While some fans may be upset that “Chuck” will only get thirteen episodes for its upcoming third season, series star Zachary Levi insists the shortened episode count is a good thing.

“To be perfectly honest, I think 13 episodes is a great season,” Levi tells SciFi Wire. “I think that cable does it right. They’ve always done it right. I think that network television has done 22 for a long time and sometimes more. That’s the tradition, but I feel like [in] 22 episodes, even the best shows end up with a few episodes that are a little soft around the middle. They’re not what the fans would really want to chomp into, so I say 13, rock ‘n’ roll, make it lean and mean.”

And when asked about the long wait for “Chuck” for fans, Levi says he’s optimistic that the fans will be patient.

“Honestly, I feel like whatever is supposed to happen will happen,” Levi said. “I think our fans are dedicated enough and they’re solidified enough where no matter when we’re going to be on, they’ll be like, ‘Okay, I’ll check that out.’ Not to mention so many of our fans DVR, download, stream, so whatever. They’re able to get it when they want it. If they have to wait till March, I know that they are with us. Plus, we get the Olympics leading us in, which I think is a beautiful thing.”

Levi went on to drop some hints about season three.  They are mildly SPOILERific.

Levi said that the season will pick up right after the season two cliffhanger and show Chuck processing what it means to have the new Intersect in his head.

“We pick up right where we left off, and aside from just me rationalizing why I haven’t been working out, I couldn’t just go get ripped over the summertime,” Levi said. “There’s no continuity in that.”

The third season of “Chuck” returns in March of 2010.