Interview: Zachary Levi and Joshua Gomez from ‘Chuck’

We had the pleasure of speaking with Zachary Levi and Joshua Gomez from Chuck about the relationship between Morgan and Chuck, working with Christopher Lloyd, and Zachary’s directorial debut episode.

I know that you’re on Twitter Zach and I was wondering how important has social networking sites been for Chuck’s campaign to keep the show around and to promote the show in general as well?

Zachary Levi: Well, you know, as far as getting the show back I wasn’t on Twitter before that, so Twitter wasn’t really a part of that as far as I was concerned but I know that a lot of fans certainly utilized it and utilized Facebook and got the word out. I mean, the Inter-Web at large is just a huge and great way to virally get information around and keep fans informed. And so I, I mean, I think it’s fantastic. I think that Twitter – I’ve, you know, come to really embrace it when I first heard about it. I thought this is absolutely ridiculous it’s like just Facebook status updates all the time and that’s like the worst part of Facebook. I don’t need to know when everybody’s taking a poop. But I’ve quickly come to realize that it’s a really great…

Joshua Gomez: Everybody poops.

Zachary Levi: That’s great. Well I read a book about that when I was a kid so I already knew that. But a two-humped camel has a two-hump poop. Just kidding.

But at any rate I really think it’s invaluable especially nowadays, especially with so many people, you know, watching entertainment online or DVR, you know, whatever, it’s a way to really stay connected and kind of give back to your fans, little Easter eggs, little nuggets, you know.

Nathan Fillian, for example, came and visited the set the other day. And I know how many fans of ours are also fans of Nathans because they followed Adam from Firefly and, you know, it’s just the whole geekdom world that I very much include myself and to be a part of and I know Josh does as well. If you can embrace it and utilize it it’s just good for everything.

Josh, is the relationship between Morgan and Chuck continuing to mature each and every season of the show? How do you see the maturity level of Chuck and Morgan’s relationship being ongoing?

Joshua Gomez: I assume you use that word loosely…

The friendship.

Joshua Gomez: Not one usually thrown around with our…Yeah. Actually there’s, you know, we – now that we live together and, you know, I think…

Zachary Levi: Oh no she’s talking about the show Josh.

Joshua Gomez: Oh, oh. Geesz, oh no it hasn’t matured at all.

Joshua Gomez: I thought you – I thought – okay I was confused there for a second. No I think that, you know, it’s – I think that because both characters have matured their relationship obviously has reflected that a bit. But in a way I think they have to go further apart before they come back together.

So, right? Don’t you feel that way?

Zachary Levi: Eloquent.

Joshua Gomez: Yeah, I mean, it’s sad really, sad. So, yeah, I think that Morgan and Chuck have both obviously and in sort of parallel ways have sort of mirrored each other throughout these three season in their own different ways in sort of scale or, you know. But, you know, they both have matured, they both have become different people from where we started. I mean, you look back at that and you go wow, you know, I was eating garbage out of a refrigerator in the break room and now I still do that but less. And as an assistant manager I do it.

So, yeah, with Chuck, he’s obviously come a long, long way. So, you know, and I think their relationship reflects that, you know, they’re sort of different men now and – but that’s also – that also saddens me, you know, I miss the old Chuck and Morgan sometimes.

You make the relationship sound a little bit like a Elizabethan romance in a way where they have to bust up and then come back together at the end to have that nice high-in for the happy ending. I was hoping that’s the same for you all.

Joshua Gomez: You know, yeah, exactly.

Zachary Levi: Nothing says Elizabethan like Chuck and Morgan.

Joshua Gomez: No really. It was something that we actually talked about quite extensively in preparing for these roles.

I believe this next batch of episodes has your Chuck directorial debut, does it not?

Zachary Levi: It does yeah, not the episode – the first which is on the first but on the 8th is Episode 9, which was my directorial debut.

Joshua Gomez: Debut.

And they gave you a really easy episode to handle too.

Zachary Levi: They’re all easy episodes. No, you know, I was really blessed, I mean, we have a lot of great episodes and I felt like I got a really great episode. And, you know, one of the perks of it was that I got all of our regulars, I got everyone in the cast in my episode. Sometimes you don’t. Other times there are episodes where you’re missing a face here or there but in this one I got everyone, I got Casey and Sarah and good old Morgan Grimes…

Joshua Gomez: Yeah, Grimeys…

Zachary Levi: And, you know, big Mike and Jeff and Lester and Ellie and Awesome, I mean, it was really…to be able to work with everyone and really feel supported by everyone. I – not once did I feel like – did I feel like it was a strange or uncomfortable or awkward situation. Everyone – but, you know, but I think part of that just had to do with the fact that I, you know, I get to work with these guys all the time and I know them to know their characters inside and out better than anyone else does.

So you don’t really have to say much just kind of let them do what they do and they do it so well. And, you know, I would only come in if there was like a pacing thing, if it was a timing thing, maybe there was a slightly different way to attack a moment. But everyone, you know, brings their A game all the time, that’s why I love them and respect them so much.

And the crew as well, the crew was so supportive and believed in me. And, you know, we collectively did what we always set out to do which is make a great episode of television. And I feel really strong about that. I feel really strong about the episode and I’m really looking forward to everyone being able to see it and hearing feedback on it.

What is your favorite episode so far?

Joshua Gomez: And he’s talking about Chuck not Jersey Shore. It’s the upcoming Zachary Levi directed episode.

Zachary Levi: Yeah, well, you know, actually I don’t know, I mean, I kind of – I am a little biased and partial to the episode I directed but other than that…I don’t know I really loved – at least so far this season I really loved Episode 5 on the plane.

Joshua Gomez: That was great.

Zachary Levi: That was a fun episode. I’m trying to think, you know, we’ve got some other episodes that are coming up but I just – I don’t know how much I can really talk about them. But I think that this season has certainly allowed us to make some of our best episodes just the way the premise of the show has changed ever so slightly. I mean, it’s not – actually not the premise, the rules in which we get to play in. Josh, what about you, what’s your favorite question or episode?

Joshua Gomez: Yeah, I mean, I would feel the same – I feel the same way. Obviously, I mean, again being a little biased 309 was just a fun kind of special episode to have you directing and it was just a really good written episode and it’s a really fun episode. And so that one obviously stands out and was just a – I think a special episode so it’s cool.

And I agree with you though, I think 305 is a lot of fun, which turned out really well. But I’d be honest like you said and also, I mean, there but some of the ones I think that are going to be really cool aren’t actually even finished so it’s hard to say. But making them I have a few I like, oh that’s cool, you know, some of the later episodes. But I think are going to turn out really good or I hope they’re going to turn out really good and the fans are going to really like. But the ones that are done or at least aired, yeah, like 305 stands out and 309 sure. Yeah, sure, sure…

You both have your East and West Coast acting credentials. Joshua you’ve got your Law & Order and Zachary you’ve got Curb Your Enthusiasm. And I wanted to ask, you know, what are you bringing to the table as a nerd yourselves, like how are you bringing that out? Where’s that coming from? What’s your background in that?

Joshua Gomez: Oh boy. Now we’re talking.

Joshua Gomez: Yeah, yeah, yeah, no, now here’s a question I can answer all right. So Zach?

Zachary Levi: You’re killing it kid, go with it, run with it.

Joshua Gomez: Oh anyway well here’s the, I mean, look as far as – that was the thing when I first read this script, I mean, these two guys I really felt like I knew and grew up with. And it was the – exactly this sort of guy that I was growing up, you know, video games, sci-fi and fantasy movies, comic books, I mean, you name it was a huge, huge part of shaping who I am and was especially even as a younger man.

But so, yeah, I mean, you know, I feel like that it started back when I think my dad I think brought home an Atari 2600 and probably took me to seeEmpire Strikes Back in the theater I can remember seeing that. So, you know, from there on it was a life of a geek for me. Yo-ho, yo-ho as a – so, yeah – so I would say that.

And I mean, there’s obviously huge differences between myself and the character of Morgan but there’s a lot of similarities in there probably a love and appreciation of all things geekdom as we would say.

Well what about you Zachary?

Zachary Levi: You know, literally the same thing. I mean, Josh and I kind of – it’s a little ridiculous. I mean, we just sit back and laugh about how – how lucky we are that we just get to be us I guess, I don’t know. There are certain – like Josh said, there are certainly major differences between our characters on the show and our personalities in real life but they are very small and they are very few.

We, I mean, within the first few days of getting cast and I concur with Josh, when I read the pilot I was like holy crap, like I know this guy; I know him because I stare at him in the mirror every morning and – or at least I thought, you know.

And so we both got the jobs. I actually had the pleasure of reading with Josh for his network test, you know, an audition. And when that guy walked in the room wearing his R2-D2 t-shirt I thought we got a winner folks. And then, you know, before we had shot the pilot he wanted to sit everybody down in the cast and get to know one another which is a great idea. And Josh and I happened to be sitting right next to each other. And I can’t remember exactly who started the conversation; I think it might have been Josh. I think Josh kind of, you know, very quietly turned to me and so as to not alert everyone else at the table of our (nerdom).

And he kind of turns to me and, you know, and says, “So, are you a gamer?” And I think my ears perked up like that of a German Shepherd and I was like what, because I am. What, are you? And then from then on we were just – we were done, we were cooked, stick a fork in us. I mean, we could go on – we do go on for endless amounts of time talking about – comparing and contrasting video games.

I mean, the way that like CS Lewis and Tolkien would talk about like books and like literature like we go on about the pros and cons of, you know having to battle a giant toad. So interestingly enough the princess being able to float along the sand would drag you down. You know, (Toad) was to navigate those levels. I mean, that’s what we do, that’s what we do.

Joshua Gomez: Yeah, it’s pretty intense.

Zachary Levi: …video games, whatever, you know, and we both grew up loving video games, loving comic books, loving sci-fi fantasy genre stuff and so to be able to be these two guys now is a very easy fit I think. And because I love Josh Gomez so much and he’s such an incredibly talented and nice guy it makes being friends – because we are friends in real life.

Now that Morgan is onto Chuck and Hannah’s relationship and he’s now the assistant of the Buy More how is that going to affect Chuck’s working life at the Buy More?

Zachary Levi: Joshy? Well how does it affect Chuck’s work? Well it does, but I’m also unaware of his cling into my life a little bit more. You know, I’m unaware of his…

Joshua Gomez: Suspicions.

Zachary Levi: …of his, yeah, suspicions, thank you. And so it doesn’t necessarily affect me all that much. But you’ll see how it, you know, progresses and affects both Morgan’s character and my character, you know, and my ability to sneak out the way that I always do. I’m surprised it’s taken this long to be honest. Like how do I keep leaving the Buy More and never come back with really any results? Maybe like a black eye, like…I don’t think I’ve sold or fixed anything in three years. I don’t know how that – but, yeah, so that’s – on my end that’s kind of – Josh, what do you think?

Joshua Gomez: Yeah, I think the way it’s affected on Morgan’s side is simply what – I think before it was, you know, listen don’t question my, you know, whatever, you know, whoever was in power was sort of the anti-Morgan so it was like hey, hey back off the man, you know. And then I became the man see and so now it’s sort of my job, it’s like, you know, okay, wait a minute hold on, this is a little crazy. So, you know, I guess, you know, it’s just set me on that road, on that path to kind – of kind of going like oh wait a minute now this is – and plus, you know, the kid had the eye for Hannah, you know, that didn’t help. Breaks my heart.

So we’re not going to see Morgan kind of like trying to make Chuck’s life worse now that he knows or anything like that?

Joshua Gomez: I don’t think Morgan would be capable. I think that it’s an honest true friendship and I just think that if there’s any kind of whatever, it’s like hey, you know, I think it’s always been a thing of like talk to me dude and Chuck’s wanting to do nothing more than talk to Morgan. You know, if there was a person that would understand and be, you know, Chuck realizes it would be, you know, Morgan. Not that he wouldn’t be maybe a liability to the world’s safety but I just mean as friends goes I don’t think it’s in Morgan’s nature to do anything that would cause direct hurt to his friend or anything malicious.

Zachary Levi: Or conflict really. I think you avoid conflict…

Who was the worst influence on your acting?

Zachary Levi: Man I don’t know if I’ve ever thought about that.

Joshua Gomez: That’s just funny.

Melissa Lowery: Well I know Jake mentioned Jersey Shore earlier so maybe you could start there.

Zachary Levi: Oh. Yeah but I don’t know if they affect me negatively because I – because I know not to follow their lead, you know. It’s like it would only affect you negatively if you didn’t know better and I feel like with – I’m a pretty critical person when it comes to entertainment and TV and film and stuff like that so I don’t know. I don’t really follow too many people’s cues other than people that I really respect and those people I think are nothing but a benefit, people like Tom Hanks or whatever. Okay, Josh Gomez, he’s the most detrimental to my…

Joshua Gomez: Yeah probably, probably. Because people like are why do you talk like that, you know, well it’s hanging out with this jerk.

Josh i was wondering if you could talk a little bit about Morgan’s growth especially this season; how you feel about what he’s had to deal with so far and what’s coming up?

Joshua Gomez: You know, it’s been really fun, it’s been really fun. You know, I think like with any character to start at one place and get to another is part of the whole fun factor of doing this job and sort of exploration and discovering. And, you know, like I said when I first read this script – the show it was pretty like – pretty black and white for me.

Like I saw these two guys, Chuck and Morgan, and I was like oh man like we just talked about it’s like I know these guys, these guys are me and my friends and stuff. So you start at that place like a pretty good foundation. And then but just slowly but surely you go like okay where else can this thing go, I mean, you know, I can’t just keep doing the same thing.

And so it’s been fun; it’s been fun to kind of go – and if there was one area of improvement in Morgan it was definitely I guess you would say a maturity level or just growing up, man, just kind of, you know, school of hard knocks is as the Situation would probably say.

So it’s been a lot of fun. And I don’t know if I’m answering your question. But it’s been a lot of fun to play and do and kind change the character a bit in that way.

How do your characters and yourselves react with Adam Baldwin and his character over the years? I mean, he’s so – I mean, I read his Tweets, he’s very conservative, he’s very pro-military, and he’s a tough guy. Do you guys take the (mickey) out of him everyday on set or tell me about what we can expect?

Joshua Gomez: He’s a big sweetheart.

Zachary Levi: Yeah, he’s a giant teddy bear.

Joshua Gomez: Yeah. It’s so fun, yeah. I always feel bad talking about it because I think he might want to, you know, retain that image.

Zachary Levi: Oh you know what though, he is, the man is a rock. He is – of everyone on our show I think I look – he is the – he’s the rock, you know, he’s been around the block multiple times and seen a lot and worked with a lot of incredible talented people. And present company excluded. And, you know, but he’s just – he’s such a trooper and, you know, he finds every little moment to make Casey great. He’s a family man, he’s got three kids. Part of the reason why we’ve found the audience that we have and the success to whatever extent that we have right now a large part of that is due to him and being a part of Firefly and everything else that he’s done and having really dedicated fans that he’s also very dedicated to, you know. So I – he’s an incredible guy.

Joshua Gomez: Yeah, no he is. And I always find it – I think he’s an absolute sweetheart. And I find it – it’s just so much fun because to make – I love getting like Adam Baldwin to crack in a scene or something. I know you probably have the pleasure doing a lot more than I do but like me and Zach – me and Zach will laugh at each other and we don’t say anything, we’re just a bunch of girls. Like we’re just like two silly girls at a sleepover.

So like with Adam he’s knocking down walls and he’s knocking people out. But so like to make him laugh in the middle of a scene just gives me such satisfaction or, you know what I mean, doing something to get Adam after the scene – he’ll hold it together and then it’ll cut, and he’ll think that was hysterical.

And he just has this – you know, and he’ll be like he’ll shake his head and he goes that’s funny, that’s funny like that’s about his like, you know, crazy as he’s going to get. But it just like you got Adam, nice, you know. But, yeah, absolutely everything that Zach said, I mean, it is – you kind of go he’s the guy on our show who’s the vet in a way. I mean, and so you kind of look to him like okay cool and he’s been around. Like everything Zach was saying. And I love how he just goes about his business. He’s a smart guy and he’s just an absolute pleasure to work with, yeah.

I read that you’ll be pulling one of his teeth out with pliers, is this true Zach?

Zachary Levi: Well, I mean, there’s a little sneak peek at the rest of the season that’s on line right now. So, you know, people can infer what they infer from that I suppose. I can neither confirm nor deny.

I wanted to know since both of your characters, well, in real life you guys are kind of tech geeks. What do you think about the show’s online presence like with the games and the mobile features and everything?

Zachary Levi: You know what’s funny I actually have not delved into a lot of the stuff that’s online partially because I’m at work everyday.

Joshua Gomez: And partially because they don’t have an Xbox Live game, come on, let’s get with it.

Zachary Levi: Yeah seriously right? When are we going to get our Xbox 360. A little adventure perhaps.

Joshua Gomez: Plus one to Morgan’s security.

Zachary Levi: But I’m aware of it for sure and I think it’s great. I think anything that you can do to feed the appetite of your fans especially really dedicated and devoted fans that have supported us and believed in us and fought for us for as long as they have is fantastic and I want more of it.

Joshua Gomez: Yeah, they do a really great job too. Like Zach said, I mean, I haven’t really delved into every little thing but I know what I have seen and stuff like that I know our Web guys do a really, really great job and so yeah I think it’s – and the more the better, I mean, I say we keep going with that stuff because that’s really our fan base essentially, you know, so all that kind of stuff, you know, mobile gaming and all that whatever the Chuck iPhone app. And that just sort of caters to our fan base I think so I think they’re doing a pretty good job.

You guys mentioned earlier that Morgan isn’t malicious against Chuck. I wanted to know let’s say hypothetically that Lester learns what Chuck does outside of the Buy More. What do you think would happen to him? Like would Casey just assassinate him?

Zachary Levi: We don’t talk about these things.

Joshua Gomez: No he would get relocated to Anchorage I believe…

Zachary Levi: Yeah, yeah. You know what happens to everybody it’s either Hawaii or Alaska in the continental foyer, you know.

Joshua Gomez: That’s funny. And – I don’t know, I don’t know.

I was wondering how seeing the script for “Chuck vs. the Beard” and learning what was going to happen affected you guys and if you were happy with that, you know, the whole…

Zachary Levi: I’ll say what I kind of said earlier which is, I was honored to get that episode as my episode to direct. I had a great time directing it. I think it’s a great episode. I mean, I’m clearly biased and I had my reservations and insecurities about it until hearing the feedback from the powers that be. But they all signed off on it with, you know, flying colors and we’re all very happy with is.

So I’m really excited for everyone to be able to see it in, you know, and very soon, it’s about a week and a half, you know, so…

Joshua Gomez: Yeah, I agree. I absolutely agree. I think there’s some really fun stuff. And just to, again, speak about 309 but not really speak about it obviously but just because it was on the same side it was such an honor for me to – and, you know, if there was – it was so cool to have Zach get that episode. And because I think it’s an important episode in the show.

And it’s just a great job. And it’s not an easy to show to direct. And, you know, we’ve made quite a few men and women bald I think with it. So but – and he did such a great job. And that’s – really again we have a fantastic crew that also was just so behind Zach which was really cool to see. And – but – and Zach has such an – if there’s anybody who understands the show, you know, no one else spends more time on those sets besides Zach and our crew.

So it’s pretty cool to see them kind of together doing what they do best. I mean, there’s no one who knows it better than he and our crew. So he did a fantastic job and I was just – had such a fun part of being – had such a great time being a part of it and was glad that it was him behind there. So it was great, it was fun.

I was wondering if Morgan was going to get a new love interest soon?

Joshua Gomez: No not that – I don’t – trying to think what have we done and what haven’t we done – what have we aired and not aired. But I don’t think – I think, no he stays solo I think for the most part. He tries I think.

Zachary Levi: Yeah, you tried with Hannah.

Joshua Gomez: Yeah, yeah. Yeah exactly. But nothing permanent that I think plays out in this season. But he stays the lone wolf. I think he has bigger things on his plate. And so, you know, Buy More is, you know, assistant managing is tough biz, no it’s not really actually I do nothing. But, yeah, so unfortunately no.

There’s been a lot of talk about the finale actually recently like just online not specific so much but I’m just curious, Josh, where the last season said, I mean, there’s always with NBC you never know will the show be picked up will it not be. And I’m just curious if the finale if you guys, A. have read it and B. if it leaves us on a huge cliffhanger like last season’s finale or it ties things up just in case the unthinkable should happen?

Zachary Levi: We haven’t actually gotten it yet. We haven’t read it so I have no idea. But I would imagine that it does, I mean, you know, I would imagine it’s going to accomplish both I would. It will wrap things up in a way that you feel some kind of closure, you know, in the off chance that we don’t come back for another season but also leave it open to whatever the possibilities for another season would be.

I know that that’s always the way – the smart way to do things with a show like ours that has again a really rabid and devoted and fantastic fan base but television is a fickle game and you never really know how things work out.

I feel pretty good about what our chances would be for another season given all the circumstances of where we’re at as a show, where NBC is at as a network and where the five new hours of programming have opened up. And so I feel like we could have a place there.

But having not read the finale I suppose I couldn’t really answer that accurately.

I know NBC confirmed a while back that Scott Bakula would be around for one of the later episodes of the season. I wonder if there’s anything you can say about what he’s doing or alternately anyone else that we are familiar with that might be making a return appearance before the season’s out?

Joshua Gomez: He’s doing awesome work I can tell you that much. Get Scotty Bak.

Zachary Levi: I know this is a spoiler and we’re not supposed to talk about it but it turns out Scott Bakula is my dad. Yeah, I don’t know. He really is doing fantastic work.

Joshua Gomez: He is great.

Zachary Levi: I can’t even tell you how much I love Scotty Bak. That guy is not only super talented but he is so fun. Like he’s like a little kid like we’ll just break into song or do funny voices and but he’s such a pro like just like to a T. You know, just always on his moments, always diving into this character, Steven Bartowski who is very odd and kitschy and quirky and brilliant and, you know, and he brings it every time, every scene and it’s such a pleasure to work opposite him.

And, you know, and Josh gets to work with him as well so it’s nice when you have a guest star that kind of traverses both the spy and personal life.

He I believe – I believe Scott’s doing two, three episodes in the end here. And those are the last three episodes of the season.

Can you guys say anything else about Emmett’s death from the beginning of the season since that was so abrupt or is that kind of just wrapped up now?

Joshua Gomez: He comes back as a cyborg. He’s part of the Borg collective. You know what I will say this, yes, it was abrupt albeit kind of cool. I mean, very shocking and certainly it kind of started the season off I think letting everyone know like hey there’s going to be some gnarly stuff that happens. But it was unfortunate in many ways. I mean, Tony Hale is – I feel like I say the same thing about everybody who’s on the show but – and it feels like when you say it about everybody maybe you don’t mean it about anyone.

But I truly do and Tony Hale is wicked talented. So smart, so funny, such a sweetheart, was a pleasure to have him on the show and was really a bummer to see him shot. You know, we found ourselves in a place with the show where, you know, coming back by the skin of our teeth we didn’t have all the resources in the world to keep the show going the way that it was going as far as monetarily being able to keep everyone around and we have a lot of cast members and a lot of people to service.

And so I’m not sure all of the things that went into ultimately the decision of having Emmett go bye-bye. But I do believe that Josh and Chris and our other writers I think they handled it in a really good way. And I know that Tony enjoyed his time with us and, you know, and I hope that, you know, I hope that he gets to come back and play Emmett’s twin brother or something, I mean. Or maybe Emmett’s not really dead, you know, you never know.

Joshua Gomez: The shower scene he comes out of the shower like Dallas. It was all a dream.

How was it working with Christopher Lloyd. What was he like?

Zachary Levi: So insane. So insane. I – yeah…

Joshua Gomez: Honestly a genius and a pro and…

Zachary Levi: And so talented, such a sweetheart. No it’s true though, all of the above.

Joshua Gomez: That’s so crazy.

Zachary Levi: You know, I will say we’ve been very, very blessed, we’ve had, you know, every guest star on the show has been someone who has been a pleasure to work with. And I think that – and I think that has a lot do with honestly just the type of person that the show attracts. I don’t – you know, I think that we have a very unique show and one that runs the gamut on genres. And I think that certain actors get it and maybe certain actors don’t or whatever. And when I found out Christopher Lloyd was doing our show I think I had an accident in my pants.

Joshua Gomez: Zach and I have worked with like – I mean, there’s been some – obviously as you guys know, I mean, there’s been some really, really cool people. And I think for us personally, you know, that’s going at some serious geek fan-boy-dom. Yeah so it was like he’s on the set right now. And it was like, yeah, we don’t always get like that but to have Doc Brown on the show it was like, yeah, are you kidding me?

Zachary Levi: Now I just need a hoverboard and my life will be complete.

We saw, Zach, you’ve been figuring out YouStream, the live video from your phone. And we saw a little piece with the tiger. Would you – and then of course we saw the tiger again in that promo that – the fantastic people on the show put together for us. Can you expand a little bit more on what that was all about?

Zachary Levi: Well it’s a tiger. The tiger – the tiger’s a real tiger. The tiger is a twin. It was unreal. I wish that I got to pet it. I wish that I got to be closer with it but for various reasons not the least of which being death, we were forbidden from that kind of interaction. But the tiger will play a very cool and integral role in one of our upcoming episodes.

If there were no restrictions, what premise would you like to see for an episode of Chuck? And what scenarios would you put Morgan and the rest of the gang through? And in particular what kinds of crazy costumes would you make your cast-mates wear just for the sake of torture?

Joshua Gomez: Man oh man there’s so many in there. Holy smokes.

Zachary Levi: Yeah. I mean, I think – and perhaps I’m speaking for both Josh and I in this but, you know, I mean, we’re a couple of dudes, you know, we’re a couple of dudes who love first person shooter video games. So yes so I think if we had our druthers we would be running around with guns all day. That would be that would be the ultimate. And…

Joshua Gomez: …space marine gear, yeah.

Zachary Levi: Yeah. And then the costumes we’d put everyone in will clearly Yvonne and Tara would be put in scantily clad, you know…

Joshua Gomez: My fantasy would put Adam Baldwin in that freaking elf costume that I have to wear, you know and have him prance around the Buy More. Yeah.

Zachary Levi: Yeah. And then Vik and Scott we’d just – we’d over-dress them. They’d be in parkas and beanies. But no I don’t know, I mean, you know, how would we torture them? What kind of outfits would we put them in for torture? I think you put anyone in a thong that’s torture so there you go.

Joshua Gomez: Except for Krinsky I think. I think for – Jeff he’d be quite comfortable.

Zachary Levi: Yeah, Jeff could pull off a thong. Hopefully he never pulls it off. If you get my meaning.

Joshua Gomez: And wouldn’t all this episode take place in like Hawaii or something like that wouldn’t we…

Zachary Levi: Oh yeah and by – yeah, sorry I forgot to qualify, all of these would take place in awesome foreign locals, none of this would actually happen in Burbank. This would all be shooting an episode in Hawaii, shooting an episode in Paris…

Joshua Gomez: Adam Baldwin sitting in the back of the X-Wing in an elf costume. That’s how the episode would kind of…

Zachary Levi: He’s the harpooner.

Joshua Gomez: He’s the harpooner.

Zachary Levi: He’s the Elvin harpooner.

At the end of the last episode clearly Morgan was very heartbroken at the end of that scene. And I’m just wondering from your perspective was he more heartbroken that Chuck once again gets the beautiful girl and Morgan gets left with nothing? Or because once again Chuck was ditching Morgan for a girl?

Joshua Gomez: No I think – I don’t know, my feeling about it was always that it was – in a way it was neither because Chuck and Morgan actually never in the show really spoke about Hannah to each other. In a funny way I think, you know, Morgan sort of secretly pining over her but I don’t think Chuck really knew.

And Morgan didn’t know that Chuck was hanging out with her. So I think it was more of a shock of like oh, didn’t know that was going on. And then just, you know, heartbreak and disappointment just because I couldn’t have her not who got her; that’s kind of how I thought about it. But, I mean, maybe I don’t know, maybe secretly I hate him too.

But, yeah, again I think that, you know, it was just a bummer. It was like oh man new hot girl at the store and I think I impressed her with all my French cinema references and then I wore an ascot and the whole deal and the nothing, nothing, you know. It’s a bummer.

Zachary, earlier this season it was really interesting to see Chuck burn an asset and to see how difficult that was for him. And we’ve also seen how easy it’s become for him to just lie to those closest to him. And I was wondering as this season progresses are we going to see Chuck go darker as he, you know, goes further into his spy training?

Zachary Levi: I don’t necessarily know or think that you’ll see him go darker necessarily. I mean, I know that there was a lot of hubbub on boards and stuff about, you know, hey I don’t like this new Chuck, he’s dark and whatnot. You know, but to me I don’t see it as being darker I just see it as a natural progression of a character, of someone who gets deeper into this world of espionage and is trying to do the best that he can and learn and grow as a spy.

Which, you know, which may lead to things that are darker than the normal Chuck that we’ve come to know. But, no I don’t necessarily think he – I don’t think that he gets darker I just think, you know, every episode is an opportunity for a new shade or a new color or a new flavor and that’s what we saw in Chuck versus the nacho sampler and, you know, him learning a very valuable lesson and then, you know, proceeding to drink that pain away.

But no I wouldn’t say that Chuck’s – we’re not going to see, you know, bizarro Chuck, I mean, he’s not going to become this like, you know, unshorn fighting himself in a scrap yard although that would make a great episode.

Matt Goldberg: So that’s not in the Intersect 2.0 – bizarro Chuck.

Zachary Levi: No, you know, you’re just seeing – everyone’s still seeing the same Chuck it’s just a Chuck who’s going through some different circumstances.

Joshua Gomez: Yeah, I thought – I always kind of felt there was like a little bit of the – just a bit of reality setting in on a kid who’s just sort of moved – like again when we first started this thing he was a – it was a different guy, I mean, the worst thing that was going on was that he lost a girl and got kicked out of Stanford, that was the sort of – the weight on him.

And now, you know, he’s seen some real stuff, you know. And so I feel like if there’s anything it’s just a little bit more of a weight on him but that he’s still Chuck, you know, I mean, he’s definitely not, you know, yeah, yeah, you said it, dark, bizarro, you know, anybody who wants it.

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