TMC
06-02-2026, 02:56 AM
https://jacksonupperco.com/2026/05/27/not-good-grief-a-look-at-go-on/
Thoughts: Matthew Perry’s next sitcom (https://web.archive.org/web/20140402224659/http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/topic/3213468-go-on/?view=getnewpost), following the failure of Mr. Sunshine (discussed last week (https://jacksonupperco.com/2026/05/20/raining-on-the-parade-a-look-at-mr-sunshine/)), is a more memorable, uniquely designed show. For starters, it gives him more of a clear characterization, with comic traits and dramatic circumstances that are sufficiently individualizing. And he’s surrounded by an ensemble of affable, quirky players in a “grief therapy” group — a hangout construct that somewhat resembles Community in its voluntary congregation of unrelated strangers but is lacking a school-like setting as a workplace-esque venue for premised, story-suggesting trappings. Indeed, Perry’s Ryan has an actual day-to-day job as a sports talk radio host — a setup that’s sexy and straightforward but doesn’t yield much for the situation, especially because scripts have to toil to get those characters to mix and mingle with the members of his therapy group. And that’s really the challenge of Go On, for despite its more narratively precise situation, hangout constructs that aren’t either rooted in a workplace (like Cheers) or primarily set in homes/apartments (like Friends) have a harder time coming up with ideas that justify the leads’ personal involvement, especially given this higher-concept (Dear John-like) context.
Thoughts: Matthew Perry’s next sitcom (https://web.archive.org/web/20140402224659/http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/topic/3213468-go-on/?view=getnewpost), following the failure of Mr. Sunshine (discussed last week (https://jacksonupperco.com/2026/05/20/raining-on-the-parade-a-look-at-mr-sunshine/)), is a more memorable, uniquely designed show. For starters, it gives him more of a clear characterization, with comic traits and dramatic circumstances that are sufficiently individualizing. And he’s surrounded by an ensemble of affable, quirky players in a “grief therapy” group — a hangout construct that somewhat resembles Community in its voluntary congregation of unrelated strangers but is lacking a school-like setting as a workplace-esque venue for premised, story-suggesting trappings. Indeed, Perry’s Ryan has an actual day-to-day job as a sports talk radio host — a setup that’s sexy and straightforward but doesn’t yield much for the situation, especially because scripts have to toil to get those characters to mix and mingle with the members of his therapy group. And that’s really the challenge of Go On, for despite its more narratively precise situation, hangout constructs that aren’t either rooted in a workplace (like Cheers) or primarily set in homes/apartments (like Friends) have a harder time coming up with ideas that justify the leads’ personal involvement, especially given this higher-concept (Dear John-like) context.