NBC orders full seasons: Which shows made the cut?
It鈥檚 that time of the year when networks see how their new fall shows are faring in the ratings and either give them longer life or bring down the axe. Today NBC has good news for three of their freshman series.
The network has just announced full season orders for Matthew Perry鈥檚 comedy series , Ryan Murphy鈥檚 family comedy and Bad Robot鈥檚 sci-fi drama,聽.
Starting with the more expensive, high concept series, NBC Entertainment president Jennifer Salke said:
鈥淲e鈥檙e impressed with the imagination and creative direction of the entire team on 鈥楻evolution,鈥� not to mention the immediately strong response we got from the audience. Ordering the full season of this show is a pleasure. Thanks to J.J. Abrams, Erik Kripke, Jon Favreau, and everyone at Bad Robot and Warner Bros. Television for their dedication to making a truly unique series. And I personally love to escape into a world where there is no power, the phone doesn鈥檛 ring, and the pace of life slows down 鈥� if only for one hour a week!鈥�
So far Revolution hasn鈥檛 blown audiences away, but , and there鈥檚 already an intriguing mystery to keep audiences glued to their TVs for at least one season. Since the end of Lost, only Bad Robot鈥檚 and have been given more than one season on network television. Revolution is at least on the right path.
Go On & The New Normal
Meanwhile, on the comedy side of things, Salke says:
鈥淲e鈥檙e also very proud of our new comedy block of 鈥楪o On鈥� and 鈥楾he New Normal.鈥� In partnering with Matthew Perry for 鈥楪o On,鈥� creator Scott Silveri has created a comedy with a highly original voice that deftly combines humor and emotion. And Ryan Murphy and Ali Adler have created a truly unique family in 鈥楾he New Normal鈥� that is reflective of the changing dynamics of the world we live in. These shows are both welcome additions to our new lineup!鈥�
The renewal of Go On is good news for Matthew Perry, who has been looking for a solid series to lead for years. Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip was a great effort on his part (along with writer Aaron Sorkin), but the lack of real comedy writing within a series based on a late night sketch series really hurt;聽Mr. Sunshine聽just didn鈥檛 work out for audiences last year. This new show not only allows Perry to do what he does best, there鈥檚 a great ensemble of comedic actors like Brett Gelman, Seth Morris, Julie White and John Cho to keep things interesting.
As for The New Normal, the pilot felt like Ryan Murphy trying to bring the edgy humor of Glee character Sue Sylvester to a Modern Family setting. Thankfully, the following episodes have let the series come into its own. Andrew Rannells and Justin Bartha make for a great couple, and Ellen Barkin has pulled back on her theatrical performance a bit. There鈥檚 a great progressive family series here, and hopefully the quality in comedy is more consistent than Glee.
Frankly, 聽it鈥檚 just good to see NBC show some confidence in their fall line-up. With The Office , the network can use some solid new comedy, and Revolution will hopefully mark another staple TV series for Bad Robot, rather than one of their forgettable cancellations.
Ethan Anderton blogs at .
