Go On's First Year an "Urn-ed Run"

Article first published as Go On's First Year an "Urn-ed Run" on TheTVKing.

Plagued with doubt about herself after dumping her fiance, Lauren (Laura Benanti) turns her focus on making progress with the group in NBC's Go On season finale, "Urn-ed Run." It's not that she didn't pay attention to them before, but has now decided that she has more time and energy to give to the group, and so is going to make a difference.

Yet, she apparently fails, with no one having made any break throughs lately, so Yolanda (Suzy Nakamura) and Sonia (Sarah Baker) stage a fake death in their work place so that Lauren can come in and quickly "heal everyone." Of course, the truth comes out.

I do think "Urn-ed Run" goes too far by having Lauren buy Sonia and Yolanda's plan for even a minute. She has been a grief counselor for awhile, and to think that she can fix people in a day is ludicrous. One actor hired is even "healed" in five seconds flat. Yes, losing a co-worker is not the same thing as losing a spouse or sibling, and so does not rate the long-term commitment, but a day is awfully quick.

That aside, this is a really nice plot because it demonstrates Lauren's inclusion as a member of the group, not just as the leader. Were she a trained professional, she should keep an emotional detachment. Since she is an amateur, every bit as screwed up the people she helps, she should be counted among their number, and here we see that her charges think of her in that way. Which means, she will be helped with her issues, too, over time.

Go On has a central theme of healing through the love of others, and a group's support being a boost in a time of trouble. No one ever makes a major change sitting around the circle. The real stuff happens when the group is out in the world, still in each others' lives, showing their affection.

Even Ryan (Matthew Perry) admits out loud in "Urn-ed Run" that he loves and needs the group. Ryan is an aloof man, and for awhile, considers himself above the others. He probably still will to some degree, as his ego is part of his character. But this week shows that he also cares a great deal for them, and their affection is not a one-way street. It's something that had to happen for the story to progress, and it is well handled here.

Ryan faces Janie's (Christine Woods) demise hugely in "Urn-ed Run," flashing back to his wedding day. While trying to figure out a way to pay tribute with her ashes, he remembers the way he screwed up, and then fixed, their nuptials. It is a very well thought-out bookend episode, giving us the beginning and the end. Only in remembering Janie and doing what she would want, can Ryan begin to move on.

It's these raw, powerful moments that set Go On apart from other sitcoms. Everyone in the show is very, very sad. The writers understand that tears and laughter are closely related, and how to give respect to the feelings without trivializing them. I never thought I would see a comedy with such dark subject matter on network TV, but it's executed so, so well, there is little room to complain. It's definitely my favorite new sitcom this year.

Besides the touching stuff, there are also funny moments this week, because when dealing with sadness, human nature also needs a laugh. I love how bad Steven's (John Cho) singing is, and how he doesn't realize it. Janie's ashes mostly ending of the highway is as amusing as it is heart breaking. Mr. K. (Brett Gelman) continues to push the envelope, helping Anne (Julie White) steal Janie's ashes, and also being the one to figure out Ryan fakes ashes early in the half hour. Fausta (Tonita Castro) has some of the best lines, per usual. And Sonia's "book" allows her to cut on the others a bit. These people are bickering siblings, which keeps the chemistry sparkling and the opposite of boring.

The one thing I would like to see change for season two, which is likely to be ordered soon, is the upgrade of the rest of the biggest recurring characters to main cast. I know that Go On has a huge cast for a sitcom, but it can handle it. I am tired of George (Bill Cobbs) and the others taking episodes off. I miss Danny (Seth Morris) in the finale, and I worry that Carrie (Allison Miller) quitting her job last week because of her feelings for Ryan is the end for her, mostly. Every one of these people, save George, appeared in more than three quarters of the episodes. I want them locked into a contract before we lose them, even if some weeks they just sit there and deliver a couple of zingers.

That being said, someone will eventually have to get better and move away from the group, and the group will likely eventually see new faces. This is OK, a natural part of the process. Go On may even kill George (or someone else) off at some point, providing more reason for the characters to stick together. But until the series is ready for a real finale story for someone, and it needs to be a doozy of an installment, with an honorable send-off, they all need to be kept around on a more regular basis.

Janie appears in five episodes in season one, and yes, as much as I adore Woods, she must appear less frequently as the show goes on. But maybe only one episode less per season, and never less than one or two. She's an invaluable contributor, as well.

Go On has not officially been renewed, but will most likely return next fall to NBC.

"Dinner Takes All" for Go On

NBC's Go On has been one of the few pleasant surprises in a lackluster slate of new broadcast shows this fall. Buoyed by a strong lead actor and a very talented ensemble, it continues to be entertaining, funny, and heartwarming week in and week out. This week's Thanksgiving episode, "Dinner Takes All," is no exception.

The set up to get the whole group together is slightly convoluted. Ryan (Matthew Perry) has feelings for his college chum, Amy (Lauren Graham, Parenthood, Gilmore Girls), but isn't ready to act on them, since he is still mourning the loss of his wife, Janie (Christine Woods). Steven (John Cho), on the other hand, is interested in starting something with Amy right now, taking away Ryan's future possibility. So Ryan selfishly invites his support group to the station for Thanksgiving, where he can keep an eye on things, and try to thwart any budding romance.

Ryan is slow to grow as a person. Steven is his best friend, and Ryan is OK sabotaging Steven's happiness for some vague idea of something Ryan might want sometime way down the road. This is not the action of a good friend or a kind man. Yet, somehow Ryan does this with enough charm to keep from being detestable, as usual. How a man exists, who can be so thoughtless towards those he cares about, yet still evokes sympathy from the audience, is hard to fathom. But Go On makes it work.

The resolution is very cool. Amy says no to Ryan because she doesn't want to compete with Janie. Amy says that he must date several other women first, and only then would she consider going out with him. There is no clue as to whether Amy might consider dating Steven, though if she's waited this long for Ryan, it's unlikely that she'd be interested in another friend. It keeps the door open for Amy to return (if Parenthood is canceled, as it is often in danger of being), and it also stops Ryan from ruining a great friendship by jumping into something he isn't ready for.

The rest of the characters are used very effectively. Anne (Julie White) has to deal with her children falling under the Ryan spell, which she herself often fights off. Owen (Tyler James Williams) gets a fantastic subplot in speaking openly with his mother. Mr. K (Brett Gelman) is creepy. The others are along for the ride, and they all have a hilarious, Brady Bunch-style opening.

I did miss George (Bill Cobbs), though. It's understandable that a freshman network sitcom cannot afford to employ all of these actors full-time, meaning that some group members will have to take weeks off, as George does in "Dinner Takes All." George also would have made one too many people for the Brady Brunch gag. But each person contributes to the overall dynamic, with gels so well, that anytime someone sits out, it's sad. Hopefully, the series will prove popular enough to expand the main cast by season two, mostly preventing such absences.

Another casualty of such a large number of actors involved in a sitcom is that many are often underused for weeks at a time. So far, Carrie (Allison Miller) seems to be the most effected, living in a separate world from the rest. In "Dinner Take All," she provides the laughs when forced to cook dinner for Ryan's gathering, but her reaction to this isn't fully explored, sadly.

The group, along with Steven and Carrie, are Ryan's window into being a fully developed person. The only chance he has of improving himself is through learning to care about these other people. He might often consider himself better than them, but what he is slowly realizing is that he isn't, and others have feelings, too, a fact most adults acknowledge. This is helped along when other characters have their own stories, with resolutions that don't concern Ryan, such as Owen's mother thanking Lauren (Laura Benanti) this week for helping her son.

The humor mixed with the touching moments are what makes Go On special, and oh so worth watching. That, and the fact that the series is taking its time with Ryan's growth, not forcing him to unnaturally speed through any drastic changes.

Watch Go On Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.

Want to read some of my fiction? It's on my website, JeromeWetzel.com! Also, for the latest updates and article links, as well as commentary on episode I don't fully review, please follow me on Twitter! Article first published on TheTVKing

Go on, Go On

Grade: 88%

GO ON is about a popular sportscaster named Ryan (Matthew Perry, Friends, Studio 60 On the Sunset Strip) who wants to return to work a month after the death of his wife. Ryan’s boss, Steven (John Cho, Star Trek, Harold & Kumar Go to Whitecastle), tells Ryan to attend ten counseling sessions first, to make sure he’s mentally up to the task. But Ryan doesn’t believe in therapy, making a mockery of the situation, to the delight of the rest of the troubled group. His new therapist, Lauren (Laura Benanti, Eli Stone, The Playboy Club).

This is an excellent series, fully worthy of Perry’s talents. While the actor has struggled in recent years to find a show that stays on the air, GO ON might just be the one to do, if the “Pilot” is any indication. It’s very funny, but the story also goes very dark, allowing Perry to play drama and comedy, sometimes simultaneously. It’s a winning mix, showing vulnerability while making people laugh, and one that should prove popular with television viewers.

Were the series riding on Perry’s wave alone, as excellent as he is, that might not be enough. Instead, Perry is surrounded by a very talented ensemble. Playing the members of his therapy group are Suzy Nakamura (Dodgeball, The West Wing), Brett Gelman (Eagleheart), Tyler James Williams (Everybody Hates Chris), Seth Morris (Happy Endings), Tonita Casto (Funny People), Sarah Baker (Free Radio), Bill Cobbs (Night at the Museum), and Julie White (Grace Under Fire, Transformers). Each plays a pivotal role in the first episode’s success, and coming together, make for a heck of a team.

This therapy group plot does make parts of GO ON seems a little like another NBC sitcom, Community. There is a feel good style of helping each other out and bonding, even though they are brought together from different walks of life. These people may not have sought each other out as friends, but thrust together, they are stronger for the relationships. While GO ON will probably not be goofy and meta like Community, there are a plethora of ways the plot could go with such a strong ensemble.

Of course, there is romantic tension, too. This exists between Ryan and Lauren. At first, this results in a slight bit of ickiness, considering she is the mental health professional assigned to treat him. Until we learn that she’s not exactly so professional. Then, things quickly become acceptable. Ryan is in no position to rush into anything just yet, but the groundwork is already being laid between the two.

Which doesn’t make the series predictable. In fact, nothing about the “Pilot” is all that obvious. There are subtle moments and deep understandings mixed with startling drama and great jokes. It’s hard to predict each zig and zag, but the developments feel natural and flow well. It’s some seriously good storytelling, perhaps more sophisticated than most half hour comedies.

GO ON lags when focusing on Ryan’s job. Cho does OK, and Allison Miller (Terra Nova, Kings) is fine as Ryan’s assistant. But every time these characters are on screen, and Perry goes back to reality, the story lags just a bit. Sure, viewers need to see how Perry will cope with the real world, as he can’t stay in his happy bubble forever. These parts just aren’t developed as well as the group scenes. Perhaps this will change in time, or maybe Ryan’s work just won’t be a huge focus.

In all, GO ON works extremely well, for all of the aforementioned reasons. There is a broad enough appeal that it should have no trouble finding an audience, and avoids serving any niche too fully. Yet, it still has a very high addictive quality because it is so well made, so it’s not just fluff for the masses. Check out GO ON tonight after the Olympics, and when it premieres on September 11^th.

"Now You See Me" on Terra Nova

     In "Now You See Me," the latest installment of FOX's Terra Nova, Taylor (Stephen Lang) heads off into the jungle to look for his son, Lucas (Ashley Zukerman, Rush), only to be captured by Mira (Christine Adams) instead. Taylor turns the tables on Mira, but soon both must work together to escape a deadly prehistoric predator. Back at camp, Jim (Jason O'Mara) grows closer to uncovering the Sixers' mole, who viewers learn is Skye (Allison Miller). Not to worry, though, as the sweet young girl is only feeding the bad guys information so they will continue to care for her ailing mother.

     There is no doubt that the Sixers are bad. They stop giving Skye's mom her medicine when communication breaks down, and Skye is a little late feeding them the latest intel. This is not the act of someone who has any compassion at all. So clearly, the vast majority of the Sixers are one-dimensional villains that fans of Terra Nova will not be sad to see killed. It certainly makes things simpler when they are black and white, but far less interesting to the viewer.

     Skye's decision to help out the Sixers is predictable as soon as the facts are in, and of course she's not a bad guy. After all, she has been shown to be helpful and caring towards Josh (Landon Liboiron), so the series writers won't write her off quite so easily. Honestly, though, it would be far better if the mole were a complicated character whose loyalties are truly in question, rather than a scared little girl hoping to help her mother. Thus, another failure in "Now You See Me." And now, no one really wants Jim to catch the mole, and the urgency for him to do so is gone, making the plot kind of moot.

     In fact, the only really good part of "Now You See Me" is Taylor and Mira's interaction. It's totally stale and done before that two enemies can find common ground in the field of battle. Still, as the two discuss how, under different circumstances, they might be allies, it's hard not to appreciate it. Adams is a terrific actress, and giving her character a sympathetic little back story goes a long way towards making her likeable and intriguing. Now the only question seems to be, what will it take to convince Adams to switch sides, possibly against her own, evil group. Though, she could lead the others Sixers to reconciliation, if she is as strong a leader as she appears to be, and they are the sheep they come across as.

     The other subplot in "Now You See Me" involves the youngest Shannon, Zoe (Alana Mansour) wanting to keep a baby dinosaur as a pet. Everything about the story, from her sneaking it very obviously under her shirt, to the far-too-perfect reunion of baby and mama, or a dinosaur that is willing to act as its mama, is over the top sappy.

     Yes, Terra Nova wants to be a family show, along with its other qualities, but does it lack all originality? Every thing the series does so far has a rote feel to it, as if it's copying everything else in pop culture. It is enjoyable enough, sure, but it's fluff, rather than serious drama or deep story. It needs to take chances and try something new! There are a lot of really cool ingredients being used here, but it feels like the show gravitates to the lowest common denominator in an attempt to appeal to everyone. Which will backfire by appealing to almost no one. Considering the budget required, Terra Nova would be wise to try to make itself something special soon, if it's not already too late. Hopefully, this is possible.

     Oh, and Reynolds (Dean Geyer) is already declaring his intentions to marry Maddy (Naomi Scott). Seriously?! They just started dating! Ridiculous!

     Terra Nova airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

     Catch up with streaming episodes of Terra Nova.

The "Genesis" of Terra Nova

     FOX's Terra Nova premiere, "Genesis," begins in 2149, with the Earth dying because of human mistakes. Mankind has begun a new colony 85 million years in the past, in an alternate timeline. Dr. Elisabeth Shannon (Shelley Conn, Mistressess) is recruited as part of the tenth wave of settlers, but she is only allowed to bring her two eldest children, Maddy (Naomi Scott, Life Bites) and Josh (Landon Liboiron, Degrassi: The Next Generation). This is because in 2149, having three children is illegal, and this applied to Elisabeth's youngest, Zoe (Alana Mansour). Elisabeth helps her husband, Jim (Jason O'Mara, Life on Mars) break out of prison, where is serving a sentence for assaulting the police when they find Zoe. Together, all five Shannons make it through the rift.

     Once at the new settlement, Commander Nathaniel Taylor (Stephen Lang, Avator) decides to allow the Shannons to stay together, since he needs Elisabeth, and doesn't care about laws that have not been invented yet. Jim, a former cop, is assigned to the agricultural team, but soon proves himself more than capable to join Taylor's security force. This comes in handy when Josh, upset at his father for being gone all this time, meets an attractive girl named Skye (Allison Miller, Kings), who leads him outside the gate. The teens are attacked by dinosaurs and robbed by members of the Sixth, rebels who split away from the main group. Jim must rescue his son.

     Terra Nova is a family friendly show that should appeal to a broad base. There is the sci-fi aspect of time travel and alternate universes. There is mystery in why the Sixth split off, and why Taylor's son draws pictures on rocks. The leader of the Sixth, Mira (Christine Adams, The Whole Truth) seems devoted to some cause. Skye and Josh have the beginnings of a teen romance. There is a group of teens that live apart from their family. Little Zoe is cute as a button. Taylor and Jim will have to solve crimes, while Elisabeth will face new medical cases. Plus, dinosaurs and involvement by Steven Spielberg! Which should satisfy just about everyone.

     Which might be the problem with the show. Don't get me wrong; Terra Nova is certainly one of, if not the, best fall premiere so far. But its widespread tone means none of those things get primary focus. Not knowing which writers to hire to really capture all of these different elements, a great story is slogged down by bad dialogue. The special effects look fantastic, and there's an exciting adventure present. A little tweaking on some lines, and Terra Nova could quickly set itself apart from the pack.

     That's why I recommend you keep watching. The actors are good, and the plot is fairly original. Until proven otherwise, Terra Nova is new and different, and thus, worthy of viewership. The best elements involve the family trying to settle in, finally back together, and the mysteries outside of the settlement walls. These would be good to focus on, as well as revisiting the future, shown too briefly in the beginning, considering how intriguing this time and place are.

     Oh, and it would have been nice to see Jim escape from jail. Yeah, there's a lot to cover in "Genesis," but it feels like a little bit of a cheat to have Elisabeth visit Jim, and then suddenly he has made it to the transport station. Might there be a few things missing in there?

     Anyway, be sure to watch Terra Nova Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!