NBC has announced that its geek-friendly spy series Chuck will be back in January, a couple of months earlier than originally planned.

Chuck was to have returned with its third season sometime in March, after the Winter Olympics. However, the clamouring of its fanbase and the network's under-performing new series this year may have contributed to the show's earlier return.

Zap2It.com reports that Season Three of Chuck begins with two back-to-back episodes on Sunday, Jan 10, and take up residence on its regular Monday night slot the day after.

NBC has ordered 19 episodes of the show for the new season, and lined up an impressive array of guest-stars including one-time Superman Brandon Routh, Vinnie Jones, Robert Patrick, Angie Harmon, Kristin Kreuk and former WWE champ Stone Cold Steve Austin.

Somebody up there must really love us geeks!