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May 19, 2009 By Mark Redfern

As reported over the weekend by The Hollywood Reporter and Entertainment Weekly, NBC has given Chuck a third season. They have only ordered 13 episodes, instead of the traditional 22, but if it does well then an additional 9 episodes may be ordered. In another concession, the show’s producers have had to agree to cost-cutting measures, including eliminating some of the show’s cast (no word yet on which cast members will be downsized, but based on the second season’s finale it’ll likely be employees of the Buy More). Of all the shows in danger of cancellation this year, Chuck had the most ardent and vocal supporters, with many buying $5 footlongs at Subway stores (a main advertising sponsor of Chuck) and leaving comment cards encouraging Chuck‘s renewal. On this very website, our writer Jim Scott wrote an impassioned blog about why Chuck deserved a third season. NBC is expected to officially announce tomorrow that the show has been renewed.

In other television news, The Hollywood Reporter, Entertainment Weekly, and various other websites are reporting on the fate of other TV shows. Joss Whedon’s Dollhouse will be coming back for a second season. But alas, despite the potential success of Terminator Salvation and the boost it could give to its small screen cousin, Fox has elected to cancel Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Without a Trace is also reportedly in danger, despite solid ratings CBS may cancel it because the veteran show is expensive to produce. Promising new show The Unusuals was apparently too unusual for ABC, who are already cancelling the offbeat cop drama. Reaper has also long been expected to be a victim of cancellation over at the CW, but it has yet to be officially cancelled. And last week Broadcasting & Cable reported that Reaper could end up being syndicated to CW stations in the fall, when the CW will stop broadcasting on Sunday nights, leaving CW affiliates an empty night they’ll need to program.

It’s truly sad that so many great and promising television shows are cancelled before their time (Pushing Daisies, etc.) and often without the chance to wrap up their storylines, where-as so many average shows over stay their welcome. But at least Chuck fans have been rewarded with 13 more episodes.