NBC Unveils Newest Shows: Matthew Perry, Dane Cook, J.J. Abrams and the First Family Join the Peacock

When it's not actively trying to destroy Community, NBC actually devotes some of its energy to introducing new programming. On Sunday afternoon, the Peacock Network rolled out its fall schedule a bunch of trailers and clips for upcoming shows. From the more than a dozen new offerings, a handful of them stood out to me: J.J. Abrams' Revolution, Go On starring Matthew Perry, Next Caller starring Dane Cook, and the First Family-focused 1600 Penn (this is the one that return Independence Day's Bill Pullman to the White House as president). Revolution and Go On will air in the fall, while Next Caller and 1600 Penn are being held as midseason replacements.

Revolution

Yet another J.J. Abrams project with a mysterious premise, Revolution is set in a world that completely lost power 15 years beforehand. Nature has taken back much of the world (check out that shot of an overgrown Wrigley Field) and people once again live in small communities. Being Abrams, the show has a big secret (no sign of a hatch yet), and one family appears to be in charge of keeping that secret safe. The end of the trailer features Billy Burke taking a page from the Kill Bill handbook.

Go On 


This will be Matthew Perry's third attempt at a new TV show since Friends ended. NBC canceled Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip back in 2007 (NBC canceling an acclaimed show? Shocking!), and ABC canceled Mr. Sunshine last year. In Go On, Perry plays a sportscaster experiencing a loss who forced into mandatory group therapy sessions.

Next Caller 


Does everyone remember Dane Cook? It's hard to believe that Cook was once on the top of the comedy world, selling out huge tours and releasing albums that sold in record numbers. The last few years haven't been kind to Cook, with alleged plagiarism scandals and a movie career that didn't end up going anywhere. Next Caller will be Cook's sitcom debut, teaming the comedian with Arrested Development veteran Jeffrey Tambor and Collette Wolfe, who had a small but very strong roll in last year's Young Adult. Next Caller is being held as a midseason replacement.

1600 Penn 


I'm actually surprised that NBC is holding 1600 Penn for midseason. With a presidential election this fall, you'd think the show would basically advertise itself. I'm excited to Bill Pullman return to the White House, which I assume has been rebuilt since aliens blew it up in Independence Day. Hopefully Will Smith can make a cameo at some point during the show, presumably to welcome a visitor to Earth. Independence Day jokes aside, 1600 Penn was originally supposed to star Brittany Snow as one of the first daughters, but she was replaced by Martha MacIsaac. MacIsaac will play first daughter Becca, which just happens to be the same name as her Superbad character.