Chuck

The Complete Second Season

(Warner Home Video)

I didn’t buy into the hype when “Chuck” was first released. I saw it as little more than a quick clone of NBC’s “Heroes” – appeal to the geeks and get instant ratings.

I was even more puzzled by the campaign to save the show last season (a stroke of genius by one fan that took a cue from product placement in the second season by Subway and had fans buy foot long subs on a coordinated date). Thanks to a dedicated following and a deal by Subway to help underwrite costs of the show, “Chuck” will be back for a third season.

After watching the entire second season, I can finally say “I get it.” The action comedy by “O.C.” creator Josh Schwartz has a brilliant mix of both. And you need not be entirely versed in Klingon to enjoy the show (though there are plenty of funny geek-targeted jokes, like quips at AOL and Zune).

The show is centered around Chuck Bartowski (Zachary Levi) – a Geek Squad-esque computer repair guy who somehow gets top secret spy files implanted in his brain (easily explained in the 20-second opener) and the two government agents who protect him (Adam Baldwin and Yvonne Strahovski).

All three leads are well cast and the chemistry is strong, but the real draw of the show is in the extremely witty and surprisingly creative story lines. Folks, we’ve been given a second chance. Let’s not screw this one up.