Chuck Versus the Cougars
Encyclopedia
"Chuck Versus the Cougars" is the fourth episode of the second season
of Chuck
. It originally aired on October 20, 2008. Chuck Bartowski
learns more about Sarah Walker
's past when they run into her old high school nemesis Heather Chandler (Nicole Richie
). Sarah's teenage insecurities come to surface and she tries to avoid Heather at all costs. Chuck, on the other hand, does everything he can to hear more about Sarah's hidden life. When Heather's nerdy husband Mark Ratner (Ben Savage
) turns out to be a key player in a new mission, the agents must attend Sarah's high school reunion to prevent the sale of potentially dangerous super-bomber plans – all the action ends with the ultimate cat fight. Meanwhile, Big Mike leaves town for a day and the Buy More
's new assistant manager Lester Patel decides to implement a new sales policy.
Buy More
, Sarah Walker
notices an old schoolmate, Heather Chandler (Nicole Richie
). She hides Chuck Bartowski
in Castle, ordering him not to leave or touch anything. However, Chuck cannot resist admiring the advanced DU-97 computer. He accesses it, learning that there are a number of cameras around his home and the Buy More. He then spies on Sarah, who is known under a different identity to Heather. Chuck learns that Sarah's real name is "Jenny Burton".
Chuck then flashes on Heather's geeky husband Mark Ratner (Ben Savage
), who is an engineer in development of a new F-22 fighter aircraft. General Beckman (Bonita Friedericy
) orders Chuck and Sarah to go on a double date with the Ratners to learn more about Mark. Sarah objects, stating that her identity has been compromised, but Beckman insists that the previous identity is crucial to the mission.
At the restaurant they are at with the Ratners, Sarah "accidentally" spills wine on Chuck's lap to stop him from digging into her past. Chuck goes to the washroom to clean up, only to find Mark being threatened by two members of the Russian Mafia
, whom he flashes on. The Russians get suspicious and, after with Mark was locked in a washroom stall, try to force Chuck to talk. Luckily, John Casey
, disguised as a waiter, arrives and incapacitates the Russians. As Casey leaves, Mark peeks and notices the unconscious Russians, assuming Chuck is responsible. Chuck tries to convince Mark that he learned martial at a community center, but he accidentally reveals that the men were mafia, leading Mark to suspect that Chuck is CIA
. Chuck decides to "play the part" and passes himself off as "Charles Carmichael".
The next day, Mark is covertly taken to Castle, where Casey attempts to interrogate him, promising witness protection
in exchange for the location of his next meet with the Russian. However, Mark refuses to speak to anyone but "Carmichael". After being told lies by Chuck, including that he is nicknamed "Mad Dog", Mark reveals that the mafia threatened him and his wife, and he only communicates with them by text messaging
. Suddenly, Mark receives a text asking to meeting again the next night, which happens to be the night of his, Sarah's, and Heather's class reunion
.
Upon arrival at James Buchanan
High School, home of the eponymous "Cougars", Chuck flashes on a tattoo. Chuck presumes the tattoo's wearer, old school bully Dick Duffy (Michael Weaver), to be Mark's contact; Mark himself finds it obvious. Sarah promises to alert Casey, who is disguised as the event's disc jockey
. When Sarah meets Duffy, she knocks him out for attempting to flirt with her. She and Casey learn that Duffy is actually a small-time crook.
Mark's real contacts arrive and Heather is revealed to be working with the mafia. She informs them that Chuck being a spy, having overheard a conversation between him and Mark. Upon seeing the Russians, Chuck urges Mark to run, while he subtly points out the two men to Sarah and Casey with the spotlight. Sarah notices Heather leaving the gym and follows. As they fight, Heather reveals that she is extorting Mark's F-22 plans for an unnamed buyer
, and she never really loved him. Sarah eventually defeats Heather by knocking a cougar statue on her head. Meanwhile, Casey stops the Russians from killing Mark, although Mark presumes once again that Chuck saved his life. Afterwards, Sarah walks into the gymnasium battered, barefoot and bloody, only to be crowned reunion queen.
Chuck later arrives at Sarah's apartment for a mission debrief, and she makes it clear that she will not answer questions about her past, throwing his pencil into a portrait of themselves and intimidating Chuck into submission. Chuck again tries digging into Sarah's past during their double date with the Ratners, but Sarah spills wine onto his lap.
Chuck later brings Sarah a dress for her high school reunion. However, Sarah is reluctant to go, as high school was a tough time for her. Nonetheless, Chuck convinces her to go. This proves worthwhile, as Sarah not only conquers her high school nemesis, but she is also crowned reunion queen.
As Chuck later enjoys a lunch with Sarah, he wonders why she changed in high school (see Flashbacks).
guess that the policy will end badly, they allow him to implement it to see the fun in its failure.
Chuck later returns to find Lester panicking in Big Mike's office. Lester reveals that, out of the merchandise they sold, they failed expected cash demands to pay for the items. Morgan then asks the staff for ideas on how to obtain $3,600 within one night. Jeff Barnes suggests burning the store down for the insurance. However, Chuck unintentionally suggests throwing a keg party, to which everyone agrees to.
However, the party goes out of control and ultimately results in Big Mike's prized marlin
being broken. Lester tries ending the party, but the guests refuse to leave. When they finally agree to leave, the Buy More employees quickly clean up the mess before Big Mike returns, and Morgan barely patches up the marlin. Big Mike congratulates Lester on his success as assistant manager, but Lester decides to resign. After he leaves, the marlin's snout falls off.
. She runs to a tree, where her father had buried a bag full of cash in case of emergencies.
In the present day, Sarah blows off steam on a punching bag at her apartment. A flashback shows her high school life following her father's arrest. After stuffing a young Mark into a locker, Dick Duffy, the school bully, offers to be the "man around the house" for Jenny.
Another flashback shows that after Jenny found her father's stash of cash, she is surprised by the appearance of CIA Director Langston Graham (Tony Todd
). After she throws a knife and just misses him, Graham admires her throw. He lists several aliases she has assumed across the country, including "Katie O'Donnell" in Wisconsin
, "Rebecca Franko" in Cleveland, and even "Jenny Burton". He claims to know the name on her birth certificate
, but Jenny tells him to get to the point before he reveals it. Graham explains to her that her father failed in scamming dangerous people, and he saved her father's life by arresting him. He offers to help save her too, so Jenny holds out to be handcuffed
, presuming that he wants to arrest her. However, Graham offers to recruit her into the CIA under a new alias: Sarah Walker.
's character from Fast Times at Ridgemont High
, and Chandler after Kim Walker's character from the film Heathers
. Ratner, Chandler, and Sarah's alma mater shares its name with the Sweathogs' high school in Welcome Back, Kotter
. Walker's high school alias shares her name with 1980s R&B performer Jenny Burton
whose songs were prominently featured in 1984's Beat Street
.
gave this episode a score of 9 out of 10, praising Richie's and Strahovski's performances, writing, "This was a highly entertaining episode, which shed some very interesting new light on Sarah, while still making sure there were plenty of questions left to answer. Kudos to Yvonne Strahovski for her portrayal of the young, braces wearing outcast Sarah. It was a funny and effective change, and while the hair and makeup people did great work making her look so different, Strahovski also gave it her all by showing a much more shy, closed off version of the girl we know. Yvonne Strahovski looks the way she does – bad hair, a bad complexion and braces wouldn't make her still not be a pretty girl underneath all of that. But the way the young Sarah was portrayed, it came off as believable that she would be a loner, simply because of how different and reserved her demeanor was... It all led up to one hell of a fight between Sarah and Heather at the reunion, which not only was done to the tune of "Smack My Bitch Up", but also eventually had the women mercilessly beating up on each other in the showers, with the water of course blasting down on them. It's amazing to think how clunky and bad the circumstances I just described could be if done by creators who didn't have the style and wit that Chuck's do. "
Steve Heisler of The A.V. Club
gave the episode a B+, writing "... What I imagined to be a gimmicky outing was actually a pretty fun, well-rounded episode, albeit slightly lacking the control of the last three."
Viewer response was also positive, with an 8.5/10 user rating at TV.com
. The episode drew 6.872 million viewers.
Chuck (season 2)
The second season of Chuck contains 22 episodes and was originally aired from September 29, 2008 to April 27, 2009. The season continues to focus on Chuck's constant struggle to keep his spy life and real life apart as he becomes more accustomed to being a spy. More background on the Intersect...
of Chuck
Chuck (TV series)
Chuck is an action-comedy/spy-drama television program from the United States created by Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak. The series is about an "average computer-whiz-next-door" named Chuck, played by Zachary Levi, who receives an encoded e-mail from an old college friend now working for the Central...
. It originally aired on October 20, 2008. Chuck Bartowski
Chuck Bartowski
Charles Irving "Chuck" Bartowski is the main and titular character of the American fiction television show Chuck on NBC. He is portrayed by Zachary Levi.-Character profile:...
learns more about Sarah Walker
Sarah Walker (Chuck)
Sarah Lisa Bartowski is the alias of one of the main characters of the fictional television show Chuck on NBC. She is portrayed by Yvonne Strahovski and is one of two agents assigned by the NSA and CIA to protect Chuck Bartowski after he unwittingly downloads the secret government computer known...
's past when they run into her old high school nemesis Heather Chandler (Nicole Richie
Nicole Richie
Nicole Camille Richie is an American fashion designer, author, actress, singer and television personality. Her father was Peter Michael Escovedo, a musician who played for a brief time with Lionel Richie, and her mother Karen was the executive assistant for Sheila Escovedo...
). Sarah's teenage insecurities come to surface and she tries to avoid Heather at all costs. Chuck, on the other hand, does everything he can to hear more about Sarah's hidden life. When Heather's nerdy husband Mark Ratner (Ben Savage
Ben Savage
Bennett Joseph "Ben" Savage is an American film and TV actor and child star of late 1980s and 1990s. Savage is best known for his role as lead character Cory Matthews on the TV sitcom Boy Meets World from 1993 to 2000....
) turns out to be a key player in a new mission, the agents must attend Sarah's high school reunion to prevent the sale of potentially dangerous super-bomber plans – all the action ends with the ultimate cat fight. Meanwhile, Big Mike leaves town for a day and the Buy More
Buy More
Buy More is a fictional big box electronics retail chain in NBC's action-comedy series Chuck. The Buy More is a parody of similar chains, particularly Best Buy....
's new assistant manager Lester Patel decides to implement a new sales policy.
Main plot
At the BurbankBurbank, California
Burbank is a city in Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States, north of downtown Los Angeles. The estimated population in 2010 was 103,340....
Buy More
Buy More
Buy More is a fictional big box electronics retail chain in NBC's action-comedy series Chuck. The Buy More is a parody of similar chains, particularly Best Buy....
, Sarah Walker
Sarah Walker (Chuck)
Sarah Lisa Bartowski is the alias of one of the main characters of the fictional television show Chuck on NBC. She is portrayed by Yvonne Strahovski and is one of two agents assigned by the NSA and CIA to protect Chuck Bartowski after he unwittingly downloads the secret government computer known...
notices an old schoolmate, Heather Chandler (Nicole Richie
Nicole Richie
Nicole Camille Richie is an American fashion designer, author, actress, singer and television personality. Her father was Peter Michael Escovedo, a musician who played for a brief time with Lionel Richie, and her mother Karen was the executive assistant for Sheila Escovedo...
). She hides Chuck Bartowski
Chuck Bartowski
Charles Irving "Chuck" Bartowski is the main and titular character of the American fiction television show Chuck on NBC. He is portrayed by Zachary Levi.-Character profile:...
in Castle, ordering him not to leave or touch anything. However, Chuck cannot resist admiring the advanced DU-97 computer. He accesses it, learning that there are a number of cameras around his home and the Buy More. He then spies on Sarah, who is known under a different identity to Heather. Chuck learns that Sarah's real name is "Jenny Burton".
Chuck then flashes on Heather's geeky husband Mark Ratner (Ben Savage
Ben Savage
Bennett Joseph "Ben" Savage is an American film and TV actor and child star of late 1980s and 1990s. Savage is best known for his role as lead character Cory Matthews on the TV sitcom Boy Meets World from 1993 to 2000....
), who is an engineer in development of a new F-22 fighter aircraft. General Beckman (Bonita Friedericy
Bonita Friedericy
Bonita Friedericy is an American actress. She currently can be seen in the television series Chuck as NSA Director Diane Beckman. She has also appeared on Malcolm in the Middle, Veronica Mars, Star Trek: Enterprise, Bones, The Nine, The West Wing, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and in the film...
) orders Chuck and Sarah to go on a double date with the Ratners to learn more about Mark. Sarah objects, stating that her identity has been compromised, but Beckman insists that the previous identity is crucial to the mission.
At the restaurant they are at with the Ratners, Sarah "accidentally" spills wine on Chuck's lap to stop him from digging into her past. Chuck goes to the washroom to clean up, only to find Mark being threatened by two members of the Russian Mafia
Russian Mafia
The Russian Mafia is a name applied to organized crime syndicates in Russia and Ukraine. The mafia in various countries take the name of the country, as for example the Ukrainian mafia....
, whom he flashes on. The Russians get suspicious and, after with Mark was locked in a washroom stall, try to force Chuck to talk. Luckily, John Casey
John Casey (Chuck)
Colonel John Casey is portrayed by actor Adam Baldwin on the television show Chuck on NBC. Prior to the episode "Chuck Versus the Tic Tac," he was partnered with CIA agent Sarah Walker to protect Chuck Bartowski....
, disguised as a waiter, arrives and incapacitates the Russians. As Casey leaves, Mark peeks and notices the unconscious Russians, assuming Chuck is responsible. Chuck tries to convince Mark that he learned martial at a community center, but he accidentally reveals that the men were mafia, leading Mark to suspect that Chuck is CIA
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
. Chuck decides to "play the part" and passes himself off as "Charles Carmichael".
The next day, Mark is covertly taken to Castle, where Casey attempts to interrogate him, promising witness protection
Witness protection
Witness protection is protection of a threatened witness or any person involved in the justice system, including defendants and other clients, before, during and after a trial, usually by police...
in exchange for the location of his next meet with the Russian. However, Mark refuses to speak to anyone but "Carmichael". After being told lies by Chuck, including that he is nicknamed "Mad Dog", Mark reveals that the mafia threatened him and his wife, and he only communicates with them by text messaging
Text messaging
Text messaging, or texting, refers to the exchange of brief written text messages between fixed-line phone or mobile phone and fixed or portable devices over a network...
. Suddenly, Mark receives a text asking to meeting again the next night, which happens to be the night of his, Sarah's, and Heather's class reunion
Class reunion
A class reunion is a meeting of former classmates, typically organized at or near their former school by one of the class on or around an anniversary of their graduation. Former teachers may be invited as well...
.
Upon arrival at James Buchanan
James Buchanan
James Buchanan, Jr. was the 15th President of the United States . He is the only president from Pennsylvania, the only president who remained a lifelong bachelor and the last to be born in the 18th century....
High School, home of the eponymous "Cougars", Chuck flashes on a tattoo. Chuck presumes the tattoo's wearer, old school bully Dick Duffy (Michael Weaver), to be Mark's contact; Mark himself finds it obvious. Sarah promises to alert Casey, who is disguised as the event's disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
. When Sarah meets Duffy, she knocks him out for attempting to flirt with her. She and Casey learn that Duffy is actually a small-time crook.
Mark's real contacts arrive and Heather is revealed to be working with the mafia. She informs them that Chuck being a spy, having overheard a conversation between him and Mark. Upon seeing the Russians, Chuck urges Mark to run, while he subtly points out the two men to Sarah and Casey with the spotlight. Sarah notices Heather leaving the gym and follows. As they fight, Heather reveals that she is extorting Mark's F-22 plans for an unnamed buyer
Alexei Volkoff
Alexei Volkoff is the alias and alter ego of Hartley Winterbottom , a fictional character on the television series Chuck. Volkoff is the head of Volkoff Industries. For the first six episodes of the fourth season, he was an unseen character, directing his operatives from behind the scenes...
, and she never really loved him. Sarah eventually defeats Heather by knocking a cougar statue on her head. Meanwhile, Casey stops the Russians from killing Mark, although Mark presumes once again that Chuck saved his life. Afterwards, Sarah walks into the gymnasium battered, barefoot and bloody, only to be crowned reunion queen.
Chuck and Sarah
Hostility rises between Chuck and Sarah when Chuck asks about her past, but she insists on keeping it secret. Sarah relives her painful past, revealing that she was a homely high school student teased and bullied by her peers.Chuck later arrives at Sarah's apartment for a mission debrief, and she makes it clear that she will not answer questions about her past, throwing his pencil into a portrait of themselves and intimidating Chuck into submission. Chuck again tries digging into Sarah's past during their double date with the Ratners, but Sarah spills wine onto his lap.
Chuck later brings Sarah a dress for her high school reunion. However, Sarah is reluctant to go, as high school was a tough time for her. Nonetheless, Chuck convinces her to go. This proves worthwhile, as Sarah not only conquers her high school nemesis, but she is also crowned reunion queen.
As Chuck later enjoys a lunch with Sarah, he wonders why she changed in high school (see Flashbacks).
Buy More
At the Buy More, Big Mike goes on a fishing trip, leaving Lester Patel in charge. This gives Lester the opportunity to implement a new sales policy, allowing customers to name their own price, which could potentially mean giving out free products. Although Chuck and Morgan GrimesMorgan Grimes
Morgan Guillermo Grimes is a major character on the television series Chuck. He is portrayed by actor Joshua Gomez, and is the best friend of Chuck Bartowski....
guess that the policy will end badly, they allow him to implement it to see the fun in its failure.
Chuck later returns to find Lester panicking in Big Mike's office. Lester reveals that, out of the merchandise they sold, they failed expected cash demands to pay for the items. Morgan then asks the staff for ideas on how to obtain $3,600 within one night. Jeff Barnes suggests burning the store down for the insurance. However, Chuck unintentionally suggests throwing a keg party, to which everyone agrees to.
However, the party goes out of control and ultimately results in Big Mike's prized marlin
Marlin
Marlin, family Istiophoridae, are fish with an elongated body, a spear-like snout or bill, and a long rigid dorsal fin, which extends forward to form a crest. Its common name is thought to derive from its resemblance to a sailor's marlinspike...
being broken. Lester tries ending the party, but the guests refuse to leave. When they finally agree to leave, the Buy More employees quickly clean up the mess before Big Mike returns, and Morgan barely patches up the marlin. Big Mike congratulates Lester on his success as assistant manager, but Lester decides to resign. After he leaves, the marlin's snout falls off.
Flashbacks
The episode's main plot is augmented with flashbacks depicting Sarah's origins. The first shows a young Sarah Walker, under the alias Jenny Burton, returning home to witness her father being arrested by the ATFBureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is a federal law enforcement organization within the United States Department of Justice...
. She runs to a tree, where her father had buried a bag full of cash in case of emergencies.
In the present day, Sarah blows off steam on a punching bag at her apartment. A flashback shows her high school life following her father's arrest. After stuffing a young Mark into a locker, Dick Duffy, the school bully, offers to be the "man around the house" for Jenny.
Another flashback shows that after Jenny found her father's stash of cash, she is surprised by the appearance of CIA Director Langston Graham (Tony Todd
Tony Todd
Anthony T. "Tony" Todd is an American actor and movie producer, known for his height of 6'5", and deep voice. He is well known for playing the Candyman in the horror movie franchise of the same name, William Bludworth in Final Destination and for guest starring roles on numerous television...
). After she throws a knife and just misses him, Graham admires her throw. He lists several aliases she has assumed across the country, including "Katie O'Donnell" in Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, "Rebecca Franko" in Cleveland, and even "Jenny Burton". He claims to know the name on her birth certificate
Birth certificate
A birth certificate is a vital record that documents the birth of a child. The term "birth certificate" can refer to either the original document certifying the circumstances of the birth or to a certified copy of or representation of the ensuing registration of that birth...
, but Jenny tells him to get to the point before he reveals it. Graham explains to her that her father failed in scamming dangerous people, and he saved her father's life by arresting him. He offers to help save her too, so Jenny holds out to be handcuffed
Handcuffs
Handcuffs are restraint devices designed to secure an individual's wrists close together. They comprise two parts, linked together by a chain, a hinge, or rigid bar. Each half has a rotating arm which engages with a ratchet that prevents it from being opened once closed around a person's wrist...
, presuming that he wants to arrest her. However, Graham offers to recruit her into the CIA under a new alias: Sarah Walker.
Continuity
- Jeff suggests burning down the Buy More to obtain the insurance, a recurring theme in the series.
- Chandler extorts F-22 plans for members of the Russian mafia. This is the first known reference to Alexei VolkoffAlexei VolkoffAlexei Volkoff is the alias and alter ego of Hartley Winterbottom , a fictional character on the television series Chuck. Volkoff is the head of Volkoff Industries. For the first six episodes of the fourth season, he was an unseen character, directing his operatives from behind the scenes...
, the Russian criminal who Chandler reveals the plans where earmarked for in "Chuck Versus the Cubic ZChuck Versus the Cubic Z"Chuck Versus the Cubic Z" is the third episode of the fourth season of Chuck. It originally aired October 4, 2010. A prison transfer delivers old foes, Heather Chandler and Hugo Panzer , to the Buy More, canceling Chuck Bartowski and Sarah’s romantic mission...
". - Director Graham is the first person outside of Sarah's family confirmed to know her real name.
Flashes
- Chuck flashes on Mark, learning that he is an engineer in the development of a new F-22.
- Chuck flashes on members of the Russian mafia.
- Chuck flashes on Duffy's tattoo.
Cultural references
This episode maintains the series' tendency to reference popular culture. Ratner is believed to be named after Brian BackerBrian Backer
Brian Backer is an American actor who has starred in film and on television. He is best known for his role in the 1982 hit comedy film Fast Times at Ridgemont High as shy teenager Mark "Rat" Ratner...
's character from Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Fast Times at Ridgemont High is a 1982 American coming-of-age teen comedy film written by Cameron Crowe and adapted from his 1981 book of the same name...
, and Chandler after Kim Walker's character from the film Heathers
Heathers
Heathers is a 1989 black comedy film starring Winona Ryder, Christian Slater and Shannen Doherty. The film portrays four girls in a trend-setting clique at a fictional Ohio high school...
. Ratner, Chandler, and Sarah's alma mater shares its name with the Sweathogs' high school in Welcome Back, Kotter
Welcome Back, Kotter
Welcome Back, Kotter was an American television sitcom starring Gabe Kaplan and featuring a young John Travolta.It originally aired on the ABC network from September 9, 1975 to June 8, 1979.-Premise:...
. Walker's high school alias shares her name with 1980s R&B performer Jenny Burton
Jenny Burton
Jenny Burton , is an American female R&B singer who had several hits on the US Billboard dance chart. She was lead singer of the dance music band C-Bank's 1983 Top 5 Hot Dance Music/Club Play single "One More Shot", notable for record producer John Robie's use of a "non-linear" approach to its...
whose songs were prominently featured in 1984's Beat Street
Beat Street
Beat Street is a 1984 drama film, following Wild Style in featuring New York City hip hop culture of the early 1980s; breakdancing, DJing, and graffiti.-Plot:...
.
Music
- "TubthumpingTubthumping"Tubthumping", informally known by its prominent lyric "I Get Knocked Down", is the title of a song released by the Anarcho-punk band Chumbawamba on 11 August 1997 through Universal Records and EMI Electrola. It was their most successful single, peaking at number 2 on the UK Singles Chart...
" by ChumbawambaChumbawambaChumbawamba is a British musical group who have, over a career spanning nearly three decades, played punk rock, pop-influenced music, world music, and folk music... - "Open Late Weekends" by Daniel May
- "Shop Till You Drop" by Billy MartinBilly MartinAlfred Manuel "Billy" Martin, Jr. was an American Major League Baseball second baseman and manager. He is best known as the manager of the New York Yankees, a position he held five different times...
- "Variatio 1. a 1 Clav." from "The Goldberg Variations" by J. S. Bach
- "Beautiful DisasterBeautiful DisasterBeautiful Disaster may refer to:* "Beautiful Disaster" * "Beautiful Disaster ", a song by Kelly Clarkson from Thankful* "Beautiful Disaster", a song by Jon McLaughlin from Indiana...
" by 311311 (band)311 is an American rock band from Omaha, Nebraska. The band was formed in 1988 by vocalist/rhythm guitarist Nick Hexum, lead guitarist Jim Watson , bassist Aaron "P-Nut" Wills and drummer Chad Sexton... - "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)Everybody (Backstreet's Back)"Everybody " is the first single from the Backstreet Boys' second international album Backstreet's Back in 1997, and the third single and fourth track from their debut US album in 1997. It is one of their signature songs. The US debut was originally released without the song, which references the...
" by The Backstreet Boys - "MMMBopMMMBop"MMMBop" is a song written and performed by the American pop rock band Hanson from their 1997 album Middle of Nowhere. The song was nominated for two Grammys at the 40th Annual Grammy Awards in February 1998, and is the band's most successful single to date.By any measure, "MMMBop" was phenomenally...
" by HansonHanson- Musical groups :* Hanson , an American pop rock band* Hanson , an English rock band* The Hanson Brothers, a Canadian punk band and side project of the band Nomeansno- Companies :* Hanson plc, a British building materials company... - Unknown Song (The Buy More party)
- "I Don't Want To WaitI Don't Want to Wait"I Don't Want to Wait" is a song written, performed and produced by Paula Cole. It was Cole's second single from her album This Fire and later served as the opening theme for the TV-series Dawson's Creek. The single was #10 on the 1998 Hot 100 Singles on the Billboard year end summary...
" by Paula ColePaula ColePaula Cole is an American singer/songwriter. Her single "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone" reached the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 in 1997, and the following year she won a Grammy Award for Best New Artist.-Early life:... - "Smack My Bitch UpSmack My Bitch Up"Smack My Bitch Up" is a song by The Prodigy, released as the band's twelfth single on 17 November 1997. It was the third and final single from the album The Fat of the Land....
" by The ProdigyThe ProdigyThe Prodigy are an English electronic dance music group formed by Liam Howlett in 1990 in Braintree, Essex. Along with Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers, and other acts, The Prodigy have been credited as pioneers of the big beat genre, which achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s and 2000s...
Critical response
"Chuck Versus the Cougars" received generally positive reviews from critics, and Richie's performance was praised. Eric Goldman of IGNIGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
gave this episode a score of 9 out of 10, praising Richie's and Strahovski's performances, writing, "This was a highly entertaining episode, which shed some very interesting new light on Sarah, while still making sure there were plenty of questions left to answer. Kudos to Yvonne Strahovski for her portrayal of the young, braces wearing outcast Sarah. It was a funny and effective change, and while the hair and makeup people did great work making her look so different, Strahovski also gave it her all by showing a much more shy, closed off version of the girl we know. Yvonne Strahovski looks the way she does – bad hair, a bad complexion and braces wouldn't make her still not be a pretty girl underneath all of that. But the way the young Sarah was portrayed, it came off as believable that she would be a loner, simply because of how different and reserved her demeanor was... It all led up to one hell of a fight between Sarah and Heather at the reunion, which not only was done to the tune of "Smack My Bitch Up", but also eventually had the women mercilessly beating up on each other in the showers, with the water of course blasting down on them. It's amazing to think how clunky and bad the circumstances I just described could be if done by creators who didn't have the style and wit that Chuck's do. "
Steve Heisler of The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club is an entertainment newspaper and website published by The Onion. Its features include reviews of new films, music, television, books, games and DVDs, as well as interviews and other regular offerings examining both new and classic media and other elements of pop culture. Unlike its...
gave the episode a B+, writing "... What I imagined to be a gimmicky outing was actually a pretty fun, well-rounded episode, albeit slightly lacking the control of the last three."
Viewer response was also positive, with an 8.5/10 user rating at TV.com
TV.com
TV.com is a website owned by CBS Interactive. The site covers television and focuses on English-language shows made or broadcast in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and Japan...
. The episode drew 6.872 million viewers.