Skip Navigation

February 2009, Cover Stories

Chuck in 3-D and Zach Levi in Person

By Missy Lee   Mon, Feb 02, 2009

"Chuck" goes 3-D and Zach Levi Goes on the Record

Chuck in 3-D and Zach Levi in Person

 

Tonight's episode of “Chuck” is being presented in 3-D courtesy of Sobe Lifewater and those nifty paper glasses. Worry not, unlike the God-awful JAWS 3-D of 1983, there will be no flying body parts, blood or gore, but for fanboys every where, there is the chance to see a scantily clad Sarah.

And should you have a difficult time obtaining a pair of the coveted glasses (allegedly grocery stores, drug stores and discount stores that sell Sobe Lifewater have them, but good luck finding a pair at this late date), you can still see the episode just fine without the stylish lens wear.

A 3-D episode is exactly the kind of geeky-tech thing Chuck Bartowski and his faithful sidekick Morgan would get all weak kneed over, as well as a hacked version of
Call of Duty or a Q36 game copier.

Yes, Chuck Bartowski and Morgan Grimes, who use the home theater section of Buy More after hours to play various video games on a big screen TV with surround sound, would choose an all night gaming session over just about anything else in the world.

But what about Zach Levi who plays the sweet and lovable Chuck Bartowski? Is he a gamer? Is it totally out of character for him to play a video game loving accidental hero?

The answer is NO. Like his on screen counterpart, Zach Levi can game with the best of them.

When asked what his favorite games are he enthusiastically replies, “RockBand, Gears of War and Call of Duty.” And of course, Guitar Hero.

Levi says, “Call of Duty 4 is fantastic! Amazing graphics!”

And just what gaming platform does he use?

“Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, anything I can get my hands on.”

And is there a gaming system in his on-set trailer? Levi's only answer was a crooked smile and teasing reply, “There might be.” When pushed for details, he took the diplomatic route; “I don't like to play favorites.”

Switching back to the topic of Chuck, Levi admits that while fellow cast mate Yvonne Strahovski (Sarah Walker) gets to do a fair amount of her own stunts and fight scenes, his action scenes “mainly consist of falling down onto the ground.”

He admits that “having Chuck all of a sudden kick butt would be major-ly jumping the shark. Chuck has to go through an evolution and get to that place where he evolves as a spy. Then I think we'll see him kick some butt. Maybe.”

Levi says, “Part of that evolution will be delving deeper into Chuck's past, Sarah's past, etc. There's going to be more mythology involved and if it ends up that my parents were spies, I wouldn't be surprised. At least I hope there's something deeper to it. For a show like ours that's so much about the fun and entertainment, that to me is fun and entertaining.”

Other fun and entertaining things about doing “Chuck?”

“After the strike last year I was fortunate enough to get to travel over seas to promote the launch of the show. I got to go places I'd never been before and to see people's reactions to the show was amazing. The fans make the show what it is.”

And what about that infamous shower scene featuring Nicole Richie (Sarah's high school nemesis) and Yvonne?

“I was off that day, but my dad was in town so you know, I took him to the set and we, uh, you know, watched it being filmed.”

Spoken like a true gamer boy.

It's worth noting that Levi's comments about delving deeper into his character's past and the notion that perhaps both of his parents were spies, came from a personal interview conducted last summer after a TV Critics Association panel. NBC just announced that Scott Bakula of Quantum Leap and Star Trek Enterprise fame has been signed to do a three episode arc as Chuck and Ellie's long estranged father.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Missy Lee

Missy Lee

Missy Lee is the publisher, editor and chief reporter for ILoveTelevision.com. Prior to starting ILoveTelevision.com she worked for TV-Now.com and the late Tony Bray. After living in LA and covering all things entertainmentfor a number of years, she moved back to her home state of Tennessee.

Please login to post your comments.