HDTV Heads-Up: Chuck Gets the Heave-Ho

TV2’s struggling HD spy romp, Chuck, will air 8.30pm Thursday for the last time next week.

After weeks of middling to low ratings, TV2 will pull the show mid-season and resume it late-night in November.

The network is replacing it with reality newcomer, Embarrassing Fat Bodies, which, mercifully, won’t air in HD.

The same week will see the networks kick off their Rugby World Cup coverage, on September 9, which is when All Blacks Keven Mealamu, Jerome Kaino and Anthony Boric will guest star as themselves on Shortland Street.

Producer Steven Zanoski says the World Cup couldn’t go unacknowledged by the show.

“The Rugby World Cup is likely to see a record number of viewers glued to their screens.

“It’s Shortland Street’s aim to provide an entertaining nod to the event in the lead up to the game – and show our support of the All Blacks in the Cup.”

The same week, ex-ER regular Alex Kingston will guest star on Private Practice (TV2, 9.30pm Tuesday), the top-rating $#*! My Dad Says will end its run (TV2, 8pm Wednesday) and TV2’s Sunday Premiere Movie, Observe and Report, will have its free-to-air premiere in HD.

It will screen opposite TV One’s HD 1981 Springbok tour dramatisation, Rage — 24 hours after the network repeats one of last year’s HD Sunday Theatre dramas, Spies and Lies.

Sunday night also will mark the double-episode season finale of The Good Wife (TV3, 11.20pm) while TV3’s HD movies for that week are repeats: Monday’s Jumper and Thursday’s What Happens in Vegas.