Alan Sepinwall: An Open Letter to NBC

Critic Alan Sepinwall, an avid Chuck supporter, has posted his open letter to NBC with 6 compelling reasons to keep Chuck on the schedule. Here’s an excerpt:

4. NBC tradition. NBC as a network and you three as individuals seem to care deeply about maintaining the traditions of the Peacock, and “Chuck” is a link back to two of them. First, it’s exactly the kind of show — smart and funny but also light and versatile — that the late Brandon Tartikoff (whom Ben publicly reveres) would have scheduled on NBC in the mid-’80s.

Second, “Chuck” is the easiest, best way to continue the concept of Must-See TV. Slap it on Thursdays at 8 leading into “The Office” and “30 Rock” (maybe with “Parks and Recreation” rotating in with those two to avoid reruns) and you still have that classic blend of comedy and drama that you became so known for on Thursdays. It’s funny enough to lead into the sitcoms, but it also has action and pathos, and with Leno about to take over the old “Hill Street Blues”/”LA Law”/”ER” time slot, “Chuck” allows you to maintain the familiar balance. (And if you need another half-hour sitcom to work into the rotation, you could always spin off Scott Krinsky and Vik Sahay as Jeff and Lester — a k a Jeffster! — who are two of the most hilarious, albeit disturbing, characters in all of prime time.)

5. Yvonne Strahovski. The entire “Chuck” cast is terrific, but you’re going to especially regret losing Strahovski. As Chuck’s other handler (and sorta-real, sorta-fake girlfriend), Sarah, Strahovski’s a star in the making: not only beautiful and increasingly assured in the fight scenes but a superb dramatic actress as well. She’s the one who makes the show feel real no matter how silly it gets, who sells the high stakes and the action and the romance, and you don’t want to be known as the people who let her go while you had her on your network in a perfect role for her.

Read the whole letter here…