Larroquette would go on to star in his darker, self-titled NBC sitcom for 84 episodes, and continue to make a name for himself on other series—including recurring role on ABC’s “Boston Public” that scored him one of his Emmys—but there’s an entire generation of viewers who may not have had the chance to appreciate his dry delivery before last night’s episode of “Chuck.”

Let’s face it: “Chuck,” while struggling to collect, maintain and build an audience, was already a helluva show before Larroquette agreed to do a one-episode cameo. But last night’s main storyline might have been among the three best the series has showcased to this point. As superspy Roan Montgomery, Larroquette was one of the reasons why this edition was particularly hilarious, engaging and fun all the way around. They’d be smart to bring him back.

Even fans of “The OC,” which was the brainchild of “Chuck” creator Josh Schwartz, had to have been elated to see Melinda Clarke play a rogue KGB agent.

The only weak parts of this episode were the subplots: Ellie’s demands for more romance from Awesome, just felt contrived. And Lester’s losing control of the Buy More staff felt more reaching than funny. Does the Buy More really need a true bad guy? I thought that was why the show got rid of Harry Tang, played by C.S. Lee. (I’m still sad about Lee’s departure, but not sad to see his unlikable character go.) Lester’s more fun—obviously—when he, Jeff and Morgan are just being slackers. But before I complain too much, I should remember that there’s an arc building here to allow for the arrival of Tony Hale’s shape-up-or-ship-out character, coming soon!

I’ve been swamped of late, so I’ll recap some of my favorite parts of “Chuck vs. The Seduction” later today or tomorrow. Thanks in advance for your patience.

In the meantime, what did you think of “Chuck vs. The Seduction”? And what did you think of the subplots? Post your thoughts below.

(Photo by Adam Taylor, courtesy of NBC/Universal.)

Not that the beginning was anything short of dramatic, either. “Before you do anything rash, I think you should know that I have the cipher,” sputters Chuck as he’s dangled by his ankles high above a busy street by Michael Clarke Duncan’s baddie character, Colt.

So begins Season 2, which, with any justice will begin to amass the ratings needed to sustain another few seasons with some stiff competition (“Dancing with The Stars,” “Gossip Girl” and “How I Met Your Mother”). Insert “Chuck vs. The Nielsens” joke here.

The “Chuck vs. The First Date” synopsis and analysis are ahead, so stop reading now if you’ve got the first “Chuck” ep DVR’ed and awaiting your perusal.

Because an entire season of “Chuck” would be difficult to pull off without its title character, NSA agent Major John Casey and FBI agent Sarah Walker bust in to free Mr. Bartowski while Colt escapes. And while Chuck disobeyed orders to stay in the car, he did manage to endear himself to them both by retaining the cipher.

In a video-conference debriefing with General Beckman and CIA Director Graham, the trio learns that the cipher is the final piece of the beta version of the Intersect, meaning once the government installs it, Chuck Bartowski’s days with the CIA are over. Thing is, he doesn’t know his life may be over as well if frenemy John Casey succeeds in a subsequent mission to kill him. Beckman’s just not comfy with the idea of two Intersects out there running amok.

Unaware that Graham’s “Enjoy the rest of your life” sign-off could refer to a considerably shorter span than he anticipates, Chuck begins to mull his life after the cipher is installed. Sarah dismisses his prospective career at Buy More, declaring he could get anything he wanted. Mreeow.

But when Beckman has a one-on-one with Casey, the cranky NSA agent is quick to defend the novice spy, pleading for another exit strategy.

“You have your orders, Major,” Beckman emphasizes. “Tomorrow night, eliminate Chuck Bartowski.” She abruptly signs off.

While Casey’s quick to cock his gun as the screen goes black, he laments, “I used to like the sound of that.”

Cut to the new and improved opening credits, which now gives props to more of the talented, diverse cast. I’ll say it again: I’ve always loved Cake’s song “Short Skirt, Long Jacket,” but it’s endeared itself to me even more since it’s become the theme song to “Chuck.”

Three consecutive laugh-out-loud moments greet the viewer after the first commercial break: Chuck’s waking up to the hysterically horrifying discovery of his sister Ellie and her fiancé Devon (a.k.a. Captain Awesome) sharing a shower; his still-in-shock eating of Nuts & More cereal (nudge, nudge) in front of them shortly thereafter; and his subsequent commentary after an understandably awkward silence:

“OK, first of all, congratulations, Devon on, uh, on, y’know, whatever God gave you there. Second of all, the door was not locked, so I’m not a complete pervert. And third of all, this is just another reminder of why I need my own place.”

At the Buy More, best buddy Morgan is there to greet Chuck with an elaborate war strategy for the Call of Duty video game. Chuck spots Casey, who’s almost too busy scoping out a sexy blonde to deal with the nerd’s request. With the perfect deadpan, Casey mumbles: “Not now, I’ve got a single white female pining for the Beastmaster.” (Note to the ‘09 Emmys: This dude deserves a best supporting actor nod for comedy next year. Seriously. Oh, and no more reality hosts hosting. Thanks.) Chuck thanks Casey for their time together: “You were always there to catch me when I fell, which sounds horribly cheesy now that I’m saying it aloud.”

Big Mike offers Chuck the opportunity to be the branch’s assistant manager, an offer New Chuck declines. Big Mike in turn asks him to interview and select the person for the position.

Another fantastic moment: The use of Flight of the Conchords’ hilarious “Foux da Fa Fa” as background music for the gratuitously sexy montage of Sarah Walker’s new cover job at the Orange Orange. Brilliant!

True, Sarah’s new undercover venue is not the Wienerlicious, but wow, the Orange Orange has its perks. At her old job, “My clothes smelled like sausage,” she says. Touché. So when New Chuck asks Sarah if she wants to go out on a date, her eyebrows jump and she barely contains her smile. And while she knows the government would frown upon the idea, she accepts. It’s their second attempt at a first date. No gunfight this time, they swear.

Cut to Chuck and Sarah prepping for their dates at their places. Eye candy galore for everyone, including the oft-celebrated shot of Sarah going from a matching black underwear set to a slinky purple dress. Wow.

Peppered in this montage are visuals of Casey prepping for his own date of sorts, busting out target practice with a wheel of prospective enemies. Ever astute, he hits the bulls-eye on photos of Osama bin Laden and Adolf Hitler and holds his fire at a pic of his idol, Ronald Reagan (and winks at him). But his shot misses badly when Chuck’s photo comes around. Hmm.

Casey answers the door to deliver the cipher to whom he believes is a government agent. But, whoops, it’s a member of Colt’s crew, who sprays Casey’s face with a toxic powder. Colt instructs his henchman to go to the “second location” to take out Chuck and Sarah, who’s without her gun because it’s a real date. Uh oh.

At the restaurant, sparks are flying between Chuck and Sarah. After Chuck takes a few moments to compliment Sarah, she smiles and says his comments are sweet and that he’s not so bad himself.

Chuck: “Please. I’m fantastic.”
Sarah: (Pause.) “Yeah. You are.”
Chuck: (Pause.) “What would Casey think if he knew we were doing this right now?”
Sarah: “It would probably kill him.”

Casey crashes through the window in his signature car. “Did somebody order drive-through?” Colt punches him in the face so hard, the pattern of his ring embeds itself in Casey’s cheek. The good guys manage to escape, but when Casey admits he lost the cipher, Chuck’s crestfallen.

Chuck awakens the next morning, dejected, but he must soldier on at the Buy More, where Morgan chooses not to apply for the assistant manager position. He wants to do as little work as possible. In the ensuing interview process, Anna toys with Chuck by running her foot up his leg. (“I like making my boyfriend nervous,” she coos.) Less alluring is Jeff’s napkin résumé, as is his own running his foot up Chuck’s leg. (“That’s not called for,” Chuck deadpans. “Or welcome.”) Lester references his own Wikipedia page.

But when Chuck flashes on the ring pattern on Casey’s face, he learns of Colt’s hideout and kicks the assistant manager candidates out of the room. Casey and Sarah prepare to head out without Chuck, who protests because Morgan has the interview process under control. That is, if you call a Thunderdome-inspired cagematch involving bungee cords “under control.” Upon Chuck’s return to the store, Big Mike sends him on a “computer emergency” that was called in by someone requesting Bartowski.

When Casey and Walker arrive at Colt’s supposed hideout, which is empty. Meanwhile, Chuck arrives at the supposed computer emergency site, whose front door is opened by Colt. D’oh.

About to be punched into submission by Colt, Chuck claims Colt and his crew is surrounded and recounts the military strategy that Morgan referenced earlier. When Colt cries foul, Chuck calls his cell phone to have Morgan repeat it. Panicked, Colt and his crew look out the window for proof, allowing Chuck to pilfer the cipher and grab about a 10-second head-start for an escape attempt. And although Casey and Walker are on their way for backup, Colt catches up to Chuck and punches him through a window onto the roof.

Once again, Colt dangles Chuck by his ankles high above the ground and demands the cipher. Despite being held at gunpoint by Walker, a fed-up Colt drops Chuck. Walker screams as she’s never screamed before and Chuck plummets to certain death. That is, before Casey is there to catch him (by the arm) as he falls. So it wasn’t just a cliché!

Thinking Chuck’s dead, Colt knocks the gun out of Sarah’s hand and the adversaries throw down with some martial arts. After both fall to the ground in a virtual draw. Casey ascends to the roof, where he appears to have the advantage until he’s surrounded by Colt’s henchmen. But then Chuck’s even larger posse of gunmen show up to outnumber (and arrest) all the baddies. And he’s still got the cipher!

That evening, Beckman holds another teleconference with Casey, reminding him to eliminate Chuck now that the cipher is being uploaded to the server. But in a rare display of rebellion, Casey protests yet again.

“Chuck served his country with honor. Maybe he even has potential as an analyst for the organization.”

Meanwhile, Graham installs the cipher into a computer at CIA headquarters. But instead of embedding all the Intersect information into the brains of Graham and a half-dozen other CIA agents, the computer monitor connected to the cipher reads “Fulcrum thanks you,” then explodes, killing them all. Yes, Fulcrum — the (hopefully fictional) rogue agency set out to destroy the CIA from within.

As Casey is about to fire at Chuck, Sarah arrives at the front door and tells Chuck the date yet again will have to wait. The mechanical Intersect has been destroyed, she says, and a stunned Casey silently retreats. Chuck remains the only known Intersect. And his hopes of chasing his dreams are dashed.

Back at the Buy More, Lester — who apparently won the Thunderdome challenge — is harrassing Chuck as the new assistant manager. Chuck laments his future at Buy More with Morgan, who cheers him up by telling him that Jeff has agreed to eat 90 Twinkies in three minutes. When they run off excitedly to check it out the potential for the greatest death-by-Twinkie scenario since the metaphorical one explained by Egon in “Ghostbusters,” Chuck nearly brushes off a surprisingly cordial Casey:

Casey: “Good to see you there, Bartowski.”
Chuck: “Hey, Casey! Ninety Twinkies in three minutes. Be there.”
(Casey grimaces.)
Chuck: “Jeff might die!”
(Casey perks up, then runs to catch up to Chuck, who pats him on the back on the way to the back room.)

Next week’s episode, “Chuck vs. The Seduction” is even better. John Larroquette plays a legendary James Bond-like spy, and there’s yet another twist at the end of the episode that seamlessly carries into episode three, “Chuck vs. The Break-Up,” which ends with perhaps the most engaging twist of all three episodes. Stay tuned! (Please!)

(Photos courtesy of NBC/Universal.)

How do I know it’s outstanding? I’ve seen the first three epsiodes, thanks to the good people at The Peacock. And these episodes are as good or better than last season’s best. Just ask Entertainment Weekly guru Michael Ausiello, who also screened the first two eps and declared “Believe the hype.”

And the ratings-challenged show doesn’t just need you; you need it. The first scene after the opening credits of “Chuck vs. The First Date” prompted three laugh-out-loud moments within mere minutes. It’s accessible to new viewers, loyal to devout ones and has no shortage of Awesome, Captain or otherwise.

Speaking of opening credits and Awesome, kudos to the show for incorporating more regular characters into the intro, including Ryan McPartlin (Captain Awesome), Vik Sahay (Lester), Scott Krinsky (Jeff), Julia Ling (Anna) and Mark Christopher Lawrence (Big Mike).

Keep an ear out for an amazing nod to one of the best songs to be featured on “Flight of the Conchords” this season when Sarah Walker’s new cover job is revealed, and an eye out for an excellent twist at the end of the episode.

Cameo alert: Michael Clarke Duncan (“The Green Mile”) is in the first episode, followed by John Larroquette (“Night Court”) in the second. Beyond the third episode, look out for Gary Cole, who was cast as Walker’s dad. Good times.

(Photo courtesy of NBC/Universal.)

Yes, they’re thrilled to be picked up for a full sophomore season. Yes, guest stars like Michael Clarke Duncan and John Larroquette were fun to work with. But I was looking for something a bit more of the off-camera flair.

So when opportunity came a-knockin’, I asked the happy tandem the following: Which regular cast member is most likely to laugh during a scene, and which scene from Season 1 was the most difficult to get through without laughing?

Gomez took the first part, Levi took the lead on the latter. Hear his reply—and my parting shout-out to one of Season 1’s key phrases—here:

Download:

My thanks to both NBC for the hook-up and to Levi and Gomez for taking the time to chat with—and give thoughtful, funny answers to—an enthusiastic group of reporters. I’ll hopefully have more “Chuck” updates in the coming days.

(Photo by Carin Bae courtesy of NBC/Universal.)

Yes, Barack Obama, Tina Fey and Will Ferrell are rumored to return to 30 Rock to appear on tonight’s premiere of “Saturday Night Live,” hosted by Olympic behemoth Michael Phelps. But let’s not forget about Eastchester native Bobby Moynihan, either.

Those familiar with “SNL” know featured players usually pop up in fewer sketches than their repertory counterparts, so expect Moynihan to appear in one to three sketches tonight, tops.

That said, I wasn’t surprised when he was hired in August. I’m proud to say I’ve known him for almost 20 years. He’s absolutely hilarious and, if there’s any justice, will be upgraded to repertory status within a few months.

The “SNL” premiere begins tonight at about 11:30 p.m. EST.

DioGuardi’s father, a former Republican Congressman who now lives in Ossining, told me that when Kara was just 12 years old, she gained confidence singing at Manhattan’s Waldolf-Astoria hotel in front of 1,000 people for a Columbus Day event, whose grand marshal was actress Sophia Loren:

“She brought the house down. Sophia ran up to her and I said, ‘Sophia, can I take this picture?’ And they both looked at me with two of the greatest smiles you could find.”

(Photo by and courtesy of Joe DioGuardi)

So where did Kara DioGuardi sit in New York City when she joined the panel for her very first set of “Idol” auditions subjected to judges for Season 8?

Hint: It’s not where she is in this photo.

Well, in an exclusive phone interview with yours truly just before Labor Day weekend, DioGuardi revealed she’d be sitting … between Jackson and Abdul, with Cowell remaining at the table’s far right. There’d been some mystery about judge placement when Fox first announced news of DioGuardi’s hire, but she seemed content with her place in more ways than one when I asked her about her seating preference:

“You know at this point, I’m pretty much just like, ‘Where do you want me?’ I’m the new kid in school. I’m not going to cause waves right from the beginning.”

(AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

Depending on your source, either John McCain’s speech eked out Barack Obama’s for the TV ratings crown (Reuters) or both were deadlocked with 42.4 million viewers (Associated Press).

One ratings outcome does look clearer: both of those news outlets reported that more people watched the Republican National Convention in its main three days (an average of 34.4 million per night) than the Democratic National Convention over its four (an average of 30.2 million per night). The surprising pick of Sarah Palin as McCain’s running mate within hours of the DNC’s conclusion likely helped boost those numbers, with both supportive Republicans and curious Democrats tuning in to learn more.

Asked “How many new TV series will you watch at least one episode of this fall?”, the answer that got the most responses was “1 or 2,” with seven tallies.

This was my vote, for what it’s worth, because it takes a lot for me to sacrifice another hour or two for new series, so the pitches have to be particularly impressive or unique.

The lone new series I’m making a point to watch this fall is “Fringe,” and that’s primarily due to Lance Reddick, the actor known to faithful viewers of “The Wire” as Cedric Daniels. Other than that, nothing new on network TV interests me and I have about eight active shows that I keep up with on a regular or semi-regular basis.

Besides, I spend plenty of time doing things other than watch TV. That doesn’t make me a snob; my frequent use of semicolons does.

That’s due in part to the writers’ strike limiting production on pilots, resulting in networks having fewer choices from which to pick.

However, five votes were tallied among those who plan to watch at least one ep of “3 or4” new series, and an additional five were from RA readers who will watch “5 or more” series this fall. Hope you clear enough space on your DVRs, people.

A couple of voters said they’d watch no new series due to a lack of time and another voter said they’d watch none due to a lack of interest.

The next Remote Access poll is the brainchild of fellow Accessory Brian Howard: “What series from the last decade have you never seen but most want to catch up with?” My answer is “Lost,” because much like “The Wire,” which I have seen and love, the complex plots of the ABC drama and voluminous previous seasons are what keep me from tuning in.

Now, I know what some of you are thinking, and here’s my reply: This poll requires the honor code. We know how many of you RA readers watch “Jericho,” “The Wire” and “Deadwood,” so please don’t vote for your favorite show just to tilt the balance if you’ve seen one or more episodes. Play fair, kids.

First, and most important, NBC announced Thursday that “Chuck” will be picked up for a full second season! (Thanks to fellow Accessory Brian Howard for the tip.) Here’s what Teri Weinberg, an executive veep for NBC Entertainment, had to say about the pick-up:

“We couldn’t be more excited with the creative direction Josh (Schwartz) and his team are executing on ‘Chuck.’ This show has really hit its stride and deserves a full-season commitment to carry out the producers’ vision for this unique series.”

Speaking of Awesome casting, Entertainment Weekly’s Michael Ausiello (does that guy ever sleep?) reported Tuesday that Morgan Fairchild and Bruce “Scarecrow” Boxleitner have been cast as Dr. Honey Woodcombe and Dr. Woody Woodcombe, the parents of Ryan McPartlin’s Captain Awesome. And Ausiello reports that transplanted fans of prime-time spy shows will recognize Carl Lumbly (who played Marcus Dixon on “Alias”) playing a “sensei” to NSA agent John Casey (the ridiculously amazing Adam Baldwin).

Mel at the mind-blowing ChuckTV.net (seriously, check it out; you’ll get lost for hours) discovered that the Season 2 premiere will have advance showings in New York City and Los Angeles. The NYC version on Sept. 11 will also feature the opening episodes of “Life” and “Lipstick Jungle,” as well as a preview of “Kings,” starring “Deadwood” superstar Ian McShane and a bunch of other people. The L.A. premiere, however, boasts the “Chuck” cast on Sept. 8. Dang.

Last but not least, some eye candy for you loyal readers. NBC Universal’s released some more photos from the upcoming season, including a bunch from the intriguingly titled season premiere, “Chuck vs. The First Date,” featuring the Oscar-nominated Michael Clarke Duncan. Lots of jaw-dropping photos of the stunning Yvonne Strahovski (Sarah Walker) and one of Adam Baldwin, who may or may not be driving a vintage Crown Vic. You’re welcome!

(Photos by Trae Patton/Courtesy of NBC Universal)

Hudson will be singing the national anthem tonight at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. And depending on how history shakes out, she could be setting the stage for the future president of the United States.

Heck, even if that doesn’t happen, there’s still something impressive about providing the entertainment before Walter Mondale addresses a big crowd, I suppose.

Speaking of Mr. Daughtry, it turns out he also made a cameo at the DNC this week.

(AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Just a day after Fox announced her as the fourth “Idol” judge, the New Rochelle native joined Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul for some New York City auditions yesterday and posed for pictures for the first time in public with the rest of the show’s panel.

And, based on the quotes that this AP article generates, there appears to be immediate chemistry.

Some of my personal favorites, of course, come from Mr. Cowell. Among them:

“It’s like, you know, having dinner with three people for seven years, and getting quite bored of each other. So it’s having a fourth person, new opinion, I think it’s gonna be interesting.”

“Kara has a good reputation of A, having hits; and B, having an opinion. And that’s a good combination. And she’s cute.”

“Paula will have to speak less.”

(AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

Award-winning songwriter and producer Kara DioGuardi, who spent her childhood in Westchester, has just been tabbed as an unprecedented fourth judge on “American Idol.”

It’ll be interesting to see how DioGuardi, 37, changes the dynamic of the judges’ table, which in other countries already features a four-judge “Idol” format. At the very least, her experience as a songwriter and collaborator with dozens of current artists gives the table unprecedented credibility.

The Grammy-nominated daughter of former U.S. Congressman Joe DioGuardi, Kara DioGuardi was raised in the Wilmot Woods section of New Rochelle. She attended the Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Scarsdale and graduated from The Masters School in Dobbs Ferry.

In the last three years, she has been named BMI’s Pop Songwriter of the Year and had nearly 50 international charting singles, according to her bio. Her songs have been recorded by (deep breath) Christina Aguilera, Gwen Stefani, Santana, Kelly Clarkson, Celine Dion, Faith Hill, Carrie Underwoord, Marc Anthony, Pink, Britney Spears, Avril Lavigne, Jewel, Jonas Brothers, Pussycat Dolls, Hannah Montana, Natasha Bedingfield, Puddle of Mudd, Theory of a Deadman, Daddy Yankee, Ashley Tisdale, Katharine McPhee, Taylor Hicks, Bo Bice, Clay Aiken, Jesse McCartney, Backstreet Boys, Ashlee Simpson, Hilary Duff, the Cheetah Girls, Camp Rock, Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey.

The list of artist collaboartions is actually far longer, but my fingers hurt.

(AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

NBC might not be the ratings champ it used to be, but it finished first among Remote Access poll voters, with nearly 1 in 3 choosing it over all other networks for this fall’s slate of original programming.

And I can’t say I’d disagree with that. Among series that continue to pump out new episodes, my three favorites—“30 Rock,” “The Office” and “Chuck”—are all Peacock productions. And, well, it doesn’t hurt that one of my childhood friends was just cast on “Saturday Night Live.” So to celebrate, I figured I’d post this sweet 1956 NBC logo. Hotness.

Finishing in a tie for second were ABC and HBO.

ABC has its share of series that I hear are great but have not seen (“Lost,” “Ugly Betty,” “Pushing Daisies”) and one that I have seen but think is a bit overrated (“Grey’s Anatomy”).

Not surprisingly losing ground among RA voters and critics alike is HBO. Yes, it’s got its share of stimulating programs in comedy (“Flight of the Concords,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Entourage”) and miniseries genres (“John Adams,” “Generation Kill”), but serial dramas, once the pay-net’s stronghold, have been neither so popular nor so acclaimed since “The Wire,” “Deadwood” and “The Sopranos” faded to black.

Check out the rest of the poll results—including which three networks tied for last—and a look at the current poll after the break.

Right in the middle, with two votes apiece, were CBS, Fox, Showtime and The CW.

Finishing in a tie for last place with one vote apiece were myNetworkTV, PBS and FX. I don’t watch a lot of those channels (although I feel guilty about not watching more PBS), so I can’t really speak to the quality of their programming. But most people are probably in the same position, hence the lack of votes.

The new poll is more of a general question, one that I think is appropriate considering how the writers’ strike impacted the number of new series. How many new TV series will you watch at least one episode of this fall? Please vote in the right margin.

(NBC logo courtesy of CBS. Just kidding. Thanks, NBC.)

So when Eastchester’s Bobby Moynihan told me recently that he would be joining the cast of “Saturday Night Live” this fall, I wasn’t really surprised. After all, I’ve known him for almost 20 years and he’s always been the funniest guy in the room.

Not surprised. But really, really excited. And soon, the rest of America will know why.

I met Bobby when we were students at Eastchester Middle School. My earliest memory of him involves Mr. Donahue’s after-school computer club, when he recreated his family car—affectionately known as “The Jalop”—on some crude Apple program and deliberately made the aerodynamics as craggy as possible so he could achieve the worst possible score in the wind tunnel. Even as an eighth-grader, he was wickedly funny.

We’d often team up in the spring and summer for high school and Eastchester Youth Council’s theatre productions, respectively. He’d often play the comic relief, of course, in roles ranging from The Scarecrow in “The Wizard of Oz” to Alfie Doolittle in “My Fair Lady,” but he was equally brilliant as a dramatic actor. In an EHS production of “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest,” Bobby reveled in the lead role of R.P. McMurphy—the part Jack Nicholson made famous—and captivated everyone in the cast and the audience.

After studying acting at the University of Connecticut, Bobby trained and toured with New York City’s Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre and became a standout performer with several house teams, most recently with The Stepfathers. I took classes at UCBT partly because I saw how much fun and success he was having on its stage. In the year-and-a-half that I delved into the city’s underground comedy scene as a mediocre student, I came to appreciate his true talent for making something so difficult look effortless.

In addition to appearing in viral Internet videos, he’d pop up on TV: voicing the character of Rabbit on the short-lived Fuse animated comedy “Empire Square”; being beat up in a fight bit for “Late Night with Conan O’Brien”; or hamming it up here and there in commercials for ESPN.

Last year, after my friend Katie and I had attended a taping of “Late Night” at 30 Rockefeller Plaza—where “SNL” is filmed—we ran into Bobby on the streets of Manhattan. He had just auditioned for “SNL.” He was generally pleased with his audition, but the subsequent writers’ strike couldn’t have helped his chances to make the show. For the abridged 2007-08 season, it just wasn’t meant to be.

Nonetheless, his film career picked up in the year that followed. On a train ride, he raved to me about being a part of the ridiculously amazing cast for “This Side of the Truth,” for which he got to work with one of his idols, Ricky Gervais, and play his personal assistant. And then I learned, through Variety no less, that he would be playing the best friend of Josh Duhamel’s character in “When In Rome.”

Earlier this month, Bobby got the call to audition for “SNL” again. And last Wednesday, Bobby said, Lorne Michaels himself called to give him the news he’d been waiting more than a year to hear. Bobby told me he spent the rest of the afternoon sitting on a nearby park bench, in total disbelief.

But those of us who have known him probably weren’t so surprised. Congrats, Bob!

(Also see: “Now That It’s Official…” on The Apiary and “Bobby Moynihan Named New SNL Cast Member” in The Huffington Post)

The actress known in fan circles as “Strahotski” plays Sarah Walker, who is as triumphant as an FBI agent as she is pathetic expressing her romantic feelings. On a dramedy with no shortage of eye candy, the blonde Aussie bombshell not only shows about as much skin that can allowed on prime-time network TV but also surprising dexterity as an actress. Ruthless in her treatment of international criminals, Sarah still crumbles when Chuck (or Bryce) triggers her more vulnerable emotional side.

Plus, let’s face it, people. She’s frickin’ hotter than Casey’s blown-up Crown Victoria.

Anyway, while I settle down over here, feel free to check out Strahovski’s recent interview with BuzzSugar. In it, she elaborates on her character’s geekier teenage self, raves about working with Nicole Richie, and chooses between her retired Weinerlicious attire and her new cover outfit.

(Photo courtesy of NBC.com.)

I’m not sure which came first: the i09.com rough-cut of the “Chuck” segment from NBC’s fall preview special, or the decision to post the finished product on NBC.com. But if you’re like me, you saw the rough stuff first.

No matter. Here’s the official version of the two-minute recap of “Chuck” Season 2.0, courtesy of NBC.com:

And if you’re new to “Chuck”—or just want a four-minute refresher of Season 1—click here to check out the Cliff’s Notes version on Hulu, which in baffling fashion doesn’t let anyone embed the video elsewhere. Really? You don’t want potential new viewers to learn about the show unless they make a point to seek it out on Hulu? Someone overthought that idea.

Seriously, other than the 22 of you to vote so far, do you not know and/or care what TV channels you are watching these days? It was pretty easy to figure out even before cable companies starting posting the names of the network and show on the screen when you channel flip with your remote.

So forgive me if I’m disappointed by the turnout so far for what I figured would be a simple yet volatile poll question: For the 2008-09 TV season, which network has the best original programming?

While I could try to generate reasons for the current breakdown (NBC has the slimmest lead over ABC while Fox and myNetworkTV have yet to score a single vote), it’s wayyyy too small a sample size for me to conduct any legitimate analysis.

So get to it, Accessories! Tally up all your favorite shows, figure out what channels they run on and vote in the poll in the right margin. We’ll leave the poll open through next week.

With a little snooping around, I was able to track down what appears to be a leaked version of the “Chuck” segment from that special more than two weeks before it officially airs.

Scroll a little more than halfway down this page on io9.com and search for the video that appears just under the phrase “And here’s the EPK for Chuck.” While there’s not much content that hadn’t already been revealed at Comic-Con, it’s still two minutes of rough-cut excellence. Just above that Electronic Press Kit are a couple of other promo videos unseen by this blogger. Same situation; previously released content re-edited for new commercials.

That i09.com post has a bunch of videos pertaining to fall sci-fi series, including “Knight Rider,” “Heroes” and “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.” And another post from that science fiction fan site has spoilers for upcoming “Chuck” Webisodes. Perhaps the NBC powers that be were inspired by the Internet traffic generated by the Web-only mini-mini-miniseries for both “The Office” and “Heroes.”

According to io9, “The good news: Unlike the Heroes webisodes, they actually feature the regular cast of Chuck (but not Chuck himself, as far as I can tell.) The other good news: They’re actually pretty great.” Employees of Buy More—Morgan, Lester, Jeff and Casey—have been tabbed for the Webisodes, according to the site. Good times.

(Photo courtesy of NBC.com.)

Zachary Levi, who deftly plays the dramedy’s charmingly nerdy title character, will be hosting NBC’s prime-time preview special across the network’s broadcast and online platforms from Aug. 30 to Sept. 28. And in this blogger’s humble opinion, there couldn’t be a better choice.

With the proliferation of the Internet, cable networks and other entertainment sources in recent years, it’s no secret that networks these days have a short leash for new series that struggle to find large audiences. (See ABC’s “Emily’s Reasons Why Not”... because no one else did! Hiyo!) Back when “Seinfeld” struggled to find an audience for The Peacock, networks could exhibit more patience in the hope that word of mouth would not only keep a show afloat but, in time, deliver a ratings champion. But it’s no longer the ‘90s, and networks that fail to land quick hits often pull the plug, leaving audiences disappointed by premature cancellation and more wary than ever to dedicate the time to newer series.

Which brings us back to Levi, “Chuck,” the preview special and NBC’s classy gamble. In having Levi host the show, it’s essentially dedicating a half-hour of subliminal advertising to “Chuck,” which was on the bubble as far as second-season pickups were concerned. For its fall preview special a few years ago, NBC showed similar faith in handing over hosting duties to the stars of another show on the ropes: “The Office,” which since has become a critical darling and modest success in the Nielsens. Here’s hoping “Chuck” receives the same boost.

Of course, “The NBC Primetime Preview” will do more than offer “an exclusive backstage look” at new series like “My Own Worst Enemy” (starring Christian Slater), “Kath & Kim” (Molly Shannon and Selma Blair) and “Crusoe” (Philip Winchester and Sam Neill). It’ll also show off some teasers for returning series (“The Office,” “30 Rock,” “Heroes,” “Life,” et al.).

The special’s being offered to all of NBC’s broadcast and Internet affiliates and will even be shown on “selected United Airlines flights.” Chuck’s flown a helicopter, after all, so I suppose that works.

NBC’s premiere week officially kicks off Sept. 22.

(Photo courtesy of NBC.com.)

Yamin finished third in the fifth season of “Idol,” ahead of Chris Daughtry and just barely behind Taylor Hicks and Katharine McPhee. He was seen several times on this most recent season of “Idol,” appearing in multiple segments with fellow alum Fantasia Barrino for their trip to Africa for “Idol Gives Back.” He made another appearance in Season 7 to perform the song “Free” in honor of his feisty and lovable mother, Claudette, who had just passed away.

His hit single “Wait for You” was the highest-charting song by a non-Daughtry “Idol” alum last year. His self-titled album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and was later certified gold by the RIAA.

If you’re around Thursday, go support the talented Mr. Yamin at Playland. (Click here for more info.) He’s one of the best success stories in “Idol” history and seems to be one of the most grounded contestants to boot.

And then, thanks to a reader named Suzane, I was alerted to an amazing, non-spoilery 6 1/2-minute montage of Season 2 snippets that premiered at Comic-Con and found its way to YouTube.

The video seriously has everything that “Chuck” fans love about the show: Humor, intrigue, drama, action, eye candy for all and stunt casting ahoy.

What’s lost in audio and video quality (it’s obviously a bootleg from an audience member) is gained in emotion: Hearing the rabid, devout audience’s visceral reactions to the show and its cast is inspiring. The screams for guest star John Larroquette were great, but all the “Arrested Development” fans watching went all Motherboy crazy when a new “Chuck” regular—the lovably goofy Tony Hale—hit the screen. Very good sign.

We got some more footage of Michael Clarke Duncan, and some first looks at former New York Giant Michael Strahan, Jordana Brewster as heartbreaker Jill, . I was mildly disappointed by not shocked to see that few in the Comic-Con crowd seemed to recognize Strahan, cheering instead for the first montage appearance of his sparring partner, Joshua Gomez, a.k.a. Morgan Grimes.

Seriously, though. The video is a great appetizer for the season ahead and, despite Nicole Ritchie’s guest spot, I couldn’t be more psyched about it.

And if you liked that, here’s a 45-minute(!) video from NBC.com of the “Chuck” crew at Comic-Con. I haven’t even watched it yet—and I can’t wait to do so—but I felt it was my duty to immediately post it here to pass the savings onto you.

UPDATE: There’s one expletive in this video, so I guess parental discretion is advised blah blah blah:

Check out more official “Chuck” videos here, and some fun related YouTube clips here.

(Photo and videos courtesy of NBC.com)

First, a blind search for new “Chuck” clips on Hulu resulted in a couple of teaser trailers for the sophomore season, which launches Monday, Sept. 29 on NBC.

Within the first few seconds of the this trailer (the better one), we see cameos by Michael Clarke Duncan and John Larroquette:

Nothing really new from either actor; Duncan seems to be playing a heavy not unlike his role from “The Whole Nine Yards” and Larroquette’s deadpan, dry wit has been celebrated since he first played Dan Fielding on “Night Court.” But I like what I’ve seen so far with regard to their contributions to “Chuck.” This trailer also promises a “new mission, new danger, new action, new enemies, and new… underwear.” Part of me wants to protest the shameless shot of Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski) getting dressed with the door wide open, but most of me is asking why in my right mind I would do such a thing.

The other trailer isn’t trying so hard, resorting to a single shot of Chuck struggling to descend from a ceiling, spy-style. Its slogan, however, is trying waaaay too hard in its attempt to play off the James Bond specs for a martini:

Still, it’s “Chuck” stuff! So I’m still OK with it.

A second reason to get excited for the second season are some photos of the cast doing things. And a third reason? Remote Access’ access to a picture from the upcoming episode “Chuck vs. The Cougars.” Oh, double meaning, how I love thee. Check out all those pix after the break.

“Chuck” star Zachary Levi and creator/executive producer Josh Schwartz chat at the Sophomore Dramas Session of the NBC Universal Press Tour at the Beverly Hills Hilton on July 21. NBC Photo: Chris Haston.

Zachary Levi, Yvonne Strahovski and Joshua Gomez hang out at an All-Star Party as part of the NBC Universal Press Tour at the Beverly Hills Hilton on July 20. NBC Photo: Trae Patton.

Sarah Lancaster and Adam Baldwin hang out at an All-Star Party as part of the NBC Universal Press Tour at the Beverly Hills Hilton on July 20. NBC Photo: Chris Haston.

A photo from “Chuck vs. the Cougars,” Episode 204. NBC Photo: Byron Cohen.

“The Simpsons” managed to stave off a steady phaser attack by “Star Trek: The Next Generation” to claim victory in Remote Access’ latest poll, which asked readers to pick the greatest spin-off of all time.

Matt Groening’s ongoing animated saga pulled nearly 1 vote in 3 tallied, while nearly 1 in 5 picked Jean-Luc Picard and Co.

Placing third was “Frasier,” a “Cheers” spin-off. Finishing fourth was “Angel,” a “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” follow-up.

I’ll spare you the rest of the details, which you may examine after the break. Remote Access is not responsible for reader-submitted non-spinoffs or their votes, so don’t waste your fingertips.

Our next poll is a simple one that should yield some pretty intense responses. For the 2008-09 TV season, which network has the best original programming?

We’re starting with the national networks (NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, The CW and myNetworkTV), a couple of subscriber-based nets (HBO and Showtime) and an edu-ma-cational destination (PBS), but as usual, you are more than welcome to submit your own suggestions.

Answers should apply to programs that are either on the air or are being produced right now. Why that specification? Well, with “The Wire,” “Deadwood,” “Rome” and “The Sopranos” no longer broadcasting new episodes on HBO, that makes a huge difference for my vote.

Here are the rest of the results for our poll about the best TV spin-off of all time:

(Picture courtesy of Fox.)

The bad: I swear the only reason “The Wire” isn’t among the best drama nominees is because lazy Emmy voters—i.e. most of them—never saw the show. Despite a phenomenal fifth and final season, it’s only up for one writing award. Its only other nomination, also for writing, was back in 2005.

Geez. Where’s the acting love for Lance Riddick (Daniels), Clarke Johnson (Gus), Michael K. Williams (Omar) or Sonja Sohn (Kima)? The only rationale for no acting nominations I can think of is that so many talented “Wire” actors have split the vote over the last five seasons.

“John Adams” led the Emmy nomination pack with 23, and “Mad Men” (17) and “Damages” (16) were the first basic-cable series to be up for top drama.

I’m sure you’ll hear more Emmy commentary from many of us in the weeks to come before the Sept. 21 broadcast, but here’s the crucial info you need to know.

Drama: “Boston Legal,” “Damages,” “Dexter,” “House,” “Lost” and “Mad Men.”

Comedy: “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Entourage,” “The Office,” “30 Rock” and “Two and a Half Men.”

Best actor—drama: Gabriel Byrne (“In Treatment”), Bryan Cranston (“Breaking Bad”), Michael C. Hall (“Dexter”), Jon Hamm (“Mad Men”), Hugh Laurie (“House”) and James Spader (“Boston Legal”).

Best actress—drama: Glenn Close (“Damages”), Sally Field (“Brothers and Sisters”), Mariska Hargitay (“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”), Holly Hunter (“Saving Grace”) and Kyra Sedgwick (“The Closer”).

Best actor—comedy: Alec Baldwin (“30 Rock”), Steve Carell (“The Office”), Lee Pace (“Pushing Daisies”), Tony Shalhoub (“Monk”) and Charlie Sheen (“Two and a Half Men”).

Best actress—comedy: Christina Applegate (“Samantha Who?”), America Ferrera (“Ugly Betty”), Tina Fey (“30 Rock”), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (“The New Adventures of Old Christine”) and Mary-Louise Parker (“Weeds”).

And here’s the complete list of 2008 Emmy nominees.

UPDATE: More good news/bad news, this time in the category of best supporting actress in a comedy series. A long-overdue and well-deserved nod has been given to “Saturday Night Live’s” Amy Poehler, but how in the world is Jenna Fischer snubbed for her work on “The Office”? Instead, the category includes Jean Smart for “Samantha Who?” and Holland Taylor on “Two and a Half Men.” As Poehler herself on Weekend Update would say, “Really?!”

(Photo courtesy of Fox.)

“The Simpsons” wouldn’t be around if “The Tracey Ullman Show” didn’t feature the shorts starring Matt Groening’s far more crudely drawn version of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie. And it’d be pretty hard to slap “The Next Generation” tag on a franchise if “Star Trek” never existed in the first place.

Those shows are tops in the current Remote Access poll, which asks readers to pick (and pitch) the top TV spinoff of all time. As of late Wednesday night, “The Simpsons” had 77 votes (32 percent) while “TNG” had 45 (19 percent). I like both shows, but if you want to know for which I have a preference, consider the fact that I’ve included a photo of Disco Stu with this post.

(That said, LeVar Burton is one of my favorite celebrities ever. But you don’t have to take my word for it.)

Next on the list are “Frasier,” a “Cheers” spin-off with 24 votes ( percent) and “Angel,” a “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” spin-off with 20 votes.

In fifth is a well-intended but disqualified reader-submitted suggestion, the re-imagined “Battlestar Galactica.” According to many people (including Amy Vernon—our “BG” correspondent—and fellow Accessory Brian Howard), it’s one of the best shows on television, but simply redoing a show by the same name does not make it a spin-off. Frak! Perhaps I’ll create a future poll with that concept in mind, though.

Tied for sixth place are “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” (a “Law and Order” spin-off, duh) and “The Muppet Show,” whose origins can be traced to “Sesame Street.” In seventh place are valid reader suggestions: “Happy Days” (“Love American Style”) and “Boston Legal” (“The Practice”). And there are a bunch more for your consideration.

The poll, found in the right margin of this page, will remain open through next week, so vote, submit your own (legit) suggestions and spread the news!

(Picture of Disco Stu—and a pretty groovy picture at that—courtesy of Fox.)

The Texas Ranger crushed 28 homers in the first round of last night’s Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium—20 more than any other player in that frame—but lost the event because the Minnesota Twins’ Justin Morneau hit more in the third and final round. (Totals from the first two rounds don’t carry over. Pffft. What a joke.)

Check out this must-watch MLB.com highlight reel, and try not to get as frustrated as I was with the ESPN broadcasters’ initial insistence on dull storytelling instead of chronicling the greatness unfolding in front of them.

Read more of my Home Run Derby analysis here.

(Photo by Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News)

One minute into David Simon and Ed Burns’ seven-part HBO miniseries “Generation Kill,” the audience already had a metaphor to mull.

But how does the tandem responsible “The Wire” follow with anything comparable to one of the best-reviewed TV dramas in history? Well, the simple answer is they don’t.

Don’t get me wrong: “Generation Kill” has the snappy dialogue, gritty tension and intriguing characters you’d expect from a Blown Deadline production. But unlike the pilot of “The Wire,” which left me wanting more, the first episode of “Generation Kill” left me feeling more obligated than motivated, mostly due to the production team behind it.

“Generation Kill’s” huge, predominantly white male cast, all wearing fatigues and sporting some kind of buzz cut, make it difficult for viewers to differentiate between many of the blond characters. At least with “The Wire,” which also had a massive cast, the show’s diversity and gender equity made the task more manageable, thus making the show more accessible.

Not to say that the pilot episode, “Get Some,” doesn’t have its standouts. Five immediately come to mind.

James Ransone—a.k.a. Ziggy for you “Wire” Tappers out there—is clearly the show’s comic relief as Cpl. Ray Person. In addition to his half-joking theory about war coming down to a lack of sex (that’s the far duller, santized version of his incredible monologue), his renditions of Minnie Ripperton’s “Loving You” and Avril Lavigne’s “Sk8r Boi” prompted some of the show’s best laugh-out-loud moments.

Lee Tergesen, playing the Rolling Stone magazine journalist the Marines tab as “Scribe,” is also memorable as a bumbling embedded reporter just trying to keep up and fit in. Within seconds of the troops accusing him as a “dope-smokin’, peace freak writer” out to make them out to be “baby killers and mama rapists,” he wins them over by telling them he used to write more lurid fare for Hustler magazine.

Then there’s Stark Sands, who plays Lt. Fick. In “Wire” speak, he appears to be sort of the Cedric Daniels of the show: Middle management who cares about those under his watch. After a freak accident that could get the troop in trouble (“This platoon is going down over an espresso maker,” he gripes), his decision to lie to his superiors that acts of heroism were involved speaks volumes about his willingness to stick up for his guys and the lengths he must go to for self-preservation—a David Simon staple.

If the random mispronunciations of simple words and the general jerky nature of Sgt. Mjr. John Sixta (played by Neal Jones) don’t make you laugh aloud, perhaps a repairman should fix the sound on your TV set or you should invest in MiracleEar. Especially since one of the Marines called him an “a****** who excels at his position.”

But no such adjustments should be made with the unmistakable rasp of Lt. Col. Ferrando (Chance Kelly), a character who’s lost most of his voice due to throat cancer. When Scribe asked if Ferrando smoked, the man who was soft-spoken in more ways than one replied, “No, just lucky, I guess.”

Beyond them, it’s tough to remember the names and character traits of the rest of the white guys. And the series’ minority characters haven’t had a lot of material with which to work after one episode, but hopefully that will change in the weeks to come.

After the break, some thoughts about the show’s key plot points.

• The lack of maps, batteries and—oh, yeah—basic shields and weaponry for the soldiers was alarming. Equally scary: the lack of communication between military factions.

• I found it interesting the way the soldiers engaged in hand-to-hand combat, basically glorified fist-fighting, to pass the time. Solitaire isn’t very popular, I guess.

• J-Lo, contrary to reports the troops received, is still alive in 2008, let alone in 2003.

• The moment when the troops started making fun of the school children’s letters was funny, honest and sad at the same time. Then there were the troop members’ subsequent jokes—at least I hope they were jokes—about being, um, “attracted” to a preteen letter-writer. One part amusing, 10 parts disturbing.

• The first laugh-out-loud moment of the show was when One Of The White Guys suggested to Another One Of The White Guys to shave his mustache into a tiny patch above his reminiscent of Hitler. Unbenownst to Sixta, who showed up to berate the latter for having too long a ‘stache, the first White Guy could be seen goose-stepping behind him while the harangue took place.

• Race and culture clashes are no better overseas than they are here, and could be even worse. Also, gay jokes are all the rage.

• All the troops prepping for their first invasion are wayyyy too trigger-happy. The prospect of a Marine wanting shooting a harmless stray dog, being instructed not to do so, then being ordered to do so felt particularly stark.

• When one of the soldiers warned that “unreleasing” the Iraqis who surrendered to American troops was in violation of laws set at the Geneva Convention, it was dismissed with regret. “Write this as you see it,” Scribe was told. “We’re not here to stop you.” The soldier’s response: “Iraqis’ first contact with Americans: We f*** them.”

• These Marines seem very cocky without having seen combat. Again, a self-preservation tactic crucial for battle, but grating nonetheless. It’ll be interesting to see if this attitude changes for some soldiers in future episodes.

Thoughts about the episode are welcomed in the comments section. What’d you think? Will you stay tuned for the remaining six episodes?

(Photo and logo courtesy of HBO.)

As you may or may not recall (hey, I assume nothing as it’s been a while), Jill is the mysterious girl who broke Chuck’s heart when they were Stanford University students. Entertainment Weekly’s Michael Ausiello is reporting that star Jordana Brewster, of “The Fast and the Furious” fame, will be playing the woman who slept with Chuck’s frenemy Bryce Larkin at Stanford and caused Mr. Bartowski’s post-collegiate downward spiral.

Here’s what “Chuck” creator Josh Schwartz told Ausiello in an exclusive:

(Jill) is basically responsible for setting his life crashing off course and landing him at the Nerd Herd. He always has imagined seeing her again, and being able to impress her with all he’s accomplished. Unfortunately, when he does meet her, he’s doing a computer install and she’s a brilliant, successful, beautiful doctor working to create antibodies to horrible diseases.

It’s the juiciest arc we’ve done yet and one that ties very deeply into the mythology of the show and the character of Chuck.

I know one person who probably isn’t thrilled about it. Her name’s Natalie Martinez, who appeared in early “Chuck” promotional shots (seen here and here) and may or may not have been tabbed to play Chuck’s steady girlfriend before the pilot aired. D’oh!

(AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

I found solace, however, in the YES Network’s thoughtful, reverent and touching tribute to their colleague, “A Celebration of the Life of Bobby Murcer,” which premiered tonight, just one day after his death.

The one-hour special featured segments about Murcer that aired in previous YES Network programs like the Emmy-award winning “Yankeeography,” as well as interviews with many of his colleagues and friends, who seemingly were one and the same.

Even for a show that was obviously turned around with very little notice, hosts Bob Lorenz and Michael Kay did an outstanding job paying homage to their friend, who apparently made everyone he met feel that way.

Last night, I found catharsis in this YouTube video of a mic’ed up Murcer at an Old-Timers’ Day game at Yankee Stadium a few years ago. Featuring a funny, self-deprecating and charming man from Oklahoma, the video made me laugh while tears streamed down my cheeks.

It reminded me of all the reasons why Murcer will be missed.