"Chuck" Returns to the San Diego Comic-Con

The Popular NBC Series Draws a Capacity Crowd at the San Diego Convention Center

When it comes to the San Diego Comic-Con, size really does matter, especially for television shows. At the 2007 Comic-Con International, for instance, NBC screened the pilot episode for "Chuck," a new show slated for its fall schedule, in front of a capacity crowd in a mid-sized conference room.

Fast-forward one year and this comedy/adventure series about an electronics store employee who becomes a reluctant secret agent is now a major hit for NBC. On Saturday, July 26, 2008, the cast and creators of "Chuck" made a triumphant return to San Diego, this time in the massive Ballroom 20. As far as Comic-Con fans are concerned, "Chuck" is the man.

Catching Up With "Chuck"

The series focuses on Chuck Bartowski (Zachary Levi), an employee at a retail electronics store called, appropriately enough, "Buy More". After opening a mysterious e-mail from a college friend who betrayed him, his brain is flooded with government secrets.

Chuck, as it turns out, was the unwitting recipient of the Intersect, a computer database created by the CIA, FBI and the National Security Agency (NSA). With the entire contents of the Intersect downloaded into his skull, Chuck suddenly became a valuable government property.

The NSA then orders Major John Casey (Adam Baldwin) to work with CIA operative Sarah Walker (Yvonne Strahovski) to keep Chuck safe, at least until the Intersect can be rebuilt. Chuck also has to keep his double-life a secret from Morgan Grimes (Joshua Gomez), Chuck's best buddy and a co-worker at Buy More.

Chuck Versus the Writer's Guild of America Strike

The 2007 WGA Strike sidelined many promising new shows, including "Chuck." After the strike was settled, "Chuck" did not return to the air, terminating the first season after only 13 episodes. The second season debut is scheduled for Monday, September 29.

"We realize we have a task in front of us. I know it feels like it has been several years since 'Chuck' was last on television, so the first episode is like a new pilot for us in a way," said Josh Schwartz, who created the series with Chris Fedak.