Due to the 2007-2008 WGA strike, the first season of "Chuck" was cut short despite having received a full 22-episode pickup. As a result, the series' freshman season ended in January, 2008. However NBC was quick to renew the series for its second season. On August 27, 2008 it was announced that NBC had picked up the "back nine" of "Chuck's" second season, bringing it to a total of 22 episodes.