Major casting news just in from TV’s best comedy: Scott Bakula is Chuck’s dad!
Chuck boss Josh Schwartz confirms to me exclusively that Bakula has inked a deal to play the estranged father of Zachary Levi’s title character in at least three episodes.
“Chuck made a promise to his sister, Ellie [Sarah Lancaster], that he was going to find their dad in time for her wedding,” Schwartz explains. “And it’s something that Chuck becomes consumed with pursuing during the second half of the season.
“But when he finds him, he’s not necessarily a guy who wants to be found,” Schwartz continues. “He’s living in a trailer, he’s disheveled, he’s paranoid and he’s claiming constantly that Ted Roark [Chevy Chase] — who he used to work with — stole all his ideas from him. And Ted Roark has now become this super-successful software billionaire, and Chuck’s dad has become an eccentric, living in the shadows.”
Look for Bakula’s arc to kick off in April.
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YES YES YES YES YES!!! And did I mention, YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh man I am thrilled! Bakula is the best!!! I just checked out some Enterprise DVDs at the library to get my Bakula fix. Not bad at all! This will be awesome! Plus Chevy Chase? AMAZING!
This was on OMG two hours ago!
Love Love Love Scott Bakula!!
He is also returning to Adv. of Old Christine this year and will be in the new Ray Romano show on TNT!!
Thanks Josh Schwartz!
Just when I think “Chuck” cannot get any better, I read this bit of casting news. Whoo hoo!! Man, I love this show.
Wow! I think this might be perfect casting!
Chuck + Quantum Leap = WIN!
OMG could my Monday night get any better? Oh Boy!
Excellent choice! Can’t wait to see these episodes.
OMG this is awesome casting news. LOVE Scott Bakula and I can see him as Chuck’s dad. This should be fun.
Scott Bakula as Chuck’s Dad!?!?!?
FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bakula’s series Quantum Leap where he played Sam Beckett is in many ways a spiritual ancestor to Chuck. For Sam Beckett leapt back and forth through time inhabiting the bodies of other people leaving him often in situations where he was faced with trying to do things he had no experience with.
The episode where he leapt back into himself as a teenager and tried to prevent his older brother from going to Vietnam is one of the most heart breaking TV episodes I ever watched.
I just love this bit of casting. Bakula can definitely do comedy. He often did it in Quantum Leap. In a very similar style to Zachary Levi too. A few times he leapt into a woman and those episodes were always hilarious!
Wow. Picardo, Chase and Bakula. Amazing casting all around.
Looks like Picardo does appear in the DI trilogy then. He will make a great bad guy.
I am so totally over the top with excitement now with the secon
Auss…you know I love the scope for Chuck, but where’s the love…any news on a pick up for Season 3?? I’m starting to get nervous!
So, Chuck’s dad and Ted Roark (Chevy Chase)will mirror Chuck’s relationship with Bryce Larkin…will Chuck see the error of his ways and realize that if he doesn’t get over the whole Bryce/Stanford betrayal thing he’ll end up in a shack like his dad? Maybe Captain Awesome should be replaced by Captain Obvious. Eh…I still love chuck.
That’s good casting. Really looking forward to the shows.
i am so excited for Chuck in… 3D!!!
wow talk about a buzz kill sheky! this is awesome news. Bakula rules all and we still need that Quantum Leap Movie! I’m not giving up hope LOL
Chuck is one of the best shows on TV. Love it! Can’t wait to see what happens next.
Don’t get me wrong Mike, I love this show. I just don’t like when plots get obvious. The difference with Chuck is that every time Chuck has one of these “life altering” realizations that should send him in a new direction in his life…he wakes up the next day and goes to work with at the Buy More with the Nerd Herd as if it never happened. That’s awesome.
I just said that they needed to find someone as awesome as Bruce Boxleitner for the role of Chuck’s dad, and they did. I can’t wait.
This news is, awesome. Scott Bakula never disappoints. Nice casting!
gotcha sheky. You’re probably spot on in your plot prediction…but you never know how they may twist it up. Regardless, I’m excited at the casting! lol
OK – Will we get a wedding scene where Daddy Awesome and Daddy Chuck meet? C’mon think of it – Scott Bakula AND Bruce Boxleitner playing off of each other.
Cooooooooooooool.
WOW! Bartowski men are very sexy!
still wish Chevy was the dad. He actually looks like Chuck!
applauds decision! WELL DONE…back to the nerd herd for me now
I can’t wait! It’s great that we’re hearing more scoops about upcoming Chuck episodes. I’m so excited!
I can’t wait! It’s great that we’re hearing more scoops about upcoming Chuck episodes. I’m so excited!
Frakkin’ yay! Yes!
HUZZAH!!!!!!!!!! It will be great to have him back on tv and what a perfect role.
I never read your column (at least not since you were on Scrubs) due to Severe Spoiler Allergy
but I’m a really big fan of Scott (to the point that I have a website – I’m not actually “big”) so THANK YOU for this news (cause Alan Sepinwall does not appear to have gotten to it yet (at least as on 9 this morning, ET))
I’m so excited – and also happy to learn that Chuck’s dad is not *also* a spy (enough spies already! Jill was fine, this would be overkill)
Pamela Ashworth
http://www.BakulaNews.com
Awesome casting move. Chuck is one of the best shows around. This only cements its intelligence.