ChuckTV.net The CHUCK archive
The fast overnight ratings for Chuck are in, and it’s another good news / meh news situation. I know we were hoping for a huge ratings jump based on all of the publicity leading up to the finale, but we didn’t get it. That’s the meh news.
The good news is that Chuck held steady with an estimated 6.11 million viewers and a 2.3 in the 18-49 demo that advertisers (Hi, Subway!) crave. As usual, expect those numbers to adjust up when the finals are released later today.
What does this mean for Chuck‘s chances at a third season? We’re still optimistic. Chuck fans have proven that they know how the game works and are willing to support Chuck‘s advertisers in a measurable way. Be sure to send your letter off to NBC today in support of Chuck, and keep an eye on ChuckTV.net for the official announcement, coming on or before May 5th.
The problem is that A LOT of people just don’t watch NBC anymore!
I have a lot of friends who I’m introducing the show to, who have NEVER heard anything about it.
NBC needs to RE-introduce this show to the general public this summer. They should take a page from TNT and do a lot of promotions in “The twenty” before movies.
I know they tried during the super bowl, but a lot of people didn’t have the 3D glasses, so were no doubt turned away too…
ugh, I just know this show can become a hit. Just give it more time NBC!
I agree! This show just needs a little push over the summer. What with the writers strike last year interrupting things, and the 3D episode which probably hurt people’s eyes w/o the glasses – I mean things have just been blocking Chuck’s potential all along …
I know a LOT of people who really like the show but did not want to see the finale since they hadn’t even finished season 1 yet. I would give Chuck another chance and definitely replay all the episodes over the summer and make them available online and advertise more! I hardly see any Chuck ads anywhere. How else are people going to know that NBC has this great show going?
Remember ther is a shitload of people watching the series in other countries, but as it is only available to download (illegally) to watch, makes it a big setback. I do not live in the states but I think this serie is one of the best. To bad I can’t support the series by watching it on NBC or iTunes..
this show as all the makings of a truly great show it just needs a serious push with advertising, i agree show the episodes again over the summer but start from the very beginning to help promote it, the latest episode was truly amazing and people will thinks its awesome we just need more promoting and time
I hadn’t follow any series since ‘friends’ but chuck, every episodes worth watching and evry character live up this show, AWESOME series, been promoted to all my friends for a awhile and they said AWESOME too. It would be AWESOME if the series continue, and it would be unAWESOME if I miss the next season.
The problem with “Chuck” is that NBC made a show that appeals to the tech saavy and then based the ratings on TV viewership alone. The ratings do not count DVR, digital downloads and internet viewership. TV viewership is down due to these alternative mediums, and so ratings are artificially lower than they should be.
Another significant problem is that the show has not been promoted aggressively. This might not matter if the show weren’t placed in a difficult timeslot. New viewers are not going to watch if they both: 1. never have heard of the show, and 2. jump into a show mid season without backstory. The solution could be changed with a move to a new timeslot, agressive promotion, and emphasizing the standalone episodic style of the show.
I liked NBC’s idea a few years ago with summer re-runs… ‘if you haven’t seen it, it’s new to you!’. It would probably help people catch up.
@Badmojo8
Digital Downloads cut out the most profitable part of the whole broadcasting business: advertaisment, and while Chuck does rate preety high in the list of most illegally downloaded shows, this gives NBC and WB no profit at all. And I’m preety sure DVR’s are counted towards the stats.
What I do feel is that the Nielsen is not a spot on way to do the stats considering such a small part of the population is taken into consideration but like everything, there’s no better way right now…
That said, ratings at this point really matter not. Chuck held? That was expected. There was no boost? Also expected, no one tunes in for a finale of a show they don’t watch, even if they’re thinking of giving it a try… expecially if they’re going to give it a try. (spoilers anyone?).
Some people were expecting a boost in viewership based on the fan promotion. Well, that would be really unlikely since the message passed was that “there’s a great awesome show on NBC and it’s on the bubble so we’re trying to save it”. This creates curiosity in non-fans of course, but don’t expect them to come rushing to the finale of a show no one’s sure if it’ll be around next season.
I do think the fan campaign will have positive effects in the long run, if NBC airs repeats during the Summer for new fans to catch up, a third season can benefit from the people who noticed the Chuck campaign and become interested in the show.
That, granted the show will be around for a 3rd season. By now the stage is set and the cards are on the table. NBC knows what they have, WB knows they have and now follows a good game of proposal and counter-proposal. If they can achive a deal where both parties are happy, expect more Neo-Chuck next season, if not… I dare not say…
I hope they don’t take chuck off air..I really love this show..and why do they only watch the TV-ratings? I mean today there is internet and i promise u that more people watch chuck online than on tv..
I’m one of them hehe I live in Sweden and I love this show!
Anyways..I really hope they do a 3rd season of Chuck..otherwise NBC are idiots..
(sry for my bad english but i hope u understad what I wrote)
I was expecting a higher number. I know we can still pull through. How could NBC break so many hearts at once?
Love the show, and seems like NBC has something going on with AmericanAirlines. They played ‘Chuck Versus the Suburbs’ on my flight back from Miami to NY two weeks ago. Lady next to me, didn’t quite get the shows concept, then again, being thrown into the middle of it all….
I love this show. I have followed it from the start and have many friends who watch the show (we are all military and none of us are Nielsen families). I have done everything that I know to do: letters to both key NBC peeps, Chuck vs. the footlong with follow up to Subway via email. I have season passes on both Tivo and iTunes, have season 1 Blu-Ray and pre-ordered Season 2 on Blu-Ray. I push the show on Twitter and Facebook. I have emailed NBC, participate in their boards, etc. Also just found the Chuck vs. the podcasts too.
My only other thought is to hit Honda up with thanks for Zach’s Insight vehicle commercial. Didn’t he drive one in Chuck vs. the Suburbs? I NEED a third season!
I love Chuck. It the best written and produced show on TV at the moment and the only one I NEVER miss. I Tivo it too so I can watch it again later. I hadn’t heard of the show until I was flying overseas and four episodes were offered on the inflight information – what does that tell you about how it is marketed? After watching one episode I was hooked – it gave me almost four hours of sanity on a 15 hour flight. I haven’t missed an episode since. I’m sure hoping for some good news on May 5th! NBC – keep this show on the air. Its the best thing you have on your network!
I have followed “Chuck” since the pilot, which is unusual for me. My usual style is to listen for the buzz for months, and then totally ignore the hype. Lot’s of programs have come and gone without my help. Plenty of programs that I have followed had their run, and were sufficiently mourned, except for “Quantum Leap, which I loved to desperation. I knew when I began watching it in the fall of 1989 that it was too unique and quirky to survive on Network TV. It managed to go 4 1/2 Seasons, which although impressive,I begged in a letter to NBC before it was cancelled that it be continued. I was left in a heartbroken heap.
“Chuck” has been a delight. Our family watches it together. This is something that I don’t believe we have ever done regularly for a network program in the 20 odd years that my children have been reaching maturity. They’re boys, and if their thumbs aren’t working video game controls, they’re not interested.
I thought that it was craziness 20 years ago that a random sampling of 4,000 people who are chosen by the Neilsens was to determine what I could watch on television. Now, with iTunes, FANCAST, HULU, Network websites, DVDs and so forth, it’s even more outdated. Even if “Chuck” is out-performed on its heavily competitive night, it’s a quality program that more than deserves the fan attention and critical praise.
What NBC really needs to do is run a lot of repeats this summer. In between season 2 and 3 of The Office, there were a bunch of season 2 repeat marathons, and I had heard good things from a coworker, so I tried it out. I got hooked, bought the dvds of the first two seasons, and started recruiting all my family and friends. I’m sure a lot of people did the same, because now The Office is a hit and a big money maker for NBC. I’ve made some new fans for Chuck so far, but we need some more time to get everyone caught up! Most people I’ve talked to have never heard of the show, but they are going to look into it (I’m starting to be known as the friend who tells you what to watch, comedy-wise).
I really hope NBC Continues the show. Australia only bought the show a few weeks ago on Fox8 and arnt past the first season, this show is great!
Sadly its only shown on pay tv in Australia and I’m not sure on its ratings here but its on at a prime time slot (Wednesday, 8:30) and its getting better with every episode.
I really hope Chuck gets a third season. Is there anything people can do if they live outside the USA to help with Chuck getting a third season?
@Codename47
At this time, the 2nd season is over and there’s less than a week left till NBC announces the final fate of the show so really, what could be done by the fanbase is preety much done and at this point, any further efforts to promote the show won’t have noticable results by the time NBC makes the announcement.
That said, if you really care about the show and want it to prosper, your best bet is to buy the Season 1 DVD if it’s for sale over there in Australia (great country btw!) and get your friends to watch the show (and eventually buy the DVD as well!).
Sadly for us non-US people, I really think international viwership weights close to nothing in the decision to renew or cancel an american show as the information and data tends to be so scarce in most countries that it’s preety hard to figure out how much this country like this show (and most product placements aren’t worth a penny outside the US, for example, there’s no Subway where I live.). So in te end, DVD’s are always our best bet as it gives number the suits can actually analyse.
Whoa…*fans self* the anticipation is killing me. I knew the ratings wouldn’t increase (or decrease) for many of the same reasons listed previously in this post, but I was kind of hoping NBC would be kind enough to give us a bone to chew on. Anything, really. Now that finals are over, I spend half the day stalking the internet for any updates about the renewal situation. Please *gets down on knees and prays* “please” give Chuck another season, NBC. You have a perfectly good audience backing it up! We even went out and bought the subs!
Oh well…hopefully they don’t wait until the last possible moment to tell us what’s happening. I’m about to have a heart attack (at 20).
I’ll be back to stalk this site…in about five minutes.
The new slogan for us Chuck Fans is the line that Casey said in the season finally,
“CHUCK ME”.
With the economy the way it is I have to work 60+ hour a week to make ends meet. I can’t be home when you air it. So I rely on Hulu.com to be able to see it. I love this show and even saved up to buy it on dvd. (Season 1) And have the money now to buy season 2. (when released) But have reservations about that. If you are just going to kill it with a cliff hanger like that. What is the point of buying it unless you finish what you started. NBC has a history of doing this and if you kill Chuck you kill a customer. I wont trust you to finish anything you start.No point watching!!!
i really do doubt that there is not going to be a season 3, with all the hype that has been happening and with subways pleased with thier investment into chuck (even calling nbc to ask for a 3rd season) and quite a large fanbase. nbc would be so outragously stupid to cancel something that keeps going from strength to strength. i know i can’t wait till monday to hear the announcement as to if it has been renewed (which it will) and hopefully for a 22 episode season again.
hey.. my applause to Amy and Theo.. you’re both plain and perfectly right guys. well i really wish CHUCK will have it’s 3rd’s annouced.. please please please. . . NBC please.. i hunger for CHUCK! i loved the season 2 finale.. it’s like going to be ‘the matrix’ on tv on the next season (that’ll be really really great!).. the nerd CHUCK just needs to be a lil more improved.. and Chuck being nerd, funny, romantic and knows kung fu and and all the actions will be OUTRAGEOUSLY AWESOME. MORE PLEASE, NBC!
NBC needs to find a way to make chuck available to other than US geographically located watchers. I’m stuck in the UK having to access it in ways I’d rather not. Viewership would go up dramatically when its really available here and not most of a season behind forcing fans to the internet. Also on the internet Hulu has got to stop the feet dragging and be available here. I have a US server available but 99% of fans here don’t.
Guys, I know Kung Fu…. what a awesome final! I want to say that a lot of guys in Germany loves chuck and would be very sad if there comes no 3rd season.
The Problem is, that we cano only see the show over the internet (proxy), which will not count for the viewer stats. Believe me, in Germany are a lot of chuck Fans!!
I just smiled. My friend – who never watches primetime – wrote the best notes in support of Chuck. She sent me copies. I thought there should be a better place to post them (she already snailmailed NBC) than addicted to Chuck on facebook. And I’ve been looking for places – mainstream media online places. Any ideas?
Anyway, I was just changing mu tack, thinking that my friends are so tired of listening to me blather about Chuck that what I should do is 0 make more friends! and I came to read your latest Chuck news – and there it is: my friend’s post. and I’m smiling.
Now where can she post it to not preach to the choir? (she hit nbc.com too)
NBC would be making a bad choice if they did not renew Chuck for a third season. Chuck is doing considerably better than other shows such as “Law and Order”. They need to cancel the shows that are dragging them down (there are many) Renew “Chuck” and find some decent show ideas that are original and unique only to NBC.
What surprises me is is that NBC hardly advertises for their shows at all. The only time I see advertisements is when I am watching NBC. IF they don’t want to pay for the air time, then use the internet! More and more people are watching their TV shows online (Hulu) and it makes sense that it would be cheaper to have banners on sites then shoot a commercial. They could also run a contest with the series…that works. There are so many ways to advertise today!!! NBC has no excuses!!!
I really hope NBC renews Chuck, it is one of my favorite shows on network TV, but that being said, if NBC chooses not to renew it, the studio that produces it, WB may opt to add it to their network, The CW. Remember Scrubs went from NBC to ABC last year and if a network is looking for a loyal fanbase like Chuck has that supports it’s advertisers, why wouldn’t you pick up a show like Chuck that’s as appealing as Chuck is!
Keeping fingers crossed….
This was a great finale’. Fans deserve to see the evolution of the “new Chuck”. Its potential is great. I agree with the previous posters that with summer re-runs the show would do even better.
The problem is that all the big fans are in the uk and we dont have nbc!!!
I’ve watched the finale a dozen times already (at nbc.com), and I’m still not tired of it–eagerly awaiting the DVD release. Great, great wrap-up to season 2 of my favorite show ever. I just hope it is “to be continued” (or buh-bye NBC… a network never to be seen again by me).
I hope NBC takes into account not just viewers from the continental US.