SAN DIEGO — The landscape of television serials is somewhat of a tight rope act. Between the strains of competitive time slot schedules, and pilot series pick ups, even the most critically acclaimed series can be dropped unexpectedly. NBC’s series, "Chuck" has managed to weather all the trappings of cancellation with its witty dialogue, fun cast of characters, and cult like following from both viewers and critics alike.

As season three wrapped up in May, the sobering finale left plenty of questions up in the air. One of them being the fate of Buy More (a parody of the Best Buy electronics store) and its tech support crew (the Nerd Herd). Vik Sahay plays Nerd Herd Lester Patel, a techie who specializes in Apple products. Lester’s storylines generally bring the more humorous side of the series between cage fights with his best friend Jeff to collaborating on their band conveniently named: Jeffster.

Blast recently sat down with Vik Sahay to talk about his work on "Chuck" and what it means to play a diverse character like Lester Patel during his visit to the San Diego Comic-Con 2010.

BLAST: Right now the Buy More is no more. And we love Lester–

VIK SAHAY: Do we?

BLAST: We do! (laughs) If you were hypothetically, in your opinion, envision your character coming back into the game, how would it happen?

VS: I think, this all hypothetical, and this is just me imagining it. I think Lester should come back into the game as a true, dark, and evil rival to Chuck. I think he should get recruited by The Ring, and planted back in to that world as a counterspy.

BLAST: No one would expect that, I think.

VS: Yeah, and he’s already got this thing about him where he doesn’t like Chuck. So I think he would be easily convinced and we could really bring out that dark side.

BLAST: There’s the music of Jeffster (Lester’s band with best friend Jeff,) they’re huge amongst fans of the show. There’s as much a cult following for them as much as the show.

VS: Really? Is that true?

BLAST: Actually, apart from fans of the show itself (who love Chuck and the spy world,) we got a lot of comments about Jeffster.

VS: That’s amazing.

BLAST: Did you ever expect the Jeffster moments to be as popular and go this far?

VS: No, not at all. I mean my goal was to get through the singing, but it was important for me…for Jeffster to be an extension of what Lester was (on the show.) I think maybe, it’s connecting (with fans) in a way because he’s such a train wreck. This is his outlet for his rage and anger; he sings the way he does because of that…he gets to pour all that madness into (Jeffster.) So it’s interesting to use Jeffster through the character of Lester in that way.

BLAST: So what about Lester in love? Anything romantic for him?

VS: Well, he’s on the lamb as it stands (right now.) So maybe out there…either his root chakra will open up (and we’ll see that evil side;) or his heart chakra…(laughs) I think what he wants most out of life is unconditional love. He’s a broken boy, so the way he goes about it is that he’s like a rattlesnake…but I wonder what would happen, and what that woman would be — who would love him.

BLAST: Lester plays in shades of grey on the show, he’s a complicated character.

VS: Yeah, I think one of the things I try and put out there about him is that he’s very complex; his emotions. It’s not just bad, good, bad, good…I think if what he wants is unconditional love, then who he is the scorpion…in the scorpion and the frog fable. He’s like please get me across this river, to the frog on the lily pad; (the frog) is like "no…you’re going to bite me." And (the scorpion) is like "no I promise." He can be very sweet. Then halfway through he (the scorpion) bites…and when you ask him why, (the scorpion) says, "Because it’s in my nature." So that’s how I see (Lester) as the scorpion, but it’s complicated.

BLAST: It’s also interesting that for Lester he comes from such a diverse background. How did you feel about the script and the Lester character when you first got the script? As an Asian actor, you’ve most likely have been offered a wide range of roles.

VS: What I loved about it is that the character is undefined; his name is Lester…so there was no forethought in casting. I think when I was cast they (didn’t consider it.) They were colorblind about it, which is great! Then they put part of his background in it…being Indian even though they’ve written some Jewish stuff which I love! I love it; I have no problem playing Indian or anything like that at all. I like it, I like exploring it; it’s actually good for me as an actor to think to my roots and connect that way.

I like that he’s (Lester) isn’t overly sweet, or obviously nerdy. I like that he kind of has that wild side.

BLAST: The Asian community can at times be sensitive to the way they’re represented onscreen, were there ever moments when you’ve gotten a script and felt uncomfortable about the direction?

VS: On the show "Chuck" it’s never been really a concern. There’s nothing that’s been on where I’ve said no. In fact, I am trying to; I want to add elements about his ethnicities (Indian and Jewish) to the show. Obviously, I’d be most protective of the Indian side of Lester. (The show) has played up his Jewish side, and they use it to their own discretion.

BLAST: Maybe they’ll bring it (his Indian side) up more?

VS: I hope so too. I want to explore that more. I don’t want to do anything that’s facile or thin. As long as it’s a full character that’s there? I’m very happy to play his ethnicity.

Fans of the series can find Vik Sahay along with castmates: Zachary Levi, Yvonne Strahovski, Adam Baldwin, Joshua Gomez, Sarah Lancaster, Irving Bartowski, Ryan McPartlin, Mark Christopher Lawrence, Scott Krinsky, and Julia Ling return this fall at the usual Monday 8/7C on NBC with its fourth season premiere September 20th .

SAN DIEGO “" The last “Chuck” fans saw of Big Mike, the ousted manager of the Buy More, he was stuck doing dirty work for Tony Hale’s Emmett Milbarge to the point that Joshua Gomez’s Morgan Grimes quit the Buy More. Mark Christopher Lawrence sat down with Blast to talk about how he hopes season three picks up for Big Mike’s story.

“Well Big Mike has to get his job back first, because right now he’s got a green shirt” said Lawrence of the Buy More storyline. “I mean clearly he’s got to take Emmett down, so we’ve got to set that up, so I’m looking forward to the first few episodes to see how that works out.”

“I’m just hoping that there’s a slow, painful death for Emmett” he added with a laugh.

When asked who would win in a fight, him or Tony Hale, Lawrence replied immediately, “Tony Hale wouldn’t have a chance. I’m thinking he’s screaming, crying. He wouldn’t want a (wrestling match). I was second in California “" twice.”

As for what else he would like to see in season three, Lawrence said he’d like to see what’s new in Big Mike’s love life.

“Morgan is uncomfortable” said Lawrence of the relationship Big Mike had been having with Morgan’s mom, played by Patricia Rae. “Of course, if my mom was in the next room with one guy who’s her boyfriend, I’d sleep in the car before I listened to that (laughs). Yeah so I don’t know, she did catch the bouquet at the wedding, so there’s the possibility that she’ll be around for a while, and she’s really funny. They really haven’t given her enough to do so you can really see how funny she is. It could be pretty cool.”

Lawrence was still giddy from the Jeffster performance he had just seen on stage. In “Chuck” Lawrence plays the manager of Vik Sahay and Scott Krinsky’s characters, Lester and Jeff.

“(The performance) did make me want to get up and dance” said Lawrence. “It’s so funny because Vik is so different outside of that character. It is amazing to see his transformation. (“¦) I’m going to try to talk them into opening for me on tour.”

In “Chuck” Big Mike has a giant swordfish figurine which he loves that has played a significant role in several episodes. Lawrence said he does have a giant swordfish figurine himself, but it doesn’t have a place in his home.

“Here’s the funny thing though” he said. “I was in Tommy Bahama’s and one of the guys that works there, he’s a fan of the show, and he goes, “ËœHey, in our other store we’ve got a bunch of stuff that we’re throwing away and one of them is a copper silhouette of a swordfish. I’ll get it for you!’ I was like, “ËœWell how big is it?’ He’s like, “ËœI don’t know, about seven feet?’ I was like, “ËœNo, that’s alright. My wife is not going to go for a big copper swordfish in the house.’ Baby, I think we’ll put it right over the bed, it’ll be alright (laughs).”

Now going into its third season, the fan following for “Chuck” has taken on a life of its own.

“After I saw the pilot, I thought, wow, this show could be huge. It’s the first time I’ve been on a show where I thought, this show has legs” said Lawrence of the popularity of “Chuck. “I didn’t know what to expect (after the pilot). It’s like you look at this type of material and it’s the opportunities are limitless because what’s going on in the world you can tie right into stuff that is happening now, or you can make stuff up. And I think they do a good job of doing a little bit of both.”

With Krinsky and Sahay giving interviews together after the Jeffster performance, and Zachary Levi having confessed the Joshua Gomez, who plays his onscreen best friend Morgan, is his best friend in real life, it was clear that there was a lot of love going around between the “Chuck” cast.

“It’s the only time I’ve worked on a show with a cast this large, and one of the few times that I’ve worked with a cast that everybody gets along” said Lawrence. “Because, you know, there’s a lot of ego in Hollywood, and everybody’s ego is bigger than the next, so it’s great to be able to go to work and do what you do with people that you love to work with, and with people that you love outside of work, so it’s pretty cool.”

Lawrence said he is finally beginning to get recognition for his role as Big Mike.

“In LA people see stars all the time so it’s no big deal, but being down here, I get stopped a little more often because of “ËœChuck.’ (“¦) But now (people say), “ËœHey, it’s Big Mike!’ or people go, “ËœThat’s the dude!’ So that’s kind of odd. But life goes on” he said.

As for whether he fits in to the nerd-friendly tone of the show, Lawrence said the answer was a definitive yes.

“I went to USC on a debate scholarship, so (laughs) so I think I qualify as a nerd” he said.

SAN DIEGO “" Hot from their first live performance as Jeffster, Vik Sahay and Scott Krinsky sat down with Blast to talk about their bizarre characters, what will happen with the Buy More and the future of Jeffster.

On taking Jeffster to the next level

SCOTT KRINSKY: Of course, with like a world tour, you know?

On Jeffster music videos

SK: I haven’t heard about doing some videos yet, but it sounds like a very good idea.

On covers they would like to perform

SK: I’d love to do some Journey.

VIK SAHAY: Yeah, “Don’t Stop.” I would say “Don’t Stop Believing.” Although, you know, all of this, I would have to sing this stuff, and that is a nightmare for myself and for everybody listening. It’s impossible for me to pick songs, although I did pick ["Fat Bottomed Girls"].

On the origin of Jeffster

VS: I think it’s my rock star vibe that gave that idea to the writers. We were approached, we jumped, we bit. I was afraid. (My first response was) terror. Utter, utter terror. The singing (was the scariest), because I was like yeah, great idea, more for us to do”¦ wait a minute, I have to sing these songs.

SK: And I have to fake playing them. I am not a musician so, I hope I pulled it off.

(from left) Scott Krinsky and Vik Sahay

On Scott Krinsky’s similarity to Jeff

SK: I’m not a big gamer. I love the old school games, so the Missile Command, Galaga, Ms. Pac-man, Donkey Kong. Very old school.

On the future of the Buy More:

VS: You tell us.

SK: We know nothing.

VS: What did (Chris Fedak and Josh Schwartz) tell you when they came by?

SK: Do you think they tell us these things?

VS: Zero. You tell me what they said when they came by.

SK: I, like you, was hoping to learn something up there (at the panel) about what I am going to do.

VS: We were all listening.

On the “Indian lesbian” line used to describe Lester in an episode

VS: I died a little inside when I read that. You know but what I do realize is that when you’re a masculine, Harrison Ford type like I am, what they’re playing with is the comedy of opposites, clearly. Ah, yes. Is (an Indian lesbian) what I look like?