'Chuck' gets full-season order

Los Angeles -- NBC says it is picking up nine additional episodes of its sophomore drama "Chuck" to give the U.S. series a full-season order for 2008-09.

The move was announced Thursday by Teri Weinberg, executive vice president of NBC Entertainment.

"We couldn't be more excited with the creative direction (Executive Producer) Josh (Schwartz) and his team are executing on 'Chuck,'" Weinberg said in a statement. "This show has really hit its stride and deserves a full-season commitment to carry out the producers' vision for this unique series."

The new season of "Chuck," a show about the "world's nerdiest secret agent," is to debut Sept. 29, NBC said.

The series stars Zachary Levi, Adam Baldwin, Yvonne Strahovski, Joshua Gomez, Sarah Lancaster and Ryan McPartlin.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.