How often have you sat (or stood, depending on your occupation) at your job and thought "I wish something exciting would happen"? Well for mild-mannered Chuck Bartowski that day is everyday!

In new-ish TV2 comedy Chuck our eponymous protagonist has had sensitive government information transmitted to his brain in a highly unbelievable fashion (through an email, yeah we've all had the odd email virus, but brain invasions? This is ridiculous).

Regardless of how much belief suspension is required you can't help but think this is a really good premise. Who wouldn't want to go off and have exciting adventures in between re-inking their stamps and colour co-ordinating their suspension files? Sadly Chuck suffers from an all too familiar malaise; good idea, bad execution.

Chuck is played by Zachary Levi, who is a dead ringer for Jimmy Fallon with a perm. Chuck works at the NerdHerd in his local BuyMore (a thinly veiled parody of the BestBuy chain and their in-house GeekSquad). His best friend Morgan also works there as a failing salesman, competing for his job with the rest of the sales team, one of whom should probably be fired for over-straightening his hair.

Hmm, hair appears to play a vital role in this offering, don't be surprised if we see a product placement for hair care in future episodes.

Chuck has two agents to protect him and because he doesn't want to have to change his life, they must adapt to his. Agent Casey works at the BuyMore with Chuck; whilst Agent (and potential love interest) Sarah Walker works at the nearby Weinerlicious (they do score points for that name).

In an episode entitled ‘Chuck versus the Sizzling Shrimp' (all the episodes are titled Chuck versus something/somebody) Chuck has to help a Chinese spy save her kidnapped brother. It features all three of the only working Asian actors in Hollywood, including poor old 79 year old veteran James Hong who can't retire because then there would be no one to play the ancient Chinese villian in awful TV shows.

The only problem is that Chuck must be home for dinner by 8 as he and his sister Ellie have a long-standing tradition of having a ‘Mothers Day' dinner to celebrate/commiserate the anniversary of their mother leaving. Can you guess what happens next dear reader? I bet you can.

During the sting operation, (located in a Chinese restaurant, naturally, called the Bamboo Dragon) Agents Casey and Walker are captured and Chuck must break his 8pm curfew to save them. Chuck lights fireworks in the Bamboo Dragon delivery van to distract the ninja assassins. After rescuing his crew we are plunged into an irritating stop-action fighting sequence replete with cleavers, chopsticks and machetes. All the accoutrements of a top chef! Chicken necks and century eggs fly as our heroes save the day.

This show could have been good, would have been good, if they didn't fall back on all the same old cliches and assume that the audience is stupid. Don't give us your recycled trash. Sure there are environmentally challenging times but new ideas are carbon neutral. However if you like your escapist TV on the predictable side, then this is just the show for you.

Chuck
TV2
Wednesdays 8.30PM