Pete Vs. Chuck

By now you may have seen or heard about a new TV show this fall called "Chuck" It is one of the two new shows this season about a kind of geeky guy who works in a "big box" store and suddenly finds himeself in extraordinary circumstances. I've actually seen a preview of "Chuck" thanks to TIVO, and its a pretty good show, but the most interesting thing about it is that it may be about my friend Pete.

Pete called me about a month ago because he had seen a promo for "Chuck" and he noticed that title character works for the "Nerd Herd" at the local "Buy More" store as a computer guru. Also his last name is Bartowski. Pete is a bit more high level, he's a software consultant, but also a computer guru for his friends and family- and his last name is Bartkowski. Yes, just a one letter difference. Pete was sure that somehow his identity had been stolen for a major network program. I actually did some research (usually quite against my policy) and checked out the creators / writers of the series. Maybe they went to highschool or college with Pete or worked in a company with him- nothing seemed to add up.

After seeing the show I saw even more paralells. Both Pete and Chuck are both of above average height and they both have shorter sidekicks who have goatees! The only real big difference is that in the premeir Chuck gets mixed up in international espionage with both the CIA and the NSA. It's a big day for Pete if he can get up by noon to go out and get coffee. Of course Chuck is told to keep his spy vs. spy activity away from his friends and family. All this got me to thinking- what if Pete really is a secret agent? He works as a "consultant" and no one really understands what he does. He quite regularly has to go on trips to "Dallas" for work. Why would a computer guy have to go anywhere? Can't they send all their work over the net? He goes on vacation to places like Viet Nam- for a month! Of course if you asked him he would deny it or laugh it off, "Oh yeah, I'm a spy...." But that is exactly what you would expect him to say. I say if "Chuck" gets cancelled its because they're a little too close to the truth.