Go On

And the Fall TV pickups have begun! Today NBC officially ordered full seasons of three of its new series — Go On, Revolution, and The New Normal — making them the first new shows to get whole seasons. All three shows debuted in early September, with the J.J. Abrams-produced drama Revolution earning strong ratings since its premiere. Meanwhile, sitcoms The New Normal and Go On haven't seen quite as high ratings, but they've apparently been decent enough for NBC to take a chance on them for an entire season.

Matthew Perry is returning to NBC this fall with a new comedy called Go On. The series focuses on Perry as Ryan King, a sports-radio host who's coping with the very recent death of his wife. When his boss insists that Ryan attend grief counseling, he unexpectedly finds solace with a motley crue of characters who range from relatable to downright strange, but they have one thing in common: loss. The pilot is both funny and sweet, and the delicate balance between comedy and drama is part of what attracted Perry to the show. He talked about that dichotomy, Friends, and more at the show's TCA panel this week. Here are highlights:

• Perry has made several attempts to come to TV with shows like Studio 60 On the Sunset Strip and Mr. Sunshine, but he hasn't had much luck. He's hoping that his character on Go On will have a wider appeal than the guys he played on those shows, saying, "In my efforts to have a TV show, the characters have progressively gotten nicer. This guy is a nicer, more well-intended guy. You certainly want to play a character that people can root for and get behind."
• It wouldn't be a press conference with Matthew Perry if the topic of Friends didn't come up, and, of course, Perry had nothing but wonderful things to say about his experience. He said, "It was just great chemistry. It had great writing, it had great directing, and it had really great acting. A little bit of magic happened there. And you never know when or how that's going to happen. You just want to surround yourself with funny, talented people."
• Laura Benanti plays the grief counselor of Ryan's support group, and there's definitely some sexual tension between her character and Perry's in the pilot. That said, the writers aren't going to force Ryan into a new relationship too quickly, which reassures some of the doubts I have about the realism of TV shows. Benanti joked about how even though they won't get together anytime soon, "I certainly flirt with him off screen."
• John Cho was originally slated to only make a guest appearance in the pilot as Ryan's boss, but once the showrunners saw how well he and Perry worked together, they persuaded him to come aboard full-time. Harold & Kumar fans everywhere, rejoice!
• Perry showed off his signature wit when asked the age-old question of what his best role of all time is. He avoided Chandler Bing entirely and said, "It would just be stupid to not say this one [on Go On]. I get to do a bunch of things at one point. I really like doing comedy, and I really like doing drama. It's either this or The Whole Ten Yards."

To see photos from the panel, just read more.

Matthew Perry is giving prime time another shot with Go On, premiering this Fall on NBC. Perry brings his signature wit to Ryan King, a newly widowed sports announcer who's forced into attending a support group for those grieving loved ones. There he encounters a wide variety of colorful characters coping with their own losses, which range from death of spouses to the passing of their felines.

• What it's about: Ryan just wants to get back to his job as a sports radio host, but his producer (John Cho) insists that he needs to take some time to get over the sudden death of his wife just one month prior. Begrudgingly, Ryan agrees to go to Transitions, a support group for those going through major life changes. Though he makes his disinterest in the group evident, he rises to the occasion, using his radio jockey skills to ignite the group, much to the chagrin of the pretty counselor (Lauren Benanti).
• Where it works: Matthew Perry is, as always, charming, but this time he's strapped with a character that has a significant amount of depth. Likewise, the pilot provides quite a few chuckles, but there's an underlying seriousness to the story that indicates this isn't your run-of-the-mill sitcom. The characters in the support group fortunately veer from stereotypical and, though kooky, are actually interesting to watch.
• Where it doesn't: Striking a balance between comedy and drama is not easy, especially in a half-hour show. Though I applaud Go On's ambitions, it doesn't quite have the formula down yet, and some of the transitions between grief and giggles feel unnatural.
• When it's on: Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on NBC
• You might like this show if: You like Community but wish it was a little more realistic.

To watch a preview and see pictures of Go On, just read more

The networks will trot out their brand-new TV shows at next week's upfronts, but before we get a look at previews and find out the schedules, we're going to acquaint you with the upcoming series. First up are the shows coming to NBC, so check out the comedies and dramas that the network has picked up for the Fall 2012 season.

COMEDIES

• Go On: Matthew Perry stars as a sportscaster who starts attending group therapy sessions after he suffers from a loss and bonds with the members of his group.
• Animal Practice: Weeds star Justin Kirk plays a veterinarian who loves his furry subjects but doesn't like their human owners.
• The New Normal: A gay couple played by Justin Bartha and Andrew Rannells use a surrogate to start their family in this comedy from Glee creator Ryan Murphy.
• Guys With Kids: Three dudes (Jesse Bradford, Nick Cregger, and Anthony Anderson) experience the joys of being dads together.
• Save Me: Anne Heche plays a woman who thinks she can channel God after she has an accident.
• 1600 Penn: This White House-set comedy follows a fictional president played by Bill Pullman, his first lady (Jenna Elfman), and his goofy son (Josh Gad).
• Next Caller: This workplace comedy takes place in a radio station and stars Dane Cook as a chauvinistic DJ who butts heads with his female colleague.

DRAMAS:

• Revolution: This drama, produced by J.J. Abrams and written by Supernatural's creator, depicts a world where all technology has suddenly stopped working and its characters (played by Giancarlo Esposito and Billy Burke) struggle to connect with their loved ones.
• Hannibal: This drama explores the relationship of notorious character Dr. Hannibal Lecter as he mentors detective Will Graham, played by Hugh Dancy.
• Chicago Fire: The staff of a Chicago firehouse is the focus of this action-packed drama, which stars Taylor Kinney of The Vampire Diaries and House's Jesse Spencer.
• Do No Harm: A neurosurgeon struggles with his job and personal life because he also has a Jekyll & Hyde-like alter ego.
• Infamous: A female detective (Meagan Good) goes undercover to return to the home of the wealthy family her mother was a maid in and solve a murder.

Photos courtesy of NBC