Why 'Chuck' is the most fun show on TV

I love "Chuck." The TV show, that is. It's silly, funny, and just entertaining.

"Chuck" follows Chuck Bartowski (Zachary Levi), an average guy who works in Buy More's Nerd Herd. (think: Best Buy's Geek Squad). He's a goofy, mid-20s guy who lives with his sister and her boyfriend, the ever so awesomely nicknamed Captain Awesome. After he unintentionally downloads a wealth of spy secrets into his memory in the beginning of the first season, he's assigned two handlers - his instant crush, hot blond CIA agent Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski) and the caustic but hilarious agent Casey (Adam Baldwin).

Because Chuck is stuck with the spy secrets in his brain, he joins Sarah and Casey as they try to save the greater Burbank area from bad guys. Chuck squealed through most of the first two seasons as he fumbled with his spy smarts and tried for Sarah's affection. But as the third season started, "Chuck" writers transitioned the show by implanting the physical prowess of a trained spy in Chuck's brain.

Besides the totally entertaining but unrealistic storyline, the show is great because it is a show for its fans. "Chuck" fans are devoted. And from my experience, it seems to be a word-of-mouth fan base, too, and this column is me telling you to watch the show.

I first turned the show on in the fall. A friend had told me for months how every episode is an instant mood lifter. I finally decided to check out the show and bought the first season on DVD. And he was right. So right that I watched the whole first season in one sitting.

Since Season 2 wouldn't hit DVD for a few more months, I spent the next week watching the episodes off NBC and Amazon's Web sites. I was thrilled because Season 2 is laced with better jokes, more of the Chuck-Sarah romance, a lot of celeb guest stars and a great soundtrack.

My friend had told me a little about the fight last year to keep "Chuck" on the air. Season 2's ratings weren't that great by NBC's standards, so a third season wasn't looking too promising. But thanks to a partnership with Subway, fans spent last spring buying Subway sandwiches and dropping notes in the suggestion box begging for more "Chuck." And as many articles reported, that got the show a third season, which started in January.

Even though I usually wait to see shows the next day online commercial-free, every Monday I clear my night around "Chuck" now. I update my rarely used Twitter with the #Chuck trending topic, and I was generally irritated because the Olympics made me wait three weeks for a new "Chuck" episode. I've campaigned several of my friends to start watching, and if need be, I'll probably buy a Subway sandwich to keep the show around for a fourth season.

It's an entirely silly show. But that's why it's fun. For each episode, you don't have to think at all. Turn on the TV and be entertained by a sweet, but complicated relationship between Chuck and Sarah, a constantly funnier Casey, and various guest stars, including this season's Kristin Kreuk, Stone Cold Steve Austin and Brandon Routh. And then, tell a friend, and keep it on the air. Please.

Sydney Smith will cover all things pop culture in this column. She can be reached at ksydneysmith@gmail.com.