Life is good on NBC

Sometimes a show can survive and thrive by the sheer force of the lead actor's performance.

Such is the case with the two new NBC shows returning tonight for their sophomore season. They are both good series built on the foundation of two terrific performances.

Chuck, which has its series premiere Monday at 8 p.m. on NBC, returns with an episode that guest stars Michael Clarke Duncan. In the opening minutes, Chuck (Zachary Levi) learns that he's been replaced by a new Intersect in town. He can happily return to leading a normal life. If you can ignore the fact that there's no way that would actually happen because there would be no show (or at the very least it would require a title change), it's an extremely entertaining hour and it's especially fun to watch Chuck and Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski) go on their first date. Casey (the always wonderful Adam Baldwin) is also charged with doing something he decidedly does not want to do and it's a smart move to put his character in conflict. The cast of Chuck is one of the most charming on TV and Levi is perfect in the role of geeky and unlikely hero. Plus the series seems to be on a quest to start a Huey Lewis and the News resurgence and how can I not be for that?

The show also has some interesting guest stars coming up including Melinda Clarke (Julie on The O.C.) as female spy, Jordana Brewster as Chuck's old girlfriend, Nicole Richie as Sarah's high school nemesis and Tony Hale (who we saw on ER last week) as the new boss at the Buy More. But my problem with Chuck remains what is was last season -- when I watch the show I enjoy it but I don't have a compelling reason to tune in each week. The stakes aren't high enough. I never really believe that Chuck is in danger. Obviously the show can't be like say Lost which constantly places its characters in jeopardy and calls the viewers' bluff. But Chuck feels like a throwback to another era of TV. There's nothing wrong with that, of course, but I'm worried it's not enough to make the show a hit.

NBC is really promoting Life by airing it twice a week on Mondays and Fridays at 10 p.m. before it moves into its regular Friday night time slot and My Own Worst Enemy takes over the Monday at 10 time slot on October 13. What really makes this show different from other crime dramas on TV is Damian Lewis' unique performance as Detective Charlie Crews. He is positively delightful -- smug without overdoing it. And if you missed last season, it's easy to catch up. Crews was wrongly accused of murder and spent time in prison before the evidence set him free. Now he's on a one man quest to find out who framed him. Donal Logue joins the cast as Captain Kevin Tidwell and while he brings some terrific humor to the show I would caution producers not to make him too goofy and while they're at it they might want to do something about his unfortunate hairstyle.

But these are mere quibbles. Over all I really like Life and am intrigued by Crews ongoing mystery.

After you've watched Chuck and Life, let me know what you think and talk about it below.

Highlights of the Week Ahead

All times listed are Eastern Time for September 29-October 5

I don't know what this says about me exactly but I think I'm going to like Serena (Blake Lively) a lot more now that she's back to being a bitch. Is that wrong? I'm fairly certain she's going to be a lot less whiny now. This week on Gossip Girl (Monday at 8 p.m. on the CW), Jenny gets to show her designs at Fashion Week (because high schoolers get to do THAT all the time) and Michael Kors guest stars as himself.

Sara Gilbert joins the cast of The Big Bang Theory (Monday, CBS, 8 p.m.). And I'm receiving a ton of email from people who don't believe Stella is the mother on How I Met Your Mother. And I'm starting to agree with them. Perhaps Stella is the person who introduces Ted to the mother of his children? Also I'm so curious, how are you feeling about Robin and Barney now? Regis Philbin, who we saw last week in the season premiere of Ugly Betty, guest stars on this week's episode (Monday, CBS, 8:30 p.m.)

Since we don't have that many episodes of Boston Legal (Monday, ABC, 10 p.m.) left, it seems a bit mean to keep picking on the show. But it's clearly gone off the deep end. The scene of Alan and Denny dancing with parts of Shirley's cheerleading outfit was too much even for this show. Christopher Rich returns this week as Attorney Melvin Palmer as Alan takes on prescription drug companies.

Big casting news was announced today about Greek. Jesse McCarthy will join the series when it returns to complete its second season next year and the parade of Veronica Mars cast members continues as Ken Marino will also join the cast. I'm so glad that Frannie is back to her old self (I think I like her more as a bitch too, what is wrong with me today?). This week (Tuesday, ABC Family, 8 p.m.), Casey and Frannie have a showdown at a national ZBZ conference. And what do we think of Evan going over to the dark side?

I have heard your pleas and I'm so ready to get on the Privileged bandwagon! This show is doing exactly what I like to see new shows do --- it's getting better every week. And I think a large part of the credit for that goes to JoAnna Garcia who pulls off being charming without being cloying. I'm really beginning to feel this show could fill the void left in my TV viewing schedule when Gilmore Girls went off the air. This week (Tuesday, CW, 9 p.m.), Megan learns all that she never wanted to know about the twins'sex lives.

I never get tired of seeing Steven Weber -- no matter how many series he pops up on. And I'm liking the tension he's bringing to Without a Trace (Tuesday, CBS, 10 p.m.) This week the team searching for an up and coming designer who has gone missing.

I'm not sure if the executive producers of Bones (Wednesday, FOX, 8 p.m.) did it just to appease fans but I was really happy with the Zack reveal last week. Zack was an accessory to murder but didn't actually commit murder. Sure it's an explanation that doesn't really hold if you think about it too much -- I'm pretty sure he would be able to stay in the mental health hospital and not be sent to jail, but it's one that makes me feel better. Last week's episode of Bones was quite strong and really began to show the lasting ramifications of what happened with Zack. Let's hope this week's episode about a murder in an office is just as good. The show is strongest when it doesn't veer too much into the over-the-top goofy banter.

Mitch Pileggi, who we just saw in the season premiere of Brothers & Sisters, guest stars as Sam and Dean's grandfather in this week's episode of Supernatural (Thursday, CW, 9 p.m.). Dean travels back in time and meets his young parents who had just fallen in love. I'm enjoying the direction the show is going in this season. The introduction of the concept of heaven and hell is a strong one for the series to go in because it will force the brothers to wrestle with even bigger issues. And I feel like we still have a lot to learn about what Sam was up to while Dean was spending quality time in hell.

The Office definitely seems like it is back on track, doesn't it? I thought the premiere hit just the right balance of awkwardness and humor. Plus it's great to have Ryan back in Scranton. My one big request is let's not let anything else come between Jim and Pam. I'm a little nervous about her new, cute art school friend (by the way did you recognize him?). I don't want that kind of story line on the show. There's enough funny stuff going on and enough plot points happening (Angela's affair with Dwight) that I think we can simply let Jim and Pam live happily ever after, don't you?

Many of you are wondering why I didn't talk about ER on Friday. Well I'm not speaking the show right now. Even though I knew it was happening, I cannot believe they killed off Dr. Pratt (Mekhi Phifer). Really was that necessary? This is the final season and we couldn't let him live? At this point, so many people who worked at County General have died that I really don't see the dramatic need to have Gregg die too. BOOOOOO! What did you think of the season premiere of ER? Talk about it below. Also The Office and ER won't be on this week. They take a break to make room for the Vice President debate.

And if for any reason you missed Tina Fey's return to Saturday Night Live (Saturday, NBC, 11:30 p.m.) over the weekend, here's the clip of her opening sketch.

That's all for today. I'm back on Wednesday with this week's familiar faces and to talk about the returning ABC shows -- Pushing Daisies, Private Practice and Dirty Sexy Money. Have a question? Seen a familiar face? Want to nominate a quote of the week? Write me at amytvgal@zap2it.com.

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