Chuck and Chase Get Full Season Orders; NBC Likes Poor Ratings?

Following up on their earlier announcement that The Event, Outsourced, and Law & Order: Los Angeles have been given full season orders, NBC has handed out some more. Chase has been given a full season order with nine more episodes and NBC has ordered 11 more installments of Chuck, bringing its the season total to 24. The trouble is that both shows are doing quite poorly in the ratings.

Chase debuted to a disappointing 2.3 rating in the all-important 18-49 demographic and has fallen each week since then. Last week’s episode fell to a new low with a 1.5 demo rating after just four weeks on the air. That’s roughly the same number as NBC’s disastrous Jay Leno Show was getting last year in the same timeslot.

Chuck kicked off this season with a 2.0 rating in the demo and seems to have settled in at a 1.9 rating. That represents a 14% drop from last season’s average and puts the show in fourth place for the timeslot.

With the exception of Undercovers and recently-dumped Outlaw, Chuck and Chase have the worst ratings of NBC’s non-scripted offerings. Why the network is ordering more episodes of either is anyone’s guess.

Likely the peacock network has little faith in their mid-season replacements or maybe, they’re just happy to be getting the ratings their getting. Either way though, the additional episode order buys both shows some time to get their numbers up. The cancellation axe isn’t far away for either show.

NBC Orders Full-Season Pickups for New Drama ‘Chase’ and For Returning ‘Chuck’

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – October 19, 2010 – NBC has given full-season pickups to the new high-octane drama “Chase” and the returning action-comedy “Chuck” for 2010-11. The announcement was made by Angela Bromstad, President, Primetime Entertainment, NBC and Universal Media Studios.

“‘Chase’ has introduced an appealing new star to television audiences in Kelli Giddish and we think it has potential to grow,” said Bromstad. “We also are glad that ‘Chuck’ will be with us for a full season delivering its loyal, passionate audience.”

“Chase” is averaging a 2.0 rating, 5 share in adults 18-49 and 6.5 million viewers overall in “most current” averages through its first five telecasts this fall. “Chase” has captured an 18 percent improvement in the time period versus year-ago “most current” results for NBC in 18-49 rating (with a 2.0 rating vs. a 1.7) and a 23 percent gain in total viewers (6.5 million vs. 5.3 million). “Chase” is heavily time-shifted, adding 21 percent to its “live plus same day” 18-49 rating when Nielsen issued “live plus seven day” results for the opening two weeks of the season (to a 2.66 rating from a 2.19).

Through October 18, “Chuck” has averaged a 2.2 rating, 6 share in adults 18-49 and 5.9 million viewers overall in “most current” averages from Nielsen Media Research. “Chuck” is heavily time-shifted, adding 29 percent to its “live plus same day” 18-49 rating when Nielsen issued “live plus seven day” results for the opening two weeks of the season (to a 2.56 rating from a 1.99).”

“Chase” (Mondays, 10-11 p.m. ET) — from Emmy Award-winning executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer (“CSI” franchise, “The Amazing Race,” “Pirates of the Caribbean”) and executive producer Jennifer Johnson (“Cold Case,” “Reunion,” “Lost”) — is a lightning-fast drama that showcases an elite team of U.S. Marshals that hunts down America’s most dangerous fugitives. Kelli Giddish (“Past Life”) stars as U.S. Marshal Annie Frost, a deputy whose sharp mind and unique Texas upbringing help her track down violent criminals on the run. Also starring are Cole Hauser (“K-Ville”), Amaury Nolasco (“Prison Break”) and Rose Rollins (“The L Word”). Jesse Metcalfe (“Desperate Housewives”) also stars.

“Chase” is produced by Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Jerry Bruckheimer Television and Warner Bros. Television. Bruckheimer, Jonathan Littman (“CSI” franchise, “The Amazing Race,” “Cold Case”) and Johnson are as executive producers, while KristieAnne Reed is the co-executive producer.

“Chuck” (Mondays, 8-9 p.m. ET) stars Zachary Levi (“Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel”) as Chuck Bartowksi, a regular guy who also happens to be the government’s most vital secret agent. The cast also includes Adam Baldwin (“My Bodyguard”) as Colonel John Casey and Yvonne Strahovski (the upcoming “The Killer Elite”) as partner Sarah Walker. Also starring are: Joshua Gomez (“Without a Trace”), Sarah Lancaster (“What About Brian?”), Ryan McPartlin (“Living with Fran”), Mark Christopher Lawrence (“The Pursuit of Happyness”), Vik Sahay (“Time Bomb”), Scott Krinsky (“The O.C.”) and Bonita Friedericy (“The West Wing”).

“Chuck” is co-created by Josh Schwartz (“The O.C.,” “Gossip Girl”) and Chris Fedak, and is executive-produced by Schwartz, McG (“Charlie’s Angels,” “Terminator Salvation”), Fedak, Robert Duncan McNeill, and Nicholas Wootton. “Chuck” is produced by Fake Empire, Wonderland Sound and Vision, in association with Warner Bros. Television.

What do you think? Will either or both shows survive to see another season or will they be cancelled? What could be done to attract more viewers?