On the box

Getting the audience on board

These days, viewing audiences and the networks alike are a fickle bunch.

No one has the patience to wait for a program to find its niche and over in the US, many new programs are axed shortly after debut.

Back home, our local networks have an even tougher job, as often many of the programs they’ve paid for and advertised over the summer holidays are canned before they even air here.

Fox 8’s The Mob Doctor was cancelled after just three episodes in the US (it has yet to air here) and Ten’s much-publicised The Wedding Band has been cancelled after just 10 episodes.

Due to it becoming more and more difficult for these new programs to debut strongly, networks rely on their show-runners to bring a ready-made fan-base.

This growing trend is why we are seeing remakes of Hawaii Five-O and Dallas, as the networks try to win audiences over with nostalgia. Many film actors are now also appearing on television, and Nine’s The Following starring Kevin Bacon has been widely anticipated as a sure-fire hit for this year.

The networks are also trying to coax audiences on board their new programs by taking much loved television actors from iconic roles, and merely trying to duplicate their previous successes.

Go On is a new “ensemble comedy” program from US network NBC that stars Matthew Perry (of Friends).

It revolves around Perry’s character Ryan King, a sports radio journalist whose wife dies suddenly.

Following the new wave of comedy shows such as Community, 30 Rock and Parks and Recreation that do not follow the typical sitcom formula, Go On splits many of the gags and one-liners throughout its large cast.

Following King’s journey to group therapy proves to be hilarious as a group of quirky, but endearing, characters emerge.

Perry still holds his own as the lead and is clearly the star – as much of the humour of the program does come from his dry, sarcastic delivery.

Go On finds balance between the funny and the serious, and the reality that Perry’s King is still a grieving widower is a dark but touching truth.

One drawback from this impeccable example of a fresh summer comedy program is the sheer size of the cast (which sits at 12 main members).

It is clearly Perry’s program but some of the characters from the group therapy could have been rolled in to one for clarity.

Yet another drawback are the blatant references to Perry’s earlier work on Friends which, at times, detracts from the show’s originality.

If the remaining three episodes of Go On’s season are not received well, the series may not find itself on Australian screens and it will be relegated to the tiny monitor in the rear of the-fat-guy-sitting-in-front-of-you’s headrest on the flight back from your Asian holiday.

It is definitely worth a look.