Ryan McPartlin: Watch for awesome new season of 'Chuck'

When "Chuck" does return (hopefully in January), Captain Awesome, or Devon Woodcomb, will be more than Ellie's (Sarah Lancaster) new hubby and Chuck Bartowski's brother-in-law. He'll be a part-time spy who has no clue what he's doing, just like Chuck (Zachary Levi) was in the first two seasons, with Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski) and Casey (Adam Baldwin).

"I get in a couple of missions. It'll be fun," he said. "The third and fourth episodes get really fun for Captain Awesome."

McPartlin confirmed that one episode in which Awesome sees a lot of action involves guest star Angie Harmon, whose bad girl character tries to "knock off" the doctor. Other guest stars include Brandon Routh ("He's doing a cool arc; you'll have to wait and see"); Kristen Kreuk ("A little bit of a love interest for Chuck"); Vinnie Jones ("He plays a cool bad guy"), and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.

"Each week it's like, 'Who's our guest star this week?'" McPartlin said. "There are so many ... I don't have scenes with all of them, but I'm just stoked to meet them, you know?

"That's a weird thing, to introduce yourself to Steve Austin as Captain Awesome. I'm like, 'Just don't put me in a head-lock. Don't stare at me like that.'"

McPartlin was eager to chat about Chuck's new powers and how Awesome will keep Chuck's secret, but he wasn't spilling too many secrets. We were supposed to be talking about his Lifetime Movie Network mini-series, "Everything She Ever Wanted," which airs at 7 p.m. Nov. 14 and 15. Read on for more about "Chuck" and McPartlin's Chicago history.

The awesome family came to see Devon (McPartlin) and Ellie (Sarah Lancaster) get married at the end of last season.

Congrats on getting the new episode order.
Nineteen episodes of "Chuck" coming up this season, thank God. It looks like we're going to come on in January now, unofficially ... I'm hoping that's the case because it's just been too long since we've been on the air. Every time we seem to get some momentum going it seems like it comes to a screeching halt. With the writer's strike or whatever it might be--"Superstars of Dance" or whatever they try to throw on in our place. Nothing seems to hold up like Chuck does. The little engine that could just keeps chugging right now.

How many episodes have you shot?
We're through 10 episodes now and we're on our 11th. We have great guest stars this season. Angie Harmon ... Stone Cold Steve Austin. There's a number of them. I can't even go through all of them right now. Brandon Routh, Superman. How can you forget him? I don't even know if I'm supposed to be talking about Brandon Routh being on there right now. But I know he's doing a cool arc; you'll have to wait and see.

And Kristin Kreuk?
Yeah, from "Smallville." She's part of the Nerd Herd for awhile, actually. [She's] a little bit of a love interest for Chuck there. She's very cool, very sweet. She's wonderful to work with. We have the best show for guest stars because they all get to do fun stuff. So we've had a great time.

What's going to happen to Capt. Awesome this season? He knows Chuck's secret.
The cool thing about Capt. Awesome this season--and I've said this before--I'm like Chuck in the first season, where I know now who Chuck really is. I bear the weight of that in both worlds. Captain Awesome may not be as cool and calm and collected as everyone thinks he is. I lose my shit a little bit here and there. I should say I lose my stuff, lose my head.

What's cool about Chuck and the Intersect now and his new abilities [is] it's great to see when they work and then when they don't work it's hysterical.

How so?
There's a little glitch in the Intersect so his powers don't always work. So he gets himself in a pinch a couple of times.

So he can't control it completely?
No, he can't control it completely, which is so much fun. When it does work, it's like very cool, "Bourne Identity" stuff going on. And when it doesn't work, it's like "Get Smart" or something. It's great.

Is that going to cause problems with Casey? Will Chuck sometimes out-Casey Casey?
Yeah at times there's some cool stuff. There's that element in there in an episode where they're going to go head-to-head. There's no doubt about it; Casey doesn't hide the fact where his allegiance lies. And it's not always with Chuck.

Sarah Lancaster and Ryan McPartlin.

How does Awesome knowing about Chuck affect his relationships, especially with Ellie?
It definitely puts a strain on it. Captain Awesome's a bad liar, and not only a bad liar, but I just refuse to lie at some points. It's funny, cuz that's kinda how I am in real life as well. [Awesome] doesn't hide thing very well and Ellie picks up on it right away. Actually I'm surprised she hasn't come out and asked me if I'm seeing another woman at this point. Because she reads all these signals of something's going on. It puts a definite strain on the relationship.

In "Chuck vs. the Break-Up," Devon had a talk with Bryce where he told him, "One thing I know best is the human heart." Will he have that kind of chat about love with Chuck or Sarah?
I do have that conversation a little bit with Chuck in one of the episodes. I make him kind of take a good look at his situation. I know now that they're not in a real relationship, but I also see that there are real feelings there. I kind of have to walk softly with him because I can't be the brother-in-law who just beats him over the head with the hammer of what he should and shouldn't do. I definitely put in my two cents.

OK, is Casey any nicer to Awesome than he was to Chuck?
Are you kidding? [Laughs.] No, I think he just covers the whole family. He's just bitter about having to deal with us and all of the mayhem. I think he would just like to be in the middle of Afghanistan or Iraq or something.

So Captain Awesome won't remain completely awesome this season?
Not necessarily. I do my best, let's just put it that way. But there are certain strengths and weaknesses that come to the surface.

Do people on set and shouting in the streets call you Awesome?
Yeah, everybody calls me Awesome on set. It's funny. I don't think twice about it. This sounds terrible, but it's a funny, kind of natural name. It's like somebody giving you a nickname in college that sticks. So now it's like my character has kind of become my nickname as well. All my friends call me it and my family, like "Hey Captain. What's happening." Except for my uncle, who still calls my "Hank," [my character] from "Passions." "Hank, what's up man?" That doesn't phase me either. It's pretty funny.

So they call you Captain more than Awesome?
Captain or Awesome, but never usually both.

Unless they're mad at you.
Exactly, then it's Devon. [Laughs.] They call me Devon Woodcomb--another great name.

Any other secrets you can reveal?
Everything is cool, man. It's going to be an exciting season. It gets better. I think the third season makes or breaks a show. And ours is definitely making ours. Everyone gels, the writers, the actors, the directors. Everybody's putting on a great show that I think could be around for awhile.

And Jeffster will be back?
They'll be back. Oh yeah. They're rocking out this year for sure.

Is it a pain to have to be ready to take your shirt off all the time?
It's a catch-22 because it keeps me in shape. It's a good job that keeps me in shape. But who knows how much I'd stay in shape if I didn't have the job? Half my job is dependent on staying in shape. So until I get a role where I get to play ... Well, something like Vince Vaughn, how he let it all out. It seems like he had more success doing that. You know? I'm kind of looking forward to those days.

You went to U of I and played football?
I more practiced football than played. I was on the team; we'll just put it that way. I graduated in fall of 97 and went in in 93 so four and a half years I was there. [He grew up in Glen Ellyn and went to Glenbard South, "home of the mighty Raiders."]

You come back a lot?
I come back all the time. I'll be back over Christmas. I come back probably a good six weeks, seven weeks out of the year. I'm actually, at some point--God willing we'll have a few more episodes of "Chuck"--get a little place in Chicago. So I can make that my home away from home.

OK Ryan, thanks for your time.
Thanks. Tell everyone "hi" in Chicago and I'll see them soon. I'll see them over the holidays on Michigan Avenue, doing the shopping. And at Butch McGuires or McFadden's or one of those places; I'll be there.

CHICAGO'S TV MAFIA