The inevitable has happened. Next week's episode of "Chuck" will be a rerun of the pilot. With the writers strike now over a month long, NBC has simply run out of new episodes to air.
We are hoping that NBC has simply decided to spread out the remaining unaired episodes. FOX has used this strategy with Prison Break, much like The New CW with Smallville. NBC however, has recently aired the season finale of Heroes. Chuck Versus The Crown Vic was not billed as a season finale which raises questions about the possibility that "Chuck" and NBC have something in the works.
"Chuck" fans and television critics believe that this is status quo for the television industry, which lightens its schedule as the holidays approach. We can only hope.