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Matthew Perry has reason to 'Go On' in new NBC sitcom By Jay Bobbin © Zap2it charge into the fall televi- sion season early, and Matthew Perry is the famil- iar face at the front of the pack. Not surprisingly, the NBC is leading the network is using its Sum- mer Olympics coverage as a launching pad for its new programming lineup ... starting with its "sneak peek" of "Friends" alum Perry's seriocomic show "Go On" Wednesday, Aug, 8. He plays a sportscaster ordered into therapy af- ter his wife's death, and among the moments of Chandler Bing-like humor are more serious remind- ers of Perry's guest turn last season on CBS' "The Good Wife." In tackling regular se- was funny, yet it had a lot of heartfelt moments and was quite sad at certain points. I really liked that, because that's not your run-of-the-mill, cookie-cut- ter kind of show. Once the cast got together, it started to feel even more special because there were just so many funny people around. ("Go On" co-stars include Julie White and John Cho.) Q: Having been a mem- ber of one of the most popular ensemble casts in TV history, how is it to start over with a new one? A: I had to make sure so our goal is to keep them liking it that much. Q: Chandler on "Friends" always will be a giant call- ing card for you, but how do you feel your other jobs since then play into your newest one? A: When you're fortunate ries work for the third time — following NBC's "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" and ABC's "Mr. Sunshine" — in the eight years since "Friends" ended, Perry spoke with this writer re- cently about the task of establishing a new show (which starts its regular run Sept. 11) and character in the shadow of one of television's most success- ful comedies ever. Q: What was it about read it, certainly aspired to be something different. It that I sort of set the tone. I was there early, I made sure people could see I was putting a lot of work into it, and I also made sure not to be selfish. Ar- guably, the funniest line in the pilot has to do with "March sadness," and I was very happy that someone else got to say that. Q: In researching the broadcasting aspect of your new character, has your stepfather, Keith Mor- rison ("Dateline NBC") proved valuable? A: Absolutely! It's nice to enough to play a character on a show so many people watched, it's hard for them to get away from that ... plus, I look a lot like all these characters. The good end of that is that people sort of feel they know you, so I can get away with stuff early on in a new show. People feel they have this relationship with me before we really even start. Q: "Go On" lets you con- I'm in." And he's followed through on that. In a com- edy, especially, you want to have an open atmosphere creatively. Q: What was your expe- rience on "The Good Wife" like? A: I'd never played an all-out bad guy before. The fact that he was basically a sociopath, a guy who would lie to your face, was just so much fun to play. I actually got that job and "Go On" on the same day. That was a nice day. I had told all my man- tinue your relationship with "Friends" writer-producer Scott Silveri. How impor- tant a factor is that for you? A: I worked with Scott for eight years, and when the script came and I was interested, I had one meeting with him. And my one question for him was, "Have you become a tyran- nical jerk?" He said, "No." And I said, "OK. Well, then, "Go On" that told you it was "the one" for you to return to weekly television with? A: The script, when I first be back on NBC with him. It's a good group of people there, and they give shows a chance. In the hopefully improbable event this show doesn't perform that great in the very beginning, I think they may stick with it if they like the quality. It was the first show they picked up for the season, agers and agents that I was looking for a drama series to do. Then, when "Go On" arrived, I was like, "Uh, dude, you sent me a comedy." By the time I got to the end, I realized it had such serious mo- ments, it could be argued there were more dramatic elements to it than most dramas that come across my desk. There's this big speech in "Go On" where my character talks about having lost his wife, and that was certainly the big- gest challenge. Catch the Craze & Save! Save on Rentals • Breakfast Get Free Glass Cleaner Save on a Quilt Find these great savings plus more on Coupon Craze! In The Goshen News every Monday, Online everyday! Nobody covers your hometown better 114 S. Main St., Goshen 574-533-2151 www.goshennews.com Employment Ad Today! Place Your Over 3,500 resumes are posted on monster.com in The Goshen News readership areas. 574-533-2151 ext. 398 goshennews.com / Information on your doorstep Matthew Perry stars in "Go On," premiering Wednesday on NBC. 2 The Goshen News • Viewer's Choice • August 6, 2012 - August 12, 2012 source of information. At The Goshen News , you can find the latest local and business news , sports highlights, travel features, financial tips and more. Subscribe today! senior, newspapers are a great you're a teenager, a baby boomer or a Whether 533-2151 ext. 393

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