Talk about unfair.
Quizzed via e-mail about his Chicago-area roots, Ryan McPartlin, who plays Captain Awesome on “Chuck,” mentions his favorite hot dog place (Portillo’s), his favorite pizza (Lou Malnati’s deep dish) and his favorite breakfast place (Adelle’s in Wheaton).
“My life revolves around food,” he said.
Anyone who’s ever seen McPartlin on NBC’s “Chuck” — and noted how frequently the actor appears shirtless — would be shocked to learn that he’s such a fan of carbohydrates. In moderation, of course.
The deal with the comically perfect Awesome is that he’s, well, awesome in every possible way. The character, a doctor who is engaged to Ellie (Sarah Lancaster), Chuck Bartowski’s sister, is every inch the clean-cut, all-American good guy. It’s fitting, because this Glen Ellyn native and graduate of Glenbard South High School played football at the University of Illinois.
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So as the show’s resident hunk — the buff counterpoint to the nerdy spy Chuck (Zachary Levi) — McPartlin can’t just gorge on pizza whenever he feels like it.
“Everyone gets a laugh when I threaten to show up to work 50 pounds overweight, but I don’t think they’d think it was funny if I made good on that threat,” he said.
Whether or not the writers get to give Awesome any new story lines — gut-centered or not — is up in the air. “Chuck’s” epic season finale aired Monday, and there are a multitude of campaigns aimed at persuading NBC to keep this wonderful show alive (for more on that, go here: tr.im/iJyf).
One of the most enjoyable things about the last two “Chuck” episodes of the season — which expertly mix action, humor and heart and are among the best the show has done — is the increased screen time for Awesome, whose typical composure was rocked by huge revelations that Chuck shared with him in the April 20 outing. At one point in that episode, thinking he was helping Chuck, Awesome had a big fight with the hilariously gruff John Casey (Adam Baldwin, another Chicago native), and the prospect of filming that scene made McPartlin a little apprehensive.
“The fight scene made me really nervous because I felt like Adam is so into his character that he could really punch me in the face at any moment,” McPartlin said.
If there is a Season 3 for “Chuck,” McPartlin doesn’t know what the future holds for his character on “Chuck.” Regardless of what happens, he’s grateful that fans’ love for the straight-arrow doctor helped convince the show’s writers to expand the role.
“The impact fans have on a show these days is pretty amazing,” he said.
For the complete interview with McPartlin, go to this site: tr.im/jLbK
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