Matthew Perry shines in new NBC comedy “Go On”

GO ON -- Season: 1 -- Pictured: (left, top down) Tyler James Williams as Owen, John Cho as Steven, Laura Benanti as Lauren, (center) Matthew Perry as Ryan, (right, top down) Brett Gelman as Mr. K, Julie White as Anne, Suzy Nakamura as Yolanda -- (Photo by: Robert Trachtenberg/NBC)

“Friends” alum Matthew Perry is back on NBC in the new comedy “Go On,” which has a special preview episode airing after Olympics coverage at 10:04 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 8.

Perry plays Ryan King, a recent widower and sports talk radio host who is told by his boss Steven (John Cho) he has to attend grief counseling before he can return to work.

Uneager to take this step, Ryan chooses what he hopes to be the least unappealing group to join (and the one that lasts the least amount of time per session) and winds up leading a tournament-type round of “March Sadness,” in which each group member competes to see who has the worst story.

The group leader, Lauren (Laura Benanti), is none too pleased with his hijinks and his unenthusiastic efforts to participate in the therapy, and Ryan soon learns that he may need this counseling more than he realizes.

Perry is in fine comedic form in “Go On” and his character also has elements of vulnerability which convey sympathy and add to his appeal.

Tony Award winner Benanti is charming as the eager-to-help-but-not-completely-qualified group leader, and, although they’re stereotypical oddball characters, the group members themselves, including Anne (Tony Award winner Julie White), George (Bill Cobbs), Owen (Tyler James Williams), Mr. K (Brett Gelman), Yolanda (Suzy Nakamura), Fausta (Tonita Castro) and Sonia (Sarah Baker), are portrayed adequately.

If you’re a comedy fan, be sure and give “Go On” a try. The series has its regular season premiere at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 11.

– Melissa Hayer

mhayer@opubco.com

Follow me on Twitter:@MelissaHayer