, Chuck is going to get to do some face kicking off his own since he now has the full skills of a spy. That may or may not be a good thing, but then again it is moments like these that make TV shows so interesting.

'Chuck' fans, you're in luck.

After being omitted from NBC's fall lineup, the fan favorite action-comedy finally has a premiere date for its third season. According to NBC, two-back-to-back original episodes will air Sun., Jan. 10, starting at 8PM ET, making the premiere even more geektastic.

Then tune in the next night as 'Chuck'' assumes its regular time slot: Mondays at 8PM.

In an episode we'd call 'Chuck Versus the Season Premiere Date,' we still don't know when the third season of NBC's spy guy dramedy 'Chuck' will actually hit primetime.

But in an installment we'd title 'Chuck Versus the Awesome Guest Stars,' we do have another name to add to the already impressive list of celebs who've peppered the show since it debuted in 2007: EW.com reports that 'The X-Files' and 'Terminator 2' star Robert Patrick will pop up in a mid-season 3 episode called 'Chuck Versus the Tic Tac,' playing Col. Keller, a "mysterious figure" from John Casey's (Adam Baldwin) past.

Well it looks like buying all of those $5 footlongs really paid off: Chuck has officially been renewed for a third season. The spy comedy hasn't always gotten the greatest ratings, in no small part because its highly-competitive Monday night timeslot, but fans all over the internet have been pushing hard for its renewal.

There has been a huge outpouring of support on Twitter, where #savechuck has often been a trending topic. Even the show's star, Zachary Levi, has done his part to get Chuck back for another season. In addition to taking to his official blog to plead his case, he even showed up at a Subway (one of Chuck's biggest sponsors) to make sandwiches for fans.