What's Up 'Chuck'? Labor Unrest, Liveblogging and a Little Thing Called Love

Today's cuppa: Irish breakfast tea (for breakfast. I've had enough excitement for a while)

Bad thing about the Writers Guild of America strike: We only got 13 episodes of the first season of "Chuck."

Good thing about the Writers Guild of America strike: NBC doesn't have enough new shows to fill a the passenger seat of a Smart car, so we got a 22-episode second season of "Chuck."

OK, it might have happened anyway, but you never know. In case your memory has wavered since the show last aired in January, you could click here and get reminded, or I could just tell you that the espionage comedy/drama is about Chuck, a repair geek in a big-box electronics store, the BuyMore, who winds up with a super secret computer called the Intersect downloaded into his brain. So, he becomes a super-secret government agent, while still keeping his day job.

He has a best friend and co-worker, the equally geeky Morgan; a loving doctor sister named Ellie; a future brother-in-law, Dr. Devon, a k a Captain Awesome; a CIA handler, the lovely Sarah, who works undercover near the BuyMore at a wiener shop; and an NSA keeper, the equally lovely Major John Casey, who works undercover at the BuyMore.

Bad guys come after Chuck; he eludes them with pluck, charm, super-secret info and dumb luck; Sarah shoots people; Casey shoots more people; Morgan plots geek world domination, or at least ownership of all the grape soda; and Ellie and Captain Awesome are, well, awesome.

When we last left "Chuck," Chuck was about to be put on government ice, but fate intervened, and he and Sarah now realize they are in luuurrrvvveee. Hence the title of the season premiere, airing Monday, Sept. 29, "Chuck Vs. the First Date," the subject of today's liveblog.

WARNING: If you're super-mega-clever or just a very good guesser, this could possibly be considered spoiler-ish. So, if you fancy yourself either of the above, run, do not walk, in the opposite direction.

High up in the air -- when the really big guy from "The Green Mile" wants to know who you are, tell him.

Time for series-describing exposition! Here's who Chuck is. Here's who Sarah and Casey are, with guns.

"It's never safe in the car." Truer words were ne'er spoke. The look of luuurrrvvvveee.

The Cipher. Pithy yet vague. Does the government keep a room full of unemployed photo-caption writers to think these things up?

Uh-oh, Chuck's been made redundant. "What happens now?" Time for luuurrrvvveee!

Uh-oh, Casey gets an exit strategy.

Welcome to the first day of the rest of your miserable existence, with Huey Lewis & the News. Uh-oh, that's gonna leave a mark.

Chuck almost has a Tony Robbins moment. BuyMore! It's the American Way! Go Green! It's the BuyMore Way!

Morgan has traded in bangs for a faux-hawk and has turned into Gen. David Petraeus. He's my new hero, too. Roger that!

The Marlin! The Marlin! Chuck don't need no stinkin' Tony Robbins, "The Sleeper has awoken!" Or not.

Morgan senses the luuurrrvvveee. They make frozen-yogurt sundaes at the Wienerlicious? OK. Didn't see that one coming.

In Jakarta in a knife fight with an evildoer -- John Woo, are you listening? Pick you up at eight!

Sexy getting-dressed montage, with one between the eyes for some very bad guys, but a wink for the Gipper -- that's my Casey! Uh-oh, Casey has performance anxiety.

Bromance before romance? Baby steps.

Casey gets the thing for the guy who puts on the thing and shoots the stuff. It's done!

Hey, Green Mile! No, Sarah, never leave home without it!

Mmmmm, dumplings. Deep fried, pan fried or steamed? I go for steamed, myself.

Awww, noodle luuurrrvvveee. Casey, dude, you look like the Joker! Good one. Owwwww!!! Whoah, glad I got my flu shot before I saw that.

She's leavin' on a jet plane...

Flashy things! Girl, knife, girl, guy. Bad girl, bad guys. She left home without it. Green Mile, did you bring the soy sauce? "I'm going for imposing." Heh.

Yep, it's a drive-thru now.

Drive, drive, drive! Casey takes one for the Gipper.

Uh-oh. Cancel Christmas.

Today is the first day of the rest of your miserable existence. Huey knows just what to say.

Chuck goes for the "Hail, Morgan" play.

What did she say?

Wet nap. Nice touch.

Wow, I don't even have a Wikipedia entry.

Casey is having a bad day.

Flashy things! Jewel-y thing, Green Mile...We need to talk. Four most terrifying words in the English language. OK, he didn't really say it, but it was implied.

Chuck explains it all, and there's a ... wait for it ... wait for it...WAREHOUSE! I knew there had to be a warehouse. There's always a warehouse. If they also go the docks, I'm definitely starting a drinking game. Maybe with grape soda.

Chuck lays it on the line. Casey won't cross that line. Chuck tries to get a line on what's up with Casey.

Stay home little Chuck.

Meanwhile back at the BuyMore -- two men enter, one man leaves. Plus bungees.

Chuck gets the call...no, not THAT one.

Warehouse, men in black, a whole lotta not much.

Uh-oh. That was easy.

Clear! Clear! Sorry, I just wanted to say that.

Unfortunately, Green Mile is kinda unforgettable.

Chuck sees the light. "Enough ammunition to orbit Arnold Schwarzenegger." Jees, now I have Irish breakfast tea on my keyboard (just kidding, boss). So, where was this ammunition during the budget crunch? Bet Arnie wishes he could have terminated a few legislators. Being the Governator is no fun without firepower.

Hah, made you look!

Ooh, Green Mile, don't do that again.

Poor Fritz.

Hah, made you look again!

Another day, another warehouse window in downtown Los Angeles. And this is where we came in, sort of.

Nooo! Good one, Casey! Sarah walks the Green Mile.

Uh-oh. "Do you find them imposing?"

Uh-oh. Do that again, and you'll have a bald bonsai.

Double uh-oh. It's just...no, back to uh-oh.

Does it work? Here he comes. Men in black. Chuck cooks. Tap tap tap. Pop. Sneak. Initializing...wow, it looks like morning roll call at CAA, or the "Matrix" sequel. Spinning wheels, pretty pictures, sneaking, thank you...big boomer.

Ding-dong. Uh-oh. Well, that was easy.

Morning over the City of Angels. The one man who left has arrived, and what's happened to his hair?

Chuck has a vision of the rest of his miserable existence. No Huey. Must leave Burbank.

Death by Twinkie? Works for me.