Friday, FOX responded to fan passion by renewing the low-rated “Dollhouse” for a second season. Sunday, NBC extended the same favor to “Chuck” fans, bringing the bubble show back for a third season.
NBC granted the well-liked series a thirteen episode order for the third season, assuring that while they might not be paired together on the schedule next year (in fact, most insiders say they will not be), NBC’s two steady Monday series–“Heroes” and “Chuck”–will be back next year.
The production budget for “Chuck” will, as was expected, experience cuts under the terms of the renewal deal. Variety reports that the negotiations between NBC and producing studio Warner Brothers TV were “centered entirely on cost-cutting issues.”
“Chuck” started off relatively hot last season but suffered an audience erosion after seeing its debut season cut short by the writers’ strike. Season two averaged 7.3 million viewers. That smaller audience was still quite passionate, as an intense “Save Chuck” campaign began when it became clear that the show as not a lock for a third season renewal.