Where is Chuck's "Cousin" Jake on DVD?
Chuck and Jake 2.0
Chuck Bartowski must be a distant cousin of Jake Foley somehow. The lead character of Jake 2.0 (Christopher Gorham) and the lead character of Chuck (Zachary Levi) have quite the family resemblance, don't you think? And even their stories are similar!
A computer fix-it geek unintentionally gets "upgraded" with secret government technology and uses his new gifts as a spy. He works missions with a tough-guy male agent, and there's also a gorgeous lady colleague who's looking out for him (and who he just might be falling for). And all the while, he's trying to keep his spy life a secret from people in his private life. Sound familiar?
Jake 2.0 ran in 2003 on UPN, which means CBS DVD and Paramount Home Entertainment have the home video rights. This show and Ugly Betty were both created by Silvio Horta. Gorham was Betty's love interest, "Henry," for two seasons, and returns to TV this spring in the CBS mid-season thriller Harper's Island. The current season of 24 includes roles for Jake co-stars Philip Anthony-Rodriguez and Marina Black, while Battlestar Galactica features Keegan Connor Tracy as Baltar groupie "Jeanne." Galactica's Grace Park also had a recurring role in Jake, and Lee Majors (Six Million Dollar Man) guest-starred as an aging spy.
DVD release plans for old TV shows are often tied in to something current. With Chuck's producers planning for a possible third season, and with Jake 2.0 cast members being seen in popular shows airing now, isn't it time for CBS/Paramount to finally bring Jake Foley home? Especially when you look at all the similarities between these two programs!
What do you think? Is it time to get Jake 2.0 on DVD? Maybe in time to tie in with Chuck's second season home video release? Or should Foley's missions remain classified? — David Lambert
