Chuck versus the Top Ten List

2:00 PM on 05.10.2009   |   ThisYearsPink

54 comments

“Hey, I’m Chuck. Here’s a couple of things that you might need to know or maybe you just forgot … ”

Chuck Bartowski is just your average (lovable) loser -- living with his sister, working at the Nerd Herd desk of the local Buy More, and hanging with Morgan (his BFF since middle school). The status quo gets a shake up when an old college frenemy turned government spy e-mails him on his birthday. Instead of an annoying musical e-card, Chuck gets a top-secret database implanted into his brain via a series of subliminal images. Ay-oh -- Intersect!

Chuck’s lackluster real life becomes the perfect cover when he is taken in as a CIA asset -- for some reason a human computer that can instantly identify bad guys is a hit with the government. Cue the super-secret missions and comedic undercover mishaps.

As a show, Chuck has a lot to offer: badass spy action sequences, goofy comedy from Chuck’s co-workers, romantic tension between Chuck and his gorgeous CIA handler – but what about Chuck is relevant to your interests?

Chuck Bartowski is a gamer. And, no, he doesn’t own a Wii. His system of choice is the Xbox 360, and he enjoys games like Gears of War, Call of Duty and Guitar Hero. But this show is about more than mere product placement. Chuck manages to promote videogaming to a mainstream audience without dumbing it down. The references are specific and obscure enough that, while the non-gamer can get the gist, only a true gamer would ever completely understand and appreciate them.

That means that over the past two seasons of Chuck there have been moments the general population is incapable of enjoying as much as you. Here are the top ten VGR Chuck moments that are sure to make you a fan.


10. Controller Finger Chafing
Episode: 1.1 - "Pilot"
Game Reference: Call of Duty

“It’s from Call of Duty. The controller chafes after several hours.”

It’s unclear if the little pieces of medical tape are meant to prevent chafing or soothe existing calluses, but it’s a funny gag either way. It also establishes, within the first five minutes of the show, that Chuck Bartowski is a serious gamer (if not a bit of a wuss).

Being a gamer doesn’t define Chuck, but it does give him a flavor that any fan of videogames can’t help but savor.


9. Random Videogame Chatter
Episode: Miscellaneous
Game References: Multiple

“So this morning I’m playing Xbox and I’m like, dude, just let me get the sniper rifle; I’ll take care of it. The guy won’t give me the sniper rifle. I make him eat a frag grenade. It’s not my fault.”

This is more like an on-going series of moments. Zachary Levi (Chuck) and Joshua Gomez (best buddy Morgan) are known for their real-life enthusiasm for videogames, and often ad-lib the intro-transition chatter for scenes. In "Chuck Versus the Helicopter," they walk into a scene discussing Guitar Hero: “The strum bar is getting a little sticky on the one. On the other one, it’s fine.” Just imagine how dirty that line would sound to someone who’s the opposite of Nick Chester.

These fun little exchanges occur often and they’re all for you. Why not consume them regularly?

8. Chuck Gets a Pre-Release Demo of COD
Episode: 1.13 – "Chuck Versus the Marlin"
Game Reference: Call of Duty

“The last time I lent you a game sampler, it ended up all over the Internet so this one’s going to stay in my locker, and you can play it when you get some adult supervision.”

Morgan finds an Infinity Ward mailer in Chuck’s trash and deduces that he got a “pre-release demo of the next Call of Duty game,” but Chuck won’t let him borrow “the next greatest videogame on the planet.”

Let’s face it: this vague reference will be apropos for years because there is always going to be another Call of Duty, just like there will always be a contingent of gamers desperately seeking an early peek. This moment is more than a wink to fans of the dichotomous Call of Duty franchise -- it turns out that when Morgan later goes searching through Chuck’s stuff for the game, he finds something even more … Awesome. (Come on, Chuck fans, help these n00bs understand the true meaning of “Awesome.”)


7. Arcade Rhythm Game Serves as Plot Device
Episode: 1.6 – "Chuck Versus the Sandworm"
Game Reference: Guitar Shredder (fictional)

“I got 10 big ones riding on this quote-unquote videogame.”

Morgan plays hooky from work and goes down to the pier for a friendly little game of Guitar Shredder against a man who turns out to be a CIA asset on the lamb. Chuck flashes -- the Chuck way of saying “inadvertently accesses a file from the Intersect” -- on the guy, setting the rest of the episode in motion.

Chuck is willing to use videogames not as a joke, not to make fun, but to advance storylines. That’s something a good gamer should be glad to get behind.

6. Chuck Meets Bryce Larkin Because of Text-Based Game
Episode: 1.7 – "Chuck Versus the Alma Mater"
Game Reference: Zork, Everquest

“You are likely to be eaten by a Grue. ”

Bryce Larkin is the CIA agent who sent Chuck the Intersect. They originally met at Stanford in 1999 after striking up a conversation about computer programming and rebuilding Zork.

In case you’re unfamiliar, Zork is a text-based computer game that puts you into the shoes of an adventurer trying to win the title of Dungeon Master by collecting items from a series of interconnected -- can you guess? -- dungeons. Grues are just one of the many creatures you would encounter on your quest.

When Chuck tells Bryce that “text-based computer games don’t exactly play with the chicks,” Bryce mentions a girl in his dorm who “really, genuinely likes Everquest.” This dreamgirl later turns out to be an enemy spy. The old fool-the-nerd-by-making-him-think-beautiful-girls-play-Everquest trick.

Supporters of Chuck have adamantly argued that it’s a show for everyone -- a show that you, your father and your son can enjoy. It seems that Chuck also provides game references for all three of you. From modern to old-school to retro -- whatever your interests -- Chuck has an allusion for you.


5. Flight Simulator Helps Chuck Land Helicopter
Episode: 1.2 – "Chuck Versus the Helicopter"
Game Reference: Apache Chopper Patrol (fictional)

“I can do this. It’s just a game. A big, scary videogame.”

Chuck says after finding himself in a helicopter with an unconscious bad guy and a dead pilot. He uses his flight simulator experience to land the helicopter safely. Other movies like Snakes on a Plane and Fool’s Gold have presented similar situations of aerial distress solved by former PlayStation exposure, but no one can match Chuck’s facial expressions while trying to land.

Videogames save Chuck’s life. Finally, a positive representation of videogames in mainstream media. What more could gamers ask for?

4. Call of Duty Strategy Tricks Bad Guys
Episode: 2.1 – "Chuck Versus the First Date"
Gamer Reference: Call of Duty

“Your compound is currently surrounded by twenty-three infantry troopers, sixteen snipers, seven heavy gunners, four demolitions experts and enough ammunition to orbit Arnold Schwarzenegger,” Chuck threatens beastly bad guy guest star Michael Clarke Duncan.

“You’re outmatched, and you’re out-gunned. Those pea-shooters you’re holding might as well be sharp sticks and strong language.”

Sounds serious, right? Well, it is. It’s Morgan’s strategy for Call of Duty domination. But Chuck invokes it to intimidate his captors into setting him free. Aces, Charles. Aces.

Again -- a whole season later -- videogames save Chuck’s life. This is the type of situation that regular people think is cute. Are you feeling warm and fuzzy yet?


3. Chuck Saves the World by Playing Missile Command
Episode: 2.5 – "Chuck Versus Tom Sawyer"
Gamer Reference: Missile Command

“How does it feel to be a hero, Mr. Bartowski?”

Explaining this episode -- or how "Tom Sawyer" figures in -- is a bit complicated. All you really need to know is that one of Chuck’s co-workers (a Buy Moron, if you will) named Jeff was the Missile Command world champion in 1983, but has since abandoned the game. Chuck tries to convince Jeff to pick up Missile Command again because the code to stop missiles from annihilating L.A. will appear only after a player reaches 2 million points.

After Jeff has a meltdown, Chuck is the one to step up and beat the game, and, consequently, save the world (or, at least, L.A.). Sure, it’s cheesy, but it’s based around an Atari arcade game from the early 80’s so … cheesy is implied.

In this moment, the positive perspective on games goes global: from saving Chuck to saving the planet from potential nuclear war. Plus, a whole episode of a network show dedicated to videogames? Where else can you get that these days?


2. Zork Gives Chuck the Intersect
Episode: 1.1 – "Pilot"
Game Reference: Zork

“If only I could remember what was in my hero’s satchel.”

After Chuck met Bryce Larkin at Stanford, the two of them programmed their own version of Zork. When Bryce e-mails Chuck a snippet of Zork, Chuck can’t resist digging into his hero’s satchel one more time. Little does he realize the “nasty knife” he pulls out is actually the password for releasing the Intersect into his brain.

Basically, Chuck is Chuck because of Zork. There are plenty of other vessels the creators of the show could have used. This isn’t necessarily the most obvious or convenient. It’s just the most … Chuck.

What’s your Zork? Mario? Earthbound? GoldenEye? The game that made you a gamer. Close your eyes and think about it for a second. Seriously, do it. Is that wave of nostalgia opening your heart to Chuck?


1. Videogame Enthusiasts Save Chuck

Okay, this one hasn’t actually happened yet, but your mission -- if you choose to accept it -- is to help save a show that respects videogames and the people who play them and isn't afraid to portray videogames in a positive way -- a show that loves videogames as much as you do. Come on, help save Chuck.

Check out some of the links below to find out just how you can join the campaign.

Watch!Buy!Share!Write! More – Compilation of things you can do to save Chuck put together by ChuckTV.net.

Nerd Herd – Save Chuck by sending Nerds candy to NBC. Nerds are the new Nuts (any Jericho fans in the house?).

Have a Heart, Renew Chuck – Support the renewal of Chuck by donating to the American Heart Association.

Sign the Online Petition

Facebook – Join the cause on Facebook, and tell all your friends.

Twitter – Tweet the WB, the company that actually makes Chuck.

Dtoid C Blog– Are there VGR moments that were overlooked here? Do you have an entirely different reason for why Chuck is worth saving? Cblog it today!

¡Viva Buymoria! Also, Chuck.